by John Crowell

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Lake Norman, master caterer Armin Desch and his staff are happily creating world-class dishes that find their way to office luncheons, wedding receptions and formal dinners throughout the Charlotte region. Oh – and if you’d like a quick sandwich to take with you on your boat today, they do that, too.

It’s an interesting operation. Working out of Armin’s Sunshine Café, a tiny, low-key take-out shop in the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation pavilion at the landing, they cater daily to boaters who drop by for great deli sandwiches, salads and desserts.

Favorites include Joanne’s Macaulay Melt (grilled cilantro chicken breast on foccacia with artichoke parmesan spread, Muenster cheese and alfalfa sprouts), the Birkdale Club (grilled smoked turkey with melted Muenster, bacon, honey mustard, lettuce and tomato), and The Original Beth’s Jersey (hot turkey breast with artichoke parmesan spread, Muenster and sprouts on French bread). Customers can make up their own sandwiches with choices of meat, cheese, bread and condiments. And to round out the menu, there are hot dogs, four specialty salads, Big Fat Brownies and Cinnamon Apple Crumb Cake.

Boaters pull in at the free public slips and order, then picnic at the outdoor tables or hop back on their boats. To simplify a day of boating, the cafe offers family packs including The Bayliner, with barbecued pork, chicken tenders, buns, chips, condiments, cookies and sweet tea for four to six people. For a family of eight to 10, there’s The Pontoon, with the same menu plus spicy slaw and rainbow pasta. Both packages include plates, forks, napkins, cups and ice – all packed in a carry-on thermal container.

But while the Sunshine Café (open only on sunny days) is fun, it’s the catering that makes Desch and his staff light up. From the same kitchen, they whip up elaborate hors d’oeuvres, baked goods, main dishes and ice carvings that travel to events as far away as Shelby and Albemarle. A recent visit found Michelle Davis in the kitchen (redolent with the aroma of fresh-baked white chocolate chip and nut cookies) pouring up the batter for mini oat-bran muffins for a next-morning breakfast. “Our executive chef Erik Thomas is great at creating new dishes,” says Desch. “That’s one of the things that sets us apart. We’re always creating new things. We don’t use anything pre-made.” Several lake dwellers come regularly to Blythe Landing by boat to take home orders of Armin’s stuffed mushrooms and other hors d’oeuvres.

Desch moved from New Jersey to Charlotte 22 years ago and operated the Country Boardwalk Deli there for several years before beginning his catering business at Lake Norman. He’s catered events at major venues in the area including the Mint Museum, Extravaganza, the Overcarsh House and the Ranson House in Huntersville. The business serves as both a corporate sponsor and caterer for yearly events of the Make-a-Wish Foundation, the March of Dimes and the Ronald McDonald House Charity Foundation.

Besides gourmet food, Armin’s provides services ranging from event planning to linens and décor, wait staff and floral arrangements, offering turnkey event services for a growing customer base. Desch enjoys the long-term relationships that make up the catering business. “I enjoy being able to personalize a menu and take care of people’s direct needs,” he says. “You do someone’s wedding and get to know the bride and groom, then you get to know their kids. It’s fun.”