Mattison's Restaurants, Grill, Steakhouse & Catering in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and Bradenton, Wedding Caterer | Mattison's Catering

Mattison's Culinary Connections, Mattison's Catering Company delivers for Florida Power and Light after Hurricane Wilma, November 2005

Sarasota, Florida November 15, 2005

Mattison's Serves 5000 Meals for FPL Crew after Hurricane Wilma Sunday morning, October 30 Chef Paul Mattison receives a call from FPL asking if Mattison's Catering Company can be ready to cater breakfast, lunch and dinner the following day, in Ft Lauderdale for 1,500 FPL crew members and executives as well as power crews from 20-30 other power companies. They were working around the clock to restore power after Hurricane Wilma. It is estimated that 75% of FPL customers were effected by Hurricane Wilma.

Chef Paul Mattison did not hesitate.  "Monday morning's breakfast was a little unconventional. I knew supplies on the East coast would be limited, at best, so before we headed over to set up, I gathered food from the restaurants here in Sarasota. We put together what we could, muffins, coffee and eggs but I think we also offered hummus and toasted pita bread, which made a great topping for the scrambled eggs," says Chef Paul Mattison with a chuckle. "By Tuesday, though, we were completely set up and functioning like a restaurant and catering facility, except we were in a tent in the Panther Arena parking lot," he continues.

Everything was powered with generators and Chef Paul Mattison had three refrigerated tractor trailers for food storage. Regular trips to the West coat were part of the daily organization to gather water and supplies. Working with a staff of 15, Mattison s Catering Company managed to serve three meals a day for 1,500+ people, totalling nearly 5000 meals per day, during two weeks with less than 24 hours notice. "It was truly an amazing feat and I am so proud of my staff and catering company who were able to put something like this together in such a short period of time. To have been part of this serious effort to restore power to so many FPL homes and business in need, is indeed a good feeling."

In no time, Chef Paul Mattison added his signature flair. For Sunday afternoon and Monday Night Football, he had a giant plasma television set brough over to show the football games while he served BBQ ribs, herb roasted chicken, spicy chicken wings and homemade pizza. Other menu items included roast prime rib with horseradish sauce, mojo marinated pork tenderloin, mustard encrusted grilled pork chops, skewered and marinated shrimp, green beans, Mattison s salad, mixed steamed seasonal veggies, garlic mashed potatoes;  "Grille Night" with grilled steak, lamb, chicken and pork chops, garlic mashed potatoes and Mattison's tossed salad;  "Italian Night" with lasagna, meatballs, spaghetti, garlic bread and salad.

When it was all said and done, Chef Paul Mattison's Catering Company capped off the end of the two weeks with a grand New Orleans style celebration featuring live jazz from Sarasota's Gumbo Boogie Band, while Mattison's Catering Company served fresh chicken jambalaya, grilled NY strip steaks, Florida pink shrimp scampi, and New Orleans gumbo. They wanted to thank all the FPL staff for completing FLP's largest effort in restoring power in Florida.

By 3pm Saturday, November 12th, The Panther parking lot was completely cleared with the hopes that the Floridans affected by Hurricane Wilma could begin putting their lives back together.  "There were over 17,000 people working together in many different capacities. The teamwork, energy, and effort by the FPL team, it's support staff and all of those involved were so inspiring to me and to my staff. I have a renewed respect for the value of true teamwork" says Chef Paul Mattison.