Archive for the ‘Inspiration’ Category

Are food allergies the next hot food trend?

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

You’ll be hard pressed in this day and age to find a sizeable group of people without food allergies. As people’s knowledge of food allergies becomes more prevalent, the food service industry is working towards solutions to accommodate clients while still impressing them. Serving a plate of raw vegetables is no longer an acceptable solution, and Santa Barbara Catering is up for the challenge.

Personally, having a gluten allergy, I am all too familiar with the struggles that people with food allergies face and how important it is for food purveyors to be knowledgeable about food allergies and the food they are serving to ensure that it is safe for guests.

Recently at the Phoenix Art Museum, Santa Barbara Catering executed a wedding for over 200 people where the fare was 100% gluten free. In addition, we catered to lactose allergies, onion allergies, peanut allergies and a variety of other individual dietary restrictions at the event.

As the bride and her family had severe gluten allergies, they wanted to make sure that they would be safe to eat the food at the wedding but also wanted to show people how delicious gluten free food can be. And delicious it was!

The menu contained a variety of indulgent treats to entice guests from start to finish. The event started with hand passed appetizers such as:

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus
Served with Hazelnut Pesto

Beef Short Ribs Risotto Cake
Served with Sweet Potato Risotto and
Chipotle Braised Beef Short Ribs

Spicy Cold Clear Tomato and Crab Gazpacho
With Diced Avocado

Brie and Green Apple Quesadilla
With Raspberry Dipping Sauce

For dinner, guests feasted on:

Heirloom Tomato Salad
with MOZARELLA Cheese, Basil Aged Balsamic Vinegar,
Olive Oil

Gluten Free Corn Bread
With honey butter

NY Strip Steak
In Red Wine Reduction

Basiled Chicken Breast
And Aromatic Jus

Fingerling Potatoes
Roasted in Rosemary and Olive Oil

Wild Mushroom Risotto

Grilled Summer Vegetables
Seasoned to Perfection

The meal did not end there. In addition to a gluten free wedding cake, guests were invited to sample chocolate mousse, pistachio crème brulee and were even surprised at the end of the night with late night munchies including:

Quesadilla with Corn Tortilla with Salsa & Sour cream

Gluten Free Mac & Cheese

French Fries Served with Ketchup, Ranch and Mayo

Given the array of the menu, maybe eating gluten free isn’t so bad after all?

-Blog post written by Executive Event Manager, Melissan Falcone

Posted in Community, Inspiration, Recipes, Tips & Trends | No Comments »

A Perfect 10 Wedding

Monday, July 12th, 2010

One of SBCC’s favorite events to be a part of in the valley is serving as partner and official wedding caterer of The Farm at South Mountain.  For those of you who haven’t been to The Farm, we highly suggest you make it your next outing.  The serene property is set on 12-acres of grass lawns lined with canopies of pecan trees, creating a truly picturesque fairytale setting. This historical land has been carefully nurtured and kept pristine since the 1920s, and the organic gardens elucidate the main focuses of The Farm: tranquility and sustainability. Being an outdoor venue, the lush setting gives any event that beautiful garden-party charm. Clearly we can’t get enough of this organic oasis, which is why we are passionate about creating delicious menus for their spectacular wedding events.

We recently got the inside scoop from our friends at The Farm and learned they have one time slot still available for booking on one of the most desired dates of the year: October 10, 2010. Brides-to-be, you’re in luck!  10/10/10 is an incredibly highly sought-after date to get married for a few reasons.

  • The number 10 represents total perfection.  Many brides believe having a wedding on the 10th is good luck for the wedding to run smoothly and for the marriage to run forever.
  • Furthermore, the number 10 three times in a row represents perfection all around – the perfect 10 wedding! Aside from the having the date that your guests will never forget, couples can rest assure that everyone will be able to attend. The Monday after October 10th is Columbus Day, so most friends and family members will have the day off and ready to celebrate a long weekend.
  • There are endless possibilities for styling save-the-dates, invites, and monogrammed wedding favors around 10-10-10. Of course, getting married at 10:10 AM at The Farm (warmly named “The Valley’s Favorite Escape”) will make the wedding even more memorable, and an absolutely Perfect 10.

