GEMs Catering Grows
GEMs Catering Grows
Since its founding in 2018, GEMs Catering has served as Owner Emily Gonzalez’s love letter to her family, honoring the people who have influenced her life.
After cooking out of her home for years, Gonzalez has opened a commercial kitchen at 601 N. Queen Street in Lancaster City. With her new brick and mortar location, which features a full kitchen and storefront, GEMs Catering has expanded and entered an entirely new era. The larger space has opened up a new world of opportunities for Gonzalez and her catering business. In 2023, GEMs fulfilled 216 catering orders — sometimes preparing food for as many as five clients in a single day.
Born and raised in Puerto Rico until she was 12-years-old, Gonzalez’s love for cooking began early, at her grandmother’s side. Her earliest memories involve heaping plates of food that they made together.
“My grandmother was always in the kitchen, and I was obsessed,” Gonzalez said. “Everyone would be cooking together. I got used to home cooked meals and cooking for the whole family and the neighborhood. That was normal, and that’s exactly what I’m doing now.”
It is also important to Gonzalez that her business allows her to stay close to her children. The name ‘GEMs’ stands for Gisselle, Emily, and Michael — her family.
“If people know me, they know that my kids are my world,” Emily shared. “My ultimate goal is my kids, seeing them grow up, [and being] there for them.”
GEMs Catering has recently opened a storefront space, as well, providing hot meal options each week. These culinary offerings feature different cuisines, drawing on Jamaican, Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Cuban cuisines, among others. In addition to hot food, Gonzalez and her team prepare salads, cold subs, desserts, pastries, and beverage options for folks to grab-and-go.
As a full-service catering company, each of Gonzalez’s clients — for corporate events, weddings, parties, and any occasion worth celebrating — receives a truly customized dining experience. With their custom menu options, GEMs Catering aims to accommodate every person’s unique preferences and taste buds. And as GEMs continues to grow, Gonzalez prides herself on meeting the needs of her customers, regardless of their vision or budget.
“We try to be understanding that every budget is different,” Gonzalez explained. “I understand, myself, that there are times when we can’t afford to do things, but we also want someone to cater to us. Whatever budget it is that you have and whatever food it is that you want… we’ll go above and beyond for you.”
Every catering order is designed to serve 25 or more guests, and includes options for everything from a fully catered breakfast to pasta entrees, seafood stations to sandwich sliders, and so much more. From wedding menus and event spreads, to grazing tables and hors d’oeuvres, Gonzalez infuses her cooking with creativity and love.
She is always experimenting with different types of cuisine, many of which are inspired by her travels across the globe.
“Every time I travel, I don’t stay in resorts… and have American food,” Gonzalez shared. “I stay in Airbnbs and I stay with their culture. I go to the corner foods and the little food trucks because I want to experience that. It excites me.”
Emily Gonzalez approaches her work from a place of curiosity; she feels a strong drive to constantly learn and grow, seeking out new ways to improve her processes and collaborate with other local entrepreneurs.
Since starting GEMs Catering six years ago, Gonzalez has discovered that collaboration is essential to her growth. To promote this value within the Lancaster business community, Gonzalez hosts a quarterly Women’s Empowerment Dinner, celebrating the accomplishments of other female entrepreneurs and creating a space for local leaders to network and encourage one another.
“When you have people that believe in you, it just gives you a drive,” Gonzalez said. “Sometimes we just need that. We are capable of growing and evolving, so let’s help each other grow.”
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By Kylie Stoltzfus
