Bargains are a dime a dozen – sometimes literally! Real value is a bit harder to come by.
When it comes to hiring a “bargain” caterer and event planner you run a significant risk of getting exactly what you paid for. And in the end, who cares how much of a deal you scored if the food isn’t properly prepared or beautifully presented, the décor is unimaginative or tacky, the serving equipment is unsightly or the service is inexperienced and mismanaged? Memories of your cocktail reception, gallery opening, wedding or bat mitzvah will be irretrievably marred by the shoddy package your wonderful day was wrapped in. As we all have learned the hard way, sometimes the cheapest things we purchase end up being the most costly.
That’s why at Indiana Market & Catering, we focus on providing our clients with fantastic value – dependability, integrity, quality and service, at a reasonable price. While we are always talking to our vendors and staff to figure out ways in which we can trim costs, we never cut essential elements of our overall package to save a few bucks for ourselves or our clients. We know that this economic climate is tough for everyone – please let us know if Indiana Market & Catering ever fails to offer you the value we pride ourselves in giving to our clients with every event we produce.
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Simple party fare need not be boring or unsophisticated.
The next time you’re planning a cocktail party, consider whipping up one of our all-time favorite crowd pleasers. You’ll be surprised how quick and easy it is to prepare, which will leave you with more time to spend with your guests – the reason you planned the party in the first place!
Classic, pared-down flavors straight out of Sardinia shine through our homemade Artichoke and Roasted Pepper Crostini with a Basil Aioli:
Ingredients:
One Ficelle
Olive oil and salt to taste
8 small roasted artichoke hearts (bottled is fine)
¼ pint roasted red peppers (bottled is fine)
8 basil leaves
½ cup high-quality mayonnaise
½ clove of fresh garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
Method:
For the crostini:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Slice a Ficelle crosswise to desired thickness (we usually aim for about ¼ of an inch), brush with olive oil and sprinkle with Kosher salt.
Place the slices of Ficelle on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Put in the oven and cook until the first side is slightly toasted, flip and toast the second side.
Remove from the oven and set aside until ready for use.
Cut 8 small roasted artichoke hearts into quarters
¼ pint roasted red pepper, sliced into thin strips
For the basil aioli:
In a food processer, blend 8 cleaned basil leaves, ½ clove of minced garlic and ½ cup of high-quality mayonnaise. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
To assemble:
Spread a layer of the basil aioli on the crostini and garnish with a ¼ of an artichoke heart and a thin slice of red pepper.
Serve and enjoy!
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Earlier in the year, we told you that Indiana is making the initiative to be greener. Even though the weather has been dreary these past few days, we thought we’d share some of these bright ideas to make your event more eco-friendly for these next few months:
*Host your event outdoors for the best natural lighting there is! “What about at night?” We hear you cry; Invest or Rent an eco-friendly Tiki torch for a larger party or candles for a smaller one. Martha Stewart has a great idea for re-using eggshells as dainty candle holders. You can find the steps for that craft here: http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/eggshell-votives
*Really reap the benefits of your hard work! Don’t know what harsh pesticides might be used on your produce? Nothing tastes better than drinks and dishes prepared using herbs and produce you grew yourself. One of the members of our Indiana family is currently growing her own herb garden, and already has plans to use them during her summer entertaining. Of course, she has to bring in some fresh mint for us to taste test with our specialty cocktails!
*Plan a picnic with a Green friendly twist. You can turn an old, abused sheet into a fun activity for friends and family! Have the whole crew pitch in (or hog the fun for yourself!) and tye-dye, finger paint or creatively patch up minor tears or stains on that old sheet for a beautiful place for guests to sit. Don’t forget to bring reusable plates. Don’t have enough plates for all your guests? Ask guests to bring their own non-disposable plate and offer a reward for the best one! We’ll let you be the judge of what makes it the best.
Happy July 4th Weekend to all! All of us here at Indiana hope you have an exciting holiday.
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With the warmer weather upon us, entertaining turns to the trend of colorful, fresh and bite sized fare. Look to include bright summery colors like reds, yellows and greens in your food and be sure to visit your local farmers market for the freshest and most savory produce around. Not to mention that with all the volleyball playing, Frisbee throwing and relaxing in the pool your guests are sure to partake in, food needs to be handy and quick to eat.
Need some ideas to pull off this summer trend at your next gathering? Below, you can find some of the tasty little bites we offer on our catering menus to get the party planner in you inspired. Re-create or re-invent one of our dishes and it’s an absolute hit at your party? Drop us a line and send us a picture…we’d love to hear about it and feature it on our blog!
-Smoked Salmon Rosettes in a Crispy Savory Cone
-Cherry Tomatoes filled with a Scallop Ceviche and Avocado Puree
-Miniature Tea Sandwiches of Roasted Vegetables with Fresh Mozzarella and Pesto on Focaccia
-Coconut Crusted Chicken with Passion-Fruit Guava dipping sauce
-Chilled Watercress Soup, served in shot glasses and garnished with slow-roasted Vidalia onions
-Lobster “Rolls” with Tarragon Mayo, served on Buttery Brioche Crisps
-Pork Brisket Po Boys
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When guests arrive to your event, the first thing that crosses their mind should not be “I hope this doesn’t last long”. Instead, you want them to think how perfect the venue is. However, finding this ideal space is not always easy. If you think picking a venue yourself is too difficult, read on to discover some tips to make it a little easier. We understand that there are important aspects to the perfect venue, and would like to share with you some of our favorite locations where we’ve had the pleasure of catering.
· ACCESSIBILITY
o A good venue is easily accessible for your guests. Your guests should not have to travel 5 hours to make it to your 2 hour event. It should be in close proximity to where your guests live or work. It is also important for the guests to be able to find parking close to the event. If parking is not available, the venue should be in a short distance of public transportation. The Altman Building is located by 6 parking lots and accessible by various trains with little walking distance.
The Altman Building
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· SIZE
o Size definitely matters when it comes to events! If a space is too large, your event can end up looking empty and feeling dull. Conversely, if your space is too small, your guest can feel cramped and annoyed. Estimate a REALISTIC number of guests that will be attending before you pick your venue.
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