I'm back!

Well, I'm in the full swing of our busiest season!

We had two really great events last Saturday.

The wedding that took place here had a really great wine theme. The bride and groom make thier own wines and their favors were their own port, dessert wine, and ice wine. Each bottle had a different image and some really nice bits of wedding advice from their grandparents on the back.

My Sangria was once again a huge hit! I went through 13 gallons for 191 guests!

They also chose to have the Pasta w/ vodka sauce and the chopped salad served family style. I think this really fostered a sense of togetherness and got the tables really talking with each other.

The other event was an amazing graduation party off-premise.

Here are some of the stations at that event:

~ Southern Dixie Grilling Station

Grilled Calamari Skewer & Arugula Salad w/ Salsa Verde, White Beans & Wine Vinaigrette

Kentucky Spiced Pork Tenderloin w/ Ancho-Bourbon BBQ Sauce

Louisanna Cajun Chicken Skewer w/ Wholegrain Creole Remoulade

Southern Style Slaw w/ Poppyseed Vinaigrette (served in petite stemmed cup)

Petite Roasted Pepper Cornbread Muffins

Roasted Corn on the Cob w/ Lemon Herb Compound Butter

Kentucky Derby Mint Julips w/ Knob Creek Bourbon

Raspberry Iced Tea with Fresh Mint & Berries

~ Latin Station

Ropa Vieja - Braised Beef w/ Mojo Criollo, Spanish Olive and Tomato Ragu

Cuban Style Black Beans w/ Copa Secca Ham

Spanish Style Saffron Rice

Lime & Rum-Kissed Shrimp Ceviche in Clear Shot Glass w/ Demitase Forks

Roasted Chicken Sante Fe Egg Rolls (cut in 1/3's) with Ranch Salsa

Crispy Plaintain Chips

Traditional Spanish Red Wine Sangria w/ Apples, Pineapple & Oranges

Frozen Mango Margarita's

~ Seafood Station

Zesty Shrimp Cocktail with Lemon Wedges & Cocktail Sauce

Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna on Asian Spoons with Wasabi Aoli & Kimche

Mini Crabcakes with Lemon Caper Remoulade (plattered)

~ Japanese Station

Saku Tuna Roll, California Roll and Spicy Seared Scallop Roll (served on mini clear trays) with Wasabi, Pickled Ginger and Soy Sauce

Won Ton Spring Rolls with Toasted Sesame Dipping Sauce

Soba Noodle Salad w/ Julienne Vegetables and Ponzu

Chilled Mint-Infused Green Tea w/ Honey

Lychee Martini (umeboshi as a garnish - on mini bamboo pick)

~ Tapas Mediterranean Station

Bulger Weat Tabbouleh w/ Mint, Cucumber and Grape Tomato

Rustic White Bean Hummus w/ Fresh Lemon and Garlic

Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb w/ Lemon Yogurt Sauce

Grilled Fresh Asparagus Spears w/ Prosciutto Crisps, Lemon Zest & Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Stuffed Hot Banana Peppers with Sweet Sausage & Marinara

Mini Pita Chicken Pesto Pizza with Shaved Parmesan

Mini Pita Margarita Pizza with Fresh Mozzarella, Roma Tomato & Fresh Basil

San Pellegrino Limonata - Sparkling Lemonade

Sparkling Pommeganite Pink Lemonade w/ Pama Liquor

And that's not even getting into the desserts and the bar!

NRA Show

No, not THAT NRA Show!

I've been at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago.

After the wedding on Saturday I packed my bags and got on a 5:00am flight to Chicago where I've been until a few hours ago.

After missing our plane and not making it on 4 stand-by flights the 12 hour ordeal at O'Hare is over with!

At the show was also the International Wine, Spirits, and Beer Event. It was a seperate section of the show highlighting alcoholic drinks.

I'm going to be posting some really exciting new concepts I saw while out there in the coming week or so.

Robert Mondavi.... a legend dies at age 94

Robert Mondavi Dies at Age of 94

Visionary vintner helped usher in a new era for California wine

Robert Mondavi, a visionary winemaker and brilliant marketer who helped lead California wine into international prominence, died at 9 a.m. today at home in Yountville, Calif. He was 94.

