Patti Moring McQueen, Chef, and Owner of La Casella Catering was born in Michigan but has resided in FL since the age of 19. After graduating from UF with a degree in English and Communications, she has had a lifelong passion for food and cooking, and post-graduation began what became a 15-year management career with Waffle.  After the franchise sold, she moved to Ocala with her former husband and her two daughters. She ultimately secured the catering and food services franchise for the College of Central FL which she successfully managed for 8 years. A much-needed break/vacation to Italy following the end of her marriage gave rise to La Casella…which she successfully launched in 2019…The next few years of COVID, new catering opportunities via the Ocala Hilton, acquisition of Woodlea Gardens catering upon the retirement of long-time owner Martha Jane Davis…and especially meeting and ultimately marrying her husband Tully McQueen…brings us full circle to today…and the fullness of life’s experiences and dreams in LaCasella Catering.