By Linda Shack

There are many reasons to plan a corporate event: perhaps your company is celebrating an important milestone, launching a new product or service, honoring important clients and employees, or hosting an annual holiday celebration.  Whatever the reason, as full service event planners, we always try to make every event fun and memorable.

The key to that experience lies in adding a twist. At Pepper’s, we try to infuse many corporate events with a unique element that makes each event unique to your company and your cause for celebration. We think creatively about all the key elements that make events special, from the menu to the design elements—linens, flowers and even the attire of our staff.                                                              

Last fall, we were asked to plan a Halloween party for 300 employees of a technology company. The theme was “old Hollywood horror films.” Our team of planners, chefs, and style and design experts immediately went to work thinking of creative ways to execute this theme. Our collaboration resulted in several very unique twists. These came through in the presentation of the food stations, which were inspired by a classic horror movie, the design of the guest tables, and even the staff’s costumes.

One of my favorite elements was our “Frankenstein Autopsy.” Playing off the classic movie Frankenstein, we presented his body on a gurney. In the center, we offered meatloaf with “terror” mashed potatoes that were infused into his body. The chef who was serving the delicious combination “performed” the autopsy. It was quite the conversation piece as well as a culinary delight!

The staff costumes were another favorite element. We encouraged everyone representing Pepper’s at the event – from the planners to the bartenders and wait staff – to dress as their favorite Hollywood horror character and offered prizes to the top three costumes. The staff enjoyed this, and so did all the event guests!

Each station and guest table was designed to evoke a different horror movie. We used black table linens and our artistic staff used chalk to write the titles and quotes from movies, and even drew a few scenes and characters from the classics. We purposely left the chalk on the tables so guests could add their own creative touch, which many did, while others opted to write messages thanking the company for a truly special evening, one like no other.

While events like this can be challenging to execute, with careful planning and the collaboration of a creative team working together, they are fun for all involved, but especially for the guests.

The Pepper’s team prides itself on always exceeding our clients’ expectations with memorable and unique events. Please feel free to Contact Us with your idea for an event with a twist. We look forward to collaborating with you and turning your vision into a reality. 

Have you thought about offering a signature drink at your wedding? It can be a fun way to showcase your personality to your family and friends, and there are so many ways to customize your cocktails to go along with your wedding design. You can share your favorite drink with your guests, create a colorful drink that matches your color scheme, or one that is inspired by the season. You can choose a cocktail that represents you as a couple or create "his and hers" cocktails. An added benefit of offering a signature drink is that instead of paying for a full bar your caterer can offer beer, wine and your signature cocktail. 

Have fun with your drink by adding unique garnishes, colored straws, or engraved stirrers. These will sure get your guests attention! One of our wedding couples chose Pepper’s Blueberry Lemonade cocktail to offer guests at their summer wedding. It was served in a highball glass with a blue and white straw. The guests loved sipping this whimsical, refreshing drink. More than the traditional glass of champagne, the presentation added much festive charm. 

Blueberry Lemonade

2 oz blueberry vodka

4 oz lemonade

Mix with Ice

Serve with candied blueberries and a lemon wedge 

Wedding season is quickly approaching! Here at Pepper’s Fine Catering, the bakery is experimenting with exciting flavors and colors for our newest cakes.  Every year we review our most popular flavors and revise the cake list.  After lots of research involving web surfing and magazine consulting, we came up with two exciting new flavors, born out of experimentation and testing at the Pepper’s bakery kitchen.

The first flavor is Spumoni, which is comprised of tasty layered ice cream of chocolate, pistachio and cherry. The tri-layer design makes for a colorful cake, and really helps drive home a feeling of celebration. It’s filled with a bittersweet ganache and cherry buttercream. Delicious!

The second flavor, which is my personal favorite, as I am a tea lover, is Chocolate Chai. This cake consists of two layers of milk chocolate cake, and one layer of double vanilla cake filled with milk chocolate ganache and chai tea mousse. Yum!  

