How do you like them apples?

It's fall which means it's also the ideal time for apples! And though we can't quite make it to every apple festival (and we really wish we could) we're still satisfying our craving for apples here at the shop.

Fall Harvest

 "Sharing food with another human being is an intimate act that should not be indulged in lightly." - M.K. Fisher 

We tend to take for granted the experience of sharing food with our loved ones. So why not slow down and enjoy a classic dinner party at home, it's a simple party that doesn't  require to much planning beyond the menu. With food as the focus, this kind of party is all about the experience of eating and making a meal important. 

A Picnic Basket

With warm weather in the air and long summer days lingering on, it's the perfect time of year for a picnic.  Picnics hold a nostalgic spot in everyone's hearts whether they've ever been on one or not. And a picnic theme is a great idea for your company's summer events, as well as a great idea for a relaxed wedding or any social gathering.

A great way to host a picnic is to incorporate classic elements but with an updated twist. Just because it's a picnic doesn't mean it has to be full of tupperware and ziploc bags. It can still be as carefully executed as a black tie affair. Having servers tray pass appetizers on wood slabs, and serving your beverages in mason jars(which could definitely be filled with our signature lavender lemonade and and a citrus vodka for a great summer treat!) are perfect nods to the classic picnic.

The most important meal of the day

    Your mother always told you that breakfast was the most important meal of the day. And while we don't always agree with our mothers, we do think she might have been on to something.
There are many ways to celebrate, but there's nothing quite like a casual brunch.  Brunch offers a laid-back way for friends and family to gather and eat in a way they don't normally get to.
When planning a brunch, there are two things to keep in mind. First, you have to serve the quintessential  breakfast dishes—think biscuits, pancakes, eggs, and potatoes.  Second, it has to be something you can put together without a big mess. In other words, it can't be too complicated. When entertaining at home it's best to prepare everything you can ahead of time.

But don't be afraid to get creative brunch offers a lot of possibilities to be just as amazing as a traditional dinner event. 

Consider having these french toast dippers tray passed at your event, potato pancakes topped with smoked salmon, some bite sized quiches, or mini doughnuts served over shots of espresso

There are a lot of fun options with breakfast that aren't quite right during the rest of the day.
 Add a Mimosa bar to your event, which can double as a juice station for those who aren't quite ready to drink in the morning. When working with a small budget that doesn't allow multiple entrees try focusing on the details to make everything more festive than an ordinary breakfast, like offering different flavored cream cheeses or syrups to your guests.

The morning is also a great opportunity to play with vibrant colors and flowers. We love this morning table scape from Martha Stewart complete with a morning crossword puzzle.

For menus from us check out the great breakfasts were offering at The Meridian Club, cause let's face it no one actually wants to cook a feast first thing in the morning!

Brunch Menu - Breakfast Menu

Mac n' Cheese

If you've ever been to an event where Colette's was catering and happened to have the privilege of sampling (possibly by stealing it off of the children's meal) some of our delicious macaroni & cheese, than you too are probably suffering from a mild addiction. We've seen adult men ask if it's possible to have a kids plate rather then their intended "adult" dinner. So in response to this overwhelming love of Colette's famous mac n' cheese we're devoting this blog post to just that!

There's absolutely no reason the adults can't relish in our decadent mac n' cheese at any event. There's nothing that says you cant serve macaroni and cheese at your wedding or even a conference, trust us we checked. And as macaroni and cheese grows in popularity we've come up with our own twists on this classic comfort food that dress it up for any occasion!

 One recipe we've been making for years is our delicious mac n' cheese bites, these fried balls of ooey gooey goodness (which can be made with bacon as well!) are perfect as a tray passed appetizer paired with marinara for dipping.

Presentation plays a large part in taking this kid's meal favorite to an adult's meal time dream.  For instance serving this classic in a martini glass knocks it up a decade or two. For even more fun you can try serving up a Mac n' Cheese Martini Bar, very similar to our  Mashed Potato Martini Bar.

Our chefs also love playing with all of the great flavor combos that lend itself mac n' cheese. This goes far beyond cheddar people.

With smoked gouda, roasted chicken, and peas baked in your mac n' cheese do you really need anything else in life? Or how about a three cheese mac with tomato and bread crumbs on top. It is one of those magical foods that has few limitations.

