Monday, May 2, 2011

Family Restaurants for Birthday Dinners

Having a birthday party at your local family restaurant can be a great way to celebrate that person's special day. Whether it is an adult birthday party, or a kid's celebration, there is something for everyone. This is also a very affordable way to celebrate something such as a birthday, and a very popular option.

The convenience of letting your local family restaurant host your loved ones birthday party represents a lot of benefits that go overlooked. First and foremost, you will not have to worry about feeding everyone because the restaurant will obviously take care of that for you. Having the food served and having the right quantity of food for everyone is also another benefit. You won't have to worry about if you have enough food, and you equally will not have to worry about having too much left over.

This type of birthday party can be prepared for any number of people, and you can have specific budgets in mind. Personalizing the event is another great option so that whoever the birthday party is for will feel that everything is just for them. You can even have the party set-up to come to you.

There are different benefits for throwing a birthday party at the restaurant itself, or having the restaurant cater and host the party wherever you would like to have it. If you have plans to have many guests, having the party hosted at your home or place of work will be a better accommodation then going to the restaurant itself. If the party does not have a large amount of guests, having it at the restaurant will give you access to multiple TV's and other great amenities. Either way, the restaurant has customer service and convenience in mind.

Your local family restaurant will have a great menu to choose from so you can expect food options for both children and adults alike. If there are many adults that will be in attendance at the party, alcoholic beverage discounts can be arranged. All you will have to do to setup the birthday party is to tell the restaurant the expected guest amount, and for what age group the guests will be. Both kids and adults alike will be kept happy from food and beverage choices.

It doesn't matter if the birthday party is large or small, or if the party is at the restaurant or coming to you, the restaurant will treat you will the utmost professionalism and respect. What makes your local restaurant family oriented is the enjoyable experience, and great customer service.

Article Source: Ezine Article

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Banquet Catering

banquet catering is among a league of its own in the catering industry. Generally, banquet-style functions entertain a large quantity of guests and consist of large round tables that seat eight to ten persons. Banquets are popular, but not limited to, wedding receptions and corporate events or parties.

Food service styles vary from informal buffets in which guests prepare their own plates from a large selection of food to pre-determined meals served to each guest individually by a hired wait staff. A catering company should be able to provide a consultation to help any event or party planner figure out what kind of service would be most appropriate for the occasion.

There are considerations to ponder before approaching a potential caterer for your banquet style event, namely the kitchen of your event or party location.

Examine the kitchen of your event location. The kitchen will need to provide the space and equipment to meet banquet service requirements. In banquet catering, the prep, cooking, and serving happens all at once. Depending on the size and nature of the banquet, a small 100-to 200-square-foot station for catering with the right equipment can make a huge difference and ensure that the kitchen staff remains happy, productive and efficient.

In regards to the costs of banquet catering, pricing is dependent on what type of event style is used, whether it is a formal sit-down dinner or a casual cocktail party. Typically, banquet caterers will offer a simple pricing guideline based on staffing, equipment, and menu requirements of the event, with plenty of room for creativity.

You and your caterer can be as innovative as you like when considering the many banquet catering options. A few options to consider include the amount of staff to meet the needs of the guests, the decorations, the linens, and centerpieces used. The overall objective is to host a successful event and a good caterer can assist you in planning all the details.

Article Source: Ezine Article

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Catering Services - 5 Tips to Prepare For a Buffet Catering

Buffet catering is one of the most popular catering services that people use to entertain their guests during an event. Buffet catering gives freedom to the guests and allow them to choose how much food they want to have.

To prepare a buffet, there are certain things that you need to take note of. You should always engage a professional caterer to assist in setting it up. Before you pick up your phone and start hiring, let me share with you 5 tips to prepare for your buffet before you hire a professional caterer:

1. Find out how many people are attending your event. Before you hire a buffet caterer, you need to know the number of attendees. However, it is impossible to get an accurate number of people who will turn up on the actual day. You should take note that there will be around 5 to 10 percent of people who will not turn up at the last minute even though they have registered for your event. So with this, you will not over-order the amount of food needed.

2. Which type of buffet do you want? You can either choose a normal buffet or a BBQ buffet. If you choose a BBQ buffet, you will make your event more relaxing and it also allow more interaction between your guests.

