About Us

We are Steve “Oz” and Laurie Ozbolt, the husband-and-wife team behind Emerald City Catering and the Enchanted Forest Event Venue.Our journey started long before we opened our doors—rooted in family traditions, shared passions, and the simple joy of gathering around a table filled with food made with love.

For Oz, the kitchen has always been a place of magic. As a little boy, he would sit on the kitchen floor, surrounded by his mom’s pots and pans, pretending to cook while breathing in the aromas of her homemade Croatian specialties. His fondest memories are those moments when family came together, laughter filled the air, and meals turned into memories. Helping his dad craft homemade sausages and learning the art of desserts by his mother’s side shaped not only his skills but also his love for food.

Laurie always dreamed of running her own business, but the “what” never seemed clear—until she met Oz. Their story started on Match.com, and on one of their very first phone calls, Oz casually mentioned a small catering business he had once started. Laurie felt a spark, a thrill that whispered, this is going to be something special. She was right.
In 2009, when Oz turned forty, he decided to turn his lifelong passion into something bigger—Emerald City Catering was born. At the time, both Oz and Laurie were well into their careers in other industries, but food and hospitality pulled at their hearts. In 2016, Laurie took the leap, leaving her corporate HR job to join Oz full time.

We began humbly, cooking out of the basement kitchen of Blessed Sacrament Church, where Oz grew up. With his childhood nickname“Oz,” the name Emerald City Catering just seemed destined. From there, we grew—first in South Milwaukee with take-out and off-site catering, and eventually moving in 2018 to our current home: the former Walker’s Maple Grove, a building rich in history and community tradition. Today, we’re honored to host weddings, memorials, and celebrations of every kind at our own Enchanted Forest Event Venue, carrying on the legacy of meaningful gatherings that so many families in our area hold dear.

At the heart of it all, our mission is simple: to make people happy through food and celebration. We believe every gathering—whether it’s a wedding, a milestone birthday, or a simple get-together—deserves warmth, joy, and meals that feel like they were made just for you. When you walk into Emerald City Catering and the Enchanted Forest, you’re not just a guest—you’re part of our story, our family, and our table.