Something else we really love is individual mac n cheese, baked in ramekins for the perfect serving size. Who wouldn't want someone to place one of these gorgeous things in front of them at dinner.

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 And put those individual mac n' cheeses on a station and you might have a frenzy on your hands(don't worry our servers are used to it)!

For an even greater nostalgic treat combine our other favorite classic, the grilled cheese, with macaroni and cheese and it'll change your life!

And for your mac n' cheese eating delights check out this list of beer pairings courtesy of SeriousEats.com;

Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar: Built on an English brown ale base, this beer has an extra hazelnut kick that really sings with the nutty flavors of the cheddar and gruyere cheese.
New Glarus Fat Squirrel: Another beer with a pronounced hazelnut character, this one has a bit more bitterness and roasted flavor than the Rogue beer. The added English hops give a shout-out to the sage and clear away the sauce.
Oktoberfest/Märzen
Schell's Oktoberfest: A 2010 GABF gold medal winner, this is a beautiful example of the style. Toasty caramel malt brings out the sweetness of the sauce, while the spicy flavors of continental hops offer a tasty counterpoint.
Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen: The original Oktoberfest beer, Paulaner is light with a clean, dry finish. The subtle sweetness enhances the sauce, but really lets the cheese come through.
English Pale Ales
Samuel Smith's India Ale: This classic English IPA is bitter, but balanced and a great partner for cheddar cheese. The flavor-marriage with this dish creates an interesting floral offspring. It's sharp enough to cut through the creamy sauce.
Fuller's ESB: Smooth caramel malt with a balancing blast of bitterness and light, earthy hops make this a delightful mate for mac and cheese. It's another beer that pairs well with cheddar, bringing both sweet and nutty flavors to the table. 

Tell us about your favorite way to serve up mac n' cheese.
Cheers to cheesy goodness!

Strawberry Fields

 It's Strawberry Season in southern California and that means delicious fresh strawberries are taking center stage in our kitchen.  Enjoy our wild baby greens salad with strawberries, feta, and champagne-orange vinaigrette, or try our chilled strawberry basil soup shooters for a savory addition to any meal. As an appetizer on the sweeter side enjoy freshly picked strawberries stuffed with ginger cream cheese and fresh mint. And of course, strawberries truly shine as dessert!  Our cake goddesses are taking advantage of the season with strawberry macrons, strawberry short cake, strawberry pie and chocolate dipped strawberries too!

Our mixologists are also joining in on the fun! You're guests will be pleasntly surprised to sip on our house-made strawberry tequila, a strawberry basil martini, or a refreshing strawberry and ginger cooler.

Cheers to Strawberry Season!

The Grilled Cheese

We just fell in love all over again with our favorite childhood sandwich, the grilled cheese. What was once as simple as white bread and cheddar cheese has gotten so much bolder, heartier, and tastier all those old feelings just came rushing back. And now we can't get enough! We're creating chefs stations where guests can choose their own cheese and an array of toppings. And we're going way past cheddar here(but of course we still love a good cave aged cheddar) with options like gruyere, brie, and ricotta this station is fun and exceptionally delicious.

But we're not stopping there! Oh no, we've fallen so head over heals we're serving up grilled cheese paired with a classic tomato soup for lunch and dinner

And we love this combo as a tray passed appetizers for cocktail hour too!

 

Share this nostalgic treat at your next event and you and your guests will fall head over heels in love all over again.

The New Cupcake in Town

So of course you know here at Colette's we already LOVE cupcakes, when the cake goddesses are making them who wouldn't?! But you may not know about our newest love affair with these cup sized cakes; we are mad about the newest food trend of savory cupcakes, Think more then actual cake and imagine lasagna made with fresh pasta, marinara, basil, Italian sausage, and fresh ricotta all in the adorable size of a cupcake! 

 

For breakfast imagine a perfectly portioned quiche inspired cupcake with a butter flaky crust and light fluffy eggs all in the adorable packaging of a cupcake!

Or try another classic comfort food and have our gourmet meatloaf "frosted" with our garlic thyme mashed potatoes.

 

Savory " Cupcakes" are perfect for a hearty appetizer or with your main course.

Either way were that much closer to our dream of eating a cupcake at every meal...

To get some of these tasty little treats at your next event call Dario and he'll help you out.

714.447.9190

Colette's Events

www.colettesevents.com