Simply Elegant feels so fortunate that we were able to be apart of the Brenda Strafford Society for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Grand Opening. Kudos to all the staff and volunteers at the Centre who worked so hard to ensure the success of this event, you guys rock!

Your holiday office party planning starts with great food and drink.  Usually the hardest part of planning a party is what to serve.  Some parties feature appetizers, some offer full sit-down meals, and others will have a buffet that could include separate stations for each food type i.e. a salad, meat, seafood or dessert stations.

While you’re in the office party planning stage, keep in mind that the time you schedule your party for  will directly affect the type of service and quantity of food required and staff expectations.  But…the most important factor that will determine the style of catering you choose is your budget.

Holding your Christmas party in the office means space is a consideration.  A sit down dinner requires room for tables and chairs.  Before you plan on it, be certain your budget will accommodate this style because you will need to hire serving staff.

A buffet style gathering will require tables for catering equipment, and if you choose to have traditional turkey or roast beef, space for the chef carving station is a must. Presentation tables for an appetizer party are needed unless you decide to have wait staff serve guests as they mingle.

You will still require a preparation area. Your staff kitchen could do the trick for this choice.

If your holiday office  party planning budget is very small,  opt to have the caterer drop off your menu choices. Then all you’ll need is a table to set up the presentation.

Here are a few more tips as you finalize your Christmas office party planning:

-       Know your office party food etiquette. If yours is an office of women, serve food that is pretty and always add chocolate something.   Perhaps you are a construction company; you will want to fill the gap with delicious home-style portions.

-       Be sensitive. Keep in mind the ethnic and religious requirements of your colleagues.

-       How much food is needed will depend on how many people will attend and the time of your party. Luncheons typically require less food then evening parties.

Office Party Planning For a cocktail style party:

• Light: 3 to 5 pieces
• Medium cocktail party: 5 to 8 pieces
• Full meal cocktail party: 8 to 15 pieces.
• Dinner style cocktail parties require 15 to 20 pieces per person.

-       Renting China, Glassware, Cutlery will make any party planners life much easier and is eco-friendly. You should be able to rent them from your caterer.  If you want disposable, choose a caterer that has eco-friendly items available. Have the order delivered the day before to ensure you are ready for the set up the day of the event.  If you are missing items, early delivery gives you time to make wrongs into rights.

-       Double up on everything if you can. People tend to leave their glasses, plates, and cutlery wherever they wander.  Plan on having as much as twice the amount as the number of guests.

-       Serving. If you are not hiring serving staff, a buffet is the way to go. Stack plates at the start of the buffet line, and place cutlery and napkins at the end. Guests will then have less to balance while they serve themselves.

-       Consider setting up the food in several spots if you have the space. That way everyone won’t be crowding around the same buffet table at once. Make sure there are plenty of napkins and plates at each station.

-       Choose a theme.  You can theme any party from décor to food to menus.  How about a Winter Wonderland with an elegant colour theme of purple and gold.

Fire & Ice: think ice sculptures and icicles combined with fire torches (fake of course!) or candles and a red Christmas tree.  Or choose a Victorian Christmas to add warmth and charm to your office gathering.  Themed parties add great value that will provide your office with an unforgettable experience.

-       The wow factor. If you have the budget go with butler service and provide your staff with an elegant experience that says they are the best.

Want to know how to throw a successful birthday party for adults? We can help.

Whether you’re throwing a birthday party for your wife, or husband, or your best friend, there’s good news: a little creativity can go a long way. And creativity is important. Who wants to throw a bland, forgettable party? Hopefully, not you.

Yup, nothing says “Happy Birthday” quite like a fabulous night with family and friends. Oh, and of course plenty of food, drinks and entertainment. So here are a few tips to help make your birthday party a success.

- Spend time on choosing a theme that reflects the guest of honour. What does he or she like? Movies? Another era? Egyptology? (What can I say, my friends are just weird). Choose something that reflects them. Then look to pull your theme and the colours you choose through everything you do, from the email/mailed invitations right to the food and room decorations.

-Don’t feel you need to go all out on decorations.  Minimal decorations strategically placed set the tone and are less of a tripping hazard for older and younger guests.

- Choose entertainment that works for a range of ages (5 – 65). For example, hire a magician who has a 20 minute stage show and will then spend the rest of his time roaming through the room and entertaining pockets of guests.

- Hire a caricaturist to theme everyone’s pictures to match the event; book for the
duration of the party as he or she will be busy ALL night!

- Hire two different types of roaming entertainers for the adults and kids. Entertainment for the grownups could include contortionists, musicians, murder mystery performers, leaders of improv games, etc.

