Taste Of The Best Columbus Caterers' Blog

I Love Columbus OH! - Love Letter From A Columbus OH Caterers' Blog

2014-01-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to our Columbus OH Caterer food blog.

Taste Of The Best Catering wants to show our love for the city of Columbus, and the great venues, food, and local farmers, that may not get their due spotlight. The social scene of Columbus events is also maturing. There are lots of new community gardens, food festivals, farmers markets, and special themed tasting events that are growing in popularity, with the sophisticated professionals of Columbus!

As a Columbus Catering Company, I feel it's a part of our duty to know what awesome venues, events, produce & local event vendors to support in Columbus, and to pass this information along to anyone looking for it.

So, the mission of this blog is to expose the hidden little gems of Columbus.......you know....like the quaint little neighborhood diner, that's like Sunday morning breakfast at Grandma's (5 star comfort food)! ....... Or the beautiful mansion on acres of land, that's available for rental, but doesn't have a website, or yellow page ad......... Or the wonderful new businesses popping up, that want to build awareness of food & its sources, home gardening & going back to the Earth (Going Green). All the great local businesses that are unique & signatures to Columbus' Rebirth.

That's the journey we're going to take together on this blog. I'm going to take you with me, to find the REAL Columbus.....food & events-wise. It's a "Taste Of The Best Columbus Caterer"....my view of what I think is GREAT about being a Columbus Catering Company, and resources I LOVE, for planning or enjoying an event in Columbus. Join us on Facebook!

Join me on Google Plus here: Jenine Blackwell

Welcome!

Share & Enjoy!

It's Summertime! What's new at Taste of The Best Catering?

2014-01-07T08:58:00.000-05:00

"Summer...Summer...Summer-Time, Let's just sit back and unwind...." (Fresh Prince & Jazzy Jeff)

Summer is almost officially HERE! Even though Columbus, OH has been feeling pretty "Official" for a few weeks now..LOL. But when the days get longer, and the nights stay warmer, I can't help but think of The Fresh Prince & Jazzy Jeff's song "Summertime"! It's just one of those really feel good songs, that wraps everything we love about summertime, into a nice head-bobbing package! It makes you want to gather your friends and family together, and have a party! So, this is the Official "Song for June"!

And even though I don't like being hot, I love the summertime! With summer, and hot temperatures, comes the most wonderful outdoor festivals, and the Farmer's Markets start bursting at the seams with all kinds of flavorful goodies! How fitting, that June is also "Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Month" There are plenty of great markets around Columbus. Go here to support your local farmer, and see where you can get fresh local-grown produce, weekly, in your area! At Taste of The Best Catering, we get excited about summertime, because party time gets in full swing! People can take to the outdoors, instead of renting indoor venues. The days get longer, which allows more time to have fun. And, our menus come to LIFE, with all the fresh local produce at it's peak! TOTBC will be releasing our Summer 2011 Catering Menu, in full soon! It's a tribute to all the fresh local flavors of summertime, and a homage to "Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Month"! We'll be offering many cold appetizer trays, that are a perfect change from hot ones in Summer. People like to graze, when it's hot. Meaning, no one wants to stuff themselves with heavy food, and then sweat...lol. So our focus, with this menu is to be light, refreshing, and full of colorful variety and flavor! Some of the highlights will be our "Signature Cold Gourmet Pizzas", and our "Cold Soup Shooters". These will be available as "Ready-To-Serve Party Trays", and in a per person format for larger functions. These trays are ready to go. All you need is some napkins or plates, and some ice, to set the trays on, and keep them cool and refreshing. No heating pans or fuel necessary! We have a small line of vegetarian option that will be available, as well. If you want a "Sneak Peak", visit our Facebook Page, and see what's NEW & Available Now! There are some other cool things, coming for the Summer and Fall. We'd like to make catering more accessible, and offer some items with a quicker turnaround time. That's why we're adding an online ordering system, for our Party Trays. Most of them will have a 2-3 day turnaround time, so you don't have to stress about a last minute get-together. We'll also be having a contest, where various Columbus natives will win a "Taste Tester" spot for our summer menu items. Subscribe to our blog, and watch for details! I think there's a misconception, that catering has to be this huge undertaking. Or that it's only for really big events, which is just not true. Wanting to enjoy delicious food, that you didn't have to make yourself...;-), is a good enough reason IN itself...lol. But why not? Have some friends over to sit outside, and enjoy some wine and good food. Have a BBQ, but supplement the grilled food with some catering trays. How about the office parties, that are ALWAYS pizza, or subs, or a potluck. If you can order something different and affordable, a few days in advance, from the office....why not?

"Summertime.....and the living is eaaassy" (Gershwin-Porgy & Bess)

Another song that comes to mind, in summertime. One of my favorites, a Gershwin song, from the play "Porgy & Bess". I had to highlight Fantasia's version of this, because it gave me goosebumps! But the instrumental one is just as good. This song makes me envision a night party, in the backyard, with tiki torches lit around the perimeter, and a nice low buzz of conversation and wine glasses clinking, people picking up tasty bites here and there, and this song playing in the background. Now is that a visual or WHAT! ENJOY SUMMERTIME!

Join me on Google Plus here: Jenine Blackwell

A $250,000 Small Business Grant From Chase Bank? Yes Please!

