Today we’d like to introduce you to Regina ORourke.
Hi Regina, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Regina O’Rourke, and together with my husband, Evan, we are the founders and owners of Gather, Catering for All Occasions. We’ve been married for more than 30 years, live in New Market, Maryland, have three wonderful children and two grandchildren, and both teach at West Frederick Middle School in Frederick County. We both love teaching, but hospitality has always been a passion we share. Family has always been at the center of our lives, and in many ways, Gather is simply an extension of that. We wanted to create a business that helps people gather, celebrate, and create lasting memories with the people they love.
After the COVID restrictions were lifted, I found myself standing in line outside a popular organic donut shop on its last day in its original downtown Frederick location. They were moving to a larger space, and I had always loved that little shop. As I stood there waiting, I caught myself daydreaming about what I would do with it. Suddenly, everything just clicked.
Long before charcuterie became so popular, I had been creating fruit and cheese platters and charcuterie boards for family gatherings, parties, and special occasions. Standing in that line, the entire concept came to me at once, what we would offer, how it would look, and even the name.
I ran back to the car, where my husband was patiently waiting for his donut, and excitedly told him, “I know exactly what we’re going to do next.” I rambled through every detail of the vision and finished by saying, “We’ll call it Gather because, after everything we’d all been through, people could finally gather again with family and friends.” He listened patiently to my entire business plan and then asked, “Did you get my donut?” We still laugh about that today.
Within three months of intense research and hard work, I found a shared commercial kitchen, became licensed and insured, built our website, launched our social media, and opened our doors. While I may have come back to the car with the idea, Gather has always been a true partnership. I’m the dreamer and creative force behind our designs, but Evan has been beside me every step of the way, offering steady support, solving problems, and helping turn those ideas into reality. We each bring different strengths, and together we’ve built something we’re incredibly proud of.
Today, Gather has grown into a full-service catering company, creating everything from artistic charcuterie trays and signature grazing tables to weddings, corporate events, baby showers, holiday parties, and celebrations of all kinds. At the heart of it all, our mission is simple: to bring people together around beautiful food and meaningful moments.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like any small business, our journey hasn’t been without challenges, but every challenge has helped us grow. When we opened Gather, there really wasn’t anything like it in our area.
As our business grew and charcuterie became increasingly popular, we began seeing many new businesses enter the market. One of our biggest challenges was competing with businesses that didn’t have the same overhead and operating expenses because they weren’t working from licensed commercial kitchens or carrying the same licensing, insurance, and regulatory costs that come with operating an established catering business. At the same time, we watched some of our original ideas, website wording, unique offerings, and specialty products become widely replicated. Looking back, though, I realize it was a sign that we were helping shape the local charcuterie industry. However a friend once told me, “Copying is the best form of flattery.” So, rather than focusing on what others were doing, we stayed focused on innovation, quality, and providing an experience our clients couldn’t find anywhere else.
From the beginning, we made the decision to build Gather the right way. We operate from a licensed commercial kitchen, are fully licensed and insured, and meet all health department requirements. While that comes with added costs and responsibilities, it’s a commitment we’ve never questioned because our customers deserve the highest standards of quality and food safety.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that staying true to your vision is always worth it. Trends come and go, but quality, creativity, integrity, and exceptional customer service never go out of style.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Gather, Catering for All Occasions?
Gather is a full-service catering company specializing in beautifully curated food experiences. We offer signature grazing tables, charcuterie displays, cocktail hour catering, brunches, sandwich platters, hors d’oeuvres, grazing carts, and full-service catering for weddings, corporate events, showers, and private celebrations.
My passion for hospitality began long before Gather. I worked at Mealey’s Restaurant, a Frederick County institution known for its exceptional food and outstanding service for nearly a century. It was there that I learned that true hospitality is found in the details. Anticipating guests’ needs, making people feel genuinely welcomed, and creating experiences they’ll remember became the foundation of how I approach every event.
That same passion for hospitality inspired me to begin writing my first entertaining book, Gather in Style: Seasonal Menus, Beautiful Tables, and the Joy of Bringing People Together. Currently in development, the book is a natural extension of the philosophy that built Gather. It explores why gathering around the table matters and shares the five principles of hospitality that have guided me throughout my career. My hope is to give readers the confidence to entertain with ease by providing complete gatherings from start to finish, including seasonal menus, cocktail recipes, wine pairings, curated playlists, tablescapes, centerpiece ideas, grocery lists, and timelines that take the stress out of hosting. More than anything, I hope it inspires people to gather more often, open their homes, and create meaningful memories with the people they love.
What sets Gather apart is our commitment to quality, artistry, and hospitality. We source locally whenever possible, choose premium ingredients, and operate from a licensed commercial kitchen while maintaining the highest standards of food safety.
Another thing that sets Gather apart is our flexibility. Many catering companies require minimum orders or weeks of advance notice. While we always recommend ordering early, we also know that life doesn’t always go as planned. As long as we’re not committed to a large event or sold out, customers can often place an order as late as Friday evening for Saturday morning pickup. Whether it’s a picnic box for two, a charcuterie tray for friends, or large catering platters for an unexpected gathering, we love helping people celebrate both the planned occasions and the spontaneous ones.
We’re also known for creating unique seasonal offerings throughout the year. During the holidays we offer gourmet hot cocoa topping trays, and throughout the year we feature favorites like our homemade goat cheese truffles, camping-inspired s’mores trays, and our newest margarita toppings tray. We love finding creative ways to make entertaining easier, more memorable, and just a little more fun.
One of the things I’m most proud of is the trust we’ve built with our clients. Many families and businesses return to us year after year for weddings, baby showers, birthdays, corporate events, holiday celebrations, and life’s many milestones. Our goal has never been simply to serve food. It’s to create beautiful experiences that become part of our clients’ most cherished memories.
At Gather, we believe great food brings people together, but genuine hospitality is what turns a meal into a lasting memory.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My biggest piece of advice is to know your value and never compromise your standards. When you’re first starting out, it’s easy to say yes to every opportunity or feel like you have to lower your prices to compete. I learned that not every opportunity is the right opportunity. It’s okay to walk away when something isn’t the right fit or doesn’t reflect the value, quality, and level of service you’ve worked so hard to build.
I also believe it’s important to stay true to yourself and your vision. It’s easy to get caught up watching what everyone else is doing, but your business should reflect who you are, not what everyone else is doing. Trends come and go, but authenticity never goes out of style.
Most importantly, remember why you started. For me, it has always been about bringing people together and creating experiences that make life’s celebrations even more memorable. Building Gather alongside my husband while continuing our careers as educators has made that purpose even more meaningful. Through every challenge and every success, we’ve stayed true to the values we wanted our business to represent.
One of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received was from a bride who took the time to message me while she was on her honeymoon to thank me and tell me that our grazing table was the highlight of her wedding. Moments like that remind me that success isn’t measured only by growth or sales. It’s measured by the memories you help create and the impact you have on people’s lives.
If you lead with passion, stay true to your values, never lose sight of why you started, and genuinely care about the people you serve, success has a way of following. And as my father-in-law has always reminded us, “You eat with your eyes.” It’s a simple saying, but it perfectly captures our belief that beautiful presentation, thoughtful details, and genuine hospitality all work together to create an unforgettable experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gathercharcuterie.com
- Instagram: @letsgathercatering
- Facebook: @gathercharcuterie. https://www.facebook.com/gathercharcuterie/
- Youtube: @gathercatering. https://www.youtube.com/@Gathercatering