3. Pick the type of food for the buffet. You can choose different types of food for your buffet catering. There are Western, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. Whichever type of food you choose, your buffet caterer should be able to fulfill your request.

4. Plan out the space for the buffet. Your buffet caterer will need a huge space to set things up on the day itself. So make sure that you plan out a space for him or her to work on. The place that you cater for buffet should be spacious enough for your guests to move around and interact. If it is too small, it can get crowded easily and make your guests feel unpleasant.

5. Brief your caterer on every single detail. To ensure a successful catering, you should let your caterer know all the necessary details before the event. Make sure that your caterer knows what time he or she needs to set things up and what time to clean up the setup area.

Article Source: Ezine Articles

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

15 Easiest Wedding Reception Table Decor Ideas Ever!

Are you looking for some really easy, simple to set up wedding reception table decoration ideas? You've come to the right place. Everyone wants their reception tables to look great and match their overall wedding theme. But, your tablescapes don't need to give you a headache or break the bank. You are going to be quite busy the day of your wedding, so you need quick, easy centerpieces! Many of our ideas are quite affordable, as well as no fuss!

1. Seasonal fruit in decorative bowls or baskets. Did you know that you can spray paint inexpensive bowls to match your color scheme if necessary? Go "green" - Give guests beautiful centerpieces, and snacks at the same time! Beautiful color, and no waste.

2. Tulle fabric table runner with floral items or arrangements. This combination can be as simple or as elaborate as you'd like, and will easily adapt to any color scheme. Use your bridal party bouquets as some of the floral accents - especially at the bride & groom's 'head table'.

3. Pre-made floral arrangements. Probably the most simple, yet beautiful way to spruce up any table. Short or very tall are best for conversation. Be cautious of tipping with very tall, slender floral arrangements on small tables & outdoors.

4. Shells, candles & sand. Gorgeous possibilities await with this summer wedding centerpiece idea. Do a practice layout before the wedding day and take a picture of it when you get it just right (so your helpers know how you want the elements arranged). Have a shoe-box sized plastic bin available for quick clean up of the sand after the reception.

5. Fabric napkins, stemware & votives. Don't underestimate the simple, crisp beauty of glass and candlelight! Beautiful, inexpensive & eco-friendly!

6. Petals and tea light candles. Arrange them into swirling shapes or randomly spread them out for a soft, easy look. Use buds or whole flowers too (just the heads) if you like! Make a heart shape with the tea lights on round tables.

7. Stemware, petals & wine bottles or sparkling cider. Set up in the middle of round tables or in clusters at rectangular tables, this combination would be both practical and lovely. Go "green". Could be set up on a colored cloth.

8. Fresh cut greenery, candy canes & candles. So easy, fragrant and fun for holiday weddings! Use white Christmas light strings if your venue doesn't allow candles to be lit.

9. Pre-made wreaths (lay flat) and candle. Not just for the holidays, wreaths can be created to match any theme and color scheme. Simply lay them out! Works especially well for round tables. Wreathes also make nice gifts afterwards for the bridal party or for other helpers as well.

10. River rocks. Go "green" - Consider using polished, river rocks as decor. As soon as your event is done, bring them back to nature... Use a large size and have guests write inspirational words on them as keepsakes for you!

11. River rocks, bowls & floating flowers. Easy to assemble and has a very natural look. Can easily match any color scheme. Eco-friendly centerpiece!

12. Mirror, confetti and candle(s). Adding petals also would soften this look. Very easy to set up and adds lots of shimmery color and light to your tables.

13. Balloon bunches. Lots of bang for your buck! You'll need something heavy to anchor them down, although you can purchase them with plastic heart-shaped 'anchors' on each balloon. Make sure strings are kept long to foster conversation at tables.

14. Candelabras with ivy. Classic and so simple to set up. Ivy could be fresh cut or silk. Candles can match your color scheme. Candelabras can be rented!

15. Fresh cut flowers in vases. Use seasonal flowers from your yard, a friend's yard, florist, or grocery store. SO simple to set up and clean up. Give the flowers to your guests as they leave the reception so they can be put to good use afterward. Ask your venue, florist or caterer if they have vases.


