Tampa Catering Company - Wedding, Event and Corporate Caterers

Powel Crosley Estate Wedding – 5 Star Review!

Kevin — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:32:23 +0000

Thought we would share this glowing review from Sarah and Chad’s July 2, 2011 wedding at The Powel Crosley Estate in Sarasota. We had a fantastic time catering this event. More to follow, including a link to this wedding featured on Style Me Pretty!

3 Unique Venues in South Tampa for Weddings, Parties and Events

Kevin — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 21:18:18 +0000

As one of Tampa Bay’s premier caterers for weddings, corporate events and parties, we’re often asked by our clients for recommendations on unique venues that offer something that a hotel or resort cannot. The biggest requests include two things:

a venue that can begin as a blank slate and be customized by a of great team of vendors, including décor companies, caterers, florists and photographers.
one that has a great view, unique architecture or its own charm.

As a caterer, we have the ability to set up shop and prepare food and services wherever an event is held, from Dade City to Sarasota and from Lakeland to Clearwater. Geography is no boundary for a skilled catering company!

Since we’re a locally owned company based in south Tampa, I wanted to begin by highlighting a few of our favorite south Tampa venues where we frequently work. At each of these venues, we’re either on their approved caterer’s list or better yet, a preferred vendor. If you have any questions about catering or holding your event at any of these venues, feel free to give us a call at (813) 731-0819.

Davis Island Garden Club

Located waterside on Davis Island, the garden club is one of our favorite venues in which to work. It helps that I got married there myself and have a special place in my heart for those that do the same! With a full kitchen, we’re able to prepare all of the food onsite and there are very few limitations on the cuisine or style of service. The garden club is a complete blank slate and can easily be customized to match your theme or décor. Plenty of parking and a great view round out this to make it one of the better values in the Tampa Bay region.
81 Columbia Dr., Tampa, FL 33606; 813-251-3123
http://www.digclub.org/

220 West Seventh

Here’s a cool new venue that provides something rare in the Tampa Bay area– a rooftop view of the city overlooking the Hillsborough River! This modern “green” building is perfect for cocktail style receptions and corporate events. The décor is sleek and clean with a perfect mix of indoor and outdoor space.
220 West 7th Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33602; 813-810-0683
http://www.220westseventh.com/

Ybor City Museum

Are you looking for a great outdoor venue with plenty of character? This museum garden is the perfect location for a station style reception and a relaxed atmosphere. It’s located in the heart of Ybor City and shares the charm and architecture of this historic district. We’ve catered events there throughout the year, but we highly recommend saving an outdoor venue like this for the cooler months.
2009 N. 18th Street (Ybor), Tampa, FL 33675; 813-274-6323
http://www.ybormuseum.org/

Tampa Catering – Featured in Catersource Magazine!

Kevin — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 13:55:55 +0000

We were thrilled to find out that Good Food Catering Company has been featured in this month’s issue of Catersource Magazine, the premier trade magazine for the catering business. The article discusses Tailgate Party catering and we were given the opportunity to provide one our most mouthwatering recipes, along with a fantastic photo taken by Jeff of K & K Photography of Clearwater. Check out the recipe below and the full article online at Catersource.com.

Corporate and Social Events Done the RIGHT Way!

Kevin — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 13:04:39 +0000

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.

The Regent – Preferred Caterer – Great New Wedding and Event Venue in the Brandon and Riverview Area

Kevin — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:08:07 +0000

Just recently we had the pleasure of showcasing our Good Food at the grand opening of Brandon and Riverview’s newest event center – The Regent. To several hundred guests, we served a new creation -

Floribbean Surf and Turf Saute, which consists of our Margarita Grilled Chicken sauteed with onions and peppers in a Patron Tequila Cream Sauce, served over Lobster and Shrimp Infused Rice and is served in a small white to-go box for easy “cocktail reception” dining.

Thank you for the GREAT photos from Matthew Kent of matthew r photo.

Looking for great food presented in a unique and elegant way? Having an event at The Regent and need upscale catering? Email us at catering@goodfoodtampa.com or give us a call at 813.731.0819

Elegant Plated Dinner Wedding Reception at the Lange Farm

Kevin — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 23:22:47 +0000

Many of our brides and grooms shy away from plated dinners because of they believe they’re limited to the tired old choices most often associated with seated dinners – overcooked filet mignon or dried out chicken. But when they are open to new ideas and don’t mind serving their guests great food, the magic happens. Recently, Good Food Catering Company was honored to design a great menu for a fantastic couple and served it with class at The Lange Farm.

