About Us
As part of a joint venture with Elsa Gleeson of La Mexicana Gourmet Foods, CABO Enterprises brings take-out or full service Mexican catering to you. For special events at home, milestone birthdays, anniversaries, wedding showers and rehearsal dinners, quinceras, Cinqo de Mayo parties, children’s birthdays, or “just because” Mexican Fiestas, we have everything you need.
For corporate clients, we can provide on-site catering for antojitos, comida and cena buffets, and Christmas parties. A small mobile catering kitchen is also available for picnics and photo shoots.
Our rental inventory includes commercial frozen drink machines for making bar quality margaritas and cocktails for parties of 30-250, chafers and ice chillers for buffet service, authentic Mexican glassware and colourful Cancun tableware. Our extensive décor collection, imported mostly from Mexico includes original Huicholes center-pieces, corn husk flowers, serapes, and much more.
About Catherine Bowers – CABO Enterprises
After completing studies in Communications at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, Catherine spent ten years in the cosmetic industry as a Retail Manager and Account Executive for an international firm. Before taking early retirement, Catherine worked for Canada Border Services Agency (formerly Canada Customs) advising major clients on import and export. As both a paid and volunteer event planner, Catherine has coordinated a number of events including: fashion shows for a major department store, a Caribbean Cruise Night for a private school, an Artist Benefit and VIP reception, winery tastings, corporate Christmas parties, and wedding showers. Catherine launched CABO Enterprises, a company specializing in Mexican party rentals and event planning in Spring 2007.
Currently enrolled in BCIT in the Marketing Management Program (Event Planning Option), Catherine spends two to three weeks a year in Mexico taking classes in food presentation, visiting top restaurants for new ideas, sourcing items for the rental inventory, and enjoying the culture and good weather. Catherine lives in North Vancouver with her husband and two daughters.
About Our Suppliers
Elsa Gleeson – La Mexicana Gourmet Foods and El Comal Mexican Foods Corporation
Elsa’s passion for fine Mexican food is deep-rooted. Growing up on her grandparents’ hacienda in Guanajuato, she learned first-hand the authentic preparation of home-style and haute cuisine. Elsa spent ten years in San Francisco before immigrating to Canada. After spending several years working for the Mexican Trade Commission, Elsa opened El Comal Mexican Foods Corporation in Burnaby. El Comal is now a leading restaurant supplier of corn tortillas, corn tortilla chips, tamales, and various Mexican food products. In June of 2006, La Mexicana Gourmet Foods opened on Marine Drive in North Vancouver. The variety of Mexican grocery items, quality of the take-away, and the warm atmosphere of this 20 seat restaurant is winning over Mexican food-lovers on the North Shore. La Mexicana Catering is a natural evolution of Elsa’s commitment to authentic Mexican cuisine.
In her little spare time, Elsa offers support and guidance to others who have re-located to Canada from Latin America. By making regular trips to different regions of Mexico, Elsa maintains a current approach. On her latest trip, she took courses with Patrica Quintana, Mexico’s star chef, and studied the preparation of fresh cheeses from the Oaxaca and Chupa regions. Elsa lives in Vancouver with her daughter.