planyour event

Imagine your vision realized, every detail captured, and your event crafted to perfection. Anderson Japanese Gardens is rated the highest quality Japanese garden in North America and is the most unique and beautiful venue to host a wide variety of events. Whether you choose the Outdoor Pavilion, the Guest House, the Gallery or the Dining Room, your event will be long remembered.

Anderson Japanese Gardens has just formed a partnership with Mary’s Market to provide all food and beverage services for events at AJG. If you have any questions, in the meantime please feel free to email Julie Pastore at jpastore@andersongardens.org.

Plan your Wedding and Reception

Plan your Corporate Event

Introducing Christopher Holden, Executive Chef, Mary’s Market

Seasoned Culinary Experience

Chef Holden holds 17 years of culinary experience, ranging from prep and line cook to Pastry Chef and Sous Chef at gourmet restaurants, apprenticing and learning from renowned chefs. Christopher began his career working at various fine dining restaurants on the historic Woodstock Square in Crystal Lake, Illinois. In 1998 he moved to Rockford and held Executive Chef positions at Bacchus, the University Club and Eurest/Sundstrand.

Banquet Expertise

Chef Holden has extensive banquet and reception experience ranging from small private dinner parties to banquets serving over 1,000. Weddings are his forte—at the University Club he created and served wedding receptions on a weekly basis for more than five years, putting forth high end menus (not ‘run of the mill’ banquet food).

His Philosophy on Weddings

“Banquet food should be the highlight of your celebration, just as food would take center stage in an event that was held in your home. The bottom line? Your guests should walk away talking about it for weeks, recalling the fine details that made your foods very unique and different.”

Food Style

Chef Holden has a passion for cuisine displaying his dedication to above par foods, with an emphasis on seasonality and the use of highest quality ingredients. His style is classic cuisine with an infusion of ethnic influences. Chef Holden’s presentation will complement the great environment of Anderson Japanese Gardens. He will also incorprate seasonality into the menu, playing to the change of seasons in the Gardens.

Food Reviews

“Creative, unusual, and totally delicious dishes fuse many global influences.”
“Cooking matches up favorably with Chicago’s leading-edge restaurants.”