-Kid-friendly ideas for roaming entertainment include: performers on stilts, clowns, theater roaming shows, balloon artists, arts and crafts stations.

- Stations in general work really well for parties of all kinds. Consider them for food, activities and all types of games, whether or adult or kid friendly (craft area, bouncy castle area, petting zoo, carnival games, sports, etc.).

- Body art painting (face painting, tattoos) and glow sticks are always a great hit with the kids.  

- Hire a professional photographer who can capture the magic moments so you can enjoy the party.

- If you have serving staff and caterers, consider costuming them with colours and fun props.

- Bring in a DJ who works for your guests and your guest of honour. If there are kids, make sure the music is appropriate. The Limbo and YMCA are great songs to get everyone up and then you can eventually migrate into other types of music appropriate for the event.

- Ensure you have kid friendly food available – but don’t kid down your adult food. Make sure your adult guests have great food. When it comes to kids, minimize unlimited candy and serve dessert earlier rather than later in the evening.

- Delegate someone (nanny, babysitter) to watch over the children in a play area to allow
parents to enjoy themselves.

- Food should have vegetarian components plus a list of ingredients for those with
allergies. It’s best to not serve food with nuts.

- Serve simple foods that are easy to eat, won’t stain the rugs or be a sticky mess.

- Mocktails are always a hit with the teens and smart to provide to all guests, particularly as the evening winds down.   

Smart choices can make family birthdays fun and memorable.  We only get one a year, so if you’re setting up a loved one’s birthday party, then try some of these suggestions. We guarantee they will make it an extra-special birthday. 

Oh, and don’t forget the cake!

It’s tough out there, we know. Everyone is trying to do more with less – and no one wants to sacrifice quality. But we at Simply Elegant have some news we think will make your summer easier: Simply Elegant All Inclusive Packages.

Ever tried to price an event and then watched the price sky rocket when you tried to add the most basic of things? Our All Inclusive Packages cover most or all of what you’ll need, offering fabulous value for three of our most popular seasonal events:

Stampede 

Weddings

Cocktail parties

So let’s start with Stampede – because truthfully, it will be here before you know it! And while there may be many things your company can do around Stampede, the one thing you can’t do is ignore it. So embrace it, Calgary, make it your own and turn it into the event you want it to be. And we can help.    

 Our All Inclusive Stampede Packages  offer food discounts ranging from 5% to 10%, depending on the number of people you’ll be hosting, starting at 100 people. And events for more than 200 people aren’t a problem. Not only do we make fabulous pancakes, we’ll even bring the griddle.

Also, all of our meals include a huge variety of delicious and reasonably priced add-on selections. So you can start with a value package – and turn it into anything you want!

And we can provide site managers, station cooks, servers, bartenders and anything else you’ll need — even the Barbecue Broiler.

You bring the people, and we’ll bring the party.   

Speaking of party, maybe you were thinking more bridal party than Stampede. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back too. Because when it comes to weddings, there’s just so much to do. More often than not, people forget to factor in the rental costs of well, lots of things. 

But with our All Inclusive Wedding Package, you can keep a lid on your spending because we’ve already included most everything you will absolutely need. And like everything we do, for an additional fee you can customize it exactly how you’d like. Our wedding packages are so good, however, you can even leave the one you like just as is.  

Our wedding buffet includes a wide range of sumptuous foods as well as extensive, and mouth-watering, buffet add-on selections. And our elegant and affordable sit down meals are so special, everyone will think you’ve blown the budget! Only you have to know how little you actually spent.

For not that much more, we can also provide our full service staff, bar service, equipment rentals, and even your décor and floral arrangements.

And finally, there’s our All Inclusive Cocktail Party Package.  There are so many details in pulling together the perfect cocktail party. We know — we’ve been throwing them for years!

Choose from one of our included fabulous cocktail menus, designed for every palette – or talk to us about creating a package just for you.  Either way, you’ll save a bundle on rentals, staffing and other expenses that you’d otherwise have to outsource.

It’s summertime and the living should be easy. If it’s not, you’re using the wrong catering and events company. Whether you’re thinking Stampede, wedding or cocktail party, talk to us about how we can make your event fabulous and affordable with one of our Simply Elegant All Inclusive Packages.

So from all of us to all of you, here’s to the start of a summer filled with great fun, great food, and great events. Salut!

