From boardrooms to ballrooms, Classy Caterer brings Knoxville’s catering scene a touch of artistry and grace
By Nathan Sparks | Photography by Nathan Sparks & Trisha Kelly
Appeared in Cityview Magazine, Vol. 41, Issue 6 (Nov/Dec 2025)
When Trisha Kelly retired from the financial services industry, she wasn’t ready to slow down. Hosting and entertaining had always been a passion. So in April 2018, she launched Classy Caterer, “just as something to do with my spare time.” Her plan was modest: a few small events each week. But the Knoxville market had other ideas.
Kelly’s background in executive leadership helped shape her approach from day one. “I had hired caterers that came in and set up, and it was always so very plain—paper plates and such. I never liked that,” she recalls. “So I would bring in my own china, serving dishes, dress it up a little bit. That’s what I wanted to do—a more elevated experience.”
That vision quickly became her brand. “It’s still catering,” she says, “but we use real plates, linen napkins, real silverware. And we do table scapes on every occasion. We want it to look like it blends in with your event—company colors, holidays, fall décor. It just dresses up the entire presentation and makes the meal look better.” Clients began to notice the difference right away, and word spread quickly that Classy Caterer wasn’t just serving food—it was creating an experience.
A World of Opportunity
As business grew, so did the opportunities. Her few times a week had quickly turned into something much bigger.
“I had reached a limit and didn’t know what to do next,” Kelly says. “Then
I came across someone who introduced me to the executive staff I have now. They had worked together for 10 years with a previous caterer, and I was able to step out on faith and hire them. The experience they brought has absolutely made my business explode.”
With an expanded staff, an upgraded kitchen, and even a warehouse, Classy Caterer can now handle multiple large events simultaneously. “We’ve even moved to the point where we have a warehouse manager who keeps everything organized,” Trisha says. “It’s so much nicer—everything under one roof.”
What started with lunches for 15 people has grown to events for hundreds. “We’ll do multiple 500-person events throughout the year,” she says. “We’ve done a crowd as large as 700. My team really gets on fire when I tell them we’re doing a breakfast for 400 or a black-tie gala. We do it—white glove treatment.”
Teamwork and Passion
Classy Caterer’s reputation now spans East Tennessee. “We currently belong to seven different Chambers of Commerce,” Kelly notes. “I serve on the board of the Loudon County Chamber. And we have top corporate companies in Knoxville that are steady clients.”
Kelly attributes the company’s success to teamwork and passion. “Everyone knows their role and takes pride in it.
We work hard, we laugh a lot, and we all share one goal—to make every client’s event feel effortless, beautiful, and perfectly planned from start to finish.”
That spirit carries into every detail, from the way napkins are folded to how the final plate is placed. It’s a philosophy rooted in care—because, as Kelly puts it, presentation is a form of respect.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s 25 or 2,500,” she says. “We’re going to give you an elegant meal—perfect every time.”
Her mantra says it all: “It will always be an elevated experience.”
Gold Winner :
Caterer – Business
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865- 406-5477
10621 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37922
classycaterer.com
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