How to Serve American Favorites at a Wedding

Most often when we think of food served at a wedding it's...chicken or fish?  But when your wedding guest list ranges from toddlers to grandparents with palettes that run from simpler tastes to gourmet; serving mini comfort foods with an elegant flair makes everyone happy.

For example,

Pigs in a Blanket...

Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies and Milk

Spaghetti and Meatballs..with a twist!

 

Fudge Popsicles?

Remember, this is your wedding and the sky's the limit when it comes to wedding grub.  What's your dream?  Which American food do you want at your Portland wedding?  We're one of Portland's most innovative wedding caterers...and we want to cater your Portland wedding.

Dad's Favorite Father's Day Food

Father's Day is just around the corner and it's time to feed Dad!  After all, food is usually the quickest way to a man's heart. :)  Here are some all-time favorite Father's Day recipes:



BBQ Cutlets with Citrus Slaw

• 1 large navel orange
• 4 medium boneless, skinless chicken-breast halves
• Olive oil cooking spray
• 3/4 cup(s) bottled barbecue sauce
• 1 teaspoon(s) Dijon mustard
• 8 ounce(s) shredded cabbage mix for coleslaw
• 3/4 bulb(s) fennel
• 1 tablespoon(s) white wine vinegar
• Salt and pepper

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Directions

1. From orange, grate 1 1/2 teaspoons peel. With knife, cut remaining peel and white pith from orange and discard. Holding orange over small bowl to catch juice, cut out segments between membranes; drop segments into bowl. With slotted spoon, transfer segments to cutting board; coarsely chop. Reserve 2 tablespoons orange juice.
2. With meat mallet, pound chicken (placed between 2 sheets plastic wrap) to an even 1/2-inch thickness.
3. Spray large ridged grill pan with cooking spray and heat over medium-high until hot. Meanwhile, combine barbecue sauce, Dijon, and 1 teaspoon peel; reserve 1/4 cup sauce for serving.
4. Place chicken on grill pan; cook 4 minutes, turning once. Generously brush chicken with remaining barbecue-sauce mixture; cook 3 to 4 minutes longer or until chicken is no longer pink throughout, turning often and brushing with sauce frequently.
5. While chicken is cooking, make citrus slaw: In large bowl, mix orange pieces, reserved juice, cabbage mix, fennel, vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon peel; toss to combine. Makes 4 1/2 cups slaw.
6. Serve slaw with chicken; garnish with fennel fronds.

 Flank Steak with Oven Fries
 

• 3 medium (8 ounces each) russet (baking) potatoes
• 3 teaspoon(s) olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1/4 teaspoon(s) coarsely ground black pepper
• 1 1/4 pound(s) beef flank steak, trimmed of fat
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) dried tarragon
• 1 medium shallot, minced
• 3/4 cup(s) dry red wine
• 1 bag(s) (9-ounce) microwave-in-the-bag baby spinach

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Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Cut each unpeeled potato crosswise in half, then cut each half lengthwise into 8 wedges.
2. Spray 15 1/2" by 10 1/2" jelly-roll pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place potatoes in pan and toss with 2 teaspoons oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper. Roast potatoes in oven 25 minutes or until fork-tender and beginning to brown, stirring once halfway through roasting.
3. Meanwhile, rub steak with tarragon and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt to season both sides. Heat 12-inch cast-iron or other heavy skillet on medium-high. Add 1 teaspoon oil and steak; cook 12 minutes for medium, or until desired doneness, turning over once. Transfer steak to cutting board. To same skillet, add shallot and cook 1 minute, stirring. Add wine and heat to boiling; boil 2 minutes or until reduced to 1/3 cup.
4. Cook spinach in microwave as label directs. Thinly slice steak and serve with wine sauce, potatoes, and spinach.

What are you serving your Dad for Father's Day?  If cooking isn't your forte but you'd like to serve Dad something special give us a call.  We cater small family gatherings as well as large events in Portland.

Mashed Potato Bar at a Wedding?