These flavors are put to the test—baked, filled and tasted by everyone here at Pepper’s (very tough critics). I use the feedback gathered from the internal team tasting to tweak the recipe as needed. 

We also began offering our new flavors during cake tastings. So far, several couples have been in for cake tastings since the two new flavors were instated and they have all graciously provided feedback regarding yumminess and visual presentation.  

Be sure to check back soon, as we are still working on two more flavors to roll out during this year’s wedding season!

Susan and John Lawrence have been named recipients of the 2012 Veterans Inc. Whiting Award for Philanthropy.  Pepper’s will receive the award on October 20^th at the biennial Military Ball Gala for Veterans Inc., a Massachusetts-based non-profit organization serving to provide supportive, transitional and permanent housing, food assistance,  and employment services/training to veterans and their families.

Pepper’s Catering has been deeply involved with Veterans Inc. since 1999. During the past 13 years, the Lawrences have provided culinary classes as a resource for veterans and given cooking demonstrations focused on healthy meal preparation. And each year, John and Susan donate the Pepper’s staff and expertise for the biennial Military Ball Gala, catering the affair free of charge.

“Since the beginning of their involvement with Veterans Inc., John and Susan have been champions in our organization,” said Lieutenant Colonel Vincent J. Perrone, President and CEO of Veterans Inc. “Their involvement really goes beyond their generosity as Pepper’s Catering. In addition to volunteering food-based services like cooking classes and catering, John and Susan are actively involved in soliciting donations and additional volunteers for events as well as working on the logistics that are so important for continuing the work we do to help our nation’s veterans and their families thrive.”

Pepper's is proud of our efforts to help nonprofit organizations and the local community.  Our volunteer endeavors have included working with The Worcester County Food Bank, the Special Olympics, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Rachel’s Table, the Girl Scouts, Go Red for Women at Saint Vincent’s Hospital, the March of Dimes, the United Way, the VNA Care Network, and the Veterans Administration.

About Veterans Inc.

Veterans Inc.’s mission is to help veterans re-gain control of their lives so we can eliminate homelessness among veterans. In many cases, Veterans Inc. actually saves lives, as our clients tell us time and again. We aim to remain a leading provider of services that improve the lives of veterans and their families by providing the highest quality services; and continuing to create new opportunities in the areas of health, employment and housing. Visit Veterans Inc. online at www.veteransinc.org.  

On Thursday, September 27th, Chef John and the Pepper's team delivered a delicious and beautifully presented four course meal to patrons at the Clarke Culinary Center in Milford as part of the event, "An Exploration of Local Heirloom Tomatoes & Corn with Chef John Lawrence."

Dish highlights included a tomato sampler plate, chilled Cape Cod lobster salad with tomato tarragon vinaigrette and a sweet corn fritters served with seared local salmon. 

The event, prepared on the high-end, industry quality appliances at the Clarke showroom, allowed Chef John to showcase the unique attributes that make up Pepper's Catering--an emphasis on local foods, exquisite presentation and innovative food pairings in an intimate setting with guests. 

Throughout the course of the evening Chef John spoke about the importance of utilizing local ingredients and working with local farmers, as well as the extra steps one can take to make their food truly stand out. 

By Lindsey D. 

Whether it’s a baby shower, bridal shower, birthday party or even just a get-together with friends, a garden tea party is a great theme for almost any outdoor occasion! Consider employing some of these dainty details for your next tea party soirée:
Invitations & Décor:

• Customizable teabags or small boxes of tea cookies make adorable invitations, favors and thank you cards for your guests. 
• Choose real table linens and napkins over paper or plastic ones if at all possible.
• Accent with lace and pastels. The colors will compliment the natural surroundings of spring, and the lace adds a whimsical and elegant feel to any tea party table setting.
• Consider bringing your dining room chairs outside for the event.  This will make you and your guests feel more sophisticated than if you all were sitting in lawn or outdoor chairs.
• Get creative by having your guests bring their own teacups-adding to both the décor and conversation of the party.
• Decorate with glass jars, biscuit & tea tins (old or new). Fill them with flowers to use as a centerpiece or simply scatter them around your table as décor.
• Mix high-quality silk flowers with real flowers to stretch a budget. Loose petals also add color and elegance guest tables or a buffet. 

