September is Wedding Month in Connecticut!!

What a season!!!!  Well, the economy is certainly on the rebound!!  We are busy!  September reigns again as the busiest wedding month of the year – though Becky still insists winter weddings are the best…  That is another post!

The Cantering Caterer was just selected to cater and provide event design work for Earthplace in Westport!  This is their annual fundraiser and their first actually at Earthplace!  The space is fantastic.  It features dozens of acres of woods and hiking trials, a wildlife sanctuary (with some pretty amazing rare birds of prey!), a play-based pre-school, a dynamite space for a corporate retreat, or even a fantastic outdoor wedding.  Please be sure to check out their event calendar – you would not believe the things they are doing right under our noses…!  Visit, join, participate!

We are doing an event at an estate (one of our favorite clients homes!) this weekend featuring Senator Coburn from Oklahoma, 2 Events for the new David YurmanStore in Westchester, and getting ready for Rosh Hashana next week…

We have a very intimate and special wedding in Milford – the property is fantastic, a really nice wedding at the Fairfield Beach Club, – the last wedding we did there saw a full moon that simply melted into the horizon, and we are providing food for a clients jet as their family travels to Asia for a quick vacation… Lots going on!

We are pleased to announce that Jeanette Buttner has joined our staff. Jeanette runs our offices (and helps keep Christian organized!!!!!!) and assists with customers. She is usually the happy voice you hear on the phone. She is near the completion of a BA from WCSU in Danbury, CT. Jeanette sings with The Naugatuck Valley Community College Choir and Vox Concordis in Waterbury and Saint Thomas More Chapel at Yale University in New Haven. Jeanette is a member of the Performing Arts Collaborative in New Haven and is currently working on their production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
We are very excited to have Jeanette on board.

We have enjoyed this summer’s harvest from our own organic vegetable plot! Our success was overwhelming (well, my mother and Becky’s success)! The tomatoes, lettuce’s, squash, peppers… You name it! We will definitely expand this next year – don’t miss out on the late season corn available now – the sweetest of the year! My kids will even eat it without butter – for those that know my kids, that is a big deal!!

Summer is the time to party.

Well, summer is here and it’s time to plan your outdoor party.  Whether an intimate wedding on the beach, a cocktail party by the pool, a child’s birthday party, barbeque (BBQ), or a corporate picnic, the staff at The Cantering Caterer are here to help you plan and produce the best party ever.  We take pride in our clients’ happiness!!

Grilling is the summer thing and our chefs love it.  Combined with cool and festive salads – many of our veggies are from local and organic farms -  we can complete a meal that stands out from the norm.  Color, flavor, texture….  Don’t forget just the right location to take the party over the top.

A wedding on the beach in Westport is just so romantic – we did one on Compo last week. The cool breeze and spectacular sunset just made it perfect!!  Grilled Peach Glazed Chicken Breast, crunchy natural Hot Dogs and Rich Manâ Burgers served with Watermelon, Tomato & Cucumber Salad, Quattro Potato Salad with Rosemary Infused Olive Oil and a Baby Spinach/ Blueberry/ Strawberry Salad with a Poppy Seed Dressing will thrill you guests.  We are doing a similar menu for a Fourth of July Party this week!

A cocktail party by the pool is a great way to build business, re-bond the family, or just kick back and relax with friends.  Cool Hemingway Bellini’s, Minty Mojitos and Rum Iced Green Tea by the pool.  Casual fair with a flair.  Panko Fried Chicken Tidbits with Ginger Apricot Glaze, mini Sirloin Sliders with Balsamic Shallots, mini Pork Tacos with Mango Salsa, Sesame Crusted Tuna with Wasabi Foam, Grilled Ripe Carolina Peaches with Balsamic Drizzle, and maybe some Connecticut Oyster or Clam Spicy Shooters.  Make a Sunday evening one to remember.

Kid’s birthday parties can have two slightly different menus to appeal to everyone.  Mini Hot Dogs, grilled Meatloaf Dogs (easier to eat than a Burger), grilled Polenta Sticks along with Melon Wedges will thrill the kids with all sorts of condiments.  Hummel Long Dogs, assorted Brats and Sausages and Rosemary Chicken Kebobs served with Grilled Polenta Cakes, Broccolini & Shiitake Salad and a Radicchio, Chive and Parsley.  Condiments such as Sweet Onion and Pepper Relish, Honey Mustard, roasted Tri Colored Peppers and Roasted Garlic Eggplant Tapenade round out the party.  Make your own Ice Cream Sundaes for dessert!  We just found a small company in Port Chester that makes purple ice cream!

