New Catering Option: Food Trucks

Food trucks seem to be the new trend for festivals and outdoor events, but have you ever thought of hiring them as a caterer? By offering one to two different food trucks (maybe one for the meal and one for dessert), your guests can choose their entrees and dessert from a customized menu. A lot of food trucks are offering favorite food options like pizza or sandwiches in a gourmet way. Here are some of my favorite food trucks in our area that you may consider hiring for your next event:


The Pizza Wagon

The Pizza Wagon is a mobile, pizza shop offering a large variety of brick oven pizzas. Their pizza menu includes traditional favorites like The Three Cheeses and BBQ Chicken or more creative options like "Roasted Mushrooms and Arugula" and "Farmer's Corn and Bacon". 

Forno Inferno

Forno Inferno is another pizza catering company in the Chester Country area offering traditional or specialty pizzas. Their pizza menu includes Margherita, Pesto, Philly and a Ferno Gourmet which is a white pizza topped with roasted red peppers, artichokes, goat’s cheese with a drizzle of truffle oil. Although I didn't get to have their pizza this year at the Brandwine Food and Wine Festival, I did get to try them last year at the Kennett Square Brewfest and they were delicious!

Ka'Chi Truck

Offering Korean food with a twist, Ka'Chi Truck's menu includes tacos, rice, salads and specialty sandwiches. Similar to other food truck caterers, you are able to customize your order by choosing a protein, sauce and either rice or coleslaw for their tacos or bowls. One of their sandwich options is a slider and you can choose BLT, SPAM, Spicy Meatball or Grilled Kimcheese. 

The Sunflower Truck Stop

I discovered The Sunflower Truck Stop at the East Goshen Farmer's Market last year. Using fresh and local ingredients, they create customized menus depending on where they are going to be located that day with the truck. One delicious menu items included is their Crab and Artichoke Grilled Cheese with lump crab, spinach and marinated artichoke with gouda, cream cheese and sharp cheddar cheese on seeded bread. Most of their menu items are serviced with their own tortilla chips and a pickle.

Nomadic Pies

Nomadic Pies was another food truck that I found out about at the East Goshen Farmer's Market. I had been browsing the vendors for meal ideas for dinner and came across their truck selling savory pies, quiches and sweet pies. I knew it had to be good since they were almost sold out of every item! I was able to snag the last two Steak, Mushroom, Onion and Gruyere pies though which were amazing. They serve their pies hot, ready to eat or you can warm-up at home for later. 

Dia Doce Cupcakes

You can't forget dessert! As a winner of Cupcake Wars on the Food Network, Dia Doce makes some of the best cupcakes in our area. I had known about their company for a while, but recently had the chance of meeting them at the Kennett Square Brewfest last fall where I tried their Pecan Pie Cupcake. It was so good and I definitely recommend them for any event coming up! Their cupcake menu includes traditional flavors, but also offer more unique and seasonal flavors. Some of their summer flavors include Berry Lemonade, Pina Colada and Mango. 

I hope you are able to check out some of these amazing food trucks this summer and maybe include them as a caterer for your next event! 

Happy Tasting! 

Sneak Peak: Lauren & Travis's Wedding

Last weekend in Rehoboth Beach DE, I had the pleasure of helping coordinate Lauren and Travis's Wedding at the Rehoboth Beach Country Club. Here is a sneak peak of their beautiful, beach themed wedding:

Stay tuned for more pictures of the wedding from Carolyn Watson Photography and a list of all vendors that helped put together this very special day. 

Congrats Lauren and Travis!

Classic Events By Kris featured on "Event Planner Spotlight" on GigMasters

I am very honored to be featured on GigMasters's website in their "Event Planner Spotlight". Read my full interview here: http://blog.gigmasters.com/event-planner-spotlight-classic-events-by-kris/

GM: What’s the one piece of advice you’d offer anyone about finding a planner?

KM: Meet them in person. I offer a free consultation for all my potential clients, so I can get to know them and hear more about their event. When you meet someone in person, you can see if you will get along and be able to work well with them. Setting up a call is the next best thing if you aren’t able to meet in person.

GM: If you could work on a specific event type more than you currently do, what would it be and why?

KM: I would LOVE to work on more kids’ parties! There are so many creative themes and party supplies available now. It would be so fun planning kids’ food buffets, fun desserts, exciting activities and favors to match a theme. I would really enjoy working with clients to put together amazing parties for their children that work within their family budget.

