Giving back to the local community is extremely important to Artful Foods Catering. One to two times a year, we donate our time, services and food to put on an elegant lunch or dinner to help raise money for a variety of different fundraisers in the greater Los Angeles area. Artful Foods Catering is thrilled to have been a part of Sherman Oaks Elementary Charter’s Annual Spring Gala for the past several years to benefit the school. As part of the auction, we prepared a plated dinner for 18 guests who bid on the dinner, which consisted of three hors d’oeuvres, a four-course dinner and lots of laughter and smiles!
HAPPY AND HUNGRY
The dinner took place outside at a lovely Sherman Oaks home. The table setting was simple yet elegant with gold accents and white napkins, plates and floral arrangements. For the centerpieces, we combined roses and hydrangeas. The key to great centerpieces is to use less flower varieties for beautiful focal points that draw your attention but do not hinder guests from socializing with each other. After everyone arrived, the once empty table was filled with 18 happy and hungry guests.
DINNER IS SERVED
The night started with a cocktail hour of red wine, white wine, champagne, and stationary hors d’oeuvres. The guests enjoyed filo cups with wild mushrooms, shallots, thyme, and Gruyere; flatbread with Prosciutto di Parma, fontina, arugula, fig jam, and fresh black figs; and tuna tartar in sesame miso cones with scallions, sesame seeds, soy, pickled ginger, and tobiko.
After the cocktail hour was completed, it was time for the plated four-course dinner, which consisted of a starter, salad, entrée, and desserts. For the starter, we served corn leek and fennel soup with rock shrimp cake and chive cream. The soup was followed by panzanella, which is a Tuscan bread salad, made with little gems, heirloom cherry tomatoes, Persian cucumbers, fresh mozzarella, Italian green olives, Cibatta croutons, and champagne-basil vinaigrette. Since Jidori chicken has been a popular request, I chose to serve pan-roasted Jidori chicken breast with squash-tomato grain, mascarpone polenta cake and golden raisin sauce. Last but not least, I completed the dinner by preparing some of my favorite family style mini desserts, which included s’more tarts, lemon meringue tarts, strawberry shortcake parfaits, and small white cups with assorted berries.
A SWEET & SAVORY SUCCESS
The dinner was a huge success full of laughter, friends, family, and food! We met an amazing group of individuals and were able to do what we love most, while giving back to the local community. If you are interested in hiring Artful Foods Catering as your caterer at your next event or partnering for an upcoming fundraiser, please email us at info@artfulfoodscatering.com.
Sorry, comments are closed for this post.