Food & Drink
                Considering tea party catering? Maybe doing it yourself?  Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Use fun serving platters that match your theme-whether that be florals, pastels or even all white trays to complement your surroundings. 
• Other than teaspoons, no other cutlery should be used if possible. Go with small finger foods and dainty desserts to add a fun and sophisticated feel to your event.  Here are some simple finger food ideas that will satisfy your guests while maintaining the “feel” of your event:

                -Deviled eggs
                -Cheese & Crackers
                -Mini quiches
                -Scones/muffins
                -Fruit skewers or fruit cubes
                -Soup shooters
                -Tea sandwiches and pinwheels
                -Éclairs, cannolis, cookies, pound cake, mini cupcakes, lemon squares, tarts, etc.

• Don’t forget the tea! Try having a mix of sweet and unsweetened as well as hot & iced.
• An array of options helps please everyone, add lemonade & punch for the non-tea drinkers. Mimosas, champagne and sangria are great alcoholic additions, as they pair nicely with all aspects of your event!

Hosting a tea party? Pepper’s would love to see the pictures! Share them on our facebook wall—www.facebook.com/pepperscatering.
For more catering ideas visit www.pepperscatering.com
Picture credit: sillypucci

by Tori N. 

We believe that no catering menu is complete unless every item on the bar is tailored to our clients’ specific tastes.  From a champagne toast to a perfectly paired dinner wine – beverages are a very important part of any wedding celebration.  Leave no stone unturned when it comes to planning your wedding menu, and use our drink suggestions as a guide or jumping off point for your big day.

One of my favorite ideas is to offer a “signature drink menu” of wedding themed cocktails:

Something Old – A classic cocktail such as a Gin & Tonic, Manhattan or Sidecar

Something New – A more modern cocktail, like a Cosmopolitan or a Flirtini

Something Borrowed – A cocktail from your favorite restaurant or vacation spot

Something Blue – There are so many fun ideas for blue cocktails – we’ve included some recipes below to get you started!

“Something Blue” Cocktail Ideas

Blue Kamikaze

1 part Vodka

2 parts Blue Curaco

Splash of Lime Juice

Shake over Ice and Strain into Martini Glass – Float Lemon or Lime

Blueberry Fizz

1 part Vodka

2 parts Blueberry Passion Fruit Schnapps

1 Part Sprite

Combine and serve over ice

Blue Lagoon

1 part Vodka

1 part Blue Curaco

1 part Lemonade

Shake over ice and strain over a cherry into a Martini Glass. 

List the cocktails (be sure to include a brief explanation of their significance to you) in a pretty frame to put on the bar – Our Pepper’s event design team is here to help with beautiful décor that aligns with your vision.

Getting creative and taking time to personalize your wedding food and drinks will go a long way towards personalizing and adding cohesion to your event.  Your guests will notice and appreciate the extra thought you put into it and you’ll be thankful that you did.  

We look forward to raising a glass to you on your wedding day!

 

 

By Tori N. 

Ocean breezes, twinkling lights, dancing under the stars. Outdoor events aren't just for Hollywood anymore—you, too, can host a wonderful outdoor event just by adhering to a few simple rules!

1.   Know your space

Whether it's a dramatic seaside wedding, or a back yard company picnic, it's a good idea to take some time to really get to know the space, and how to maximize its potential.  Basic questions such as, "is there an area large enough to accommodate my guests?"  And "are there sources of water and power?" are essential to ask in the early stages of planning any outdoor catering event.  

Our event designers understand the importance of visiting a site prior to the event, to be sure we can understand the vision our client's have, and work with them to exceed their expectations. 

