CateringSpecialEventoftheYear
UniversityofMiamiCentennialCelebration
A Century of Hurricanes
Celebrating Legacy Through Culinary Experience
In1925,visionarydeveloperGeorgeMerrickanda groupofdreamersimaginedaninstitutionthatwould shapeandenergizetheevolvingcityofMiami.Fueled byoptimism,boldambition,andaspiritofinnovation, theUniversityofMiamiwasborn,definedbyaculture thatisfearless,vibrant,andever-evolving.
ThatsamespiritcontinuestodefinetheUniversityone hundredyearslater.InStyleCateringplayedakeyrole indeliveringthreesignaturecampusevents: Homecoming,thePresident’sCelebration,andthe CentennialCelebration,bringingtogethermorethan 27,000gueststohonoracenturyofprogress.
Together,thesemomentsculminatedinaonce-in-acenturycelebrationthatpaidtributetoMiami’slegacy whilesettingthestageforitsnextchapter.
creating a seamless and memorable Centennial celebration.
A Menu as Bold as the U Culinary Experience
ThemenusreflectedMiami’sdiverseandvibrantculinaryidentity,bringingtogetherboldflavorsandglobally inspireddishesthatresonatedwithboththeUniversityandthecityitcallshome.FromMediterraneanbowlsto Cubanfritasandbirriastreettacos,eachofferingcontributedtoadynamicandengagingculinaryexperience.
AcrosstheCentennialseries,theexperienceextendedbeyondtheplate.Brandeddesserts,signaturemocktails, andtheVolunteerLeadershipLoungereinforcedacohesiveidentity,allowingeachmomenttofeeldistinctwhile remainingconnected.Eachmenuservedagreaterpurpose,connectinggueststothespiritofMiamiandthe legacyoftheUniversitythroughflavor,presentation,andsharedexperience.
AcrosstheCentennialseries,InStyleCateringdevelopeddistinctmenuconceptsthatbroughteacheventto life,fromthePresident’sCelebrationtoHomecomingandtheCentennialCarnival.Eachmenureflectedthe uniqueenergyandidentityofitssetting.
TheculinaryapproachcapturedMiami’svibrantcharacter,balancingbold,slow-braisedflavorswithfresh, bright,andrefreshingelements.Guestsmovednaturallybetweenstations,creatingadynamicexperience thatreflectedthecity’sdiversityandrhythm.
Carefulattentiontodietaryneedsandpreferencesensuredthateveryguestcouldfullyparticipate,resulting inaninclusiveandmemorableexperienceacrossallevents.
A Classic Miami, Reimagined
Creativitywasexpressedthrougheveryelementofthe culinaryexperience.SignatureUMorangeandgreen mocktails,CenturySunriseand100&Guava,were craftedspecificallyfortheCentennial,pairingtropical flavorswithaboldexpressionofschoolspirit.
Chef-driveninterpretationssuchasJerkChickenMac& CheeseandtheCubanfritareimaginedfamiliar favoritesthroughaMiamilens,blendingCaribbean andCubaninfluenceswithelevatedexecution.Each eventbroughtgueststogetherthroughfood,culture, andcommunity,allowingtheCentennialtobe experiencedthrougheverybite.
Culinary Integrity
Safety & Dietary Excellence
Themenuwasdevelopedtoaccommodateawiderangeofdietaryneedswhilemaintainingtheoverallculinary vision.VeganandvegetarianofferingssuchastheVeggieFrita,ChipotleMushroomTacos,andFiveCheese TruffleMac&Cheeseensuredthatplant-forwardoptionswereascompellingastraditionalselections.Glutenfreeitems,includingtheMediterraneanChickenBowlandcorntortillastreettacos,allowedgueststo participateintheexperiencewithconfidence.
Ingredientversatilityandthoughtfulcross-utilizationsupportedinclusivityandresponsiblesourcing,reinforcing theUniversity’scommitmenttosustainabilitywhilemaintainingconsistencyacrosstheculinaryprogram.
AllfoodfortheCentennialCelebrationwaspreparedwithstrictadherencetoHACCPandServSafestandards.
Hotitemswereheldabove135°Fandcolditemsbelow41°Fusingindustry-standardequipment,hotboxes andrefrigeratedtransport.Temperaturesandinventoryweremonitoredandloggedthroughoutproduction andservice,enablingseamlessreplenishmentwhilemaintainingqualityandsafety.
Clearstafftrainingonhandwashing,gloveuseandsanitationsupportedasafe,efficientoperationatevery event,evenatpeakvolume.
