Our Story
We have over 40 years of experience creating, planning and executing food and beverage programs for a multitude of private clients and corporations. We’ve catered everything from breakfast meetings for 10 to fully produced sit-down dinners for 800, including the 2010 Olympic Games, the PGA Tour and the Dalai Lamai Conference.
In 1979, Susan Mendelson opened the doors of The Lazy Gourmet, one of Vancouver’s first catering companies. Since that time, we have unwaveringly focused on quality food, sustainability, community and the highest level of service.
Thanks to Susan’s inspiration and mentorship, The Lazy Gourmet has a robust and seasoned staff who are single-minded in their quest for uncompromised excellence and contagious hospitality. This dedication has firmly established our reputation as one of Vancouver’s most outstanding catering and event planning companies.
We take pride in ensuring your event is absolutely perfect in every way. Let us know what we can do for you. If you can imagine it, we can create it.
Susan Mendelson and her former partner (Deborah Roitberg) opened “The Lazy Gourmet”, a gourmet take-out food store and catering business at 2380 West 4th Avenue in Vancouver, BC. They worked 7 days a week, 16 hours a day: shopping, cooking, selling, washing dishes and keeping the books. By the end of the first year, they hired a dishwasher and a small catering staff to do outside catering.
Susan and Deborah appeared on “the Vancouver Show” every other Friday to do cooking demonstrations. Susan continued to do her biweekly spot on CBC Radio and started doing food features on CBC Morningside, a national radio show. Susan’s second book (a children’s cookbook) comes out, called “Let Me in the Kitchen”.
Susan collaborated with her partner to write a second book together “Fresh Tarts”.
Thurlow Street location is sold and Susan became the sole owner of The Lazy Gourmet after buying out her partner.
Susan purchased Bridges Bagel Deli at 6th and Fir and it becomes The Lazy Gourmet Café. Six months later, the 4th Avenue location is sold to Terra Breads. Susan writes “Still Nuts About Chocolate with Deborah.
The Lazy Gourmet moves into 1605 West 5th Avenue to open a full service bistro and deli take out. The Grand Opening is in October 1997. Susan is featured in “Women of Taste”; an American publication highlighting top North American Women Chefs.
The Lazy Gourmet introduces new leadership under Kevin Mazzone as General Manager and Shannon Boudreau as Director of Sales and Events. Susan continues to oversee as President.
The Lazy Gourmet becomes the preferred caterer of Simon Fraser University’s event spaces, including Segal, Harbour Centre and GoldCorp.
Susan Mendelson launches sister company Mendelson’s Gourmet Kosher. The Lazy Gourmet continues to be Vancouver’s favourite caterer, with 140 employees under the leadership of General Manager Kevin Mazzone and Director of Sales and Events Shannon Boudreau.
The Lazy Gourmet is named to Business In Vancouver’s annual list of 100 Fastest Growing Companies for 2018.
Susan’s first cookbook “Mama Never Cooked Like This” comes out.
Susan collaborated with her partner to write “Nuts About Chocolate”.
The Lazy Gourmet’s second location opens on Granville Island and the third location opens on Thurlow Street. Susan wrote “Expo ‘86 Cookbook”.
Granville Island location is sold.
Susan writes “Food to Grow On” with sister Rena.
Susan and Chef Joey Cruz collaborate on new cookbook “The Lazy Gourmet”.
The Lazy Gourmet breaks sales records during the Vancouver Winter Olympics with over $1 million in one month from GE, France, Poland and PWC events.
The Lazy Gourmet becomes the preferred caterer of UBC Robson Square.
The Lazy Gourmet is named “Best Catering Company” by the Georgia Straight Golden Plates Awards for the 3rd year in a row. General Manager Kevin Mazzone is named on Business in Vancouver’s top Forty Under 40 list!
The Lazy Gourmet celebrates 40 years in business in fashion-forward style, reinforcing our strategic partnership with Simon Fraser University’s Meeting, Event and Conference Service team. Susan was recognized with Temple Sholom’s Dreamers and Builders award and was inducted into BC Restaurant and Food Services Association’s 2019 Hall of Fame.
About Susan Mendelson
Susan was following her heart’s desire and pursuing her dream of cooking, when she started The Lazy Gourmet in 1979. She loved working with people, she loved cooking, and she had a passion for experimenting in the extraordinarily diverse world of cuisine. Four decades later, she is still passionate about delicious and beautiful food, and believes that only the finest ingredients should go into any food that is created. Best of all, she loves watching her clients and guests enjoying The Lazy Gourmet creations.
Susan’s first cookbook, Mama Never Cooked Like This, was based on the concept of simplifying classical recipes for people who wanted gourmet food but were too “lazy” to follow all the complicated steps. 40 years later, Susan has written ten cookbooks, including her most recent creation, Mama Now Cooks Like This. Lovers of Susan Mendelson’s books span the globe and deem this latest book a must-have.
Besides being a famed caterer and cookbook writer, Susan has a generosity of spirit that affects everyone around her. A passionate philanthropist and community supporter, she is involved in numerous charitable organizations. Through her history and mentorship, The Lazy Gourmet has firmly established itself as a preeminent Vancouver catering company, with smart, nimble and professional staff who are adept at dealing with the complexities of catering and event planning, and have the same contagious love of life and food as Susan does.
Clients
| SFU | Vancouver Symphony | AMGEN | McCarthy Tetrault |
| Deloitte | Vancouver Opera | Pacific Newspaper Group | Equinox Gallery |
| Fortius | Motive Communications | NetJet | Vancity |
| Disney/Pixar | CHUBB | London Air | TD |
| Davis and Co. | New Gold | Perkins & Will | Royal Bank of Canada |
| Seaspan | GoldCrop | Sarah McLachlan School of Music | Countdown Events |
| Cadillac Fairview | Rennie Marketing Systems | Fireworks Marketing Group | Ennoteca Winery and Resorts |
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