Splendid Spring Wedding and Reception Lakedale Resort

Spring Wedding Season has officially started. 

This bride knew what she wanted and spent months planning out every detail. 

The beautiful setting across from the lodge at the Point at Lakedale, Rain Boots in case the weather didn't cooperate, Place Cards in beautiful Silver Napkin Rings, 

Custom Made Cupcake Toppers 

all added the personal touch she was looking for. 

Family Style Dinner Featuring

Wild Alaskan Troll Caught Salmon  

Red Wine and Coffee braised English cut Short Ribs

                                        Artisan Romaine Hearts, Cherry Tomato Medley
                         Bay Shrimp, Garlic Croutons drizzled with Green Goddess Dressing

   The toppers, "We Do" and "I Do"

 Say it all

San Juan Summer BBQ

The sun was out, the guests were hungry. 

My job was to make sure the food was great.

 Greek Salad over a bed of Organic Arugula

 Fresh 4 Bean Salad

 Ripe Melons and Skagit Blueberries

 Grilled onions, Sweet Hot Pickles, Chipolte Aioli, Sliced and Crumbled Cheeses

 Baskets of Burgers and Grilled Rosemary Chicken

 I think everyone had a great time

Knitting Retreats

San Juan Island is a destination for people from all over the world. I am the caterer for a a series of knitting workshops for Cat Bordhi at Lakedale Resort at Three Lakes. I see many of the participants twice a year, spring and fall. The workshops are so popular people book out a year in advance. It is like cooking for old friends. For lunch they like vegetarian soups, salads and savory bites. For dinner I offer flavorful healthy entrees with vegetarian options, usually a gluten free side dish and a variety of seasonal veggies. For dessert, I keep it small, but decadent.

Island Chicken Marabella with prunes,

capers and a balsamic and brown sugar glaze

Blanched Broccolini

Golden Beets

Mixed sweet black rice, short grain brown rice pilaf 

with sweet onions and zante currants

Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse

Surprise!!!

A Surprise Party is hard enough, but throwing it at a remote location where everything, all the food, tables and chairs and guests have to be barged in and set up with in hours, takes it to a whole new level. The home was still under construction so we went with the theme and used canvas drop clothes for linens and hung up strands of commercial lighting. In season local flowers and huckleberries were used for the center pieces. The menu featured local specialities, salmon, crab, spot prawns and fresh produce. We brought in a band too. 

We pulled it off and the hostess was "Blown Away!" 

Specially Desiged Menus

I enjoy helping my clients design menus to fit their events. The bride wanted an updated German theme to honor her mother along with traditional favorites. We served Schnitzel and Uli's Gourmet Sausages, a Butter Lettuce Salad with Dill Yogurt Dressing, Vegetarian Strudel and Bacon filled Latvian Piragas. Her mom loved the German Potato Salad. For dessert choose from mini German Chocolate or Plum Cake. It was a beautiful day to dine on the deck at Lakedale Resort at Three Lakes.

First Night BBQ, Family and Friends Arrive

The bright yellow sunflowers and red and white accents were the perfect complement for a summer pre-wedding BBQ. When guests arrived they had time to visit before the big day. Grilled Kobe Beef Burgers and all the fixings,  Sliced Melon, and Strawberry Rhubarb pies were on the menu. Both Ice Tea and Lemonade was served in Mason Jars chilled in tubs of ice.   

Camping and Camp Fire Cooking

 
 I don't know what you do when you go camping, but when I am not hiking or swimming or stoking the campfire, I am cooking over it. I love to bring a cooler full off garden herbs and veggies, marinated meats, cheeses and seasonings to create comforting meals for my family and the lucky other campers I offer our left overs too.
On our last trip to Baker Lake I made some Whole Grain Pancakes with Big Plump Skagit Valley Blue Berries. For dinner I sauteed up summer squash and sweet onions from the garden and grilled up Chicken Marinated in Middle Eastern Spices and served it over couscous.
We also had Grilled Shrimp for dinner one night, but we ate that before I could get a photo!

Wedding in the Meadow

A wonderful casual outdoor wedding at Lakedale Resort at Three Lakes. The meadow is the perfect spot for medium to large sized groups.

Picnic Tables and Island Grown Flowers

Hay bales add just the right atmosphere and Tiki Torches keep the bugs at bay...

Trio of Crostini

Fresh Market Greens, Local Artisan Bread and Whipped Butters

Buffet of Grilled Pork tenderloin served with Island Plum Chutney, Wild Sockeye Salmon, Vegetables with Roasted Garlic Aioli and Summer Salads

Thank you and don't forget to take the Chocolate!

That's Italian

Wow, It's what I live for. Last fall I was so lucky to be part of an adventure to Florence.  A wonderful woman, Marie Ashcraft, invited us to stay with her in an apartment, located just steps from the Mercado market. My companions and I went to all the expected tourist spots, but what was probably the highlight of my trip, was the afternoon I spent in a 1000 year old Tuscan Farm home, drinking Chianti and making fresh pasta.  Afterwards we went upstairs where our hostess prepared for us a glorious traditional meal. We dined on fried eggplant frittata, spinach ravioli, linguini with fresh tomato and bay leaf sauce and for dessert tiramisu.  I booked the outing with Accidental Tourist , a small private company who limits it's groups to about 10 guests. You get to visit private estates and homes, not the typical stops on many daily tours. 

Halloween for the Teens!

My son is on the refreshment committee for the Middle School dances, which means, I am too.
He wanted to make Eye Ball Cookies and Spider Peanut Butter cookies. Why not homemade
Focaccia Fingers with Blood Red Marinara dipping Sauce.

FUNdrasier Go Dragons!

The Dragons Lacrosse Team has does a dessert auction every year to help pay for their program. I asked if they wanted a traditional cake or a Dragon cake....they said Dragon!

Receptions

Deviled Ham on Multigrain, Egg bread and Rye
Finger Sandwiches

Open Face Cucumber and Dill,
Green Olive, and Kalamata Tapenade Finger Sandwiches

I cater all kinds of receptions. This one was a memorial service where they wanted a nice selection of Finger Sandwiches, Chilled Shrimp, Smoked Salmon and platters of cookies. The Green Olive Finger Sandwiches were especially good. I also served homemade Orange and Lemon Milano Cookies and Coconut tarts filled with Lemon Curd. They ate every bite!

Summer Harvest

My scalloped squash took a blue ribbon at the SJC Fair!

Today I picked plums, squash, zucchini's and dahlias. Despite the cool long spring the garden still is over flowing with produce and flowers. Stuffed zucchini or chocolate zucchini cake anyone?  

Summer Wedding Buffet

The bride and groom wanted a casual reception with great food and great friends.  On the menu; Beef Tenderloin, Grilled Wild Salmon, Barley and Spring Pea salad and platters of Grilled Vegetables served with a Preserved Lemon Aioli.