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. 

International Caterers Association Scholarship Awarded to Dianne Evans

Best Catered Events' owner, Dianne Evans has been named a scholarship recipient by The International Caterers Association.  Dianne was notified of the decision by Larry Levy on behalf of the ICA Scholarship Committee.

Evans will attend the 2011 CaterSource Conference and Tradeshow and the CATIE AWARDS in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 27-March 3 where she will be serve as an Ambassador of the ICA.  She will also receive her cash award at the Annual Meeting of the International Caterers Association on March 2. There will be a Catersource Forum Meet and Greet and the first annual CaterBuzz meeting taking place as well, Evans is a member of both of these groups.

Evans says she is looking forward to the networking and the fellowship with thousands of caterers from all over the world.  "I am so excited and honored to be the recipient of this scholarship, the information and ideas I will discover at the conference will be invaluable and help my business to continue to be in the forefront in the Baton Rouge and Louisiana markets", she said.

Learning and Sharing our Catering

Best Catered Events owner Dianne Evans, culinary fashionista Lisa Teiger and Chef Andrew Alexander-Crossan of CuisinEtc, NYC began their CaterBuzz Catering Journey on Wednesday, August 3, 2010 in New Orleans, LA.

The caterers drove to Red Fox, Ky where they shared and assisted owner Regina Niece and her team from 4 Star Catering.   We loved 4 Star Catering's  Tuscan Bread Station and Fried Catfish Taco Bar! These are new twists for Best Catered Events, and we learned so many new tricks from this seasoned caterer.

Dianne Evans, Best Catered Events
assists at Catfish Taco Bar

Check out the caterBuzz blogpost on the 4 Star Catering wedding at the Allandale Mansion that caterBuzz team, which I was privileged to be a part of helped with.

From Red Fox, the caterers, traveled to Louisville, Ky for CaterArts 2010. So much education to absorb and food to taste. Friendly competition and sharing and new friendships were the highlight of the week.  Looking forward to sharing some of these new ideas on upcoming Best Catered Events.

Chef Andrew Alexander-Crossan, CuisinEtc NYC
and
Chef/Carving Instructor Carl Jones, Premiere Catering, Tn
collaborate on an north- south fusion dinner in Tennessee

After leaving Louisville, the trio traveled to Jackson, TN, where they assisted Premiere Place Catering and Festivities owners Carl and Angel Jackson with a North South Fusion dinner party.  Carl is also an artistic fruit and melon carver .  Many of his creations can be seen on his website.
Carl promises to visit Louisiana one of these days real soon and teach me his some of carving tricks...

Chefs Andrew Alexander-Crossan and Carl Jones, created a wonderful menu which included Indian fusion cuisine with a north meets south fusion menu highlights included, petit bytes of crispy samosas with Chef Andrew Alexander-Crossan's signature cilantro coconut chutney, as well as superb smoked ribs with homemade bbq rub and sauce by Chef Carl Jones. The party was attended by some of Jackson's finest who thoroughly enjoyed the food, wine and conversation.

Carl Jones' famous Cheese Fusion

Chef Dianne Evans, of Best Catered Events
 serves Mango Lassi Shooters
 at North Meets South Fusion Event in Jackson Tennessee

  

shrimp shooters

Crown Jewel Winery provided some of the fabulous wines for the dinner and this caterer has her favorite for sure!

August 4 - August 13, 2010..... a week this caterer will not soon forget!

Carl Jones and Lisa Teiger
fellow caterBuzz members,
Chefs, and longtime friends
enjoy a mango lassi toast.