A Thought Over Coffee

For Sale! Bunn Ultra 2 Granita Machine

2009-07-06T08:25:00.003-05:00

This post is way off the mark for most of the content here at A Thought Over Coffee but, hey, we thought you might be interested! We have an almost new black Bunn Ultra 2 Granita Machine for sale! Here are some pictures:

This is a great machine with only 10-20 hours of use on it - period! It is great for all sorts of frozen drinks - from adult beverages to fruity drinks for kids.

Machine is listed for $2,499.00. If you are interested, please leave a comment on this post or contact us through our website - www.CafeEvoke.com!

Machine is in Oklahoma City and we will be happy to ship it at your expense. If you are near OKC, you are welcome to pick it up at the studio.

Let us know if you have any questions. You can find more information about this awesome granita machine here.

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, bunn ultra 2

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You won't find this on the shelf...

2009-06-30T09:15:00.005-05:00

Leave it to our friends at DoubleShot Coffee Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma to come up with something over the top. I was reading some posts over at Pasteboard - the blog of Barista Magazine and saw a sweet picture of custom tamper handles. I then read the post which contained the follow letter from Brian Franklin - owner of DoubleShot:

Hey Barista Magazine people:
Jason (my employee) and I were in Colombia in December. We spent a few days in Concordia, which is an amazingly beautiful place. I picked up a piece of a stumped coffee tree and jammed it in my backpack to bring home. Slipped through customs with it and shipped it to Reg Barber. He carved three tamper handles out of it for us, which are fantastic. They are really beautiful. I was just back in Concordia last week with Isaiah (different employee), and we really had a good time and made some headway in learning more about coffee. Â Pretty exciting.
I hope all is well with you.

You have to head over to their blog and check out what they got Reg to make for them - very cool stuff!

That's all for this Tuesday. We are "stumped"....

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, doubleshot coffee tulsa

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New Coffees from Batdorf and Bronson on the Way!

2009-06-24T09:09:00.002-05:00

We are doing our best to keep the great coffee coming. We have had the pleasure of working with two great roasters in the past few months and the coffee they have been getting to us has been so great. Here is what we have coming from Batdorf and Bronson on Friday. I'm telling you, you better book your coffee bar for your event quick as dates are filling up. You don't want to miss these coffees!

1. Organic Nicaragua Isabelia -- From the 15th de September Co-op, this coffee is complex, rich and harmonious with a pleasant chocolaty aroma (says roastmaster Scott Merle).

2. Rwanda Buremera MIG -- The 2008 Cup of Excellent Winner, this coffee burst with ripe red fruit with a long and sweet finish.

3. Costa Rica La Minita del Sol -- This coffee is 100% sundried, the only roaster in the world to have access to this specially prepared coffee. With flavors of freshly squeezed orange juice and sweet maple syrup, this coffee is always a huge hit!

That is what we have coming from Batdorf and Bronson. You can download coffee info sheets on their website (click on the names of the coffees above) and you can also order directly from them if you see something that looks great! All cupping notes are from coffee buyer and roastmaster Scott Merle. We will have our own notes soon!

Have a great Wednesday and if you are reading this from Oklahoma - stay cool!

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, batdorf and bronson

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Getting married? Think about specialty coffee catering!

2009-06-18T04:18:00.000-05:00

Are you getting married or know someone who is? Think about having Cafe Evoke Catering come and set up a private coffee bar for the reception or other bridal event!

Cafe Evoke Catering will be hanging out at the upcoming OkBride.com Bridal Show happening on July 26th, 2009!

This will be a great time to sit down and talk to one of our baristas about how a coffee bar can fit into your reception. This is a fresh and fun thing to add to your event no matter if you are offering a full bar or keeping it simple.

Bring your questions and we will answer them! You can book on the spot to ensure we have your date saved or gather what you need and make the decision later.

We look forward to seeing you!

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, okbride.com

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Live on the Plaza @ 1708okc!

2009-06-17T09:48:00.002-05:00

We told you about it last week so if you missed it, dang. This past Friday was The Plaza's Live on the Plaza event and it was the best one yet! Not only did Velvet Monkey kick off their new space across the street from us, the other businesses that call The Plaza home rocked it as well. Here is a taste of what you missed if you did not get down here....

Need more pictures? Head on over to our photostream!

So, we are pretty sure you need to go ahead and mark the next Live on the Plaza down on your calendar. Here is the info:

LIVE on the Plaza
Date: July 19th, 2009
Time: 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm

The Historic Plaza of Oklahoma City sits at the 1700 block of NW 16th between Penn and Classen. You can visit The Plaza online at www.PlazaDistrict.org.

