What is it about a cupcake that makes a woman's heart go pitter-patter? Is it the miniature size that makes us think we are eating less? Or perhaps it's the gob of sweet, sugary delight neatly swirled on top? No matter the reason, cupcakes are a woman's pure delight. But, why don't men seem to respond in the same way when offered a little perfectly packaged treat? What is it about a cupcake that somehow makes it just a little bit girly?
Well, for all those men out there that believe cupcakes are for women, we have a revolutionary culinary treat for you. From a New York bakery called Butch Bakery, comes a new wave of masculinity in the form of a tasty sweet treat.
Choose from six styles of cupcakes: Woodland Camo, Wood Grain, Houndstooth, Plaid, Checkerboard or Marble. You can also choose from 12 flavors including: Rum & Coke (the pause that refreshes - this rum-soaked madagascar vanilla cake with cola bavarian cream filling is a knockout), B-52 (this one is the bomb: kahlua-soaked madagascar vanilla cake with Bailey's bavarian filling), Campout (you'll be begging for s'more of this graham cracker cake with marshmallow filling and milk-chocolate ganache), and Beer Run (butch meets buttercream in our chocolate beer cake with beer-infused buttercream topped with crushed pretzels).
The ladies are officially jealous.
If you don't live in the New York area, don't fret. Butch Bakery is expanding their delivery options this year and should be able to ship to your neck of the woods in no time.
Upcoming Event in Seattle: Book Release Party at Chateau Ste. Michelle
JOHN SARICH
Book Release Party
April 22, 2010
5:30-7:30 pm
TICKET PRICE with book - $40 (plus tax)
Price without book - $35 (plus tax)
Join Chateau Ste. Michelle as they celebrate the release of their Culinary Director John Sarich's new travel cookbook "Chef in the Vineyard." Enjoy appetizers from the book paired with Chateau Ste. Michelle spring release wines. John will be on hand to sign books and share his discoveries of favorite wine estates from Washington, Oregon and California. Visit their website for more information.
We all know event planners are busy-bees. So, whenever we come across a way to make your life just a little bit easier, we just have to share it with you. From Amazon.com comes a fresh idea on home grocery delivery called AmazonFresh. Although Amazon.com founded AmazonFresh, AmazonFresh operates as an independent grocery delivery business. They've created a new website to showcase their fantastic products and make your buying experience easy. AmazonFresh uses Amazon.com data and systems to simplify your checkout process and get you shopping right away.
What does every busy event planner need to do more of? Drink water. No matter what profession you are in, and no matter what your schedule looks like, there is always the need to drink more of nature's juice. And today in the grocery stores we are offered so many varieties of water that there is simply no excuse to not get our full daily dose. But some of us (me included) have trouble getting our daily 8 glasses of water. That's why these uniquely flavored bottles from Herbal Water are the perfect solution. From Ayala comes Herbal Water in the following unique and utterly delicious flavors: Lemongrass Mint Vanilla, Lavender Mint, Lemon Verbena Geranium, Cloves Cardamon Cinnamon, Cinnamon Orange Peel and Ginger Lemon Peel. Not only are these tiny bottles of goodness great for the busy professional on the go, they also make great swag bag gifts for your next event.
Click here to find the locations you can pick up your own Herbal Water and see what all the talk is about.
You can't help but think of pounds of chocolate when you think of Valentine's Day. And no, we are not referring to the pounds that may start to accumulate on your thighs. After all, all calories are free on holidays, right? We are referring to those neatly packaged, overly-decadent, edible works of art that give us the warm fuzzies all over.
We've decided that the best cure for our cravings is to go on a Seattle chocolate tour. Here are just a few of the locations we'll be visiting...
As party planners, we all know how much effort goes into planning the perfect event. So when the tables turn, and you are the one being invited to a great event, it's always nice to reward the efforts of your host or hostess with a small token of your appreciation. We've gathered some of our favorite host/hostess gifts to inspire and aid you in your gift-giving abilities.
1. Ice Buckets: What event planner can't use an ice bucket? Particularly one as cool (pardon our pun) as the ones from iomoi. You can select from a variety of unique icons or create your own custom ice bucket. These ice buckets are $68 and available online at iomoi.com.
2. Stationary: Handcrafted paper in the form of notecards, letterhead, greeting cards and the like never go out of style, especially for a party planner. Stationary designers these days are true artists when it comes to creating beautiful paper works of art. There are many wonderful places to find great stationary. Our picks are The Stationary Studio and if you are in the Seattle area, check out Paper Fling, All About Weddings & Celebrations, and Moxie Papergoods and Gifts.
