6 Tips for Your New Year's Party

In our continuing blog series, "Holiday Entertaining," today we offer 6 tips to make your New Year's Eve or Day party cool, distinctive, and fun.

#1
If you want to serve a dinner, don't stress! Buy a pre-seasoned pork loin (as many as you need), and bake according to directions.  If side dishes aren't your strong point, buy several orders of an excellent pasta from a favorite restaurant and reheat (but when you reheat it, put a glop of butter on top before reheating, and cover to reheat--you'll thank me for this).  Maybe add a bought vegetable dish from an excellent restaurant or food emporium (reheat this with butter too).  Use nice plates, cutlery, glasses, and napkins, and everyone will be impressed and happy.

#2
For a fast, fun, no-cook dessert or to create a dessert bar, buy high quality frozen cheesecakes (such as from Costco or Trader Joe's), thaw a bit (not completely), then cut out small cheesecake bites with a square, round, star, or other shaped cookie cutter.  Avoid pre-made commercial cheesecake bites as they are cloying.  Cutting out these bites should not take you more than 15 minutes for a party of 25 guests or less.  And you can do the same thing with purchased brownies (best quality of course).  Then put the cut out cheesecake bites and/or cut out brownie bites on a tray or plates and sprinkle the cheesecake bites with cocoa powder and the brownie bites with powdered sugar.  People love the fun look of these little bites! And your creations will wow everyone, but aren't much work for you.

#3
Set up a champagne bar. There are several ways to do this.  One way is to set out bottles of champagne method beverages such as true Champagne, prosecco, cava, and sparkling wines.  Or choose a country or region where champagne method beverages are made and put out bottles of several different types from that country or region.  If you want to up it a notch, also put out fresh berries for people to put in their glasses with their champagne.  Or put out a tray of champagne cocktails (recipes abound on the web) as well, so your guests can try different variations on the champagne theme.

#4
In Spain it's traditional to begin eating a bunch of grapes when the clock begins striking midnight on New Year's Eve.  If you finish the grapes before the clock strikes midnight it's supposed to be good luck.  It's a fun activity with a group, anyway.  And you can even make the grapes part of the the decor of your party by putting the bunches, separated, on a tray, in cones, or on small plates and decorating with fresh berries.

#5
Party decor colors? Metallics and creams, of course, and we also like black and white, perhaps with touches of red or fuschia, as well as pale blue and silver or pale blue and midnight blue with gold accents.

#6
Tie long curling ribbon around the stems of your champagne flutes to make them festive too (just don't make the ribbons TOO long).

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Decor Ideas for End-Of-Year Gatherings

As the year draws to a close many of us will have gatherings of one type of another, for New Year's Eve or New Year's Day or even during this week, or next week. 

Some people leave their Christmas or Chanukah decorations as the same decorations for their end-of- or beginning of-year gatherings--and as long as they make the hosts and guests feel festive, why not?

Others change their decorations for their end-of-year gatherings, or did not decorate for Christmas or Chanukah. 

If you fall into the latter group, end-of-year or beginning-of-year gatherings present great opportunities to lift you and your guests out of the winter doldrums.

Traditional colors for end-of-year and beginning-of-year gatherings are cream, silver, and gold; in recent years, midnight blue has also become popular for decor for these parties.  But be careful not to use too much midnight blue as your gathering will look gloomy. 

Tablecloths, runners, trays, or other entertaining pieces can add "lightness" to your gathering, either by a light color (cream or pale gold cloth) or by the "shininess" of distinctive serving pieces.  End- and beginning-of-year parties are the best time of year to use stylish gold and silver serving trays and so forth as these colors are associated with that time of year, just as red and green, for example, are associated with Christmas. 

Or, for a "bridge" look, you can use red and gold or blue and gold.

A few years ago we did a Sunday afternoon tea for a neighbor at the beginning of January and did cream-on-cream tones with black and gold accents from pieces that the hostess owned, including a gold flower-shaped tray that held sherry glasses and sherry as well as the tea and sweets, and, as the day was overcast, everyone liked the design because they said it lifted them out of the winter blahs.

The thing to remember is, in most parts of the world the weather is dreary, so why invite guests to a dark cave for a party now?

But avoid brights for your end- or beginning-of-year gathering as they are jarring this time of year unless you live in a tropical climate.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Ideas 4 ur holiday sweets table? Central Market Truffle Assortment gift boxes & Dallas chocolatier choc Santas:
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Where to Buy Distinctive Last-Minute Holiday Serveware

OK, so despite the best-laid plans of mice and men you either have a planned holiday gathering and are still looking for a way to add a distinctive touch to your party or you've been hesitating and have finally decided to host a holiday gathering, but don't want it to look like a last-minute takeout fest.

Where to buy stylish serveware at this last minute? Don't despair.  With one trip you can be ready.

Budget

If you're on a budget and you like a more mod look, the place to go is IKEA.

Recommended:

• SVALKA goblets and champagne flutes--and here's an idea: serve any non-hot beverages, whether wine, champagne, a cocktail, or anything non-alchoholic, even water, in the flutes.  Your beverages will look so nice!
• Serving pieces: GROGGY stainless trays, ARV BROLLOP cake stand with lid and serving plates, IKEA 365+ serving plates, GOTTIS and MALTID serving bowls

Avoid anything plastic from IKEA or anywhere else as it doesn't look stylish (perhaps only if you're serving small children?)

Another place to check is Cost Plus World Markets--Their markdown prices are very good and they tend to have a wider selection of square, rectangle, and oval white porcelain serving pieces than IKEA, and sometimes have nice beaten gold trays from India, for example, that would go well with either traditional or mod holiday decor.

Not on a Budget

• Neiman-Marcus--ABSOLUTELY the best and most beautiful serveware in styles from traditional to mod and whimsical if you can afford it
• Pottery Barn
• Williams-Sonoma
• Crate & Barrel
• Sur La Table--And if you absolutely must use disposables at your gathering, their bamboo plates are a lovely golden color and will look wonderful as well as being eco friendly
• Department stores--They mark down right before Christmas, so you can pick up some great pieces at great prices

In our experience the mass retailers' serveware quality is not very durable, so we don't recommend it as it's a waste of money if it won't last at least a few years without breaking.  In fact, the IKEA serveware is more reliable and often less expensive than that of the mass retailers like Target and Wal-Mart.

One fell swoop to distinctive tableware for your gathering

To save time, check out websites and note what you like, then head to the store(s) and check out the sales table-you might find something you like better!

Then, armed with your new stylish serveware, you're ready to make your holiday gathering distinctive.

Enjoy.

Best wishes for a beautiful, delicious, and magical Christmas from all of us,

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Looking for distinctive stemware for your holiday event? Pottery Barn's rimmed coupes and goblets:
http://ping.fm/vf4eN

Red food color makes cupcakes dry; to avoid, Red Velvet Cupcakes w Buttermilk recipe:
http://bit.ly/34Goc3

8 More Beverage Ideas for Holiday Events

As we move in the last rush toward our holiday events, today we offer 8 more ideas for distinctive beverages to serve at holiday events.

Non Alcoholic

Sodas with a Twist
Buy bottles of Italian limoncello sodas, French Oranginas, Mexican Jarritos, Spanish KAS...And thus embrace an international theme.  You can achieve a wonderful effect with a rainbow of sodas.  Or go nostalgic and buy bottles of artisan root beer or your regional soft drink.

Orange Eggnog Punch
1 qt. eggnog
1 can (12 oz.) frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed, or 2 cans of peach nectar
1 can (12 oz.) ginger ale

In pitcher mix eggnog and orange juice or peach nectar.  Pour in ginger ale and stir.

House Snapple
Make your usual recipe of lemon, sweetened iced tea.  Add 1-2 cans Jumex peach nectar and juice of 1-3 fresh oranges.  Taste and add more sugar if needed.

Cranberry-Lime Punch
Mix 1 large bottle cranberry or cran-apple juice, 1 can (12 oz.) ginger ale, and 1-2 scoops lime sherbert.  Stir to dissolve sherbert.  Add a little more sugar if needed.

