Fandango Catering Offers Eco Event Tips, Post E-Day

Today, one day after Earth Day (please forgive--our work schedule lately has been insane), our top eco-friendly party planning tips.

Last week we were contacted for some of our eco party planning tips by Change magazine (www.changemagazine.net ), as well as being asked to be a part of the Sustainable Living Fest here in Houston on May 5 (regretfully we declined as we have two onsite cooking paella parties back to back on May 5 and couldn't spare anyone from our crew for this Fest, maybe next year?)

Here, our top three eco party planning tips in honor of Earth Day, one day later (this will also appear in Change magazine in June):

Try to source as much local food as possible--This is now easier than ever with many farmers' markets, farmers' outlets (wholesalers that sell produce from commercial, usually family, farms to the restaurant trade but also sell to the public), and large upscale grocery stores now getting on board by supplying local foods. 

Here in Houston HEB and its offshoot Central Market provide wonderful local meats and dairy from their Texas plants as well as a lot of Texas-grown produce--so if you're short on time like most people you can source locally just by buying at these kinds of stores (one stop shopping!)

Use biodegradable plates and cutlery or real plates and cutlery for your event, and use real glasses (biodegradable glasses are hard to source)--Washing dishes/running a dishwasher from a party, because wastewater is treated and recycled, is better than feeding a market for chopping down trees (even those grown sustainably) or making plastic or foam from petroleum or than adding to a landfill with disposables that aren't biodegradable.

Greenest disposables--those made from bagasse (sugarcane residue)--better than bamboo because bagasse would just be thrown away and instead it's made into cool plates (no harvesting of trees, even sustainable bamboo trees, needed!) and now also very available at large upscale supermarkets (for us, also at HEB, though we also buy in bulk online).

Recycle from your party--including glass bottles, any plastics that can be recycled, paper menus or favors, even flowers (donate them).  We love the party bins for this from Susty Party (www.sustyparty.com ), but the point is to put out a nice-looking recycling bin at your event so that recycling is more doable and attractive--and people will be more inclined to recycle at your event.  If your event is at a private home, after the event put the bin full of empty bottles for recycling next recycling day; if it's at a venue (rented space), ask what recycling containers there will be (and if they say none, ask them why not!). 

Warmly,

Kristina

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

Choosing Green Disposables for Your Party

As many of you know we are an eco-conscious business.  This year we've been pleased that 1) more and more clients want to use biodegradable or other types of eco disposables and 2) greater variety than ever of designs for green disposables is now available.

Today we'd like to offer a list of sources for eco-friendly disposables that you can look into for your gatherings.  Or you can always use real china, glass, and cutlery too, because that's an eco choice also.

Disposables of course are not appropriate for formal events, but they are appropriate, fun, and even, now. eco-chic decorative for many types of gathering. 

Here are some great online sources:

www.greenfeet.com

www.restaurantware.com

www.biodegradableshop.com

www.cuptainers.com

www.yourgreen2go.com

www.missionrs.com (their BioPlanet line)

www.caterstore.com

www.sustyparty.com (and we love their new Party Pop Up Bins to hold recycling and garbage at even large parties with style)

www.webrestaurantstore.com

Our favorites among these online sources would have to be Restaurantware, Greenfeet, and Susty Party.  Restaurantware in particular has very cool designs, including safari print, little boats, small cones and cups, and all manner and shape of plates, which add such a great touch to your party! If you're looking to add a special touch to your party, do check out Restaurantware for many great serving ideas!

Can I just pick something up?
If you're near a Whole Foods store you can also just go in there and pick up biodegradable disposables from the line Terraware, which is made from corn. Or Google your city and see if a source that sells eco disposables in your area comes up--you might be surprised to find that one does. 

Generally the online sources sell both smaller packages and by the case, so you can find a size package to fit your party need.

The thing to remember with eco disposables, though, is that they're usually in neutral shades like ivory, white, tan, light brown...So if you use them the thing to do is add color in other ways to your party with a colored tablcloth or napkins or placemats or glasses or a centerpiece or colorful food (or some combination of these). Otherwise it looks too much like a "mushroom house" as my friend calls too much beigeness.

