CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA (April 14, 2025) — Peppercorn Food Company, the experienced premiere wedding caterer to the Tri-State area, announced an expansion of services with a new commercial kitchen opening in downtown Dubuque in April.
“In response to the overwhelming demand for custom catering in the Dubuque-Galena area, we will be opening a centrally-located catering kitchen in downtown Dubuque,” said Co-Owner Jude Villafana who owns and operates Peppercorn Food Company with Carrie Quast.
With over two decades experience in catering and restaurant operations, Quast and Villafana have built a reputation for exceeding expectations with high product quality, excellent service standards, and responsive client communications. The net result is a growing base of client-focused offerings, venue rental locations, and service formats.
Peppercorn Food Company’s from-scratch cuisine offers dishes made from fresh, high-quality ingredients such as USDA Prime Beef. Peppercorn Food Company distinguishes itself by serving only USDA Prime Beef, which is the highest-quality grade assigned by the USDA and characterized by abundant marbling, tenderness, and flavor.
The catering company also offers a robust charcuterie program with hand-styled charcuterie boards for catering and charcuterie boxes for gifting. In addition, classes taught by Cheesemonger Liz Dueland include make-your-own charcuterie board classes; artisanal cheese and wine pairing experiences; and specialty cheese-cooking demonstrations.
The program is mobile and private events can be held at Peppercorn’s downtown location or onsite at private homes or business locations.
The first class is from the Make-Your-Own Charcuterie Board Series with a focus on “Midwest Original” artisan cheeses.
The class will be held at Peppercorn Food Company, 2400 Central Avenue, on Thursday, May 15, 5:30-7PM.
Attendees will learn how to cut cheeses & style an Instagram-worthy seven-inch-round cheeseboard to take home. The class is part of a “Make-Your-Own” series, which educates students about the history and provenance of four featured cheeses and how to expertly pair them with curated accompaniments. The May 15 class features Salemville Smoked Blue Cheese, Wisconsin; Prairie Breeze Cheddar by Milton Creamery, Iowa; Bellavitano Black Pepper by Sartori, Wisconsin; and Carr Valley Cranberry Chipotle Cheddar, Wisconsin. Seats are limited and registration of $65 per person is required: carrie@peppercornfoodcompany.com or 319-743-5111.
Brides and grooms voted Peppercorn Food Company the best in catering in the 2025 Eastern Iowa Wedding Choice Awards, awarding a “gold” among caterers from Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Waterloo, Dubuque, Davenport, Burlington, and Dyersville.
The Dubuque expansion is the newest addition to the portfolio of the Peppercorn Food Company that now includes custom catering for weddings and corporate events in the Eastern Iowa-Western Illinois market in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Dubuque, Quad Cities, Galena, Illinois, Apple River, Illinois, and beyond.
With headquarters based in Cedar Rapids, Peppercorn Food Company most recently opened the fine dining restaurant, Peppercorn at the Bank, in downtown Cedar Rapids. The food group portfolio also offers the Peppercorn Food Truck, community fundraiser programs, in-house chef services, and three venue rental options.