Article Source Ezine Article

Monday, April 11, 2011

Honey-Dijon Barbecued Chicken

Ingredients

•    1  2-1/2- to 3-pound  broiler-fryer chicken, quartered
•    1/2  cup  white Zinfandel wine, apple juice, or apple cider
•    1/4  cup  olive oil or cooking oil
•    1/4  cup  honey
•    1/4  cup  Dijon-style mustard
•    1/2  teaspoon  black pepper
•    1/4  teaspoon  salt
•    4  cloves  garlic, minced
•        Grilled vegetables (optional)

Directions

1. Place chicken in a resealable plastic bag set in a shallow dish. For marinade, in a bowl combine wine, oil, honey, mustard, pepper, salt, and garlic. Pour marinade over chicken; seal bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 8 to 24 hours, turning bag occasionally. Drain chicken, reserving marinade.

2. For a charcoal grill, arrange medium-hot coals around a drip pan. Test for medium heat above pan. Place chicken pieces, bone sides up, on grill rack over drip pan. Cover and grill for 50 to 60 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink (170 degrees F for breast portions; 180 degrees F for thigh portions), brushing once with reserved marinade after 30 minutes of grilling. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Adjust for indirect cooking. Grill as above.) Discard any remaining marinade.

3. If desired, serve with grilled vegetables. Makes 4 servings.



Recipe Source: BHG

Friday, April 8, 2011

Pasta with Seafood

Reserve this deluxe seafood and pasta entree for special dinner parties. Your guests will be ecstatic over the seafood trio in this sensational dish. With scallops, shrimp, and clams served atop spaghetti and complemented by a sauce of sweet peppers, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and a selection of Italian herbs, this recipe is a seafood lover's dream. Serve this dish with a generous sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese.

ingredients

•    6 ounces fresh or frozen scallops
•    1/2 pound fresh or frozen peeled and deveined shrimp
•    12 small clams
•    6 ounces dried spinach spaghetti
•    1 yellow sweet pepper, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
•    1/2 cup chopped onion
•    2 cloves garlic, minced
•    1/2 teaspoon instant chicken bouillon granules
•    1 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
•    1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
•    1/4 teaspoon pepper
•    2 tablespoons cornstarch
•    2 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped
•    2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley
•    1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
•    1 cup water
•    2 tablespoons cold water

directions

1.    Thaw shrimp and scallops, if frozen. Halve any large scallops. Scrub clams under cold running water. Cover clams with salted water, using 3 tablespoons salt to 8 cups cold water. Soak for 15 minutes; drain and rinse. Discard water. Repeat twice. Set aside.
2.    Cook spaghetti according to package directions; drain and keep warm. In a large skillet cook clams, yellow sweet pepper, onion, garlic, bouillon granules, basil, oregano, and pepper in the 1 cup water about 5 minutes or until vegetables are nearly tender and clams have opened. Remove clams; discard any unopened shells.
3.    Stir together cornstarch and the 2 tablespoons cold water; stir into vegetable mixture. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Stir in scallops and shrimp. Cook 3 to 4 minutes more or until scallops are opaque and shrimp turn pink. Stir in tomatoes and clams; heat through. Stir in parsley. Serve over spaghetti. Serve with Parmesan cheese. Makes 6 servings.

Recipe Source: Yahoo Shine

Monday, April 4, 2011

10 Yummy Foods That Boost Your Mood

We view food as a source of energy, and sometimes when what we eat tastes particularly delicious – a source of guilty pleasure. But we rarely see a connection between the food we eat and the mood we are in throughout the day.

Yet if you think about it whenever we feel bored, sad, heartbroken or stressed out we automatically head to the kitchen in search of a tub of ice-cream or a bag of potato chips, instead of turning for comfort to foods that can actually help to boost our mood, improve our motivation and noticeably increase our energy (and I am not talking about coffee or ‘Red Bull’ here).

If lately you have been a little cranky, spacey and quick to snap at friends, co-workers and your family members, a better eating plan may be just the thing you need to restore balance in your personal and professional life.

