Englewood—Prime Caterers and Prime to Go are hosting a grand opening in Englewood at 172 South Van Brunt Street, on Wednesday April 9 beginning at 2 p.m.  Owner David Attias invites the community to stop by and taste samples from everything on the Pesach menu.

While Prime Caterers has been making parties and simchas for years, Prime to Go, with a full selection of prepared food to take home, is brand new. “So many of my customers asked how they could get my dishes when they weren’t having events. Prime to Go is the answer,” he said.

Attias described his approach to food as “gourmet, not fancy.”  Food should be done well, it doesn’t have to be showy, he said.  His gefilte fish is made from a recipe that originated with a family friend.  We’ll have to wait until after Pesach for what he described as the best challah ever, made from his grandmother’s recipe. Everything is made from scratch, produced from his recipes.

Attias wants his love of food to show in every aspect of the operation, from the beautifully renovated space to the best ingredients and thoughtful packaging.  Prime to Go is divided into sections including a bakery corner with all pareve desserts, carving stations for freshly sliced meats, and an area with food that is ready to be cooked at home.

Attias brings a Sephardic and international flair to his cooking.  Born in Morocco, he was raised in France and trained at the L’ecole Hotelier of Lausanne, Switzerland, one of the top hospitality management schools in the world.  He then came to New York and established his catering business.

Prime Caterers plans events of all sizes from small house parties to dinners for 2,000.  Summers will find Attias and his staff doing several functions in the Hamptons.  For home parties, Attias can contribute to the ambience by providing the right musician and decorative touches such as candles and flowers.  Food choices?  “The menus are endless,” Attias said.  He is happy to suggest dishes or create what the host wants.  “It has to be harmonious, though,” Attias said.  “I tell the host to make sure he has more than just what he likes.”   Prime Caterers provides a chef to cook and a staff to serve and clean up.  Lady Grantham doesn’t have it any better.

Bracha Schwartz