When guests leave an event talking about the food long after the last plate has been cleared, chances are Gingerly Catered had something to do with it.
Owner and chef Mercy Clark didn’t set out with a grand business plan or lifelong dream of opening a catering company. Like many successful entrepreneurs, her journey began with a simple opportunity. A coworker invited her to help cater an event, and what started as a side gig quickly became something much bigger.
“After the first couple of events, I thought to myself that I could do this as a full-time career,” Mercy says. “It had been a long time coming that I was over working for other people, so it was an easy decision to make.”
Today, Gingerly Catered has become a beloved part of Prescott’s culinary scene, known for creative menus, beautifully presented dishes, and memorable event experiences.
A Love of Food Rooted in Family
Mercy’s passion for food and hospitality began long before she entered the catering world. Growing up in a single-parent household, she watched her mother, Nicole, transform their home into a welcoming gathering place for family, friends, neighbors, and anyone who needed a place to belong.
Every Christmas Eve, Nicole hosted a large celebration filled with laughter, conversation, and more food than anyone could possibly eat.
“I realized early on that food wasn’t just a way to sustain your body,” Mercy says. “It was a way to bring people together.”
She spent countless hours helping in the kitchen and experimenting with recipes alongside her childhood best friend. While those culinary adventures often left the kitchen in disarray, they also planted the seeds of creativity that continue to influence her cooking today.
“The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve come to appreciate flavor pairings and understand the amount of time it takes to create these edible art pieces.”
Scratch-Made, Flavor-Forward, and Beautifully Presented
As a woman-owned business, Gingerly Catered stands out for its commitment to scratch-made cuisine, innovative flavor combinations, and artistic presentation.
Mercy and her team take pride in creating food that delights both the palate and the eyes. Their menus often pair sweet and savory elements, encouraging guests to explore flavors outside their comfort zones.
Originally from South Florida, Mercy frequently incorporates influences from her hometown into her dishes, bringing fresh perspectives and unique tastes to events throughout Northern Arizona.
From intimate gatherings of a dozen guests to large-scale celebrations of more than 270 attendees, Gingerly Catered approaches every event with the same attention to detail and passion for hospitality.
Small Bites, Big Impact
While the company offers a wide variety of catering services, Mercy has become especially known for her exceptional hors d’oeuvres and small-plate experiences.
“I seem to have nailed the market for hors d’oeuvres,” she says with a laugh. “I host a lot of events with just a smorgasbord of small bites.”
That style reflects how she personally enjoys dining—sampling a variety of flavors and discovering new combinations. To give clients maximum flexibility, Gingerly Catered prices menu items à la carte, allowing hosts to customize menus and offer guests a broad range of culinary experiences.
Her background in the wine industry further enhances those offerings.
Before launching Gingerly Catered, Mercy studied viticulture and enology, making wine-pairing dinners one of her favorite event styles.
“I love when I get the opportunity to host a pairing dinner with wines, beers, cocktails, or mocktails,” she says. “It allows me to dream up new menu items that pair specifically with what guests will be drinking.”
The Reward Behind the Work
Catering is physically demanding. It requires long hours, careful planning, heavy lifting, and an endless race against the clock. Yet despite the challenges, Mercy remains energized by her love of cooking and the creative freedom entrepreneurship provides.
“What keeps me motivated is the passion behind cooking,” she says. “It is certainly a labor of love.”
And while every successful event feels rewarding, the greatest satisfaction comes from the guests themselves.
“When someone comes up and compliments the food you’ve provided, it makes all of it totally worth it.”
A Community That Supports One Another
One of Mercy’s favorite parts of running a business in Prescott is the community itself.
She appreciates the relationships she has built over the years and the collaborative spirit among local business owners.
“I’ve never understood that whole cutthroat mentality within an industry,” she says. “There is plenty of business for everyone. We should all feed off of each other and build each other up.”
That philosophy of connection, generosity, and support mirrors the same values she learned around her mother’s holiday table years ago.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
For women considering launching a business of their own, Mercy’s advice is simple:
“Do it. Take the leap.”
While entrepreneurship can feel intimidating, she believes the rewards far outweigh the risks.
“There is nothing else in my life that has been as rewarding as becoming an entrepreneur.”
Beyond the Kitchen
After spending long weekends preparing meals and creating unforgettable event experiences, Mercy prefers to keep things simple when it’s time to relax.
Her comfort food of choice? Thai cuisine—or anything someone else cooks.
When she’s not catering, you’ll likely find her outdoors enjoying Arizona’s natural beauty, paddleboarding, hiking, or relaxing in a hammock on her patio.
While food may be her passion, creating balance and enjoying life’s simple moments remain equally important.
Through every event, every carefully crafted appetizer, and every thoughtfully paired menu, Mercy Clark and Gingerly Catered continue to prove that great food is about more than flavor. It’s about bringing people together, creating memories, and turning gatherings into experiences guests will remember long after the final bite.
For More Information
Visit Gingerly Catered at https://www.gingerlycateredaz.com/ to learn more about catering services, custom menus, wine-pairing dinners, weddings, corporate events, and private gatherings.