By Liz O.

Holiday Parties are in our past and winter has settled in. All the more reason to break up the cold, gray days with a Mardi Gras celebration for you and your friends! Call up your Krewe, dial up the fun, and laissez les bons temps rouler (let the good times roll) because Pepper’s is going to take you through the steps of throwing a spectacular Mardi Gras-themed party with these helpful special event tips:

1)      Use traditional Mardi Gras colors of gold, purple and green on your invitations. Encourage party-goers to wear the colors, and even ramp it up a bit by offering beads hats and masks for your guests upon arrival. Use these same colors when decorating your home—the more dazzle the better.

2)      Bring the French Quarter to your home by offering Cajun and/or Creole Cuisine. The difference between the two is highly debated, but is delicious no matter which way you spice it. Think Gumbos, Seafood dishes, Jambalaya, Rice and Beans and Sausage accompaniments. If you want to really bring The Big Easy a bit closer to home, go for Muffulettas (a sandwich-type food) and King Cakes (a sweet pastry baked in a ring with royal icing). We recommend consulting the online resources on Southern Living to assist in concocting the perfect southern-flavored menu.

3)      Go like special event catering pros and offer a signature cocktail. This will help simplify your menu and ease the amount of items at your bar. For a southern twist, consider offering Hurricanes, Bourbon Spiked Lemonade or Mojitos—any of these will bring to mind images of southern porches and big floppy hats.

4)      Be sure to have great music playing. Consider the southern styling’s of big brass bands, or go softer and throw in some notes of jazz. Music is an important cultural piece for an event such as this, selecting the perfect musical accompaniment will go a long way in creating your party’s theme.

Don’t forget to plan your evening so you aren’t spending the whole time in the kitchen heating things up! Most people plan terrific parties, but don’t spend time with their guests because of disorganized planning.  Developing a good plan goes hand-in-hand with developing a great menu—after all, parties should be enjoyed by the host/hostess as well as the guests!

Will you be throwing a Mardi Gras party this February? Share your party photos with us on our Facebook page! We’d love to see them!

Photo credit: DoctorWho

By Linda L.

With Valentine’s Day coming up, perhaps you’ve begun to notice an abundance of intricately designed cookies available at bakeries and craft stores. Valentine’s Day is a holiday that revolves around yummy foods (hooray for those!), and cookies are an easily theme-able dessert that can be just as fun to make as to eat.

If you want to try your hand at home decorating, a good sturdy cookie and Royal Icing will be your best friends in this endeavor. Below are some recipes to get you going, as well as some basic instructions. 

For design inspiration, look online, through some current magazines, and in cookie books and go for it!  No matter how they turn out, your effort will be appreciated because it’s an effort of love—and that’s what the holiday is all about!

Short dough cookie recipe

1 Whole Egg

½ lb. Sugar

1 lb. Butter

1 ½ lb. Cake Flour, sifted

Cream sugar and butter paddle 3-5 minutes. Mix in egg one at a time, add flour and mix on low just until combined.  Refrigerate dough 2-3 hours before rolling and during rolling if it gets too soft/sticky.  Roll to ¼ inch.

Chocolate Short Dough cookie recipe

1 Whole Egg

½ lb. Sugar

1 lb. Butter

1 lb. 2 oz. Flour

6 oz. Cocoa

Sift together flour and cocoa.  Mix as above, add cocoa with flour.  Roll and cut the dough with cutters of your choice.  Bake 350 degrees for about 8 minutes or until they are golden around the edges and on the bottoms.  Cool completely.

Royal Icing

Ready to mix version available at craft or supermarkets.  There are 3 consistencies used for decorating.  Stiff peak for piping flowers, Soft peak for lines and edges and Runny for filling the center of the cookie.  Getting this right is the key.  So, spend a little time on this and you will be rewarded with a fun time and excellent outcome. Mainly we use the soft peak and runny consistencies to make those beautiful cookies we all covet. 

Put your icing in separate piping bags according to color and consistency.  Disposable bags are available at craft stores or you can make bags with squares of parchment paper.

Use the soft peak icing in your color choice to outline the cookie.  If you do not want to see the outline pipe the runny icing into the center of the cookie quickly.  If you want to see the outline or you want it to be of a different color, pipe the edges of the cookie and let the icing set up for a few minutes before filling in the centers. 