Enjoy!

Kristina

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

8 More Tips to Green Your Summer Event

Today in our continuing blog series, "Summer Entertaining," we offer 8 more tips for making your events more eco-friendly this summer.

As an eco-conscious business, we see how littling things really do add up to be kinder to our Planet.  Imagine if everyone in your circle of friends and family did just one thing at their summer events this year that was eco-friendly! Cool.

Here, 8 more tips for greening summer events this year:

• Recycle any disposable plastic cups
• Choose chicken or fish over beef as beef production has a larger carbon footprint (and buy organic or grass-fed beef if possible, what a flavor difference!). 
• Make meat the "side" and summer produce the "entree"--Serve 6-8 oz. of summer produce and 3-4 oz. of a meat rather than the other way around (and make the produce local or organic or both).  Try serving kebabs, they're so fun.
• If you like white paper napkins, buy those not bleached with chlorine, a toxin.
• Put drinks in bottles on ice in a beverage tub instead of constantly opening the fridge to get a bottled drink
• If you're getting married or hosting a formal party this summer in a warm climate, skip the table candles, which would require turning the air conditioner much higher--Plenty of beautiful centerpieces don't need candles.  Or choose a date in fall, spring, or winter if you're determined to have table candles.  Tall standing candelabras with tapers lend a similar effect to table candles but don't heat up the guests as much (but you need to place them so they're not knocked over)
• If you're hosting a large event and are hiring a caterer, ask at your local farmers' markets or produce co-op if they sell wholesale--Many do, and you'd be helping the local economy as well as getting much better produce at a good price
• At summer events people typically use twice as many flowers as at winter events--Please consider donating them after your event to a shelter or nursing home to brighten their day instead of just throwing them in the trash.

Enjoy!

Kristina

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

Fandango Catering and Events Offers 4 Tips for Making Summer Events Green

At Fandango Catering and Events we practice and advocate eco-conscious events and entertaining, from small family gatherings to large weddings or galas.  Today we offer 4 easy tips to make your summer entertaining more eco-friendly.

Buy as much as possible locally
Do whatever your budget and time allows in this regard.  Many good supermarkets now carry local produce and meat, if you have no time to get to farmer's markets.

Do not use foam plates or cups
These, like plastic bags, can take hypothetically hundreds of years to biodegrade.  It's now easy to buy eco-friendly serveware/picnicware at places like Whole Foods.  Good old Chinet is another eco option--did you know that it decomposts quickly? For more formal or elegant events, use real plates and glasses.  Or for casual to casual elegant entertaining, buy a set of plastic plates and glasses in festive colors (cutlery too) and use and reuse for summer events.  Even decorative paper plates and plastic forks can be put in recycling if scraped.

Serve at least one local beverage
This can be a local wine or beer or even beverages, non-alcoholic or alcoholic, made with local citrus or other fruits or local herbs.  Or try regional sodas (who remembers Big Red?) or locally bottled sodas at better food emporiums.

Don't use charcoal lighter fluid
This petrochemical has been linked to cancer and gives food a funny chemical taste.  Use wood chips and/or a chimney starter--you'll notice a big difference in taste and avoid polluting the air, besides not poisoning your body and those of your guests with toxins.

Enjoy!

Kristina

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

Fandango Catering and Events Offers 6 Ideas for Easy Warm-Weather Buffets

Warm weather has finally arrived and as our thoughts turn to getting together with friends and family during the warm months, many begin thinking of hosting some type of gathering, either outdoors or indoors/outdoors.       

Today we offer several ideas for easy warm-weather buffets that you can do either alone or with a little help. Your event and guests will determine what type of food will work best. Each is an idea for a stand-alone buffet.

The important thing about entertaining during warm weather is to also put a little effort into your serveware so that even if what you serve is fairly simple, your reputation as a great host/ess is assured (see our blog post of April 28, 2011 on creating dazzling parties with paper serveware, especially from our favorite supplier, Caspari).

