Shirley's Catering is a Burke Institution
Shirley Casey has been serving Northern Virginia since 1985.
Shirley Casey is the creative genius behind Shirley’s Catering, which for decades has been a local institution based in Burke.
Casey founded the full service, off-site catering company in 1985. Her first job was a picnic for United Brick and Block in Manassas. “We roasted five pigs and made all the trimmings and sides for 800 guests,” she said. Her next event was a birthday party at the Watergate for Senator Bob Dole.
Today Casey’s team consists of two chefs, two kitchen staff, three office workers and almost forty part-time servers. "Having staff at your event allows you to entertain and enjoy your party with no party anxiety," said Casey. This includes cleanup worries. “We always clean and leave the home in better condition than when we arrived,” she said.
All staff attend classes and periodic in-house training. “We are always our toughest critics,” said Casey.
Casey calls her personal taste in food eclectic, and enjoys reinventing herself in her cooking. “I’m always looking to see what is new and what goes well with my clients' taste buds,” she said.
She enjoys catering for large events, as well as smaller parties. Her repeat clients include several of the Washington Redskin players, the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, the City of Fairfax, Ferrari of Washington and ExxonMobil.
“Big events in fields are totally fun,” said Casey. In October her company catered lunch for the National Sporting Library and Museum at the Llangollen Farm in Upperville. The 285 guests arrived in vintage horse-drawn carriages.
A self-described Air Force brat, Casey moved to Northern Virginia with her parents when she was a toddler.
Cooking is in her genes. Her mother and grandmother were Danish bakers. Because her father was an Air Force officer, the family entertained frequently. Shirley helped her mother with all the cooking for the many military parties they hosted, as well as for weddings, birthday parties and showers for family, friends and neighbors.
Casey loves her work and appreciates her customers. “I cherish all my clients, many of whom are now considered family,” she said.
