Meet the Bleu Bite Catering Team
Cerstin Cheatham, Owner, Chef & Wedding Specialist
“I discovered my passion for entertaining in my mom’s kitchen,” reflects Cerstin Cheatham, creator, chef, and owner of Bleu Bite Catering. And those homey roots influence every aspect of Cerstin’s catering from her rustic fare, personalized service, and custom menus to her distinctive presentation of food and décor.
Always entertaining…
Cerstin grew up in Northern California, but in 1993 she packed two cats and all of her belongings into her little black Subaru and moved to Bend, Oregon. Her early days in Bend were filled with snowboarding, camping, and entertaining. Indeed, at every opportunity she threw parties for friends and family that included creatively themed menus, décor, and activities. Entertaining has always been in this self-taught cook’s blood, so no one was surprised the year Cerstin showed up for a Halloween party dressed as a punk-rock Martha Stewart!
Let the catering begin…
In 2000, Cerstin translated her passion for cooking, creating memorable events, and making people happy into a business—Bleu Bite Catering. In the beginning, Bleu Bite specialized in delivering fresh lunches to hungry working men and women and serving tasty food at local events. But Cerstin had a grander vision in mind, and she quickly transformed the business into a full-service catering company serving weddings, business luncheons, special events, and private parties.
Cerstin’s meticulous nature, hands-on approach, and passion for her work have made Bleu Bite what it is today. Nineteen years after its creation, Cerstin continues to work as chef as well as oversee the business’s day-to-day operations and kitchen management. In her efforts to stay sharp and on the cutting edge of catering, she also regularly attends professional seminars on cuisine, décor and design, and technique.
Not your typical catering company…
The fruit of Cerstin’s labor-of-love is a catering company that stands apart from others. Bleu Bite is socially conscious, donating $40K annually in food and services to shelters, non-profits, and fundraisers, purchasing free range and locally grown meat and produce, using compostable cups and utensils, composting kitchen waste, and recycling. Bleu Bite is also particularly distinctive in its personal approach to event planning. For every occasion Cerstin and her staff work one-on-one with clients to create a unique and memorable menu, plan décor, and customize staffing. With individualized attention to detail as the company’s cornerstone, Bleu Bite has won a reputation for hosting successful events that are fun and have flair.
Bleu Bite’s goal is for clients and their guests to be wowed by flavor and presentation, and this is surely something Cerstin and her staff achieve over and again.
Vivian, Customer Service Manager
Vivian joined the Bleu Bite team in 2017, bringing with her a wealth of customer service experience and a culinary arts degree from Western Culinary Institute.
Vivian’s customer service role at Bleu Bite entails both engaging with customers and behind-the-scenes office work. No matter what task she’s performing, her goal is always to deliver warm, friendly customer service and ensure that the office runs smoothly. Vivian also keeps in the loop with new catering trends by attending the annual catering convention with Cerstin and other “Bleu Crew” team members.
While Vivian grew up in both Oregon and Arizona, she’s always at home when her family is nearby. Whether they’re playing pickleball, just being lazy, or geeking out on movies, Vivian, her husband, and her son know how to make any moment a fun time.
Allie, Wedding Coordinator & Digital Media Director
Allie joined Bleu Bite after graduating from the University of Oregon in 2022. Her goal is to become a Wedding/Event Coordinator, so every experience at Bleu Bite brings her one step closer to her dream. As Bleu Bite’s Wedding Coordinator, Allie’s professionalism and energy help ensure we get every wedding just right. And as Digital Media Director, she finds fun and creative ways to share what we’re up to with all our followers.
Allie spent the first 18 years of her life as a ballerina and competitive dancer. And even though she’s still as busy as a bee, she still squeezes in time for fun, like working out, traveling, and cooking with her parents.
Carsyn, Wedding Coordinator & Digital Media
Carsyn was born and raised in Bend and is a proud recent graduate of the University of Oregon. While she’s got plans for an eventual career in public relations, right now she’s focused on helping create extraordinary moments for couples as a Bleu Bite Wedding Coordinator. In her role, she especially relishes brainstorming with her coworker Allie to develop creative ideas for client weddings.
When she’s not on the job, you’ll find Carsyn working out or hanging out with friends. Keep an eye out for her sipping on a green juice or enjoying a Bloody Mary with her bestie after a workout at StarCycle.
Niki, Kitchen Manager
With over three decades working in Bend’s culinary scene, including notable stints at Aubrey Glen and Deschutes Brewery, Niki brings invaluable experience and dedication to her Bleu Bite Kitchen Manager and Chef roles. Niki has an infectious spirit that lifts the mood and energizes the room during even the busiest of catering weekends. Her passion for food, cooking delicious meals for people, and making people happy combine to help ensure that every Bleu Bite event is just right.
Outside of Bleu Bite, Niki’s family is her everything. Married to her best friend and a proud mother of three boys and six fur babies, Niki’s home is a bustling hub of love, laughter, and organized chaos (and plenty of laundry!).
Jason, Chef
When Jason was eight, his parents took him to a 4-star restaurant. That was the moment he decided he wanted to be a Chef. That decision drove him to get a degree in culinary arts and become certified as a Level 2 Sommelier. While the dream has shifted over time, his focus on the food service industry has endured. For the last 25 years, Jason has worked in every aspect of food service, and he brings all that know-how to his work as an Events Manager at Bleu Bite.
Jason is an adventurer, and when he plays, he plays hard. He likes to extreme vacation, doing things like rafting the Grand Canyon and working on a cattle ranch. And with any luck, he and his dog Bentley will climb Smith Rock this year.
Rebecca, Chef
Rebecca has worked in the food industry for 30 years, starting as a hostess and working her way up from there. We’re happy to have her as one of our fantastic chefs on the Bleu Bite team. Rebecca loves learning and can always be counted on to keep the conversation interesting during long days of creating delicious meals for our clients.
After hours, Rebecca likes to relax with her cats (four of them!), her turtle Mr. T and her fish Gordan or getting outside and enjoying nature.
Sandy, Chef
Marc, Dish & Handyman
Marc, Bleu Bite’s Dishman, loves playing music, working with his hands, and creating things—someday, he’d like to build his own log cabin. On his days off, you can expect to see him with his daughter, doing something fun or just relaxing.
Biographies Written By: Nimble Ink
Photos by: Tullisphoto
