One of the most delicious and awesome stations that Culinary Crafts offers is the Grilled Ciabatta Station!  This station (pictured above from Mary Crafts-Homer’s wedding reception) is always a hit and provides guests with a myriad of choices to pair with these delicious breads.  From silky goat cheese, to savory sun dried tomato chutney, to sweet balsamic fig chutney, and a selection of  gourmet Beehive Cheeses, you have a mouth-watering array of delightful choices for your guests to nosh on!  Not to mention, we grill our homemade ciabatta bread on site, over mesquite wood chips for optimum flavor and smell!  Yum!  This is also an option that pairs well with nearly ANY menu (and the pairings can be changed to suit your tastes).  Plus, its a relatively inexpensive way to add something extra to your wedding or event food offerings!  It is seriously one of my favorite stations and I think a great option to please the palette of many people!  Happy planning everyone!

Check out our NEW website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

Photos courtesy of Pepper Nix Photography and Logan Walker with ZumaPhoto

With the upcoming New Year’s Eve festivities fast approaching, we here at Culinary Crafts compiled a delicious menu inspiration board of our offerings that would be perfect!  From elegant small bites, bubbly libations, smashing hors d’oeuvres, and divine desserts, each is sure to please any crowd.  All of this plays off of our gold & champagne themed party look and decor from yesterday.  Check it out!

Because you want the party to be all about mingling and moving, (starting from the top left image and moving clockwise) some excellent ideas are our Cherries Jubilee, Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, Oranges, and Toasted Walnuts, Butler-Passed Gelato Cones, Raspberry Napoleons with Bavarian Cream, Gaucho Beef Sliders with Angry Onions, Flaming Donuts with Dulce de Leche Gelato, and Thai Shrimp with Cotton Candy Pop Rocks!!!  YUM!  Also remember, in any menu you are planning, make sure everything can be made small and easily carried by your guests as they move about the party.  And, above all, make sure its DELICIOUS!  Happy planning everyone!

Check out our NEW website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

Firstly, we would like to congratulate Abby Shephard for being our random winner of the Gelato Giveaway!  Thank you to everyone for entering and look out for more giveaways coming up soon!  Secondly, we are so excited her at Culinary Crafts to begin the celebration of our Mary Crafts’s wedding weekend!!!  Just one day left and it all begins!  Today, we’d like to showcase the menu for Mary’s wedding ceremony luncheon.  Take it away Rachel!

Menu Card by Ann Elizabeth Designs

“When developing the menu for Mary, I tried to keep in mind both Mary’s immense love of Italy and also her passion for using only the freshest and most flavorful ingredients – and of course, keeping it local. At the ceremony luncheon, we’ll be serving all of the dishes family style.  I really loved this idea because it emphasizes the feeling of bringing these two families together.  It will also be held in the afternoon, so keeping the menu really light and fresh, as well as incorporating the ranch feel, was key in tying it all together.”

Thank you so much Rachel!  It sounds delicious and we simply cannot wait to see how it all comes together!!!

Check out our website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

It’s Wednesday again and today we have the fabulous Mary Crafts letting us in on the Rehearsal Dinner!  Take it away Mary!

“Two weeks and counting…YIKES!  I have 26 things on my list yet to do and yes, I’m slightly panicky!  Fortunately, I have a group of amazing professionals who are working night and day to make sure all is well.  Rachel Heimer, our senior event planner and wedding specialist, has been putting all my ideas into a concise and workable menu which is perfect for my evening summer garden soiree…also known as our Wedding Rehearsal Dinner!

I wanted a very casual feeling as this is the time when both sides of our new family while be joining together for the first time.  Many of the 48 guests are coming from out-of-state and this will be the first time for the sneak preview of our new extended family!!!  Guests will be greeted with Galvanized Tubs of trendy bottled sodas, waters, and yes…a few Diet Cokes!   Our staff are so marvelous at designing beautiful presentations of local Utah Beehive Cheeses with refreshing fruits and nibbles.  This will keep everyone satisfied while the wedding party gives a few practice runs at the ceremony processional….OHMYGOSH…this is really happening!

I’ve included the menu below with all the custom toppings for the old-fashioned hot dog stand.  Rick and I had such fun coming up with these accompaniments and he even volunteered to make this homemade chili for the hot dogs!  I love the little touches Rachel included such as serving all of the condiments in big mason jars, mini ice cream floats with our homemade gelato, and that great pulled pork!  Hope I can fit into my wedding dress after this great dinner!!!

Rachel is currently hard at work on the family-style luncheon following the ceremony on Friday…and then the big celebration reception on Saturday…a caterer’s work is never done.  Thank you, Rachel, for all your creativeness and care.

MARY’S MENU
REHEARSAL DINNER
JUNE 30TH, 2011
48 GUESTS
BEGINNING AT 6:00 P.M. AND ENDING AT 9:00 P.M.
REHEARSAL FROM 6:00 P.M. TO 7:00 P.M.
DINNER AT 7:00 P.M.

To Start the evening…guests will be greeted with a display of Utah Artisan Cheeses,
Crackers, Lavosh, House-made Rusks, Berries, Grapes, Apples, and Pears.

GALVANIZED TUBS OF OLD FASHIONED BOTTLED SODAS

……………..