3. Paulette Macarons: Who can turn down a sweet treat as divine and decadent as the macarons from Paulette? We don't hear anyone volunteering. Their signature giftboxes make Paulette macarons the perfect gift for any occasion. Select from our “champ de macarons,” just as you would pick a colorful bouquet from a field of flowers. From flavors like caramel, vanilla, pistachio, almond and lemon, these sweet treats will have your gift recipient making sure you are at the top of their party-invite list every time.
4. A Night Out: After planning a party, your host/hostess may just be happy to veg for a night. Giving someone a dinner gift certificate where they can take a night off once in a while is never a bad idea. Take this opportunity to share your favorite local hot spot with your party planner and they will be certain to appreciate your thoughtfulness. If you are in the Seattle area, check out this local dining hot spots.
If you are one of the millions planning on watching the Superbowl this weekend and are planning on having some guests over for the kickoff, you will certainly want to be prepared with top-notch recipes and snacks to wow the crowd. If you haven't done so already, be sure to check out The Pioneer Woman for high quality and ultra tasty recipes that will have your football loving friends licking their lips and singing your praises.
Here is a taste of some of our favorite recipes from The Pioneer Woman:
We think you'll love this great new way to taste and share your favorite wines with friends, colleagues and clients. From Brixr, comes wine tasting packs containing four 50ml bottles of boutique wines. If you've ever ordered a wine flight in a restaurant, think of Brixr tasting packs as your own wine flight you can conduct at home.
For those of you that make your own wine, be sure to check out TinyBottles.com for information on how you can create your own mini wine packs. With Brixr and Tiny Bottles, there is a new way for wineries to sell wine and for consumers to discover them. Tiny Bottles, coupled with video tastings by influencers at brixr.com, provide a fantastic new environment for trying, learning and ultimately buying wine. For more information, click here.
Parties and events are in the works - plans being made - and it's time to start putting some serious time into determing -what to eat! Buffets are a great option for gathering - especially if you want some flexibility in the numbers of your attendees. Here are a few tips for you to consider if you are thinking buffet, and in this economy, it can be a blessing in disguise:
One general rule is this: Prepare more food if you are having a buffet rather than a sit-down meal; guests tend to eat more from buffets. However, the more selections available, the less people will take of any one item because they want to taste everything. This gives you the option of adding more appetizer types of offerings - and less heavy expensive meats. Don't serve appetizers before - save the money and add a few smaller items to the buffet itself.
For a buffet serving 25-30 people, a good basic menu includes two casseroles in 9"x13" dishes (or one casserole plus meat—turkey, ham, beef), two salads (about three heads of lettuce per salad), rolls (one per person), and two to three desserts. Multiply this for every 25 people you add.
Meat amounts can be tricky, but here is a general guide: for 25-30 people, have a fifteen- to eighteen- pound turkey, OR a six- to seven-pound boneless ham, OR a twelve-pound roast beef.
For serving pasta, calculate about two ounces per person if it's being served as a side dish or as one selection on a buffet table, about four if a main course.
When planning beverages, know your crowd; in general, though, calculate about one drink per hour for each guest. For a party where guests will be standing/moving around a good deal, plan on four to five drinking cups per person. For ice, you'll need about one pound for every four to six guests.
Want to really enjoy the event with your guests? Consider getting it catered. You will often be surprised at just how reasonable it can be. Discuss your budget and guest count with your on-site caterer. They are known to be exceptionally flexible and willing to work with you - just remember they are the professionals and will take care of your needs if you allow them. Believe us when we say - having it catered will provide you the bonus of a true social gathering - without thought to anything other than having a great time!
If you have the need to go to a separate venue, may be suggest: banquetevent.com
Mooncakes - a delicate strong Asian tradition you might want to give some thought to... We found some stunning examples to help inspire you. This year, the Chinese people celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival with dances, feasting and moon gazing on October 3rd. Step into the wonders of these remarkable pastries at a local Chinese bakery.
These little cakes earned their popularity during the Yuan Dynasty (1200 A.D.- 1368 A.D.) It is said that mooncakes - which the Mongols did not eat - were the perfect vehicle for hiding and passing along plans for the rebellion. Families were instructed not to eat the mooncakes until the day of the moon festival, which is when the rebellion took place. (In another version plans were passed along in mooncakes over several years of Mid-Autumn festivals, but the basic idea is the same).
Roughly the size of a human palm, these mooncakes are quite filling, meant to be cut diagonally in quarters and passed around. More elaborate versions of mooncakes contain four egg yolks (representing the four phases of the moon). Besides lotus seed paste, other traditional fillings include red bean paste and black bean paste. Today, mooncakes may be filled with everything from dates, nuts, and fruit to Chinese sausages. More exotic creations include green tea mooncakes, and ping pei or snowskin mooncakes, a Southeast Asian variation made with cooked glutinous rice flour. Haagen-Daz has even gotten into the act by introducing a line of ice cream mooncakes in Asian markets.
