Posted on Author Patricia Catering Categories News, Notes from the Chef

Omaha Catering Company Providing Creative Solutions

Our team at Patricia Catering and Cocktails prides ourselves on being flexible, adaptable and reactive. Events require detail-oriented planning, out of the box thinking, and sharing the vision of our customers. From the planning process to the execution of a successful event, the event itself requires creative solutions to unexpected situations that inevitably arise.

Because of the nature of this industry, we are adept to rise to the occasion of our current situation.

How We’re Responding

At this time, our kitchen and office remain open. Our healthy and limited staff are following all the precautions advised by the city, state, and CDC. We are taking delivery and pickup orders, and we are available to answer any questions regarding scheduled events and orders, as well as, the events you are just starting to plan.

How the Community Can Help

As other industry leaders have mentioned and brought to attention with the hashtag #SaveEvents, please consider rescheduling events before canceling if your specific circumstances allow. Not only will this give the events industry an opportunity to bounce back stronger, it will also give our community hope and relief that the celebrations will continue on as this passes.

Customized Catering Solutions

Flexibility is crucial for situations like this, and we are happy to help customize the details to create a solution for everyone.

Starting Monday, March 23rd we will have meals available for delivery and pick up. Menus will be posted the day before to help you plan. This service will be available between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for orders with a minimum of 5 people. Payment can be made with a credit card by phone.

To support our community, 10% of sales will be donated to local food banks and shelters.

We are proud to be part of the Greater Omaha community working together through a situation that is affecting all industries. Please remember this is temporary and will lift. Our hearts go out to all the bridal parties, families, venues, vendors and companies who are being impacted.

Build Your Own Menu

Posted on Author Patricia Catering Categories Catering Tips

Choosing a Caterer for Your Wedding

After winding down for the holidays, February is the start of preparations for wedding season! The American Express Spending and Saving Tracker consumer report found that an estimated six million couples are likely to get engaged on Feb. 14. Combined with all of the Christmas and New Year’s engagements, February is the busiest time for couples searching for and booking vendors for their Big Day. Finding the right Omaha wedding caterer is at the top of the list!

Find the Right Caterer for Your Omaha Wedding

As you book your venue, make sure to see if there are catering restrictions or recommendations. Your wedding catering candidate list may get narrowed down to help you find the best fit. During your search, company websites are a great resource to learn more about the company. If pricing isn’t listed, email, or call to find out more information.

Choosing the Menu for Your Wedding

Start brainstorming what kind of food you want at your wedding and reach out to the wedding catering companies that you think will fit your budget and the vision of your wedding reception.

Step 1: Make a list of the catering companies you are interested in checking out.

Keep the following in mind:

  • Your Budget
  • Style
  • Scope of services

Step 2: Set up a Tasting

  • What kind of tastings do they offer?
  • How much are the tastings?

Step 3: Choosing a Menu

A good catering company will take your budget, guests, and them into account when suggesting menu options. If you have your heart set on a particular menu but can’t afford it at full-service rates, the catering company may suggest a buffet style to offset the cost. There are many ways a catering company can guide you in making the best choice for your big day without breaking your budget.

Why Choose a Tasting?

A tasting gives you a great idea about the style and presentation of each caterer. It is also a good indication of the taste of their food. It is not necessary to taste everything on your menu, but feel welcome to ask your caterer all the questions you have. Keep in mind the season of your reception date and the season of your tasting. If they are not the same, then some items you are interested in may not be in season come your wedding day.

You can schedule your tasting with PC&C today!

Looking for an Omaha Caterer for Your 2020 Wedding?

Finding the best caterer for your unique wedding takes time and patience.  Make your list with some online research, then pick up the phone and call each caterer on your list. You can learn a lot about a wedding catering company with a short one-minute phone call. They should be friendly, professional, and be able to answer your questions.  If Patricia Catering made your list of Omaha wedding caterers, call us today, we’d love to answer any question you have.

Posted on Author Patricia Catering Categories Recipes

The Holiday Season is Soup Season

“Worries go down better with soup than without.” –Yiddish Proverb

As you can imagine, the holiday season gets busy for us as an Omaha Catering and Cocktail company. We find ourselves at many end of the year corporate parties and events. One of our favorite things about this time of year is soup! Yes, the holiday season is soup season for us.

Soup is the answer to many corporate and social meal planning dilemmas. Our delicious soups are made from scratch and include locally sourced ingredients and non-GMO herbs from our garden. Each soup order includes our house-made croutons and crackers.

 Why Try Our Soup for the Holidays?

 

  • Versatile options: We offer 19 tasty selections to choose from.
  • A Meal in a Bowl: Use our formulas to order the correct amount of soup for your group.
  • Dietary Restrictions: Have dietary restrictions? Let us know, and we will recommend the best options for your group.
  • Matches the Season: Combat the cold with spoonfuls of warmth.