Buffet Ideas

• Sandwiches and fruit or desserts--These must be gourmet sandwiches so if you're not able in the kitchen buy them, and the desserts, from a reputable gourmet supermarket, caterer, or restaurant.  If you have no time or desire to slice fruit, buy that cut up already too.
• 2-3 interesting "green" salads and 3 good cheeses
• Flight of salads--3-4 main-course salads.  If you like the old-fashioned trio of chicken, tuna, and fruit salad, why not serve that? And other less traditional choices abound, from grilled meat salads to simple cold spice-boiled shrimp with vanilla bean mayo or an interesting remoulade. The salads don't have to be complicated to be good or interesting, and during warm weather so much produce and seafood is in season.
• Flight of soups--If you love your hand or other blender or processor (I once read that the French actor Leslie Caron entertained groups of up to 100 at her Paris flat with nothing more than a food processor and a set of knives), consider serving a flight of cold soups (3 soups).  So many cold soups are easier than you think! Plus they can be made ahead of time.  Or buy them from a reputable source.  Offer a good bread and a nice cheese or two and a gelato to round out the menu.
• "Torte" and dessert--So easy: just make ONE torte-type dish (frittata, quiche, torta rustica, savory cheesecake) and serve with a dessert (bought, if you have no time, or even eaiser, a gelato or two).  Add a salad if you have time and are so inclined (or if your guests are a hungry bunch). Easier than a salad: a big tray of mixed heirloom tomatoes with a drizzle of great fruity olive oil and whole or chopped fresh basil.
• Stellar one-dish with a fruit and greens salad and dessert--Along the same line, if you're inclined to cook a dish, choose just one stellar one, such as your specialty grilled meat (chicken or whatever), a shrimp scampi or shrimp in red pepper sauce, or another hot dish (but just one).  But this is more work and heats up the house so it's not as easy to do.

BTW, please check out the great composée salads with greens, fruit, and cheese in Janet Fletcher's marvelous book, The Cheese Course.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Kristina Ríos de Lumbreras, Ph.D.
Fandango Catering and Events
http://www.fandango-catering.com/

Fandango Catering and Events Offers Eco-Friendly Serveware Ideas in Honor of Earth Day

As many people know we are a green caterer and event planner and in honor of Earth Day, this year April 22, here are some great options for eco-friendly serveware for parties, picnics, outdoor events, or any casual gathering.  This eco serveware looks good and is either recyclable, biodegradable, compostable, or has been made from recycled materials.

These days very attractive eco-friendly serveware options abound.  When real glass dishes aren't a good option for an event (as when no one wants to wash dishes or you have no help or you're eating outside somewhere or children will be present and you don't want anything broken), the new eco-friendly serveware comes in nice designs, from modern to more traditional, so you're sure to find one to suit your style.

Here are some we like:

Modern/Contemporary (Most are white, ivory, or light brown and are squarish shapes)

• Veneerware bamboo plates and flatware, http://www.bambuhome.com/
• Bare by Solo--renewable and compostable plates and recyclable and compostable cups.  Not in all states yet.
• Seventh Generation natural paper napkins--At Whole Foods
• VerTerra dinnerware--Microwave-, dishwasher-, and oven-safe plates, bowls, and trays.  At Whole Foods
• Greenware compostable wooden flatware--See http://www.webrestaurantstore.com/
• Bagasse--made from sugarcane and wheat straw.  See www.worldcentric.org/biocompostables

Traditional/Eclectic/Uptown

• Waverly Collection by Hefty--Beautiful patterns and recyclable if not soaking wet
• Chinet--Yes, the same brand our parents and grandparents bought is actually biodegradable and compostable and made from recycled materials (who knew?)
• Sustainable Party--7" starch biodegradables in lovely colors.  See http://sustyparty.com/
• Terraware--Ivory but with a nice crosshatched inset design on the plates and both plates and forks look upscale.  At Whole Foods

If you do buy white, ivory, or light brown eco serveware, use a colored tablecloth or color somewhere on your table so it won't look washed out.  If you buy the colored eco serveware, you can use a white or ivory tablecloth or a solid colored one in a color that doesn't clash with the eco colored serveware.

Enjoy and our best for Earth Day and Easter!

Kristina

Kristina Ríos de Lumbreras, Ph.D.
Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
http://www.fandango-catering.com/