I know. You’re wondering “where has the year gone?” But here we are again. It’s April, so of course it’s “Sweet Potato Month.” A fresh alternative to the potato or, “potatoe,” for Dan Quayle fans, sweet potatoes are actually loaded with nutrients. And although they are called a potato, they’re really only distantly related. So which is better? We’ll always vote for the vegetable that goes well with marshmallows…

Candied Sweet Potato Casserole

Yield 4 servings

Ingredients:

6 sweet potato peeled
3/4 cup brown sugar
½ tbsp orange zest
juice of 1 orange
2 tbsp unsalted butter
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup mini marshmallows

Method:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Slice sweet potato into 1/4″ rounds. Shingle into casserole dish.
Sprinkle brown sugar and orange zest over top and dot with butter. Pour juice of 1 orange over
top. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and bake for approximately 45 minutes. Uncover and
raise temperature of oven to 400 degrees F spread marshmallows over top and place in oven for
approximately 5 minutes. Allow 5 minutes to cool slightly before serving.

Enjoy!!

In this season of hope and renewal, as the world re-emerges from its cold slumber, we celebrate and come together with family and friends. This simple but delicious recipe may well become a treasured classic in your Easter or Passover holiday dinner. Happy Spring – and may the season bring you closer to those you love. 

 Stuffed Cornish Hens

Serves 4

Ingredients:   

4x 1 pound Cornish hens
½ cup dried brown rice
½ cup small diced celery
½ cup small diced carrot
1cup small diced onion
½ cup melted butter
2 granny smith apples medium dice
½ cup dried cranberry

Preparation:

Place rice in a pot and add water as called for in directions.
Season with salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil, then to a simmer. Cook till done then allow to cool.
Saute onion, celery and carrot in 1/4 cup of melted butter until translucent. Allow to cool.
Incorporate rice with cooled cooked vegetables.
Add diced apple and dried cranberries to this mix.
Fill cavity of Cornish hens with mix.
 Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Season Hens with salt and pepper, thyme and a sprinkle of paprika.
Roast, loosely covered for 30 minutes.
Remove cover and roast for 45-60 minutes or until done.
Baste with remaining melted butter during the last 30 minutes of roasting.

Enjoy!!

We don’t know who said it but we like how they think: “There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles.”

There is, quite simply, nothing like tasting chocolate to make guests feel special. Women particularly are fond of it and if you are catering to a large number of women, chocolate anything is almost sure to go over well.

Looking for an occasion? Well, it’s your lucky day. Or month. Because February is actually National Chocolate Month. Cruel irony, huh? Such an august holiday has to share the limelight with National Heart Month. Like your heart stands a chance against the opportunity for tasting chocolate…

But wait! Tasting chocolate doesn’t have to be unhealthy or decadent. In fact, some say chocolate does have some health benefits, including some for the heart. Studies show that who eat small to moderate amounts of dark chocolate just twice a week are said to cut their heart risk substantially. No wonder the Mayans believed chocolate was a gift from Heaven!

More recently, dark chocolate has been touted because it is:

• rich in antioxidants
• an aphrodisiac for some
• lifts the spirits of others

But even dark chocolate has its dark side.  In its purest form, it is supposedly as addictive as heroin and, of course, a lot of chocolate leads to an expanding waist line.

So when thinking of chocolate for an event, what should you consider? Well, if health is a concern, the darker the better. Of course, the darker or more pure the chocolate, the more bitter it can be. So you want to serve it with something sweet. Fruit is absolutely ideal.

One 3 ounce square of chocolate has about 100 calories, about half the calories of peanut butter. So it’s not only mighty tasty, it can be a healthier alternative. The trick is, however, to serve it in ways that don’t promote over consumption.

What does that mean? Well, when it comes to serving chocolate for your next health conscious event, think of tasting chocolate presentation tricks.  In other words:

• Drizzle
• Swirl
• Dip

Presenting chocolate drizzled over fruit or served on the side for dipping is much healthier than simply serving chocolate on its own.

Not all chocolates are created equal and some types are better for certain circumstances. Here is a quick “tasting chocolate” primer to let you know what kind of chocolate is what.

• Baking chocolate – also goes by the names Unsweetened chocolate and bitter chocolate. There are also commercial baking chocolate brands that are sweetened. They will likely be marked as semisweet chocolate or sweet chocolate. Unless your recipe specifically requests sweetened chocolate, unsweetened should be fine.
• Unsweetened cocoa — It comes in powder form and is low fat, low sodium, and preservative free.
• Chocolate chips – they are usually Semisweet and will often hold their shape even when baked. Chips come in different flavors, all of which are wonderful. Bet you can’t have just one.
• Milk chocolate – much like its name implies, milk chocolate has cream or milk added to it. It is a Sweetened chocolate and cannot be used in place of baking chocolate.
• Mexican chocolate — Cinnamon, vanilla or almond is added to Sweetened chocolate.  It is often used in Mexican food and hot chocolate.
• Chocolate syrup — you’d think you could substitute it for melted chocolate in recipes but you can’t. Chocolate syrup is cocoa combined with powdered sugar or corn syrup. It is often served with dessert (ex over ice cream) or to give milk its chocolatey goodness.
• Liquid chocolate – It can be easier for baking because it doesn’t have to be melted prior to use, but it has vegetable oil and not cocoa butter, meaning it lacks what some look for texture-wise in some recipes.
• White chocolate – It’s a trick! It actually doesn’t contain chocolate liqueur and doesn’t even taste much like chocolate, so most of its chocolatey goodness is really just in its name.

