Passover Seder 2009
Wanted to share a little clip from my recent Passover job. It’s taken me a while to figure all this video stuff out, but here we are. Now that I have, there’ll be more video clips to share. You’ll see Sarah (complete with baby Chloe) in the first shot, whose seashore themed baby shower I wrote about last fall, with her new...
read moreBrunch for a Wedding Reception? Part 1
Brunch is a great idea for a wedding reception now in times where everyone is watching their bottom line.
read moreMore December Celebrations Beyond Christmas
Okay, obviously there's New Year's Eve. But I know there are those of you who prefer not to be out on a night like that. This year we are lucky enough to have a weekend to celebrate, or to recover from, all the ringing out of the old and in with the new year. I happen to love a leisurely brunch, so I vote for a “Hair of the Dog” Champagne Brunch showcasing an Omelet Bar with all the fixings, Fresh Salmon or Crab Cakes, and made to order French Toast or Waffles. To my mind, there's no better way to get the New Year off to a great start than sharing a wonderful time of feasting with family and friends. Bon Appetit!...
read moreDecember Celebrations Beyond Christmas- Boxing Day
Here's another December celebration in tribute to our neighbors from the up North and across the pond. How about a Boxing Day Brunch, traditionally celebrated on December 26th, serving Quiche Lorraine, Pumpkin Waffles with Cinnamon Poached Apples and Canadian (of course) Maple Syrup. If you're feeling a bit hungrier add some Canadian bacon and sausages. For dessert- a Fruit and Rum Trifle. Best Wishes for a Happy Christmas. Bon Appetit, Gisele...
read moreMore December Celebrations- Kwanzaa
Celebrate family, culture and community with a first-fruits Kwanzaa party. Kwanzaa which begins on Dec. 26th and lasts for 7 days, was created by Dr. Ron Karenga in the tumultuous 1960's to honor African heritage in America. Here we are, less thana month before the inauguration of the United States’ first African American President, a day many of us never dreamed of seeing in our lifetimes. Regardless of your ethnic background, why not consider using Kwanzaa this year as a teachable moment for your children. Put out a spread of selections from the African Diaspora and remind them of the long civil rights journey that has led to this historic moment. Start with Jamaican Jerk Chicken Skewers and Cod Fish Cakes- full of flava’, mon… Then a buffet of West African Roast Chicken with Peanut Sauce and Okra, Fried Catfish, Fresh Corn Pudding, Candied Yams and a Melange of Collard, Mustard, Spinach and Turnip Greens Sautéed with Garlic inspired by the American South. To finish-what else but Pecan Pie? Bon Appetit! Gisele small pleasures...
read moreDecember Celebrations- Have a Hanukkah Dinner
Okay- here’s the first non-Christmas December celebration. Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is observed for 8 nights, so there are lots of chances to get together and and enjoy the company of your loved ones. It celebrates the miracle of a single container (normally enough for only a single lighting of the eternal flame in the Jewish temple) of consecrated oil lasting for 8 days. Because oil is an integral part of the celebration it is traditional to eat fried foods at Hanukkah- like blintzes, latkes (potato and other vegetable pancakes), and doughnuts. For dinner, start with tray passed Mini Cheese Blintzes topped with Warm Blueberry Maple Sauce. Then there’s nothing like a Slow Braised Brisket smothered with a mountain of deeply colored Caramelized Onions- you don’t have to be Jewish to love this special treat. Serve it with Potato Pancakes and Chunky Apple Compote, accompanied by Roasted Winter Vegetables. End with desserts for the kid in all of us- Hanukkah Cupcakes, decorated with blue and silver sprinkles and Stars of David, and the updated version of jelly filled doughnuts, Beignets sprinkled with Powdered Sugar and served with a Tart Cherry Compote. Yum!!!...
read moreDecember is the Month for Celebrations- and Not Just Christmas
"It is one of the greatest feelings known to humans, the feeling of being a host, of hosting people, of being the person to whom they come for food and drink and company." -Anne Lamott December is the time for hosting festive celebrations. It's a wonderful time for opening your home to loved ones and feeling that great feeling that Anne La Mott refers to. There’s no better way to reflect on the outgoing year and to get the New Year off to a great start than sharing a wonderful time of feasting with family and friends. Of course, many of us look forward to digging into our wonderful Christmas Roast Turkey or Prime Ribs feast, whatever is the tradition in your home. But Christmas is not the only opportunity to celebrate and host family and friends in December. In honor of multiculturalism, I'll be offering a few other celebration ideas (along with their great menus) to ponder, over the next several days. So tune in over the next several days, and if they're not part of your tradition (yet), perhaps you'll begin some new ones. Bon Appetit! Gisele www.HelpINeedaCaterer.com...
read moreAre You Requesting a Catering Proposal for Your Summer Wedding in December?
Planning a summer or fall wedding? Your caterer will not be able to give you the attention you truly deserve during the holiday season.
read more“The Last Chinese Chef” and Sharing our Thanksgiving Table
Last summer while wandering through a favorite bookstore, I happened upon a wonderful little novel titled The Last Chinese Chef: A Novel . The book opens with this quote: “Apprentices have asked me, what is the most exalted peak of cuisine? Is it the freshest ingredients, the most complex flavors? Is it the rustic, or the rare? It is none of these. The peak is neither eating nor cooking, but the giving and sharing of food. Great food should never be taken alone. What pleasures can a man take in fine cuisine unless he invites cherished friends, counts the days until the banquet, and composes an anticipatory poem for his letter of invitation?” How wonderful is that! One of the main themes of the book has to do with how food and dining reflected the whole culture in imperial China. It also stresses that eating in China is never a solo act. In fact, meals are never even individually plated, but always served on family style platters from which all the diners serve themselves. Of course, the Chinese have had thousands of years to develop this rarefied culture around eating. We are babes, comparatively, in the U.S. Still, we are here at Thanksgiving, when we, as a nation, celebrate a shared feast. A feast rooted in welcoming others to our banquet table, and bound with tradition. So I extend my wishes for a very Happy Thanksgiving to you all. May you find pleasure in sharing your table with many others. Ciao, Gisele...
read moreMore Advantages to Booking your Holiday Party Early
The first and second weekends of December are prime time for holiday parties. Everybody in town will be busy. This includes not only your primary contractor, i.e. hotel, restaurant, caterer, but sub- contractors (ie. rental companies, food purveyors, florists, servers, etc),as well. Most servers, for example, are independent contractors, with many of them working with several different establishments. When they get booked for those hot dates, it lessens the available pool. You will have someone serving your function, but it’s likely the most seasoned service staff will be booked early. And usually at some point, the top rental companies will close their reservations for the busiest dates. And here's an important point- a caterer or sales person will be able to give more of their time if you call a month or two early rather than in December. So, if you are thinking about a holiday party and want to make sure you receive the attention you deserve, the key word is...
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