Alcoholic

Irish Coffee
Still great in winter! And festive.  Coffee, Bailey's Irish Cream, whipped cream to garnish the cups.

Raspberry a Go Go
Stir together one bottle white wine, 2 small bottles raspberry beer or 1/2 cup Creme de Cassis, 1 small bottle ginger ale, and 1 pint raspberry ice cream. 

Hot Sangría
Make your favorite sangría recipe and add 2 cinnamon sticks and 1-3 tbsp., or to taste, of honey. Heat on low 20 minutes. Discard cinnamon and serve warm.

Coffee with Liqueur
In the European tradition, add a liqueur such as cognac, Amaretto, Frangelico, Gran Marnier, or eau-de-vie to hot coffee and stir.  Warms you right up.

Enjoy.

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

2 of r wine picks this holiday season: 4 shellfish Quinta da Aveleda's Casal Garcia Vinho Verde, 4 Beef Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Crianza

Posted some of our holiday photos to album "Holiday" on FB:
http://on.fb.me/tlPyI2

Ths wk Gulf Shrimp, Leek, Fontina Risotto; Tndrln w Harvest Vegetables & Pears in Satsuma Cream Sauce more:
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How to Make Your Guests More Comfortable at Your Holiday Parties:
http://bit.ly/9OepuP

2day's personal chef client holiday lunch Pesto Scampi, Tndrln w Rosemary Chimichurri, Potato Gruyere Leek Au Gratin

How to Make Guests Comfortable at Your Holiday Party

Often we don't think about what would make guests comfortable at our holiday parties. 

If you go to a lot of parties you may be aware of what makes you comfortable and what parties you didn't feel particularly comfortable at, but many people only give a party once a year and aren't really in tune with things that make their guests either comfortable or not at a party.  Today we offer tips for making your guests more comfortable at your holiday party this year.

Don't dim the lights too much
This holiday season we did two parties where the hosts dimmed the lights so low that you couldn't see the food or pretty much anything else.  At one of these parties, even though guests asked the hostess to make at least part of the event area brighter, she did not want to.  Thus, her older guests, who made up about half the guest list, did not enjoy themselves as the lounge-y effect the young hostess liked was not comfortable for them.  So consider your guest list.  At the other party we did recently where someone dimmed the lights, also about a half and half mix of young and older guests, the host listened to some of his guests who asked him to not dim the lights so much, and everyone had a wonderful time.  Leave the lounge thing out of holiday gatherings!

Have someone pass trays of bites and beverages
Think this is a luxury? It isn't if you don't want food to be wasted.  Unless you're hosting a football team that devours anything in sight, people like to stand or sit where they are and socialize, and they prefer to eat where they are rather than going to a buffet.  Have the buffet too, but try passing trays of food too and you'll see.

And if you prefer to have a self-serve beverage station and don't want to pass trays of beverages--understandable as they can spill if you're not skilled at this--, have someone go around offering to refill people's glasses from wine bottles or from pitchers of beverages.  Again, you'll see that people prefer that to going to or going back to the self-serve beverage station.

If you have space, consider renting cocktail tables
If you use nice tablecloths it won't seem like a nightclub and it's more comfortable for people to put their used plates and glasses. Or consider borrowing or moving into the event area small/occasional tables for this purpose--and you don't need tablecloths for occasional tables if you don't want to use them.

Have someone clean the room of used plates, glasses, and napkins throughout the party
For some this may seem a luxury, but it's not comfortable for guests if used plates, napkins, and glasses are lying all around with no one to pick them up until the end of the party.  Where do they put their things--on top of the used ones already there?

We do a pass through, as it's known in the industry, every fifteen minutes; to us, waiting for every half hour means too much is piled up and the event room no longer looks nice, so again, people aren't as comfortable.

Enjoy.

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

The Easiest Desserts for a Holiday Dessert Buffet

Today in our continuing blog series, "Holiday Entertaining," we offer ideas for the easiest desserts for a holiday dessert buffet.

There are two schools of thought here:

• Buy a dessert that's completely made
• Buy a HIGH QUALITY mix and make a dessert

Most people will not want or have time to make a dessert, so we'll just recommend two high-quality lines of dessert mixes:

• Williams Sonoma
• Central Market (most of these are all natural)

With these mixes you can be assured of a high quality, which is not true of the mass market mixes.

Or, even easier, make a fruit fool and serve in shot glasses, very trendy now: mix sweetened whipped cream with berries in a blender (taste and add more sugar if needed), then spoon the fool into small tumblers or even wine glasses and decorate each with fresh berries or chocolate bits

If you want to buy one or more desserts, our recommendations are:

• Buy from a caterer
• Buy from a good restaurant you frequent and where you've eaten desserts, if they sell desserts (not all do)
• Buy from a high-quality pastry shop--but take our advice and don't buy for your party if you've never purchased a dessert from that pastry shop before.  Instead, buy one ahead of time and taste test it so you and your guests won't be disappointed.  You can always give away the extra dessert or save it for after your party.
• Buy from a specialty baker (ask for references)
• The easiest? Buy some of the wonderful panettones, pandoros, panfortes, liqueur regular and mini cakes, and so forth available at upscale supermarkets and some upscale department stores (like Neiman Marcus and Bloomie's).  If you want to be sure of the best quality, buy the more expensive ones--like everything else in life, you get what you pay for.

Then put your desserts on nice trays.  If you're lost in the "nice tray" arena, the easiest thing to do is to buy a square or oval white porcelain tray, widely available at retailers, and garnish at intervals or corners and/or in the center with:

• Fresh raspberries, cranberries, or crab apples
• Fresh herb sprigs
• Edible flowers

Then stand back, admire, and eat!

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Choosing Decor for Your Holiday Party:
http://bit.ly/9OepuP

4 holiday parties Cuisinart Coffee Plus 12-cup Coffeemaker lets u make coffee & tea or another hot bev @ same time:
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Choosing Decor for Your Holiday Party

Today in our continuing blog series, "Holiday Entertaining," we offer ideas for choosing decor for your holiday party.

Often decor at holiday parties is either overdone or too minimal.  But striking the right note need not be complicated if you follow a few simple guidelines.

#1: Choose a Color Scheme that Makes You Look Good and Your Guests Feel Good
In our experience bright red and bright green in combination is not stylish and looks too much like a department store Christmas section.  And too much bright red makes people nervous--this is a scientifically-proven fact.

What to do? One idea is to choose softer versions of red and green.  You can still use both colors but in a more stylish, less in-your-face way.

For example, use pale green table linens with red Christmas balls or red Christmas accents.  Mix either or both with touches of gold, which warms things up and looks stylish. Or choose a patterned or deep turkey red tablecloth, perhaps with gold or pale green accents and some greenery.  We once saw a client use a dark red toile tablecloth with greenery for a holiday table and it was stunning.

#2: (Mid-Century) Mod is Often Unwelcoming
The mid-century mod-retro aesthetic is trendy now, but be aware that if this is the way your home is decorated, it often lacks warmth, or, to put it another way,  it isn't very welcoming to guests.

Here we advise using a bit of an eclectic approach and a bit MORE holiday decoration than in a home with traditional furnishings, as traditional furnishings often are already rather decorative (e.g., giltwood pictures, elaborate credenzas, Louis XV chairs, Aubusson rugs). No, the minimalist-furnished home, to look welcoming, must have a bit more holiday ambience than the traditional home for it to feel welcoming.  And again, avoid bright red, especially if your furniture is red.  Instead, use pale green and gold alone or with a FEW touches of dark red--Martha Stewart, for instance, has wonderful holiday decorations and accents in these colors.

#3: Make Your Food and Beverage Tables Decorative
So often this is an afterthought--if you don't have a caterer or event planner.

Take 10 minutes more and at least put some greenery, Christmas balls or figurines, a colored tablecloth, flowers, or SOMETHING to dress up your food table(s). 

Beverage table or area? At least put greenery around a punchbowl or coil greenery around the perimeter of trays of poured wines--we use both these techniques even in small spaces and everyone loves the way it looks. 

The key is to decide beforehand what you're going to use to decorate with and then put that on your to do and/or shopping list for the party. 