We hope to see everyone at the next LIVE event here at 1708! We will have some awesome home brews (for those over 21 of course), coffee by Cafe Evoke Catering, food, other drinks, conversation, art and more!
...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, live on the plaza

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Summer Time at Cafe Evoke Catering

2009-06-16T14:41:00.006-05:00

It is summer around here - in full force! At Cafe Evoke Catering, we want you to remember that quality, high end beverages are not just for the cooler months and do not stop with our classic iced specialty coffee drinks! We have an awesome summer menu going that goes great with our ever popular specialty coffee bar. We wanted to give you a quick breakdown of what we have to offer for the hot summer months while leaving you with one thing in mind - we are always coming up with new signatures! Here is a brief look at what we are currently offering and a bit about each drink.

But wait, before we go further, we wanted to be sure you knew about how our summer drinks are flavored. At Cafe Evoke Catering, we want to offer only the highest quality gourmet flavorings for our coffee drinks and other signature beverages. To reach this goal, all of our drinks are flavored using Monin Gourmet Flavorings! If you have not tasted the difference between these and others on the market, give us a call and stop by the studio to have a taste. You will be amazed. Ok, on with it.

(pictured: Flavored Lemonade and an Italian Soda)

1. Italian Soda - This is a great and refreshing summer drink that we actually offer throughout the year. This drink is created by adding just the right amount of flavoring to ice cold soda and ice. We have 22 flavors to choose from (depending on what options you choose) so the possibilities are endless! You can also request a hint of cream to make the ever popular Creamosa!

2. Iced Tea - Simple but perfect. This is an awesome Made in Oklahoma beverage that can be done with or without sugar. Remember those 22 flavors? Yup, those can be added, too!

3. Lemonade - Ah, the summertime favorite! With flavor. Without flavor. Can you fail?

(pictured: Strawberry and Peach Granita)

4. Granita - This is an awesome addition to any event. With tons of flavor options for your guests to choose from, this frozen beverage adds a quality dimension to our coffee bars.

We are always coming up with new things for you and your guests to enjoy so be sure to check with us and ask one of our baristas what they suggest for your event. We would be happy to put together a custom menu for your party.

Enjoy your summer, keep the coffee coming and remember Cafe Evoke Catering for your next event or party!

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, iced coffee and drinks

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Zoobilation 2009!

2009-06-15T14:41:00.002-05:00

Cafe Evoke Catering is teaming up with Oklahoma City's own Elemental Coffee Roaster to serve coffee for this great event. Come check out some of Elemental's 228 espresso blend or one of their single origin coffees!

Here is a recent press release sent out about the event:

ZOOBILATION 2009 FEATURING GRAHAM COLTON JUNE 19 AT THE OKC ZOO

You are invited to an evening of fun on the wild side! The Oklahoma Zoological Society (OZS) and the Oklahoma City Zoo invite you to Zoobilation 2009, Friday, June 19 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Zoobilation is the largest fundraiser of the year specifically to support the Oklahoma City Zoo. The evening includes a private night on Zoo grounds where guests will enjoy gourmet food, a silent auction, dancing and music from Oklahoma’s own Graham Colton. All proceeds from Zoobilation will go toward building a new Children’s Zoo set to open in 2010.

For an invitation to Zoobilation call (405) 425-0611 or go online to http://www.zoofriends.com Individual tickets are $75 each and group tickets of 10 or more cost $65 each. Price includes an invitation to the Oklahoma City Zoo for an evening of food, drink and entertainment. Tickets purchased after June 10th will be held at Will Call. This event will be held rain or shine and guests must be 21 years or older to attend. The Zoo will be closing at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 19 to prepare for Zoobilation. Visitors are encouraged to visit early this day.

The Oklahoma Zoological Society is a nonprofit organization created to support and promote the Oklahoma City Zoo and its programs in education, conservation, zoological research, and recreation. The Zoo is located at NE 52nd at Martin Luther King Blvd., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111, in the heart of Oklahoma City’s Adventure District. Zoo hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. April through September, the Zoo will remain open until 8 p.m. on Saturdays with exhibit buildings and Dinosaurs Unearthed closing at 7:45 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults and $4 for children ages three to 11 and seniors ages 65 and older. Children two and under are free. Learn more at www.okczoo.com.

CONTACTS: Michael Myers, Oklahoma Zoological Society (405) 425-0613 or mmyers@zoofriends.org

Candice Rennels, Oklahoma City Zoo (405) 425-0298 or crennels@okczoo.com

If you have any questions, please let us know! We would love to see you guys out there for FREE coffee drinks!

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, zoobilation 2009

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Best of Oklahoma City 2009!!

2009-06-12T15:09:00.004-05:00

The time has come for the voting to begin! We would love for you to vote for Cafe Evoke for OKC Best Coffeehouse and OKC Best New Service Businesss!

It is easy and only takes a few minutes. While you are there, take some time, however, and fill in the rest of your picks! We appreciate the support!

VOTE HERE

When you are done, be sure to tell everyone you voted for Cafe Evoke Catering!!!

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, best of okc

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Live on the Plaza | Friday Night!

