Mardi Gras Sweet Sixteeen at The Regent – Brandon Catering
Posted on March 18th, 2013 - No Comments

We were thrilled to cater a Mardi Gras Sweet Sixteen party at The Regent in Riverview, Fl. Kevin Lacassin, owner and Executive Chef, is a New Orleans native, which made this a perfect fit for our company. We developed a great station style layout to showcase the exceptional cuisine and flavors of New Orleans. Station style is a great option for large events because our stations are designed to minimize lines at the food stations and allow guests to sample different foods. We also had an interactive dessert bar with traditional New Orleans Beignets and King Cake.

We were so excited to work with a great team of event professionals to transform the ballroom into Bourbon Street. Event Design created a wonderful setting for the party by draping and up-lighting the walls in the classic Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold. The centerpieces incorporated colorful feather plumes, masks and the tables were named after famous New Orleans streets. Ideal Design Events supplied great Mardi Gras props such as the benches and vintage style street lamps. The awesome spandex linens were by SS5 Productions.

ME Photographs

I recently came across an article in Inc Magazine titled “How to Host a Customer Event” and thoroughly enjoyed seeing a mainstream business magazine approach a subject so important but often overlooked in the business world. The purpose of a corporate or social event can vary, but it ultimately has one goal – Make a Great Lasting Impression. My favorite line from the article sums it all up:

“Experts say the key to hosting a successful event is pinpointing the reason behind it—identifying a measurable goal that everything is geared toward accomplishing.”

Whether it is the launch of a new fashion boutique, a new advertising campaign, the opening gala of a museum or celebrating the expansion of a company, each component of the event should complement the others. When it comes to catering top-notch events, the menu and format needs to leave a great impression with the guests. After all, it’s all about the lasting impression, right? I read about the food spread provided for a recent museum opening and frankly I was, well, underwhelmed. Would this excite you?

“…including a sushi bar in the lobby, carving stations and dessert and a raw bar, vegetables, fruit, and cheese on the waterfront patio”

Sounds like a catering menu from the early 90′s. Here’s our take on a great themed event menu:

” the Florida themed event featured dynamic chef-attended food stations serving interesting and fun small plates of food to delighted guests. The stations included a South Beach Steakhouse with Grilled Beef Tenderloin, Arroz Congri and Fried Plantains as well as a Floribbean Surf and Turf Saute with Margarita Grilled Chicken in a Tequila Cream Sauce over Lobster and Shrimp Infused Rice, served in small white box adorned with the custom designed event logo…”

Which event would you rather attend? Which event would you rather produce? Give us a call to talk about how to make a lasting impression on your guests, customers, employees or clients for your next corporate event.

Completely “Cocktail Party” Style Receptions – GREAT Food at Affordable Prices
Posted on December 3rd, 2010 - No Comments

Let’s face it, great catered food at a party can cost a bundle, but it doesn’t HAVE to. While many events are planned with sit down dinners or elaborate station style menus, we’ve found that just as many are embracing the idea of a fun and relaxed cocktail style reception. Instead of asking guests to sit at a table and enjoy dinner with 7 other guests, it allows each person to mingle and socialize with everyone else in the crowd.

And without stationary appetizers and heavy china plates, your guests will be free to roam the room and enjoy flavor-packed bite-sized hors d’oeuvres, butler passed by our smiling uniformed servers. Besides entertaining guests that will profusely thank you, what does this mean for you?

No heavy china, no stationary setups and less labor = fewer costs and focus on the GREAT FOOD!

Don’t believe us? Here’s a sample menu that will please even the most discriminating palate (and stomach) while also making the event fun and approachable.

Just recently, Good Food Catering Company was commissioned (pun intended) to cater a 50 guest cocktail party for the Coast Guard Foundation, held at the Coast Guard Base on the water in St. Petersburg. Since the temperatures outside were hovering in the low 100′s, we created a great summery spread of cold and room temperature foods that helped our guests beat the heat, sip on some cold cocktails and enjoy the Good Food.

In addition to the great food, we dressed up the decor with some crisp white linens, yellow daisies, clear glass blocks and patches of wheatgrass. Thank you to our friends in catering for the decor ideas and inspiration – CuisinEtc and Charlotte Berwind Fine Foods, both in New York, as well as Carte Wheels Caterers in Texas.

Also a big thank you to uDream Events for event services, rentals, beverages and bartending; as well as Erin Nutini for the great photography!

Having a summertime event and need Tampa Catering or Tampa Wedding Catering? Give us a call and we’ll help you cool off with great food.

Enjoy!

Passed Signature Appetizer Bites

Seared Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna
served on crispy wonton triangles with mango-wasabi cream

California Sushi Rolls

Stationary “Cool Foods” Display

Caprese Salad on a Skewer
mozzarella, grape tomato and basil, with balsamic vinaigrette dipping sauce

Chorizo Skewers
Niman Ranch organic chorizo with manchego cheese and roasted red pepper

“Make Your Own” Bruscetta
Crostini with choices of olive tapenade and traditional tomatoes and basil

Watermelon Gazpacho Soup Shooters
Refreshing chilled summer soup of watermelon, tomato and cucumber, served in a shot glass

Lemon and Rosemary Chicken Skewers

Vertical Vegetable Crudité
Not your boring veggie platter! Served with a cool yogurt sauce for dipping

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Lemon and Rosemary Chicken Skewers

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“Make Your Own” Bruscetta Bar

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Watermelon Gazpacho Shooters

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Chorizo Skewers with Manchego and Roasted Red Pepper

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Summer Foods Tablescape

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Refreshing House-Made Lemonade

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NFL Brunch with Jim Kelly, 4-time Super Bowl Legend
Posted on February 21st, 2009 - 2 Comments

Last month during Super Bowl week in Tampa, we had the unique opportunity to work with one of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks and did it for a good cause. Good Food Catering Company was the perfect fit to cater a “Carolina Coast” themed brunch to benefit Hunter’s Hope, a charity started by Jim Kelly, 4 time Super Bowl legend and NFL hall of fame member.

The event was held at the MiraBay Welcome Center in Apollo Beach and featured a top-notch Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar, a jazz quartet, an appearance and speech by Jim Kelly and of course, outstanding Southern style food from Good Food Catering Company.

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The menu was designed with the Carolina coast in mind, including some of the best Shrimp and Grits found outside of Charleston, slow smoked pulled pork, and also featured Cajun Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya and a dynamite team of omelet chefs that made them to order!

“Charleston Style” Shrimp and Sausage over Creamy Cheddar Cheese Grits
with tasso gravy(as good as you’ll find outside of Charleston!)
Cajun Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya
the real deal, made by a Ragin’ Cajun- one of our most requested party dishes
Carolina Style Hickory Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwiches
with cole slaw, soft mini potato rolls and our secret BBQ sauce (yes, we smoke it ourselves)

Stationary Breakfast Display
Mini Assorted Quiche Cups
Fresh Fruit Cascade

Passed Signature Appetizer Bites
Pan sautéed Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
with Creole white remoulade sauce
Fried Mac-N-Cheese Lollipops
comfort food meets class

Omelet Station
Omelets to Order
chef attended station with made-to-order omelets
menu includes two custom designed omelets for the opposing Super Bowl teams: the Ben Roethlis-BURGER Omelet and the Kurt Warner Western Omelet.