CUSTOM BARBECUE MENU

NORTH CAROLINA STYLE PULLED PORK
WITH A CABBAGE SLAW
HOUSEMADE KNOTTED BUNS

GOURMET HAMBURGER AND HOT DOG STAND

TOPPINGS DISPLAYED IN MASON JARS TO INCLUDE…

AVOCADO CHILE SPREAD
SRIRACHA MAYO
CHILE CHEESE MAYO
ROASTED TOMATO SALSA
“STOUT” MUSTARD
SCALLION BACON KETCHUP
SPICY PEANUT KETCHUP
ROOT BEER BBQ SAUCE
RED ONION MARMALADE
CORN TOMATO RELISH
TANGY HOMEMADE STEAK SAUCE
REUBEN SAUCE
WASABI RANCH SAUCE

PLUS THE USUAL FARE…

CLASSIC KETCHUP , MAYO AND WHOLE GRAIN MUSTARD

RICK’S FAMOUS CHILI RECIPE

HEIRLOOM TOMATO SLICES, BUTTER LETTUCE LEAVES, PURPLE ONION, PICKLES,
SAUTEED MUSHROOMS, PROVOLONE AND CHEDDAR CHEESE, FRESHLY PULLED MOZZERELLA, GUACAMOLE, AND BACON

……………..

CLASSIC AND CREAMY: CHEDDAR AND GRUYERE MACARONI AND CHEESE

CHARRED CORN AND TOMATO CRACKED WHEAT SALAD

MIXED GREEN SALAD WITH DICED AVOCADO, PEACHES, CRISPY BACON, FETA CHEESE AND CHAMPAGNE VINAIGRETTE

……………..

WATERMELON WEDGES

……………..

GRILLED YUKON GOLD POTATO SALAD WITH ROASTED RED PEPPER AND SMOKED PAPRIKA MAYONNAISE

……………..

OLD FASHIONED FLOAT STAND

FEATURING CULINARY CRAFT’S CUSTOM MADE GELATO

ROOTBEER FLOATS

ORANGE CREAMSICLE FLOATS

CHOCOLATE MINT FLOATS

………

S’MORES GALORE!

(For the kid in all of us!)

…………

CITRUS WATER”

Thank you Mary!  It sounds DELICIOUS and we are so excited for you!

Check out our website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

Firstly, remember today is the last day of the contest sponsored by our fantastic partners at Diamond Rental!  So remember to submit your entries by 11:59pm!  Check out the details here.

Secondly, we, much like everyone in the world, are raptly watching for the fabulous and drop dead gorgeous details from the Royal Wedding that was held this morning!  I mean, check out that dress!  And the understated elegance of Kate’s beautiful bouquet!  I, however, am waiting for the food.  I bet it is completely and utterly scrumptious! Unfortunately, no photos have yet to surface, but I was able to get my hands on the Royal Menu!!  Check it out!

— Cornish crab salad on lemon blini

— Pressed duck terrine with fruit chutney

— Roulade of goats’ cheese with caramelized walnuts

— Assortment of palmiers and cheese straws

— Scottish smoked salmon rose on beetroot blini

— Miniature watercress and asparagus Tart

— Poached asparagus spears with Hollandaise sauce

— Quails eggs with celery salt

— Scottish langoustines with lemon mayonnaise pressed confit of pork belly with crayfish and crackling

— Wild mushroom and celeriac chausson

— Bubble and squeak with confit shoulder of lamb

— Grain mustard and honey-glazed chipolatas

— Smoked haddock fishcake with pea guacamole

— Miniature Yorkshire pudding with roast fillet of beef and horseradish mousse

— Gateau opera

— Blood orange pate de fruit

— Raspberry financier

— Rhubarb creme brulee tartlet

— Passion fruit praline

— White chocolate ganache truffle

— Milk chocolate praline with nuts

— Dark chocolate ganache truffle

Mmmm…..  Yes please!  And I will take seconds!

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

Remember to stop by our website and get more tips and ideas!  www.culinarycrafts.com

Inspired by the upcoming royal nuptials, Tessa Woolf with Salt Lake Bride & Groom Magazine has been getting local vendors’s takes on what they would do if, by some really good fortune, we could plan the Royal Wedding!  Well, we were very honored to be able to create our dream menu for the couple and Tessa posted it today!  Check it out here.  There have been SO many fantastic suggestions for the flowers, decor, and, coming up, for the cake!  Thank you Tessa for letting us share and we are so excited to see all the fantastic details of the wedding tomorrow!!!  Cheerio!

And don’t forget to enter our contest to win some regal linens of your own from Diamond Rental!

Check out our website for more inspiration at www.culinarycrafts.com!

Today I’d like to share a recipe that would be a perfect meal for a New Year’s dinner or lunch!  Enjoy!

Check out more recipe ideas on our website!  www.culinarycrafts.com

Today I’d like to share with you a corporate party at the beautiful Salt Lake Hardware Building.  The warmth of the exposed brick, wooden beams, and decorative tile work dating back to the early 1900s not only make this building an architectural gem, but the perfect place for any holiday gathering!

Look at these hors d’oeuvres!  Roasted Red Pepper Bruschetta with Shaved Parmesan and Sun Dried Tomatoes, Chipotle Encrusted Shrimp with Lime Crema, Mini Cordon Bleu, and Mini Tortellini Skewers with Pesto Sauce!  Yum!

As always, dinner is served with artisan breads.  Delicious!

The main course was a Strawberry Mango Salad with Raspberry Vinegarette and Nori Encrusted Beef with Shitake Mushroom Ponzu Sauce with Wasabi Mashed Potatoes and Seared Asparagus.  Gorgeous as well as scrumptious!

A perfect place to hold a gathering!  The Salt Lake Hardware Building is great for more intimate parties or larger affairs.  Call them at (801) 239-2427 and I hope this gets you inspired!

Check out more corporate events on our website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

Photo credit: Pepper Nix, Pepper Nix Photography