Chocolate isn’t always easy to cook. It burns easily on the burner so has to be watched constantly, stirred frequently on low heat or in a double boiler over hot water. It can also be microwaved.

Anything with chocolate in it should be stored in a dry, cool place. The better your chocolate, the better your recipe will turn out.

Let’s face it. Life is short and so is February, which might be all the reason you need to indulge. Enjoy this classic chocolate mousse recipe from Chef Tony, who puts his heart into every dish he creates.

You either love it or hate it, the breakfast meeting. Mostly it comes down to whether or not you’re a morning person and how good the food is. We seriously can’t help you with the first part but we’ve totally got your back on the second.

Two words for you: Hot Breakfast.  And we’re not just saying that because it’s National Hot Breakfast Month. I mean, it’s also Responsible Pet Owners month, and nowhere here will you see a recipe for goldfish. That’s just how we roll…

Breakfast meetings can be a great way to energize a group and get a great deal of work done before the regular work day begins. But not if your group is lagging and barely functioning. What you’re saving in serving a breakfast meeting menu vs. what you’ll spend by having a nice lunch menu is moot if the group resents being there or just isn’t engaged.

And yes, you’ve heard before but only because it’s true: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It jump starts your metabolism, regulates your blood sugar and otherwise gets the blood going for the day. As an aside, if you’re trying to lose weight, you have a better shot if you eat breakfast than if you don’t. But don’t tell your guests that. They’ll just think you’re having a breakfast meeting because you think they’re fat. Maybe you do. But that’s none of our business.

Yes, you will save money by having a breakfast meeting instead of a lunch meeting. But when you are cutting into people’s sleep time or otherwise asking them to give up their personal time, you really need to show them that you respect their time and are giving something in return. A good hot breakfast is a strong signal to your group that they are valued and that their time and energy is respected.

Pastries and an assortment of cold cereals can be part of it– but you will stimulate more brain power through hot breakfast options. Crepes and waffles are always popular. Scrambled eggs, sausage and traditional breakfast entries generally serve well and keep meetings well fueled – and for a twist, serve traditional meals with a Mexican or other ethnic flare.

Coffee, both regular and decaf, is a must as are other hot beverages, including various types of teas. It may not be sexy but try having hot oatmeal on hand. Chances are good some of your managers are of a certain age where heart health is important – and frankly, it’s never too early to take preventative measures. The health benefits of oatmeal are such that a single serving per day can actually prevent some of the possible damage from bad cholesterol consumed throughout the rest of the day.

You might also serve elements from a traditional Japanese hot breakfast for your breakfast meeting. Steamed asparagus, sautéed tomato and mushrooms make a fresh alternative to more bready options and are a wonderful way to start the day.

While most people recognize that breakfast is important from a health perspective, they primarily eat it for enjoyment. If your breakfast meeting has hot food that is both delicious and healthful, your meeting is bound to be more productive.

Now go get your cat spayed if you haven’t already. Let it not be said we didn’t do anything for Responsible Pet Owners Month.

Why say cheese Canada? Because cheese is an aphrodisiac, or so says Pizza Pizza who last Valentine’s Day tried to position their product as a sort of “love pie.” They claim that cheese “contains phenylethylamine, or PEA, a natural amphetamine that the brain manufactures in response to the feelings of love…In fact, cheese contains 10 times the levels of PEA normally found in chocolate.”  Perhaps it’s true. After all, pizza can be an excellent source of love handles…

Pizza marketing aside, there is something traditionally romantic about cheese. Canada, loves the stuff, so much so, there is even a Facebook page for Canadian cheese-lovers. And why not? Cheese is sophisticated and earthy all at the same time, international, yet homey, making it perfect for a private party or a big event.

To appeal to every palette, you’re best to serve a variety of cheeses. White mould cheeses like brie and camembert always move quickly, so you may well want some extra on hand.

