What's the Occasion?

Ever find yourself itching for a party but missing an excuse to celebrate?  We’re here to help! We’ve researched the top “holidays” that always fly under the radar and never receive the proper recognition that they deserve. More importantly, however, we’re trying to give you more occasions to celebrate and keep the party going all year ‘round.

Let’s start with a somewhat neglected holiday that is never all that exciting but still has the potential for celebration. Every February 2^nd, America anxiously waits for Puxatony Phil to grace us with his presence and give us a sure sign of whether or not we’re in for an additional six weeks of winter.  Celebrating this holiday could go either way for you. If Phil reveals that Spring is coming, use Groundhog day to signify a “Coming of Spring” Celebration!  Conversely, if you’re thrilled about the prolonging winter, use that as cause to celebrate as well. 

Either way, have a few friends over and celebrate your favorite season. A catering tip: choose your hors d’oeuvres, appetizers, and main courses based on which season you’re celebrating. Serve heavier, comfort foods for a celebration of winter, opt for lighter fare if you’re celebrating the coming of warmer months!

 This next one is a product of Germany. I’m sure everyone’s heard of the infamous Oktoberfest and has maybe even held one of their own- although probably not to the caliber of the Germans. “Fruhlingsfest” is a German festival which roughly translates to Sprinfest in English and is known to be Oktoberfest’s little sister. A traditional German bier fest held from the middle of April until the beginning of May is a celebration of what, exactly? You guessed it, the spring season. You may not be able to persuade your guests to dress in the traditional dirndl and lederhosen typically worn by festival goers, however you could create your own biergarten with picnic tables and serve up steins of Bavarian beer and traditional Bavarian fare- weinerschnitzel, pretzels, sauerkraut and brawtwurst. Basically, think of a traditional Oktoberfest but instead you’re celebrating the arrival of warmer weather. 

Although the Summer Solstice is observed by most people, why is no one bothering to celebrate it? The longest day of the year and the start of the summer and we never hear of any great celebrations to recognize this awesome day. It’s tough in New England to think that weather patterns will actually obey the laws of nature and that June 21^st will in fact be a beautiful day, but more often than not we do get lucky on this day.  If you’re near the beach, gather up friends and family and throw a cook out and take advantage of the lasting daylight. Alternatively, host a backyard barbecue and relish in the fact that there are many more beautiful summer nights to come. Typical summer foods such as burgers, hot dogs, barbecued chicken, corn on the cob and pasta and potato salads are ideal choices for serving your guests.

We’re all familiar with the saying “Beware the Ides of March”, and of course George Clooney’s  2011 film, “The Ides of March” but until some extensive google searching, I think I can speak for more than a few people when I say I really had no idea what the Ides of March even was.  Well, behold the answer: The Ides of March is on March 15^th and is an extremely significant day in Roman history- it being the supposed date of Julius Ceasar’s assassination and a huge turning point in the Roman Empire. Thus, March 15^th marks the first day of the Roman New Year. This is the perfect excuse to turn a new leaf in your life if you haven’t exactly lived up to your New Year’s resolutions. Treat the Ides of March as a New Year celebration round 2. In the middle of a dreary March, everyone could benefit from an excuse to celebrate, especially if it means starting fresh once again.  An awesome idea I witnessed at a New Years Eve party was a “Resolution Jar” in which everyone makes an anonymous resolution, puts it in a jar and the hosts go through and chooses their favorite one and the author of the resolution wins a party favor such as a bottle champagne. It’s a fun idea to get all your guests involved and the resolutions people come up with are incredibly entertaining. A great way to try and stick to your New Year’s resolutions months after you’ve already forgotten about them…

So remember if you ever need an excuse to celebrate something, look into one of these overlooked holidays and start planning!

Soak Up The End Of Summer

Summer is quickly coming to a close and we're helplessly searching for ways to make it last. The balmy evenings of lazing around sipping cocktails on the porch are numbered and now we're trying to come to terms with the inevitable arrival of Autumn. With just a little less than a month left, there's still plenty of time to soak up the remainder of the summer and may we suggest doing so with some late summer cocktails? That fresh summer fruit needs to be put to good use before the season is over and we have a few ideas about how...