Thank you to "Bon Appetit" for their inspiration for you. All of the recipes for these beautiful items can be found there. These summer days bring mental notes of sweet peaches. Give one of these a try or see which restaurants and caterers are prepping these sweet sensations for you right now!
Peaches, originally from China, are among the most popular fruits grown in the United States. They're the state fruit of Georgia and South Carolina—though not of California, which is the largest producer. There are two main varieties: clingstone (usually canned) and freestone, which is easier to pit. Yellow peaches have a brighter acidity and white peaches have a sweeter, more floral flavor.
Buying Peaches: Don't be taken in by that come-hither blush—it's simply the part of the fruit that was facing the sun when it was on the tree. The best way to pick a peach is by aroma—the headier and sweeter-smelling the better. Choose firm but slightly soft fruit that smells sweet; pass on peaches with soft spots. Avoid hard or greenish peaches, which were picked too early and likely won't ripen well. Store peaches at room temperature until ripe.
How to use: Peach skin adds beautiful color when the fruit is baked into pies, tarts, and jams. The skin is good for you, too, especially if you buy organic fruit. But it's fairly easy to remove the skin, provided the peach is very ripe. Start at the stem end, separating a bit of skin from the flesh with a sharp paring knife. Then pull the skin off in strips.
You can also give the peaches a 15- to 30-second dunk in boiling water, then plunge them into a bowl of ice water to prevent cooking. When they're cool enough to handle, the skins will peel off quite easily. A peach discolors quickly when it's cut and exposed to air. To prevent browning, sprinkle the fruit with a little lemon juice.
Storing: Keep on the counter in a single layer with breathing space until fully ripe. Refrigerate for up to one week; serve at room temperature. Or refrigerate first to delay ripening.
Recently we celebrated a special occasion at what turned out to be an incredible venue - Carnegie's in Ballard on Market Street. We knew we could anticipate a good evening, however they exceeded any of our expectations in, atmosphere and cuisine. The service was absolutely impeccable.
If you have not had the good fortune to step into Carnegies, do yourself this favor and put them on your list of "must dos". For those of you familiar with Ballard, you will recognize it immediately as the 100 plus year old building given to the City by Carnegies as a library. Over the years, it has been home to various types of businesses and currently the grandnous of the main floor is both a full service restaurant as well as a venue you can reserve for a special event. This is one of those venues that can be setup for so many types of arrangements, as it has three main distinct areas that work well together as one total venue, or can be setup for individual requirements. We had our event in the Eastroom, while the Westroom catered to their restaurant patrons. We found one exceptional compliment to Carnegie's, as at no time were we ever aware of their restaurant patrons, due to the uniqueness of the room setups and the beautiful curved glass walls. The food itself was exceptional from the Coq Au Vin, to the Rack of Lamb Dijonaise. Bon Appetit!
Over the weekend, our local news, King 5, did a short story on a consumer product that we thought was a bunch of hocus pocus. The product is called The Vintage Express, and its purpose is to take a new bottle of wine and in 60 seconds age the wine as if it has been sitting in your cellar for years and years.
Fact or Fiction?
According to King 5's report, the device really does seem to make a difference by improving the taste of the wine.
Here is how it works: This patented design surrounds the beverage with a powerful triangular-shaped magnetic field, and in just 10 seconds, you'll taste a premium drink's smooth, mellow flavor equal to years of traditional slow aging. The flavor keeps improving the longer it remains. Works with wine and liquor. Holds a bottle or glass. Requires no electronics, batteries or moving parts. Guaranteed to work 24/7 for 100 years.
The Vintage Express costs $39.99 and is available at Skymall.com.
Just because you are all grown and sitting in a meeting doesn't mean you have to act grown up. Create a different kind of meeting and save a few bucks along the way. Instead of price PER plate - why not see if your caterer has any equipment like a popcorn machine, pretzel machine or even a sno-cone machine? This is just plain fun and brings the best out in all of us. OK - so it is NOT the healthiest of all choices, but a little indulgence here and there never hurt anyone.
Now for that extra kick - and to promote interaction between everyone all you need is a photo booth at the meeting. Check out www.photoboothservices.com. They can work with any space and any type of event. Plus you're guests will have a great keepsake from the meeting.
Local chefs and food connoisseurs have worked their magic to create exquisite tastes, seasonings and culinary delights that make excellent gifts this holiday. Here are two of our local favorites...
From Volterra in Ballard comes their signature fennel salt and porcini salt, sure to add that extra flair and pizazz to your dishes. Volterra Fennel Salt was launched at the 2006 Winter Fancy Food Show and became an overnight success. After making its red carpet debut in the celebrity gift bags at the Oscars “Night of 100 Stars” gala, it has become wildly popular with celebrities and was even been featured on the set of the “Desperate Housewives”. The boldly flavored Fennel Salt was inspired by Chef Don Curtiss’ travels through Italy. It’s made with freshly toasted, organic fennel seed, organic orange peel, and other traditional flavors of the Italian peninsula. Chef Curtiss personally makes every batch of Fennel Salt to ensure the highest quality. Recreate Volterra’s bread service using Volterra Extra Virgin Olive oil sprinkled with Fennel Salt. It’s a great all purpose seasoning and is particularly delicious in meat and seafood dishes, potatoes and eggs.
