Going Away Party

Going Away Party Hor D'Ouevres Buffet
Shrimp & Guacamole Tostadas

Beef & Artichoke Puree on Rye Toasts with Horseradish Cream

Gingered Cilantro Salmon Cakes with Chili Aioli

Baked Raspberry Brie in Puff Pastry

I catered a going away party a few weeks ago in Burlingame. It's always a sad note to say goodbye to your fellow workers, but there will be new adventures ahead! If we don't try new things in life, we don't grow and we stop striving to be better. Saying goodbye in style with great friends and delicious food, it was a proper send off.

Menu

Beef & Artichoke Puree on Rye Toasts w/Horseradish Cream

Gingered Cilantro Salmon Cakes w/Chili Lime Aioli

Saffron Risotto w/Butternut Squash & Peas Served in "Spoons"

Almond Stuffed Dates wrapped w/Bacon

Baked Raspberry Brie in Puff Pastry

Mini Individual Baked Macaroni & Cheese

Shrimp & Guacamole Tostadas

Tuna Tartare onWonton

Easter Holiday Brunch

A Delicious Easter Brunch Buffet

Shrimp Louie Shell Pasa Salad

Chicken Apple Sausage Rolls

Sweet Endings of Maple Pot De Creme

I always enjoy looking forward to catering my parties. I have catered many events for Peter and Cheri; and today's Easter Brunch was another successful event that I helped create. I enjoy clients' that feed my creativity with their optimism of what I LOVE to do! It really makes me want to try even harder. Boy, the weather was so different out here in the San Francisco Bay Area this Eater Holiday! Rain, wind and cold threatened the festivities, but that didn't stop the party guests today from enjoying a delicioius meal...in style, of course!

Holidays, especially Easter always bring back good memories from growing up. Special foods during the holidays were something I always looked forward too. My mother is a wonderful cook and I was always in ahh of her while she was in the kitchen when I was a little boy. I can remember, I was really young; say...like five years old and I begged her to help her out in the kitchen, no matter what it was. Licking a spoonful of cake batter or watching her create magic with her hands with lots of love with everything she touched. Cookies, Pasta or a bowl of soup...every meal was a gourmet show for me! Holiday ham was one of her specialities; I remember one year she made a ham that was enrobed with some type of pastry or something like it with a floral design on it. My mom was the Queen...according to me! The ham that I serve at my Easter catering parties may not be as special or unique as my mom's but everyone still enjoyed it! Cheers to you mom for always inspiring me to cook the best that I can for my client's and their guests!

Inspiration for me comes from many things, great clients, chefs on t.v., many good friends, but my mom inspired me to become what I am today...a great cook and someone that really enjoyes helping people entertain with an approach that is from the heart.

Menu

Apricot Mustard Glazed Smoked Ham

Roasted Red Potatoes with Peppers & Onions

Plain Biscuits & Cheddar Chive Biscuits

Chicken Apple Sausage Rolls

Petite Spinach & Gruyere Quiche

Fresh Fruit Salad

Endive Leaves stuffed with Goat cheese, Mandarin Orange, Balsamic Glaze & Pistachios

Shell Pasta Shrimp Louie Salad with Hearts of Palm, Peas, Cherry Tomato Halves, Green Onion, Celery & Louie Dressing

Assorted Mini Cheesecakes

Petite Maple Pot De Creme with Pecans

Menu Highlights from Birthday Party

Vanilla Pot De Creme with Berries
Foi Gras on Mini Toasts with Pear Jam & Pomegranate Seeds

Duck Confit on Carrot Puree with Port Cherry Sauce

served in "Spoons"

Valentine's Day Cocktail Party

Endive stuffed with Goat Cheese, Mandarin Oranges, Pistachios & Balsamic Glaze
Gingered Cilantro Salmon Cakes with Chipotle Lime Aioli

Sesame Beer Battered Green Beans with Spicy & Sweet Mustard

"Paella" Sliders made with Chorizo, Shrimp & Chicken with Saffron Aioli

Valentine's Day Cocktail Party Menu

Paella Sliders w/Chicken, Chorizo & Shrimp with Saffron Aioli

Butternut Squash Soup "Shots"

Beer Battered Sesame Green Beans with Hot & Spicy Mustard

Lemon Asparagus Risotto in Spoons

Petite Dijon Lamb Chops with Honey Mint Sauce

Endive stuffed with Goat Cheese, Mandarin Orange, Pistachios & Balsamic Glaze

Gingered Cilantro Salmon Cakes with Lime Chipotle Aioli

Petite Swedish Meatballs

Tuna Tartare on Crispy Wonton with Edammame Wasabi Puree

Love was in the air at last nights' cocktail party....love for my food! and each other, of course.

