And Here’s
Lilly was established in 1987 by our company founder Liliana Wilkerson who has created the
highest pinnacles of corporate fine dining, private and off-site entertaining.
After earning a Master’s
Degree in Education in her native Guatemala, she went on to study Television Production
and Direction in the United States. When she moved to Southern California, she
pursued yet another career by finalizing her studies in Hotel and Restaurant Management at
Cal Poly Pomona University.
In 1987 armed with her new
degree in hand and determination in her heart, she began her second career as management
in Restaurants and Hotels. She fine-tuned her growing expertise by tirelessly
grinding out sixty-hour weeks in family dining restaurants which lead to senior management
positions in the fine dining arena.
She was sought after by the
American Restaurant Association (now ARAMARK) to direct the operations of several of their
executive dining room accounts in downtown Los Angeles which included those of the ARCO,
Bank of America, Union Bank and TransAmerica corporations. Eventually the SAGA food
Corporation took over these accounts, but Lilly remained as the Executive Director of Food
and Beverage responsible for their most prestigious executive dining rooms. One year
later the accounts were taken over by the Marriott Corporation. Liliana once again,
remained in her position due to the insistence of her main client, ARCO.
ARCO management informed
Marriott that if they wanted ARCO’s account, Liliana had to remain as their Executive
Banquet Manager, since Lilly had proven her dedication and professionalism to ARCO over
the past 8 years.
At this time, Liliana approached higher management in
ARCO and proposed a solution which would ensure the deserved proper care of their
investment. She proposed to form her own company which would be duly responsible for
all the services tendered. This way the ARCO account was guaranteed the utmost
service in fine dining by providing complete personal attention to detail. ARCO
agreed to the proposal and through their backing “And Here’s Lilly” was
born.
It all began with Lilly’s
dream and desire to provide her clients with the most unique food and event management
services possible. While most food management companies provide their clientele with
their own food and personnel – Liliana realized that her clientele would benefit even
more if she provided the best chefs from all segments of the hospitality industry.
Therefore, providing international cuisine prepared by master chefs in their specialized
field to fit the need of the specified event.
This professionalism and
aggressive effort towards perfection has spotlighted And Here’s Lilly as the food and
event management company in the private sectors as epitomizing the best And Here’s
Lilly’s industry has to offer.
With the addition
of her daughter, Charmaine Wilkerson, who specializes in major event management, they have
brought together the best executive chefs, entertainment and décor companies capable of
designing any themed event, and the most professional wait personnel capable of serving
everything from an on-site, casual buffet lunch in a conference room to an international,
political summit meeting serving hundreds at an off-site sit-down dinner.
