We were honored to cater a graduation party in the Tri-Cities this past weekend with a full spread of fresh salads, charcuterie, wraps, dips, pasta salads, and more — every single item prepared in our 100% dedicated gluten-free kitchen in Kingsport. No shared fryers, no shared prep surfaces, no cross-contamination risk for celiac guests.
If you''re planning a graduation party, wedding, corporate lunch, or sports banquet, here''s a look at what a Smash Meals catering setup actually looks like on the table.
The Hero: A Six-Foot Chopped Salad Spread
The centerpiece was a six-foot family-style chopped salad built directly on the table — baby spinach, romaine, leaf lettuce, cherry tomatoes, English cucumbers, sliced red onion, quail eggs, and a generous layer of shredded sharp cheddar around the base. Two house-made dressings (creamy ranch and a Greek vinaigrette) served in mason jars on the side.
Alongside the salad runner we set out a warm roasted red pepper hummus, an Italian olive and black olive medley, and a chilled tomato-cucumber-feta salad — all naturally gluten-free, all built to feed a crowd without anyone having to ask "is this safe for me?"
Charcuterie & Cheese Boards
The charcuterie board ran the length of a brick wall — pepperoni, hard salami, sliced ham, hand-pulled smoked brisket, cubed sharp cheddar, pepper jack, fresh strawberries, green grapes, watermelon, and (because graduation calls for it) gluten-free chocolate croissants.
Every cured meat we serve is verified gluten-free. We don''t use mystery deli slicers shared with regular bread — that''s the kind of detail that separates a celiac-safe caterer from one that just "tries to avoid gluten."
Wraps, Dips & Pasta Salads
A platter of gluten-free turkey-and-spinach wraps anchored the protein side, joined by a hot spinach-artichoke dip, our pimento cheese with mango habanero relish, gluten-free crackers, baguette slices, and a tray of gluten-free croissants.
Two gluten-free pasta salads: a classic creamy macaroni and a brighter Italian-style with bell pepper and herbs. Both made with certified gluten-free pasta — same warning: most caterers swap in regular pasta and call it "mostly gluten-free." We don''t.
Why Families Book Smash Meals for Graduations
Graduation parties are one of the hardest events to feed. You''ve got grandparents on low-sodium diets, a cousin with celiac, a friend doing keto, teenagers who only eat carbs, and one vegetarian roommate. A 100% gluten-free spread quietly solves the biggest single dietary risk on the table — and our menu naturally covers low-carb, vegetarian, and high-protein eaters without separate trays.
- Celiac-safe by default — dedicated gluten-free facility, no shared equipment
- Designed for grazing — guests eat over a 2-3 hour window without anything sitting in a soggy chafer
- Delivered and set up — we arrive, build the table, hand you the menu cards, and you go back to taking photos
- Custom-quoted — every event is unique; we''ll build a quote around your guest count and venue
Plan Your Event
Booking window for graduation, wedding, and summer corporate events fills up fast — we typically need 2-3 weeks of lead time for full-service spreads like the one above. Smaller drop-off trays can usually be turned around in a week.
Call (423) 525-2489 or email lew@smashmeals.com to start a quote. Mention you saw the graduation post and we''ll send back a sample menu within 24 hours.