To be or not to be…Vegan/Vegetarian
By · CommentsYou can just order the rubber chicken and say “well if they don’t like it they don’t have to eat it”. Today most hosts and hostesses are concerned with the likes and dislikes of their guests and want to offer choices that will please most everyone’s palates based on personal preference or dietary concerns. Offering vegan, vegetarian, gluten free or being aware of allergic reactions to certain foods and accommodating your guests requests is not only courteous but becoming the norm.
The growing popularity of the slow food movement, sourcing foods that are produced locally and organically grown has got the attention of those with particular dietary preferences, meaning some of your guests. There is a new idea, organic restaurant or food show each day that spotlights the movement so it makes sense to offer it at your event. You can note the selections on your invitations. For a plated meal you can have them select the vegan option and on a buffet inform them a vegetarian menu option will be available. You can also ask your guests to contact you if they have allergic reactions to gluten or other foods. Budget concerns should not be an issue. Organic products might be more expensive, but you can go with fresh well prepared products and still make the statement.
You can’t just get away with a plate of pasta tossed with zucchini. Remember these folks are educated and know there are other options. You also don’t want to serve a fillet mignon to one guest and then a plate of steamed broccoli to another; they will notice the lack of concern on your part. Consult with your caterer for menu creations that are vegan or vegetarian using ingredients, wording and preparation technics that will get the attention of even the diehard meat lovers. Here are some examples. Tender pasta pillows filled with a sauté of wild mushrooms, side of wilted greens with caramelized garlic and shallots on a bed of butternut squash puree. Garnish this with some of those wild mushrooms and a fresh heirloom tomato & tarragon salsa glistening with extra virgin olive oil. Crisp eggplant fritters on red pepper hummus, accompanied by fresh field greens, roasted yellow peppers and feta dressing for those who still eat cheese is exotic, interesting and delicious. Roasting vegetables brings out intense flavors, think root vegetables like parsnips, carrots and turnips. Not a root vegetable but roasted cauliflower on fresh sliced bright red heirloom tomatoes and Italian parsley garnished with olive tapenade and served with warm artesian bread makes a great starter.
Don’t let the stress of having to decide what to serve your vegan or vegetarian guests turn you into a couch potato. Get up and go to your caterer, offer him a carrot. Tell him he’s got the event if he or she can come up with an interesting and delicious menu. You never know what they will turn up with. Gosh that sounds corny!
Imagine the possibilities.
Ideas For A Summer Bridal Shower
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Planning a summer bridal shower in Phoenix presents its own set of challenges. The bridesmaids are concerned about the temperature and the answer would be HOT. The next question is “how do you entertain when it is 110 plus degrees?” The answer of frying an egg on the sidewalk is a joke that never gets old.
The secret here is to keep the menu light and fresh with a lot of flavor. Taking advantage of the vegetables and herbs the summer months provide. Summer beets, baby arugula, sweet corn and sugar snap peas can be incorporated into the menu choices with different themes and cooking methods.
Fresh seafood is always a great choice for a summer menu. They have not built a beach yet in Arizona but we are so close to the beautiful beaches of Mexico, you can easily incorporate some of those flavors and turn the ever popular pool side reception into a night in Cabo. Send brightly colored invitations with some descriptive wording and your guests will see that you are going for a casual and comfortable feel and be more willing to leave the AC.
Start the event later in the evening once the sun has begun to set. Offer your guests cool Pomegranate Margaritas along with buckets of self serve chilled beers. Chilled, spicy appetizers work well such as refreshing Baja Shrimp with Cucumber, Jicima and Avocado Cocktail Sauce. Can you have an event in the summer and not grill? Sure you can, but this theme calls for it. Be sure your caterer positions the grill in a location that is a good distance away from your guests so they avoid the direct heat. Choose your grill menu to include Line caught Swordfish or Marlin Steak marinated with Lemon, Lime and Garlic finished with Toasted Pumpkin Seed and Cilantro Pesto. You may have to have a steak option, no worries. Angus T- Bone steak basted in Chimichurri Sauce, have the chef slice and platter them with fresh vine ripe tomatoes on the side.