The Twelve Rubs of Christmas from Tom Douglas is also on our list this year. What’s more welcome, more delicious, and more exciting than a partridge in a pear tree? A handsome gift box of Tom Douglas Rub with Love Spice Rubs will delight everyone on your holiday list! All 12 of our spice rubs are included in this spectacular gift, from the brown sugar and sweet paprika notes of our best selling Salmon Rub to the smoky chiles, toasted sesame, and dried seaweed tang of Spicy Tokyo Rub to the ultimate BBQ flavors of cumin, coriander, and a touch of cayenne in our Pork Rub. Just pat these spice rubs on salmon, shrimp, steak, burgers, Portobello mushrooms, or baby back ribs- in fact, just about any meat, fish or vegetable you can think of. Sprinkle the rubs into stews, soups, and stir fries, mix up a quick sour cream dipping sauce, or toss some into your scrambled eggs. Spice up the holiday season for yourself, your family and friends.
All of us at banquetevent.com have a hidden sweet tooth, so this ingenious idea we are about to share with you is right up our alley. eCreamery allows you to create custom flavored gelato and have it shipped right to your door, still frozen and ready to eat.
eCreamery’s ice cream & gelato artists can be found churning classic flavors and your own imaginative masterpieces in a small boutique ice cream parlor in the heart of the Midwest in Omaha, Nebraska. Their natural flair for exceptionally delicious & creative flavors has brought them recognition throughout the region!
The gelato is most definitely a spurge as the costs are pretty steep, but this unique idea does make a great gift for thoses with an affinity toward ice cream.
More and more of you are giving the gift of wine this Christmas. If you are one of the winelovers sharing the love, we have a great tip for you.
The Accidental Wine Company takes bottles that have been damaged or tainted in some way and sells them to you at a lower price. After all, there may be something wrong with the bottle, but there is nothing wrong with the wine inside.
A bottle breaks and stains its neighbors, a new label design replaces an old established one, or a winery just closes its doors. A soiled, retired, or discontinued label is suddenly and simply less valuable. But whether it is ruby or straw colored, it still has its legs, and its fruit and perfume. The character and charm remain in tact and by golly, it still commands passion and presence. And, wow, what wonderful taste.
With all those holiday parties you'll be attending this year, here is a great idea for a hostess gift to accompany a great bottle of wine. Check out these completely eco-friendly wine bags from Grassroots Gallery. These stunning wine bags make a statement. Carefully crafted of sumptuous, eco-friendly handmade papers, the bags feature exquisite floral embossing, velvet flocking, hand silk-screened prints and real rose petals. The finishing touch are beautiful velvet or soft cotton handles, a mark of true distinction.
Thanksgiving Dinner From Someone Else's Kitchen Tastes Just As Good
Fabulous home-cooked feasts are a traditional part of Thanksgiving. They can also be a lot of work and a lot of stress. If you'd rather devote your energy to quality time with friends and family, dining out on Thanksgiving Day is a perfectly fine alternative. Since this has become a popular option, reservations are usually required. These resources will help you find out which Puget Sound area restaurants will be serving dinner on Thanksgiving.
Open Table - this online restaurant reservation services has a special section devoted to restaurants that are open on Thanksgiving
The Seattle Times - lists menu items, restaurant hours, and price range
CitySearch Seattle - in addition to listing open restaurants, this site lists Thanksgiving catering and takeout options
Gayot.com - this restaurant review web site provides a list of Thanksgiving dining options as well as links for reservations
Local Restaurants Serving Thanksgiving Dinner...
0/8 Seafood Grill & Twisted Cork Wine Bar Bellevue, WA Chef Dan is offering a Thanksgiving buffet of traditional fare as well as fresh local seafood. Cost: $38.95/adult, $16.95/child 5-12, free for children under 5 w/ an adult Time: Noon to 7 p.m. Reservations highly recommended
Andaluca Seattle in the Mayflower Park Hotel Offering the regular menu. Time: 3-9 p.m. Reservation recommended.
Brasserie Margaux Belltown A Thanksgiving Day buffet. Time: 1-8 p.m. Cost: $39/adult, $14.95/child under 12). Included validated parking.