2009-06-08T08:23:00.003-05:00

(via The Plaza District blog)

June 12th, 7-11 PM 1700 block of NW 16th

Plaza District is taking it back in time to the hey day of the district, Rockabilly style! In celebration of the grand opening of Velvet Monkey Salon, LIVE on the Plaza Second Fridays will have plenty of Rockabilly, featured artists, live music, fashion and more! New businesses and building renovations such as Velvet Monkey Salon are bringing the Plaza District back to the buzzing commercial district it was from the 1930s-60’s. Please join us as we celebrate this comeback!

The fun kicks off at 7 PM at Velvet Monkey Salon where plenty of funky style and art is sure to be found. Local groups including Hellkats bike gang, Red Dirt Rebellion Rollergirls, Roadkillers Car Club, Psuedodance burlesque, and DJ ATM will be buzzing about the newly renovated Velvet Monkey Salon! Featured artist Olivia Frisbee from LA will also be exhibiting art. This grand opening celebration is also a pre-party event for the Rockabilly 50’s Fashion show at Bolero Tapas Bar & Spanish Grill beginning at 11 PM.

Next door, visit Collected Thread to see the collage work of Amy Coldren, plus a great assortment of local handmade and vintage items. Next door to Collected, DNA Galleries will host artist Spencer Tracy, as well as handmade art, accessories and clothes!

Cross the street over to Paula & Co, 1708 and No Regrets Tattoo and enter the courtyard for live pyschobilly music by Billy Joe Winghead, outdoor grilling, food and refreshments. Other stops on the west end of the district include open mic at Coffy’s Cafe, featured artists at Convergence Collective, vintage items Bad Grannies Bazaar, outdoor artist booths and an open house at PhotoArt Studios.

For more info about LIVE on the Plaza Second Fridays call 405-308-5991. The Plaza District is located on NW 16th between Indiana and Blackwelder Avenues, on street parking and lot parking will be available in the district, while neighborhood parking is available on the north side of the district.

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, the plaza district

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Brazilian Cup of Excellence Coffee is here!

2009-06-04T13:13:00.002-05:00

We ordered the current winner of the Brazilian Cup of Excellence coffee - the Fazenda Kaquend - and it show up yesterday! This is a coffee that we are super excited to get. While we were only able to get 2 pounds for our use, we are planning on enjoying it to it's fullest. Here is what the roasters - Batdorf and Bronson - had to say about it on their blog:

This year’s first place Brazil Cup of Excellence winner comes from producer Ralph de Castro Junqueira, proud owner of Fazenda Kaquend. He takes considerable care to preserve the native forest areas and natural springs on his farm and this commitment to his land is mirrored in the quality of the beautiful coffee he submitted for competition. Bourbon and Catuai varieties are grown at 1340 meters above sea level and are completely harvested by hand. The coffee is processed in the pulped-natural manner, meaning the beans are de-pulped of their fruit while the mucilage layer, instead of being entirely removed, is allowed dry on the bean. A coffee processed in this manner will typically have heightened sweetness and body without too many of the excessive fruity undertones characteristic of full-natural coffees.

In this case, the coffee is incredibly sweet and clean, with noticeable acidity, silky full body, and flavors of strawberry, bing cherry, and caramelized nuts. Prepared as a single origin espresso, the Fazenda Kaquend is sweet nectar. Tantalizingly clean with a brisk lemon-tart acidity, you’ll find more of the lovely notes of fresh cherry, a viscous body, and a beautifully lingering black licorice finish. This coffee makes an enjoyably bright and elegantly acidic espresso.

We have not yet had a chance to play with it and make our own notes but we do hope to brew it in a few different styles - from espresso to vac pot - and see how it changes in the cup. We will keep you posted!

If you are lucky enough to be near 1708 at some point, maybe you can join in!

...to great coffee!

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, Fazenda Kaquend

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Looking Back at May 8th, 2009

2009-05-28T15:26:00.002-05:00

On May 8th, 2009 - we opened 1708 with our great friends Josh McCullock Photography and Gibson Events. Here are a few pictures from the opening:

If you were not there, you missed some awesome times for sure! Not only was it a time to hang out and get to know a bunch of new friends, we had a chance to eat some awesome food by Seasons Catering/Table One and some chocolate and more from Cocoflow, sip on some sweet home brews and taste coffee by Cafe Evoke Catering (of course!) Oh, did you catch the sweet 1708 ice in the pictures? That thing was expertly carved by Ideas in Ice!

Thank you again to everyone who came out. It was cool to see you and we look forward to much more happenings at 1708!

Be sure to swing by on the second Friday of every month between 7 and 11 in the evening for LIVE on the Plaza! This is a cool artwalk/events night for our area and all the businesses have cool things going on.

You can follow those happens on twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/1708okc

More to come later...