Is this too casual for you? Let’s move inside. The valley has several event venues that offer indoor facilities. Go for the early start here on a low demand day like a Sunday, rates may be better. Cover your tables in celadon, ivory or white, keeping a clean crisp look. You can build a menu that is simple with a touch of elegance that might include Cinnamon French toast Casserole with Pecan Praline Topping and Orange Flavored Maple Syrup, Chilled Sliced Tenderloin of Beef Platters garnished with Balsamic Onions accompanied by Crisp French Rolls, Horseradish Cream and Tomato Tarragon Aioli. I talked about fresh vegetables, throw them in a salad. Summer beets, Snap Peas and Sweet corn with a splash of Dijon Balsamic Vinaigrette and Crumbled Gorgonzola create a taste sensation.
Of course there is always Sedona with rolling creeks, cool breezes, green grass and tall trees. Any caterer will jump at the chance to take a ride north. But let’s try to keep it here in town. Yes it’s hot, but you don’t have to stand the heat, hire a caterer and get out of the kitchen.
Imagine the possibilities…
A Fathers Day Treat: The Carver
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Our Mothers and Fathers are two of the utmost important people in our lives. The second we’re born they are there to take care of us. From diapers to college, the caring never really ends. That’s why when holidays such as Mothers and Father’s day come along its always difficult on deciding what exactly to get them as a gift. We’ve all took the easy way out and bought a bouquet flowers for Mom or a dorky tie or golf shirt for Dad. And each time we receive a warm smile and hug in return that only validates the theory that it is truly the thought that counts. But why take the easy route this year? Why not go for the gusto and make this Fathers day one your Dad will always remember. Try surrounding him on his special day with the people he loves. Instead of the tie or golf shirt, why not order mind bogglingly delicious food with full service to boot. Pamper your Father like he pampered us since we were in pampers! You can fill his belly with excellent cuisine and moisten his eyes with pride and joy when he sees our catering staff set up the Carver station buffet!
You can start out your buffet with our Bakery Fresh Breads and Herb Butter, but don’t eat that roll just yet, they will come in handy later down the line, the buffet line that is! The Carver menu also allows you to choose a salad from six different selections. Try the Chopped salad, a variety of tastes like Hearts of Palm, Sweet Red Peppers and Chick Peas, tossed with one of our more popular dressings, the Sherry Chive Vinaigrette. The result is a hearty, healthy, tasty and tangy plethora of vegetables! Want something a little more formal with a milder yet delicious flavor? Our Baby Spinach Salad would be the ideal choice! Mix Spinach, Red Pepper Confit, Crisp Pancetta, Gorgonzola and Polenta Croutons, toss with Warm Roasted Garlic and Mustard Dressing guaranteed to please any palette, you and your Father will be salivating like Shaggy and Scobbie Doo just looking at it!
The selection for sides is just as important as the main entrée and The Carver offers two. We always recommend going with one starch and one vegetable, but hey it’s Fathers Day you can order whatever he wants! You’ve never truly had Mashed Potatoes until you’ve tried Creations in Cuisine Caterings Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes. Don’t ask us how we do it, but you won’t be able to find a Potato with more flavor using less ingredients then these! Or you can go for a more exquisite option by ordering our Oven Baked Penne Pasta complete with Prosciutto Ham, Gruyere, Fontina and Brie Cheeses. The crunch and salty taste of the Prosciutto combined with the creamy mixture of Cheese creates a truly remarkable dish that dances on your taste buds.