Pineapple and Mango Rum Cocktail- Recipe from Martha Stewart

2 1/2 mangoes (ripe, peeled and cubed about 2 cups, cut into slices with skin for garnish)
4 Ounces Golden Rum
4 Cups Pineapple Juice (Fresh)
Starfruit, for garnish

Puree mangoes, rum, and 1/2 cup water in a blender. Pour 2 ounces puree into each of six 12-ounce glasses. Fill glasses with ice, and top off with pineapple juice. Garnish with tropical fruit.

Vodka Watermelon Slush - Recipe from The Food Network

4 Cups Watermelon, seeds removed

Simple Syrup, to taste

2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice

1 Cup Vodka

2 Ounces Melon Liquor

4 Lemon Twists, for garnish

In a food processor, puree the watermelon flesh.  Pour the pureed watermelon into  empty  ice cube trays and freeze for at least four hours. In a blender, combine the frozen watermelon cubes, simple syrup, lemon juice and vodka and blend until smooth. Pour into four frozen martini glasses and garnish with a lemon twist.

Tropical White Sangria - Recipe from Rachel Ray

2 Blood Oranges, halved and thinly sliced

2 Kiwis, peeled and cut into wedges
1 Cup Seedless Red Grapes, halved

1 Mango, cut into bite sized pieces 

2 Bottles Sauvignon Blanc wine, chilled

2 Ounces Orange Liqueur 

8 Ounces Fresh Strawberries, hulled and halved 

In a 1/2 gallon pitcher, combine the oranges, kiwis, grapes and mangoes. Stir in the wine and liqueur. Refrigerate for at least two hours or up to six hours before serving.

Just before serving, stir in the strawberries. 

Whether you choose to try one or all, we hope these delicious cocktails can help you enjoy the last days of Summer and make a steady transition into Fall! 

Satisfy With Signature Cocktails

A great way to cut your wedding costs without sacrificing a single component of your special day is with the implementation of a signature cocktail. Having an open bar for a wedding has the tendency to get pretty pricey whereas a signature cocktail is a great alternative that your guests will be sure to appreciate. Not only does it allow you to create a drink totally unique to your tastes, but it can be easily served throughout your reception in dispensers, pitchers, punch bowls, or served in glasses of your choice.

A signature cocktail is perfect for a cocktail hour, or to be served throughout your entire reception. If you so choose, it can even be used as a substitute to the champagne toast. Prior to the toast, make sure everyone has a glass of your signature cocktail as opposed to a glass of champagne. It makes the moment more personal and memorable for your guests. Many couples come up with their own cocktail recipe by working with their caterers however some choose from recipes they've found elsewhere. A common trend seen recently is not one, but two signature cocktails. The bride and groom each pick separate his and hers cocktails and allow guests to choose their favorite. This is just another way to personalize the little details of your wedding table. Which ever you choose, your cocktail will showcase your unique style and add a lovely personal touch to your big day. Here are a couple delicious "His & Hers" signature cocktails perfect for any summer wedding:

Southern Sweet Tea

Recipe from Popsugar- Serves 8

2 large tea bags for iced tea
1/2 cup boiling water
8 fresh mint sprigs
4 cups lemonade made from frozen concentrate
1/2 cup vodka
Ice cubes
8 lemon slices

1. Place Tea Bags in medium bowl. Add 1/2 cup boiling water. Let steep for 4 minutes. Discard tea bags.
2. Place mint sprigs in large pitcher; mash with muddler or handle of wooden spoon. Pour in tea, lemonade and vodka. Cover and let chill.
3. Fill 8 highball glasses with ice. Divide sweet tea among glasses. Garnish with lemon slices. 

Bourbon and Coke

Recipe from Maker's Mark

1- 1/2 Parts Maker's Mark Bourbon
Coca Cola

Fill rocks glass with ice, add Maker’s Mark® Bourbon and top off with cola. For a twist, garnish with a lime wedge.

A Convenient Way To Cater

Introducing a caterer’s dream- a mobile kitchen as presented by our friends at New England Country Rentals. The team over at NECR is a group of incredibly impressive event professionals who we continuously welcome the chance to work with. They have a beautiful collection of vintage and modern rentals alike to dress up any occasion. Their newest (and coolest, as far as we’re concerned) rental item is their mobile kitchen.

