Engagement Party Appetizer Menu

I truly realize just how lucky I am. I don't just work in an exciting industry where the special event is king, but the unique opportunity to have a part of those small but monumental moments in a family's life. One such occasion that certainly deserves a celebration is a couple right after the announcement "were getting married!"

Isn't it great to be at the beginning? Before the showers, rehearsal and the epic reception....a sweet little gathering to kick it off......an engagement party!

An engagement party is traditionally thrown by the bride's parents, but many gatherings are hosted by the grooms family, friends or the couple themselves. Plan the event within a few weeks to a couple of months after the engagement. The purpose of an engagement party is to introduce family and your closest friends, so keep your list guest list small. Your entertaining style should allow for guests to meet and mingle, so consider appetizers on buffet as an option.

When deciding a buffet appetizer menu, choose foods that are portable, simple to eat and appeal to multiple generations. Even if you know the bride and groom to be, you may not know any special diet and eating patterns of the other guests. Having a varied menu will make your guests feel comfortable.

The following is the menu from an Engagement Party for 40 guests. It offers a balance of hot and cold appetizers as well as many meat free and gluten free choices. More importantly, it's good!

Ginger Sesame Pork Loin Platter with Sesame Noodles

Caprese Skewers

Goat Cheese Tart with Red Onion Marmalade

Roasted Red Pepper Hummas with Pita Chips

Shrimp Gazpacho 

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

Blue Balls of Fire with Raspberry Chipotle Sauce

Petite Stuffed Potatoes 

Chicken Potstickers with Sweet Chili Sauce

Sweetened Marscapone Stuffed Strawberries

Arranged on a dining room table these dishes become the centerpiece of the party where best wishes and congratulations add sparkle. The party becomes the kick off for exciting wedding plans and a beginning of a beautiful... celebration marathon!

Trip to the Islands Theme Events

                                       I found this picture from a big event summer event I catered in the late '90s. It was a company picnic, although the name of the company and exact menu is as faded from my memory just like the picture... I do remember, however, making over a thousand teriyaki beef and chicken skewers for this event. My staff and I grilled them over hot coals on a very hot summer day, ugh! I did some killer hard events in those day's!
Classic '90s appetizer set up, with fruit and vegetables cascading from a six foot tipped boat with nautical props and tropical floral accents.
The picture below (also faded) was a luau at a large home for a birthday party. We served the food family style on big platters to guests, resting them on the fruit garnished tables. Everyone enjoyed tropical tastes including a whole roasted pig. I remember it was hot that day too. I guess with warm weather is just around the corner...it's hard for me not to think about tropical entertaining!

Hungry for a taste of the tropics? Join me Saturday 2/16/13 (information below) and learn to make Kalua Pork, Kalbi Ribs, Hawaiian Shrimp Rice salad and Banana Nut Bread. Bring the recipes home to make your own feast!


Trip to the Islands Cooking Class

Get Ready for a taste vacation from the norm with a tropical dinner getaway! The island flavors featured in this class have a rich sweetness and wide appeal. Chef Renee will demonstrate, in cooking show style, recipes perfect for a simple meal or backyard gathering with family and friends. The focus will be on Polynesian dishes that are simple to prepare and feature fresh, easy to find ingredients.

Saturday, February 16, 2013 Location: Yorba Linda Library Community Room 2:00pm - 4:00pm

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!

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







 

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