Blue mould cheeses, which, in case you hadn’t guessed, include blue cheese aren’t for every taste but those who like cheeses of the blue variety tend to be passionate about them. Fair warning. Never stand between a blue cheese aficionado and her Roquefort. For something more than a very intimate gathering, you might want to serve a variety of blues in varying strengths.

Cheddar is always a safe bet but even within the cheddar family, there is a huge variety. Toronto cheese lovers (hey, thanks for stopping by!) will want to check out The Art of Cheese, a fabulous shop run by Bill and Larry, two guys who really know their cheese. When they can get it, they carry scotch infused cheddar nicknamed “hockey pucks of Canada” in honour of those who love cheese, Canada and our nation’s favourite game.

With any of your cheeses, it’s always fun to select from various parts of the world – but don’t forget to include some cheese Canada style. BC and Quebec are particularly known for their cheese and Alberta has its fair share of wonderful cheese artisans. The Alberta Cheese Company is a family run business that makes all of their cheese on site.

Serve your cheese at room temperature which translates roughly to 18 degrees. Your best bet is to take it out of the fridge approximately 30 minutes prior to serving it. It’s a balance, though. You don’t want to take it out of the fridge too early and have it get runny.

Cheese can be paired with many fine things, including, of course wine. Stronger cheeses can pull off a sweeter wine – but don’t go blindly into pairing a wine with your cheeses. Your caterer should have a knowledgeable sommelier on staff to help you with your selections.

Great cheese paired with the perfect wine will impress your guests with your attention to detail and excellent taste. So go ahead and have cheese, Canada, at your next special event. It can be a simple, fast cornucopia of tastes for something informal or the perfect food to serve to those with the most discerning tastes. And speaking of special occasions, here is a baked brie recipe for two, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Enjoy!

Is what you're serving creating the wrong food mood?

The catering you serve says a lot about you, about your company, and how you feel about your guests.  What you serve and how you serve it is setting a mood. So how can you ”food  mood” to set the stage for your event’s success?

• Know your guests. Are they predominantly male, female or mixed? Are they of a certain age, income  bracket, or culture?  Do they work together at a job or share a profession? The more you know about them, the more you can predict what foods they’re going to enjoy. Pinwheel sushi may be lost on oil rig workers and a side of beef won’t go over well at vegetarian convention.

• Factor in the time of year. Think ahead to what will be fresh and readily available for the season. Fresh foods, local where possible, will taste better than foods that have spent a long time on the high seas.

• Be culturally sensitive. There are times when it’s not appropriate to serve certain foods. During Ramadan, for example, if your group includes Muslims, you want to ensure that when and how the food is served is sensitive to the fact that they must fast during the day. Do any of your Jewish guests require Kosher meals? Showing your guests this level of respect sends a strong signal about the care and attention your company demonstrates in its business dealings.

• Do you know if there are any allergies in your group? If you’re not sure, ensure whatever you serve clearly identifies any common allergens like nuts or shellfish.  When serving nuts or shellfish, it’s better to make sure they are clearly visible and not hidden.

• Consider using china for your event instead of disposable paper plates. If you do use disposable plates, ensure you use the biodegradable kind.  Your guests will appreciate the extra respect shown to them and care towards the environment.

• What’s the purpose of your event? Your food should support what you are saying and not fight it. Make sure the food reflects the occasion. If you are announcing  a bad fiscal year to shareholders, you would be better serving a budget conscious spread than opting for caviar and the finest Champagne.  If you are selling a luxury product, you probably want something other than chicken wings and domestic beer.

• Use food to manage the energy in the room. Forgo heavy carbs in favour of lighter fare if it’s a working meeting and you have a heavy agenda. Conversely, if you’re delivering bad news, a little comfort food — mom-inspired dishes like mac and cheese and shepherd’s pie — can help ease the pain.

• Look for unique or personal touches you can add. Does your CEO love a particular food? Perhaps each division can request a dish. Does your charity event involve auctioning off a trip somewhere with great food? If so, include dishes from that location. Look for ways to integrate your food choices into your event.

• Be careful of serving your group the same thing over and over. Sandwiches have their place but serving the same selection each time you have a working lunch will make your team grow resentful of giving up any of their downtime for company business.

• Look for a caterer who spends time and works with you to help you achieve your goals. Food is a very cost effective way to achieve many ends, including:
  • reward staff for putting in longer hours
  • encourage donors to give more
  • bond with clients
  • Engage potential customers

Take care in choosing the food you serve them and they will take note.

Food mooding your event is part science and part art.  Start by knowing who you are feeding and what you are trying to accomplish. From there, look for ways to underscore your message and connect with your guests.

If it’s worth the time and money of feeding your guests, it’s worth the little bit extra to ensure that what and how you are serving them leaves the right impression.