Chandler's Crabhouse Lake Union Offering a 4-course dinner including traditional roast turkey, herb roasted prime rib, or fresh seafood delicacies. Cost: $44.95 Reservations Recommended
Clinkerdagger Spokane, WA Offering our regular dinner menu along with a featured Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. Time: 3:30-8 p.m. Reservations Recommended
Cutter's Bayhouse Seattle, WA Offering a large variety of our most popular items as well as traditional Thanksgiving Day dinners. Time: Noon - 8 p.m. Reservations Recommended
Daniel's Broiler Lake Union, Bellevue Place and Leschi Marina Offer a delicious, 4-course dinner including traditional roast turkey or USDA Prime beef. Cost: $49.95
Maggiano's Little Italy Bellevue Celebrate Thanksgiving with your family & friends! Their special menu includes roast turkey, country style ham, garlic mashed potatoes, pumpkin praline cheesecake, & more! Cost: $34.95 per person (adults) and $16.95 per child. Carry out and home delivery also available.
McCormick & Schmick's Offering a limited menu, incl. a traditional turkey dinner, prime rib, salmon, crab, and lamb chops. Reservations Recommended
Ponti Seafood Grill Seattle, WA Join us for a traditional 3-course menu featuring grilled salmon, prime rib, and turkey. Cost: $39/adult, $15/child Time: 1-8 p.m.
Toscano Bellevue Offering a delicious Thanksgiving buffet with over 100 items! Cost:$39/adult, $20/child 6-12
Our holiday inspiration boards continue with this easy to re-create and ultra spectacular Thanksgiving board. Planning an entertaining and family-friendly turkey day has never been easy.
Theme: Giving Thanks, duh! Colors: Stick to pale oranges, cranberry reds and sage green
The Decor: We like choosing simple decor items that can also carry you into the Christmas season. So stick with fruits and vegetables and dark greens as your design backdrop.
The Food: When it comes to planning a meal for a large group, don't try to do everything yourself. Ask your guests to bring a side dish, and don't feel like you are backing out of the responsibilities by asking others to help out with the meal. Remember, it is Thanksgiving after all, so let your friends give. Of course, there is always the main staple, the infamous turkey. If you are a Tom Douglas mini-me, go ahead and try to make your own frozen/thawed turkey with all the dressings. But if you are like us, consider a catered turkey or a pre-cooked turkey from Honeybaked Ham. Add your own garnishes, and be sure to throw away any evidence of a "store bought" bird so your guests will never know. And, if nothing else, ditch the canned cranberry sauce for the real thing. It's pretty simple to make and you can gloat that you made it from scratch all night long.
The Entertainment: How often do you have all your friends and family together? Not that often right, so make the most of it. Pull out some "family fun" games and stick Miracle on 34th Street in the dvd player. (Yes, we realize this is a "Christmas" movie, but the movie starts out depicting the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, so work with us here).
The Mood: From the moment your guests step inside your welcoming home, make sure they are bombarded (that's right, we said bombarded) with the scent of the holidays. Our pick is the lovely scent of spiced pumpkin, which can also carry you right into the Christmas season. Create the scent with burning oil, candles and room sprays and add extra touches with scented soaps and lotions in the bathroom.
The Booze: Be adventurous and try out a new fall-themed cocktail like spiked hot cider, pecan martini or pomegranate mint mojito. What other time of year can you try something so festive?
Whoever said Halloween was for kids was clearly mistaken. We'd like to introduce our new "Get Inspired!" series of party planning inspiration boards to help you get your creative juices flowing for your own happening events. After all, we are entering the busiest season of all, jam-packed with one holiday after another. So let's get started with our first board of the season!
Theme: A Grown-Up Halloween Colors: Black and Orange
The Colors: Go classic orange and black. Since orange is not a color most people use often, select accent pieces like napkins, candlesticks and small decorations that are orange in color. Then choose black items that are more recyclable like your chairs, table linens and candlesticks to complete the look.
The Decor: Halloween is a pretty simple holiday to find decorations for. But if you have the time and energy, try simple crafts for your decorations like pumpkin carving, glittered votive candle holders and edible spooky snacks. Homemade decorations are far more interesting and impressive.
The Entertainment: What would a Halloween party be without a scary film? We checked AFI's top 50 horror films and the film Psycho topped the list. Even if you aren't all going to sit down and watch it intently, stick it in your dvd player and let it run. Just the screams and scary music will add to the overall abiance.
The Food: Plan a meal that allows people to gather around the table, talk and mingle. A formal sitdown dinner is just not appropriate for a Halloween party. Consider a fondue party with cheddar cheese dip. It's a fun and tasty activity, plus it matches your color scheme!
The Fun: Since it is a Halloween Party after all, costumes are a must! Give an award for the best costume and the most creative costume. It will turn your event into a competition, encouraging your guests to step it up a notch. And since you are the awesome party planner that you are, we suggest going as Mr. or Mrs. Incredible!
In less than a month, our country will elect a new President of the United States. In the spirit of the season, candy makers are taking advantage of this sweet opportunity to offer politically inspired edible goodness. Check out what we've found below.