2013-10-31T06:30:00.000-04:00

We are wild with excitement over here at

Taste Of The Best Catering!

When we learned about the opportunity to win a $250,000 Small Business Grant,

our imaginations just took off. We couldn't even sleep the first night,

because our minds were racing with visions of all the awesome plans

we have had for our catering company, but didn't have the financial reach

to make them happen!

Now's our chance!

Please read further, and learn how you can help us win!

Click the picture to Vote Now!

Here's the deal. We need to get 250 votes from Facebook, by November 15th, 2013, to be eligible for one of twelve grants that Chase bank is awarding in January 2014.

Which means, to even be CONSIDERED for the grant, we need everyone's help in getting the votes FIRST!

And it's super easy. No more than 5 seconds of your time.

If you're ready to help us out Right Now, go here, to our "Mission Main St. Grant" Contest Profile Page, and click the big green "Vote Now" button, to the left of the page.

If you aren't already signed into Facebook, the site will ask you to log in to Facebook FIRST, then it will count your vote.

That's it! If you're already signed in to Facebook, your vote will count instantly.
_________________________________________________________________________________
If you've never worked with us, or heard of us, and you're wondering why you should vote for us, please read a little further, and let us share our dreams with you.

As a Minority-Owned and Operated company, in Columbus, OH, our mission is to create delicious gourmet comfort food memories, with elevated flavors and visual presence. Our success has come from going the extra mile for clients, and it has shined through in the results. Check out our "Client Testimonials" Page, and see what others have to say! Our highly visual online presence is often the 1st impression our clients get. They can start to dream about what they'll get from us, as caterers. It makes us unique in our client's eye, and begins a great relationship.

Click the picture to Buy The Book

Having a tie to the community has been important to us, from the beginning. We have donated catered food to help raise money for the King Arts Complex, organized concessions for a local pee wee football team, and a summer camp lunch program.We worked with USA Football on their National Tailgating Tour this fall, providing food for their ceremony at a local high school in Columbus. We're a contributing author of CaterSavvy: Secrets of the Trade Revealed, with part of the proceeds being donated toward the Meningitis Research Institute. We also organized a vendor show, to collaborate with other local businesses within our industry. We look to do even more in the future.

Having a tie to the community is important to us. We have donated catered food to help raise money for the King Arts Complex, organized concessions for a local pee wee football team, and a summer camp lunch program. We worked with USA Football on their National Tailgating Tour this fall, providing food for their ceremony at a local high school in Columbus. We also organized a vendor show, to collaborate with other local businesses within our industry. We look to do even more in the future. - See more at: https://www.missionmainstreetgrants.com/account/questionnaire#sthash.E1tyKN4a.dpuf

Our dream is to become a unique, accessible gourmet "experience" for personal and corporate events. This involves ultimately getting our own Event Venue, to create beautiful ambiance around our seasonal menu offerings. We want the space to inspire, and be the hub for our surrounding communities to come together, and have fun! We want to be at the center of those events, and become a regular participant in the vibrant charitable projects that abound in Columbus.

We want to be able to offer businesses a specialized program, just for them, centered around food! You know...the companies that treat their employees like family, they work and party together. We have sooo many tasty ideas for them!

All the while, we're always learning about our industry. Food trends, event planning trends, new flavors and our conversion toward more whole foods, buying local, and collaborating with some of the other awesome businesses in Columbus! We have so many ideas for menus and packages and fun ideas! And Columbus, OH has such a vibrant and growing food and entertainment scene, that we're confident we have very specific offerings for everyone, and every type of event.

Your vote for us, in this grant competition for $250,000, would be life changing for our little business. We've got HUGE heart, and have been plugging along, producing beautiful, delicious events. And giving our lives to each of our clients, making sure they feel they received the best overall experience, has been truly rewarding! But how can we NOT be giddy with excitement! Excitement for how much more we could be. How much more we could offer!

We ask for your vote today! Whether we win or lose, we'll keep going, and plan to make all our wonderful ideas realities for our community.

But with your vote, and this grant, we can do it so much quicker!

Click the picture to Vote Now!

Please help us get to 250 Facebook votes by November 15th, 2013! Go here, to Taste Of The Best Catering's "Mission Main St. Grant" Contest Profile Page, and click the big green "Vote Now" button, to the left of the page. If you aren't already signed into Facebook, the site will ask you to log in to Facebook FIRST, then it will count your vote. That's it! If you're already signed in to Facebook, your vote will count instantly.

Thank you for your time.

As Always, It Is Our Pleasure To Serve You!
Join me on Google Plus here: Jenine Blackwell

Taste Of The Best Catering is a minority-owned & operated catering company. Our mission is to create delicious gourmet comfort food memories, with elevated flavors & visual presence. Success comes from going the extra mile for clients, and it shines through in the results. Our highly visual online presence is often the 1st impression our clients get. They can start to dream about what they'll get from us, as caterers. It makes us unique in the client's eye, and begins a great relationship. - See more at: https://www.missionmainstreetgrants.com/account/questionnaire#sthash.E1tyKN4a.dpuf

Are You Ready For Some Football Tailgating? Start Here

2013-10-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

October is full steam ahead, with half of the month gone already. You can tell, because we're all pretty much in a Football Overload Frenzy at this point. Whether you're a fanatic yourself, or just surround yourself with them, when the air starts getting crisp there's one main question being asked....ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!!

