by Rachael Casamer and Jennifer McKinney-Seet, CSEP

This year brings a new movement in dining that your taste buds never anticipated. 2007 will offer more of the familiar comfort foods in miniature during the cocktail hour or on the buffet such as Mini Gourmet Burgers, Macaroni and Cheese Balls, Meatloaf Wellington (mashed potatoes, corn and meatloaf in a puff pastry), etc. Full, heavy meals are out. Tapas style dinners are in, offering small complete meals at various stations scattered around the room. Elaborate dessert stations with mini delicacies such as truffles, petits fours, tarts, eclairs, etc. are also becoming more popular, especially at weddings where brides are looking for something different to either replace or add to the traditional wedding cake.

Pineapple and figs (fresh, dried, roasted, in a dessert or in a drink) are both sizzling for the season.  Also, back by popular demand, is the ice bar and it's hotter than ever. Use it creatively to hold oysters, shrimp, gazpacho shooters, drinks, and more. Try an ice fountain filled with your favorite libation such as the one in the photo to the left created for an Asian themed party where sake poured freely from the dragon ice sculpture. 

Be interactive in 2007 and make it personal, create an event that gets everyone involved such as cooking classes or competitions or self serve stations where guests dress their own desserts or food items (chocolate fountains, mashed potato bars, pasta stations, etc.) or do something as simple as serving the meal family style. For favors, set up a "Candy Bar" station with gift bags where guests can pick and choose from a variety of different candies that are displayed in clear containers.

Just like the little black dress, some trends are here to stay. Hitting the center stage once again, Martini Cocktails (of every flavor) are always a popular classic. For a twist, try a "Cotton Candy Cocktail" and rim the glass with actual Cotton Candy. Having an interactive setting makes your meal and event special for all. Interactive cocktail bars are also fun. Let guests choose from a selection of vodkas and mixers and hire an educated bartender to entertain them while assembling drinks that are then given a name specific for each guest.

The trend in linens is that orange is HOT!  From creamy peaches to deep tangerine. Softer colors are also in such as celadon, lime, pale pinks and slate blues. Strong, bold patterns are out. Consider accenting these colors with chocolate or burnt siena for an elegant atmosphere.

Try something new in the New Year and treat your guests to an experience they won't forget!

 Chef's Corner

Recipe of the Month

At Thomas Caterers of Distinction, we make all our food

from scratch. We are proud to share some of our

time honored recipes with our friends.

Strawberry Shortcakes with White Chocolate Mousse

12 tbsp unsalted butter - room temperature

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

1 1/2 cups flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp vanilla

Zest of one lemon

1/2 cup strawberry preserves

6 whole strawberries sliced lengthwise

1. Cream butter and sugar together. Add lemon zest and vanilla. Add dry ingredients. Form dough into 1" balls and press into greased mini-muffin tins. Bake 10-15 min at 350 degrees. After baking, remove from oven and turn them out of the pan. Allow to cool and add strawberry preserves to each of the cavities. Pipe white chocolate mousse on top of each shortcake with a star tip. Garnish with a strawberry slice. Makes one dozen.

White Chocolate Mousse Topping

12 oz white chocolate

1 1/2 cups chilled whipped cream

2. Chop the white chocolate into 1" pieces and slowly melt over a double boiler. Allow the chocolate to cool to room temperature. Beat heavy cream until it comes to a hard peak. Fold the cream into the chocolate in thirds. Refrigerate for one hour.

Trends in Catering

CREATIVE BUFFETS

Strawberry Shortcake themed

Valentine's Day Tea Party

by TCOD

as featured in Winter 2006 issue Indianapolis Monthly Home magazine

Menu

• Mini Strawberry Shortcakes (see recipe above)
• Cinnamon Bun Lollipops
• Heart-shaped Peanut Butter & Jelly Crustless Tea Sandwiches
• Carrot and Celery Sticks with Ranch Dip
• Decorate-your-own Sugar Cookies with Pink, Red and White Icings, Sprinkles and Cinnamon heart-shaped Candies
• Raspberry Tea with heart-shaped Sugar Cubes and Rock Candy