If you would like to add dots or other designs to the cookies and have them be smooth add them while the runny icing is still very wet. 

If you would like to add glitter or sugar to the edges, dip the cookies in the glitter while the edging is still wet and let dry before filling in the centers. 

If you want to pipe designs onto the cookies and have them be raised, fill the cookies with the runny icing and allow the cookies to dry completely before piping onto the centers.

Filling the centers with the runny icing takes a little skill but with practice you will get the icing over the cookie smoothly.  Allow the cookies to dry, usually overnight.

Have Fun!!

Photo credit: Chollingsworth3

By Leslie C.

These days there is no magic age for retirement. People are still working well into their sixties and sometimes even in their seventies or eighties! So when the time finally comes to hang up the briefcase, there is no nicer way to send that person off than with a fun and memorable retirement party. Award those years of a job well done with a job well done of your own by following our tips on planning the perfect retirement party!

• First and foremost: Know your honoree. Would they welcome a large party with the entire company or a small get together with close co-workers? Plan accordingly. An extrovert will probably love being the center of the celebration, while an introvert may appreciate a more low-key affair.
• Form a committee of co-workers who know the retiree best.  This committee should  cover all the basics of party organization and planning including:
-Setting up a corporate catering budget

-Coming up with a theme that best reflects the guest of honor

-Establishing the guest list

-Coordinating food, décor and entertainment

• As with any celebration, location is very important. Whether it’s a restaurant, a unique facility or even at a co-worker’s home, always consider what the preferences of your honoree may be. Are they a die-hard foodie? Maybe a celebration at their favorite lunch spot would peak their excitement. Young at heart? Consider a creative venue like the local movie theater or museum. The mood should be fun and festive and reflect the character of your guest of honor.
• While the party’s underway, be sure to keep the focus on the honoree.  Speeches and toasts should be given by popular supervisors or superiors.  If the retiree is someone who can handle good natured ribbing then don’t rule out a “roast” to honor them. 
• End the event by presenting the honoree with something memorable.  It could be a video of employees reminiscing, or a memory book that lists awards and accomplishments of the retiree. Make sure all employees who know the guest of honor get to contribute so no one feels left out!

However you end up celebrating, the party should provide closure in a fun, light hearted way. It should remind the retiree not only of the years they dedicated to the job, but of the friendships they built and the fond memories they’ll take with them.  

By Michele L.

The Super Bowl is the game of the year—the one time when eating in front of the TV is encouraged and you may be able to coax your sports-detesting child into joining you on the couch to take in the game.

Whether you’re a sports fan, a commercials fan, or just a fan of food—Super Bowl parties have a little bit of something for everyone. So why not include everyone in your Super Bowl celebration?

Don your Brady jersey, invite your family and friends, and make a play for Sunday, February 5^th –we’re going to show you how to score a touchdown with your Super Bowl party!

#1: Keep it Simple

The game and the guests will be high energy—don’t add more complications into the mix, keep it simple!

• Use paper goods instead of china or glassware
• Stick to beer, wine and soda as opposed to stocking a full bar.
• Don’t feel as though you have to deck the house out with paper footballs and blue and gray streamers, food and festive atmosphere will go a long way in creating your party mood and the less is done, the more you get to enjoy the game too!

#2: Get Creative

If you want to decorate the home, there are easy do-it-yourself projects that can pep up your house for the game and get the kids involved in a fun craft. When it comes to decorations, a little creativity goes a long way!

• Make a football field table cloth for the food table by taking a green table cloth and adding in numbers and lines to create the field using white felt or paint. A decorative party touch-done!
• Send out homemade Super Bowl invitations shaped in the various symbols of the sport—flags, footballs, jerseys, ticket stubs—the possibilities are endless!
• Hang felt flags on the wall and make jerseys out of construction paper numbered with the jersey numbers of your favorite players. To add to the décor, hang a home-made score board on the wall so everyone can keep track of the game.
• Use interesting serving trays/bowls/platters. Try serving chips out of a (prop) helmet or serve hors d’oeuvres and desserts from a pelt of fake grass.
• Make centerpieces for the table out of helmets filled with either fresh flowers or finger foods like chips and nuts. White PVC piping makes a great field goal post and mini-footballs or football shaped candles also make great table accents, too!