The mobile kitchen is ideal for event venues that have a difficult time accommodating a full catering staff. Don’t be fooled, this isn’t your average food truck.  Here is a complete list of what the mobile kitchen is equipped with:

• 2 Convection Ovens
• 6 Burner Stove
• Griddle 
• Fryer
• 2 Warming Towers
• Commercial Microwave
• Commercial Coffee Maker
• 3 Bay Sink
• Hand Sink
• Hood with Fire Compression Unit

Floor Plan

With almost every appliance your catering team could ever need, it seems that NECR has thought of everything. Its functionality may not even be its best feature, however. One of the best parts about the mobile kitchen is its unique exterior. It’s wrapped in full shingles so that it can blend in with its surroundings at your otherwise stunning event. The Chef’s Table had the wonderful opportunity to work in the mobile kitchen at a recent wedding in collaboration with NECR. The kitchen proved versatile and it was a much appreciated convenience at the outdoor summer reception. The kitchen is ideal for smaller venues, outdoor events, and locations with no on-site kitchen.

The Exterior of the Mobile Kitchen

We highly recommend the mobile kitchen for your next event- the added bonus of this awesome rental? You’ll be working with NECR and have the opportunity to hand select other unique items from their vast inventory. Visit their website at http://newenglandcountryrentals.com/ to contact this talented group of event professionals and make sure that your next event goes off without a hitch! 

The 5 Best Food Bars Worth Trying

Looking for a non-traditional fun way to feed your guests at your event? Consider one of the most popular food trends of the year- stationed food bars. Food bars can be a great way to feed your guests while also incorporating some of your own unique tastes and personality. From the more common cupcake and dessert bars to the more unusual (but just as fun), mashed potato or popcorn bars, food bars are taking the catering world by storm. The strength of this growing trend lies in its versatility: a food bar can be created for virtually any theme and are ideal for cocktail hours, main courses, desserts or late-night snacking. Additionally, they will be appreciated by kids and adults, alike. Interestingly enough, many food bars go after "kid foods" which also happen to be adult favorites.

This brings us to our Favorite Food Bar # 1: Gourmet Grilled Cheese Bar

I have yet to meet someone who doesn't enjoy grilled cheese. The foundation itself nears sheer perfection with the combination of perfectly melted ooey gooey cheese sandwiched between two slices of butter-slathered white bread grilled to perfection. So in all of its perfect simplicity, how do we make this classic "gourmet"? Allow guests to create a custom version of the old favorite by choosing from a selection of artisan breads and then adding in a few extras. Tossing in  ingredients such as avocados, tomatoes, bacon, prosciutto, grilled eggplant and caramelized onions instantly transform a simple grilled cheese into a delicious grilled cheese panini. 

Our Favorite Food Bar # 2: The Bruschetta Bar

A little less kid friendly but a crowd-pleaser none the less. A bruschetta bar is ideal for a cocktail hour and in lieu of passed h'ordeouvres. Offer up a spread of olive-oil drizzled toasts and an assortment of toppings to choose from. Keep it traditional with diced tomatoes and basil or make it a bit more modern with roasted figs and goat cheese (Recipe here) . 

Favorite Food Bar # 3: Candy & Dessert Buffet Bar

 Okay, admit it. You were pretty thrilled when the last wedding you attended didn't feature a three tiered plain Jane vanilla wedding cake wrapped in fondant as the couple's dessert of choice. Instead, they opted for an awesome dessert bar complete with a cupcake "cake", cookies, chocolate candies, and the most sweets you've seen since Valentine's Day in elementary school. Candy and dessert bars are a whimsical way to serve dessert to the guests and is often chosen by a host who's young at heart. Glass jars are a cute and inexpensive way to serve truffles, cookies and candies on a buffet table. The dessert bar is a nice departure from traditional wedding cake and your guests will appreciate the change.