With just a little time and effort you can make this year's holiday party decor much more beautiful and welcoming to your guests.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Looking 4 serveware 4 ur holiday party? Designs traditional to mod at Sur La Table, Macy's MS Collection, West Elm

Wonderful non-alcoholic option for your holiday gatherings: Val de France Organic Sparkling Juices (at CM, Spec's, others)

Lookng 4 ideas 2 garnish ur holiday buffet or svg pieces? Red, green or baby fruits-eg pears crab apples passionfruit--or whole basil sprigs

4 Tips to Add Flair to Your Holiday Event

In our continuing blog series, "Holiday Entertaining," today we offer 4 tips from this year's best trends for holiday entertaining.

• Use distinctive glassware--Distinctive glassware immediately stands out.  Colored stemware, flutes for wines AND champagne, square low tumblers, and oversized martini glasses are hip this year
• Use distinctive flatware--Whether your style is traditional or contemporary, use distinctive flatware, even if you use paper plates and napkins.  If you'll be renting flatware, inquire about some of the more interesting designs, or for a splurge luxury department stores have the most beautiful flatware that can be used for years to come.
• Buy beautiful, not plain white, napkins--Available at better department stores and stationery shops. 
• Add color to your buffet table--a red printed or pale green solid or printed runner or linen adds a special touch.  We avoid solid red and bright or emerald green table linens as they rarely look stylish.  Add some red Christmas balls on pale green or gold Christmas balls on pale green or red printed, or to make your color touches pop, use a white tablecloth with greenery and red or gold Christmas balls.  Avoid just putting food on a buffet table without any other decoration--this looks too plain, and the holidays are the easiest time of year to decorate a buffet table because people often have extra Christmas balls around that can be put into service.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Easy Food Ideas for a Holiday Open House

If you're looking for easy food ideas for a holiday open house, here are three that will allow you to entertain your guests stylishly with great food and little work.  Sound impossible? Read on.

Gourmet Sandwich Route
Looking for easy? The gourmet sandwich route is very easy--buy gourmet sandwiches or pinwheels, potato salad and perhaps a fresh fruit tray from an upscale gourmet supermarket--here in Houston that would be places like Whole Foods or Central Market. 

Notice I said "gourmet"--the point is that you have to spend a little money to have very good quality gourmet sandwiches, potato salad, and fruit trays.  Dress up the spread with a nice dessert, bought or made, nice wines and/or craft beers, and if it's cold maybe a hot beverage.  Dress it up more with nice plates, forks, and napkins.  Several years ago we attended a home tour and afterwards one of the hosts served just such a spread from Central Market, and since he used nice plates, cutlery, glasses, and wines, it made it seem special, the quality was excellent, and every bit was eaten!

Pasta Main Dish
If you want to serve a hot main dish at your open house, the easiest one is a pasta main dish.  But don't worry! This need not be complicated.  If you're doing the cooking, choose an easy dish like the one below, which Chef Jesús sometimes serves at family holiday open houses (to the great delight of the young folks, who don't seem to get full with hors d'oeuvres). 

This recipe is adapted from one of our favorite cookbooks, Edda Servi Machlin's The Cuisine of the Italian Jews. 

Le Pastone
First, saute in a little olive oil and butter a finely chopped shallot until the shallot is soft and translucent and then some fresh Italian or other fresh sausage, removed from its casing, until cooked through.

For the pasta:
2 1 lb. packages of rigatoni
2 cups butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano

Boil rigatoni following package directions until al dente (make sure to add salt to the water).  Heat a large bowl and slice the butter into it.  Take 1/2 cup of boiling water from the pasta pot and add to the bowl.  Stir to melt the butter.  Drain pasta and immediately pour it over the butter.  Toss until all pasta is coated with butter.  Sprinkle Parmigiano over it and toss again until pasta is well coated with cheese.  Mix well with the sauteed sausage and shallot, add some freshly ground black pepper, and serve hot. Serves 6-8 hungry guests or 8-10 not-as-hungry guests.

Serve the pasta with a salad, nice wines and some sparkling ciders, and a nice bought dessert.  Easy, and everyone's happy, even the hungrier guests.

Dessert Buffet
Aslo very easy to pull off--but take our advice and don't do a dessert potluck, almost invariably the quality is very mixed.  Instead, buy two desserts and make one, or buy three or four.  The only trick is to buy from reputable sources such as Whole Foods (no trans fats), a good restaurant that you frequent, a caterer, or even the wonderful imported Italian panettones and pandoros, available in several varieties.  So, for example, buy a panettone, some fruit tarts (nice ones at Whole Foods) or mini desserts, and a cheescake.  Or make cookies, a trifle, and your specialty dessert if you have one.  Just remember that people prefer smaller desserts to full size ones! And that you need at least three different kinds of dessert to pull this open house off.

Then, to add the special touch, serve the three or four desserts with nice dessert wines or champagne and coffees, maybe an organic or imported Italian soda for the non-drinkers, or punch or another specialty "pitcher" or punchbowl drink.  Use nice little plates, maybe even decorative paper ones, and decorative paper or real napkins and real cutlery. Decorate your dessert buffet with Christmas balls or something holiday-ish and maybe some greenery too.  Your guests will feel like VIPs and it wasn't much work for you.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Beverage Ideas for the Holidays

In our continuing blog series, "Holiday Entertaining," as we plan our holiday gatherings, another way to add distinction to your holiday event is by serving one or more distinctive beverages.

Of course, many people serve wines and beers or a mixed drinks bar, and that's all great.

But to add that special touch? A distinctive beverage--and by all means serve the wine and beer too!

We like to serve at least one hot beverage at winter events if possible, even if it's only coffee.

Here are 5 distinctive beverage ideas for your holiday events:

Apple Cider Punch
In punch bowl or pitchers mix 6 cups apple juice, 2 cups orange juice, 1/2 cup lemon juice, and 1 750 ml bottle of sparkling white grape juice or sparkling wine.  Makes 11 cups.

Mexican Hot Chocolate
Growing up in San Antonio we often served this at my parents' Christmas Eve party as my father, who was born in Spain but spent eight years in Mexico before coming to Texas, was fond of it.

Buy and follow package directions of Ibarra or other Mexican chocolate, and serve hot in mugs with whipped cream and cocoa powder or cinnamon sprinkled on top.  Add a cinnamon or chocolate swizzler if you want to get fancy.  Or even add a bit of cognac while heating the chocolate with the milk.

Milk Punch
Mix 1 cup sugar, 3 1/2 cups milk, 1 cup heavy cream, 1 cup bourbon, 1 tbsp. vanilla extract, and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon in a punch bowl or large pitcher.  Garnish servings with chocolate bits. Makes 6 cups.

Scarlet Bubbler
Stir together 4 cups apple-cranberry juice, 1 cup orange juice, and 1/4 cup lemon juice in a large pitcher.  Slowly add a 28 oz. bottle club soda or ginger ale.  Stir gently.  Serve with or without ice in wineglasses or flutes. Makes eight 8 oz. servings.

Hot White Russian
In large saucepan combine 5 cups freshly brewed coffee, 1 cup heavy cream, 1 cup Kahlua or Bailey's Irish Cream, and 1/2 cup vodka.  Cook over medium heat until hot. Divide among mugs and top each with whipped cream. Makes 7 cups.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Fandango Catering's Holiday Menu

Cocktail parties, office parties and lunches, family and friends' gatherings, dinners, dessert buffets...We make it easy, delicious, and beautiful!

Our amazing chefs have created our Holiday 2011 menu with many wonderful hors d'oeuvres, tapas, dinner items, and desserts debuted this fall and which have proved very popular with our clients and their guests, including:

• Spanish Honey-Lemon Chicken Brochettes
• Local Greens and Red and Yellow Cherry Tomatoes with Fresh Herb Vinaigrette in Mini Puff Pastry Baskets
• Flight of Antipasto Brochettes
• Chicken in Strawberry-Feta Sauce
• Tiramisú Shots

Our 2011 Holiday Menu also includes many favorites from our regular menus.