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, 1708okc

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Batdorf and Bronson's Thoughts on the 2009 Panama Esmeralda Coffee Auction

2009-05-22T07:19:00.003-05:00

As many of you probably are already well aware of (and hopefully have had a chance to try it!), the coffee that we serve is expertly roasted by our great friends at Batdorf and Bronson Coffee Roasters. We like to bring you the best coffees we can at your event and B&B are always hooking us up with some great finds!

One of our favorites in the studio of Cafe Evoke Catering every year are the Panama Esmerelda coffees. The auction for these coffees has finally come to an end and, like always, they are going to be great! Here is a short list of prices from the auction thanks to the Batdorf Blog:

* Reserva de la Señora: $117.50/lb. ($105.25 was last years highest bid.)
* Caballeriza: $28.50 / lb.
* Carnaval: $40.50 / lb.
* San José: $30.00/lb.
* Pascua: $27.00/lb.
* Naranjo: $24.00/lb.
* Colgá: $25.00/lb.

It is important to keep in mind that these are the prices for green coffee - not roasted and ready to prepare. For instance, the Reserva de la Senora that went for $117.50 per pound (green) would probably run you $250.00 or more after roasting.

Batdorf was also kind enough to provide their cupping notes from the sample batches they received. The reason we are sharing this with you? You will be seeing some of these coffees served by us at your next event!

Reserva de la Senora
A sweet carmely cup with a soft acidity and hints of butter and lemon. Very nice impressions of tropical punch flavor and super sweet.

Caballeriza
A balanced cup with a heavy body and a sour cherry sweetness. Nicely acidic, beautifully bright pointed acidity coupled with the deep red fruit flavors.

Los Mario
Candy Chemicals, necco wafer. Good clean fruity character with some unexpected Baru-ish Panama flavors – graham cracker and chocolate.

Mario San Jose
Sweet BBQ sauce, rosemary, savory, ginger, rosehips. Very bright.

Mario Pascua
Honey-like body, tropical fruit, good definition in acidity and body. Flowery and sweet. Excellent.

Naranjo
Heavy spice with hints of licorice and fennel. Bright yet balanced, traces of sandalwood among the tart tropical fruity flavors.

Colga
Buttery caramel, peanut skin, malty and sweet milk chocolate. Fruity tea-like influences, bergamot.

At some point soon, we will be offering the Caballeriza so stay tuned. We will let you know!

If you would like to purchase coffee by Batdorf and Bronson, you can give us a call or you can buy from them directly (with WAY more options!) online at www.DancingGoats.com. If you have not visited their website, you should.

Have a great weekend!

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, Badorf and Bronson, panama esmeralda

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"You might not get a hug, but you’ll likely want to give one."

2009-05-21T09:01:00.003-05:00

(video is from NewsOk.com - more info can be found to go with it as well by clicking above)

At Cafe Evoke Catering, we fully believe in the relationships coffee generously allows us to be a part of. The product itself is a living thing that takes real people from all over the world working together so that we all can enjoy what we have grown to be so fond of. It really is an amazing thing.

Well, as coffee is to us, so is food to my great friends over at Table One in Oklahoma City. As you saw in the video (STOP! You did not view it yet? Go back and watch it, then read on!), these two guys are creating something that is more than just food, more than something slopped on a plate, passed around and tagged a meal.

At Table One, the whole dining experience has been deconstructed, an inversion of the relationship between diner and chef. And when it’s over, you’ll take home memories to mark time, and two new friends.

We love to see this happening across our city as we know it has been happening across the country (and world for that matter). These are two people taking on a challenge bigger than anything they have ever taken on - to weld a passion for their art and craft with the passion to create a bond with their guests that leaves them excited to talk about it.

As I have talked about before, I like to see a group that is taking every part of their craft seriously. As you may have noticed in the video, Table One tops everything off at the end with a very nice press or vacuum pot of freshly roasted coffee from our other great friends at Elemental Coffee Roasters also based here in Oklahoma City.

In short, the experience you get by watching them create your meal and seeing the passion they put in to every part of the night really is summed up in a quote I found at the end of this piece: "You might not get a hug, but you’ll likely want to give one."

Here is a great article about the two that talks more about what they are doing and why. Here is more useful information about Table One:

→Information or reservations: 607-8131.
→Dress: Whatever you’re comfortable in.
→Prices: Start at $75 per person for 2 to 14 people. Price varies based on number of courses and size of party.

If nothing else, go for the coffee! Even the toughest of coffee critics will walk away happy!

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, Table One

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How things have been going...in short form.

2009-05-19T08:37:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone - my sincere apologies for the lack of posts lately. Holy smokes. Things have been going crazy around here with Cafe Evoke Catering. We just wanted to write and tell everyone that we are still here and to not forget about us - writing is going to continue and I promise it will get better than this!

First, Jenni and I want to say a huge thanks to everyone that came out to the grand opening of 1708 - our new studio that we share with our great friends Josh McCullock Photography and Gibson Events. We had about 300 people come out for food, drinks and lively conversation and we all had a great time.

