Growing Demand for Weekend Brunch Catering
Wake Up the Day After a Wedding with Early Afternoon Brunch Catering Brunch is a glorious meal for many reasons, chief among which is that it allows people to sleep in on the weekends yet still enjoy wonderful food and the company of good friends. Not everyone embraces the brunch concept – some anti-Hipsters even openly deride the “brunching trend” – but the experience has always been a popular catering request on Sundays in California. Now brunch demand has spilled over into Saturdays, as diners often opt out of breakfast in favor of extra sleep, and indulge in brunch well after normal breakfast time has passed. The Logistics Generally speaking, brunch is popular among people with disposable income and the time to enjoy it. Busy weekday mornings mean few adults (especially those with children) have the time or inclination to eat a leisurely breakfast. The weekend allows for more relaxed dining, but some object to rising early simply to eat. Brunch fills this niche. The Changes Breakfast and brunch used to be prepared by less experienced chefs who were still learning their trade. Today, top catering chefs are the ones in charge of the kitchen. People expect more than the usual blasé fare of bagels and Eggs Benedict,...
What Does ‘Farm-to-Table’ Really Mean?
Farm-to-Table Food Doesn't Necessarily Mean Organic or Non-GMO Over the past decade, thanks to books like Gary Taubes’ Good Calories, Bad Calories and documentaries like Food Inc. and That Sugar Film, more and more consumers have begun to question where and how their food is grown. In response, the food, event catering and restaurant industries are rushing to evolve to meet this need for “real food” which has come to include farm to table, organic food, and foods free of genetically modified ingredients. The so-called Farm-to-Table movement began with the goal of eliminating as many steps as possible between the farmer and the consumer. However, there are two distinct views as to what Farm-to-Table actually means. Traditional Farm to Table This is the most literal definition of the term. Caterers and restaurants who offer traditional Farm-to-Table meals will: Purchase food that is locally grown, often within a set radius such as 100 or 200 miles. Change their menus with the seasons, since only seasonally available produce is used. Use organic foods as much as possible. (This depends on the chef.) Many of the best catering businesses and restaurants follow this practice. Pragmatic Farm to Table Other chefs are less...
Beer, Wine, and Spirits: Handy Catering Tips for Planning Alcohol for Your Wedding
Stocking the Bar for a Bay Area Catering Event When you're planning an event knowing your family, friends, and other guests helps provide some ideas about how much they're likely to drink and what sorts of drinks are going to be popular. But there is more to planning drinks for wedding catering than choosing wine, beer and spirits if you want the event to be original, tasteful, and fun for everyone. 1. Talk to your Bay Area caterers. Depending on where your wedding will be as well as the level of sophistication of the drinks you want to provide, your Bay Area caterers may be able to provide alcohol directly; or you may have to purchase it from the venue or even bring it in yourself. No matter what your plan, getting details straight with service staff and deciding whether you will require a dedicated bar keep will help ensure that great drinks are readily available to your guests. 2. Decide when and how you will serve alcohol. Will you serve alcohol throughout your reception or only during certain hours? Will you provide free liquor all night long, or will your guests pay for drinks? Will your catering company operate a bar in the corner of the...
How to Host a Great Catered Fundraising Dinner
Event Catering for Political Campaign Fundraisers and Charities You care enough about a cause to go through the time, energy and hassle to hold a fundraiser for it. You want others to share your passion and open their pocketbooks so that the mission can enjoy much needed funding. Catering dinners for charities or political campaigns is no small task. But it can be done effectively, and you can create a memorable, inspiring event, provided you follow a few ground rules: 1. Issue appropriate invitations. When hosting a fundraising dinner, send formal invitations to guests that include all of the details for the private event, as well as the RSVP deadline. Avoid invitations that are too colorful or flashy. Can you do everything online? It depends. But if you’re looking to make a powerful impression that you mean business, a more formal card through the mail is probably the way to go. 2. Choose the right Bay Area catering company. Do not leave the food up to chance or up to a company that’s just getting started doing this work. To wow your guests, your dinner must be both tasty and elegant. The best catering businesses that have experience hosting formal fundraising dinners can walk you...