Columbus, OH is Buckeye Nation, so on Saturdays, we all know what's going down! Ohio State Buckeye Football! But at this point, there's Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, Thursday Night Football, a Friday Night Lights at the High Schools, and a barrage of college & NFL games on Saturdays! It's a football lovers' paradise! And what goes perfect with football? Tailgating!

Tailgating is the Ultimate Fan Party, and no matter who your favorite team is, there are some essentials to tailgating right. One of the most important parts is the food! Now don't get us wrong. Sometimes you just need some snacks to munch throughout the day, while watching a weekend lineup of various games. And grabbing the quickest or nearest fast food / convenience store munchies works for the purpose.

But then sometimes, that BIG game is coming. Your FAVORITE team is playing! You and your friends are going to be tailgating, hyped up with serious game-faces! And because this game is such a big freakin deal, you want to make sure everyone has some GOOD EATS too!

One tried and true way to pull off great tailgating food, is to incorporate grilling into your tailgating festivities. Grilling has almost become synonymous with tailgating, probably for a few reasons. One being the fact that tailgating is prior to the actual game start. So grilling your food items can easily be added to the pre-game routine, without you missing out on the party, cooking food. You can enjoy the outdoors, music & corn hole games, AND serve up some hot and tasty goods, when the game starts. Another reason grilling fits so well, is because you get to impart some really great flavor in almost anything you serve up, for game-time snacks, when they're cooked on the grill.

Planning your meal ahead of time is a great strategy. I mean, if this is your teams' big game, you want to make sure your tailgating party is up to snuff too! In order to help football fans nationwide, Taste Of The Best Catering has created 3 different "Tailgate Grilling Combo Packs", to help make your tailgating meal prep easy, and the results delicious.

Taste Of The Best Catering had a wonderful opportunity early in the football season to work with USAF (USA Football), Tyson Chicken, and Stubbs BBQ Brand, on their USAF Nationwide Tailgating Tour of high school football games. We worked with them as the caterers' that prepared Tyson Chicken samples with Stubb's BBQ marinades and sauces. And they are pretty darn good! My favorite one was the Sweet Heat, but there are 4 other flavors!

We liked the marinade & sauces SO much that we jumped on board, to create our own unique packages of Stubb's marinade & sauce combos, for tailgating season. These packages can't be found in these quantities anywhere else online. So take advantage of the unique sets that allow for variety and flavorful tailgating memories.

Each pack comes with a certain number of Bottles of Citrus & Onion Marinade & these sauce variations: Original, Spicy, Smokey Mesquite, Sticky Sweet & Sweet Heat.

Go here for the 3 pack details & ordering: http://bit.ly/GrillSauce-3pk
Go here for the 5 pack details & ordering: http://bit.ly/Grillsauce-5pk
Go here for the 8 pack details & ordering: http://bit.ly/Grillsauce-8pk

Any of these packs can be shipped anywhere in the United States. So find out when YOUR big game is, and make sure to order prior, so your sauce gets to you on time!

Check out some of our tailgating inspiration boards on Pinterest, if you're feeling frisky about cooking for the next game, or want to match some tasty side dishes with your grilled meats and veggies.

Or you could hire the professionals! Stay tuned for catered tailgating menus from Taste Of the Best Catering, in upcoming posts!

Join me on Google Plus here: Jenine Blackwell

GO BUCKS & Please share with your friends and family!

Who is your favorite football team? Have you ever thrown the Ultimate Tailgating Party? What made it memorable? What food did you serve? Leave a comment below, and share your football fan tips and experiences!

FREE China Place Settings Rental For Your Catered Company Holiday Party

2013-10-17T06:45:00.000-04:00

Since October is half over, we might as well go ahead and get the holiday season kicked off! Once we pass Halloween, it seems like the days literally FLY by....... the year is over. It's all gonna be a blur from now on people! :-)

So before we all really get caught up in the 2013 Holiday Season, let's take a moment and try to plan some things out. Like that company holiday party that you're always in charge of organizing, and every year, it creeps up on you. Before you know it, it's almost Thanksgiving, and no one in the office has even discussed the planning yet! YIKES! Realistically, at that point, it's kind of late in the game for planning. That doesn't mean that you can't pull it off, but it does limit the options your company has.

In thinking about how we can be "The Best" for our Columbus, OH customers, we got to thinking about what we could do specifically for businesses this year. Here's what we came up with!

Taste Of The Best Catering is giving Columbus, OH businesses an early holiday gift!!

If your company books your catered company holiday party with us, by October 31st 2013, for any available date remaining in 2013, we'll give you the "Real China Place Settings Rental Package" for 20-50 guests FREE!!

Our gift to you is an 9 piece place setting, with 1 salad dressing carafe and salt & pepper shaker set per table.

This package has a value of $156 to $390, depending on how many guests your corporate party has!!!

Many times, the event budget for Company Holiday Parties is tight, and having real place settings gets dropped from the plan, because of the added expense, outside of the food.

But real china place settings add such a level of elegance to any event. And holiday parties usually have more of a decor element, mainly because The Season has more of a decor element. Place settings with charger plates, colored napkins and a small centerpiece can sometimes add just enough, to serve as the complete decor of your party space.

