Lagniappe------Texas Sized!! August 28, 2011

On Sunday, August 28, 2011 Dianne Evans and Kasey Quibodeaux took a quick road trip to Houston, Tx.
We popped in on a fellow catering Buzzie and ICA member John Homrighausen, aka J-Bar H, at his newest business venture, the Ranch Bakery.

Dianne visited with J-Bar in the kitchen where he was busy preparing the menu for a Tex-Tex-Mex that afternoon.  The client wanted to give out of town guests from Pennsylvania a taste of Texas and Mexican food and the menu looked really good. 

After the visit, we were leaving when John graciously gave us a pan of his famous cinnamon rolls, a pan of his fruit kolaches, and a big box of assorted kolaches, caramel apple hand pies, homemade pop tarts, and two huge Ding Dongs.  After quickly putting it all on ice with the 100 plus degree heat we proceeded to do some shopping in the Houston area.

Later that evening we landed back at the Intercontinental, where we unpacked our treats.  Wow, talk about a feast!  We sampled a little of this and a little of that and today it all came back across the state line to Louisiana with us to share with our family.

Best Catered Events always appreciates fellow caterers that host our visits and J-Bar, well, you certainly gave us some Texas Sized Lagniappe!  Thanks again, we will see you when you pass through the Baton Rouge area. 

Brittany and Matt - Greenwood Plantation - August 20, 2011

When you are in Louisiana in August, well it is just a given, you are going to be hot!  Saturday, August 20th was no exception with the temperature hovering around 100 degrees and excitement in the air, Brittany and Matt were about to enjoy their "special day".

The ceremony was beautiful and very special, down under the moss covered trees by candlelight.  The guests each had a palmetto woven hand fan upon arriving at their seat, which were certainly put to good use.

The bride's family converged on Greenwood Plantation and the festivities began.  Best Catered Events has a special connection to this family as the bride's mom, aunt and great aunt all are members of our team.  The couple had done a tasting and chose all their favorites for their family and friends to enjoy at their reception. 

The menu was Seafood Fandango Pasta, Bacon Roll Ups, Crabmeat Mornay, Crudite Cups, Fresh Fruit, Assorted Cheeses, Finger Sandwiches, Chicken Salad Croissants, Cold Spicy Shrimp Dip, Smoked Beef Brisket, Peppered Pork Tenderloin and Summer Punch.

We also offered our "Cheesecake Tini Bar" with Turtle and Strawberry topped cheesecake layered in mini martini glasses with a silver spoon.

One of the bride's friends made the cakes and everyone raved over them.  This was a fun loving crowd and despite the heat and humidity.....there really was a party out on the patio.

Best Catered Events wishes Matt and Brittany much happiness.

Box Lunches

We are getting more and more calls these days for delivered box lunches.  Do we do box lunches?

Absolutely!!! And they are delicious...we can please your crowd, whether it is for a film shoot, private ladies lunch or just a large office.

We have minimums of 25 on all box lunch orders....call us!

http://www.bestcateredevents.com/

225-588-1555

Paul and Annie Newton - August 6, 2011

Beautiful Cottonport, Louisiana was the setting for the wedding and reception of  Paul Newton and Annie Lemoine on Saturday, August 6, 2011.  Following the ceremony at St. Mary's Assumption Catholic Church, the couple arrived at the home of the bride's grandparents in a 1965 Corvair, bright red, convertible and absolutely delightful!

The couple was surrounded by family and close friends and though the temperature was in the high 90's, without a breeze anywhere, they danced their first song and then everyone joined in and they all danced all night!  Louie's DJ Service provided great music and kept this crowd on the dance floor underneath the tent.

The wedding and groom's cake were made by a close friend of the bride's and everyone sure enjoyed them.

Best Catered Events provided chicken and and sausage jambalaya, spinach and artichoke dip with chips and creackers, mini crawfish pies, mini muffelettos, smoked beef brisket with rolls, mini blt's, crudite with ranch dip, assorted cheeses, fresh fruit, chocolate dipped strawberries and summer punch.

Annie made a lovely bride, and her day and the setting couldn't have been more perfect.  Wonderful way to start a new life together.....Best Wishes...there's an old song....goes like this....I'm gonna love you forever, forever and ever Amen!  May you always love each other even more than you do today!

Venue Recommendation - Ascension Parish, LA

Rarely do I give recommendations for "empty' buildings, but today is an exception!  I met with a future bride earlier today and she was considering a property located on Hwy 431 in St. Amant, LA. 

The venue is appropriately called The Venue Rental Hall.  What a surprise for me!  Not only is there a huge concrete parking lot, plenty of lit signing (your guests won't drive by without noticing) and an overall nice, clean  look.  There are several businesses located in the center, such as a wedding planner, notary, hair salon and of course St. Amant Decorating has their showroom there as well.  This complex is a hidden secret if you don't go down Hwy 431.  Best of all, there are 4 different facilities from which to choose, depending on the size of your event and the amount of space needed.

With our South Louisiana weather, you and I both know that a huge percentage of weddings and special events are going to be inside.  The owners didn't even know to expect me and the facility was comfortable, so cold air is definitely a given and a lifesaver with our humid, hot days.

On this visit, I only looked at The Venue that is the largest of the four. This bride plans to have her ceremony in the church, but if it doesn't work out, her plan could allow both her wedding and reception in the same location, and it should work just fine.  There are nice restrooms for women and men, a large stage, big  Projector Screen (for that slideshow or company presentation) and stained concrete floors.  There are 15- 5' round tables in the storage room, so you can use as many or as few as you need for your event. There are white folding chairs, all on racks in the storage room, as well as several long rectangle tables for your use.  The ceilings are quite high and the lighting is very nice and uniform, something you don't usually see in halls.  I also know that the lights are on dimmers so you can create a nice ambiance with little effort.

It is my understanding that you can get as much or as little as you want done at this facility.  There is a DJ room to the right of the stage.  My bride told me that there is a fee, but how great would that be?  No obtrusive equipment and a neat look and no floor space taken up if you have a large crowd!

I can't wait to cater the first Best Catered Event at The Venue in St. Amant!  Pictures will be up after the event, which is scheduled for November 19th.  Kudos to the owners and managers of  The Venue, you have done a wonderful job of providing clean, modern and affordable event facilities for the area!

Wedding Day.....July 30, 2011 Andy Black & Christine Fall

From all over the United States,  friends and family members came and enjoyed the hospitality of the small town of LeCompte, LA.  The church was beautiful and the perfect setting for a very intimate wedding joining Christine Fall and Andy Black on Saturday, July 20,2011.

A reception followed at Smith's Landing directly across the street.  With the temperature in the high 90's, the reception hall proved to be the place to be, and there was even a tent and several tables set up outside.  Best Catered Events provided the food which was a Pasta Bar featuring Grilled Shrimp, Grilled Chicken, Grilled Vegetables, Red Sauce and a White Cream Sauce.  Spinach and Artichoke Dip with crackers, Natchitoches Meat Pies, Peppered Pork Loin with Rolls and Condiments, Cold Spicy Shrimp Dip, Chicken Salad Croissants, Fresh Fruit and Cheese and Mango Punch.

A local baker made the wedding cake and the guests raved that it was delicious with it's vanilla flavors.

The hall was decorated with very simple glass jars and touches of color with fresh zinnias.