Sunday, October 28, 2012

Cook like a Caterer, October Pic's

Octoberfest fun with Beer Whipped Cheese- Cook like a Caterer page 54
Bleary eyed...kitchen totaled and with so much food in the fridge, my family is stuffed and ready to hibernate. Only 18 more... yes, 18 more dishes to make and their pictures to take, then I will have prepared and photographed all the recipes in "Cook like a Caterer, Party Sized Recipes for Entertaining" the E book version will be available soon, YEAH!

My goal is to finish this huge task by Halloween, which means blog posting has slipped to the back burner. But with the end so close, I'll break and share some  dishes that are fall savvy, delicious and fun!


We are only days from Halloween... here are a few recipes from the book;
Chili Lime Wings are a great trick  (recipe page 23)...
leave them whole and call them "Bat Wings" perfect for spooky theme parties.



Steak on a Stick with Bourbon BBQ Sauce is another great portable treat at a finger food event. The recipe is on page 43







It wouldn't be fall without pumpkins, so here is a cute mini pumpkin soup bowl. The soup inside is Curry Butternut Squash Soup, recipe page107

An easy fun dish for a child's Halloween party, is Tortellini Skewers page 45.
Arranging the skewers by sticking them on a cabbage head makes a "scary" tasty treat!


Just  a few days left, hope you have wonderful October!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Tapas for an Exceptional Anniversary Party


The same weekend we catered the perfect surprise birthday taco party, we had another gem. Since it's hard to believe we could cater two perfect events in one weekend... we'll call it an exceptional party.



This exceptional party had perky umbrellas dotting a neat stretch of lawn bordered by orange trees and garden roses.
Roses and oranges, oh my!... their scent lingering heavenly in the breeze-less afternoon.

The sun was very high, very hot and stayed put right over the backyard.While warm like a August summer day usually is, it offered in return the bluest sky ever. A cloudless canopy stretching endlessly overhead.

A setting as beautiful as the occasion...
Celebrating 50 years of marriage!







On the patio, stretched two draped and decorated buffet stations near a babbling waterfall and pond. Koi fish delighted the guests... especially the little ones! Food, beverage and dessert stations enjoyed a lush backdrop.


 When the hostess suggested a Spanish Tapas style menu, I was surprised, delighted and intrigued.

Tapas are snacks and finger foods, something that I would normally pitch for an afternoon garden party but rarely do I get the go ahead.
I got the go.
Planning a Tapas menu is creative  there is so many unique and tasty options. Even if some of the appetizers are labor intensive, they are every bit worth the effort.


50th Anniversary Tapas Menu
110 guests

                                                                                                                                               
 
Tapas Platters

 grilled vegetables, marinated lima beans, cured pork, marinated artichokes, chorizo, marinated mushrooms, pickled carrots, roasted peppers, spanish stuffed olives, manchego cheese, kalamata black olives,

 melon wrapped in cured ham, herb goat cheese, dried fruit, grapes and berries


Fresh Summer Fruit

Shrimp Gazpacho
with avocado, capers, onion, celery, dried chili, lemons and lime

 Chevere Torte with Red Onion Jam
cracker assortment

Chafer Items

Spicy Stuffed Sausage Mushrooms
Manchego Cheese Popovers
Spanish Albondigas
Chorizo and Black Bean Empanadas










Station Items

Bruschetta freshly Toasted and
with Three Tomato Pomodoro Sauce

Saffron Seared Chicken Skewers

Sherry and Garlic Braised Beef "Sliders" 









Dessert Cupcakes





Guests gathered to celebrate five decades of special memories. All were treated to a exceptional afternoon of music, good food and friendship.





 "An anniversary is a time to celebrate the joys of today, the memories of yesterday, and the hopes of tomorrow."  ~Author Unknown







 

Thursday, August 30, 2012

A Perfect Surprise Birthday-Taco Party

There are very few perfect parties.
Why? because something always goes wrong. Maybe you forgot the dip, an extension cord, ran short of ice or the sprinklers came on without warning. But last Saturday ... nothing like that happened.

The party was perfect.


First  the guest of honor was surprised. This is good because when you plan a surprise birthday party everyone is thrilled when the honoree is actually surprised! Next, the guests were genuinely nice. It's a pleasure having a part of an occasion when a big gathering of family and friends are eager to make it a special.

Lovely setting for a summer party!





The hostess (so sweet you can forgive her for having the most beautiful home in town and talent for decorating it) chose the "perfect" invitations.

A fresh and happy yellow in a hue that was ideal for a casual summer patio party.
The late August afternoon is very warm and balmy 85F, but no one seems to mind. With the sun comes big blue skies, lush lawns, sundresses and long evenings with cool drinks and lots and lots of friends.






Touches of, yellow, crisp white, and a little country were built into the presentation. Everything came together to compliment the relaxed backyard setting.


For dinner service we took advantage of the great new grill and bar island for the buffet.  The menu was family friendly, everyone loves Mexican! 


