It's the Season of Love,...

February 2019

Cheat A Little Catering's News & Updates

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THE SEASON OF LOVE!

Ahh, February, the month of all things “love.” Everyone at Cheat A Little Catering enjoys creating the most romantic occasions during this month. Whether it’s an intimate dinner for two, or a large corporate secret Valentine party, we love creating memorable occasions for you and your guests. And while we’re happy to celebrate love on February 14 ^th there’s so much more packed into the shortest month of the year. For example, did you know that February 28 ^th is National Chocolate Souffle Day? (We have a recipe just for you below). Well the list goes on, February marks National Wedding Month; a celebration of the beauty of unconditional love and the excitement of marriage and wedding parties. Did you know that more than 2.4 million couples get married in the U.S. every year, and about 16 thousand of them get married on Valentine’s Da y ?! Even though the majority of weddings do take place during the summer months (specifically June, August, and September), February does own the most weddings to a single day. Since it’s known as the most romantic month on the calendar, it seems fitting to give weddings an extra special celebration in February. According to the National Association of Bridal Consultants, it’s also the month that most brides and grooms-to-be start doing serious wedding planning. And Cheat A Little Catering met many of these brides-t0-be at a recent Bay Area Wedding Fair. We created a visually enticing display and offered attendees a sampling of our wedding expertise. What a great time we had meeting with so many excited brides.

If this is your year to tie-the-knot, and you need help planning the reception details, our team of event experts can work side-by-side with you on everything from menus to venues. To make things even easier, we have three specially crafted wedding packages available for your wedding celebration. Contact us to learn more.

Brian Morriss

Owner, Cheat A Little Catering

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FANCY FOOD SHOW SHOWS OFF

Specialty Food Association recently held their annual Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco. Cheat A Little Catering Owner, Brian Morriss, attended the confab to scout for the latest products and trends in the food and beverage industry. Each year, the Fancy Food Show hosts vendors and suppliers from around the world with more than 1400 specialty food companies represented. The show boasts being the largest marketplace devoted exclusively to specialty foods and beverages in North America.

“I was in awe at the vast new and innovative food & beverage products I saw at the Fancy Food Show," said Brian. "Many vendors are bringing new food lines to the gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian marketplace that I am certain will be available to our clients in 2019. I am pleased we can continually participate in shows that introduce our team to the hottest products available and allowing us to bring them to your table."

Cheat A Little Catering is excited to bring tasty new appetizer ideas, creative spins on old dessert favorites, and healthier food preparation techniques to our menus this year.

NATIONAL CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE DAY IS FEBRUARY 28th

What a better way to end a romantic dinner than with a chocolate souffle for two! And why not enjoy one on February 28th...National Chocolate Souffle Day!

Just a little about the delicious dessert we know as souffle. The word souffle is the past participle of the French verb souffler , which means “to blow up” or more loosely “puff up” which describes a souffle perfectly. A souffle is a lightly baked cake made with egg yolks and beaten egg whites that are combined with other ingredients to make the dish either a savory main dish or a sweet dessert. Here’s a recipe Cheat A Little Catering’s Sous and Pastry Chef, Kiah Fuller likes to use when making her chocolate souffles:

Ingredients:

15 g Sugar
15 g Butter, plus additional softened butter, as needed
15 g Flour
125 g Milk
100 g Bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
2 Egg yolks
10 g Dark rum
Vanilla extract, as needed
3 to 4 egg whites

1. Preheat oven to 400° F. Prepare souffle molds by coating them with softened butter and then with granulated sugar. Refrigerate until needed.

2. Make a beurre manié using 15 g of the butter and flour. Bring the milk to a boil in a russe. Thicken the milk with the beurre manié and cook for 2-3 minutes; it will be quite thick.

3. Remove the mixture from the heat and add the chocolate.

4. When the chocolate is melted add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the rum and a few drops of vanilla extract.

5. Whip the egg whites

6. Fold one quarter of the beaten egg whites into the base to lighten it, then fold in the remaining egg whites.

7. Spoon the mixture into the prepared molds. Reduce the oven temperature to 375° F and place the molds on the middle rack. Bake the souffles for 8-15 minutes depending on the size of the mold. Check for doneness and serve immediately.

8. Garnish with your favorite whipped topping or ice cream.

VENUE HIGHLIGHT: LUCIE STERN COMMUNITY CENTER, PALO ALTO, CA

The Lucie Stern Community Center, designed by Birge Clark and built in 1934, is a multi-use, attractive Spanish Mediterranean-style complex in the heart of Palo Alto.

This picturesque space is the ideal setting for a lavish wedding or an intimate family reunion. Whatever you are planning, the Lucie Stern Community Center is the ideal location for every occasion. To learn more about this venue, please click here .

KISS ME, I'M IRISH STEW?!

While Saint Patrick's Day is still a month away, Cheat A Little Catering is already planning menus and parties for this annual celebration (be sure to include some Irish Stew on your menu). Whether you're looking to host a house party or cater a corporate cocktail happy hour, we're here to make everyone the luckiest guest at the celebration!

Pots 'O Gold Not Included!