HARRIS, Iowa -- Killer chocolate chip cookies.
That's what first lured grain farmer Mark Dillehay to his wife of 31 years, Julie.
These days she's cooking for a larger crowd -- one that might be lucky enough to sample her mouth-watering cream puffs or delectable peanut brittle bread pudding.
"I think my catering business really started when I brought Mark cookies in the combine," laughed Julie.
"In the early years of our marriage, I'd take full-course meals out to the fields -- mashed potatoes, gravy, roast beef, the whole nine yards -- and the kids would come along, too," she recalled. "We'd all eat out there, and we had some great picnics, that's for sure."
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About six years ago, Julie Dillehay, who had previously worked for other caterers and catered smaller meals herself, began her own full-scale catering operation, dubbing it Five Star Catering.
"The business was named for our five daughters," said Dillehay, whose children now range in age from 20 to 28.
The entire family remains involved in the catering service, depending on the time, location and size of the group to be served.
"Mark usually grills the meat," Dillehay said. "Pork, beef, prime rib, chicken breasts -- we like to say we do everything from hamburgers to prime rib. I think our pork loin is our specialty, though. Mark does a really nice job with it. You can never go wrong with a good pork loin."
Five Star Catering feeds groups both large and small, ranging from private dinner parties to gatherings for more than a thousand folks.
"We served 1,500 people at the grand opening for the Otter Creek ethanol plant in Ashton (Iowa)," Dillehay said. "They had pork loin sandwiches, baked beans and other sides."
"We've also done lots of weddings -- they can be really fun."
When the events get big, the "five-star" Dillehay daughters get busy.
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"There are times when I put out the call for all five of them," Dillehay said. "I'll say something like, 'I need you this weekend and you all have to be there.'
"What's amazing is they all come home," Dillehay continued. "We even have some boyfriends who come along, and my son-in-law. We also have a fantastic couple that helps out, Keith and Dee Klaassen. You couldn't find better people to work with."
On Monday and Tuesday, Dillehay and company will provide their culinary delights at the Historic Dayton House Valentine dinners, as they did on one evening last February.
"This year, guests have a choice of pork loin or roast beef, plus there will be a potato, vegetable, salad, roll and dessert," Dillehay said. "I'm thinking the dessert might be cream puffs again, because people liked those so much last year."
Catering at the Dayton House has some perks for the workers, too.
"We love the dishwasher," laughed Dillehay. "After we've been there, I hear about it for weeks from the people we work with. They absolutely adore it. And we're always so impressed with all the volunteers at the Dayton House. They're so helpful and so nice to us."
Dillehay is the first to admit that catering is a lot of work, but she loves doing it.
"Some people read books, but I read cookbooks," she said. "I never have fewer than three in the vehicle at any time. I'm always looking for new food ideas, something different.
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"I feel that God has given us this gift, this ability to prepare and serve food, and we want to use that in the best way we can. That's the foundation of our family and our business. "We really care that the events we're catering turn out well for people. It really matters to us, plus we have fun doing it.
"When we stop having fun, then it's time to quit."
Five Star Catering will serve a special Valentine's dinner at the Dayton House, 1311 Fourth Ave., Worthington, at 6 p.m. Monday night and 6 and 8 p.m. Tuesday night. Dinner is by reservation only; call the Historic Dayton House at 507-727-1311 for more information and to make reservations.