2.  Work with what you've got

You've chosen to have your event outdoors –a venue that is certainly no empty canvas, holds a wealth of possibilities. Make the most of your location!  Seasonal menus are a logical choice for outdoor events. Consider a lobster bake for a casual beach wedding reception, or an elegant tasting menu of fresh ingredients from local farmstands.  In addition to the menu, be sure to take advantage of the space itself.  Maybe there is a great brick patio perfect for dancing, or a pergola to serve as backdrop for the bar. 

3.  Bring in what you need

We all know New England weather can be unpredictable, so planning for inclement weather is always a good idea.  Tents offer not only protection from the rain, but also shade from direct sunlight, should the day be overly warm.   Remember to consider your menu when planning for seating.  Cocktail tables might be adequate for an informal reception, but a traditional dinner calls for tables and chairs. 

You may not be able to control the weather, but you can get a leg up on maximizing your outdoor event potential. Hosting an outdoor affair certainly will bring unique challenges and a bit of unpredictability to your event. But it also does wonders for setting the mood, adding to theme or showing off the simple, elegant beauty that only nature can provide. Happy planning! 

By Linda L.

The ruffle wedding dress cake is complete and I’m excited to finally share it with you all!

 

                        

It was quite an experience, and I learned some great new techniques in the process, techniques that I already plan to incorporate into future cake designs.  The client requested that her wedding cake mirror the look of her wedding dress, a delicious, detailed gown. My goal in designing the cake was to make fondant act and look like material, a challenge I was all too happy to take on.

Sources of inspiration come from all over—but I find craft stores to be particularly great places to cull ideas due to the bevy of materials and their range of applicable uses. Walking through the craft store, my eye struck upon some crystals. These crystals, while not suitable for the cake part of the gown, made a wonderful addition to the train, giving the skirt dimension and sparkle. If you desire more bling, edible gems are also available and can be quite fun to use!

I hope you enjoyed the photos of the outcome. This cake was a great reminder that there are so few limitations when it comes to cake design and application. All it takes are a few good creative minds to come up with a fantastic idea!

Stay tuned for my next blog, where I will chronicle the answer to this question: What do plastic piping, Sculpey clay and cake have in common?  Once I get underway, I’ll have some great links for those of you interested in the mechanics of cake design. 

By Liz O.

I recently read an article that proclaimed cocktail parties are making a comeback.  We suspect the AMC hit TV series, Mad Men may have something to do with that!

“Mad Men” is a term coined in the '60s for men who worked in the advertising industry on Madison Avenue in New York. Watching the show, one is instantly transported back to the time when typewriters were high-tech, television was in black and white, and the go-to cocktail party delicacies were stuffed celery and deviled eggs. We’ve come a long way since then, but it’s fun to look back--especially in the form of a party.

Want to host a Mad Men party? AMC’s website features a How to Throw a Mad Men Party section, a resource that can be a great starting place.

The team at Pepper’s wanted to throw in our 2 cents as well. Below are our party tips for hosting the perfect swingin’ 1960s party.

First, be sure to dress the part, and include on your invitation that partygoers do the same. Tea length dresses and fedoras are a must. You can go the Betty route and wear something with crinoline (the frothy netting under 1960s evening dresses) to make a statement. Or take the Joan approach to fashion and wear a form-fitting dress that hits mid-calf.

When it comes to the meal, hiring cocktail party caterers like the team at Pepper’s will ensure your bar is fully stocked—not  just with the right alcohol, but appropriate glassware for martini and Manhattan drinkers. Since Cocktail parties are typically shorter in length (2 or 3 hours) stick to simple, small bites and possibly an active chef station or two (stations which guests can float between to grab goodies. For further inspiration, check out our suggested cocktail party menu.

Be sure to keep a few bowls of mixed nuts around, so your guests can do a little snacking in between doing the twist. A party soundtrack goes a long way towards setting the scene.  Artists such as Chubby Checker, The Beatles, Temptations and the Four Tops will provide the era appropriate tunes you’ll need to get your guests on their feet and transport them back to the 1960’s.

Combine these tips with a terrific guest list and you’re sure to swing in '60s style!

Photo credit: Zandwacht