Courtesy of Park & Elm
By Ann Donnelly
Park & Elm has quickly become a Glens Falls staple offering a market, restaurant, and full-service catering, approaching its second anniversary with much to celebrate. They’ve recently unveiled their fall catering menu, brimming with seasonal specialties perfect for Thanksgiving and the upcoming holiday season.
Ben Miller, operations manager of Park Street Hospitality, which operates Park & Elm and The Park Theater, says, “The first two years have been great. We’ve been so thrilled with the outpouring of support from the community. One of our big unknowns going into this new venture was the retail and deli portion of our business. It was a big step for us, so we’re just really thankful for the support of the local community.”
Park & Elm offers tiered catering options to suit various needs and budgets. Their marketfeatures a “casual family-style catering program” with disposable pans of crowd-pleasing dishes like lasagna, chicken parmesan, roasted turkey breast, and all the fixings..
For a more upscale experience, Park and Elm offers full-service catering through their parent company, Park Street Hospitality. This service caters to weddings, galas, and corporate events, providing everything from plated meals to hors d’oeuvres and bar service. They can accommodate events at their venue, the Park Theatre, or off-site locations.
“We also did the Glens Falls Hospital gala this year for about 350 people,” says Miller. “We worked with a company to bring in a tent, built a kitchen on site there, and served a plated surf and turf for 350 people in the parking lot. “
Adjoining The Park Theatre, the Doc’s restaurant space has undergone a renovation, making it an even more attractive option for private parties. “We have a beautiful wraparound leather banquette that goes around most of one side of the room,“ says Miller. “Then the side that has the bar on it is just how it used to be with the big mahogany bar.”
If you don’t have the budget to rent out a whole space, Park and Elm’s restaurant is another option for smaller groups, with areas they section off for privacy. “We can even streamline the menu a little bit and give you a ‘prix fix’ menu,” says Miller.
Park & Elm’s market takes the stress out of holiday meals with their Thanksgiving catering program. They offer a full Thanksgiving dinner menu, including turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and all the trimmings. Orders should be placed early, with pickups into Thanksgiving Day morning and delivery available before the day. All meals can be prepared hot or cold, with reheating instructions provided for cold options.
Park & Elm will transition their menu to incorporate classic Christmas offerings as the season progresses. “Red wine braised short ribs is a popular option around the Christmas holiday. We do a mustard and sage roasted pork loin with a cherry cider reduction. That one is also very popular around the holidays,” says Miller.
He adds, “We’re doing fresh baked fruit pies: apple crumb, blueberry crumb, or pumpkin, with vanilla bean whipped cream that we make in-house. So it’s ready for your Thanksgiving or holiday table.”
Their cider doughnut bread pudding is another popular option in various sizes. “We take cider donuts that we make in-house and turn them into a bread pudding baked with vanilla custard. It’s just fall in your mouth,” says Miller.
Park & Elm also offers beautifully wrapped gift baskets featuring their gourmet Italian products, which are perfect for the food lover on your list. Gift cards, always a popular gift idea, are also available.
Park & Elm is deeply committed to the Glens Falls community. The Park Theatre Foundation, their non-profit sister organization, focuses on bringing arts and cultural events to the area. Upcoming events show a wide range of events, including a jazz trio, a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band, and a comedy night.
Visit Park Street Hospitality’s website (PSHospitality.com) to learn more about their catering options, browse their restaurant and market offerings, and stay updated on upcoming events.