 Why You Should Make Soup Your Holiday Choice

 

  • Soup is Comforting – A bowl of thick soup is heartwarming. It keeps you comfortable when the cold weather strikes. It can actually increase your core body temperature.
  • It Satisfies Your Hunger – The high water content of soup satisfies your appetite and keeps you hydrated during the dry Winter season. When you’re well-hydrated, you’re less likely to overeat.
  • Soup is Healing – The Mayo Clinic states that chicken soup works as an anti-inflammatory and can help clear up mucus.
  • Helps Youngsters Tolerate Veggies – A study in the Netherlands found that toddlers who were given veggie and herb loaded soups for seven weeks had an improved tolerance for vegetables of all kinds compared to toddlers who didn’t eat soup.
  • Vitamins and Minerals Don’t Disappear – Soups retain the vitamins and minerals of cooked vegetables because you consume the soup base or broth – that’s where all the good stuff is.
  • Delightful Aroma – Is there anything better than the aroma of savory herbs and veggies filling your home in Winter? Nope.

 Don’t Miss Our  Soup Deal!

 

 With every gallon of soup you order, we give you a FREE  baguette!

“Of soup and love, the first is best.” –Spanish proverb

Posted on Author Patricia Catering Categories Recipes

Fall Comfort Foods

As Fall has fully announced its arrival, the types of food we take comfort in have shifted. That is seen in the orders we are taking and the event menus that are being planned. The menu has shifted from light, cool, and crisp culinary selections to warm, hot, and savory choices. Food availability and selection traditionally changed with the seasons, and we’re excited to see our Omaha catering kitchen menu changing now.

An Omaha Catering Company Party

For our annual company party, we had strong requests for hot dogs and brats cooked over a campfire. Accompanying them on the roasting sticks were marshmallows. Whether you like them barely touched by fire or completely black and gooey—no S’more is complete without the chocolate and graham cracker sandwich.

Some of Our Fall Favorites

Our Fall favorite menu items highlight the best ingredients the season has to offer.

  • Rosemary Chicken—a boneless breast with apple stuffing, seasoned with Fresh Rosemary and topped with Cider sauce
  • Sliced Roast Turkey—drizzled with savory juices fresh mushrooms
  • Meatloaf—studded with provolone cheese and topped with smoky bacon strips
  • Whipped potatoes—with chives, parmesan cheese and roasted garlic
  • Seasonal Vegetable Medley—whether it is grilled or roasted we love this veggie side that often incorporates squash this time of year.

Soup Season is Here!

Fan Favorite Soups:

  • Creamy Curry Butternut Squash
  • Tomato Basil Bisque
  • Traditional Con Carne Chili

All of our soups come with house-made croutons and oyster crackers.

Omaha Catering for Your Fall Event

Do you have a company event this Fall? Would you like to give your guests some of these Fall comfort foods? This list is just the beginning of course. Give us a call or send a message telling us about your event and we’ll be happy to see if we can help make that much more delicious. Happy Fall!

Posted on Author Patricia Catering Categories Recipes

Your Catering Company’s Favorite Salsa Recipe

One of the condiments we find ourselves bringing to nearly every Omaha catering event is our homemade restaurant-style salsa. Homemade restaurant-style salsa is a hit with nearly everyone at any event we cater. Now we’re sharing our recipe with you so you can keep enjoying it at home. We’re also throwing in a bonus recipe for our roasted beets – another customer favorite.

PC and C Version of Restaurant Style Salsa

Ingredients

  • 8 pounds of ripe, meaty Roma Tomatoes
  • 3 jalapenos and 3 Hungarian hot banana peppers (leave the seeds in for a hot salsa—We do!)
  • 3 cups of chopped yellow onions
  • 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 4 large minced garlic cloves
  • ½ cup white vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Drop the tomatoes in the boiling water for 30 seconds then remove. Peel the tomato skins and chop in food processor.
  2. Place the tomatoes in a large stockpot along with the vinegar. Add all remaining ingredients. Stir to combine, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
  3. While the salsa is simmering, follow standard canning procedure to sterilize the jars and lids.
  4. Fill the hot jars with the hot salsa, leaving ¼ inch headspace. Wipe the jars and close the lids. Place the jars in boiling water for 15 minutes. Make sure the jars fully submerged underwater with several inches of water above them. Remove the jars and let them rest undisturbed for 24 hours before moving them.
  5. Store in a cool, dark place. It is best to use within a 6-month time frame, but it will keep up to a year.

Recipe makes 8 pints.

Roasted Beets

Ingredients

  • 12 beets
  • 3 tablespoons EVOO
  • 1 ½ teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons coarse sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons raspberry vinegar
  • Juice of 1 large orange

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Remove the tops and the roots of the beets and peel each one with a vegetable peeler. Cut the beets into chunks.
  3. Place the cut beets on a baking sheet and toss with the olive oil, thyme leaves and salt. Roast for about 30 minutes until the beets are tender. Remove from the oven and immediately toss with vinegar and orange juice. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve warm.

These are great on by themselves or on a salad with some locally sourced goat cheese and balsamic vinaigrette.

Your local extension service is a great resource for planting and preserving your harvest.

Posted on Author Patricia Catering Categories Notes from the Chef

Patricia Catering Shares Recipes and Tips with you

Patricia Catering is excited about the launch of our new site. One of our new features is tips, notes and recipes from our chef.

Through our blog, we will share with you the small tricks we’ve learned in the profession and some of our favorite recipes, for you to try at home.

We would love to hear your comments and suggestions, and would be more than willing to answer your top kitchen questions. Follow us to find out more!