For those that missed it, we will have pictures as soon as they are released.

Secondly, if you have not seen the studio, give us a call and and schedule a time to chat! You come, we will bring the coffee.

Here is our new information in case you need to put it down or pass it along to a friend for their next event:

(studio) 405 606-2200
(fax) 405 606-2205

We will also be showing at a few bridal shows coming up in the next few months for those of you that may need/want to go to those. Come see us! We will talk more about the shows coming up a bit closer to time.

In the mean time, have a great Memorial Day weekend. We look forward to talking with you soon.

Oh, one more thing, I know it says on the bottom of the post to "follow us" around the internet - well, you really should! We use Twitter all the time and would love for you to follow us! If you do, please post a mention to us and tell us you read the blog! Thanks! www.twitter.com/cafeevoke

You can also follow Jenni at www.twitter.com/cafeevoke_jenni

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, 1708okc

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2009 Urban Pioneers Luncheon!

2009-05-13T09:21:00.000-05:00

There are many great things about being here in the historic Plaza District of OKC. We have already made tons of friends here and are happy to be a part of this great area! One of the cool things that The Plaza District does each year is give out the Urban Pioneer Award. That time is coming again! Here is the press release!

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, April 2nd, 2009 – The Board of Directors of the Plaza District Association is pleased to announce that former Oklahoma City Councilwoman Ann Simank will be the recipient of the 2009 Urban Pioneer Award.

The award is given each year to an individual in Oklahoma City who exemplifies Oklahoma’s pioneering spirit with their leadership and their commitment to urban revitalization. The 2009 Urban Pioneer Awards Luncheon will be held Thursday, May 14th from 11:30 to 1:00 PM at RED Prime Steak in Oklahoma City. Meg Salyer, recipient of the 2007 Urban Pioneer Award, will serve as the event emcee.

“It was Ann Simank’s leadership that launched the revitalization of the Plaza District in 1996. As an outspoken advocate for the inner city, she was instrumental in establishing the public/private partnerships that have made our efforts in the Plaza District so successful” said Susan Hogan, former director of the district association. “Ann always understood that a city can only be as healthy as its inner core – and today, the prognosis for Oklahoma City is excellent!”

“Ann has been a long-time supporter of ALL of our inner city” continued Kristen Vails, Executive Director of the Association. “Her leadership has been instrumental in the redevelopment of Stockyards City, Automobile Alley, Midtown, the Medical District, and St. Anthony Hospital – just to name a few”, she continued.

The Plaza District Association has adopted the term “urban pioneering” to describe its work in inner city revitalization. Fueled by creativity, over the last several years the Plaza District has emerged as an exciting new destination for arts and entertainment. The district’s transformation has been driven by the collaborative efforts of neighbors, business owners, property owners, volunteers, artists, City staff, and the Oklahoma Main Street Program.

Past honorees include: Dr. Tom McDaniel, President of Oklahoma City University, honored in 2005; Mrs. Lou C. Kerr, visionary leader in the Plaza District and all the arts, honored in 2006; Mrs. Meg Salyer, pioneer in the transformation of Automobile Alley and invaluable Plaza advisor, honored in 2007; and Mr. Mark Funke and Mr. Mike Turpen, leaders of Lyric Theatre’s highly successful $10 million capital campaign, honored in 2008.

For reservations or more information contact: Kristen Vails at kristen@plazadistrict.org or phone 308-5991. Luncheon tickets are $45 and can also be purchased online at www.plazadistrict.org

There still should be seats available and this should be something you should not miss if you can avoid it!

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, plaza district

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1708 Launch Party!

2009-05-04T16:35:00.002-05:00

For those that have been following this blog, I am very sorry for not writing more lately. Things with Cafe Evoke Catering have been rockin and time has been difficult to find! So, thanks for that!

After over a month of waiting, 1708 - the new home of Oklahoma's premier specialty coffee catering company - is finished! We are having a huge party to celebrate and we want you to come!

First, we wanted to introduce our studio mates - Josh McCullock and Gibson Events.

Lindsay Ames Gibson of Gibson Events has been planning weddings and events for five years. "Opening a studio in Oklahoma City was a natural progression for Gibson Events. When the opportunity to join with Josh McCullock and Jason and Jenni Duncan of Café Evoke presented itself, it just made sense. Our three companies share a progressive ideology and a fresh perspective in Oklahoma hospitality", said Gibson.

Josh McCullock is taking the fine art wedding photography scene by storm with his moving journalistic style. McCullock shared, "When I realized that Gibson Events and Café Evoke shared my ambition to open a studio, the idea to form a co-op was born".

The party is going to be great and we have many friends sharing it with us including Seasons Catering/Table 1, Cocoflow, Ideas in Ice, Ferment-Us Brewing and Von Wedding Films just to name a few!

This event is all about fun and we want you to be there!

I hope to be back to normal blogging soon. In the mean time, plan on being here on May 8th!