And of course, a must on our holiday menu are our signature citrus Gran Marnier Castle and Cathedral Cakes, beautifully decorated with powdered sugar snow and chocolatines, which have become a tradition at many Houston holiday events and meals.

 We can also prepare ideas that are not on our Holiday Menu--our chefs are all culinary school-trained, so no problem!

See our Holiday 2011 Menu on our website home page:
www.fandango-catering.com

For more information, menu suggestions, or a price quote for your holiday event:

(713) 522-0077 or info@fandango-catering.com

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

6 More Holiday Decorating Ideas

In our continuing series, "Holiday Entertaining," today we offer 6 more ideas for making your holiday gathering special. 

With these simple ideas, your guests will be wowed and you won't have spent more than a few minutes to give your holiday event or meal a special cool touch.

• Quick centerpiece or accent--Fill a large silver bowl (we love the ones at Pottery Barn) with loose greenery and top with a pile of silver, red, gold, or blue glass Christmas balls
• Put a gold or gold-accented runner on your table and arrange white pillar candles, set on gold or red candle stands, in the center of the runner
• Set small wrapped gifts or ornaments with ribbon bows at each place setting--and don't bother with centerpieces
• Write guests' names in gold ink on gift tags or leaves, then lay the tags or leaves at your place settings
• To make your place settings look more festive in less than a minute, buy Hershey's Kisses in red and green wrappers and put one on each folded napkin at your place settings.  And you can also put small decorative bowls or even goblets with these chocolates to add holiday color (and sweetness) to each guest table
• If you buy a dessert, make it more festive by putting a ring of fresh flower blooms around it or on its serving tray.  Or encircle beverage tubs, ice buckets, or displays of wine on your beverage station with fresh greenery

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Planning a holiday event? We can help Check out r Holiday Menu http://ping.fm/YesQC & holiday entrtaining http://bit.ly/9OepuP

Planning a holiday event or meal? We can help. Check out our Holiday 2011 Menu:
http://ping.fm/jJqWq and http://bit.ly/9OepuP

Eco 4 TX holiday parties: Local Shiner Holiday Cheer, seasonal, Dunkelweizen style w addition of peach, pecan flavors
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Serveware that Makes Your Holiday Party Stand Out

If you're looking for ways to make your holiday party really shine this year, the trend in catering and events serveware continues to be using at least one standout serving or tabletop piece and a mix of types of serving pieces, as we have moved away from more plain or uninspired serving looks such as all flat silver or white (or all any one color) trays and plain vanilla flatware.  The latter can often look too hotel-ish or restaurant-ish.

The solution? One or a few really unique, standout serveware pieces, including trays or platters, glass or porcelain pedestals, even bar accessories and napkins.

We recently catered a dinner party at which the hosts had the most wonderful serveware, all different, which we mixed with our own serving pieces to serve the food and drinks.  For example, they had a beautiful dull gold rectangular tray with high edges, which we mixed with their sleek chrome round tray and our collection of glass pedestals.  On these pieces the hors d'oeuvres really popped! And the effect was definitely not a hodge podge; instead, it was beautiful and artful.

Along the same lines, their gold-on-white patterned cocktail napkins really added a special touch to their pre-dinner cocktail hour, much more so than plain white cocktail napkins would have done.

These personalized servingware touches can then be used at future gatherings, so it's money well spent.  And if you're on a budget you can often find wonderful serveware at good prices in import or world market-type shops.

Other serveware trends this holiday season that will make your party outstanding:

• Anything served in martini or small glasses
• Square or round tumblers or oversize martini glasses for mixed drinks
• Serveware with gold touches
• Glass or porcelain pedestals to serve hors d'oeuvres or sweets
• Unusual fruit garnishes on food trays (e.g., quince, passionfruit, Seckel pears, crab apples, unusual berries)
• Colored wine or champagne glasses

More ideas? Beautiful beverage servers, fleur-de-lis drinkware, and flatware from Horchow (we like the Optic Glass Beverage Server and the French Countryside, Monkey, Napoleon Bee, and Bramasole flatware), or any interesting-shaped beverage server, drinkware, or flatware to suit your taste and decor.  Even one such touch will make your holiday party shine!

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Make ur holiday event stand out Optic Glass Bev Server Fleur de lis glasses Monkey Napoleon Bee or Bramasole flatware http://www.horchow.com

For the holidays Antique Bar Party Ice Bucket, Antique Silver Snack Bowl:
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Easy Ways to Make Your Holiday Party Greener

If you're planning a holiday party this year, here are some easy ways to make your party greener, or more eco-friendly, and still have a chic gathering.

• Recycle any wine or liquor bottles--make this easy to do by having an attractive container near your bar or beverage area, such as the Susty Party Pop-Up Bins (www.sustyparty.com ), a decorative large cardboard box, a wooden wine box (available at wine shops), or even an extra empty beverage tub.
• Speaking of Susty Party...They have excellent prices on packets of attractive off-white compostable disposable plates made of bagasse, or sugarcane residue--for example, $7.99 for 50 plates or $65 for 500 plates.  The larger size package is a great choice as you can continue to use these plates for any party or just for meals at home or office after the holidays.  And look for attractive compostable cutlery too if your holiday cocktail party or non-seated gathering will use forks, for instance.
• If you don't want to order plates online, you can go to Whole Foods and buy their World Market line, also made from bagasse; but these plates are a light brown color, so this color doesn't go well with every decor.  Or you can buy bamboo plates, which are a dark golden color and tend to look better with a variety of home decors, at Sur La Table.  If your party isn't too large, it makes sense to buy these smaller packs of eco-friendly plates from Whole Foods or Sur La Table in store (but they are more expensive).
• Buy at least one local or regional wine or beer, if you'll be serving alcohol--the local wine and beer industry has grown explosively, and many wonderful varieties are now available.
• Buy soy candles if you decide to use candles--soy candles are now very available at many retailers, and are not made from petroleum
• If you have leftover food, donate it to a shelter or church instead of eating it for a few days after your party and then throwing the rest away--or leave some to eat after your party but donate the rest, or give it to someone you know will eat it, such as a friend or neighbor.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Louisiana satsuma jelly--regional citrus:
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Tabletop and Decor Ideas for the Holidays

Since Thanksgiving is over and the holiday season has now officially begun, today we offer 7 ideas for tabletop and holiday decor for your gatherings this season.

Most of these ideas take minimal time and effort:

• If your home and decor are more traditional, decorate large mirrors and paintings with garlands and bendable organza ribbon, intertwined among the garlands.  Add metal or glass bead strings if you want to go all out.
• If you have a mantel or sideboard, whether your decor is traditional or more modern, you can decorate these with greenery garlands and fresh or faux fruit, even gold fruit, perhaps mixed with Christmas balls
• Speaking of organza ribbon, if you're pressed for time you can buy beautiful ready-made organza bows and combine with organza ribbon to decorate doorways, staircases, chair backs, tied around vases or candlesticks or topiaries, or added to Christmas trees.  A word of caution: after you've decorated with organza bows and/or ribbon, count how many of these you've put out.  If too many, subtract a few or it will look overdone.
• A modern home decor looks nice with a variety of white pillar candles, gold and/or silver Christmas balls, and gold and/or silver curling ribbon woven among the candles and Christmas balls as a centerpiece of a dinner or buffet table or on accent tables or even to decorate a bar area
• Another idea for a very modern home decor is to put gold and/or silver Christmas balls in a large glass bowl; or put the balls on a very sleek silver or chrome or gold tray lined with greenery.  The latter looks especially nice if you extend or fan the greenery out a bit from the edges of the tray.
• An easy way to decorate your seated dinner place settings is to lay Christmas crackers on them--these are so fun and cool and SO EASY--just buy them and lay them across the dinner plates. They come in decorative colors to suit many decors.  And the merriest in your group will want to wear the paper crowns inside the crackers at your gathering!
• Keep the proportions of your home in mind--a large home with high ceilings looks weird with small decorations, and vice versa.  After you decorate, ask a friend to walk in the front door and give you an honest opinion, then fix whatever.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Wines for Thanksgiving that non-wine aficionados will like too:
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Wines for Thanksgiving

Today we'd like to offer several ideas for serving wines that will appeal to a wide range of folks with your Thanksgivng dinner.

