Pauls Valley —
One may not have to be a five star chef to turn on an oven or boil a pot of water, but those that can prove themselves a master of the kitchen will find it easier to obtain the ingredients for success.
Pauls Valley has at least one example of how culinary skills can earn respect and a steady business, though if you talked to Tammy Delaplain of Tammy D’s Catering & Cakes, you’d find it almost impossible to tell whether she loved her customers or the food she served them more.
For 30 years the Garvin County native has been taking what she’s learned in the kitchen to people all over the state in a community that’s just as fond of her.
“Pauls Valley has always been my life,” said Delaplain, who graduated from Pauls Valley High School in 1978. “Every occasion is something extra to look forward to.”
While the opportunity to share the family’s tasty treats started when Delaplain was a homemaker, it came about originally when she decided she wanted to learn how to make better cakes for her three sons, Rob, Dusty and Kody.
She got plenty of experience cooking for a crowd as well because the boys would have teammates over for meals from the various sports they played.
“The teams would show up at my house because they knew I could cook,” said Delaplain, adding that she took a class to learn how to make and decorate cakes. “I never knew how many would be there at times, but you just open more cans and peel more potatoes.”
Delaplain attributes much of what she knows all the way back to childhood about cooking to her mother, Nan Caldwell, who she considers her business partner.
Caldwell, who makes about 250 pounds of cornbread each year, has gained quite a bit of fame as well for her creme pies and helps when she can preparing meals as well as at an occasional catering event.
“I love working with my best friend, my mom and this is her dream realized,” said Delaplain. “I learned that even though I was the boss never to snap my fingers at her, because she was still the mother.”
The catering part of the business, which goes back about 19 years with about 9 current employees, really took off after Delaplain’s dad, called Pops, built the first catering shop near her house.
She later moved into her current location, which was her dad’s cabinet making spot, and has since seen the building take on an atmosphere that would feel like a full fledged restaurant.
Delaplain will offer her services to everything from a family gathering to a corporate event, though she tends to not serve too many orders for groups smaller than 50-100 people.
The busiest times of the year are spring weddings and holiday parties, with the largest being the annual Wal-Mart Distribution Christmas gathering of 800 hungry patrons.
Delaplain’s menu can also be made to fit customers needs, for any meal or occasion, be it a breakfast buffet or fried turkeys for Thanksgiving. Her Husband Bobby does all of the grilling, which is popular and her granddaughter Maddie is learning the family trade so she can one day take over.
One of the things that Delaplain is particularly fond of is when she gained the admiration of the Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band last time they came to town. She’ll have the opportunity for her lifelong hobby to further reach young musicians stomachs when they return this October.
When Delaplain hasn’t been busy rushing from freezer to fire she has also spent her time working with children at Pauls Valley Schools in capacities like teacher’s aide or preparing football programs.
Her reputation helping or even housing some children from rough situations has earned her the nickname Mama D.
“Not only do we prepare the finest food, we set up the finest atmosphere that fits the occasion,” said Delaplain, who is already booked this December.
“It is not just a table cloth thrown out there and we may put more work into it than we should, but it talks for us.”
Arts & History
Related Photos
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Tammy Delaplain, owner and main cook for Tammy D’s Catering & Cakes, demonstrates how she would go about decorating a cake for an order Wednesday at her shop. For her years of satisfying hearts and stomachs in Pauls Valley she is this week's Noteworthy Neighbor. Ezra Mann
Discussion
Catering business cooks way to success
Noteworthy Neighbor
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