Picnics By Gerard in Baltimore: Plated Outdoor Catering for Small to Midsize Events
Picnics By Gerard is an off-premise caterer in Baltimore specializing in plated meals for outdoor events, from backyard gatherings to park pavilion receptions. The operation handles logistics that most caterers treat as add-ons: transporting food, setting up service equipment, and managing staff on-site at your location rather than requiring you to pick up trays or rent separate servers.
What Picnics By Gerard actually does
Gerard operates as a small, owner-managed catering business focused on events under 150 guests. The difference from full-service Baltimore caterers lies in the execution model. Rather than preparing food for you to collect or requiring you to source your own staff and rentals, Picnics By Gerard arrives with hot food, prepared plates or family-style service, and uniformed staff. The business does not operate a brick-and-mortar location; all work happens at your event site. This means no kitchen facility to tour, but it also means the caterer is already equipped to handle the logistics of feeding people where they are.
Menu and pricing
Picnics By Gerard operates on a per-head pricing model typical for plated service. Pricing varies by menu complexity and guest count but generally ranges from $18 to $35 per person for lunch or casual dinner service, with premium menus (crab, filet mignon, or multi-course options) reaching $40 to $50 per person. These figures should be confirmed directly, as pricing shifts seasonally and based on ingredient availability.
Menu options include sandwiches and salads for casual outdoor events, pasta and chicken for mid-range affairs, and seasonal seafood and beef selections. The caterer offers tastings by appointment; you meet at a mutually agreed location (often a client's home or outdoor space) to sample two to three proposed dishes before finalizing your menu. This differs from high-volume Baltimore caterers who may show you printed menus or photos without a formal tasting.
Staff is included in the per-head cost. Typical staffing runs one server per 15 to 20 guests, meaning a 75-person picnic includes 4 to 5 staff members. This is leaner than sit-down wedding catering but sufficient for outdoor events where guests move around.
How Picnics By Gerard compares to other Baltimore caterers
Larger full-service caterers like Taste of Maryland or Harbor Light Catering operate from commercial kitchens and handle events of 200-plus guests, often with in-house event spaces. They charge $25 to $45 per head but typically require use of their venue or impose catering minimums if you bring in outside food. Their infrastructure allows them to manage elaborate multi-course dinners and complex logistics, but they are overkill for a 50-person backyard wedding or a company picnic in a park.
Restaurants offering catering, such as Woodberry Kitchen or Bolt House, provide their own cuisine transported to your location at $20 to $40 per head. However, they rarely include on-site staff; you are responsible for plating, serving, and cleanup or renting separate servers.
Picnics By Gerard sits in the gap between restaurant catering and full-service event catering. You get dedicated staff and a caterer who has executed the same outdoor setup dozens of times, without paying for a commercial kitchen or event space you do not use. The trade-off is a smaller menu range and a guest-count ceiling around 150.
Who it suits and who it does not
Choose Picnics By Gerard if you are hosting 40 to 150 people outdoors, want plated or family-style service, and value a caterer who handles setup and staffing. Small corporate picnics, family reunions in parks, backyard weddings, and milestone birthday parties are the core fit.
Do not choose Picnics By Gerard if you need a large venue with a kitchen, catering for over 150 guests, or a heavily customized multi-course tasting menu. Also not ideal if you prefer to pick up food yourself or supply your own staff.
What the first visit involves
Contact Gerard directly by phone or email to discuss your event date, location, guest count, and dietary needs. If you move forward, you schedule a tasting at a location of mutual convenience, usually 2 to 4 weeks before your event. You sample two to three entrée options, ask questions about sides and plating, and finalize your menu and staffing count. Gerard provides a written proposal with per-head cost, total price, service staff details, and any rental recommendations (tables, linens, ice, if your venue does not provide them). A deposit, typically 25 to 50 percent, secures your date. Final headcount and payment are due 7 to 10 days before your event.
Hours, location, and logistics
Picnics By Gerard operates year-round and schedules events Thursday through Sunday, with occasional weekday events for corporate clients. The business is based in Baltimore but serves events throughout the greater Baltimore and Northern Maryland area, typically within 30 minutes of the city. Delivery and setup are included in the catering price; you do not pick up food. The caterer arrives 1 to 2 hours before service to set up tables, heat food, and brief staff. Breakdown and removal are handled by Gerard's team.
Parking at your event site is your responsibility to arrange or communicate. If your location has limited parking, note this during your initial consultation so Gerard can time staff arrival appropriately.
Picnics By Gerard fills a practical niche for Baltimore-area outdoor events: small enough to be nimble and personal, large enough to handle 150 guests with professional staffing, and fully equipped to manage the logistical details that make the difference between a event that runs smoothly and one where someone ends up heating food in a stranger's kitchen.
