Showing posts with label dinner party. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dinner party. Show all posts

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Wedding Menus...Something New

I am soooo excited to begin hosting some guest bloggers here at the P.O.V.  There are some amazing professionals in the biz.  Can't wait to share their insight.

Today, we kick it all off with Shellie Morrison of the The Event Group Catering and Planning in Fayetteville.  She has loads of ideas to create a unique menu just suited for your special occasion.

Enjoy!

Wedding Menus: Something New



We love to make a bride’s vision come true at her wedding reception. Believe it or not, even though we have been in business for 14 years, we still get a special thrill each time we cater a wedding reception. But we especially love the bride who likes to “think outside the box.”


I remember when we first brought the mashed potato martini bar concept to Northwest Arkansas. We tried to sell that menu item for at least two or more years—and no one wanted to try it! Now, you see it at many wedding receptions (even some of our competitors!)

A big food trend for the past year or so has been the “slider.” A slider is a small roll, sliced in half, and topped with a mini hamburger or cheeseburger, mini slice of meatloaf, BBQ meat, etc. Guests love them, and it is a great item that can be served at an interactive station or served butler-style by our catering staff.


Another fun food idea involves dessert. Instead of the traditional bride’s cake and groom’s cake, we like to suggest another option to replace the groom’s cake. Many of our brides like us to serve the groom’s favorite dessert. Some recent examples include banana pudding shots and a cheesecake station. The guests really love this alternative to cake. No offense to our fabulous cake vendors, though!


Also, this year, we created a “milk and cookies” station for the groom to consider. We serve ice cold milk in shot glasses and lay a cookie atop the shot glass. It is so cute! Another idea is our miniature Coke and Root Beer floats served in shot glasses with a neon-colored straw included.



These are just some of the ways to make your menu as well as your reception stand out. None of these options are particularly expensive, yet the impact makes it seem so. Your guests will be talking about something as simple as milk and cookies, long after your wedding day.


For more information, contact The Event Group at 479-444-8626 or http://www.eventgroupcatering.com/.

Happy menu planning,

Lori Bova
Festivities

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Giving back...A Murder in the Wild West

Festivities loves to give back.  For the past 5 years we have enjoyed working with the Ryan Gibson Foundation on their annual One Particular Harbor (OPH) fundraiser.  While Ryan lost his battle with leukemia, his family and friends continue to work tirelessly in an effort to raise money for a cure.

For the past 4 years, Craig and myself, along with friends Randy & Christine Meier and Darren & Susan  Cunningham have donated a dinner party for the auction at OPH.  The first year we produced an 5-course plated, gourmet meal.  Next we did a big pasta party for a large group.  Last year we did a 'Nawlin's style Mardi Gras murder myster dinner.  This year we stayed with the mystery theme, but went to the Wild West.

We girls sure enjoy the planning of these events.  It's a great excuse for us to have lunch together.

We go all out!  No caterers here.  We do it all!

Even the fellas have their roles.

There is a great resource on the web if you want to host your own murder mystery.  Visit mymysteryparty.com.  They don't miss a detail.  The cost is minimal and the benefits are huge.  Below is an excerpt of what you get when you download the party.
 MURDEROUS TABLE OF CONTENTS
List of Characters
General Instructions for the Host
How to Play a Murder Mystery – Guests Instructions
Optional Pre-game Round
Round One – Cocktail Hour
Round Two – Dinner Hour
Victim Sign
Murder Mystery Investigation Sheets
Round Three - Solution Round with Coffee and Dessert
Name Tags
Menu Suggestions
Optional Bonus Game
4 Hidden Codes
Maps of Gravestone Cave

The timeline...

The clues...

The crew from Signed, Sealed, Delivered provided the theme specific decor with the help of Festivities on all of the rental items. 



The menu consisted of upscale steakhouse foods.  The fellas kept the grill going all night from the jalapeno shrimp poppers to the ribeyes!

Twice baked potatoes...

Blue cheese lettuce wedges...

Ohhh and the desserts.  Mini apple tarts, flourless chocolate cake, and homemade vanilla ice cream...

This was the motley crew that we served...
 Jim and Merry Lee Phillips were the ring leaders of the bunch.

He did it!
 Take time to enjoy all of life's festivities.  Make time to give back.  It will greatly enrich your life.

-Lori Bova