One thing we've found is that, often, suggested wine pairings utilize wines that are really too strong for the food and that are primarily geared toward people who already drink wine, alone or with food.

For those, like my family and some of our friends, who aren't really wine drinkers, a careful pairing will make your Thanksgiving meal relaxed and merry without being either too strong for the food or overwhelming your guests.  I didn't grow up drinking wine as Chef Jesús (and most other Europeans) did, though my Spanish-born father always had wine or sherry before dinner every night to "unwind" from his tax law practice. 

For folks who would like to try wine with their Thanksgiving meal but who aren't wine aficionados, so to speak, we recommend any of the following:

• A Vinho Verde (delicious with white meats and low in alcohol)
• A Riesling on the less acidic side
• A South African Semillon Chardonnay
• A Gewurztramminer
• A Moscatel-based wine on the less acidic side
• A Spanish or French alcoholic cider, also delicious with white meats

And you can also seek out wines made with fewer or no sulfites (often of local origin), and these have less of a strong taste and a strong effect on guests.

Of course, also offer at table or on your beverage table a non-alcoholic option--not only water, but maybe some fresh juices or Italian fruit sodas. Or iced tea, if you're Southerners like my family :)

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Love the beautiful serveware in this year's Neiman Marcus line:
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Using Glass Pedestals for Parties This Season

Lately we've become fond of using glass pedestals, or cake stands, as serving "trays" at our events (which we'll often mix with trays, too), and these type of serving pieces offer many advantages to party givers.  

Among their advantages:

• They add height to an hors d'oeuvres display with little effort (no risers or draping of risers)
• They add a touch of lightness to the presentation of your food because they're made of glass; even opaque cake stands lend a lightness to the display just by virtue of being made of glass
• Your hors d'oeuvres, especially on clear glass pedestals, look more "artistic," again, with little work on your part.  For the best presentation, don't overcrowd the food on the glass pedestal.  We took a wonderful idea from an LA caterer and use large flat blooms on a cake stand with hors d'oeuvres or tapas arranged around the bloom (see photo of our Spanish Honey-Lemon Chicken Brochettes Tapa, above), either in a circle or square, depending on whether we use a square or round glass cake stand (and BTW you can use this idea of the bloom with flat trays too!)
• Glass cake stands don't obscure the table that they're put on, which is important to some folks, who want guests to be able to see their table.  Nor do glass stands scratch delicate table surfaces like silver or metal trays do.

And glass pedestals or cake stands lend themselves to many types of decor, from modern to traditional, depending on the type of stand chosen. 

Clear glass stands are very adaptable to any decor while vintage glass stands go better with traditional or eclectic decor.  Using doilies with glass stands is optional; if your party space has a modern decor you can skip doilies for a more modern look and put the hors d'oeuvres directly on the cake stands (again, don't overcrowd them or you'll spoil the look).

Here are some more ideas for using glass stands at your parties this season:

• On a long rectangular dining table, you can put glass pedestals with hors d'oeuvres on the table and then if you're having a seated dinner party, leave the pedestals there on the table for guests to continue enjoying them.  This looks great because the height of the pedestals makes them decorative and almost as if they were centerpieces.  If you also have centerpieces, say candles, you can put the glass pedestals with the hors d'oeuvres on either side of the centerpieces and it will look dazzling.
• You can also stack, or buy sets of stacking, cake stands, making "tier stands" as we call them in the industry.  This would be best for less casual events.  In any event, be careful if small children or pets will be running around as they might knock over the stacked stands.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Gourmet cones in several sizes & flavors + earth-friendly edible cups:
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New photos in photo gallery:
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Ideas for a Tasting Party

Tasting parties are popular now, and today we offer several ideas for organizing one. 

The whole idea behind organizing a tasting party is that you sample a large variety of foods, but only small portions of each type of food.  At least 5 or more types of food should be provided for guests to sample.

For convenience you'll want to serve all cold or room temperature foods.  And you can have a tasting party even in winter as you can serve cold and room temperature foods and also serve a hot drink or some wines and spirits to warm you up! Or how about small cups of hot conommé, self served from a coffee urn? Or you can serve coffee or cappucino if your group is into that.

If you really want to go all out, buy or rent tasting dishes, including any of the following:

• Small square or round plates
• Rectangular plates
• Porcelain tasting spoons or half holders
• Mini martini glasses (we serve our new Garlic- and Black Pepper-Roasted Shrimp Cocktail Martinis this way)

But these special tasting dishes aren't, strictly speaking, necessary.  What's more important in organizing a tasting party is that no serving pieces be piled with food.  Put out fewer pieces of food and spread them out a bit.  You'll then need to refill with food as needed.  For this reason, a tasting party is best for small groups, no more than 40, say.  So if you don't want to refill too many times (or pay someone to do it for you), don't invite more than around 20 guests.

And you can also mix the specialized "tasting" dishes with small to medium-sized regular trays or platters. 

One idea we like and use, and it's always very appreciated by guests, is to put one bloom in the middle of a tray and then put the tasting hors d'oeuvres or tapas around it in a circle or square (see photo of Shrimp Martinis, above).

The final element in a tasting party is to have a written menu of some type, printed or on chalkboard, and to put it on the food table somewhere.  Guests enjoy tasting the food and matching up what they're tasting to the foods listed on the menu.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Cocktail Ideas for the Holidays

As we approach the holidays and start planning our gatherings, one way to add distinction to your event is by having one or more cocktails that appeal to your guests.  I said "appeal to your guests" because often such cocktails don't.  Truth is, cocktails with a lot of hard liquor don't appeal to many besides perhaps very young men and women (still in college drinking mode?).

Here are some great cocktail party beverage ideas for the holidays that will please a wide range of folks:

• Bellinis--Remembering our days in NYC, when Chef Jesús would work the Sunday brunch at the Stanhope Hotel where the Bellinis flowed like the proverbial water...Mix 1/3 amt. of Prosecco with 2/3 amt. of peach nectar for the classic Italian Bellini; or, our take on it, which is wildly popular with guests at our events, 1/3 amt. of Spanish cava with 2/3 amt. of imported Mexican peach nectar.  For many, domestic U.S. peach nectar is too sweet, but the imported juicelike Mexican peach nectar is just right for a Bellini.  At one of our events last week several guests mentioned that after tasting a Bellini they no longer want mimosas!
• Striped Mimosa--Pour 2 oz. passionfruit juice in a flute or goblet, then 3 oz. champagne, Prosecco, or cava, then 1/2 tsp. grenadine, pom, or cranberry juice.  Don't stir if you like the striped effect, or shake in a shaker for an iridescent effect.
• Juice Spritzers--Create a cool juice spritzer bar with fresh organic juices and champagne, cava, or Prosecco.  Mix as for a mimosa.  You must try this! And to up the cool factor, put the juices in carafes in a beverage tub with ice, and in another tub put the champagne, Prosecco, or cava, also on ice. 

Set out cool glasses like martini glasses or, trendy now, round or square low tumblers, and mod, monogrammed, or linen on a roll napkins (the latter from MyDrap, for example).  And if any guest wants only any of these juices with no alcohol, no problem.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

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4 Cool Ideas to Add Flair to Your Thanksgiving Meal

If you're looking for ideas to add flair to your Thanksgiving (or any festive fall) meal this year, read on.

You can still keep the tradtional feel that many people like in Thanksgiving dinner and add an interesting touch or two just to spice things up.  Here are four ideas to do this:

• Use real small pumpkins with decorative real or paper leaves attached to the stems as place/name cards, or lay the leaves across the plates if you're doing a sit-down dinner.  Or, edgier: use quinces, a relative of the apple that comes in shades ranging from pale to deep yellow (legend has it that the quince was the apple in the Garden of Eden). Or alternate pumpkins and quinces.
• Add touches of gold, bronze, or deep, not pastel, peach to the decor with serving pieces, a runner, or decorations.  These touches add warmth and a fall-like feel with a more contemporary slant.
• Set out or serve a trio (or at least a duo) of pumpkin desserts rather than a pumpkin pie.  Pumpkin mousse, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin bars, chocolate-pumpkin pie, pumpkin roll..And you can include a pumpkin pie as part of this too if you want to please the traditionalists.  Why not?
• Try some wine pairings--If you've not done this before at a Thanksgiving meal, please do try it.  Ask your wine store for recommendations for your menu, and also serve non-alcoholic options with the meal.  You'll be surprised how much more festive and relaxed your meal becomes!
•  Set out a tray of orange and yellow sorbets or gelatos in small glasses or goblets.  Even if you serve baked desserts, people love anything in the ice cream family even in winter! If you like, decorate the tray with small pumpkins or gourds.