This gift is only available for our corporate catering clients, and only one gift is redeemable per event, and can't be used with any other discounts. Also, your event doesn't have to be a "Holiday" event, it can be anything, like customer appreciation, employee appreciation, grand opening, or networking event.

If you're planning a personal catered holiday event, stay tuned, we'll have a pretty valuable gift for you folks as well!!

Don't miss out on this valuable gift from Taste Of The Best Catering. Visit our website, and request a catering quote for your upcoming corporate holiday party, or give us a call at 614-358-4559 with your questions. Get a jump start on your holiday planning AND save some money!

If you're just getting started with your company holiday party planning, don't forget to jump over on our Pinterest boards for some inspiration. And Like our page on Facebook, so you don't miss out on our holiday countdown with tips, recipes and decor inspiration!

Please share this great deal with all your corporate friends in Columbus!
Join me on Google Plus here: Jenine Blackwell

What was the most memorable company holiday party you've attended, and why was it so memorable?

Please comment below, and share your memory with us!

Seen The New Watermelon Oreos Yet? Yumm or Yuck?

2013-06-19T17:38:00.000-04:00

Watermelon Oreos: Yumm or Yuck?

The crew over at Oreo are at it again!

Watermelon, a crowd favorite during the summer has gone junk food! Have you seen these yet? Summertime Limited-Edition Watermelon Oreos. What do you think? Leave a classic ALONE? Or, Walk on the Watermelon Wild-Side? Or maybe just stick with the real thing!

They've taken the classic deliciousness of the Old-School Oreo and created another flavor mash up, this time for summer 2013. The Limited-Edition Watermelon Oreo is available in Target store now. But how will these be received by the public?

This definitely isn't the first time that Oreo has released limited versions of flavor plays on their chocolate and golden Oreo cookies.

With "Candy Corn", "Shur Bert", and "Mint" flavored creme fillings being offered, I guess this is no surprise. And they picked a whopper of a flavor for summer! Watermelon! I mean....come on! I have only come across a few people in life, that didn't like watermelon! It's a crowd-pleaser, when the heat starts to rise. So Kudos on the flavor choice.

I have to admit that we're classic Oreo lovers, here at Taste Of The Best Catering.

So these other flavors haven't really enticed me, because usually, I don't tend to enjoy most artificial fruit flavorings. But I did come across the Shur Bert flavored golden Oreos a while back in Walmart, and bought them. (Who knows why....I think I liked the colors...lol) They were interestingly different, but only for about 2-3 cookies worth. Then the flavoring became too sweet, and the familiar fake-flavoring aftertaste started to creep in. I haven't tried the new Watermelon Oreos yet. In theory, they sound good, I guess. But in reading about them, they seem to not have any natural flavoring in them (obviously), so in my mind, the melon flavor would need to be very mild, in hopes of leaving the aftertaste out of the picture. Hopefully someone I know will buy some, and I can grab a few to try.

Taste Of The Best Catering Pinterest Board
"Wonderful Watermelon - NOW IN SEASON"

In the meantime, I'll go with fresh watermelon!

Peak season for watermelon is Mid-June through August, so we're in full swing right now! Fresh watermelon is Lycopene rich. Lycopene gives the watermelon it's red color, and is one of the most effective antioxidants found in fresh foods! Watermelon contains Iron, Zinc, Protein and Fiber, and also has anti-inflammatory properties as well.

If you would like to indulge yourself in this summertime cool down treat, check out our "Wonderful Watermelon" Pinterest Board.

What do you think about the new Watermelon Oreos? Leave a classic ALONE? Or walk on the Watermelon Wild Side?

Leave a comment and share!
Join me on Google Plus here: Jenine Blackwell

The "No-Fuss BBQ Cookout" Catering Menu: Perfect For BBQ Cookouts, Family Reunions and Summer Backyard Parties

2013-05-29T06:30:00.000-04:00

The "No-Fuss BBQ Cookout" Catering Menu: Perfect For BBQ Cookouts, Family Reunions and Summer Backyard Parties

Summertime is officially here on June 21st, 2013. Get ready for all the season's celebrations with catering from Taste Of The Best Catering!

It's finally getting warm around Columbus, OH. We had a little cold snap in the last week or so, but now it's back to sunny days and warm nights! We LOVE summertime, here at Taste Of The Best Catering, because the warm weather allows for awesome parties, held in outdoor venues, or inside. Imagine daytime graduation celebrations ushering in the season. Late nights in the backyard, with tiki torches illuminating the space, and good conversation with friends. And the usual family reunion, where we see family we haven't seen in a long time. Pulling out the grill for BBQ's......summer time is the perfect backdrop for all the awesome parties you've been waiting all year to throw!

We love a good party around here, and June will usher in our new summer menus. With so many beautiful natural spaces around Columbus, to enjoy, why not start the season with a No-Fuss BBQ Cookout!

The "No-Fuss BBQ Cookout" - Simple 5 Step Process

Pick a perfect spot around Columbus, OH.
Invite your family and friends to gather.
Call us to secure your event date & menu.
We show up with your food, hot, ready & delicious.
You enjoy great food, great company & great times in the summer sun!!!