For morning weddings such as this, the Wedding Brunch Buffet is one of our most requested menus. It features a collection of gourmet breakfast and lunch dishes that range from light to more indulgent.  First, guests may enjoy an assortment of breakfast breads, bagels, pastries, or a bakery basket.  Some favorite items include cheddar-chive biscuits, blueberry-almond coffee cake muffins, and glazed orange cakes served with whipped butter and homemade blueberry-ginger preserves.  For the main entrée, popular choices include Poached Salmon served with grilled asparagus and lemon-mustard dressing; Chicken Panini with wild mushrooms and brie cheese; or the Breakfast Scramble made with farm fresh eggs, goat cheese, red onion, and zucchini. Side options include a fresh fruit trifle made with the season’s freshest fruits, a vegetable caponata, and many more fresh and delicious choices.

Learn more about weddings at The Farm at South Mountain online or call The Farm at (602) 243-9081 to book your Perfect 10 wedding.

Posted in Inspiration, The Farm at South Mountain, Weddings | No Comments »

ZONIES Award Winner goes to Santa Barbara for “Agency Event of the Year”

Monday, June 14th, 2010

So exciting for all of us here at Santa Barbara and for our client! On May 14, the International Special Events Society (ISES) held its fourth annual Arizona Event Industry Awards (The ZONIES) at Chase Field.  ISES honored Arizona’s top industry professionals from 2009 in 13 award categories. Santa Barbara Catering Company took home the award for Best Corporate Event under $25,000 for our planning and execution of the “Agency Event of the Year.”

Zion & Zion, one of Phoenix’s top five full-service marketing agencies wanted to celebrate the opening of its new facility just off Mill Avenue in Tempe with a by-invitation-only party for over 200 guests.

They wanted to present dishes in a creative ways to reflect the creativity of their agency.  In addition they wanted to incorporate southern-comfort foods with an elegant touch, while not straying from their environmentally-friendly values.

By generating new trends for the industry, such as the DJ performing on the ceiling of one of the Zion & Zion conference rooms, to the specialty lighting and the unique presentations of the fare, we’re proud to say that our event execution received rave reviews from invited media and secured us a 2010 ZONIES award.

Posted in Awards, Corporate Party, Events, Inspiration | No Comments »

Tip & Trend: Design your own signature cocktail to celebrate!

Monday, September 21st, 2009

“Something borrowed, something blue. And something shaken, something stirred.” The New York Times announces the return of the “signature cocktail” for brides and grooms this season. We love the idea of a designer cocktail that celebrates a couple’s unique taste.

Let Santa Barbara Catering Company’s bar chefs help craft a memorable drink to  celebrate your love while satisfying your favorite flavors. Call us at 480-921-3150 and schedule your wedding or event tasting today!

Cheers!

Read the full New York Times article:
“A Liquid Keepsake”

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Posted in Events, Inspiration, Tips & Trends, Weddings | No Comments »

Summer in Spain: Owner and CEO Pat Christofolo explores Spanish cuisine

Sunday, August 16th, 2009

It is hard to believe that just last week I returned after spending two blissful weeks in Barcelona. Our hotel was on the edge of the city overlooking the beaches of the Mediterranean. The art and the architecture were amazing and served as a great pastime to keep us busy between meals.

Oh, that’s right… the meals!

Tapas – a caterer’s inspiration. Hundreds of ideas on small plates and passed hors d’oeuvres combined with the energy of a bustling Tapas restaurant creates the excitement that foodies love. We enjoyed every imaginable croquette (a mixture of meat or veggie formed into small ovals dipped in bread crumbs and then deep fried), roasted eggplant atop crostini with a dab of Romesco, grilled spring onions with fried potatoes, whole shrimp- grilled to perfection, mussels escabeche, cod every which way and gazpacho served in wine glasses. (see photos)

The dining schedule is quite different than ours. Imagine lunch served between 2pm and 4pm while dinner doesn’t open until 8:30pm. Only the early birds show up at 8:30pm while 10pm is the prime time to dine! The dinner menus helped me understand true Mediterranean food; plates of warm beans, delicious salads, roasted meats, paellas and the delicious flavor of warm olive oil. The meal ended on a sweet note with creamy custards for dessert while still savoring delicious local wines.

Last but not least, I will always remember Barcelona as the place I began my love affair with anchovies. Whether marinated, served warm, cold or fried they were a whole new experience. Lots of ideas to include in this year’s seasonal menus…

Pat Christofolo is the owner and CEO of Santa Barbara Catering Company, servicing the greater Phoenix area. Please visit our full website for contact information and media inquires.

Posted in Inspiration, Notes from the CEO | 2 Comments »