Enjoy!

Kristina

(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Cool tool: Kuhn Rikon Vase Spice Grinder to grind spices or pepper w no grinding dust on your counter or stove:
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Young friend: hors d'oeuvres 4 my dinner party 2nite? Seafood & cheese blender mousse piped in tartlets, frittata bites on skewers

Using Cones at Parties

Food cones are very popular at events now, whether cocktail or dinner parties or other types of events, and can be used to add interest to your gathering.  Guests like food cones because they feel like they're receiving a lovely packaged gift of food. 

Types of Cones for Events
There are several types of cones that can be used at events, including:

• Paper cones
• Sweet (waffle or plain) cones
• Savory (waffle or plain) cones

Cones for parties and dinners can be filled with all manner of foods including:

• Popcorn
• Candies
• Fries
• Mini hot dogs
• Non-drippy hot or cold small bites such as shrimp or fish bites or balls or fresh fruit and cheese cubes (make sure the fruit has been dried off before putting in the cones) or gougeres (puff pastry cheese puffs)
• Cake pops or other small sweet treats
• Mini wraps
• And many more!

Paper cones offer the widest possibilities for serving as they can be used either with sweet or savory foods and are much less trouble to make.  If you want to make sweet or savory food cones there are now electric cone makers that make 4-6 cones in 10 minutes or so; or you can also buy food cones from some gourmet suppliers online or in stores (they won't be as good as freshly made, though), or you can have a baker or caterer make them for you.

How to Display Cones
There are special stands to serve cones but you can also use any round or square container deep enough to hold the cones, you can lay them across a tray on their sides, or you can use a stacked tier stand (lay the cones around the perimeter) or put a filled cone in each cup of a cupcake holder or in round or square tumblers.

Making Paper Cones
You can buy sheets of heavy cone paper at craft stores (they're used to hold flower cones at weddings too) or buy paper sandwich wrappers at a restaurant supply store (you may want to use 2-3 sandwich wrapper sheets if they're very thin). 

Roll into a cone shape, staple the cones closed on one side, then cover the staples with stickers.  Colorful paper or more elegant gold or silver or textured or embossed white cone sheets are also available at craft and paper stores.  Avoid tissue paper as it tends to bleed when moist.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Why Some Parties Look Boring

One of the things people hire caterers and event planners for is the fact that we know how to create a design for any event, no matter how small or large.  And we also know how to avoid the visual "blahs" at a gathering--by using simple design principles that anyone can learn.

No, you don't have to become an interior decorator to add visual interest to your party or gathering, though of course the most high-end affairs do require that level of design skill.

For smaller or less over-the-top gatherings, it's not at all difficult to avoid your party looking boring. 

Start by deciding a color scheme.  This is the easiest way to avoid your party looking blah.  If you want your party color scheme to complement the color scheme in your home or wherever your party will be held, remember that you don't want your party decor to be the same color exactly as your home decor or it won't stand out.  It's better to have a complementary color (or two) rather than to try to match your party decor to your walls or furnishings. Or at most use one of the colors in your home and then add in a complementary color for your gathering.

Another quick way to add color and interest to your party table(s) is with the use of greenery.  We use greenery at most of our events as our supplier raises wonderful climbing vines such as passionflower most of the year, but you can pick up several types of greenery even at the supermarket these days.  Lay it on the tables, leaving room for the serving pieces with the food, then put the serving pieces with the food down (some do it the other way around but we've found the final effects to be better if we lay the greenery out first, and it also forces you to see whether you're overcrowding the party table with food and thereby losing any nice visual, non-blah effects).

Or go to a gourmet supermarket and buy baby vegetables or champagne grapes and put them on a pedestal by themselves as a centerpiece or on serving pieces with food on your party table(s).  Or mix in the baby vegetables or small fruits among the greenery leaves.  And then if you don't want to eat this produce, donate it to a shelter rather than throwing it away.

Or buy a few fresh flowers and put just a few or even just one large bloom on your food trays or serving pieces--looks great if the flower is in the middle of the tray with the hors d'oeuvres around the bloom. 

Any of these ideas add color with little work or previous design experience, saving your party from looking boring. 

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Moscatel vinegar nice alternative to balsamic for sauteeing, drizzling, even over desserts at specialty shops and http://www.latienda.com

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Decorating for a Fall Party

People often entertain more in the fall, and if you're looking for ideas for creating a warm, fall-like feeling for your fall gathering without resorting to orange, read on.

There's nothing wrong with orange (sienna, terracotta, pumpkin, etc.), of course.  It's just that it's used so often to signal "fall party" that it's become a little over-used.

If you'd like your event to stand out and still evoke the warm tones associated with fall, here are our suggestions:

• Warm shades of cream mixed with a few touches of gold or any metallic with a bronze-y or coppery sheen (or actual bronze or copper)--Touches can be things like trays, candlesticks or candelabras, a runner, serving bowls or dinner plates, or a table statue or other decorative piece.
• Deep, not pastel, shades of yellow, also nice with accents of gold or copper
• Shades of brown with touches of gold or a coppery shade, or brown mixed with deep yellow--Remember, too much dark brown without any lightening touches looks depressing and dark
• Very dark (burnt) peach mixed with gold or cream accents (or both)--elegant but friendly and adds a lot of warmth to your gathering, sort of an orange-without-being-orange

All of these ideas will add a great fall warmth to your gathering but are more elegant and less tiring on the eyes and nervous system than orange.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Halloween Cupcake Ideas

I readily admit that Halloween is one of my favorite holidays as my birthday is the day before. 

If you've decided at the last-minute to go ahead and do something festive for Halloween--whether for friends or family, the kids or their school party, the office, or wherever--, we have three ideas for dressing up purchased cupcakes so they'll look fabulous.

Of course, the first step is to purchase the cupcakes from a reputable source.  A reputable source is never a supermarket, no matter how upscale.  Trust us, if you knew how they make their baked goods...No, better to buy from a pastry or cupcake shop, a restaurant, a caterer, or a small-batch baker.  At least you'll know that 1) the cupcakes will taste better and 2) they won't have trans fats or tons of artificials in them.  All the better if wherever you buy them puts them already in Halloween-themed cupcake papers.  Ask wherever you buy them to not make the frosting so peaky.  Here's why:

For the cool piece de resistance, decorate the cupcakes with any or all of the following three easy ideas:

• Buy Milano-type cookies and with a squeeze bottle (a good investment if you entertain at less than $1.50 each at party and restaurant supply stores) write RIP on the cookie, then cut a horizontal slash in each cupcake and insert the cookie about 1/3 of the way in the slash so it looks like a tombstone. 
• Cut a small round hole in the top of each cupcake and insert a marshmallow about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way in; before doing so cut little holes in the marshmallow near the top and insert chocolate chip "eyes" so it now looks like a ghost. 
• Cut a chocolate wafer thin mint into fourths, place two pieces on each cupcake to make cat ears and finish the cat face with jelly bean eyes and nose (mouth too, if you want) and black licorice strings cut into cat whiskers.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

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Halloween Goody Buffet Ideas

If you're looking for serving ideas for a casual Halloween get together, here are ideas for a cool Halloween goody buffet you can put together in minutes with no cooking.

Serve goodies on or in orange and black serving bowls and decorate the goody buffet with Halloween-themed paraphernalia to your heart's content.

