Some of the hottest wedding trends for 2012 are all about being unique and interesting with your decor, menu selections, and entertainment. One of these trends involves being less formal and more casual. This does not necessarily mean jeans and tee-shirts rather it’s the idea of being more comfortable or fun. For instance you would forgo the assigned seat sit-down dinner and instead have a family style picnic or even an appetizer and cocktail party. These styles of weddings are perfect for budget conscious brides and grooms but can also be quite luxurious if so desired as well. For example a garden style picnic that’s set in a botanical garden with quail on the menu would be the perfect way to add elegance to a simple idea.

Additionally the days of having a cash bar are over! This trend used to be a way of saving the bride and groom money. In reality this trick doesn’t save that much and just makes you look cheap. There are many other places you can cut corner that will not be noticeable to the guest that are way more cost effective. An alternative option to hosting a cash bar would be to serve just one selection of beer and wine or to host one signature cocktail. It is never really cool to charge your guests for non-alcoholic beverages either so make sure you provide at least water, one juice, and one soda selection as well.

Another fun trend for this spring summer wedding season 2012 is to create a menu that directly reflects the couple getting married. For instance if the bride and groom met in France while abroad at college you could have a classic French theme. Or maybe there is a couple who’s favorite thing to do is to go to baseball games, then something unique to there personal taste might be to serve gourmet concession style food like corn dogs, pretzel twists, caramel corn, fancy nachos, funnel cake, and giant beers!

Regardless what trend your wedding falls into this 2012 spring summer wedding season the most important thing is to remember is that it’s a celebration between you and your spouse and all the rest is just details. Ultimately hiring a professional catering company to handle these details is the easiest way to go about planning an event that is seamless and can be enjoyed by every person attending. If you are in the Boulder area check out the services provided by Savory Cuisines for all your wedding needs.

Loved ones can include a huge array of people like your mom, dad, sister, kids, friends, aunts, neighbors, etc. But the key to pulling off a special Valentines Day meal is to make it unique for your guests. That is, if you are planning a romantic dinner for your wife, you may not want to include everyone else as well. If you really want to wow your spouse or significant other try surprising them with an intimate dinner. Hiring a private chef for this event is a great alternative option to going out to an expensive restaurant. Privates chefs offer personalize service in the convenience of your own home. But just because you are at home doesn’t mean you shouldn’t treat it like a date night. Surprise your loved one by greeting them with a small romantic gesture and arranging for the kids to be at a friend’s house. Or, if you want to host a kid friendly Valentines Day party that everyone can enjoy, plan to serve fun food like heart shaped sandwiches or calzones, mozzarella and tomato salad skewers, heart shaped fried potatoes, and candy roses. It is also a good idea to plan a few fun activities like making homemade cards or writing love poems.

Savory Cuisines Catering offers event planning and meal preparation of all kinds for events both big and small. So if time and preparation are a concern for your upcoming Valentines Day, consider contacting us for quote today. We are here to help you create a Valentines Day celebration that will truly wow your loved ones.

Bob started Savory Cuisines back in 2003 as single father raising a 6 year old daughter. He found that his love for food and events was something that he could excel in as an entrepreneur. At the time when Savory Cuisines emerged, it was a simple private chef entity. Now the company consists of more than 20 regular employees, 30 plus seasonal service staff members, 1 fulltime event planner, 4 delivery vans, and 2 fully functional commercial kitchens.

The truth is, Boulder Colorado’s catering and food scene has not been the same since Savory Cuisines arrival. For those of you who know Bob Sargent, you know that he is passionate about everything he does! Whether we are talking about food, soccer, cycling, running, or making tee-shirts; Bob is an enthusiastic go-getter. Where some people merely dream, Bob can create. He has dedicated his time to learning many different cooking styles and culinary skills over his 20 plus years as a chef. He has taught cooking in Buton and Thailand and has received a variety of training all over the world including a pastry apprenticeship in Switzerland and Germany. He has also been an active participant in the Initiatives for Change World Peace Conference. Since Savory Cuisines start, Bob Sargent has also been a private food consultant for several major organizations, opened two corporate cafeterias and a take-out window, and partnered with Avery Brewery in their restaurant. Savory Cuisines is also a current sponsor the Savory Avery Hop Freaks United Soccer Team, who just won their Division II championships and is now moving up to Division I.

Of course the success of Savory Cuisines is largely due to the efforts of Bob Saregent, but more so, we would not be who we are today as a company without our trusted and loyal clients. A special thank you to the Colorado University of Boulder, CableLabs, and the Sterling Rice Group for your business!

Rembrandt Yard is one of our favorite venues to work at purely because of its premium location and the sheer beauty of the event center. They are located at 1301 Spruce Street right in the heart of downtown Boulder. This venue is bright, airy, and adorned with positively gorgeous art. The floor to ceiling windows not only let in a tremendous amount of light but it also provides an amazing backdrop for any event. This venue can accommodate guests on two different floors which each hold up to 150 people for sit-down dinners and 300 people for stand-up events.

