Big Smiles at the BIG BBQ
 Several hundred attendees took a break from their full schedule to eat outdoors at the BIG BBQ lunch during the 2009 Conference in Las Vegas. Famous Dave's served up a mighty famous BBQ and catered a delicious lunch with their fun and friendly team.
Caterers were able to taste what a Southern Pride Smoker can really do to a rack of ribs. Sara Lee knew how to serve yummy desserts to hundreds with their newest individual serve size Key lime Pie and Pineapple UpSide Down Cakes. They were a perfect addition to the buffet for an easy grab and go. After lunch, a few attendees kicked back and took time to relax and refresh in the Vegas sun while sipping Lipton Iced Tea.
We've received many requests for the summery salad recipe that Uncle Ben's served at this event, so we decided to share it with everyone. Try adding this cold rice salad along with the classics to your next spread!
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Wild Red and Whole Grain Brown Rice
Orange and Avocado Salad
 Ingredients
2 cups cooked UNCLE BEN'S® naturel™ Wild Red Whole Grain Blend
2 cups diced peeled oranges
1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
1/4 cup raw, unsalted pumpkin seeds (pepitas), toasted
1-1/2 teaspoons grated orange zest
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground chipotle
1 ripe Hass avocado, peeled, pitted, and cut into 1/2 inch dice
4 romaine lettuce leaves cut into 1/2 inch squares
Directions
Combine cooled cooked rice, oranges, orange juice, pumpkin seeds, orange zest, salt, chipotle and lettuce. Gently mix in avocado. Add more salt if needed. Garnish with orange wedges
Yields 10 each ˝-cup servings
Recipe and photo provided by MARS Foodservices.
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 BIG THANKS to Famous Dave's and all the event sponsors.
Here are a few good resources for your next picnic or BBQ, too:
Kwik-Covers table coverings were fit snug on the tables without any worry of them blowing away. The trash receptacles were custom printed by TTC Systems adding to the event's atmosphere while being very useful, and what would a picnic be without very sturdy plates for the piled-on picnic fare? Sabert had the right answer.
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What's Cooking?
Caterers are always cooking up something delicious and creative! At the same time, caterers are frequently looking for new ideas to try in the kitchen. Catersource magazine wants to feature YOUR freshest, most appropriate catering recipes in the first ever Catersource Magazine Recipe Contest.
 CATEGORIES
Hors d'oeuvre - small plate
Hors d'oeuvre - tray passed
Hors d'oeuvre - platter style
Salad
Plated entree
Dessert
Cocktail
PRIZES
One winner in each category will receive a complimentary registration to the 2010 Catersource Conference & Tradeshow where your winning recipes will be prominently featured throughout the show. The winning recipes will be showcased in full page articles throughout the year in Catersource magazine.
You don't have to win to win great publicity or PR: All entries will also be considered for an upcoming Catersource Recipe Book and for use in future issues of Catersource magazine, our Get Fresh enewsletter and on www.catersource.com.
HOW TO ENTER
Recipes must be written to yield 50 (except cocktails) and include a high quality photo of the finished dish and a
75-word description that answers the following questions:
1. Why is this menu item especially appropriate for catering?
2. How did you come up with the recipe/idea for this menu item?
Please include your name, company name, address, phone number, email address, website and who wrote the recipe so we can extend full credit. Don't forget to indicate which category you are entering and you may enter as many categories as you wish.
Submit your entry to
Catersource RECIPES, 250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 550, Minneapolis, MN 55401 or recipes@catersource.com.
Entry deadline is OCTOBER 1, 2009
Click here for complete contest rules and entry information.
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Holding Ground in a Tough Economy
Helping your business hold it's ground is more important than ever in these economic times. Everything we know has been turned upside down and we have to rethink how we gain and keep those all-important catering sales! Catersource founder and president Mike Roman offers you a few sure-fire yet simple ways to keep on top of your game in these lean times:
1. Speak and act positively at all times, to both clients and staff. Demonstrating positive passion tempered by managerial professionalism will impress clients and offer leadership to your staff.
2. Have your best people answering the phones.
The first impression your company makes on a caller is extremely crucial to your chances of successfully selling them.
3. Imply and offer multiple pricing solutions.
Don't lower your prices on your current menus. Instead, create new lower cost menus with lower prices that still offer the shopper quality foods.
4. Be "user-friendly."
Buyers are worried about what happens if they need to cancel their catering. Caterers who offer safe cancellation policies will benefit greatly by getting more sales from shoppers who are concerned about the unknown.
5. Above all, don't assume anything.
Everything and everybody is subject to change during a recessionary economy.
For even more tips, strategies and proven concepts designed specifically to get you through the current economic downturn, join us at an On the Road with Catersource workshop in your area. Mike Roman and Director of Consulting Carl Sacks have developed a step-by-step roadmap of the newest marketing, selling, budgeting, and pricing concepts all geared towards neutralizing and beating the current economic conditions.