The "No-Fuss BBQ Cookout" Catering Menu $10.60 per person

This package is a grilled cookout/picnic menu for 50 people, and consists of:

35 servings - 1/4lb Grilled Hamburgers & Buns
30 servings - Grilled Brats & Buns
35 servings - BBQ Grilled Chicken Breasts
35 servings - Lettuce & Tomato Tray
40 servings - Baked Beans
50 servings - Potato Salad
3 Large Garden Salads - 36 people total

50 servings - Double Chocolate Fudge Brownies
Ranch & Italian Dressing
Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo & Relish

We wanted to make sure this was truly a No-Fuss experience, so Drop-Off Service is part of this package. It includes all the warming trays and fuel needed to keep the hot food hot, as well as bowls and servings utensils for your side items.

Throw a simple, easy and delicious get-together of summertime favorites for 50 people, right around $600.00 total!!

This Menu Can Be Customized!

Of course, you can order this package for any number of guests you like. You can also customize it with other menu items, like Mini Mac & Cheese Bites, with 5 cheeses and bacon crumb topping .......... or our ChocoNut StrawBana Gourmet Cold Pizza, or our Chicken Wing Trio! These customized menus will effect the total price, but will still be well worth the choice towards a delicious day in the sun. The options mentioned, happen to be some of our customer favorites!

Perfect for Graduation Parties, Backyard Parties, Large Picnics, Employee Cookouts & Family Reunion catering.

Regardless of your reason to party, Taste Of The Best Catering can help you make wonderful memories this summer......(and do you really NEED a reason to party in the summertime???)

Call us now at 614-358-4559 to request a Menu Quote, or go here: Request A Menu Quote and fill out the form.

At Taste Of The Best Catering, It's Always Our Pleasure To Serve!
Join me on Google Plus here: Jenine Blackwell

Graduation Season Is Here Columbus, OH! Party Time!

2013-05-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

It's Time For "The March of Caps & Gowns" (Graduations)

With so many Universities and Colleges around the Central Ohio area, the season of the graduate is in full swing here in Columbus. May started off with many spring ceremonies, and we've catered quite a few of them already (pictures to come soon)! Now's the time to start getting prepared for your celebrations, because Columbus City Schools High School Graduations are coming up next.

Ceremonies will commence next week from May 28th - June 6th, 2013! Check out our chart, and mark your calendar!!!

Celebrate Your Graduates' Accomplishments with a Party

All graduates deserve a party! Whether your child is graduating, or You're the proud graduate.....Let us serve you in celebration. It takes a drive and commitment to make it to the end. It's an investment in the future, and we recognize that it deserves something special.

We want you to celebrate you or your child's academic accomplishments! So Taste Of The Best Catering is

offering a "PROUD PARENT GPA DISCOUNT".

What's the Proud Parent GPA Discount?

Taste Of The Best Catering is offering this special to parents with a child graduating, or adults graduates with a 3.5 GPA or better!!! With proof of the final quarter GPA, we'll deduct a total of 15% off the food total of your menu quote. 20% off for a 4.0 GPA!!! How can you pass that up? We want your celebration to be affordable, and we want everyone who deserves a party to be able to afford it. I mean, someone DID just graduate. That already has a price tag! :-)

What if the GPA is lower than 3.5? There's a Discount For You Too!

All graduates deserve a party! Whether you graduated on the honor roll or not, it's still a huge accomplishment! Any graduate in the Central Ohio/Columbus area that is having a graduation party and needs catering, we'll give you a 10% discount off the food total of your menu quote. Just like our page on Facebook, and share the graduation post. We'll apply your discount once it's confirmed!

Reserve your graduation party catering now! The time is coming up fast! Call us at 614-358-4559 to reserve your party date!

Or go here to request a menu quote: http://www.tasteofthebestcatering.com/#!__request-a-menu-quote

Stay tuned for some of our graduation catering pictures.

Join me on Google Plus here: Jenine Blackwell

Tea Party Catering Has Arrived With Spring, Thanks Downton Abbey!

2013-03-21T08:30:00.000-04:00

It's Officially Spring!

Even though in Columbus, OH, it's not feeling much like spring yet, the signs are here. Little flower buds pushing through the dirt, an extra hour of daylight, and hopefully warmer temperatures.....(we can only hope). For Taste Of The Best Catering, spring also ushers in a new year of food trends. The first 3 months of the year are packed with various food shows that highlight what we'll see trending for the upcoming year, in food and cooking. And 2013 will be an exciting year for food!

One of the front runners in the 2013 Food Trend Pack, is Tea!

Tea has officially got its SEXY back, and is growing up with a whole market niche of specialized equipment, brewers, and gourmet artisan tea lines. Tea is stepping out of the shadows of it's big brother, Coffee, and taking center stage, with the help of pop culture phenomenons like the hit series "Downton Abbey". This popular British TV show has inspired a new-found interest in Tea Parties!

Tea Parties are the NEW Brunch!
Well.....maybe not the new brunch, but it's definitely becoming a popular requested theme here at Taste Of The Best Catering, and we LOVE it!