Tara and Warren wanted an elegant plated dinner, but wanted it to taste great as well as give their guests something to remember. I guess we could tell you all about the food, but instead, we’ll show you, courtesy of some great shots by Carrie Wildes Photography. Guests had their choice of -

“Charleston Style” Shrimp and Sausage
over Anson Mills Cheddar Cheese Grits

Cabernet Braised Beef Short Ribs
with Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes and
Roasted Asparagus seasoned simply with Kosher Salt and Fresh Cracked Black Pepper

A Happy Bride and Groom!!

Because the bride and groom trusted us in their food choices, we were able to serve top-notch food conducive to plated service while also integrating the bride’s Southern roots. Even though dishes like Shrimp and Grits may have been traditionally limited to the South, their popularity is increasing and they’ve become a staple for gourmet restaurants across the United States. If you don’t believe us, check out this great e-mail testimonial we received from the bride’s aunt in Texas:

I live in Dallas, TX, and attend several large charity ball events annually that are catered by extremely talented food artists, and I would put Good Food’s work up against that group any time! Our cocktail hour appetizers were each unique and delightful, cleverly presented, and so tasty. (Can you say ‘Mac & Cheese LOLLIPOPS’??? … Fresh Basil/ Mozzarella/ Tomato speared onto tiny olive oil bearing pipettes…. luxurious mini chx tacos …scrumptious baby crab cakes……….oh, my.) And then there was dinner: The shrimp and grits was melt in your mouth creamy and left a previously grits-averse guest wanting more! The cabernet braised short ribs were beautifully glazed and presented over a perfectly seasoned mashed potato and grilled asparagus. The dishes were served hot by gracious staff. Smiles all around. A very successful event, professional planning and responsiveness leading up to the event, happy guests! Kevin and his team are just the best.

If you’re looking for innovative and tasty food for your next plated dinner wedding reception or corporate event, give us a call to make it special! 813-731-0819

Credits

Venue: The Lange Farm
Photography: Carrie Wildes Photography
Catering: Good Food Catering Company
DJ: Grant Hemond and Associates

Completely “Cocktail Party” Style Receptions – GREAT Food at Affordable Prices

Kevin — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 15:04:22 +0000

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.

Lange Farm Wedding Catering-Indian Fusion Menu

Kevin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:07:42 +0000

Just recently for a Lange Farm Wedding, we had the pleasure of providing a fusion of great Indian and American food for a unique wedding where two cultures and two great people were being united. The task was challenging: His background was Indian and hers was of local Florida. So how do you put together a wedding where both families can both be represented?

The simple answer – call Good Food Catering Company! We work regularly with an Indian chef who is able to cook authentic Indian food and customize it for the occasion. We often have requests for great Indian food and we do it by integrating it with our regular menus to create a fun and diverse food display. In this particular instance, we created two separate stations to reflect the food and culture of both the bride and the groom. To begin during cocktail hour, we served a duo of bite sized samosas – Potato and Pea alongside Spinach and Cheese, both served with a traditional mint sauce. It turned out that they were one of the biggest hits of the evening. To beat the heat, we served mango lassis, but in miniature shot glasses!

For the Indian food, we served….

Indian Curry Bar

A curry bar attended by two servers, dishing up basmati rice, to be topped with your guest’s choice of…

Vegetable Curry

A healthy blend of seasonal vegetables cooked in a curry sauce and spices

Chicken Tikka Masala

A signature Indian chicken curry dish cooked in a rich and flavorful bright orange masala sauce and yogurt

And to show off the “Tampa” roots, we created a….

Flavor of Florida Station

Key Lime Caesar Salad

A Florida twist on a classic salad! Elegantly served, romaine lettuce is tossed lightly with our house-made creamy key lime Caesar dressing and served on a vertical buffet display for a unique and modern look.

South Florida “Black Beans and Rice Bar”

A classy twist on a rustic South Florida influenced dish – Cuban black beans and rice.

To keep the crowd flowing smoothly

your guests will be served the black beans and rice

by one uniformed staffer, and then move to another section of the station

where a second staffer will dish out your guest’s choices of toppings, including

sliced marinated and grilled flank steak, pulled Cuban roast pork,

scallions, red peppers and caramelized onions.

