CarteWheels-Caterers

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

ICA Regional Education Day

I got away for an inspiring day of learning and sharing with caterers from the International Caterers Association. The workshop was held in Long Beach CA, hosted by Jay's Catering in Garden Grove and Good Gracious Events from LA. The day was so filled with information and ideas that it is hard to focus on any one aspect.
Good Gracious treated us to a "Cocktail" Breakfast with fabulous cocktail style breakfast foods!

How fun is that!

There was Yogurt with Granola, Fried Deviled Eggs, Bacon Wrapped Sausage, Mini Muffins, Nutella French Toast Bites, Smoked Salmon, Melon Skewers, Very Cute Doughnuts and the cutest Juice Bottles w/ Black Straws.

Jay's Catering facility was most impressive and awe inspiring. We were able to tour the whole space including their huge warehouse and wonderful kitchen. They are so busy that they have crews working 24 hours a day! They catered 17 events on Saturday; we were there on Monday and everything was back on the shelves, neat & tidy.

Right before lunch we were divided into teams and each team decorated a table. My team grabbed the gold chairs with orange velvet seats first, so from there we got a great green table cloth and it all just came together. It was great fun!

Jay's served us a delicious lunch.

I took over 200 photos in this one day, but many of them were of slides and did not turn out well. Needless to say there was plenty of creativity crammed into one day, and we were being fed every time we turned around. The afternoon break was catered again by Good Gracious Events, and consisted of a Black & White Quinoa Salad, BLT Soup Sip and Petite Strawberry Shortcakes.

The afternoon sessions included a trip to the pastry kitchen to learn from Joanne Purnell, ICA Chef of the Year, about French Macaroons, Gelees & Marshmallows.

The final session of the day was an over the top tented mixology event with ambiance provided by Rriver Davies of River Works Designs.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Summer Cocktail Party in Hunt

The ultimate summer cocktail party, in Hunt Texas on a shaded patio with a view of the Cypress lined river below.We served a fun menu with cool summer favorites.

Texas Caviar

Offered w/ Tortilla Chips

Chicken Caesar Salad Cones

Peppered Tuna Skewers w/ Wasabi Aioli

Smoked Pork Tenderloin on Corn Biscuits

Accompanied by Green Tomato Chutney

Chef Carved Beef Tenderloin

Offered w/ Yeast Rolls and Horseradish Sauce

Mini Baja Fish Tacos

w/ Cilantro Crema Slaw

Bar Cookies and Pecan Tartlets

Monday, June 15, 2009

Stablewood Spring Resort Wedding

CarteWheels catered a beautiful event at Stablewood Springs Resort despite the extreme heat! Food stations were placed in direct sun while the guest seating was inside a tent with fans. The resort is still very much a construction site where the staff had to traverse rock and dirt trails in order to service the stations and bus seating tables. Despite the difficult working conditions the guests were pleased to find fun food stations with something for everyone.

Waiter Passed

Caprese Skewers

Mini Crab Cakes w/ Spicy Remoulade & Apple Salsa

Sundried Tomato Risotto Cakes

Asian Delights Station

Shrimp & Vegetable Summer Rolls

offered w/ Ponzu Sauce

Asian Noodle Salad in Pink and Green Takeout Boxes

Assorted Sushi

Nuevo Lation Station

Smoked Brisket Quesadillas

w/Tomatillo Salsa

Gordita Bar

Featuring Blackbeans, Carnitas and Shredded Chicken Mole

Guacamole & Pico de Gallo

Chips and Salsa

Go Green Salad Station

Mashed Potato Martini Station

Midnight Snacks

Waiter Passed

Mocha Frappacino Shooters w/ Mini Biscotti

One of the Stablewood Springs Resort Pools

With a gorgeous view !

Mashed Potato Martini Bar with our cute Artichoke Lamp

The tent was lit with lacy gobo lighting

The Asian Delights Station

Viridian's Candy Bar

The Groom's Cake celebrated their dogs

The resort view was spectacular!

Signature Cocktail Station

Mashed Potato Martini Station

Monday, May 11, 2009

Hill Country Charity Ball

The Hill Country Charity Ball was a beautiful event held at Camp Rio Vista. The only issue was the extreme heat we were experiencing as there was no air conditioning in the building.

Bruschetta Bar

Entrance to the party

Hand Rolled Cigars by Bobalu

Trisha Hamil of Viridian Designs did a fantastic job disguising the gym by the addition of lavish drapes, chandeliers and gorgeous florals.

Viridian Designs

Another shot of the Bruschetta Bar

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Museum of Western Art Round Up

CarteWheels catered three events for the 26th Annual Roundup at the Museum of Western Art, Some 300+ guests gathered to purchase works of art, eat, drink and support the museum.

A special catcus ice sculpture decorated the Titos Vodka Bar.

The pavilion was surrounded on two sides by unique "out houses" that were works of art.

Our Mini Tacos w/ Mexican Chicken Salad

Wheat Grass Crudite Display

Monday, April 20, 2009

Wedding on Little Creek Exotic Ranch

Utopia Texas was the location for this beautiful tent reception. Guests were bussed to the hilltop to witness the ceremony where the Bride made a dramatic entrance in a helicopter. The tent was positioned along a running creek which provided cool breezes once the sun set. The tent was fashioned with a clear top over the dance floor for starlit dancing.

Fresh Fruit & Cheese Display

Waiter Passed

Mini Crab Cakes w/ Spicy Remoulade & Apple Salsa

Grits Cakes w/ Shrimp & Jalapeno Jelly

Bandera Quail Sausage w/ Raspberry Chipotle Sauce

Crudites w/ Herb Dip

Gorditas

Quesadillas

Prepared at Station

Mashed Potato Martini Bar

Chile Glazed Pork Loin

Corn Biscuits

Broccoli Salad

Black Bean & Corn Salad

Panzanella

Buffet

Dance Floor

Beverage Station

Buffet

A walkway was fashioned from trees arching to form a tunnel where some 60-70 copper lanterns were hung to light the way for guest to enter the reception. It is hard to see the lanterns but once it was dark, they twinkled like a fairyland.