Choose from the following:

• Boo cups (fill bottom of glasses up to about halfway each with crushed Oreos or chocolate cake or cupcake crumbs, top with peaked dollops of whipped cream and two chocolate chip eyes to look like ghosts)
• Cheetos "worms" (especially in a black bowl!)
• Orange and/or black  M & Ms
• Gummy worms
• Trick-or-treat bowl with mini candy bars or other pre-packaged mini candies--guests of all ages will indulge!
• Witches' brew punch--So many witches' brew punch recipes are lovely but complicated.  No worries.  A super easy one: Orange sherbert+lemon lime or pineapple or kiwi-strawberry soda--add more sherbert if you start to lose the orange color with the soda

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Susty Party biodegradable plates fall order going out

Small Foods Ideas for Your Party

The idea of using small foods for entertaining brings a smile to most people's faces.

By small foods we don't mean Spanish tapas or Greek meze--these are more correctly called "small plates" foods as the foods themselves are not specifically small.  Instead, it's the plates (and the portions), not the food size, that are small for tapas and meze.

No, small foods are foods made as or cut into small size, and there is something fun and comforting at the same time about them.

Don't believe that small foods can't be used at more formal occasions like weddings and fundraisers--if done right, they add flair and make guests happy.

Here are 14 ideas for small foods that add a wonderful touch to parties:

• Small custard cups of macaroni and cheese
• Beef or crab cake sliders
• Mini quesadillas cut out with a cookie cutter or (easier) cut into triangles
• Mini sweet and savory pies--So easy nowadays with wonderful little pie makers like the one from Sunbeam
• Mini puff pastry empanadas--Also easy to do with a cookie cutter, just cut out circles with a cookie cutter, add filling, fold over, seal edges, and bake (don't forget to baste with butter for the full decadent experience)
• Mini soup cups or shooters (cold soup for any size group and hot soup for a small group)
• Mini desserts--cupcakes are popular but also look into small sizes of any dessert. Some bakers specifically make well-known desserts like cheesecakes or layer cakes in small sizes, perhaps 4" or 5". 
• Shakes or smoothies shots
• Mini dessert shots
• Mini pizzas
• Mini skewers of any kind
• Frittatas and quiches cut out with a cutter into small rounds
• Mini (individual) ramekins of lasagna
• Mini creme brulees or other custard desserts (use the smaller size of custard cups)
• Any type of tartlet

And here's how to make a great easy mini dessert display in 10 minutes:

1. Buy cakey brownies, at least one inch thick, from a reputable baker
2. Cut out small circles from the larger brownie squares with a cookie cutter
3. Dust tops of these rounds with powdered sugar or frost the tops with cream cheese frosting
4. Serve.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Another Easy Dessert for Fall Gatherings: Cheese&Wine Course

At this VERY busy time of year, many people would like to have guests over and want to serve a dessert, but are unsure of what to serve, where to buy it, don't know how to bake, etc.

Here's an idea that will definitely add a cool factor to your gathering and is easy to pull off: serve a cheese course as the finale with some fruit and wines paired to the cheeses.

In Europe a fruit and/or cheese finale to a meal is the order of the day except for big Sunday lunches or holidays, when sweet desserts are served, and then they are quite rich and spectacular, often bought from the artisan pastry shops in every village and town.  Nostalgia bite: our old fave pastry shop, run by a kindly and phenomenal Belgian immigré baker on General Aranda Street in Madrid's upscale Rubén Darío neighborhood, and its individual apple puff pastry tartlets glazed with apricot jam.

But if you're looking for an easy, interesting, sort of edgy way to end a meal at your gathering this fall--or even a stand alone food idea for your gathering--a cheese/fruit finale with wine is cool.

How Tos

Ask your wine store to recommend 1 or 2 wines for the cheeses you want to serve.

With Red Wines, Serve:

• Goat cheeses
• Young Cheddar
• Camembert
• Gruyere or any of the Swiss-type cheeses
• Aged Gouda
• Manchego

With Dessert Wines, Serve:

• Aged Cheddar
• Blue cheeses
• Dry or regular Jack

One ounce of type of cheese per person is enough.  Take cheese out one hour before serving.

Fruit to Serve:

• Grapes (champagne grapes are pretty if you can find them)
• Sliced pears
• Quince paste (Spanish membrillo)

Use salad plates, forks, and knives for this course.  Or go casual and eat as finger foods.  Plate the cheese and fruit and serve to your guests, or have guests serve themselves from a platter.

Done. And a cool way to end your meal, or as a cool light spread itself.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Private ckg. class: Tiramisú

Cool for fall, holiday or anytime events: Rabbit wine corkscrews:
http://ping.fm/ox4aL

Creating a Super Easy Small Dessert Buffet

If you're looking for ideas on creating a dessert buffet at your event this year and your gathering is not too large, one way to do this is to buy some small desserts from either a reputable baker or food establishment, or there are now even some frozen options that are of high quality.

It's all in the details, so find a space to put your desserts that's not too small or crowded, preferably away from the savory food, if you're serving it. 

Or why not consider an all small desserts buffet with some nice wines or champagnes or some regular and/or specialty coffees (such as cappucino).  This is great if you're really busy but still want to host a gathering of some type.  Done with style but easy.

If your serving area is on the small side, try this: buy or borrow a cake stand and put it with some of the small desserts on top on the table, then arrange the other desserts on the table--any type of pedestal will increase your use of serving space.  Plus it looks better--we avoid all flat surfaces because it doesn't look as appealing as if you have a little height.

Put all the same types of desserts together on your serving area, but don't be afraid to put more than one type on a tray, for example--just keep them separated, on the tray, by type. Or skip trays altogether! Keep in mind, though, that trays protect your furniture from crumbs and spills.

There are so many great small desserts that it's hard to choose! But a variety is always good (at least three different types), and if one has frosting, such as mini or full-size cupcakes or brownie bites, that's always a bit hit with guests.   Here's another tip: ask your baker or wherever you buy the cupcakes to make sure the entire surface of the cupcake is pretty much covered with frosting, even if the frosting is piped or swirled to peaks--one of our real pet peeves is to see cupcakes with frosting only basically in the middle.  Not.

Before your event you may want to try out some small desserts from several sources...At the retail level, Whole Foods is always of high quality, as is Trader Joe's (coming to Houston, yay!) and a new one we learned about that's a nice option if you don't have any good bakers nearby, Daphne Baking Company, which makes artisan small dessert tarts with no preservatives or trans fats that are frozen: www.daphnebaking.com

To finish your dessert buffet, lay your small desserts out nicely with some nice little plates in a style you like, forks, napkins, and beverages, and you're all set!

Enjoy!

Kristina

(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Ths wk Tomato & Swiss Mini Puff Pstry Pies Bf Tndrln w Rosemary Chimchrri Chkn in Berry & Feta Sauce more:
http://ping.fm/c6k93

Chefs leaving private client just finshd 2day's brunch Ham & Pepper Jack Burritos w Roasted Tmto & 'peño Salsa Fruit Skewers Ornge Tea Bread

Add fun foods to your event:
http://bit.ly/9OepuP

Add Fun Foods to Your Event

If you're looking for a way to add excitement to your event, why not consider adding some fun foods?

The fun foods trend has become increasingly popular in the last three years, and it makes sense if you're looking for a way to add a lighthearted touch to your event.

Fun foods touches are now popular at weddings, but are also increasingly popular at fundraisers, corporate and non-profit events (at everything from conference refreshment breaks to evening social hours), and private events for guests of all age groups.

And these are touches--generally they are served in addition to the food of the main menu for the event.

Why Fun Foods?

Adding a fun foods touch to your event will add an unexpected level of lightheartedness that guests of all ages can enjoy.  And since it often IS unexpected by guests, the combined element of surprise and whimsy or fun will make guests smile and put them in a relaxed mood. 

This can be especially important for certain events, such as corporate conferences, fundraisers, or weddings, where there might be a little tension or anxiety.  But in any case, if it puts guests in a relaxed mood, that's a good thing.

