Bookclub, Sgropinno, and Berries

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Patty

It is my month to host book club and of course I wait until the morning of my event to figure out what I am going to serve.    Being that we meet in the middle of the day, and the weather is sooo gorgeous, I decided to serve berries with an assortment of whipped creams and berry puree.   I put a puree on the menu so my 1 vegan guest can enjoy a little extra flavor with her organic berries.  

For a little somethin’ sweet and bubbly, I set up a DIY Sgropinno bar.  Buy your favorite sorbet, some prosecco, a few mini ice cream scoops and have your guests make their own sgropinno.  You may have to show your guests by being the first to make a drink.    However, if your guests looked perplexed, jump in and start scooping the sorbet into the glasses.    A little hands on instruction goes a long way.  Plus, all your guests will huddle ’round which makes for lots of fun and laughter.

 

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Wake up!

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Patty

Check out what we were up to this morning!  Creating a little bit of Sunny Florida in a Los Angeles boardroom!  I am in love with the key lime Parfaits!  The lime slice was the perfect garnish.  

This breakfast buffet is part of our fast casual catering service, where we can elegantly platter food, set up a buffet, and leave before any guests arrive. 

You are sure to impress that special client or guest!

 

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Fast casual vegan and gluten free lunch menus

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Patty

Check out what’s cookin’ at The Spot Gourmet.  We are introducing our Gluten free and Vegan lunch menus. 

Gluten free and vegan corporate lunch menus

 

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super hero party

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Patty


This was a fun party we did.  The event was for opening night at Furious Theater Company, www.furioustheatre.org.  Doyle, from my flower guy, designed the event and flowers, www.myflowerguy.com.  The photos were shot by Luminaire images, www.luminaireimages.com.  I absolutely love the 1st shot with the steam coming up from the gravy boat.  I recently tried to capture steam from a coffee mug.  I took at least a 100 shots to no avail!  That is why I will stick with the food.

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Candied Bacon

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Patty

Candied Bacon.  Unbelievably delicious and so easy to make.  The trick to making this dish is sprinkling the brown sugar on the bacon the night before + using applewood smoked bacon – quality bacon is a must!  Pay the extra money, great bacon is so worth every penny! 

Assembly

Lay parchment paper down on the sheet pan(or else you will need a lot of elbow grease to get your sheet pans clean!) lay the bacon down, sprinkle generously with brown sugar,  wrap up and refrigerate until the next morning when you are ready for cookin’!  First things first – BREW COFFEE!  Pre-heat the oven to 375 .  Pour yourself a cup of joe, take a few gulps, wake up and then put the bacon in the oven.  Cook for 20 -25 minutes.  If you like your bacon extra crispy cook for another 5-10 minutes.  Always cook a few extra pieces, that way you can sample and make sure the candied bacon is just to your liking before serving your guests.

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Pecan sandies

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Patty

This is a great easter cookie – or really anytime cookie.  What I love about the Sandie, it is chocolate free!  Do not get me wrong, I loooove, love, LOVE chocolate; BUT   after consuming multiple cadbury eggs, malt balls, and chocolate bunnies, as God as my witness, I will never eat chocolate again.  That is why I love the pecan sandie.  This cookie is just the right amount of sweet, has a melt in your mouth texture, and just a little bit of crisp with that first bite.  mmmm -mmmm heavenly!

Pecan Sandie Recipe

1 cup butter – softened

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup white sugar

1 cup confectioners sugar

2 eggs

1 Tablespoon vanilla X

4 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teapoon salt

2 cups chopped pecans

whole pecans and 1/2 cup white sugar for decorating cookies

Preheat oven to 375.

in mixer – cream together butter, vegetable oil, white sugar, and confectioners sugar until smooth.  Beat in the eggs one at a time, add  vanilla,  flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt and chopped pecans.  Mix together until just combined. Do not over mix!

Roll or scoop the dough into balls and dip the balls into the white sugar to coat.  Put on a sprayed cookie sheet and press tht whole pecan in the middle.

Pop the cookie sheet in the overn and cook for 10-12 minutes at 375 – do not overcook.  Cookies may seem underdone, but let cool and you will have very nice melt in your mouth cookie!

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Easter Take Out

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Patty

 

Feasting comes naturally after a famine!  Now that lent is near, why not spend your time breaking bread with family and friends and let The Spot Gourmet do the cooking!Easter Take 2012.

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Fast Casual Box Lunch – Bento Boxes

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Patty

Bento boxes are a great way to impress with a box lunch budget.  Our fast casual catering department now offers Bento’s as an upscale version of the classic box lunch.

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Garlic, thyme and rosemary

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Patty

 This is BY FAR the best nuts for snackin’ while waiting for a drinky drink at the bar.  When planning menus for events, I always love to find ways to put one bite delights at the bar.  I love the idea of food strategically scattered during the cocktail hour.  Lots of fun little bites to wet the appetite.  The scary part about these cashews is you may eat one handful too many.  It would be a shame to be full for the delicious dinner yet to come! 

Roasted spiced rosemary cashews

1  pounds cashew nuts

3 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary leaves

1 teaspoon thyme leaves 

1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic

1/2 teaspoon chiptole en adobo(use the juice part)

1 Tablespoon dark brown sugar

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 tablespoon melted butter

Toss all ingredients in a bowl until combined.  Put on a sheet pan and bake at 375 for 15 minutes. 

 

 

 

 

 

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St Pats

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Patty

St. Patty’s desserts.   I wait once a year to sink my teeth into these delish desserts.  My husband seriously thought I was possessed today as I went to town on the mint chocolate brownies!  We only make these minty treats once year!  Whatz a girl to do!  Besides, he should talk.  He goes crazy for the McRib, which is only sold once a year as well. 

I set this little buffet up as an example of what our driver needed to do today when delivering these St. Patty’s treats. This is our fast casual catering service division, where you get great food, elegantly displayed  without all the frills of a fully catered event.  

SO YUMMY!!

 

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