When clients opt for a Potato as their starch they usually trend towards going with the Steamed Green Beans lathered in Almandine Butter and Caramelized Shallots. Whether you like to mix your sides together or eat them separately for whatever reason these two truly go hand in hand. We have also noticed that when guests order our Penne Pasta dish or let’s say the Wild Rice Pilaf (with Italian Sausage, Apples, and Toasted Cashews) it is commonly paired with our Pan Seared Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Carrots, Peppers, Onions, Garlic and Thyme. The crisp bite of the Pan Seared Veggies and herbal taste is a great combination with the Cheesy Penne Pasta.
Now on to the main entrée, the reason why you ordered The Carver to begin with! Before you make your selection for your Carving station keep in mind another option that maybe some of your non-meat eating guests would enjoy. That’s why Creations in Cuisine Catering offers a second entrée selection with The Carver. Besides an assortment of Chicken entrees to select from, such as our Chicken Cordon Blue, Italian Skillet Chicken, or the Pistachio Crusted Breast of Chicken Medallions; Creations In Cuisine Catering also has a variety of fresh seafood. Pan Crisp Salmon Fillet can satisfy your needs for a lighter entrée creation. Garnished with stir-fried Bean Sprouts, Hot peppers and Ginger finished with Teriyaki Glaze and Coconut Cream, this dish offers a salty and sweet crescendo, truly remarkable! For a more traditional approach try our Salmon Fillet with Dill, Caper, and Cracked Pepper Beurre Blanc, a crowd pleaser indeed.
Creations in Cuisine Caterings Carver station will truly steal the show at any event. And depending on your Fathers taste we can confidently satisfy any type of request he may have. From our Honey Cured Spiral Ham with Maple Apple Butter or Creamed Horseradish Dijonaise to our more popular Prime Rib of Beef, coated with Fresh Herbs and Garlic with Horseradish cream (watch the kick when the horseradish bites back!). Your Father and guests will be raving about this Fathers day for years to come. Ham or Beef not the meat of preference? No problem, Creations in Cuisine Catering can offer you much more! Try our Roast leg of Lamb with Sun-dried Tomato -Rosemary and Feta Cheese Pesto for a more formal experience. Is your Father not a fan of red meat? Then our Pork Loin with dried Fruits and Cornbread Stuffing may do the trick, or our Roasted Breast of Turkey seasoned with Rosemary, Sage and Thyme with a Marsala Wine sauce.
No matter what the preferred taste is Creations in Cuisine Catering is creative and flexible enough to accommodate your specific needs! We understand how important Fathers are to their family and we want to help make this day special for him and easy for you. The Carver comes with a uniformed personal chef for the evening. Let our friendly and professional service staff set up, maintain and clean the buffet to help make sure the day remains special and hassle free. Or we can deliver and you can carve and pretend you did it all by yourself just for Dad! So this year forget the tie, golf shirts, and number one dad coffee mug. Let Creations in Cuisine Catering plan an event for your Father that will truly remind him of how important he is to you and your family.
Imagine the possibilities…
Ideas for Your Arizona Summer
By · CommentsSummer is here and for all the Phoenix natives that usually means a statewide slow down. From business opportunities to entertainment options, everything seems to disappear or at least go into heat hibernation. At Creations in Cuisine Catering we are looking to avoid that slow down and keep the parties going all summer long with exciting ideas about venues, party & event themes and exciting menu creations to spice up your summer. Just because its summer doesn’t mean the whole state has to shut down, let’s keep the good times rolling!
BBQ Delights
Everyone loves a BBQ and if you’ve been in Arizona long enough you’ve probably encountered a whole variety of them. What better way to relax in the summer then having some close friends or business associates gathered around the grill or pool with some refreshing cocktails in one hand and a tasty treat in the other? Consider one of our most favorite menu options that include our Fireman’s Picnic Chicken grilled over live coals with corn on the cob; molasses baked beans, and creamy coleslaw and potato salads!