Here are some fun foods ideas:

• Popcorn (plain and flavored), popcorn balls, or Cracker Jack
• Hot pretzels
• Cake pops
• Hot dogs or sliders
• Cookies
• Brownies (especially if cut into shapes and/or frosted)
• Mini pies (mini pie makers available from Sunbeam and Breville, or you can also use a Babycakes Cupcake Maker)
• Ice cream sandwiches, cones, or popsicles
• Root beer or sherbert floats (use straws)
• Cones filled with sweet or savory fillings
• Chocolate milk or fruit smoothie shooters
• Donuts (so easy to make, and so superior in taste, to commercial donuts: make holes in refrigerator biscuits or a biscuit dough cut out as for biscuits and fry in hot veg oil until golden on both sides, then roll in regular or cinnamon sugar)
• Cream-filled cupcakes (similar to Hostess Twinkies and cupcakes but more elegant and with no trans fats; you can make them yourself with a special mold available at www.bryanlanehome.com or at large retailers and fill with regular or chocolate whipped cream or Nutella, or have a baker prepare for you)
• Mini Mexican bites (mini taquitos, flautas, quesadillas, or gorditas)
• Macaroni and cheese or bread pudding in small individual custard cups

Serving Fun Foods

To serve your fun foods you can either go with a high/low mix of serving them on elegant trays of your choice or, if appropriate to your event, on more "fun" type serving pieces such as colorful platters, or certain foods can also be served in small colored takeout boxes, or on stacked colored glass cake stands.  Or you may want to go all out and set up a canopy of some type, even indoors, to mark off your fun foods area, and decorate the area.

Be aware that companies exist that offer to cater fun foods at events, but often their food and setup are of the type more appropriate to an outdoor festival, and so may not be right for your event.  In addition, their food often contains trans fats.  Better to create or have done for you your own fun foods with food you can trust, and a setup to serve them that's right for your event.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Private interactive ckg class dinner @ client's home 2morrow Gambas al ajillo Euro lasagna w bechamel dssert duo lava cakes, tiramisú shots

How to Set Up a Coffee Bar at Your Party

If you'd like to add flair to your home party this fall, another way to do this is to set up a coffee bar for your guests.  You can hire someone to do this for you or do it yourself.

If you do it yourself...

First, set up an area near your desserts.  Lay out spoons, cups, and napkins.  Saucers are often optional these days at events held in venues (event spaces for rent), but saucers are a good idea for coffee at home parties so your guests won't ruin your furniture by putting a hot or dripping cup on it.

Consider brewing the coffee with strips of orange zest for added flavor. 

Then set out cream in a decorative pitcher, brandy, and several other liqueurs such as kirsch, Kahlúa, Triple Sec, Tía María, and amaretto to stir into the coffee.

In small bowls offer loose sugar or sugar cubes (if cubes provide tongs), whipped cream, grated chocolate, and cocoa powder.  Lay a small spoon in each bowl for guests to serve themselves.  Add cinammon sticks as stirrers in another small bowl.

Impressive and fun for guests as they decide what they want in their coffee, without being too much work.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Must see for coolest eco partyware!
http://ping.fm/GVmEG

4 Last-Minute Easy Centerpiece Ideas

As cooler weather arrives many of us are thinking of having or planning home gatherings this fall.  A quick way to make your gathering festive and to add pizzazz is with a quick and easy centerpiece idea.

There are times (or rather, lack of time) and occasions when a quick and easy centerpiece idea is just the thing you need to make your party or gathering look more finished or polished as well as festive, and less of an amateurish attempt at entertaining.

Here are 4 centerpiece ideas that will take less than 10 minutes to set up--and the results are surprisingly beautiful:

1. Pile seasonal fruit in a glass bowl--Select 5-12 of a single fruit such as apples, oranges, clementines, pears, pomegranates, quinces, or even lemons.  Or use small pumpkins or squashes.
2. Buy several large bunches of fresh herbs--e.g., rosemary, basil, mint, dill--and gather them in a pitcher, jar, julep cup, or small-ish Asian porcelain vase (ginger jar-type).  But be careful that none of your guests (like me) are allergic to fresh herbs.
3. Have a small or medium-size sculpture you like (obviously, nothing very expensive)? Put it as a centerpiece.  Maybe gather some vines (ivy, passionflower, any climbing vines) from your yard and wind them around the statue base.  Or for a minimalist look, leave the unadorned statue as your centerpiece to make a statement on its own.
4. Float 3-4 fresh flower blossoms in one large or three small bowls with water.  Place at the center of your table.

In all cases, make sure served food, napkins, plates, cutlery, and glasses are not pushed up right next to the centerpiece or it will spoil the look.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

To add flair to fall & holiday entertaining we like the beautiful rimmed stemware at Pottery Barn:
http://ping.fm/vbZNq

Add Pizzaz to Your Party with Desserts in Shot Glasses

A way to add pizzazz to your party or gathering is to serve desserts in shot glasses.  This is an increasingly popular trend that is also fairly easy for even people who don't really cook to do.

There are several desserts you can serve in shot glasses, and several types of glasses that you can use for this.

Generally, a mousse or creamy-type dessert or dessert layers (like a trifle or parfait-type dessert) can be served like this.  Here are a few:

• Berry Cheesecake Shots: Buy a good quality cheesecake, cut in pieces, layer in shot glasses, top with sweetened whipped cream, then top with blueberries or blackberries in syrup (pour some of the syrup on too).
• Make or buy a chocolate mousse.  Spoon into shot glasses, top with whipped cream, then top that with a fresh berry or cocoa powder.
• Crush cookies into large chunks and mix with ice cream, gelato, or sweetened whipped cream.  Top all with candies or a small, rolled long cookie.
• Even easier: Mix mascarpone or sour cream with sugar or honey and put in the glasses, top with cocoa powder and chocolate curls or bits.  Or make a tiramisú (there are some good mixes imported from Italy for this if you don't know how to make tiramisú) and just spoon it into glasses and top with cocoa powder.

For more ideas and recipes, including one for pudding shots with Bailey's, see:

http://bit.ly/oRDmTp

http://bit.ly/nUxoVp


Dessert Shot Glasses
You can use several types of glasses to serve desserts like this.  Square tumblers are trendy now, but you can also use short round tumblers, short round tumblers with a pedestal, small schnapps glasses, or even martini glasses.  Note that it's easier to spoon desserts like this into short round or square glasses than it is into martini or schnapps glasses.

Line up the dessert shots for your guests or put them on a cake stand--looks very cool.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Perfect homemade ice cream maker for 1 or 2: Hamilton Beach Half Pint Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker

Choosing Serving Pieces to Add Flair to Your Party

In the past few years so many wonderful and unique serving pieces--bowls, platters, trays--have become available, and choosing a striking serving piece or two (or three, four, etc.) is one of the easiest things you can do to add flair to your party.

Designs, shapes, and colors for every taste and style from traditional to mod abound, so you're sure to find at least one style to please you.

The trick is to have at least one standout serving piece at your party, rather than all white or all silver or all anything--after all, you want to jazz up your party!

We like to combine serving piece shapes at our events, such as oval or round with square or rectangular.  In general, what looks pleasing is one (or some) of the serving pieces in a round or oval shape (some handmade pieces are not exactly round or oval, but are more round or oval than square or rectangular, so we'll consider them in the round-or-oval family) and one (or some) in square or rectangular or triangular or trapezoid-ish shapes.  All the pieces the same shape doesn't look as good.

If you choose a serving piece with a pattern (stripes, floral, mod, color block), you can combine it with another serving piece in a solid color or white.  Be careful, however, if you use a patterned serving piece--avoid combining with a patterned tablecloth or using in a room with a small, busy wallpaper, as your patterned serving piece won't stand out.  Better to use a patterned serving piece with a solid or no tablecloth and in a painted room or one with a larger wallpaper print.

Another trick: even if you only pick up premade food (the better kind, from a restaurant, say), such as sliders or crab cakes, serve it on your standout serving piece(s) and this instantly makes this food look stylish.

You can find wonderful standout serving pieces easily at places like Sur La Table, Pottery Barn, Macy's or any large better department store, and Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

Some other sources for unique serving pieces are:

www.dbohome.com
www.pineapplepostgifts.com
www.annieglass.com
www.uncommongoods.com
www.vietri.com
www.etsy.com --See "Makayla S"

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077