Themed presentation: display heart-shaped Crustless Tea Sandwiches and Mini Strawberry Shortcakes on silver platters. Use red ribbon to trim the tops of small clear flower pots (with no hole in the bottom) and place a spoonful of Ranch Dip in the bottom. Cut thin, long, slices of Carrots and Celery and display vertically in pots. Place styrofoam in the bottom of a pink or red heart shaped box (or use themed wrapping paper to wrap rectangular shaped box) and fill top with marshmallows. Place skewers in the Cinnamon Buns, pour a little bit of icing over the top and stick into the styrofoam. Sprinkle candy hearts and Strawberry Shortcake themed Valentines cards over the buffet and use items such as beads, feathers, hats, stuffed animals, figurines, balloons, etc to decorate the buffet.  Have a separate dessert station for the kids to decorate their own Sugar Cookies using various pink, white and red colored icings and sprinkles. Serve the Raspberry Tea in fun teapots and teacups and use heart-shaped Sugar Cubes and/or Rock Candy on a stick.

Click here to see the full article.

Hosting a Party

Choice Days to Host a Party or Gathering   

 SPRING SPECIAL! Host an event between Feb. 1 and April 15 

 and receive 15% off your food and beverage (excluding alcohol).

Where to Host a Party - Hot Spot Feature

Indiana War Memorials

431 N. Meridian Street

Indianapolis, IN 46204

317-232-7615

www.in.gov/iwm

The Indiana War Memorials consist of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, University Park, the World Wars Memorial, Veteran's Memorial Plaza, American Legion Mall and the USS Indianapolis Memorial.

The Indiana War Memorial has three main floors. On the upper level is the breathtaking Shrine Room with murals symbolic of the world wide nature of the "Great War." The main floor houses exhibit space, the administrative offices, the Grand Lobby (seats 250), two meeting rooms (Patton and MacArthur Halls each seating 100), and the Pershing Auditorium which seats 450. The meeting rooms and the auditorium are available to for public use for a nominal fee.

Additional outdoor venues available to rent (which can accommodate parties of 10,000+) are the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, American Legion Mall, Veterans Memorial Plaza and University Park. Call 317-324-1580 Wed-Fri 8:30am-4pm for more information or email events@warmemorialsfoundation.org.

Thomas Caterers of Distinction was recently recognized in the January 2007 issue of "Inside Weddings " magazine (a national publication by InStyle Magazine) for producing the wedding of Teddi Mellencamp, John Mellencamp’s daughter, in Bloomington, Indiana in June 2006. Click on the photo to the right to read the full article.

Thomas Caterers of Distinction has been selected as a finalist for the 2006 CATIE Awards(Catered Arts Through Innovative Excellence) for "Mixology –

Cotton Candy Cocktail". The winner will be announced at the national Catersource Conference in Las Vegas on January 31.

Sycamore School Auction - Saturday, February 10, 2007

The evening begins with cocktails and socializing followed by a delicious dinner and remarks and culminates in a live auction for items ranging from luxury suites at professional sporting events to trips to Las Vegas, Martha's Vineyard, and Monetville, Ontario. A portion of the proceeds supports Sycamore School's financial aid budget, with the balance donated to the Annual Fund. For tickets or other information, please contact the Development Office at 317/253-5288 ext. 104.

School on Wheels: "Doin' the Decade" - Saturday, February, 10, 2007

 Enjoy an exquisite dining experience by Thomas Caterers of Distinction and music from the 50's provided by Spike & The Bulldogs. Dress in your best 1950s vintage outfit (or cocktail attire for the less adventurous). Fabulous items will be available to tempt you at the auction tables. Fun dance music will liven things up and keep the dance floor full and lively during the final hours. Saturday, February 10, 2007 at 7pm at The Orchard School, 615 West 64th Street. General Admission - $75 per person, VIP Teacher's Lounge - $100 per person (includes open bar), Table for 8 - $1,000. For more information, contact School on Wheels at (317) 202-9100.

Contact Us 

     Thomas Caterers of Distinction

     4440 North Keystone Ave

     Indianapolis, Indiana 46205

     Phone: 317-542-8333

     Fax: 317-545-0683

     Email: Info@thomascaterers.com
    

About Us

We are a full service off-premise catering company specializing in award winning gourmet cuisine for over 23 years.Our highly qualified staff is certified and trained to assist each client with every detail of planning their event, from creative menu designs to elegant décor.

We custom tailor each event to fit the client's personality and style, making each occasion a unique experience.Every detail is handled with care to allow the client to be a guest at theirown event.