The Boulder Theater is also located in the heart of downtown Boulder and is available for private event rentals. This historical art deco building offers event planners with a vast array of options as it is a multi-use facility. Since this venue is still a fully functional theater, it is great for events like meetings, conferences, concerts, movie screenings, weddings, and family reunions. The Boulder Theater can comfortably hold anywhere from 100 to 700 people for private events and up to 1000 people for concerts.

The Koenig Alumni Center located on the CU campus and is also an historical building. This beautiful building was constructed in 1884 and was originally used as the university president’s place of residence. Over the last 128 years the building has gone through many renovations which have made it one of the most sought after venues in Boulder. The first floor, including the backyard, is available for rent for private events typically from May through mid-August. They do also have some availability during the holidays for those kinds of events as well.

The Stone Mountain Lodge is located in Lyons Colorado which is just north of Boulder. This venue offers the best of what Colorado has in terms of outdoor events even in the rain! Their unique location makes them a convenient choice for those who want a somewhat rustic feel without traveling too far. This venue can easily accommodate 150-200 people per reception tent.

One of the most important things you can do as an event planner or host is to prepare your guests for what they can expect in term of the weather. This means staying on top of weather forecasts and relaying updated information prior to the event. Most of the time even if a sort ceremony is going to be held outdoors the main event is usually not. If you plan to have more than just a short or simple outdoor activity you need to inform your guest of this during the invitation process. Likewise reminding your guests to bring things with them to help keep warm will also be a good idea if it is applicable.

Furthermore accepting the fact that the weather is out of your control will allow you better cope if you encounter changes in your event timeline. Although timelines are important to the success of more formal type events they must also allow for some wiggle room. In cases where roads are closed or extremely backed up, staying in contact with your vendors can help to reduce your stress.

Lastly, it is important to make sure that the venue you are hosting your event at is properly dealing with the weather by shoveling, plowing, and salting icy areas. A weather related accident such as a slip and fall can turn an otherwise wonderful event into a not so great night for a guest. If you have any question on how to plan a winter weather party consulting with a professional Boulder catering company, like Savory Cuisines, is your best bet. Happy safe planning!

The holidays are the perfect time to go the formal route and plan a grand Victorian gala or a black and white (or silver and gold) ball that is decked out with all the trimmings. Your guests will truly feel pampered enjoying a full 5 course sit down dinner accompanied by classic holiday music and bubbling champagne. These kinds of event are not for the budget conscious organization but do leave a lasting impression on all that attend. Other traditional and more economical ideas include such themes as Santa’s workshop, the Nutcracker, Santa’s elves, or a Charlie Brown Christmas. Other fun ideas involve putting a twist on the traditional, like a Vacation Santa theme, where everyone dresses in Hawaiian shirts and sandals, or the Nightmare Before Christmas, where everyone dresses like a Tim Burrton character. Another really cool idea is to bring in a professional well-known local band to help pull off a Rocking Around The Christmas Tree theme. Also very fun and festive are casino night themed parties. These kinds of event always to have some sort of extra draw that helps to ensure the majority of your guests will attend.

For a lot of corporations the holidays are about giving back to their communities and favorite charities. Because of this, holiday charity events, where entire corporations come together and make a significant difference are very rewarding. These events go above and beyond many employees’ expectations and help to give them the sense that they are part of something bigger.

No matter what you do as far themes, decorations, and gift givings are concerned, one thing is certain, the food is always the star of the party! Sorry Santa. In the realm of party planning details there is nothing that stands out more to the guests than the food and beverages that are being serves. Everybody loves food, and bad food or not enough food, can ruin a party very quickly. For this reason if you are planning a corporate holiday party in Boulder you should seriously consider hiring a professional catering company, like Savory Cuisines, to handle the details.

If you are just in the beginning stages of planning your event, here are a few food and health safety tips that can help move you along the way. As with anything else, planning ahead of time is your best defense against encountering problems in the future. If you are planning a large event, where the general public will be attending, you will need to contact your local health department for directions on what type of permits you are required to hold. If food is being served than in most case a temporary food service permit is require. Other instances where a permit is not required to host an event include when that event is to be held in a facility that already has a food permit or when the food is being prepared by a licensed catering company. The health department will also be able to provide you with details regarding where the food should be prepared or stored onsite and menu planning guidelines as well. For example if you are hosting a Christmas fundraiser for children you will not be aloud to serve any peanuts for safety reasons.

The best way to plan a food safe event is to keep the menus simple and to avoid things that require special handling to prevent bacteria growth. Also practicing good health and hygiene is imperative when executing the event. It is important to make sure anyone who is handling food wears gloves and has their hair pulled back. Cleaning up and breakdown also presents opportunities for cross contamination so this process need to be handled with care as well.

