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

"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

 Recipes can be found in Cook like a Caterer...Party Sized Recipes for Entertaining

On Lulu or also on Amazon.

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

            

Pinterest and a Edible Pineapple Flower Craft

Pineapple Flower, Fresh Ideas, by Renee Fontes

I have been trying to get up to speed on the Pinterest mechanics and finding it kind of confusing. I'ts like leafing through stacks of MS Living, but you can't tear out the pictures. Lot's of cool things to look at and pinning them to imaginary bulletin board (hope I'm doing it right!) and wow, I found edible art!

While learning new social network skills, I'm also learning some great food preserving skills in the Orange County Master Preservers Group. For homework 2 weeks ago we were told to dry something to show at the next class. I saw these pineapple slices on Pinterest they looked like flowers and gave it a try.

The picture I found didn't have directions but did have a series of photos that were easy enough to follow. Below is how I made these and at the bottom (I believe) is the original source for the pineapple dried flowers. Give it a try, and let me know if you have questions, suggestions or success!

Canning Jar of dried pineapple slices that look like fresh picked daisy's, by Renee Fontes

Dried flowers can be stored in a clean dry jar. They are pretty gifts, garnish and taste good too!
To make:

Cut top and bottom of pineapple.

 Trim away sides.

Notch texture on surface, this helps make petal edges.

The center of this dried pineapple slice looks just like the center of a flower! Photo by Renee Fontes

Slice thin with a sharp knife and lay on a silpat. Dehydrate at 135 until dry, but slightly pliable. It took mine 6 hours. Move from silpat to cupcake pan to help form shape.


 Allow to dry 2 more hours, place in sealed jar or container.

Drying pineapple flowers. Photo by Renee Fontes

I've tried to find the source of the original idea, best I know this is the one I pinned. Great idea!
Inspiration source- http://www.duitang.com/people/mblog/20209417/detail/

Wedding in the Woods

The best weddings are casual but classy... fresh and comfortable, outdoors but still intimate. There is never a need to fuss with decorations when nature can provide uncomplicated beauty. This Southern California wedding reception is a perfect example of all the above. Crisp white chairs, warm chocolate table linen, clean simple lines are framed by boughs and bramble. In one word~ beautiful.

Natural posts hold a simple covering for a simple buffet. In this picture only the basic table scape is in place.

Colors for the table mimic nature as well. Wood, ferns, stone and shade compliment rather then compete for attention.

The reception was a luncheon the menu items were arranged on platters and served cool.

Menu

cold poached salmon with cucumber coulis

lemon tarragon chicken with green grapes and lemon vinaigrette

beef tenderloin with portobella sweet onion mushroom salad and aoili 

orzo and wild rice salad

sliced tomato with blue cheese and bacon

creamy spinach pasta salad

bread display

wedding cupcakes

Photo RFontes Fresh Ideas

 Table assignments set for guests

Photo RFontes Fresh Ideas

Cupcakes for a sweet send off.

Photo RFontes Fresh Ideas