Happy Thanksgiving

Because we are firm believers that you eat with your eyes first, we're going to wish you a happy Thanksgiving with some beautiful food. 

Happy Eating!

& Happy Thanksgiving.

Tasting!

We had a tasting for one of our potential bride's yesterday.

Delectable Crawfish & Gouda Bundles

 Our Infamous Golden Brown Petit Crab Cakes

Creamy & Bubbly Potatoes Au Gratin

Stir Fry Veggies with Pine Nuts
(so fresh they steamed up the lens!)

Tangy Fried Green Tomatoes smothered with luscious Crawfish Ravigote

Melt in Your Mouth Grillades served over southern style grits

A preview of some new serving platters and decorations we recently acquired.
Stay tuned!

Event: Cocktail Reception

Monday November 1, 2010

This year's menu featured some of our most popular hand passed items:

Grilled Filet of Tuna

Sushi grade yellow fin tuna in our most coveted secret recipe of fresh squeezed fruit juices and seasonings

Marinated Petit Rib Eyes

Tender rib eye steaks in our own mixture of herbs, oils, and spices, flash fried on site

Gulf Shrimp with Sherry Sauce

Gulf shrimp fried to a golden brown and served with our velvety sherry cream sauce for dipping

Sesame Green Beans Tempura

Fresh green beans flash fried in sesame and beer tempura batter, served with soy sauce for dipping

as well as the client's favorite buffet and station menu items:

Baked Brie with Apple Pecan Sauce

Chilled Asparagus with Champagne Vinaigrette

Our towering and impressive Fruit Tree served with warmed chocolate fondue on the side for dipping

Our Isidore Salad, Catfish Pecan & Chicken Beauregard

French Pastries are always a favorite

 

Another success on the books!

We are looking forward to next year already.

Beverage 101

 More and more people now a days are stocking their own bars for their parties. Unless you're throwing a major bash the only spirits you need to stock are vodka, rum, whiskey, wine and beer. A standard bar setup includes vodka, gin, rum, tequila, bourbon and brandy but if you're pinching for pennies, (and who isn't these days), our experience actually shows guests prefer fewer options. For mixers, cranberry juice,club soda, tonic water, coca-cola, and plenty of lemons. Fill a couple pitchers with a pre-made concoction like a rum punch or a seasonal signature cocktail. Don't forget tools like a corkscrew, shaker & strainer set, and a muddler. Other guides suggest you provide a shot glass for measuring but here in the "freepour capital of the world" we know that would just end up on the floor somewhere.

How much to buy:

The general rule of thumb is plan on two drinks per person for the first two hours, and one drink per person for each extra hour. Assume 40% drink beer, 30% sip liquor, and the other 30% drink wine. 

25 People
Beer: 60 bottles
Wine and champagne: 9 bottles
Hard liquor: 3 bottles
Mixers: 12 liters

50 People
Beer: 120 bottles
Wine and champagne: 18 bottles
Hard liquor: 6 bottles
Mixers: 24 liters

100 People
Beer: 240 bottles
Wine and champagne: 36 bottles
Hard liquor: 11 bottles
Mixers: 48 liters 

 You can trade in champagne for sparkling wine or try serving artisanal beers. They provide more bang for your buck with extra flavor and go great with party foods. If you can't afford the Grey Goose, try pouring your Stolichnaya in a funky bottle to disguise it. Everything tastes better when it's beautiful.  

  

Always make sure you take your guests and party type into consideration. You know your friends and family the best so it's probably a good idea to stock up on the beer for a Superbowl party, wine for an elegant dinner party, and liquor for your 80's dance party. Also if you are expecting lots of couples, make sure your pre-mixed drink will look cool in both sex's hands. Read: no pink panty martini's, please.

  Not everyone drinks! It's a great idea to have a few non-alcoholic options like mocktails, or fruit juices and sparkling waters. Don't forget a pitcher or two of water. Coffee couldn't be a bad idea at the end of the night, unless you want to play overnight host too. Cab company phone number's are always good to have.

Ice: 1 lb. per person.  

  

With these tips and a little creativity and forethought, you can have your best party ever! 

With our stellar food and service, of course!

Spotlight on: Margaret Gardens Inn

Experience a truly classic New Orleans atmosphere. The perfect setting for your next celebration. Imagine your social gala at Margaret Gardens, an 1854 Greek Revival mansion with a lush 3,000 sq. ft. courtyard.

Margaret Gardens Inn is located in the plaza of Margaret Place and Walk, founded in 1884 and dedicated to the Irish immigrant Margaret Goffney Haugherty who devoted her life to helping the needy and providing shelter for orphans. By establishing a bakery and dairy, she accumulated enough wealth to found seven orphanages with the help of her friends and the Daughters of Charity Organization. The seven steps leading to her statue in Margaret Park are imprinted with these orphanage name and dates of founding. She is the only woman in the United States to have three monuments pronounced in her honor, one of which can be seen from the front steps of our Inn.

