Hugh Groman Catering and Greenleaf Platters
June 2010 Newsletter |
The food was WONDERFUL!!! Our guests were marveling over everything, and my neighbors were drooling as the carts wheeled by. I can't say enough, and yes, we were 110% delighted. I look forward to having you cater another event for us very soon.
Many thanks!
-Quote from a recent Greenleaf Platters client when we asked her how her event went
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THANK YOU
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A special thank you to Meredith Rosenblum, who recently featured us in her Bridebound blog! Meredith features all sorts of wedding related vendors on her blog and includes tons of great pictures and descriptions of all the offerings. Of course we also appreciate those of you who have reviewed HGC and Greenleaf Platters on social networking sites such as YELP, Berkeley Parents Network and Chowhound, as they are one of the most powerful sources of new business for us. THANK YOU! |
Staff Spotlight
Tommy and Loretta
Kitchen Prep / Tasters
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 Tommy and Loretta Going are our featured staff members in this issue. Tommy is 3 1/2 years old and Loretta is almost 2. They are the children of our head chefs, David and Teresa, and they have been coming to the kitchen their whole lives. They love getting involved, using their clipboards, working at their desk or just relaxing in their "pods" (a lug lined with kitchen towels) after a long day. Outside of the kitchen, Tommy enjoys tools, legos, playing outside on his bike and helping make dinner. Loretta enjoys babies, cats, play-doh, digging and all things related to "me" or "mine." When Tommy grows up he would like to be an astronaut, fireman, workman, garbage man, policeman and a chef. Loretta looks forward to being Wonderwoman in the future. At HGC/GLP we feel extremely lucky to be able to foster an environment where staff can involve their children in their work. Thank you to all the crew for being so great with Tommy and Loretta, and thank you Tommy and Loretta for bringing your cuteness to the workplace. |
Questions or comments?
E-mail us at nina@hughgromancatering.com
or call 510-647-5165.
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Message from Hugh
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 Happy Spring!!! Today I want to thank my clients who are so incredibly busy they don't have time to plan their parties at all. Huh? Well, one of the things I love most about my job is making it easy for my clients. Planning an event doesn't have to be hard. We know what to do! It is such an honor when my clients trust me to handle the details so they don't have to deal with it and don't have to worry. :) I hope you all enjoy the rest of spring and the coming summer. We are so very happy to be able to be a part of your important events! Sincerely, Hugh |
Featured Recipe -Cucumber Blackberry Limeade
(Makes approx. 20 drinks)
| 4 oz. fresh organic blackberries
1/2 seedless cucumber, peeled, quartered and sliced thin
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1 1/4 cups lime juice
Freshly grated ginger to taste
Sparkling water
1) Put cucumber and berries in a bowl and mash with a potato masher
2) Make a simple syrup by simmering the sugar and water in a pot until the sugar dissolves
3) Cool the simple syrup and add it to the berry/cucumber mixture
4) Add the lime juice and ginger, and stir
5) To serve drinks, mix 3 parts sparkling water with 1 part of mixture in a pitcher. Pour over ice and enjoy!
OPTIONAL: Add vodka or rum to taste.
For conversions between weight and measure, click here. |
Nina's Quick Tip - To gift or not to gift, that is the question!
| Oftentimes when you throw a party and ask people to please not bring a gift, they feel awkward coming to the party empty- handed, so they bring one anyway. Recently, I attended a birthday party for a 5 year old where they decided to do a book exchange in lieu of birthday gifts. Each child invited to the party brought a wrapped book, and at the end of the party everyone got to choose a different wrapped gift and take it home. This was fun for everyone, and the books were a big hit. The birthday girl got plenty of gifts from her family and loved that her friends all got gifts at her party! This could work just as well for an adult birthday party. If you don't want to do books, get creative and go with your favorite idea, i.e. chocolate bars, wine, organic seeds, magazines, cookbooks, stationary, coffee cups, tea, etc. Your friends will have fun picking out their gift to bring and selecting their new gift at your party. The gifts even double as party favors!
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Environmental Focus
| We are in the process of getting re-certified by the county of Alameda, and they have tightened up their standards! We're adding new aerators to our sinks, and we'll be replacing the toilet in our restroom with a new low flow toilet. (Am I allowed to talk about toilets in a newsletter about food?)
We are always happy to find new ways to be environmentally conscious and are grateful to Pam Evans and the Green Certification Program for their training and supportive assistance in helping us to improve our practices.
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A Corporate Dinner Event
| Finger Food Hors d'Oeuvres
Spears of endive with a salsa of avocado, green olive, capers, red onion, jalapeno, lime and crumbled feta
Chilled shrimp with lemon, garlic, fresh mint, red pepper flakes and extra virgin olive oil
Passed Hors d'Oeuvres
Roasted eggplant with Middle Eastern spices and mint yoghurt sauce on crisp chickpea pancakes
Crisp Yukon gold potato skins with bacon, truffle parmesan aioli and scallions
First Course
Salad of chilled asparagus, sieved hard boiled egg, parmesan croutons and a lemon shallot caper vinaigrette
Entree
Roasted
filet mignon on a crisp potato cake with a warm salad of baby spinach,
caramelized shallots, oyster mushrooms, parmesan and a balsamic truffle
vinaigrette
A selection of Acme bread provided with the meal
Dessert
Key lime pie with freshly whipped cream
Homemade chocolate truffles with ancho chili, cinnamon and sea salt
Beverages
Bottled sparkling waters
Peet's coffee and tea
Homemade ginger ale
Cucumber blackberry limeade
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Hugh Groman Catering
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Hugh Groman Catering is a full service boutique catering company providing the highest quality food and party planning services for events up to 1000 guests. Our customers want delicious, interesting food, served with warmth in a simple, elegant style, and they want us to make it all easy for them.
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Greenleaf Platters
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 At greenleafplatters.com we provide party platters unlike any others you may have had in the past. We offer the same quality food you've come to expect from Hugh Groman Catering, served on elegant white porcelain platters, delivered and set up at your event. This service is for those who don't need staff party planning services, but want to impress their guests with exceptional food. | |
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