Who doesn’t love a luau? Invite your guests over, encourage Hawaiian garb and décor, crack up a coconut, fill it with spiced rum and kickback! Creations can bring the grill or smoker to your location and cook on site for your party! Take the luau one step further and leave your guests with a great story and taste in their mouth after dining on our whole Kahlua roast pig (tropical sunset and beach not included)! You can also contact our sales staff and discuss some ice cold adult beverage options. Maybe you want to go with a tropical margarita bar theme? Or a spiked fruit punch? Whatever taste you’re looking for to conquer your thirst, Creations in Cuisine Catering can help you create the ideal Hawaiian Luau for your summer partying needs!
Want to stick with the Sonoran theme that our beautiful desert provides naturally for us? Check out our southwestern options. Start out with a delicious trio of homemade salsas and chips. Combine that with our warm artichoke & spinach dip (a customer favorite) or southwestern beef medallions, and a chili corn bread muffin they will make your taste buds tingle with delight! You could also go with the pulled chicken and beef taco’s seasoned perfectly! Do you prefer non meat options? No problem, Creations in Cuisine Catering also offers a variety of vegetarian and fish tacos, Mahi – Mahi being the most popular.
If you’re brave enough to party outside don’t let Mother Nature ruin your party plans! If you have large enough inside accommodations Creations in Cuisine Catering will be right there with you ready to cook onsite or deliver to your location. When calling in to order your food selections, consider our decoration options which can really enhance any type of theme for your summertime event. From everyone at Creations in Cuisine Catering have a safe and happy summer; we look forward to seeing you!
Imagine the possibilities…
Venues – Part One
By · CommentsWhen hosting a party the choice of venue can be just as important as the food, décor, and guest list. Specific venues can add a certain flavor to spice up your party and make it a memorable one. When choosing a venue there are certain factor each host should consider such as location, budget, the possible weather conditions, and overall look or feel. Being in the catering business has enabled us to experience a wide variety of venues in Arizona. Each one brings its pros and cons from a catering aspect, but in the end a great host and caterer can get the job done anywhere at any time. Whether it be a wedding, anniversary, birthday party, or corporate event it is important to consider all the different variables in order to guarantee a successful and memorable event. This week we would like to show you the different venues that Creations in Cuisine Catering has worked with throughout the years and add a little insight from an “insiders” point of view.
Stonebridge Manor
Recently Creations in Cuisine Catering has been named one of two preferred caterers at Stonebridge Manor. This venue is as beautiful as it is unique, from the actual Stonebridge in the courtyard, to the six thousand square foot pavilion in the back, Stonebridge is guaranteed to satisfy any bride or grooms taste! The four acre property located in east mesa provides a beautiful old charm setting that you won’t find anywhere else in the state. Whether you prefer in inside or outside venue, Stonebridge can accommodate! Not only is it beautiful but you will also soon find that their staff is very pleasant and knowledgeable to work with as well! For more information feel free to visit their site at http://www.stonebridgemanor.com/ .
Desert Botanical Gardens
Want your guests to experience a real slice of Arizona’s true beauty? Well there’s no better place then Arizona’s Desert Botanical Garden! Whether you want to walk through the exhibits such as the famous Chihuly stained glass or experience the native flora of Arizona’s desert, the Desert Botanical Garden is an optimal choice! Hosts can choose from six or more different types of venues to locate their party, all varying in size, location, and type of service. At Creations in Cuisine Catering we have catered everything from weddings, fundraisers, and birthday parties as well as “Dinner in the Desert,” the Gardens grand fundraising event. The unique beauty and versatility of the Gardens makes it a prime choice for any type of event! For more information you can visit them at http://www.dbg.org/ .
Phoenix Art Museum
Nestled in downtown Phoenix, the Art Museum is an ideal location for various types of parties. From a casual business get together to sit down plated dinner receptions, Creations in Cuisine Catering has experienced them all at the Art Museum. Combine great food with beautiful exhibits and great bar service and your party is a guaranteed success! The Art Museum has four different types of venues to choose from all varying in capacity. Whether you need a theatre with IT support for a conference, or a place to sit down and mingle with friends, the Museum can accommodate most, if not all your requirements. The added bonus of being able to experience some of the exhibits after hours is a rare treat other places can not offer! The Phoenix Art Museum will make a lasting impression with your party guests, especially for the corporate crowd. For more information, you can visit them at http://www.phxart.org/index.php .