This election year, Byrd Cookie Company wants everyone to Vote With Taste! Get your campaign headquarters ready with our selection of Democrat or Republican tins filled with Key Lime Coolers (left). Show your patriotic spirit with this red, white and blue tin collection! They are sure to be a hit with your guests at any election event this year!
Made with the traditional Japanese art of kumi ame (rolled candy), Kai's Candy Campaign ‘08 candies (below) are here to add some fun to the race for the Presidency. Each candy is individually wrapped, and the lollipops come on super long 8" sticks. The flavors are similar to American hard candies, but with a more mild flavor. But look out for the small Obama candies - they have a zesty mint flavor!
If candy is not quite your thing, you may be more interested in a mocha cafe drink with special packaging to promote Senator McCain and Senator Obama from McStevens.
Lastly, L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates have developed a variety of sweet treats representing both candidates. Enjoy an assortment package of candies that include awaiian Pineapple, Kenyan Coffee, Kansas Corn Crunch and Tennessee Sour Mash in the Obama package, and Arizona Citrus, Hot Pepper Tequila, Peanut Butter, and Kentucky Rye in the McCain assortment.
Foodz Catering is proud to be sponsoring FareStart as a part of their Guest Chefs program on October 9th. This is a chance for us to give back to the community and help make the lives of some homeless a little better. Join us for a 3 course dinner for only $ 24.95. Call (206) 267 - 6210 or try reservations@farestart.org. Chef Shelby, Chef Anne and Chef Sarah will spend the day working with the people in the program to create and serve your meal. All proceeds go back to FareStart to help support this wonderful effort.
Check out this upcoming event at Castle Bridge Winery, a boutique winery in Kent , WA. Come for music, wine, chocolate and fun!
Wine, Chocolate and Live Music September 27, 2008 Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm Location: Castle Bridge Winery 7645 South 180th Street Kent WA 98032 Contact: Linda Phone: 425-251-0983 Email: cbwinery@earthlink.net RSVP required
Tickets: $10.00 per person/$18.00 couple At the door: 15.00 per person/25.00 couple Relax and Indulge Live music by Suzanne Brewer
Only three weeks now until the 2008 Northwest Event Show takes place at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center on September 23. Have you registered yet? If not, here are just a few of the reasons why you should...
It's 100% free to attend. That's right, the Northwest Event Show is free for all qualified meeting and event planners. Heck, even if you only plan one event a year, or have never planned an event before but have a major one coming up, this show is for you!
Not only is it free, but we'll also give you free stuff! Just for attending the show you'll receive the 2009 B&E Event Resource Guide as our complimentary gift. The guide retails for $14.95 in bookstores, and truly is the most comprehensive planning tool around. The best part is, the 2009 edition will be in FULL COLOR for the first time ever. And you'll be receiving it hot of the press!
The Northwest Event Show is occurring in conjunction with the 2008 SUMMIT INDUSTRY Meeting, also a first. If you are planning on attending the SUMMIT you'll get two great shows on one day.
You'll learn the latest Green Event Planning Tips. This year's event is going green and we have the best ideas and inspirations in town so you can plan greener events too.
Chances to win three weekend getaways to Skamania Lodge, Suncadia Resort, and Sunriver Resort complete with the royal treatment.
The exhibitors are top-notch! With over 250 booths you'll never get another chance like this to meet with the area's top event planning professionals, in one place, on one day. They are the best of the best in design, catering, entertainment, team building and more!
All the food your belly can take, and then a little more. You'll get to sample the best food Northwest caterers have to offer. It's definitely not a day to wear tight pants!
Have we convinced you yet? If so, head on over to nweventshow.com and register for the 2008 Northwest Event Show! You cannot afford to miss this spectacular event!
Have you ever noticed that the city you live in is the one city you hardly know? In other words, when you go on a vacation to another place you find out what the main attractions are and plan sightseeing tours or trips to go see them. But in the own city you live in you often get caught up in your day-to-day agenda and neglect its own attractions and so-called "touristy" activities.
With a three-day weekend coming up, here's your chance to get re-acquainted with your city. For those of you who live in the Seattle area, here are the top six tourist attractions according to About.com to get out there and explore!
1. An afternoon on Broadway in Capitol Hill Capitol Hill is the most densely and diversely populated neighborhood in Seattle. Broadway, the main thoroughfare, has the most active sidewalk scene, day or night, in the city. It is a bustling area that is home to the entire cross-section of Seattle’s population. A trip down Broadway will basically introduce you to everyone you share the city with. It also has many diverse shops and restaurants worth visiting. Spend an afternoon shopping on Broadway and grab an inexpensive lunch.
