Catering

There are very few things I love more than creating the perfect menu for a special occasion, be it a backyard barbecue or a formal dinner party. Let me make the food for your next gathering truly memorable. 

No more last-minute scrambling in the kitchen or washing dishes until dawn. After we discuss your entertaining needs, I’ll plan a menu just for you. Once you give the menu the green light, I’ll take care of everything from the shopping to cooking to set-up and I’ll leave your kitchen spotless. I can also coordinate party decorations, floral arrangements, and furniture rental.  If needed, I’ll arrange for additional kitchen or serving staff. 

Casual Entertaining

I’ll prepare platters of finger food or a family-style meal for you to reheat. Your kitchen will be sparkling when your guests arrive, just set out the food and let the party begin! Here are a few menus from past events. 

Sample Family-Style Meal: A Family Get-together

:: Antipasti Platter: Marinated vegetables, Bocconcini Piccante, Prosciutto-wrapped Melon Bites, Spinach      Torta, Italian Cheeses and Charcuterie, Served with Homemade Focaccia and Grissini
:: Insalata Tricolore
:: Eggplant and Roasted Pepper Parmesan
:: Parmesan Meatballs in Roasted Tomato Sauce
:: Gianduia Panna Cotta 

Sample Finger Food: A Baby Shower

:: All Pink Tea Sandwiches (Radish Butter, Salmon and Cucumber, Deviled Ham, and Roast Beef with Horseradish Creme Fraiche)
:: Deviled Eggs with Salmon Caviar
:: Marinated Baby Vegetable Skewers with Mint Pesto Dip
:: Tortellini Bites with Cherry Tomatoes
:: Miniature Lemon-Raspberry Cupcakes
:: Sugar Cookies (Rattles, Duckies, and Blocks)
:: Chocolate-covered Strawberries

Formal events

Relax with friends and family while I prepare a restaurant-quality meal in your kitchen. After we discuss your vision and agree on a menu, I will personally prepare and plate your meal, which will, if desired, be served formally by wait staff. Your guests and you will have a wonderful and delicious experience. Cocktails with passed hors d’oeuvres and buffet-style parties are also possible. Here are a few menus from past events. 

Sample Formal Dinner: A Fortieth Anniversary Party

:: Soft Egg Raviolo in Brown Butter with Parmesan and Young Asparagus
:: Grilled Rack of Lamb with Orzo, Spring Vegetables, and Minted Yogurt
:: Aged Pecorino with Watercress and Apricot-Marcona Almond Puree
:: Strawberry Sundaes with Strawberry Sorbet, Fresh Strawberry Compote, and Prosecco Sabayon

Sample Cocktail Party    

:: Parsley-Walnut Pesto Pinwheels
:: Butternut Squash and Parmesan Tartlets
:: Apricots with Goat Cheese and Pistachios
:: Miniature Focaccias
:: Virginia Ham Biscuits
:: Chipotle Meatballs
:: Miso Chicken Skewers
:: Homemade Pigs in a Blanket with Honey Mustard Dip
:: Smoked Trout Rillettes Canapes
:: Salmon Mousse in Cucumber Cups

Sample Buffet Dinner

:: Mixed Green Salad with Apples, Spiced Pecans, and Goat Cheese
:: Barolo-braised Roast of Beef
:: Parmesan Potato Gratin with Porcini Mushrooms
:: Herbed Green Beans with Glaceed Shallots
:: White Bean Ragout with Roasted Kabocha Squash
:: Variety of Layer Cakes (Devil’s Food Cake with Coffee-Caramel Frosting, Apple Spice Cake with Cream   Cheese Frosting,  and Orange-Olive Oil Cake with Candied Oranges)

Office Catering

Something special happens when people eat together – the conversation changes (or maybe the conversation really starts) and ideas flow differently. Google provides an amazing lunch for its employees for this reason. Providing a weekly or occasional staff lunch is a worthwhile and wonderful thing to do for your employees. Of course it doesn’t hurt that providing employees with lunch in the workplace has been shown to boost productivity. I can also provide uniquely delicious catering for formal client lunches, office parties, receptions and events of all kinds.

Pricing

Because this service is highly customized to meet your needs perfectly, please contact me for a complementary consultation. Once we’ve discussed what you have in mind, I’ll provide you with a quote for your event.

Gift certificates

A gift certificate for a special meal can be a surprising, wonderful and unconventional gift for new parents, newlyweds, new homeowners, or anyone in your life who could use a little culinary pampering.