You're not going to believe what the new trend in wedding food is...mashed potato bars.  The mashed potatoes are usually served in a martini glass and respectably called "mashtinis."(fun huh) 

The popular toppings for this ever so FAB new wedding trend is:

• bacon
• cheese
• sour cream
• ham
• broccoli
• salsa
• red peppers

The options are endless!  You can also have themed mashtinis. If you love Mexican food, have a Mexican mashed potato bar. If Mediterranean is more your thing, have plenty of feta, olives and tomatoes on hand for a Mediterranean mashed potato bar.

If you don’t have a mashed potato bar at your wedding, why not serve mashtinis at your wedding shower or rehearsal dinner?  What a fun, out of the ordinary way to celebrate your new life.

Food served at Mark Zuckerberg wedding

Along with all the hype being that of Facebook billionaire's wedding comes the details of their wedding...and we're most interested in the food they served.

The Zuckerberg's guests enjoyed modest sushi and Mexican fare from the couple's two favorite restaurants in the Palo Alto, Calif. area -- Palo Alto Sol and Fuki Sushi. The Mexican entrees reportedly cost $7.50 for each person, according to The Daily Mail



Guests also enjoyed chocolate "mice" from chocolatier L.A. Burdick -- treats that the couple shared on their first date.

Food at a wedding doesn't have to be extravagant to be a hit.  Many couples, like the Zuckerberg's, incorporate food that has a special meaning...like chocolate "mice."  What food has a special meaning to you and how do you plan to incorporate it into your wedding?

How to have a Memorial Day feast

Memorial Day is a celebration of sacrifice and to remember the precious lives lost during war.   For many, it also marks the beginning of summer.  Memorial Day most often is celebrated with friends and family at a backyard BBQ or park.

If you're hosting this years Memorial Day celebration and wondering what to serve you may want to consider the following foods:

• Chips and Salsa -  For a twist on the traditional tomato-based salsa, opt for a corn and black bean salsa instead. This fresh salsa is easy to make from scratch and features less expensive ingredients than tomatoes.  Mix together corn kernels, cooked black beans, diced red onion, chopped cilantro, minced jalapenos, minced garlic and a little bit of diced tomato. Flavor with lime juice and salt. Serve the salsa with tortilla chips as guests arrive at the party.
  
•  Fresh Vegetables - Depending on the weather, serve hot or cold fresh vegetables. In cold climates, thread vegetables onto skewers and cook them on the grill until they begin to show signs of blackening. Grilling vegetables include onions, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, zucchini and mushrooms. In warmer climates, opt for a cold pasta salad with vegetables instead.
  
• Grilled Meats -  Memorial Day weekend is time to bring out the grill for the summer. Serve grilled meats of your choice at the party. Chicken breasts or hamburger patties are ideal for making sandwiches. For a fancier meal, opt for steak or salmon instead. If the party is long enough, cook a pork shoulder at a low temperature for a few hours and shred it to make pulled pork sandwiches. Also serve grilled mushrooms for vegetarians.

If cooking for your Memorial Day feast doesn't sound fun to you and you'd like to bring in a professional caterer you should call us.  It's really not that expensive to have a beautifully catered Memorial Day celebration in Portland.

How much food to serve at a wedding reception

As a Portland wedding caterer we get asked often how much food and drink each wedding guest will most likely consume..which will determine how much you'll need to serve.

Here's a quick formula to figure it out.  Count all the guests, and make enough for each person to have

•  three drinks, 
•  four to six appetizers, 
• 1/4 to 1/3 pound boneless meat or main entree, 
• 1/2 cup of all side dishes,
• 1/8 of a 9-inch diameter pie or cake.

For instance, if there are 100 people coming to your wedding reception, then order 500 appetizer pieces, 30 pounds meat or main dish, 50 cups of all side dishes and 10 pies or cakes 9 inches in diameter each.

Serve 300 drinks with a selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

If you need assistance in figuring all this out please give us a call.  We provide free consultations.

2012 hot trend in wedding food

We thought this video from "The View" was fab and wanted to share it with you.  They talk about wedding food trends and one of my favorite items that they talk about is the Dessert Bar.

Check it out:

What did you think?