2. Starbucks at the Space Needle When is the last time you took the 41-second ride to the top of the Space Needle? Do you even remember how beautiful Mt. Rainier looks from there? If not, its time to pull out the $17 (yeah its still a little pricey) and make the trip up the Seattle icon. Once you're at the top, make sure to enjoy a local favorite Starbuck's cup-a-joe.
3. Washington State Ferries (WSF) WSF offers an inexpensive way to see Seattle from the water. You can catch the ferry to Bremerton at Pier 52 for $6.50 round-trip as a passenger. It will cost an extra $7.60 each way to take your car. The ride is 60 minutes each way with a 20-minute stop in Bremerton. It offers excellent views of Blake Island, the naval shipyard in Bremerton, and downtown Seattle from the water upon your return. Pack a lunch and enjoy a better time than you would have had on an expensive Elliott Bay Cruise. If you live in the northend, you could also try the Edmonds Ferry or the Mukilteo/Clinton Ferry. The rides are much shorter, but offer the same beautiful sights and fun places to explore on the other side.
4. Pike Place Public Market You know we had to add it to the list. Pike Place Market is still one of the most famous Seattle hot-spots and for good reason. Adults love it. Kids love it. Dogs love it. What is not to love. Pick up a local bouquet of fresh flowers. Watch fish flying through the air. Shop around the local craft stands. Sit and people watch. The Pike Place Market is rite of passage for any true Seattle native or adoptee and is truly the place that defines the city.
5. Pioneer Square and Underground Tour In 1853, Seattle was founded in the area now known as Pioneer Square. An area of about ten square blocks serves as both the center of Seattle's nightlife and history. You can see and learn a lot without covering much ground by taking a Walking Tour of Pioneer Square. Go on Bill Speidel's Underground Tour first. The 90-minute, $11 guided-tour will help you get your bearings and allow you to experience things in chronological order. It is the best activity in Seattle that nobody knows about.
6. Bumbershoot Bumbershoot is of course not a permanent fixture in Seattle, but it is certainly one of the main attractions during Labor Day weekend. Venture to Seattle Center, the 74-acre park located in the heart of the Pacific Northwest to find a festival that has it all. Bumbershoot, as the name implies, umbrellas a number of artists from different genres representing the best in music, film, comedy, theater, spoken word, dance, visual, performance and literary arts.
We read a recent article in the Business Journal featuring an interview with a catering director named Franck Mannechez out of San Antonio, Texas. Frank is also the president of NACE (National Association of Catering Executives) an organization that is very well known here in the Northwest. We found it to be interesting that the same trends happening in a different part of the country also seem to be showing up in the Northwest.
We have included snippets of the interview below.
Q. What is the latest food trend that catering customers are demanding today?
A. No more junk food! Consumers are looking for more locally grown foods and support a healthier environment and a healthier lifestyle. People want food that is convenient, fills them up, tastes good and is not fattening.
Q. For a long time, it was chicken, chicken, chicken. Now it's beef, beef, beef. What's up with that?
A. I think people have finally passed the stage of being afraid of beef. We don't hear anything anymore about Mad Cow.
Q. What is the latest decorating trend in catering today?
A. Lighting! It is amazing what a few spotlights can do to a room. You can match the color of the light either with your centerpieces or your linen, and it will accentuate the color -- making it look even more beautiful. Your room will suddenly have a new dimension.
Q. What is your favorite meal to serve for a business event?
A. Everybody has their own favorite meal that they like to serve at every event because it has a great flavor or it is easy to serve. My personal favorite is a mixed grille of tenderloin of beef medallion with forest mushroom sauce and quartet of gulf shrimp baked in pistachio butter. For a business event, though, it is a little different because you have to consider many factors in order to serve the "right food." Factors range from theme, nutritional preferences, allergies, to event length.
Q. How are caterers dealing with the increased food and transportation costs? Are they raising prices or tweaking other parts of their business?
A. Every catering event is a negotiation and a relationship, and you have to find out what is important to the client first. If cost is not a factor, then it is easy; if it is, we will have to guide the client towards what would be the best for their budget and our costs. Here at the Dominion Country Club we are holding on raising prices. Instead we are trying to negotiate with our fellow NACE (National Association of Catering Executives) members, making deals to help cut some costs and at the same time give them more business. With increased pressure on our nation's food suppliers, though, eventually the rising costs will be passed on to the end user.
We were recently informed of this great idea for an upcoming event in Seattle by one of our clients, Foodz Catering. If you love to cook and think you have what it takes to join the chefs of Foodz Catering in a friendly cooking competition, join the "Iron Chef Acalia" competition. Just like the Food Network show, Iron Chef, a secret ingredient will be revealed and the two teams lead by Chef Shelby and Chef Sarah will decide what dishes to prepare on the spot.