Delicious appetizers and champagne toasting the romantic Valentine's Day weekend for a great soiree of friends and family enthusiatically devouring up wonderful food. I had some new items on the menu that were very popular among the party guests, among them were the Goat Cheese Stuffed Endive Leaves with Mandarin Oranges, Pistachios and Balsamic Glaze and who wouldn't love the Spanish inspired "Paella" Sliders made with Shrimp, Chicken and Chorizo with Saffron Aioli. I have catered numerous events for this client and I really enjoy our relationship, combining our ideas-making all of the parties inspiring for me and their guests. I love making sure that I create wonderful lasting memories of the great times that people enjoy at the parties that I help create...because isn't that is what life is all about?

Baby Shower

Ice Cream Sundae Bar with Assorted Toppings and Brownies
Do you have a sweet tooth?

Baby Shower Luncheon Buffet
Fresh Fruit & Cheese

Mini BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders

Curried Chicken Waldorf Salad with Slivered Almonds

Spicy Asian Peanut Pasta Salad in Mini "Take Out" Containers with Chopsticks

Here are some highlights from a Baby Shower I catered in San Carlos in January

New Year's Eve Sit Down Dinner Party

New Year's Eve 2009 Celebration Dinner

May we serve you delicious food?

Endive Leaves stuffed with Dried Apricots, Herbed Cheeses, Walnuts & Pistachio Dust

Curry Crab & Corn Hush Puppies with Curry Sweet & Spicy Mustard Dip

Spanikopita; Spinach & Feta Phyllo Bundles

Baby Spinach, Bartlett Pear, Goat Cheese Walnut Truffles, Pear Gorgonzola Vinaigrette, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Pomegranate Seeds

Orange Tarragon Salmon with Basil, Spanish & Black Olive Butter, Beef Wellington with Mushroom Duxelle & Truffled Mousse Pate, Butternut Squash Risotto with Saffron, Peas & Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese, Chilled Roasted Beets with Orange Muscat Yogurt Sauce

Pumpkin Pecan Torte with Carmel Sauce & Whipped Cream, Chocolate Pot De Creme

Hope everyone had a wonderful New Year's Eve! I catered another fabulous sit down dinner for some regular client's of mine in Burlingame. Everything turned out delicious and all the party guests had a great time and no one left the party hungry.

Menu

Appetizers

Spanikopita: Spinach & Feta Phyllo Bundles

Crab & Corn Hush Puppies with Curried Mustard Dip

Endive Stuffed with Herbed Cheese, Apricots, Walnuts & Pistachio Dust

Salad

Baby Spinach, Bartlett Pears, Goat Cheese Walnut Truffles, Pear Gorgonzola Vinaigrette, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Pomegranate Seeds

Entree

Orange Tarragon Salmon with Basil, Spanish & Black Olive Butter

Beef Wellington with Mushroom Duxelle & Truffled Mousse Pate

Butternut Squash Risotto with Saffron, Peas & Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese

Chilled Roasted Beets with Orange Muscat Yogurt Sauce

Dessert

Pumpkin Pecan Torte with Carmel Sauce & Whipped Cream

Chocolate Pot De Creme

Highlights From Various Christmas Parties

Christmas Eve Open House in Hillsborough
Swedish Meatballs....YUM

Assorted Cookie Tower, Santa would love this one!

Ham & Gruyere Palmiers, my favorite

Pasta & Petite Meatball with Marinara Sauce served in Spoons

Festive Miniature Cheesecakes! Always a crowd pleaser

Open House Christmas Party in San Carlos

Mini Shrimp Cocktail "Shots"

Crab Cakes with Brandy Remoulade Sauce

Lobster Risotto in "Spoons"

December College Graduation Party in Los Altos Hills

Those Damn Cheesecakes Again!!!

Petite Chocolate Malt Pot De Creme with Crushed Malted Ball Candy

Pork Tenderloin Crostini with Bleu Cheese & Cranberry Chutney

Holiday Book Club Sit Down Dinner for 22 in Atherton

Artichoke, Ricotta & Parmesan Tartlets

First Party of the season in Atherton

Delicious Assorted Hor D'Ouevres and Desserts