#3: Tailgate at Home

Do you have a small house or apartment? Don’t let it stop you from playing host. Consider tailgating right at home! Tailgate in your driveway to pump up the festive mood—and where the comfort of the indoors is just a few steps away. Have everyone bring lawn chairs and blankets and bring it all outdoors for the big game. If your lawn is big enough, you can re-enact the action with an impromptu game of your own!

#4: Food/Drink

When selecting your beer or wine, get creative! Pick selections from the competing teams’ home cities/states—offering a selection of beers from Sam Adams and Brooklyn Brewery, for instance.

Think about food the same way--seafood to represent New England and pizza to symbolize New York. If guests ask what they can bring, have a list ready to assign them dishes to prevent doubles or ending up with a bunch of chips and dip.

#5 Catering

Special event catering is also a great option for your Super Bowl party. At Pepper’s, our special events catering expertise makes us a valuable resource for fantastic ideas relating to both food and décor.

Caterers have the advantage of being able to whip up innovative and party-specific food options that will make your party a winner whether the Pats take home the trophy or not!

Enjoy your Super Bowl Sunday and GO PATS!

(…or Giants for those of you rooting for New York!)

photo credit: clevercupcakes

According to our baker, Linda LaBarge, great wedding cakes are more than delicious flavors. It’s about injecting the style and personality of each couple into the cake design. Wedding cakes may be elegant and classic or whimsical, with personal touches or motifs—anyway you slice it, a wedding cake should convey something special.  

Sometimes the design relates to the wedding party theme or décor, sometimes it speaks more about the personality of the couple and sometimes brides have other ideas which we incorporate into the design. For a recent cake creation, the bride requested that the cake (chocolate fudge layered with dark chocolate shavings and Graham cookie bites with marshmallow buttercream!) be a reflection of her wedding dress. Linda designed a cake full of cascading ruffles, bringing a softness and expression of tactile elegance.

Baking and designing cakes has changed dramatically over the years Pepper’s has been in business. The level of design, complexity and materials available are staggering.  Today, cake is an artistic event and bridal couples have increasingly challenging requests and interests. 

“Each year as I look at the web, cake magazines, TV shows and wedding and dress style information, I find a new technique to explore or teach myself,” says Linda. “One year it was the use of color and color application, the next molding figures with rice krispie treats, and this year the use of fondant in a textural direction.  I have many interests and I try to extract from those applications for cake design.”

Linda recommends that brides come in with some designs of interest to jump-start the conversation. “Each couple has a different approach to their cake and I try to listen to discover and work with that interest.”  Together, they sketch out the final look which incorporates both the creative energy of the bride and groom and Linda herself, resulting in a breathtaking creation that tastes as stunning as it looks!

By Deborah A.

It’s the day of your wedding. There you stand looking like your usual radiant self—but better. The ceremony music cues and you’re about to take that first step down the outdoor pathway, when all of a sudden a big gust of wind comes and brushes your hair across your face. Quick! You need the bobby-pins in your emergency kit! Your bridesmaid fastens them in at lighting speed. Before your grandmother can blink back her tears of joy, your hair is neatly set once more and you glide down the aisle perfectly coiffed.   

What’s this emergency kit, you ask? It’s one of your wedding planning essentials, full of tissues, the oft overlooked but ever important bobby-pins, a needle and thread for that stubborn bustle button that just won’t stay put.

One week prior to ceremony is a great time to put together these essentials, as well as scissors, tape, mirror and safety pins!

There are so many details included in planning a wedding and so little time. At Pepper’s we seek to lighten the load in every way we can. Follow our wedding timeline to leave no stone un-turned and no hair out of place so you have maximum enjoyment and minimum worry on your big day!

7-9 months prior:

• Work with your caterer to decide on a menu
• Begin to look at Honeymoon options
• Schedule an engagement photo session

4-6 months prior:

• Begin a review of details with all of your wedding professionals
• Order invitations
• Finalize music selection for the ceremony and reception

2-3 months prior:

• Finalize catering, bakery & floral arrangements
• Order wedding rings
• Make appointments with hairdresser for your wedding day hairstyle and Manicurist/Pedicurist

4-8 weeks prior:

• Mail your invitations
• Final fittings
• Get Marriage License

1 week countdown!