Below are the Top 10 Foods that will help you to do just that:

1. Bananas

With so many exotic fruits on the market, good ol’ bananas are often overlooked and undervalued. However, by all definitions a banana is one of the super fruits that can help you cope with stress, feel happier and noticeably improve your mood. Bananas and the potassium they contain not only keep blood pressure in check, but also help to improve memory and brain power. So instead of grabbing a chocolate chip cookie to relax, savor the deliciousness of golden bananas.

2. Sweet potatoes

Scientists believe that high-fiber, carbohydrate-rich foods have the ability to slow down the absorption of sugar in your blood and therefore, keep energy levels stable throughout the day and lessen mood swings. Baked sweet potatoes are a great example of comfort food that is both delicious and healthy.

3. Walnuts

There is no better way to feed your inner Einstein than popping a few Walnuts in your mouth. Besides their wrinkled, brain-like appearance (which makes them fit the description of “brain food” perfectly) they are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, known for their mood-lifting qualities. Other foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids include flax seeds, salmon, tuna and leafy green veggies.

4. Blueberries

For those of us, who are accustomed to associating healthy foods with spinach and kale and unhealthy ones with yummy ice-cream and cup cakes, blueberries come as a pleasant surprise. After all it is not every day that you find something that is delicious, low-calorie and beneficial at the same time! Besides lifting you mood, blueberries contain antioxidants and vitamins that are known to preserve vision, promote brain health and even prevent some types of cancer.

5. Chocolate

There are numerous articles online, claiming that chocolate helps to improve our mood. As much as I would like this to be true, I have to be honest with you – the results of a vast amount of research suggest that the mood improvement effects caused by eating chocolate are very short-lived (not more than 3 minutes). And when it is consumed to alleviate stress, depression or boredom, the temporary relief is soon followed by a mood drop. Oh well…

For a sweet-tooth like me, chocolate will still remain a virtual mood booster, as just thinking about something chocolaty lightens up my spirits.

6. Black and Green Tea

Who would guess that the old English tradition of having five o’clock tea is so beneficial? A substance contained in black and green tea, called Theanine has a tranquilizing effect on the brain helping us to reduce mental and physical stress, improve cognition skills and lift our spirits (by triggering production of feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine). Therefore, the next time you need an energy and positivity boost, instead of ordering a double shot of espresso, go for a cup of a fragrant green tea concoction!

7. Whole Grains

The reason why so many of us crave potato chips or cup cakes whenever we feel stressed out is because they contain carbs that help us to absorb Tryptophan (the amino acid that triggers the manufacture of serotonin). The problem is that not all carbohydrates are the same. Simple carbs contained in cakes, pies, crackers and other snack-junk food provoke big spikes in insulin production, quickly turning the feel-good vibes into even more grumpiness and irritation.

If you want to keep your optimism and energy over a long period of time while coping with stress better, you need to incorporate more complex carbs in your diet like whole-wheat grains and beans. So no chocolate chip cookies and French fries!

8. Milk

Have you ever heard the word tryptophan? This is an amino acid responsible for making us feel sleepy after a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. Now we can not always cook turkey or a chicken breast to relax after a long hard day at work, but we can always grab a glass of warm milk, add some spices like nutmeg and cloves to it and feel peace and tranquility wash through our body.

9. Broccoli

If you find yourself susceptible to bad moods and crankiness, then it may be because you are not eating enough foods that contain folic acid. In addition to battling against cancer and heart disease, folic acid is also very helpful for lowering stress levels and preventing irritability. Still unconvinced? What if I told you told that folic acid deficiency is the most common vitamin deficiency in the world? It kind of makes you wonder about how many arguments could have been avoided if we had just eaten more broccoli? Other foods rich in folic acid include asparagus, avocado, chickpeas and oranges.

10. Spinach

As children we used to watch “Popeye the Sailor Man” eating spinach and recharging his superhuman strength. Nowadays there is plenty of scientific basis to consider spinach a “power food”. Filled with nutrients and minerals like iron, potassium and magnesium it helps to regain a positive outlook on life, fight the feeling of fatigue and decrease levels of stress and anxiety. Not bad for a little vegetable, don’t you think?

Article Source: arinanikitina