Favorite Food Bar #4: The Mimosa Bar

While this one isn't necessarily a "food" bar, it's still wildly popular, perfect for early events and showers, and deserves every right to be recognized just as much as the rest of them. The Mimosa Bar is ideal for your bridesmaids on the morning of the wedding, bridal showers, early receptions or post-wedding brunches. Instead of limiting your mimosa to the very traditional champagne and orange juice, try offering a few different types of fruit juices and a selection of fruits to garnish the cocktails such as strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. 

Favorite Food Bar # 5: Summer Salad Bar 

A salad bar is a refreshing change of pace from traditional food served at weddings and events and will also please your health- conscious guests. Offer a few varieties of lettuce, an assortment of toppings and possibly even proteins such as chicken, steak, or shrimp that guests can add to make their salad a bit heartier. A salad bar is perfect for those hot summer days when the last thing anyone is thinking about is a steaming hot entree. 

Sweet Georgia P's

If you have yet to hear about Sweet Georgia P’s and their inspiring story, we suggest you keep reading. Owners Rebecca and Joe Pimentel began this impressive business of theirs with the purchase of a humble farmhouse in Scituate, MA. They shared a vision to harvest fresh, healthy produce for their family. With the addition of several animals and a newborn baby girl to the family, The Pimentel’s realized that everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from their fresh produce. They began partnering with several organic farms in Massachusetts and the Sweet Georgia P’s CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) was born.

Customers can purchase a 15 week share from Sweet Georgia P’s in which they will receive a weekly delivery of the freshest organic fruits and vegetables. Additionally, Sweet Georgia P’s is known for distributing its fresh farm eggs and local artisan cheeses. The reason we love Sweet Georgia P’s the most? They team up with local chefs to create delicious recipes featuring their seasonal produce- including yours truly!  

This summer, The Chef’s Table will be partnering with the CSA to bring our clients delicious new menu items featuring only the freshest ingredients from our friends at Sweet Georgia P’s. We’re incredibly excited to be able to have a chance to work with this unique family while also satisfying our customers with local, fresh, and healthy ingredients. If you would like more information on Sweet Georgia P’s you can visit their website, here: http://sweetgeorgiap.com/about.aspx for the full story behind their effort to live sustainably.  Please be sure to check our website for featured menu items using only the finest from Sweet Georgia P’s!

How To: Go Green At Your Wedding

These days everyone is all about going green. From your new hybrid car to your compost in the backyard, finding ways to be environmentally conscious in everyday life seems to be at the forefront of everyone’s minds. The hospitality industry, too, is on the “go green” bandwagon, constantly searching for ways to reduce the carbon footprint of numerous parties, events and weddings that take place annually. An article featured on thegreenbrideguide.com reads that among the 2.5 million weddings that will occur this year in the United States, 62 tons of Carbon Dioxide and about 400-600 pounds of waste will be generated. To put that into perspective, consider the average American family who generates 100 pounds of trash per week. This means that at minimum, a wedding produces a month’s worth of trash from a single American family in just one day! Fortunately, there are many choices you can make when planning your wedding that will help you to reduce the amount of waste that your wedding produces.

• One of the simplest ways to do this is in the creation of your wedding menu. Hint: you do not need to hire a 100% organic caterer in order to make this dream a reality. Start by requesting that your menu be designed using local, seasonal ingredients. By choosing local, in-season ingredients, you’re already reducing your carbon foot print as well as supporting the local economy. Wherever you can, ask that organic ingredients be used. These simple steps will all be influential in creating  a more ecologically friendly wedding day.

• Wedding leftovers contribute in a massive way to the waste generated by weddings. While your leftovers will be likely thrown away, request that they be composted instead in an effort to eliminate trash.

• Speaking of trash…RECYCLE! This is perhaps the single easiest thing you can do to go green at your wedding. If you have any plastic cups, plates or silverware- even glass bottles from the bar, beer cans or plastic juice bottles, set up different recycling bins beside trash cans and label them accordingly. Recycling takes almost no extra effort but is extremely successful in reducing waste.

• Finally, consider your glassware, flatware and utensils. If you can, avoid all plastic, cardboard and styrofoam. Instead, try and rent these items to avoid waste. Added benefits to rentals include making your wedding look slightly more formal without breaking your budget.