• Pack for the Honeymoon
• Check final details with all your wedding professionals
• Check rehearsal dinner plans
• Pack your day of emergency kit

1 day until matrimony!

• Set aside everything you need at the ceremony site: gown, headpiece, veil, accessories, shoes, stockings, slip, emergency kit, purse, brush and hair spray
• Give each other wedding gifts
• Get a good night’s sleep and enjoy your wedding day!

By Jody B.

Congratulations! You just got engaged, graduated, had a baby, or are about to celebrate a significant anniversary or that long-awaited retirement. There are so many milestones in one’s life that give us a reason to pull out all the stops and celebrate with family and friends.  

But where to celebrate?

In every community there exists a host of venues at your disposal, each adding unique details. Do you prefer an elegant, refined site with beautiful architectural details?  Or a location with a stunning view or exhibits to wander through? Should it be indoors or outside?

No matter the location you choose, ambiance is key.  Each venue will offer ambiance in differing ways, pairing what the location offers with your event’s specifications will add cohesion to your party vision.

Other things to keep in mind when selecting venues:

• Budget
• Guest count
• Length of time for the party
• Whether or not you’ll need room for dancing or other entertainment
• Space available for your guests to park
• What you’ll venue would look and feel like at the time of year you’ll be holding your event

Now that you have the framework to find an event venue that reflects your style and specifications, take a gander at Pepper’s list of preferred venues and see what each has to offer!

Blooming With Color

• Connors Center
• Elm Bank
• Habitat
• Garden in the Woods
• Tower Hill Botanic Gardens
• Tyrone Farm
• Roseland Cottage
• Concord Art Association

Historically Speaking

• Village Hall
• Sherborn 1858 Town House
• Commander’s Mansion
• Mechanics Hall
• Tuckerman Hall
• Asa Waters Mansion
• Holliston Historical Society/Asa Whiting Barn
• Pierce House
• Gore Estate
• Paine Estate

Start Your Engines

• Larz Anderson Auto Museum

Be a Sport

• Bosse Sports Club
• Harry Parker Boat House
• Donahue Rowing Center
• Vashon Sanctuary
• Outlook Farm
• Sandy Burr Country Club
• Camp Wing
• Camp Kewanee

Night at the Museum

• Higgins Armory Museum
• Fitchburg Art Museum
• Danforth Art Museum
• Fuller Craft Museum
• Worcester Art Museum
• Russian Icon Museum
• Griffin Photography Museum
• New Bedford Whaling Museum
• Concord Museum

What’s Cooking?

• Clarke Luxury Appliance Show Room

 Now Playing

• Hanover Theatre
• Jordan’s Furniture IMAX Theatre

Once you select a venue, allow Pepper’s to assist with party catering and event planning. No one understands the importance of cohesion in design and great food like we do!  We’ll work with you to create a delicious menu that your guests will savor and a memorable event to remember.

Celebrate the excitement in your life!

By Linda S.

Gala is another word for celebration—a celebration with a purpose. Galas are generally designed by a committee who work together with an event caterer and other vendors to raise money for an organization or to celebrate an accomplishment in the community, such as a new wing opening in a hospital or a new school being built.

Galas are inclusive affairs, incorporating the entire community to reach a goal or celebrate a job well done. Because they involve so many and their function so significant, there are a number of key elements to consider in the planning stages to help make your gala exciting and memorable:

            1.  Venue Selection

The venue is perhaps the most important component of any event—it sets the stage. A lot can be down to spruce up a bland space, but the basics like size and location should be regarded in choosing your gala venue. 

            2. Theme

Your event doesn’t need to have a theme, but theme can do wonders in getting your attendees excited about your cause. If you decide to go with a theme—try to match it with your cause. Raising funds to repair the library? How about a theme that celebrates the great books and authors of the 19^th and 20^th century?

            3. Fabulous Food

Selecting your event caterer is a crucial part of wowing guests. You’ll want to choose a caterer who will work seamlessly with your committee, designing a menu that will take into account the dietary and ethnic considerations of your many guests, while also wowing their palates.

            4. Entertainment

How will you entertain your guests? If it’s a fund raising event – be sure to select an auctioneer who can engage your guests and open their hearts to financially support the cause.