Valentine’s Day Recipe and Ideas Part 2: Aphrodisiacs
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In part two of our Valentine’s Day ideas, tips, and tricks we will be looking at aphrodisiacs. Aphrodisiacs have been sought out by man throughout ancient history to today. Men and women alike have used these different types of foods in order to help remedy numerous sexual anxieties and fears. Each culture from the ancient Egyptians to our own have different ideas as to what special powers each food might contain. For example, the Greeks and Romans believed that sucking on Aniseed would lead to an increase in sexual desire, or the Aztecs who considered chocolate to be “nourishment of the Gods.” A lot of these notions were considered myths and folklore that were passed down from generation to generation and the belief was that they had no real effect. But with today’s scientific capabilities we have discovered that just maybe our ancestors were on to something.
Still struggling with ideas on what to prepare for V-day? Well, we here at Creations in Cuisine Catering have put together a quick menu chock full of items that are considered to be aphrodisiacs throughout the world. Imagine the possibilities!
Starting the night off right…
We recommend beginning the night with a nice glass of champagne for you and your partner. Combined with the right music, setting, and lighting, champagne can be a great asset in creating the intended mood you’re looking for. But remember moderation is your friend! Too much champagne and you and your partner may find yourself yawning and or distracted before desert is even served!
Appe”teaser”s…
Oysters have been considered an aphrodisiac for thousands of years. The only scientific backing of this idea is the fact that they are good source of zinc and protein, which are both vital to a healthy and active lifestyle.
Here’s our recommendation:
- Baked Oysters with the Flavors of the Southwest – Fresh Oysters on a bed of Braised Fennel Topped with Green Chili Corn Bread Crumbles &Spanish Chorizo, Red Chili Hollandaise
Ancient Egyptians also used Fennel as a “Libido enhancer;” it is also a good source of natural plant estrogens.
Salad…
Our next item contains three different aphrodisiacs, Arugula, Figs, and Almonds. The Almond has been a symbol of fertility throughout various cultures; the aroma is believed to increase passion in females. The fig’s powers supposedly come from its visual similarities to certain sexual organs when it’s cracked open.
Here’s our recommendation:
- Petite Arugula & Field Green Salad, Balsamic Glazed Figs, Blue Vein Goat Cheese, Honey & Toasted Almond Vinaigrette
For your Entrée…
Our entrée suggestion also contains three different aphrodisiacs, the mustard seed which is believed to stimulate the sexual organs and increase desire. Carrots, which due to their natural phallic shape have been associated with stimulation and were used in Middle Eastern Royalty to aid in seduction. And finally Broccoli Rabe which is believed to increase virility.
Here’s our recommendation:
- Fillet Mignon, Cracked Pepper & Mustard Seed Sauce, Cheddar Cheese Au Gratin Potatoes, Sautee of Broccoli Rabe & Candied Baby Carrots
For Dessert…
And of course everyone’s favorite course on Valentine’s Day, dessert! Our dessert suggestion includes two known aphrodisiacs, coffee and chocolate. If coffee isn’t your ideal drink of choice, try combining a glass of Cabernet with some dark chocolate, the two go hand in hand! Caution with the coffee however, we recommend only enjoying a small cup after your dinner. Although it’s a great stimulant, too much coffee can act as a depressant which would be sure to ruin the rest of the night’s activities.
Here’s our recommendation:
- Mocha & Chocolate Semifreddo, with Sweet Whipped Cream
Creations in Cuisine Catering wish you a happy and passionate Valentine’s Day, we hope we provided you with some great ideas to make the night one to remember.
If you’re interested in a more detailed breakdown of the menu ideas we have provided please don’t hesitate to ask! Just reference our “contact us” page at the top of the screen for our contact information.