After all the items have been created the food will be presented to the panel of judges including Seattle's Kathy Casey. Sign up online at www.foodzcatering.com or call (206) 297 - 9634 to learn more. Entrance fee is $ 75.00 Foodz Catering will also be on hand at the 2008 Northwest Event Show. Come check out their booth to see what is new for 2008 in catering like their newest outdoor concept: "The Satay Bar."
Football season is just around the corner and you know what that means...Tailgating! If you are the king (or queen) of tailgating, we have just the thing for you. Tailgating Innovations was born of necessity. People are tired of spending their time preparing and cleaning up at sporting events rather than enjoying themselves with friends and family. Tailgating Innovations went to work researching just what makes a great tailgating experience... the ultimate tailgating experience - now you can have that too!
Tailgating Innovations trailers are decked to the nines with a tongue mounted grill with a pivot arm, satellite dish, rear and side doors for easy internal access, rubberized coin flooring, cabinets for storage, electrical outlets, internal e-tracks for secure hauling, internal lighting, smooth aluminum exterior and wheels. The trailer also comes with a 1080p (FHDTV) flatscreen and a high-tech sound system to wow the socks right off your friends.
Prices start at $12,500 as everything is fully customizable.
It is our pleasure to announce Tillicum Village’s participation in the Native American Honor Days 2008. Tillicum Village is offering a special sailing today, the 20th of August at 4:30 p.m. and the 24th of August at 11:30 a.m. to help celebrate this special occasion. Along with the traditional Tillicum Village salmon feast and dance ceremony, they are delighted to offer an Honor Circle Ceremony and the opportunity to sign a petition to make Native American Honor Day a national holiday. On these special days, there is an extraordinary rate offered of $59.00 per adult.
Tonight, there is a special performance by the TwoBirdz Singers drum group, and on the 24th Native American Flute Player Michelle Grace will be featured. In addition, there will be a special art exhibit for viewing on the island. Tillicum asks that you pass on this information to your friends, family, and coworkers; or anyone you know as we would love to have them celebrate this event with us. Please call ahead and make reservations as spots are filling up fast.
Contact Information:Tillicum Village & Tours Inc 2992 SW Avalon Way Seattle, WA 98198 (206) 933-8600, (800) 426-1205 Fax: (206) 933-9377 www.tillicumvillage.com
Got a theme for your next event? Here is one you may not have thought about. Lately we've been noticing some furry friends hopping, crawling, swimming, and flying into event theme decor. That's right, event table decor is taking it to the animals.
We found just a few examples at one of our favorite independent art websites, Elsewares. Check out these letterpressed coasters below from Sesame Letterpress. Sesame Letterpress is a letterpress studio in Brooklyn, NY (right under the Brooklyn Bridge, actually!). It's there that husband and wife Matt Heindl and Breck Hostetter make all their letterpress goodness.
We also loved these studio salad plates from Working Glass Studio. A fresh new concept in the art of dining. These sturdy, colorful, square salad plates are made of lightweight melamine. They're a perfect choice for outdoor dining or to combine with other tableware for an eclectic mix. Sold individually so you can build your own set! Working Class Studio is the product development arm of the Savannah College of Art and Design, giving students real world experience designing and marketing home accessories and lifestyle products.
Lastly, check out these totally chic and incredibly unique serving trays from IBride (below). These trays combine magical imagery with intricate lattice work, and are perfect for serving the special friends in your life, or hanging on your wall as a stunning accent. Each tray is constructed to last using a century old technique which applies high pressure laminate to an environmentally friendly, recycled wood core. They are sturdy and gorgeous, and when we heard how they were made, we had to have them.
Ibride is an innovative French design team led by three members of the same family. The century old technique used to create their gorgeous and intricate trays uses recycled wood and gives it new life as a functional tray or home accent.
If you've ever seen the CBS show Survivor you've probably seen the contestants travel to a water source and boil the water they collect before they can drink it in order to decontaminate and filtrate the water from bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi and all other microbiological waterborne pathogens. You may have even gone camping before and had to do this yourself. Now, for the first time ever, comes a water bottle that produces filtered sterile drinking water quickly and easily. The LIFESAVER bottle is the first ultra filtration water bottle that incorporates LIFESAVER systems’ unique failsafe technology (another world first) which shuts off the bottle’s cartridge upon expiry, preventing contaminated water from being drunk. With LIFESAVER bottle there is no need for tablets, boiling, chemicals, tubes, shaking, scrubbing, waiting or effort. LIFESAVER bottle produces clean, sterile drinking water with no foul taste - fast!
The LIFESAVER bottle was developed as a response to the tragedy that unfolded due to lack of safe drinking water after the tsunami in December 2004 and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The LIFESAVER bottle has been designed to help save lives supplying people with clean pathogen-free drinking water.
The LIFESAVER bottle retails for $229, which may sound expensive, but as important as clean water is to your health, isn't it worth a few extra dollars?
