Fork-n-Flair isn’t your typical catering company. Alison D’Elia, the owner and chef at Fork-n-Flair, pours her heart into everything she does, and every meal feels like it came straight from her own family table.
Food brings people together; that’s something Fork-n-Flair has always believed. Some of their recipes go back generations. Each dish they serve receives the same care and passion they use for their family at home.
Cooking means more to Alison than just a job. It’s how she shares the feeling of true family gatherings: lots of laughter, warmth, and good food. But Fork-n-Flair is about more than just food. Creating an authentic experience is what they’re all about. They love themes, whether it’s a backyard luau or an elegant Italian evening. They handle everything, right down to the details, so your event looks and feels just the way you want it.
No matter whether you’re planning a small dinner, a big party, or an event with a theme that’s totally off the wall, Fork-n-Flair wants to make sure it isn’t just delicious, it’s memorable. Their goal is to satisfy your palate and fill you with joy, turning your event into something unforgettable. Every bite tells a story of love, tradition, and the magic that happens around a full table.
Recently, the Englewood REVIEW sat down with Alison D’Elia, to learn more about what makes Fork-n-Flair so special.
“We cater pretty much anything,” Alison explains. “From birthdays, themed parties, you name it. What sets us apart is how we approach things. I don’t just throw out a price. I ask for your budget first, then build a menu that fits, instead of telling you what it costs and leaving it at that.”
And what if you have an unusual theme in mind for your event? Is that a problem?
“We match your menu to your theme, too. If you want an Italian birthday, I’ll craft an Italian menu. Want Mediterranean, luau, Mexican? We’ve done them all. Even if your only theme is ‘favorite color is pink’—like yesterday—we ran with it. We offer three levels of service: simple drop-off, drop-off with setup, or full service. Yesterday we dropped off and set everything up with pink runners, pink floral antipasto cups, flowers—the works. We want to turn a party into a real event.”
When Alison and her husband moved to Florida in 2024, she never imagined she’d start a catering business.
“We moved here in July of ‘24; almost two years now. Honestly, I never planned to cater down here. I got the keys to my place in Englewood in June, and we opened that September. We live in Wellen Park, and when we first moved in, we’d have neighbors over for food and get-togethers, and everyone kept telling me, ‘You should open a restaurant!’ I wasn’t into that because I’ve done it before, didn’t come here for that. I was working in HR.”
Believe it or not, the seeds for Alison’s new enterprise were planted at a farmer’s market.
Alison says, “Little by little, people at the farmer’s markets began asking me to make trays or bake items for their events. It sort of snowballed. My husband eventually said, ‘Could you get this out of the house?’ That’s when I started hunting for a commercial kitchen, jumped through all the legal hoops, and eventually opened in Englewood. Around that time I got laid off from HR, so I put my retirement savings into the catering business. Wild ride, but here we are.”
All’s well that ends well, as Alison has found her happy place in more ways than one.
“My happy place is the kitchen. Seriously, I could spend all day, music going, just cooking. I started doing nightly meals for people in the area, especially during peak season. It’s a home-cooked meal every night—$15 most days, $18 on Fridays when I do fish. On my website, you’ll see today’s menu: soup, salad, dessert, quiche, flatbread of the week, all that. Place your order by 1:00, then either pick up in Englewood or we’ll deliver.”
When asked about working with dietary restrictions, Alison replies, “Absolutely. Leave a note or call me. I cook everything with low salt because it’s easier to add than to take away. Gluten-free? If I can, I will. I’ve got a client who always wants a bowl meal every week, so I include one just for them. I have regulars, but it’s quieter since the busy season ended. We went from 10 to 12 meals each night to just two or three now.”
She adds, “I tell my neighbors: you can get a meal from me for $15. That’s a lot less than what you’ll spend at Applebee’s or Chili’s, and it’s home-cooked. No brainer.”
So, how did Alison and her family end up in Wellen Park and Englewood? “We just decided it was time. We’re both golf lovers, the beach, sunshine, and we’d had enough of the cold, the expense, so we looked around, checked out Fort Myers, Estero, and finally landed in Wellen Park. I fell in love right away. It’s worked out perfectly.”
Alison wants everyone to know about their catering for events, corporate lunches, even breakfasts. “I work with a couple of pharmaceutical reps, organize lunches and breakfasts for them. It’s homemade, not just picking up from Panera or Chick-fil-A. I send proper meals to doctors’ offices, and it means a lot. I’d love to work with more doctors, hospitals, and anyone who needs food for their teams.”
Are you salivating? Feeling hungry? Be sure to check out their website for their online menu. Alison recommends calling her and looking at the online information. “Or just tell me what you need. We deliver, so your staff gets lunch with no hassle. I just did breakfast and lunch for an architecture firm’s training at Port Charlotte prison, so we’re set up to handle those, too.”
That’s what Fork-n-Flair is all about: family, flavor, and making sure your event is something you’ll talk about for years.
Click here to visit their website.