"If education is the fuel for business success, then fill your tanks to the top with the education we're offering during our workshops. In these very fast-paced and timely sessions you and your team will get the shot in the arm you've been looking for.
These workshops will clear your minds and redirect your energies towards making the sales you wish at the prices you want, while offering new skill-sets that will dazzle your cost-conscious value-seeking shoppers. They won't stand a chance once you unleash the new ideas you will learn!" - Mike Roman |
LIVE Catering Webcast!
Sam's Club® understands the challenges facing caterers this spring -
client's are asking for more with less budget - that's where Sam's
Club® can help by being your one-stop shop for complete catering
solutions. Along with our quality selection of foodservice products,
displayware and beautiful tabletop items, we've partnered with the
industry's top chefs to develop exciting on-trend, yet profitable menu
ideas to help distinguish you from the competition. Discover for
yourself the latest tips for maximizing your budget and exceeding
client's expectations during the Creative Solutions for any Budget
Webcast. Following the webcast, you'll have the opportunity to talk
directly with our chef experts.Sam's Club®
View our Spring Webcast on June 9 at 3:00 p.m. CT
or June 10 at 10:00 a.m. CT
Continue to check www.samsclub.com/catering for more details in the coming weeks.
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Gimme a Break!
We're bringing back this fun article segment to the Get Fresh enewsletter! You work hard, you deserve a break, try this one on for size:
Photofunia.com is a fast, fun, FREE way to create mock magazine covers, billboards, fine art prints and more with YOU as the star that you are.
 Simply upload a photo, pick a template and then save your shots in full or avatar size for Facebook or Twitter. You can also use Tinypic's fast image hosting service to get urls to insert into emails linking code to embed into your blog, website or wherever you want to be.
Start the photo fun at www.photofunia.com
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More Catersource Winners
Thank you to everyone who participated in our 2009 post-conference survey. The following five attendees are each winners of one complimentary registration to our 2010 show:
Julie Kuligowski
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI
Ken Webber
North Iowa Area
Community College
Mason City IA
Jessica Wickham
Aaron's Catering of the
Palm Beaches
Wellington, FL
Elissa Fallo
Perfect Productions
Farmington, CT
Judy Klutts
Michigan Tech University
Houghton, MI
We'll see YOU at the next Catersource Conference & Tradeshow!
March 7-11, 2010
Paris Las Vegas and the
Las Vegas Convention Center. . .Fresh from
Las Vegas...2009 CHEF COATSOur
post-show unpacking and inventory is complete and we have 19 chef
coats from the 2009 Catersource Conference & Tradeshow available
for sale right now. These green and white coats are the same as worn by
our staff during the Las Vegas show in February, they are NEW and
UNUSED! Hurry, coats are available on a first
come first served basis and for just $50 they'll go fast! Call 877.932.3632 and ask
for Mary to get your 2009 Catersource chef coat now!
Catersource magazine account executive Kathryn Frankson and marketing
manager Andrea Klaassen happily sport the 2009 chef coat at the
Conference in Las Vegas.
FOOD FUN LOVEFind some stunning party ideas in Pauline Parry's new book available at the Catersource Store. She shares her award-winning event vision and style, complete with design ideas, inspiration, recipes and more!  Just released at the 2009 Conference in Las Vegas, inventory on this book is giong fast, click here to buy now!
. . .
On the Market NOW
In each issue of Catersource magazine we bring you some of the newest products and services on the
market for caterers. NOW, we can send you special discounts or
promotional offers for these new products via email! On
the Market NOW is a great way to be the first to find out about a
special product offering and to get money saving discounts from
reputable industry vendors. To sign up, please click
the Update Profile link at the bottom of this email and ask for On the Market NOW! Your
email will never be sold or traded. Offers will be sent to you by
Catersource on behalf of vendors with relevant and valuable offers
only. You can opt-out of the mailings any time by clicking the Update
Profile link at the bottom of any messages we send you.. . .
Featured LinksThese sponsors and advertisers want the opportunity to earn your business! www.aquaculture.org.nz www.bambuhome.comwww.durhamltd.comwww.RentalHQ.com www.sephrafountains.comwww.sklipco.com . . .
Follow Us Be the first to get a sneak peek at what's coming up from Catersource. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest contest info, special announc
ements and offers, our latest magazine cover and more - before anyone else! And join our Facebook group by clicking here! . . .
If you haven't been with us since the beginning of Get Fresh, you can now catch up on back issues of the e-newsletter by visiting our archives page. Some content may be a little 'past fresh', but still worthy - enjoy!
If you have a story, idea, question or comment for Get Fresh, please email us at newsletter@catersource.com
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