If you think about it, a traditional "High Tea" service has all the components of an awesome catered party. Lots of variety, with filling tasty little bites of sweet and savory tidbits, fresh fruits and canapes, with a soothing assortment of teas to choose from. Also, the nature of a tea party inspires "grazing", meaning your guests can serve themselves, when they wish, from an assortment of choices, making the party atmosphere more casual in tone. Also, because of the small portion size of menu options, the meal overall is kept light. This type of menu theme is perfect for:

Bridal Showers
Bride-To-Be Tea - The perfect introduction for all the ladies of the bride.
Rehearsal Tea - Instead of a rehearsal dinner, why not have an afternoon rehearsal tea!
Birthday Parties
Garden Parties - For some reason, this theme is a perfect fit with Garden Parties. I don't know why, but when we think of tea, gardens come to mind........
Mother's Day - Gather all the mothers in your life, and celebrate the day with "High Tea" instead of brunch!
Baby Showers - The mother-to-be and her guests can enjoy tasty bites and soothing decaffeinated tea, as she opens her gifts, and celebrated her coming bundle of joy!
Women's Club Luncheons - What's better than sitting around with your ladies, chatting, munching, sipping, and networking!
"Downton Abbey" Viewing Party - You know who you are! If this is one of your favorite shows on TV right now, like so many other people, then this party is a MUST for you! Gather your fellow D.A.'ers, and recreate a part of one of your favorite shows. How can you resist?

Taste Of The Best Catering Has Created a

"Downton Abbey Themed" Tea Party Menu.

Now, Columbus, OH residents can join in the "Tea" food trend revolution AND throw a elegant memorable party all at the same time! From an assortment of traditional British tea time hors' doeuvres, as well as some Taste Of The Best Catering twists on the familiar! Our Catered Tea Party Menu has a variety of options for you to choose.

Pick any 3 Sweet or Savory Scones: ($4.00-$5.50pp)

Real Blueberry-Lemon Scones
Apple-Cinnamon Spiced Scones
Orange-Cranberry Cream Cheese Scones
Gruyere Cheese, Sweet Apple & Sage Scone
Crispy Bacon, Swiss & Scallion Scones
Rosemary-Cheddar Scones
Sun Dried Tomato, Basil & Feta Cheese Scones

Pick any 3 Petite Tea Sandwiches:

($3.00-$4.50pp)

Cucumber & Dill Infused Butter
Coronation Chicken ( Cumin Spiced Chicken w/Mango Chutney Spread on sweet bread)
Avocado & Egg Salad
Peach Chicken Salad
Pumpernickel & Smoked Salmon Pate Pinwheels
Pesto Chicken on Petite Rounds w/grape tomato

Pick any 2 Sweets or Tarts: ($2.50-$3.50 pp)

Twice Dipped Strawberries (dipped in Milk Chocolate, then creamy hazelnut)
Watermelon Kiwi Twills w/white chocolate drizzle
Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows
Strawberry Cheesecake Volcanoes
Cranberry & Lemon creme mini tarts w/brown sugar sprinkle

Pick any 2 Egg Bites: ($1.75-2.50 pp)

Ham, Asparagus & Cheddar Mini Quiche
Red Onion, Tomato & Red Pepper Provolone Mini Quiche
Bacon, Swiss & Scallion Mini Quiche
Buffalo Chicken Deviled Eggs
Avocado Chipotle & Bacon Deviled Eggs
Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs
Tarragon Deviled eggs with Capers & Crispy Ham

The package can include assorted gourmet teas, with cream, lump sugar and honey. We also offer all the designer disposables necessary for your tea and food service. For a more formal feel, you can rent our real china and carafe service. Or we can provide the food and YOU provide the tea!

If you'd like more information about our Tea Party Catering Package, please call us at 614-358-4559, or visit our website, and fill out our "request for quote" form. Someone will contact you within 24 hours to discuss the details of your tea party menu.

Let Taste of the Best Catering help you usher in Spring, with a "High Tea" Catered Party! A unique and memorable experience, bringing a 19th century British tradition together with 21st century catering!

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Catering For A Fall Themed Wedding!

2010-11-05T09:15:00.004-04:00

Fall is one of my favorite seasons! Too bad it feels like it's almost over. I just wanted to share some beautiful pictures from one of our Fall Themed wedding reception, that we catered on October 10, 2010. Yep, 10/10/10. The bride said that they came up with that date, so the groom could remember! It was our pleasure to work with this young couple.

This couple had a country wedding, and the groom took the time out to lay out brand new landscaping, for the ceremony area of the wedding. It was so beautiful, and original! And it made the ceremony that much more special.

They used bales of hay, and blankets, along with some white folding chairs, to create this beautiful fall space. They also used lots of fall flowers and vegetables, for table centerpieces, and decor of the ceremony space.

We tried to blend the colors and decoration pieces on the food tables to resemble the tone and color scheme that the bride chose. She had various shades of rust, copper, orange, gold, and tan. We jazzed up our food tables with some of the same colors to make the overall look cohesive.

They had a cocktail hour, before dinner, where we served Curried Butternut Squash & Pear Soup Shooters. We also had a duo of Honey BBQ & Spicy Marinara Meatballs. And to top if all off, we had Turkey & Provolone Deli Pinwheels.

We continued the fall themed colors and decor over to the dinner buffet tables. We offered Spinach & Feta Stuffed Chicken Breast, wrapped in bacon, with an apple cider gravy on the side.

The other entree was Prime Rib with Au Jus, cooked to desired temp. The side dishes were Artichoke Potato Au Gratin and Carrot & Asparagus Bundles.