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, 1708 okc

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An Interview with Cafe Evoke Catering

2009-04-20T06:49:00.002-05:00

The other night, Cafe Evoke Catering was hanging out with our friends of 1708 in The Plaza and the Patrick Allmond got an interview with us!

In the interview, we talk about 1708 - our new studio space we are sharing with Gibson Events and Josh McCullock Photography - and what The Plaza District has going on.

I will post an updated on 1708 tomorrow as I know everyone has been wondering!

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, patrick allmond

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The World Barista Championships

2009-04-14T07:18:00.003-05:00

The time has finally come for the World Barista Championships (WBCs) taking place in conjunction with the SCAA show in Atlanta starting April 16th! Here is a quick press release on the event:

For Immediate Release
Contact: Andrew Hetzel
Phone: +1 (808) 990-8717
E-mail: ahetzel@cafemakers.com

52 Nations to Compete at 2009 World Barista Championship in Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA (April 10, 2009) – The world’s best baristas representing 52 nations will converge in Atlanta next week to compete at the 10th annual World Barista Championship (WBC) in front of a live and online audience of spectators around the globe.

In three days of preliminary round competition at the Georgia World Congress Center beginning on April 16th, each competitor will prepare 4 espressos, 4 cappuccinos and 4 original signature drinks to exacting standards in a 15-minute performance set to music.

Seven WBC Certified Judges from an international pool of 45 will evaluate each performance, including the taste of beverages served, cleanliness, creativity, technical skill and overall presentation of the competitors.
The top 6 competitors from round one will advance to a final round of competition beginning at Noon on Sunday, April 19th. One winner will be named 2009 World Barista Champion in an award ceremony immediately following the competition.

The public is invited to taste beverages prepared to the standards of barista champions at 3 complimentary espresso bar stations inspired by 2008 World Barista Champion Stephen Morrissey of Ireland and sponsored by Daterra Coffee.

Admission to the competition is free.

A live video broadcast from the event and link to the official WBC blog sponsored by Barista Magazine can be found on the World Barista Championship website at www.worldbaristachampionship.com.
About the World Barista Championship

Jointly owned by the Specialty Coffee Associations of America (SCAA) and Europe (SCAE), the World Barista Championship is the world’s premier coffee competition. The first WBC competition took place in Monte Carlo in October 2000 and has since held annual competitions Miami, Oslo, Boston, Trieste, Seattle, Berne, Tokyo and Copenhagen.

This year’s event is held in conjunction with the 2009 SCAA Annual Symposium and Exposition and sponsored by DaVinci Gourmet syrups, Nuova Simonelli, espresso machines, Mahlkoenig grinders, Urnex cleaning products and Everpure water treatment solutions. This is one of those times that I have a hard time stepping away from Ustream - the site that you can watch it all live from anywhere with an internet connection! You have never seen a barista competition? Here is the video from last year's winner:

Stephen Morrissey, 2008 World Barista Champion from nick cho on Vimeo.

You can also get a full slate of "live posts" from the event over Pasteboard - the blog of Barista Magazine. I will talk more about this coming up..

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, WBC

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Cafe Evoke Catering | Out and About!

2009-04-09T06:50:00.003-05:00

Wow, sorry it has been so long since we have written anything! Time flies around here it seems. Things have been going great here at Cafe Evoke Catering and we hope the same is true with you.

This is a big weekend for most of you out there and we wanted to let you know that we will be out and about - serving the finest in specialty coffee. Here is what we have going on over the next few days in case you find yourself close by!

Chef's Feast - Tonight! I talked about this a few days ago but for those that missed it, the Chef's Feast is a wine and food tasting (and coffee) benefiting the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. The event starts at 7:00 (tonight) and ends at 10:00 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. This is going to be an awesome event and if you do not have plans, you should check it out!

Journey Church, Norman - Saturday evening and all day Sunday, Cafe Evoke Catering will have the coffee bar fired up! If you are in North Norman and have not found a place to do your Easter stuff, check out Journey and come say hi!

Chapel Hill UMC, OKC - Evoke will have 2 coffee bars set up for the early services at Chapel Hill UMC at May and Hefner in OKC. I was there yesterday and they have some great things planned for Sunday. We will be there from 7:45-10:45 am so come see us!

Live on the Plaza is going on Friday Night as well. We will have some info for you tomorrow about it but here is the flyer:

Have a great one and we will see you tonight!

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering

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What's A Pink Party Without Specialty Coffee??

2009-04-01T05:33:00.001-05:00

Well, in most cases, I would have no idea but for this - it would still be an amazing event doing some amazingly great things for a family that can use it!

Cafe Evoke Catering is happy to be a part of this great event. It is all happening on Thursday, April 2nd from 6:00 to 9:00 at Marianne's Rentals in Oklahoma City. It started out as a reveal party for their new showroom and turned in to much more!