                                                    




We assembled "street style" tacos  from seasoned grilled steak and chicken freshly cooked on the new grill and filling the air with a delicious aroma. The tacos were served with fresh salsas, home made traditional side dishes, and  appetizers.
Fresh Ideas Events,Tacos Party










 Surprise Party Mexican Menu
 for 70 guests

Jalapeno Cheese Ball with Crackers
Fresh Seasonal Fruit Platter
Crab and Green Chili Cheddar Dip
Red Corn Tortilla Chips

Grilled Vegetable Salad with Cilantro Dressing
Steak and Chicken Tacos
Cheese, Lettuce, Sour Cream, Cilantro, Onions, Pico De Gallo, Limes, Green and Red Salsa 
Mexican Rice
Pinto Beans with Sofrito
Tortilla Chips

Dessert
Beautiful Home Baked Cookies and "Pie in a Jar" 
Made by a family friend

Fresh Ideas Event Services, Party Fruit Tray
Crab, Green Chili and Cheddar Dip, from Cook like a Caterer, page 57
Jalapeno Cheese Spread, Cook like a Caterer, page 62


 Recipes and more, Cook like a Caterer, Party 
 Sized Recipes for Entertaining
 Renee Weir-Fontes 

Carne Asada Steak Tacos, Cook like a Caterer, page 140

Self Serve Lemonade and Beverage Area

Grilled Vegetables for Salad, Cook like a Caterer, page 97












"To me, every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle"-Walt Whitman

Sunday, May 6, 2012

"OH MAYO!" Catering a Mexican Fiesta


Personally, I love Mexican food, I always have. It's not just the flavor I love, it's the comfort feeling that tags a long...warm, relaxed, and colorful. When a event comes a long with an opportunity to put a Mexican theme to it, I don't just want to serve authentic dishes, I want guests to feel the party too.


Cinco De Mayo is a good reason for a fiesta, but don't stop there! Affordable ingredients, ease of preparation and wide crowd appeal makes Mexican dishes an excellent choice for entertaining year round. A Mexican menu can be as simple as tacos, beans and rice or can have the addition of favorites like; Enchiladas, Tamales, Taquitos or Quesadillas. When made with simple fresh ingredients any Latin inspired dish is a good fit for a fiesta.

At this fiesta theme birthday party for 230 guests, a staff member, made tortillas to serve with the meal. Tortillas are inexpensive to make, and watching them being freshly made adds interest to the buffet. 


Just like menu, the festive look is easy to achieve. Bold color, vibrant flowers, warm terracotta, rustic pieces in wood, iron and clay work well for decorations. Use new serapes as table runners, fresh chilies, tomatoes and limes make great centerpieces, and paper flowers or pinatas keep cost down.



Bigger pieces rented from a prop house can turn a backyard tennis court into a Mexican village. Live Mariachi music is a wonderful treat at a special event. Having service staff in costume, and asking guests to dress up, adds to the fun.

(It only looks like the donkey is having a bite!)
The best way to offer fresh food at a fiesta is to cook on site at cooking stations or to create an open kitchen. Guests enjoy seeing the preparation which is part of the entertainment. The vegetables for this salad were grilled first, then the grill was used for cooking the Ancho Chicken for the main course. Once the vegetables cooled, the salad was assembled and served with Cilantro dressing.


 Fiesta Menu 
 230 Guests

Black Jack Quesadillas 
with Salsa Fresca
page 16
Carnitas Soft Tacos
page 142 
Taquitos Poquitos 
with roasted garlic guacamole
page 40
Cabo Shrimp Cocktail
page 20
Crab Green Chili and Cheddar Dip 
with fresh made tortilla chips
page 57


South American Grilled Vegetable Salad with Cilantro Dressing
page 97
Ancho Chili Grilled Chicken with Verde Sauce
page 132
Mexican Red Rice
page 123
Pinto Beans
Handmade Tortillas
page 216
Sliced Fruit Tray
page 65

Apple Flautas
page 184
Kahlua Chocolate Flan
page 199 

Classic Margaritas
page 227

On Lulu or also on Amazon.



Sunday, March 25, 2012

Catering A Gypsy Theme Event

I was planning an event for a client who has had so many parties, it seemed like every theme we thought of had been done before! Someone suggested the idea of a Gypsy Party, at first I was stumped. What seemed like it would be a challenging theme to work with, ended up a lot of fun.

The party was for the hosts birthday and 275 guests were invited to his private residence, (turned Gypsy Camp), in Yorba Linda, CA. The property is lush with mature trees and rambling gardens, the perfect forest look for a Gypsy camp. Props, menu and entertainment added to the flavor.

I rented a few old world style backdrops such as a cottage, forest, and thatched roof house. These were set dressed with luggage, tools, barrels and trunks. A few tents, wagons, wishing well, some farm animal props and bench seating helped with the camp look.

Most of the cooking was done on site in full view of the guests. The dishes were served on wagon covered buffets to protect the food as well as add to the rustic look. The party lasted into the night and everyone had a ball!

  ~Appetizers~

Market Fair Fruit, Cheese and Vegetables
Piroshki Russian Tiny Turnovers
Mystic Meatballs
Beggars Purse
Rosemary Steak Skewers


                                                                           ~Dinner~

Chicken Paprikash
Hungarian Beef Goulash
Rag Noodles
Rose Potatoes with Olives in Basil Oil
Chopped Peasant Salad 
Goat cheese, cucumber, tomato, shaved red onion and wine vinaigrette,
Rustic breads 
~Dessert~

Mixed Stone Fruit Cobbler with fresh whipped cream
Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce
 Tartelettes

~Beverages~

Lemonade Iced Tea and Campfire Coffee
Tavern Bar





~Entertainment~

Crystal ball reader, Tarot Card Reader, Gypsy Dancers, Strolling Music Playing Duo and a Theme Gypsy Band.


Prop tent makes a fun setting for a crystal ball reader
Props and buffet station settle nicely into the lush yard
Fortune Tellers tent
Benches and props set to watch the entertainment
Gypsy dancers liven up the evening
A colorful party