Best Small Plate Winner: “Diced Salmon Burger” by Dish Food and Events
Small Plates, Sweet Statements: The 2025 CATIE Award Finalists and Winners for Best Small Plate and Best Dessert
August 12, 2025 featured in Catersource
These standout entries blended elegance with innovation, often using seasonal ingredients and stunning presentations to surprise and delight guests.
The 2025 CATIE Awards celebrated the power of a single bite. In the Best Small Plate and Best Dessert categories, caterers across the country proved that when it comes to flavor, design, and guest experience, less can truly be more. These standout entries blended elegance with innovation, often using seasonal ingredients and stunning presentations to surprise and delight guests.
As we head into the cozy warmth of fall and the sparkle of engagement season, these creative, small-format dishes offer big ideas for planners and chefs dreaming up their next unforgettable menu.
Best Small Plate Winner: “Diced Salmon Burger” by Dish Food and Events
Dish Food and Events took home top honors with their wildly inventive “Diced Salmon Burger,” created for a high-end Scotch tasting featuring selections from Laphroaig. This fine-dining twist on a pub classic featured hand-diced salmon shaped into a patty with the help of transglutaminase, a naturally occurring enzyme (often branded as Activa RM) that acts like culinary glue by bonding proteins together. This allowed the team to preserve the delicate texture and clean flavor of the salmon—avoiding traditional binders like eggs or starch—while still creating a cohesive patty that held its shape. The burger was then seared and finished with a dry gremolata “bun,” everything-spiced crème fraîche, dill oil, and a brioche chip.
Inspired by both precision and playfulness, the dish offered a bold flavor profile that expertly complemented the smoky notes of Laphroaig Scotch. It was high-concept, beautifully executed, and packed with visual and culinary intrigue—earning it this year’s top small plate prize.