We also made sure that once the dinner started, and the sun went down, that everyone would be able to see what they were eating.

So we made sure that there was lighting on the tables, and up-lighting behind the food tables. It created a beautiful ambiance for a luckily warm "Indian Summer" night.

The bride created her own wedding cake, which was still fall themed, and 3 different flavors. She creates beauties like this one, everyday, at "Short North Piece of Cake".

It was a wonderful night. I couldn't have been any more perfect. We were all worried that it would be windy and cold, since that had been the trend in weather. But they got really lucky, to pick the one Sunday of the month, where it was beautiful sun, warm temperatures, and no wind! That should be a sign of great things to come for their marriage! Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Flowers! It was our pleasure to be the Columbus catering company, that they chose to share their special day!

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First Steps To Choosing the Best Caterer

2010-10-04T17:21:00.001-04:00

The food is one of the most important parts of your event planning. Food transcends, and is a part of the lasting memories in our lives. We tend to include food, in the special moments of our lives, so when you start to look for a caterer for your event, keep the importance of the food, in your mind. Before you start contacting caterers for your events, there are a few things, that you should think about and decide on, so that the caterer can give you as much accurate, relevant information as possible. It's somewhat redundant to ask for pricing information, before you've thought about what you want first. So to make the most out of your time, take a moment to decide on some key components of your event menu.

The first thing you should establish, is the venue where you will have your event. This should be picked
out first, because it will determine how much research you need to do, to find a caterer. Some venues
have in-house catering, that you must use, to rent the venue. If you know that you want to pick your
caterer, then this will be a key factor in picking your venue. Once you have your venue picked out, and
are sure that you can bring in an outside caterer, now your caterer search can begin.

The best placed to start, would be to ask family and friends for catering referrals. If someone you know
has had a great experience with a caterer, why not try them first. Whether you go with a referral or
start from scratch, you'll need to have a basic idea of what you'd like from the caterer, before you
request a caterer quote.

1. You need to have an estimated guest count.
Most caterers will price the menu, by a per person rate. Also, having an approximate guest count will
help you set a budget for your food. The more guests you have, the more carefully you need to create
your menu, to consider cost. Small changes will greatly effect your total price, because of the large
guest count.

2. You need to have a realistic understanding of pricing.
Before you set your price per person, please make sure that you consider everything that you are paying
for, in hiring a caterer. Realistic pricing, for a caterer, is nothing like the cost of the food you buy
for your home, or even at a restaurant, for that matter. Take a moment to think about a few things.

*What you pay, for your home food bill, is for food at it's basic stage - not prepared or served. So it
would be obviously lower in total dollars spent.

We can take it a step further, and think about what we pay for a fast food combo meal, these days. They
run, on average, $5-$8 per meal. That meal usually consists of a sandwich, fries, and a drink. There's
some variation, but for the most part, it's quick easy foods. Mass productions of what we would quickly
make at home, for ourselves. Now apply that thought, to how much your budget for a caterer will be.

*I know times are tough, but to put your menu budget at $5-$8 per person is not realistic, if your trying to
give your guests a full sized dinner entree and 2 side dishes, of a memorable gourmet meal, above the
comparison to a fast food combo meal!

Now, if your budget is tight, that's okay. You just have to rethink what your menu offerings will be.
You may not be able to go for the full dinner, that you originally wanted. Instead, try to stretch your
per person rate with appetizers/finger foods, and go for a cocktail reception, instead of a full dinner.
Your guests can still get a variety of foods to eat, but your not breaking your budget with a full meal.

*Get smaller quantities of different appetizers, to offer variety. But unveil different appetizers through
the night to stretch them.

When establishing your per person budget, consider what else you are receiving, from hiring a caterer, VS. not.
Your time and energy can be focused on enjoying the day. If you don't have a planner, coordinating your wedding day, hiring a caterer will at least allow for more time for other things. You are paying, in essence, for your time. Time that would be spent on buying the necessary food items and supplies, time spent preparing the foods, and the time out of your wedding day to set up, serve and replenish the food. All this time is reclaimed, when you hire a caterer. What is that time worth to you? It should be reflected in your per person budget!

3. Know what type of menu is your 1st choice.I don't mean that you have to know what you want on the menu. Just have a general idea of your
preference. Are you having more of a cocktail hour reception, with appetizers only, being passed around?
Or would you rather have a more traditional dinner, with 2-3 entree choices, and multiple sides? Whatever your preference is, it is vital information to have, before you start requesting quotes from a caterer.

****Rules of Thumb****
*The more information you can give the caterer, initially, the more accurate the quote will be, toward
what you want.

*Try to have the venue picked out before looking for a caterer. The venue choice may dictate who can
provide the food. Ask the venue about their catering policy.

*Make sure you know who will provide the place settings, linens, tables, etc. You or the Caterer? Get
it in writing!

Good luck with your planning, and be creative!

Join me on Google Plus here: Jenine Blackwell

Best Sweetest Day Gift in Columbus

2010-09-27T16:49:00.000-04:00

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Ohio State Buckeye Tailgating

2010-08-30T13:39:00.000-04:00

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Columbus Caterer Celebrates National Peach Month!

2010-08-23T14:28:00.000-04:00

August is National Peach Month!