GM: What’s the one thing you wish people knew before they hired you?

KM: I would want potential clients to know that I will make their event a priority and can work with them to make their vision a reality while keeping within their budget.

Thanks GigMasters!! 

Make Your Wedding or Event More Eco-Friendly

The Spring issue of It's About Details includes all different ways to make your wedding more "Eco-Friendly".  This issue includes environment-friendly tips for on invitations, dresses, decor, music and more. 

Check out my article in this issue, "10 Tips to make your wedding more Eco-Friendly": 

Enjoy & Happy Planning! 

12 Reasons to Hire a Wedding Planner

I recently wrote an article for It's About Details "Ultimate Planning Issue". This online publication was created by a husband and wife team for brides and couples that are in the planning stages of their wedding. Each issue has a different theme so they decided to start the new year off with an issue filled with tips for getting organized, how to approach bridal shows and other information to assist with planning a wedding. 

Check out my article entitled "Why Hire a Wedding Planner? 12 Reasons You should!" in the 2013 issue:

Enjoy & Happy Planning! 

Easy Valentine's Day Ideas!

Happy Valentine's Day! Didn't have time to plan? No problem! Here are some easy ideas for celebrating Valentine's Day:

Heart Pizzas (via Recipe By Photo)

Red Velvet Truffles (from The Novice Chef)

Pink Champagne Heart Jello Shots (from That's So Michelle)

Heart Fruit Skewers (from Life In Wonderland)

Marshmallow Pops (from Glorious Treats)

Heart Shaped Bacon (via The Worley Gig)

Cupid Crispies (via BasicGrey Altered)

Valentine's Day On the Rocks (from Nochelatina)

Whether you are single or in love, I hope you have a sweet Valentine's Day! XOXO

Host your own Mardi Gras Celebration!

Mardi Gras, French for "Fat Tuesday", refers to the celebration of eating rich, fatty foods before Lent begins on "Ash Wednesday". This holiday is celebrated throughout the world with carnivals, sporting events, parades and wearing different masks/costumes. In 2013, Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday is Tuesday, February 12th. 

First on the list for creating your own Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday Celebration, making the drinks! The best cocktail to make for Mardi Gras is a Traditional New Orleans Hurricane and the best place to have one is at Pat O'Brien's on Bourbon Street where it was created, but we'll have to settle for this recipe instead. 

www.neworleansonline.com

Traditional Hurricane Recipe: (www.newsorleansonline.com)

• 2 oz light rum
• 2 oz dark rum
• 2 oz passion fruit juice
• 1 oz orange juice
• ½ oz fresh lime juice
• 1 Tablespoon simple syrup
• 1 Tablespoon grenadine
• Garnish: orange slice and cherry

Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a Hurricane glass filled with ice. Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice.

New Orleans food is normally very spicy & rich in flavor. If you don't want to try a whole new recipe, try cooking fish, chicken or shrimp with blackening, Cajun or creole spices (can be found in the spices/baking aisle at the grocery store). If you are in the mood to try something new, here are two New Orlean's inspired recipes to try for this holiday:

Paula Deen's Jambalaya

Spicy New Orleans BBQ Shrimp

For dessert, it wouldn't be Mardi Gras without King Cake! This cinnamon roll cake with frosting and sugars is associated with Christmas in some regions of the world and then associated with the Mardi Gras celebration for the United States. There are now several different styles of the traditional Louisiana cake, but here is a very easy recipe to try for your Mardi Gras celebration.

Easy King Cake (Various Sources) 

• 1 can Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls with icing
• yellow, purple & green sugars

Image taken from Eatathomecooks.com

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and lightly grease a bundt pan or round cake pan. Unroll each cinnamon roll, fold each in half and slightly twist. Then place in the pan. Repeat with each roll to make a circle. Bake 15-20 minutes. Allow the cake to cool then put on icing and sugars and serve.

If you want to get in the true Mardi Gras spirit, pick up some masks, feather boas and beads for your celebration. A fun kids craft would be to pick up pastic masks at Michael's or A.C. Moore and have them decorate their own mask. Once they are all decorated, host your own parade! 

Party City is another great source for Mardi Gras celebration items.

"Mardi Gras is the love of life. It is the harmonic convergence of our food, our music, our creativity, our eccentricity, our neighborhoods, and our joy of living. All at once.” 
― Chris Rose, author

Happy Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday everyone!