Tom Loves To Serve You About Our Company La Fontaine Bleu was established in 1968 by entrepreneur and CEO Thomas E. Stuehler. It took Tom an entire year to save the $1800 he used in setting up his small operation in a storefront rental located in North East Baltimore. A quality product that not only satisfies our clients needs, but continually exceeds their expectations as well as Tom’s ability to identify what people want, has enabled La Fontaine Bleu’s business and reputation to grow. An initial goal of La Fontaine Bleu was to acquire a building site where its once small, off premise catering operation could be reconstructed as an on-site business. The name La Fontaine Bleu was chosen because it seemed to be fitting not only for the catering company, but as a future name for a building as well. La Fontaine Bleu at Erdman Avenue, Baltimore La Fontaine Bleu acquired its first building in 1969 on Erdman Avenue in Baltimore City, which was later sold in 2003. In 1978, a second location in Anne Arundel County was built. Accomplished architect, Richard Bellamy, who specializes in catering facilities, assisted the Stuehlers in creating an accommodating and functional structure in which their business could expand. The building spans 40,000 square feet, can be divided into five ballrooms, and also houses retail space including a gown shop, a tuxedo shop, a florist shop, and a photographer. Ever growing, La Fontaine Bleu opened a third location in Prince George’s County on Annapolis Road, located about two blocks inside of the Washington Beltway. La Fontaine Bleu in Lanham Prince George's County In 1989, an upscale division of La Fontaine Bleu Catering was introduced. Truffles, ‘The Catering Company’, primarily serviced the Washington D.C. market until 1992, when Truffles was introduced to The Belvedere Hotel and was found to be quite suited to the guests’ expectations in this prestigious facility. Later that year Tom was presented with the opportunity to buy property in The Belvedere Hotel, La Fontaine Bleu in Glen Burnie Anne Arundel County an historic landmark in Baltimore City. The previous owner, Mr. Victor Frenkil, purchased the building in 1984 and saved it from demolition. Later, he fell on economic hardship and sold the building to a developer who legally converted it to condominiums and sold. The Belvedere Hotel Tom and Nancy Stuehler purchased the condominiums known as “The Charles Room”, “The Palm Room”, “The Owl Bar”, “The John Eager Howard Room”, the retail area in the lobby, three bridal suites and office space on the second floor, the entire twelfth floor; known as “The Grand Ballroom” and “The Platinum Room”, and finally, the trendy “13th Floor” cocktail lounge. Tom and Nancy are proud to claim ownership and management responsibilities for over one third of The Belvedere, which is one of the most beautiful, well-preserved, and distinguished historic buildings in Baltimore. The clientele at The Belvedere demanded a very Tom and Nancy Stuehler upscale catering product, so Truffles ‘The Catering Company’ was introduced as the operating company of the newly acquired facilities. In this way it was felt that a distinction would be made between the more conservative Market of La Fontaine Bleu and the guests frequenting The Belvedere and being served by Truffles. The separation has worked well, and the enterprise as a whole has continued to grow at a rate of fifteen to twenty percent per year. In 1998, Truffles introduces the Truffles Express division, created for off premise catering. It has grown considerably since inception and is expected to continue to do so as we create markets and capture market share from our competitors.   Nancy Stealing Food