Designed to be Unforgettable Theme Development
BylayeringtheCentennialthemeintoeveryelement,diningbecameameaningfulpartofconnectionand community.TheculinaryexperiencereflectedtheUniversityofMiami’slegacy,drawinginspirationfromiconic campustraditionssuchastheRathskeller(“TheRat”)andtheOrangeBowl(OB),andtranslatingtheminto modernhospitalitymoments.
Eachstationreflectedtheseinfluences,fromthenostalgicandcommunalenergyoftheRathskellertothebold, high-impactatmosphereoftheOrangeBowl.Menucomposition,décor,andspatialdesignworkedtogetherto createasenseoffamiliarityandprideforalumniwhileintroducingarefreshedandelevatedexperience.
MenusweredevelopedtohighlightMiami’sinfluenceineachdishwhilemaintainingacohesivejourneyacross everyevent.Frombrandedmocktailsandinteractivestationstoconsistentmenudisplays,eachelement reinforcedtheCentennialidentityandcreatedaconnectedguestexperience.
Buildingonthisapproach,theexperienceunfoldedthroughaseriesofdistinctyetconnectedmomentsdesigned toengagetheUniversity’sdiverseaudiences,includingstudents,alumni,faculty,anddonors.
Studentenergycametolifethroughfestival-inspiredstreetfood,grab-and-goofferings,andinteractiveelements suchasacustomcandybar,whereguestscouldpersonalizeflavorsandtextures.Incontrast,thePresident’s Celebrationintroducedamorerefinedexperiencewithpassedhorsd’oeuvres,composedplates,andapolished dessertreception,creatingabalancebetweenhigh-energyengagementandelevatedhospitality.
Guestsfeltthatimpact.AssophomoreaccountingmajorAlejandroHernandezshared,“It’simportanttohave traditionslikethese.It’ssoeasytogetlostincollege,buthavingeventsliketheCentennialthatbringustogether, wherewe’reallheretocelebratethesamething,israre.”
Full-Scale Fanfare Theme Execution
TodelivertheCentennialexperienceatscale,theculinaryprogramwasexecutedwithprecision,coordination, andconsistencyacrosseveryevent.
Thirteendistinctfoodandbeveragestationsfeatured23uniquemenuofferings,rangingfromsignaturemac andcheesebowlsandstreettacostohotdogwagons,sweetcarts,luxepopcorn,andkosherselections.Each stationsupportedbothvarietyandefficientservice.
Executionwasledby10chefson-site,supportedbyacoordinatedfront-of-houseteamthatmanagedguest flow,lineefficiency,andcontinuousreplenishment.Thisstructureenabledseamlessserviceformorethan 12,000guestswhilemaintainingquality,consistency,andenergythroughout.
AcrosstheCentennialcelebration,the Miamicampustransformedintoavibrant andimmersivefestivalenvironmentfilled withenergy,movement,anddiscovery.
Carnivalrides,arcade-stylegames,live performances,andculinaryactivations createdadynamicatmospherethat reflectedthespiritofMiamiandbrought thousandsofgueststogetherinashared celebration.
Guestsmovedthroughtheexperiencewith curiosityandmomentum,exploring stations,engagingwithactivations,and connectingthroughfood,music,and sharedexperiences.
Eachmomentencouragedinteractionand discovery,creatinganenvironmentthatfelt expansive,cohesive,andwelldesigned.
Presentation Strategy
Making it Special
Presentationwasdesignedtofeelapproachable,vibrant,andreflectiveoftheenergyacrosscampus.
Foodwasservedinformatsthatencouragedmovementandinteraction,fromhandheldofferingstofestivalstylestations,allowinggueststoengagenaturallywhileexploringtheevent.Bright,familiarflavorsandcasual presentationstylesmadeeachmomentfeeleffortlessandinviting.
Theresultwasanexperiencethatfeltsocial,energetic,anddistinctlyMiami,whereguestscouldconnect, celebrate,andenjoythemomenttogether.
Brandedelementswerethoughtfullyintegratedthroughouttheexperience,creatingmomentsthatfeltboth personalandmemorableforguests.
FromU100dessertsandcustommocktailstocuratedmenudisplaysandInStylebrandedlattes,eachdetail reinforcedtheCentennialidentityinawaythatwasbothvisibleandengaging.
Theseelementsextendedbeyondpresentation,allowinggueststointeractwiththebrandintangibleways andcreatingalastingimpressionacrosstheevent.
Foodwasdesignedforbothvisualimpactandeaseofservice,allowinggueststoexploreavarietyof offeringswithoutinterruption.
Bite-sizedportions,layeredpresentations,andinteractiveelements,suchasapopcornwalllinedwith minicones,encouragedvarietywhilemaintainingasteadyflowthroughouttheevent.Stationsbalanced efficiencywithpresentation,allowinggueststomoveseamlesslywhileengagingwitheachoffering.
