This client asked us to transform the popular Casino Night party theme into something spectacular. For one glorious evening they wanted to treat their guests to a true “high rollers” experience, no expense spared. Of course, the only place to host such an opulent party was Salt Lake City’s gorgeous McCune Mansion.
As guests moved from room to room through the venue, they discovered one delectable treat after another. Snow crabs and oysters, seared mushrooms, truffled deviled eggs, baked brie, foie gras mousse paired with sweet white Bordeaux….and then dinner started!
A panel of international catering experts chose this event as the “Best Catered Social Event of the Year” in 2025. It received the ACE award, considered one of the highest prizes in the international catering industry.
Lots of events are beautiful. Some are even extravagant. But a rare few redefine what luxury catering can be.
This High Rollers–themed gala at Salt Lake City’s historic McCune Mansion was one of those rare evenings. To realize the client’s vision of transforming a traditional Casino Night into something spectacular called for something far beyond ordinary catering.
An ACE Award–Winning Luxury Catering Experience in Salt Lake City
In 2025, this High Rollers event was awarded the ACE Award for Best Catered Social Event of the Year, one of the most prestigious honors in the international catering industry.
The ACE (Association of Catering Excellence) Awards are judged by a panel of global catering leaders and industry experts. Winning an ACE award is not simply a local accolade; it represents peer recognition on an international stage. Events are evaluated for creativity, execution, design integration, culinary innovation, and overall guest experience.
To receive this award affirms Culinary Crafts’ standing as a premier caterer in Utah and a leader in full service catering nationwide. It confirmed what our clients already knew, that the level of luxury and hospitality we provide at Culinary Crafts is world-class.
Two ACE Awards in the Same Year
In fact, we didn’t only win one ACE award in 2025; we won two. One of our other event that year, a wedding later featured in People Magazine, was awarded the Ace for Best Catered Wedding of the Year.
We were the only caterer in the world to win multiple ACE awards in 2025.
McCune Mansion: A Historic Icon of Salt Lake City
To stage a social event as extravagant and luxurious as this High Rollers event, you can’t do it at just any old venue.
You need a particular kind of old venue.
You need the McCune Mansion.
Built in 1901 by mining magnate Alfred W. McCune, the McCune Mansion stands as one of Utah’s most architecturally significant and storied estates. Near downtown Salt Lake City, it is an exquisite cultural treasure with its Nubian marble fireplaces, Russian tapestries, and enormous mirror wall shipped from Germany. Its grand staircase, hand-carved woodwork, stained glass, and European craftsmanship evoke the elegance of a bygone era, making it one of Utah’s most sought-after venues for upscale weddings and events.
We love catering at the mansion, and we always feel a little reverence and awe at the majestic elegance of the place. We knew we had to do this High Rollers Event at the mansion, and we also knew that the food, drinks, and service had to match the excellence of this stunning venue.
We designed the event to guide guests from room to room through these beautiful spaces, drawn by the allure of delicious drinks and succulent surprises around each corner.
As guests arrived, we welcomed them in from the cold with a warm smile and a glass of hot mulled wine or cider with spiced pistachios. Once they’d shrugged off the winter chill, they were invited to mingle, explore the mansion, and enjoy the culinary delights they discovered along the way.
For example, as they wandered through the First Floor Sitting Room, guests enjoyed snow crab claws with lemon and drawn butter as well as oysters with mignonette granita. In the stairway alcove they found a quick bite of truffled deviled eggs. Raw tuna belly with razored fennel and lime dressing awaited in Mrs. McCune’s Bedroom on the second floor. The delicious surprises went on and on.
The culinary journey came to a head in the Gilded Ballroom with an exquisite eight-course dinner. From there, guests moved to the Main Ballroom to watch a showcase dance performance. As the band played, guests were invited to stay for personal dance instruction or continue downstairs for other festivities. After-dinner drinks and local artisan cheese selections awaited in the Lounge, while the games commenced in the First Floor Drawing Room. The rest of the evening was filled with the click of dice, the slap of cards, and the sounds of laughter and excitement.
Judging by the feedback of our guests (and the verdict of the Association of Catering Excellence judges), we achieved our goal of creating a menu and event that showcased the very best this gorgeous mansion has to offer.
This was custom catering at its most refined: theatrical, abundant, and impeccably executed.
For over 40 years, Culinary Crafts has been creating immersive, design-driven, full service events that honor both place and occasion. Because we are a full service, on-site caterer, we can provide luxury catering in any venue because we bring the kitchen with us. Getting married on top of a mountain? Hosting a private party at a museum or shooting range? Want to hold your corporate retreat in the middle of the Bonneville Salt Flats? No problem. We deliver high end kitchen-to-plate dining anytime, anywhere.
“Catering” can mean a lot of different things in different contexts. If what you want is really just someone to drop off food at your event, there are caterers who do that (although that’s not what we do). A luxury full-service caterer does far more than prepare and serve food; we design and execute an entire culinary experience. From the first design consultation to the final cleanup, every detail is thoughtfully orchestrated to reflect the client’s vision, elevate the venue, and create an unforgettable guest experience.
For us, being a luxury fell-service caterer means
It’s why we are consistently recognized among the best caterers in Utah and, now and then, in the world.
27x winner Utah’s Best of State
24x Best of State Caterer
3x Best of the Best / Hospitality
1x Entrepreneur of the Year