From the 1930’s to the 1960’s Cecile Rouillier from Convent, Louisiana, operated a boarding house for the young gentlemen from River Road between New Orleans to Baton Rouge, who came to New Orleans to look for employment during the depression. The young ladies from the “country” stayed at the Louise House across the street.

 Entering the renovated 1834 Greek Revival mansion is a step back in time to Old New Orleans. Enter the mansion into the stately foyer with its 14 ft ceilings, hardwood floors, majestic mirror and grand staircase.

The spacious double parlor, Magnolia Room can be entered through two 12 ft. cypress doors. The Ralph Lauren candlelight flickers on the walls of the Magnolia Room reflects the light from the two crystal chandeliers and two crystal wall sconces. Margaret Gardens’ courtyard can also be accessed through the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the courtyard.

Exiting the Magnolia Room and traveling down the foyer hall, you come to the Dragon Room, so named for the intricate hand-carved dragon fireplace. This room has a panoramic view of the courtyard and is a central location for food stations.

Straight ahead is the Courtyard Retreat and yet another atmosphere with its exposed brick walls, two fireplaces and three doors opening onto the 3,000 sq ft courtyard.

Traveling through the mansion, the last stop is Margaret Gardens’ lush 3,000 sq ft Courtyard with its romantic French gazebo which provides a spacious setting with an abundance of greenery and flowers.

Your guests can enjoy the elegant interior of the 1854 Greek Revival mansion and have the added lagniappe of our lush courtyard.

Visit their website for more information:
Linda will be happy to assist you!
http://www.margaret-place.com/index.htm

A Letter From The NOMCVB

 (Company Letterhead)

(Month, date, 2010)

Dear (customer/client),

We at (name of your business) want to welcome you to our city. In the wake of the environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, our hearts go out to our fellow Louisiana citizens on the Gulf Coast who are suffering from this catastrophic event. However, we also want to reassure you that all of the things that you've come to enjoy in New Orleans remain unchanged and in some ways, are better than ever.

You should know that New Orleans is located 100 miles inland, and in turn, have avoided any physical or environmental damage. Tourism in New Orleans has undergone a resurgence this year as huge numbers of visitors and convention-goers have flocked to one of the world's most exciting culinary and nightlife destinations. We continue to meet and exceed the expectations of hundreds of thousands of business and leisure travelers and festival-goers. New Orleans tourism officials are constantly monitoring the environmental impact on our wetlands and beautiful marshes two hours to our south bordering the Gulf of Mexico.

 Our world famous seafood industry has and always will go through rigorous testing from various strict agencies before our product reaches market, and our renowned chefs ensure that only the highest quality fresh products are prepared and served. In fact, our restaurants and food suppliers work with purveyors locally and nationally to ensure food quality and safety from sea to table. This has long been a New Orleans commitment. To learn more about seafood, please visit www.louisianaseafood.com.

Additionally, the BP oil spill has had no impact on the air or water quality in New Orleans both of which are completely safe and unaffected. Air and water quality samples are taken regularly and tested as they are in every major American City as a matter of course.

We are most appreciative of our fellow citizens around the world who are closely watching events unfold and looking to find any way to lend support. For the latest information, please visit www.neworleanscvb.com.

Thank you for choosing New Orleans and we look forward to rolling out the red carpet for you.

Red beans and ricely yours,

(signature)

(name)

(company)

Spotlight on: The New Orleans Women's Opera Guild Home

Underneath the towering trees of the lower garden district, just a block off of Saint Charles Avenue lies one New Orleans' best kept secrets, The New Orleans Women's Opera Guild Home. 

Built in 1865, the home served as the Davis/Seebold Residence until 1966 when it became the home of the Women's Guild. In 2005, the home suffered some damage during the after-effects of Hurricane Katrina but has since been restored to it's former glory. Furnished lavishly in 18th and 19th Century European and American furniture, artwork, antiques and object d'art, the home is a great location for weddings, receptions, bridal showers, luncheons, dinners, coffees, or any social or corporate gathering.  

 The side yard is a perfect place for wedding ceremonies or picnics!

Upon entrance the grand foyer makes an elegant statement.

The living room is beautifully furnished and features a grand piano.

The sitting room features an expanse of windows and a crystal chandelier.

Through the sitting room, the formal dining room features stained glass windows and fireplace.

The solarium to the back of the living room has exquisite marble flooring! 

Upstairs, the gentleman's rooms features leather couches and is the perfect place to hide grooms and groomsmen before a wedding ceremony.

Likewise, the bride's room is right across the hall and has a vanity and full length mirror!

The Opera Guild Home is one of New Orleans best kept secrets and is an amazing value! 

We just coordinated and catered a beautiful wedding ceremony and reception here a couple of weeks ago. 

It is definitely worth checking out!