Thisapproachsupportedhigh-volumeservicewithoutsacrificingqualityorvisualappeal,creatingan environmentthatfeltdynamic,efficient,andengaging.
Intention Behind Every Detail Enhanced Design
TheservicestyletranslatedtheCentennialaestheticintotangible,guest-facingmoments,whereculinary presentationandenvironmentworkedinharmony.
Naturaltextures,warmwoodtones,andlushgreeneryframedeachstation,whileboldUMcolorsandclean signagemaintainedaconsistentvisualidentityacrossspaces.ConceptsliketheCaneShackbroughtarelaxed, tropicalenergytolife,blendingcampusspiritwithamodernMiamiaesthetic.
Foodpresentationmirroredthisapproach,withcomposeddishesandlayeredelementsthatfeltboth elevatedandapproachable,reinforcingacohesiveexperiencethatwasasvisuallyengagingasitwasinviting.
Serviceadaptedseamlesslyacrossawiderangeofeventformats,fromhighenergystudentactivationsto refined,largescalereceptions.
Chefattendedstationsandcustomizableelementsencouragedinteraction,whilegrabandgoofferingsand strategicallydispersedlayoutsmaintainedflowandaccessibility.SignaturemomentssuchasthePresident’s Celebrationintroducedamoreelevatedservicestyle,blendingMiami’sboldflavorswithpolished,hospitality drivenexecution.
Behindthescenes,acentralizedproductionmodelandcoordinatedstationstrategyensuredconsistency, efficiency,andqualityatscale,allowingtheteamtodeliveraseamlessexperienceforthousandsofguests acrosscampus.
Goals, Collaborations & Sustainability
Measuring Impact
Tosolidifyitsplaceasauniversityreadyforitssecond century,theEverBrightercampaignraisedmorethan $2.6billion,surpassingitsgoalandbecomingthelargest fundraiserinHurricanehistory.
Withover472,000gifts,443donorscontributingmore than$1million,and564,000squarefeetaddedto campus,thecampaignrepresentsatransformational investmentintheUniversity’sfuture.
Oneofitsmostmeaningfuloutcomeswaswelcoming 107,255first-timedonorstotheCanesfamily,each representingarenewedbeliefintheUniversity’smission todriveinnovation,discovery,andimpactforgenerations tocome.
AdefiningpriorityoftheEverBrightercampaignwas investinginthefutureoftheUniversity,expanding endowedpositionsandsupportingthenext generationofCentennialTalents.Throughthiseffort, 112newendowedpositionsweremadepossible.
AstheUniversitycelebratedthismilestone,the CentennialCulinaryProgram,ledbyInStyleCatering, playedakeyroleinshapingtheguestexperience, bringingtogetherstudents,alumni,faculty,anddonors throughmomentsthatreflectedtheenergy,culture, andspiritofMiami.
Throughthoughtfuldesign,dynamicservice,anda sharedsenseofcelebration,theculinaryexperience helpedtransformtheCentennialintosomethingfelt, notjustattended.
Theresultwasaprogramthatnotonlysupportedthe campaign,butcontributedtoitsimpact,creatinga lastingimpressionacrosstheUniversitycommunity. CentennialCelebration|Page19
Sustainabilitywasembeddedintoeveryaspectoftheoperation,supportinghighvolumeservicewithout compromisingqualityorguestexperience.
Batchcookingandstrategicreplenishmentreducedwastewhilemaintainingabundance.Reusable serviceware,pairedwithrecyclableandcompostablematerials,supportedresponsiblepracticesacrossall events.Crossutilizedingredientsfurtherminimizedexcesswhilepreservingvarietyandconsistency.
12
Chefs
30+
Menu Items
35,000+
Attendees
The “Wow” Factor
More Than a Meal
The“wow”factorcametolifethrough immersive,unexpectedmomentsthatinvited gueststoengage,explore,andinteract.
Interactiveelementslikethecandywall transformedsimpleindulgencesinto personalizedexperiences,blendingplayful designwithboldvisualimpact.Throughoutthe event,familiarconceptswerereimaginedinto vibrant,shareablemomentsthatcapturedthe energyandcreativityoftheCentennial.
Fromdynamicfooddisplaystoactivationdriven stations,eachexperiencewasdesignedto surprise,delight,andleavealastingimpression.
CentennialCelebration|Page21
A Taste of Miami: Century Celebration Edition
Throughthoughtfulmenus,immersivedesign,andhospitalitydrivenservice,theCentennial CulinaryProgramallowedgueststonotonlycelebrate100yearsofHurricanepride,butto experienceit,tasteit,shareit,andcarryitforwardintothecenturyahead.