Tailgating Done Right: Planning a Party for Football Fans
Make the Handoff this Season: Catering Lets You Enjoy Your Party as Much as Your Guests The San Francisco 49ers have seen it all over the past several years, witnessing the stunning emergence of Colin Kaepernick at QB, a championship bid in 2012 dashed by the Baltimore Ravens, and the loss of Coach Harbaugh to Michigan last year after a lackluster team performance. All this action and anticipation has meant that Bay Area fans have had plenty of reasons to tailgate. To that end, here are three tips to help you plan a game party no one will forget. 1. Prepare the space. During the game, your guests will need plenty of seating. You will also need tables for food, plates and utensils. If you will be hiring a catering company, ask them how much space they need before you begin preparing the room. Once your tables and chairs are in place, use ribbons, streamers and balloons to make the atmosphere more festive. A wall graphic of 2 of your favorite player(s) can flank your screen or greet your guests as they enter your property, and it never hurts to have a football or 2 on hand half-time fun or for a family atmosphere where...
Bay Area Wedding Catering for Foodies
Cocktails to Dessert: Bay Area Event Catering finds Foodies Looking for Something Special When it comes to wedding catering, Menlo Park companies offer an impressive and exciting variety of options. The most flexible companies can tailor their menus to meet the (often quite finicky and specific) requests of their clients. Below are some tips to help you plan a menu that is sure to wow your guests, whether you’re throwing together a paleo-style barbecue or a vegan/gluten-free formal affair. 1. Plan cocktail hour carefully. Cocktail hour may not be the main event, but that doesn't mean it can't be a delightful diversion and culinary adventure for guests. Put a wild spin on traditional offerings, or try something new and bold, like gourmet popsicle cocktails or soup shooters. Work with your caterer to get creative. 2. Use your own recipes. Many companies that specialize in catering Menlo Park gatherings will allow you to submit some of your own recipes for appetizers, dinner or dessert. These recipes may need to be modified to accommodate the load and logistics of planning for several hundred people. 3. Print or post a menu. Guests want to know what they will be eating at dinner. Post a menu or hand out printed menus that...
Fall Wedding Catering for Bay Area Foodies
Wedding Catering Should Take Advantage of Fall Produce Although we’re entering the heart of the summer, autumn beckons around the corner with its colorful leaves, brisk breezes and cool nights. Especially in the beautiful Bay Area, fall can be the perfect time to host a wedding. Here’s a nice plus: if you’re a foodie planning a wedding during this season, your catering options are virtually limitless. Below are some ideas to consider as you game out your wedding menu. 1. Autumn-Themed Appetizers. Consider soups that include squash or other fall vegetables. If you would rather serve a salad, opt for salads with fall toppings, such as cranberries or pumpkin seeds. The best event catering companies should be familiar with these types of dishes and be able to create flexible and even spontaneous menus. Just be sure to taste samples before you make your final choices! 2. Entrees. For fall weddings, you can choose to serve traditional entrees, such as salmon, steak or chicken. However, you can also opt for something more “harvest season oriented,” such as Cornish hens or veal. Serve the meal with a fall-friendly side, such as candied carrots, cinnamon apples or sweet potatoes. 3. Desserts. As you consider the dessert options provided by your wedding catering...
Bay Area Catering Tips for a Successful Summer Party
Picture this: Refreshing winds dance in the warm summer sky, creating the perfect ambiance for your special event. Guests arrive and are instantly greeted by a bountiful spread of local, colorful cuisine and summer food favorites. You look around and notice plates piled high, and satisfied looks on faces as guests engage in rich conversation. At the end of the event, compliments flood your way, and the scarce pickings of leftover food reveal the popularity of the night's menu....
Party Planning Tips
Tips From Your Bay Area Event Caters Whether you're planning a killer 4th of July barbecue or exploring Bay Area party catering for a wedding or important corporate event, you may have ideas about how to make the event great. But you're also a little frazzled and overwhelmed by the scope of the project. How can you plan effectively, stay on budget, avoid ruffling feathers and avoid scrambling at the last minute to change accommodations, manage challenging orders, and so on? Send out announcements early. Send out save the dates and invitations. You can do so on online, if you're hosting a casual event. Giving your guests a “heads up” is a courtesy, and it will earn you more “RSVPs” and help friends and associates plan around their busy lives. Create buffers in your planning. Expect that some people will cancel or change their plans at the last minute. Expect that you will have menu additions and subtractions. Inexperienced party planners often don’t have enough "give" in their schedules to accommodate for such changes, and so they wind up frustrated and caught off-guard when they happen. Separate the “nice to haves” from the “must haves.” In an ideal world, you'd like your party to be an unlimited luxurious...