When putting on large scale events you are generally not allowed to have any “home cooking” what-so-ever and may only have food that has been produced by a trust licensed catering company. This is because these companies have already been inspected by the health department and are familiar with the kinds of regulations that must be followed.

The most common reason for homelessness in today’s day and age has been attributed to job loss at 34.7%. The inability to pay mortgages and rents come in at the number two reason with 31.2%. Unfortunately alcoholism, drug addiction and violence are also common contributing factors to the growing homeless in our state as well. Many of these homeless people find themselves at the mercy of strangers and charitable faculties to provide them with the most basic of needs. Many groups like the Boulder Homeless Shelter and the Bridge House offer these individuals with a warm safe place to sleep, facilities to shower and bath in, and food to ease their hungry bellies. Many of these programs also provide treatment and counseling for alcohol and drug dependant individual in an effort to teach them how to lead sober productive lives.

Because of our industry, we here at Savory Cuisines Catering have a unique opportunity to help out non-profit organizations like this during their biggest time of need by donating food. For this reason the fight against homelessness has become our biggest cause at Savory Cuisines Catering. We are proud to be sponsoring a plated Thanksgiving dinner on November 22nd at the First Presbyterian Church located on the corner of 14th and Spruce in Boulder Colorado for the Boulder Homeless Shelter. Another contribution made by Savory Cuisines has been to help fundraising efforts for the Bridge House by donating a $5000 dinner for one their annuals events. Fundraising events like the one we participated in, account for this charity’s largest source of revenue. For more information on how to help stop homelessness, fight alcohol and drug addiction, and end family violence in Boulder please visit http://boulderbridgehouse.org and http://www.bouldershelter.org.

As far as events are concerned a little bit of planning can go a long way, and a lot of planning can help take your event from ordinary to extraordinary. If you are planning to once again take on the whole shebang yourself, here are few helpful hints from the professionals on how to plan ahead in order to execute a stress free event.

When planning a holiday event it is imperative to not take on more than you can chew figuratively and literally! It is very easy to get carried away with extending invitations to everyone you know while trying to wrap your head around maintaining some type of budget. The best way to stay on track is to have a specific plan. This mean writing out your guest list, actually figuring if your budget will support the amount of guests you have invited, and planning a menu that is within your ability. If you are not a talented chef or have an extremely tight budget consider doing a simple appetizer style menu or a potluck.

The next thing is to create, on paper, a simple timeline and a list of things that can be prepared ahead of time. After that, you need to ask your trusted friends or family if they are available and willing to help. Keeping a tangible list is the best way to coordinate and delegate tasks so that you can works smarter not harder the day of and day prior to the event. As much as people like to think that they can do everything, setting up for and breakdown an event is extremely time consuming, and this hasn’t even taken into consideration the actual time you will have to invest in preparing the menu. The best way to execute your plan is to start preparing for the event at a minimum of 3 day in advance. This means setting your tables, preparing cold foods, chopping vegetables, wrapping gifts, and deciding what you are going to wear before the morning of the event. When the event is all said and done with and your last “guest” has gone home, now it is time to clean up and put your house back in order. Be sure to ask for help with stage as well. If this all sounds like fun to you, then by all mean enjoy yourself, if it doesn’t, contact Savory Cuisines Catering today and let us take the stress out of your upcoming holiday party.

We are a unique company in the fact that we offer customizable catering services to every client. We do have several standard catering packages that our clients can choose from however the majority of folk who choose Savory Cuisines usually take advantage of creating a unique menu that showcases who they are. Our talented chefs have worldly experience and specialize in Southwest, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, Italian, Irish, and Traditional American style cuisines. We have also grown into and adapted our fusion style of cooking that really allows our enthusiastic clients to be adventurous. Our services are also just as customizable as our menus. We can provide our clients with the full shebang or just a selection of services depending on their needs. We do this because there are many different groups of people who organize caterings everyday for an assortment of reasons. This means that sometimes a simple buffet style continental breakfast is all that is needed; while other times a plated formal sit-down style of service is called for.

The best way to determine exactly what you need for an event is to have a one on one consolation with one of our amazing event planners. These professionals are the best people to direct you in your planning process. Not only can they help with the visual appeal of the event in terms of tablescaping, floor planning, decorations, and design but they are also have extensive knowledge regarding vendor pricing and budgets which are oftentimes huge contributor factors during the planning process. Day-of planner services are also available and help eliminate stress of the party coordinator who wears too many hats. So whether you are planning a large corporate function, a small intimate home gathering, or the biggest day of your life, your wedding; Savory Cuisines Catering is there for you every step of the way. When you hire Savory Cuisines you are hiring the complete catering package!