Fort Macleod’s Bourassa family is increasingly popular on the social scene in southern Alberta.
Mike and Angie Bourassa, their daughters Brooklyn and Abby, and a team of workers they consider family serve up great food through their business M&A Catering.
Mike studied professional cooking at SAIT in Calgary and went to work in the kitchen at the newly-opened Paradise Canyon Golf Club, where he completed his three-year apprenticeship to earn his Red Seal.
Mike later worked at the Fort Macleod Golf Club and O’Reilly’s Restaurant.
“My goal had always been to have my own place once I had my Red Seal,” Mike said.
In 1997 Mike realized that dream when he bought Auntie Lynda’s Restaurant, operating in Fort Macleod Plaza on the west end of Main Street before moving into the former Scarlet and Gold Restaurant.
The Bourassas also operated the concession at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump for a decade.
“As I went along, I found I enjoyed catering more than the day-to-day operations of a restaurant,” Mike said.
Mike left the restaurant business to work in the mines for Teck Resources, while doing some catering on the side.
As more and more requests came in to cater functions Mike and Angie, who has considerable experience in food service, decided to form M&A Catering as a home-based business.
They had their garage renovated into a fully-functioning kitchen and began taking on jobs.
The business grew quickly and M&A Catering now serves clients in an area that stretches from Waterton north to Okotoks, and west from Lethbridge to Fernie.
M&A Catering handles a wide variety of events, including weddings, funerals, anniversaries, graduation dinners, golf tournaments, corporate functions, school events, reunions and parties.
These events draw crowds ranging from as few as 10 people to close to 600.
M&A Catering works with clients to develop a menu that will please guests.
“I have lots of different menus,” Mike said. I can also create a menu that meets their needs and their budget. I try and work with my customers as much as possible to make sure their event is a success.”
M&A Catering’s team includes experienced chefs and servers, many of whom have worked with Mike and Angie for years.
You can reach M&A Catering at 403-330-3546 or mandacatering@gmail.com or find them on Facebook.
