Executive Chef and Owner - Kevin Shorter

My life growing up in an Italian family has been nothing short of cliché. The typical images one conjures of the large, happy (and loud!) family gatherings around the table for holidays, surrounded by massive platters of food, was the essence of my formative years. By the age of 10, without an idea of what I wanted to do with my life, I would find myself in the kitchen cooking side-by-side with my Grandmother. Breading and frying smelts for the Christmas Eve feast of the 7 fishes, or rolling meatballs alongside my mother in preparation for my sister’s first holy communion. The comfort of fine food and a warm family inspired me to be who I am today.

Before I knew it, I found myself in cooking classes. By 15, I had a job in a restaurant and was working as a DJ at my friend’s parties. It didn’t take long before I knew I was supposed to be in the food services business. I simply couldn’t get enough of it. From bussing tables to bartending, I learned it all by the age of 18. That’s when I realized it was time to ship myself off to culinary school. My journey through theses times has been fueled by an unquenchable thirst for knowledge of the industry. I was like a sponge, taking in as much information as I could. I didn’t just to learn more about other cultures. I needed to! I devoured everything I could about the ingredients they used, their cooking styles, their religious beliefs, their history and how their culture influenced the cuisine. I wanted to fully understand food, reproduce it and fuse it in the most authentic way possible.

As a young professional, I’ve held jobs as Sous Chef, Bar Manager, Kitchen Manager, Service Manager, Hiring Manager Catering Manager and just about every other aspect you can think of in the food service industry. I have also worked in a wide variety of establishments within the industry from bars to fine dining. Now I have joined forces with my father, a former music industry company executive to form the super group that has come to be known as Top Hat Catering and Entertainment.

Entertainment Director Charles Shorter

Music has been my passion since the age of six. That's when I discovered music for the first time. My goal was to be a radio DJ and I did get to do it, but I was 34 when it finally happened. You see, life had other plans for me. In 1977, I found myself working with one of the largest record companies in the world. it was with this company that I learned every aspect of the music industry. I learned it through experiences in the trenches with some of the top players in the game.

During my 30 years, I have worked with some of the most famous recording artists in the world and have helped make many unknowns into superstars. During that time, I spent many hours playing in bands and DJ-ing at clubs, parties and events. My musical knowledge spans genres and decades. I can provide music from the 30s right up to today’s hits. My traveling music library has over 10,000 songs from standards to hard to find to one hit wonders. I can also provide live entertainment through my network of contacts such as comedians, clowns, magicians, belly dancers and classical music. Teaming up with my son and his culinary experience and skills is a dream come true. We are the super group known as Top Hat Catering and Entertainment.