Carlyle Catering now serving at Temple Israel

Temple Israel of Lawrence and Carlyle Catering officially entered into a 20-year agreement on Sept. 3. The synagogue on Central Avenue needed to find a new caterer after Morrell Catering declared bankruptcy earlier this year.
James Rotenberg, the temple’s president at that time, said that after interviewing several different caterers, they had selected Carlyle through a bidding process. The parties have had a tentative arrangement since April.
Steve Squitiro, Carlyle’s director of sales, explained how his company earned the opportunity. “We submitted and won a bid to the board of directors and catering committee at Temple Israel of Lawrence,” he said. “We agreed to credit many existing parties with the deposits they had given the previous caterer.”
The temple’s new president, Ken Shapiro, confirmed the permanent partnership. “We are proud to have selected Steve Carl and Carlyle Catering as our caterer,” Shapiro said. “We look forward to partnering with Carlyle for our mutual benefit.”
Carl said he had been looking at Temple Israel as a business opportunity for the past 21 years as he considers its location an “extraordinary venue” with a “wonderful congregation,” he said in a prepared statement. “I am very excited to finally partner with Temple Israel of Lawrence,” he also said in the release. “I feel like my career is really coming full circle.”
Carlyle of Lawrence, which is the official name of the catering business at the temple, will have on-site amenities such as a cocktail room with full-length bars and fire and ice décor, and a ballroom with illuminated crown moldings.
Carlyle will provide kosher catering through Foremost Caterers, which is under supervision of the Star K, an agency which certifies that kosher standards are met. “Carlyle is well known for providing the best cuisine and the best service on Long Island,” Squitiro said. “We will continue that tradition at Carlyle of Lawrence.”