Ladies Who Lunch...Baby Shower

A spectacular garden setting for a baby shower, notice the espaliered apple tree against the house....STUNNING!
Server passed BLT on brioche with basil aioli, arugula and heirloom baby tomatoes

Server passed shrimp salad on endive leaves made with hearts of palm, capers, celery, mayo and cocktail sauce. Don't you just want to dive into this?

My fabulous servers of the day, Patrick and Alex, she also bartended and made supberb Limoncello cocktails

Ladies Who Lunch...Baby Shower: More Photos

Luncheon buffet setting accented by these gorgeous flower arrangements

Asparagus salad with orange vinaigrette and crushed pistachios

Other delicious morsels included, orange tarragon salmon and strawberry spinach and arugula salad with goat cheese, candied walnuts, cucumbers and raspberry vinaigrette. Fennel, celery and green apple slaw and chicken stuffed with kalamata olives, peppers, green onion, feta cheese on a bed of vodka tomato sauce

Stuffed chicken breasts, wow...these look good enough to eat!

Ladies Who Lunch...Baby Shower: More Photos

Luscious Lemon and Blueberry Tiramisu
The perfect dessert to top off the mediterranean inspired garden lunch


I guess we did not only celebrate a baby shower for a human, but there was this great robin outside the kitchen window keeping her eggs warm...new life celebration for all!

Perfect and beautiful garden setting for the party

American Classic with an Asian Twist!

Asian Style Shortribs with Wasabi Green Onion Mashed Potatoes, Sesame Lemon Asparagus

Catered a small, casual party the other night. This client recently moved back to the San Francisco Bay Area from China. It was up to me to make the menu....and to incorporate the steamed Chinese dumplings that his nanny made. So, I did not want to make a complete Chinese menu, since he had just moved here to the States from being in China for so many years and I had to inplement the dumplings. I came up with an American Classic dish of Beef Shortribs and I put an Asian twist to it with flavors of ginger, soy and lemongrass. It was a success and I will be making this dish again in the future! Asian Style Beef Shortribs with Fried Leeks & Kumquats, Wasabi & Green Onion Mashed Potatoes and Sauteed Sesame Lemon Asparagus. Believe it or not, this was the first time that I tasted a Kumquat and it was so wonderful, a great blend of sweet and sour and it complimented the flavors of the short ribs quite well.

Spring Cocktail Party

Cocktail Party Buffet
Orange Tarragon Salmon in Spoons with Hollandaise Sauce...The hit of the night!

Spicy Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms, Swedish Meatballs and Cold Asian Peanut Noodle Salad in "Take Out" Containers with Chopsticks

Pecan and Dried Cranberry Chicken Salad in Crunchy Phyllo Cups

It always brings me great pleasure to be able to help people entertain, but it brings me greater joy when a client calls me that I have not heard in a while. I feel flattered by the fact that I have repeat customers and I feel privileged that they want me to cater their affairs over and over again. I always feel right at home in anyone's kitchen, but I feel very comfortable in familiar surroundings that conjure up memories of joyous events from the past. Making new memories of great food and conversations with my client's and their party guests is something that I can draw upon and get inspired for more amazing parties that I can cater in the future.

The party that I did last night was a Spring Cocktail Party, eventhough it was pouring rain out and so very cold...I guess the Ground Hog did not see his shadow this year. Party guests rushed in from the cold rain to warm up to delicious Swedish Meatballs and Champagne. Other fabulous vittles on the menu included the hit of the night, Orange Tarragon Salmon served in Chinese Soup Spoons with a sinfully amazing Hollandaise drizzled over the top. I have always thought that their is a "guilty pleasure" from Hollandaise, don't feel too guilty about this one, it's a "small bite" and you don't eat it everyday...so enjoy it and savor every bite!

My client did her homework before I arrived that I didn't even ask her to do! She took her menu that she had decided on serving and brought it to her local wine sommeliers so she can get the best wine pairings for the food and it was a great success; we served a pinot gris and champagne with the menu. She had mentioned to me that it would be a great idea to suggest wine parings with my menus, which is something that I don't have. So, off to the wine sommeliers so I can learn more and give more to my clients; I guess my client gave me homework to do!

Below is the full cocktail party menu that I served. Make sure to visit my website so you can view my cocktail party menu samples and start to plan your next soiree...go to http://www.butlerforhire.com/ and hire me to cater your parties...and remember, Good Food is Always in Style!

Mary and Glenn's Spring Cocktail Party Menu

Asian Peanut Noodle Salad in mini individual "Take Out" containers with chopsticks
Butternut Squash Soup served in “Shot” Glasses
Savory Swedish Meatballs with Sherry
Tuna Tartare on Crispy Won Ton with Edammame Wasabi Puree
Assorted Fine Cheese with Grapes, Strawberries & Crackers
Pecan & Chicken Salad in crunchy Phyllo Cups
Orange Tarragon Salmon in Chinese Spoons with Hollandaise Sauce
Sausage & Sundried Tomato Stuffed Mushrooms with Monterey Jack Cheese

Sit Down Dinner Party in San Carlos

A Beautifully set dinner table, ready for good conversation and fabulous food!
Wild Mushroom and Gruyere Cheese Tartlets

Curry Corn & Crab Hushpuppies with Curried Honey Mustard

Tuna Tartare on Crispy Wonton with Edammame Wasabi Puree,

one of the most popular Hor D'Ouevres that I make!

Catered a dinner party last night for new clients' Doug & Joelle in San Carlos. I always enjoy helping people entertain with good food and service. I always tell my clients that it's not just "their party", it's also mine, that's why I take so much care in the way the table looks and how the food tastes and looks. I cook food that I would eat, delicious and very tasteful. I am in my element while cooking in ones kitchen and making sure that all the food is preparred with care.
I loved all the courses that I did at this party, but I have to say, that I am glad that my client chose the "Dessert Sampler" plate for dessert, with 3 different delicious desserts...much better than just one, right? It's also a tug of war, because the main course was a bleu cheese encrusted bacon wrapped beef fillet with red wine sauce...yum! It's always hard to choose what's my favorite in what I serve on any of my menus, it would be even harder for you to choose, I can help you with all of your difficult culinary decisions, just contact me and I will cater your next event in the San Francisco Bay Area: http://www.butlerforhire.com/

Scroll down for more photos from this event with the next posting.

Dinner Party in San Carlos...More Photos

Cream Of Corn Soup with Crab
Baby Spinach Salad with Red Onion, Pomegranate Seeds, Curried Walnuts, Pears, Bleu Cheese and Pomegranate Vinaigrette

Bleu Cheese Encrusted Bacon wrapped Beef Fillet with Red Wine Sauce, Roasted Asparagus with Lemon Tarragon Butter and Parmesan Buttermilk Mashed Red Skinned Potatoes

Dessert "Sampler Plate" with Petite Triple Chocolate Truffle Cake, Blueberry Creme Brulee and Pistachio White Chocolate Chip Cookies