Did you know it's National Peach Month!

August is the time to celebrate one of my favorite fruits, the peach! There's something about this fuzzy fruit, that has always made it a favorite of mine. Maybe it's how my mother used to call me a peach-fuzz monkey, when I was little. Or told me that little peaches would grow...in my armpits....no less! Fond childhood memories often have a tie with food. So I'm always excited to celebrate peach month. When the peaches are in season, and in abundance! Check out how Taste Of The Best Catering celebrates the peach this month! But first...some tips on how to find the best ones.

The History of the Peach
Since I love the peach so much, I thought I would dig up some history of this wonderful fruit. The peach came from China, originally, and was regarded as a "Mystic Fruit". It was supposed to bring luck, abundance and protection. Because of it's ability to grow in eroded, grazing pastures, it then became regarded as a symbol of fertility and affection. Once they were on the move around the world, many different strains became abundant. The Native American were known to LOVE peaches. They were found in many different tribal areas. In this day an age, peaches can be grown in most climates. So your chances of getting hold of some fresh ripe ones this month are very good. Columbus has some great farms, that are overflowing right now!

Clingstone Vs. Freestone - What's the Difference?

A Cling-stone Peach

Have you ever heard of these 2 versions? I never had, even though I guess I knew there was a difference, just in trying to enjoy them. Clingstone peaches are the "pain in the butt" ones, that never come clean from the pit. Now I've stumbled onto this difference, just in trying to cut a peach for fruit salad. These peaches are meant more for canning and baking purposes. Basically, anything where a beautiful "CLEAN" slice of peach isn't necessary. When your canning, and baking, the way the cut of fruit looks, isn't important. There's nothing wrong with these peaches. They do tend to be harder in texture, and not as juicy. But they are still good.

The freestone peaches are my favorite, for obvious reasons. Because the pit practically falls out of the peach for you. No hassles, no ugly pieces, just yummy juicy sweet peach! These are the best kind for eating fresh. And if you have the chance to visit one of our awesome local farms in Columbus OH, then you're in for a treat! One of my favorites is Lynd's Fruit Farm in Pataskala. It's not too far, and easy to find. GREAT prices, and they have farm fresh veggies, as well as fruit. You can also pick your own. Just look for good color on the peach, no obvious soft spots or bruises, and a great smell. I'll write more on them at a later date. Check them out!

A Special Catering Homage to the Peach!

Okay, so I already said that I love peaches. So, this month, we have some peach inspired menu items for everyone to enjoy. We've created a special chilled soup, which is one of my favorites. We just previewed it, at an VIP art gallery opening, and it's been a hit! It's called Chilled Curry Peach Soup Refresher. We serve this as a bowl, cup, or our popular favorite, a appetizer shot! It it yellow and white peaches, with curry, and a secret kick that makes it almost like a liquid peach cloud in your mouth! Sounds good huh?

Then we have the peach bellini. You know, champagne and anything is a pretty good combo! A wonderful lite summer drink, that is great for brunch, a before dinner drink, or a nice lite offering to pair with appetizers. It's highlighted with a fresh raspberry, and served ice cold. And the flavor from using fresh peaches is outstanding. This can also be done in a non-alchoholic version, with sparkling cider, or apple juice, which is great for a Sweet 16 party, or for non-drinkers.

My last favorite would of course be peach pie. We will be highlighting a great recipe for that tomorrow, since it will be National Peach Pie Day!...I know....a little bit much...right?!? But who can resist peach pie, made with fresh peaches, and some vanilla bean ice cream! YUMMY!

Check out our website for our catering menu selections.
If you would like to get pricing or order some of our delicious peach items for your next event contact us at 614-358-4559.

Happy Peach Eating!
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Columbus Caterer Favorite-RUM!!! It's National Rum Day!

2010-08-16T14:08:00.000-04:00

Today is National Rum Day! A great reason to enjoy this sugarcane based libation.

So the history of rum dates back to before Christopher Columbus brought sugar cane to the Caribbean. Once it landed there, the fermenting process was applied to sugarcane liquid....and then you have RUM...named by the French. It's true home now is found in the islands of the Caribbean, because it's one of their countries main exports. National Rum Day falls on the last day of the sugarcane harvest on the islands. In Barbados today, they will be having the "Mardi Gras of Rum' Celebration, in honor of this day.

As a Columbus catering company, we're always using flavored rums in our sauces, and marinades. We even use it in our balsamic brown sugar peach marinade. This is a marinade made for ripe peaches to then be grilled. The rum adds a wonderful flavor to the peaches, and thickens with the balsamic vinegar, to make a wonderful sweet glaze on the grilled peaches. This little gem works wonderfully on top of vanilla ice cream, or surprisingly...pork chops!

And of course, there are the drinks that you can mix, with various rums. Take a moment to enjoy National Rum Day today! Pull together some friends, and hit your favorite local bar, for rum drink specials today...at happy hour. Or stay home and be the bartender. Here are some great rum drink recipes, from the leader in Fine Rum, Mount Gay Brand.

Check out our Facebook Page, for more ideas on how to use Rum, to celebrate the National Holiday today!

And always check out our official Columbus Caterer website to see what new menu items we have added, as well as themed holiday specials.

Join me on Google Plus here: Jenine Blackwell