Outspoken, energetic and charismatic, Mondavi was one of the most influential and admired winemakers in California history. He was the driving force behind his namesake winery in Napa Valley, which he established in 1966 and which for years was the most famous winery in California, until it was sold in 2004.

"Robert Mondavi left an indelible legacy on the California wine industry," said Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Wine Spectator. "He touted California wines as world class--as good as the best of Europe--and tirelessly traveled the world spreading that message, making believers out of millions of wine lovers."

In a career that spanned eight decades, Mondavi often led by example, setting lofty goals for his winery and inspiring California winemakers to make wines that would compete with the best in the world. His name, influence and passion for wine and life spread well beyond Napa and California. Winemakers around the world credited Mondavi with encouraging them to set higher standards and make better wines.

See the rest of the article at http://www.winespectator.com/

Martini Bar

I've been really really busy of late!

We are booking more and more events each day.

I wanted to share with everyone an element of this amazing wedding we are putting on this Saturday.

They added a Martini bar to their event for the cocktail hour. I think this is a really great way to "WOW" guests. I had a Martini Bar at my wedding and I think it added a lot to the "party" feel.

Here are the drinks I came up with. I wanted to have drinks with a big mass appeal.

Twisted Mint Martini
Stoli Vodka, Cranberry, Lemon and Mint

Raz White Russian
Stoli Raspberry Vodka, Kahlua and Crème

Lemon Drop
Stoli Citrus Vodka, Lemon and Sugar

Stoli O Cosmo
Stoli Orange Vodka, Gran Gala
and Cranberry

Chocolate Martini
Stoli Vanilla Vodka and Crème de Cacao

Pomegranate Martini
Stoli Vodka, Pomegranate Liquor,
Gran Gala and Cranberry

Red Apple-tini
Stoli Citrus Vodka and Red Apple Pucker

Starbucks Vanilla Latte-tini
Stoli Vanilla, Starbucks Coffee Liquor and Starbucks Crème Liquor

Starbucks Venti Cappuccini
Stoli Vodka, Starkbucks Coffee
and Starkbucks Crème

Blueberry Gimlet
Stoli Blueberry Vodka,
Muddled Blueberries and Simple Syrup

Sign Up Now! Next Wednesday

Grillin' & Swillin' III
Micro Beers and Macro Grills

DATE: Wednesday May 14, 2008
TIME: 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
LOCATION: Bella Sera by Greco's
414 Morganza Road, Canonsburg, PA

Get ready to fire up your grill and master a multitude of techniques and interesting recipes! This outdoor cooking class will absolutely enhance your patio performance. Learn how to add pizazz to your favorite meats, vegetables and seafood without heating up your kitchen.

Special Guests!

All the way from Atlanta, Ga., 2008 ICA Chef of the Year Eric B. LeVine will present recipes and grilling techniques with chef/owner Jason Capps.

Beer experts from The Sharp Edge will pair samples of microbrews and craft beers with each course, presenting cold pale ales, sweet lagers and hearty stouts. Celebrate their Peter's Township Brasserie opening May 12th!

Grillin' & Swillin' III is the final class in the 2008 Spring Series cooking classes. Grills will be stationed in our backyard overlooking our private pond. Kenny Blake from Big Day Entertainment will provide live jazz music as you sample great food and drinks!

$60 per person
Remaining space is limited. To register call 724.745.5575 ext. 111
or download a registration form now.

Greco's Gourmet Catering & Bella Sera by Greco's
414 Morganza Road, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317
cooking@grecosgourmet.com

"Every Wednesday when I walk in I feel relaxed and ready for some fun, good food and making new friends." April 16th Guest

CASA - Friday April 25th, 2008

If you're wondering why I haven't posted much this week it's because I've been on Jury Duty!)

We had an amazing and large event here last Friday for CASA. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. The group helps children who's parents or guardians are in the court system. They insure that children are not left out and are taken care of. This event was a very successful fundraising dinner.

Fradelle Karpen (who organized the event) and Michelle Wright (co-anchor of WTAE Channel 4 Action News )

Different courses of the dinner were provided by different restaurants in the area. The other businesses involved besides our catering and banquet facility were Capital Grille, Alfano’s at the Quail, The Capstone Grill, and Jacksons Restaurant Rotisserie Bar.

The night's entertainment was Billy Mancini. You can see a performance by him here on YouTube.


For more information on CASA check out their website or call them at 724-228-0414