News9 anchor Kirsten McIntyre will introduce the guest of honor Sharon Weldeghebriel and present her with her wish that will truly be a dream come true.

Event proceeds go to benefit the Making Memories Foundation and the Pink Envelope Project.

If you have not heard about these two great organizations, take a minute to head to their websites. Join us for this phenomenal Pink Party this Thursday! Marianne’s Rentals is located at 225 W. Britton Road in Oklahoma City. Please RSVP if possible to 405.751.3100. All guests will be presented with a pink envelope to make a donation of any size.

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, Pink Park OKC

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Chefs' Feast | Benefiting the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

2009-03-30T11:39:00.002-05:00

Cafe Evoke Catering - Oklahoma's premier specialty coffee catering company is proud to be a part of the upcoming annual fundraiser for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

The event is being held on April 9th from 7:00 - 10:00 in the evening at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Here is a recent press release about the event:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Angie Gaines
405-604-7109
againes@regionalfoodbank.org

JOIN “SUPER FOOD DUDE” AS HE TAKES A BITE OUT OF
CHILDHOOD HUNGER AT THE CHEFS’ FEAST!
Oklahoma City (March 23, 2009) – Fear not: hunger-hero Super Food Dude is here to fight childhood hunger at The Chefs’ Feast on Thursday, April 9th at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum from 7 to 10 p.m. The 22nd annual food and wine tasting event benefits the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Food 4 Kids backpack program, which provides weekend food to more than 8,000 chronically hungry elementary school children.

The superhero themed Chefs’ Feast, presented by Chesapeake Energy Corporation, will feature some of the finest chefs the Oklahoma City metro area has to offer. Along with the SUPER food and wine, guests will have the opportunity to “take a bite out of childhood hunger” by purchasing chances to win a trip to Batman’s hometown of Gotham City, courtesy of Southwest Airlines; Lois Lane and Clark Kent Timepieces (watches), courtesy of B.C. Clark; an autographed cookbook by Super Chef Paula Dean; and superhero liquid courage at the wine pull, courtesy of Glazer’s, where one bottle is worth nearly $250!

Through The Chefs’ Feast, chefs help feed hungry children by doing what they do best: creating delicious cuisine, such as grilled coconut chicken with thai basil sauce, mini red velvet cupcakes, and mini lobster baked potatoes. In fact, the event includes an open bar and will feature flavorful samples from over 100 entrees and 25 desserts that are guaranteed to jumpstart anyone’s taste buds!

The following hunger-fighting chefs and restaurants will help Super Food Dude save the day: Coordinating Chef Kurt Fleischfrasser, The Coach House; Coordinating Chef Don Thiery, The Catering Company; Chef Genni Woodward, Casady; Chef Robert Black, Cheever's Cafe; Chef Ken Bradford, Chef's Requested Foods; Chef Anthony Graves, Faculty House, University of Oklahoma, HSC; Gopuram Taste of India; Chef Ken Burkemper, Ideas In Ice; Chef Ryan Thomas, Iguana Grill; Chef Trina Burks, INTEGRIS Southwest; Chef Marcelo Miranda, INTEGRIS Baptist; Chef Kamala Gamble, Kam's Kookery and Guilford Gardens; Chefs Mike Todd and Jonathan Krell, Nonna's Euro-American Ristorante & Bar; Chef Jonas Favela, Ranch Steakhouse; Chef Kyle Mills, Red Prime Steakhouse; Chef Rob Ferris, The Sheraton; Chefs Kelli Keegan, Kenny Stratton, and Joe Hackett, Sodexho Catering; Chef Ian Wagner, The Gourmet Grill, located inside Buy 4 Less; Chef Gerald Harden, The Mantel Wine Bar & Bistro; Chefs Chad Mays and Christine Dowd, Trattoria Il Centro; and Chef Jeffrey Khowong, Will Rogers Theater.

-MORE-

CHEFS’ FEAST – 2

Guests can give childhood hunger a one-two punch by purchasing a patron table, which includes reserved seating for 10, two bottles of fine wine and sponsorship of a Food 4 Kids backpack of weekend food for one child for an entire school year, for $1,400. Individual tickets start at $100.

“Children should not have to worry about where their next meal will come from,” said Claudia Robertson, chair of The Chefs’ Feast. “This is a fun way for every Oklahoman to become a hunger hero in the fight against childhood hunger. By purchasing a patron table or a ticket to Chefs’ Feast, one person really can make a difference in the life of a child.”

Currently, more than 8,000 elementary school students in 239 schools in 37 counties benefit from the Food 4 Kids program by receiving a backpack of nutritious, kid-friendly food to sustain them over weekends and holidays when school meal programs are not available. Many of these children were eating little or nothing between their school lunch on Friday and school breakfast on Monday.

“Childhood hunger in Oklahoma is a serious problem, but we have the solution,” said Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. “A donation of $200 can provide weekend food for a hungry child for an entire school year, which puts food in their belly and a smile on their face. The Regional Food Bank is extremely thankful that the participating chefs are donating their time and efforts to help fight this worthy cause.”

