Hot off of Facebook comes this post from Mallroy Staley, General Manager and Co-Owner in the Elephant. I'm not going to re-write this, here it is:
When two of Baltimore’s culinary icons – rich in great food,
hospitality, style and entertainment – join hands, one can expect a
welcomed smile of anticipation for upcoming dining delights and special
events.
The Elephant restaurant, with its stunning revival of a
historic Mt Vernon mansion and welcoming culture, has been winning the
hearts and appetites of its guests since its recent opening. And now,
The Elephant has added one of Baltimore’s most well regarded and
charming caterers to its family – Sascha's.
“Together, The
Elephant and Sascha's will blend their culinary creativity, kitchen
mastery, guest-centered service, commitment to excellence and stylish
presentations to better serve the Baltimore community's fine food and
entertainment needs,” promises Mallory Staley, General Manager and
co-owner of The Elephant and the new co-owner and catering director of
Sascha’s.
The “marriage” was arranged soon after Mallory Staley
met Sascha Wolhandler, a trend setting caterer in Baltimore for the past
40 plus years, a few weeks ago. “It quickly became clear to both of us
that this was a marriage made in heaven,” admits Sascha.
In
the late 70’s, Sascha Wolhandler started making French crepes prepared
on authentic griddles outdoors on Charles Street. Then due to its
popularity, she was invited to provide them at Center Stage, as before
and/or after theatre treats. Sascha soon became known for her
outstanding and out-of-the-ordinary food, presented with flair and in a
way that no one else was doing at the time. People wanted Sascha to
provide her creative and taste-forward creations for dinner parties at
their homes and special events at various venues around town. Thus, by
public demand, Sascha’s Catering was born and became one of the premier
caterers in the Baltimore metropolitan area.
Now after more than
40 successful years, Sascha found herself wanting to offer her thriving
catering business to – Mallory Staley, a life-long hospitality
professional with a background in high-end catering and the co-owner of
one of Baltimore’s top-rated restaurants – The Elephant.
As a
young girl, Mallory spent a lot of time on her grandparents’ farm in
Frederick, Maryland. She loved the farm life – growing plants, riding
the tractor, digging for potatoes, and picking beans and corn. “I
remember the farmhouse meals: the smell and taste of simple, local,
fresh-picked food,” she fondly recalls.
With this love for farm
fresh food in her soul, she head to New York City to study at the French
Culinary Institute, one of the most highly respected culinary schools
in the world. Upon graduation, she began her professional career at some
of Manhattan’s finest restaurants and catering companies. With passion,
creativity, and culinary skills – she worked her way up to become the
Pastry Chef at the Plaza Hotel in NYC and at Iron Chef Marc Forgione’s
American Cut restaurant in Atlantic City. But after a few years in New
York and New Jersey, she wanted to get back to her Maryland roots.
Heading to Baltimore, she moved from the “back-of-the-house” to the
“front-of-the-house” becoming the General Manager at Sotta Sopra and
helping to manage Ouzo Bay in Harbor East.
Then over two years
ago, Mallory teamed up with Linda Brown Rivelis and Steven Rivelis to
open The Elephant restaurant, serving globally inspired cuisine and
classic cocktails in an 1850’s midtown mansion. Located in Baltimore’s
historic Mount Vernon neighborhood, The Elephant is recognized as one of
the regions “Top Ten Restaurants” with a vibe that is chic, yet
elegantly casual.
Now with the marriage of The Elephant and
Sascha’s, they will be able to enhance the boutique catering company’s
delivery of best-in-class experiences from small corporate lunches to
intimate parties to large scale weddings. “Our vision is continue the
success of Sascha’s legacy with a smooth transition of leadership and in
combination with the resources and reputation of The Elephant to
delight and wow each of our clients and their guests,” states Mallory
Staley.
Whether you desire a …
- Sumptuous dinner in a lovely historic townhouse
- Gourmet "Silver Sac" luncheon for your next business meeting
- Private Chef to design, create and serve an intimate dinner party at your home, or
- One-of-a-kind wedding reception or other elegant event to honor a very special occasion
… Sasha’s and The Elephant will be at your call, providing you, your
friends and family with a spectacular and most memorable experience.