            5. Make it an Event to Remember

Many galas are re-occurring events. Be sure to choose unique elements that will set you apart from others and encourage your guests to return next year and continue to support your organization.   

Food can go a long way in making your event truly memorable. Serving just another piece of tenderloin on a plate may not be enough to set you apart, however, a piece cooked to perfection, topped with an unusual sauce, garnished with parsnip flan and served on beautiful platinum boarded china plate paired with a complementary wine selection  can certainly help set your event apart from the others.

Don’t be afraid to step out and pull out all the stops when planning a gala. Galas are celebrations with a purpose and to that end they should not only be a blast, but accomplish a lot for your organization, too.  

At Pepper’s, I have seen a lot of creative and interesting ideas come to fruition. Everyday I experience the excitement from our party event planners as they create memorable, delicious celebrations for our clients. We are a group of people on a continuous quest to bring unique and thoughtful ideas to weddings, family parties or galas using our vast experience and diverse, creative personalities.

I have so many memorable experiences of all the great events we’ve been part of through the years, and it’s made me wish I had chosen to capture the excitement of it all in a more personal way, such as with a journal, for instance. There is a bond, a friendship, that is created as we guide and explore how to make a celebration come together. And though the memories of each bond are still strong, I can’t help but feel sad that I didn’t choose to document it more concretely—to have something physical that I could look back to and remember.

Pepper’s Fine Catering is now entering its 25th year, and I truly feel we just keep getting better. To that I say thank you across the board to both our clients and our team.

A group of us sat around having lunch last week reminiscing over some of the wonderful memories, delicious meals, and unexpected challenges, and we thought, “Wouldn’t it be fun to hear from our clients?” Their stories, their memories of having a Pepper’s catered event. 

So if you have a moment to share your story, I speak for both myself and the entire Pepper’s staff in saying that we would love to hear it. My hope is that your stories will become the journal I wish I had started long ago.

Susan

By Chef John

Pepper’s is often called upon for creative & cost effective solutions to celebration catering. In fact, nearly every client has this on their mind, regardless of whether they’re calling about a bridal shower, surprise birthday party or a black tie gala.

This past weekend we hosted our family for New Year’s Day Brunch.  What better time than the new year for extended family to get together and partake in delicious food?

Now, having been raised by a chef (dad) and a dietician (mom), you might think that everyone in our family is a foodie. In reality, when it comes to palate, we’re not so different than most families. We have family members with predilection for meat dishes, a vegetarian and a couple of fussy eaters.

Our goal was to accommodate everyone’s tastes without over-blowing our budget. To hit the mark, we decide to serve several smaller dishes, at least one of which would be sure to appeal to even the pickiest family members. Sure enough, once the family saw our smoked salmon platter, display of roasted vegetables, potato & smoked garlic sausage strata, fruit platter, and honey glazed ham they were tantalized into trying it all—and enjoying it too!

But the big hit of the celebration was by far our pumpkin waffles. We served them with crushed hazelnut maple syrup. Even those who passed on the syrup said hands down, these were great waffles.

If you’re looking for a menu idea for a cost effective brunch, our pumpkin waffle recipe (included below) is sure to fit the bill and please your guests. Even if you don’t have an event coming up, go ahead and treat yourself and your family members on a weekend morning—you’ll be glad you did!

Pumpkin Waffles                            yield 12 each, 4 in. waffles

2.5 cups all purpose flour

1/3 cup  light brown sugar

2 & ¼ teas. baking powder

1 teas. baking soda

½ teas. salt (my preference is Kosher in nearly all cooking)

2 teas. cinnamon (love Vietnamese cinnamon)

1.5 teas. ground ginger

½ teas. ground star anise or nutmeg ( both provide different nuances, but either are fun )

¼ teas.  ground cloves

4 eggs, large

2 cups half & half cream

½ each lemon juice (optional)

1 cup pumpkin puree, canned & solid pack

1/3 cup butter, melted

Whisk together all of your wet ingredients (eggs, cream, pumpkin & butter). Whisk in the dry ingredients until smooth.

Spray your pre-heated waffle iron with pan release spray (Pam) and follow the directions of the waffle maker.

Serve with warm maple syrup, whipped butter and Enjoy.