When you attend an event at the Sharonville Convention Center, the food and beverage experience is more than just a meal – it’s part of the event’s story.
“When meeting with a client, we like to get the theme of the event and create menus that revolve around it,” said Laura Starkey, Oak View Group’s Director of Catering. One example: the SPCA Fur Ball, which in 2025 featured a Kentucky Derby theme. Guests sampled petite Hot Browns, mini fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese, and Derby pie – each bite-sized and designed for mingling during the evening’s activities.
This level of customization is a hallmark of SCC. For the Ohio Society of Association Professionals (OSAP) event, the team turned food into an experience, showcasing Cincinnati favorites alongside a raw seafood bar complete with a lighted ice display featuring the OSAP logo. Action stations, including house-made shrimp and grits, gave attendees a taste of SCC’s creativity and the chef’s South Carolina roots.
SCC doesn’t just meet dietary needs – it embraces them. Whether it’s vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, or even specialty requests like grass-fed beef sourced from specific ranches, Starkey and her team focus on flexibility while maintaining quality and presentation. “We try to be as flexible as possible while ensuring we maintain quality and presentation,” she explained.
Presentation and service are equally important. “You eat with your eyes before you taste,” said Starkey. SCC’s team invests in top-tier equipment and emphasizes elegant touches such as butler-passed appetizers, signature cocktails, and creative displays. Imagine a smoked Caprese bruschetta served under a domed lid, with aromatic smoke rising as it’s unveiled – a small detail that leaves a big impression.
Emerging trends also play a role in SCC’s approach. Dietary restrictions continue to expand, and creative presentation has become an expectation rather than a luxury. From wood plank charcuterie boards to elevated buffet designs, SCC ensures every visual detail supports the event’s theme.
For Starkey, the message to event planners is simple: “We can do it all, from elevated concessions in our Bar and Grill to large conventions where we feed 10 to 2,500 people. Our high-quality food and beverage program is created in-house by an experienced and creative team.”
In short, SCC doesn’t just serve food – it creates experiences guests remember long after the plates are cleared.