The crowd was wowed by the ultra chic food presentation using our hand hammered copper chafers for the Indian food station and a rustic look of brick and cast iron for our “Taste of Tampa station.” Check out this great photo collage from photographer Angel He !

Event Catering for the Tampa Bay Wine and Food Festival (Click for Photos)

Kevin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:29:46 +0000

Just recently, we were hired by a large olive oil company to develop custom menus and prepare food for their booths at the Tampa Bay Wine and Food Festival, held at the Don Cesar. We came up with six unique dishes, each of them using a different type of olive oil.

One of the most popular of the dishes was our Caprese Salad, skewered on a pipette filled with Extra Virgin Olive Oil. When the guest eats the salad, they simultaneously squeeze the pipette of olive oil into their mouth.

It created quite a buzz and we’ve already begun to use them for our Caprese Salad Skewers and we’re secretly developing some other great dishes. Here’s the complete menu followed by photos (or see our complete event photos here):

Caprese Salad on a Skewer
Olive oil marinated baby mozzarella and grape tomato skewered on a pipette containing basil infused Bertolli Extra Virgin

Creamy Polenta with Spicy Italian Sausage and Roasted Red Pepper
Sautéed in Bertolli Classico olive oil

Olive Oil Cake Squares
with lemon glaze
made with Bertolli Extra Light Tasting olive oil

Gamberetti all’ Olio e Limone
(Poached shrimp with olive oil and lemon juice)
Featuring Carapelli Il Numerato

Cannelini (white) Bean Puree
Piped onto a fresh toast crisp with olive oil drizzle and cherry tomato wedge
Featuring Carapelli Premium Extra Virgin olive oil

Panzanella
(Tuscan Bread Salad)
A Tuscan summer salad including bread, ripe fresh organic tomatoes and cucumber tossed in a vinaigrette made with Carapelli Organic Olive Oil

Event Menu: Short Plate Stations for Gasparilla Film Festival Closing Gala

Kevin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:38:07 +0000

We recently had the pleasure of sponsoring the Gasparilla Film Festival as well as catering the closing party event. This professionally planned party was the “place to be” in Tampa and featured expert lighting and décor, a night club atmosphere and live entertainment; not to mention star-studded appearances by numerous actors, local politicians and even Florida’s governor. This “short plate” menu was designed to minimize lines at food stations and allow each of the guests to sample the different types of food. Stay tuned for full coverage of the event along with photos.

For the Southerners and the adventurous! As we say, “grits are the new mashed potatoes.” A station attended by two servers, dishing up creamy Southern-style white cheddar cheese grits, to be topped with hard wood smoked pulled pork, tossed just the right amount of our secret BBQ sauce. These will be served on small black square plates for easy cocktail party dining. Refined and packed with flavor, but definitely not pretentious.

“Cajun Paella” Short Plate

This station will be creatively and elegantly decorated with copper and green grass and floral accents

Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

Authentic Cajun style jambalaya with blackened chicken and spicy smoked sausage, cooked in a cast iron pot, then topped with chopped green onion.

Jambalaya is a dish native to South Louisiana, which has roots to Haiti, the Caribbean and Spain and is believed to be a direct descendant of traditional Spanish paella. To take this rustic dish to the next level, we cook it the right way and serve it elegantly in a decorated station from our copper paella pan, served in miniature white take-out containers (Chinese restaurant style)

“Signature Pasta Creation” Station

Not the pasta station of the past! This chef attended action station combines two of our most popular pasta dishes with the flair of live cooking! Pasta chefs will continuously cook in front of guests and serve their choice of…

Tuscan Bowtie Pasta

with asparagus and cherry tomatoes in a white wine and olive oil sauce (vegetarian), can be tossed with grilled sliced chicken and topped with grated parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes

Penne Pasta Primavera

Fresh grilled (grilled onsite) seasonal vegetables tossed with penne pasta and our signature roasted red pepper cream sauce (vegetarian)

Signature Passed Appetizer Bites

Smoky Chipotle Chicken Mini Crispy Tacos

diced grilled chicken tossed with smoky chipotle salsa and paired with a crunchy slaw on a miniature crunch taco shell

Gourmet “Cheeseburgers in Paradise”

Miniature sirloin sliders with caramelized onions, melted pepperjack cheese and a piquant scotchbonnet pepper aioli

Fried Mac-N-Cheese Lollipops

comfort food meets class- our most requested item!