Superhero sponsors include: Presenting Sponsor Chesapeake Energy Corporation; Devon Energy Corporation; SandRidge Energy; NBC Bank; Chef’s Requested; B.C. Clark Jewelers; 7UP/RC Bottling Company; Glazer’s Oklahoma; Traction Marketing Group; 92.5 KOMA; Magic 104.1 KMGL; Southwest Airlines; Event Planning by Leilani, Inc.; Tarawick Photography; and the Toy and Action Figure Museum.

To purchase a patron table or tickets to The Chefs’ Feast, contact wonder-girl Angie Gaines at againes@regionalfoodbank.org or 405-604-7109. To learn more about the Regional Food Bank’s Food 4 Kids program, visit www.regionalfoodbank.org.

-30-
The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is a private, 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that acts as a link through which the food industry and community may donate food and other goods. The products are then distributed to nearly 700 schools and charitable feeding programs in 53 central and western Oklahoma counties. In the last fiscal year, the Food Bank distributed nearly 25 million pounds of food and product to help the charitable community effectively feed people in need. Since its inception in 1980, the Food Bank has distributed more than 300 million pounds of food to feed Oklahoma’s hungry.

You can go ahead and add Cafe Evoke Catering to that list!

We fill feature our full service deluxe specialty coffee bar for this event along with a great single origin drip coffee to go along with all the great food that will be presented.

If you are looking for a way to get involved in the community and help out a great cause, this is the place for your to be on April 9th. Contact the group for more information and be sure to tell everyone you know about it so that this year's event will raise the bar for the future of kids across our city.

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, regional food bank of oklahoma

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1708 - An Update

2009-03-28T07:54:00.001-05:00

After checking the calendar, it is clear that it is the 28th of March. We are way behind schedule with getting the doors unlocked at 1708 - the new home of Cafe Evoke Catering, Gibson Events and Josh McCullock Photography. We are anxious and ready for the move but also are trying to make this the best studio/tasting room that we can! Here are a few photos of the progress. We think we are about two weeks away at this point:

These photos are a few days old. We ran by today and found out that the HVAC system is in place throughout the space now and it looks like they are about to get the bathroom stuff installed and get the rest of the kitchen going.

There was a minor set back in that the City will not let us in until the space right next door is done so there is a big push on that right now.

Things are looking great!

Keep checking back for more updates.

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, CHANGE!

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A New Look for Cafe Evoke @ The Brides of Oklahoma

2009-03-18T07:49:00.000-05:00

***Updated*** - Just wanted to let you know that the contact form at CafeEvoke.com is now working properly! Cool.

As many of you know, weddings are a big thing for Cafe Evoke Catering - Oklahoma's premier specialty coffee catering company. We love serving up great espresso drinks at these events!

We have become great friends with one of the magazines we advertise in - The Brides of Oklahoma - and when they told us they added a new option for their vendors, we jumped right on board!

We now have a brand new vendor profile!

Go take a look and let us know what you think! If you know someone getting married in OK, this is a great place to start in finding the best vendors Oklahoma has to offer.

Also, on a side note, we know that the contact form at CafeEvoke.com has a bit of a color problem - we are on it! It should be easier to use in the next day or so. If you have tried to contact us through the form and got confused, no worries. Just give us a call or send an email to the address to the left of the form.

The form does work, you will just not be able to see what you typed once you move to the next box.

Have a nice Wednesday!

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, the brides of oklahoma

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The Tale of the Gourmet Coffee Bean

2009-03-17T07:21:00.000-05:00

Something easy to start your day...

I got an email yesterday from the "The coffee freaks at Happy Bean Coffee" about a little "tale" they created to tell the story of their coffee. They asked that I put it up on the blog. I will be honest, I normally would not put something like this up. Not because I do not want to promote other coffee companies or what they are doing to get the word out but because these can sometimes get a bit to much on the "cheese" side. This one wasn't to bad actually.

Here is a sample:

In the dreamy hours of the morning, the coffee bean begins anew to draw energy from dark, rich, volcanic soil and sunlight filtered through the remains of the previous night. The coffee bean stirs within and, to the first sounds of birds and the morning rituals of nearby inhabitants, the rain forest awakens around it.

It is drawn forth towards the day, guided by the call of nature and its internal rhythm. It will be a gourmet Arabica bean or it will be nothing; it will taste rich and be aromatic or existence will be meaningless. It will surpass all expectations. It will start this day as it should and as it does always.

You can read the rest over on their website. The company also has a blog that features coffee recipes. While many of the recipes seem to be for beverages, there are some desserts mixed in as well.

So, here is to a short "tale" to start your Tuesday.

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, coffee story

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1708 - Coming Soon!

2009-03-14T11:15:00.000-05:00

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, plaza district okc

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