Treat your company for a job well done in the first half of the year by throwing a family corporate picnic.  There are many state and town parks that can be utilized as a venue – Compo Beach in Westport, Sherwood Island State Park, Penfield Pavillion in Fairfield, the list goes on…  Some have covered facilities, just in case.  Start off with grilled Pizzas with Humus, Grilled Veggies and Parmesan Cheese.  Or, maybe some Pulled Pork Sliders?  Blueberry Iced Tea and Raspberry Lemonade to cool everyone down.  Barbecued Boneless Chicken is the dish of the day.  Both dark and white meat seasoned well and served with a variety of barbeque sauces.  Teriyaki Glaze, Roasted Garlic, Spicy Tex- Mex and a traditional BBQ.  5 Bean Salad, Tri Colored Cheese Tortellini with Basil Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Caesar Salad with Olives and Ricotta Salata Cheese and mini Ciabatta Rolls.  End the day with Iced Caramel Coffees and seasonal Fresh Fruit.  A day your staff will remember.

Whatever your party needs are this summer, The Catering Caterer will be happy to meet your needs with the freshest, most flavorful foods and the a pleasant professional staff to make sure everything is perfect.  Speak to our Event Planners today.  They will help you work out all the details.  Lets have a party!!

Chef Scott G.

Whew!  The snow is gone and apparently summer arrived late last week!  The Cantering Caterer has LOTS going on in this busy time…

May is busy and we are excited to be working, planning, and partying with all of you!!  It is a big summer coming up…  Shaking off the cold and the economic blues.  We have lots of outdoor weddings this summer as people opt for less formal venues – Lots of second weddings too, mine is June 7!!  Very exciting!  The cocktail party season had an early start this year when people heard that last weekend would be in the eighties – our phone started ringing off the hook!  So, shake it off, everything will be alright and Have a Party!

Christian is mentioned in Chinese Weddings By the Knot!  Scroll through a few cocktails, photos, and ingredients!  All are absolutely perfect for Summer!  Some of his ideas are also mentioned in the 2009 Wedding Guide, Boulder Colorado!

-The RiverVine is open and booking fast!  We are excited to start a “Saturday Night Fish Fry on Thursday Nights!”  Beginning Thursday, May 14 from 4:00-9:00pm, The RiveVine will feature a traditional New Orleans Fish Fry menu and live music!  The Cobalt Rythym Kings are playing the 28th from 6:00-9:00pm.  They are amazing and play blues and jazzy favorites from John Lee Hooker, Louis Jordan, and originals…  Check out the Vine website for more info and to make a reservation!!  Kayak fan??  Come check out our new 1938 Folbot wood frame canoe plant holder!  This thing is cool!

-The Cantering Caterer launched a new program to combat hunger in our community.  “Feed our Friends,” is a project to collect safely held leftover foods from caterers and restaurants in Fairfield County and deliver to a shelter in Bridgeport.  This particular shelter feeds 2200 people per day!  Lets take hunger off the table because while we may be hungry, they are starving.  It seems so simple that here in this country, in this county, there are hungry people…  There are.  Let’s help together.

-Follow us of Facebook and Twitter!

What a beautiful day!The threat of spring is in the air, the birds are chirping, the sun shining and there is even a fly buzzing around! I look outside at the pool and long for warmer days, but I can feel it coming and it feels great! The first thing I think of on a day like today is a party!  I have an idea! A kick off to spring BBQ!  Why do we have to wait until summer? The weather is nice enough to light the grill, fresh produce is always available, let’s have a party! We have all been so depressed with the economy the way it is, the beautiful winter is no longer beautiful, we need to end the gloom and doom with some great food, family and friends! Kick off to Spring Menu From the grill
-Thick Chicken Burgers with Pickled Onions and Smokey Red Pepper Sauce- grilled to perfection (a low fat option of course, we need to get rid of that extra winter weight!)

-Cedar plank Grilled Salmon with Cilantro Butter (one of our specialties!)

-Marinated Skirt Steak with Wasabi-Garlic Cream and Artisanal Rolls Side

-Roasted Potato Salad with Chick Peas, Red Swiss Chard, Celery and Bacon Dressing

- Organic Mixed Greens with Fresh Vegetables

- Julienne Carrots, English Cucumber Sticks, Vine Ripened Tomato, garnished with Sweet Potato Chips, Manchego Cheese and Lime-Basil Vinaigrette.

- Orzo with Dried Fruit, Nuts and Herbs infused with Ginger Oil

Dessert¦

-Ginger Cake with Fresh Cinnamon Cream-Macadamia Cookies To drink¦-Fresh Raspberry Mojitos with Fresh Mint, Raspberry Puree and Sugar Cane!-Cucumber Infused Spring Water This menu won’t break the budget, will impress your friends and family and will be a perfect start to a fantastic spring season! Call us at The Cantering Caterer and plan your party now!