Foodie Family’s Alterman Now Caters Mitzvahs
Marathoner Katie Alterman Rosenberg shares her latest trends in catering and how to make the most out of mitzvahs.
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
Native Atlantan Katie Alterman-Rosenberg took her “foodie” family roots and training to land as senior sales account manager for Three Sisters in north Sandy Springs. Featured on the cover of the Atlanta Jewish Times “Then and Now” (Oct. 28, 2020), the Alterman family dates back to the early 1900s in the food business, starting with Big Apple Food Stores and Food Giant. Grandfather Sam Alterman shared the helm with brothers, George, Dave, Izzy and Max.
Katie worked at the Brickery, beginning in 1997 for owner/cousins, Bruce and Sally Alterman; and other cousin, Steve Alterman (OBM) operated the award-winning Horseradish Grill at Chastain Park. At the Brickery, Katie began as a server, then bartender, floor manager, and bar manager. She recalled, “I was the one out on the floor schmoozing. I always saw people I knew every day and loved talking with them.”
When the Brickery closed in 2015, she began working in off-premises catering and eventually landed at Three Sisters Catering. Previously, she graduated from University of Alabama in music and worked as a music therapist for the MJCCA Weinstein Center for 10 years.
Now back in the “food action,” she enjoys the client interaction all the way through the process. She stated, “They have my cell number; and I do a lot of handholding to get customers happy all the way through the process with their unique mitzvahs — weddings, corporate events, baby showers, bridal showers, Shabbat dinners, and kiddush luncheons. We can serve straight buffets, stations, and family-style receptions. Our newest craze is curated grazing stations. Actually, we just did a daytime wedding with a fried chicken and biscuit bar. Mitzvahs are ridiculously fun! Each one is different. We incorporate the bar mitzvah child’s favorites into the menu and have the whole family in for a tasting.”
It’s even more fun when husband, Sammy Rosenberg, is the DJ (Play It Again Sammy) at the same events. Another wing of her job is forming partnerships with planners, venues and vendors, and networking at business organizations.
When Three Sisters sets up a buffet or station, they bring innovative table décor, risers, candles. Often, they use custom signage, little boxes, and bags with logo stickers. Most mitzvahs prefer station-style dinner. Some of the most popular are Asian rice bowls, short rib street tacos, Southern station, and Korean short rib station. One of Rosenberg’s most notable mitzvahs was “Around the World” where all the appetizers were Asian, followed by dumplings, spring rolls, bao buns, and small Chinese boxes with sesame noodles. Then, for main entree, they had Mexican street food and Indian stations. Desserts were from different cultures: baklava, profiteroles, guava empanadas, and “American as Apple Pie” tartlets. The special drink was famous Jamaican punch.
Three Sisters has seven full-time employees. All the chefs are all “culinary driven.” Some of the house specialties are braised short ribs, pimento cheese, mac and cheese, and fried chicken. Katie said, “Our brunch packages have gotten really popular with great options like spinach and mushroom quiche and blueberry French toast casserole, different sides and homemade pastries. Our homemade cinnamon rolls are ‘to die for.’”
Each party gets an assigned team including an event manager, chef, wait staff, and bartenders if needed. Each season, they hire a new crew of teenagers to work part-time as a great first job and resume builder. Rosenberg adds, “They can pick and choose when and what they want to work. They will be thoroughly trained and gain important skills.”
On the personal side, Katie is a marathon runner. She laughs, “I have to exercise if I want to eat all this awesome food!”
She is an active member of the Symphony of North Georgia where she plays the flute and piccolo. Buckeye son, Max, who attends the Ohio State University, worked for Three Sister for two years and, even now, when home on breaks. Super energy might “hit the rafters” when Max, Sammy, and Katie all do the hoorah while working at the same event.
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