You can plan your day until your brain comes out your ears but it will not matter if you have the perfect venue, best photographer, the most beautiful dress and sunshine all day if the food falls short. Let’s be real, guests come to weddings for 3 things,to eat, drink and be merry. It’s important that you find the right caterer who is experienced in wedding receptions to secure happy taste buds in all your guests. We’ve all been to those wedding where we could down the minutes for that appropriate time to make an exit and hightail it to the closest McDonalds. To avoid the “McDonald” do the research first. Consider the following when trying to find the right food for your day:

 

 

1. Budget: How much is the max you can spend per guest. This is not to say you should aim to pay your max, in actuality you should do your best to look for a provider that comes in under your max this will allow for more flexibility in your food budget and adjust for changes that may be needed.

2. Know Your Must Haves: Know what type of menu you want before you price check venues and caterers. Even though weddings may be venues and caterers regularly business this fact does not mean they can give you an accurate quote if you have no idea what you want. There is a huge price difference between buffet and sit-down service. Sit-down will require additional wait staff which will directly affect cost. Service is not the only thing that will greatly affect food cost, food choice obviously affect cost as well. If you’re considering salmon and filet mignon as main course together with a full pasted appetizers expect a large quote. On the flip side if you have base idea of your “must haves” but can be flexible with the “wants” you’ll find larger wiggly room in your budget.

3. Cocktail Hour: If part of your must haves is a cocktail hour consider the type you want. Did you want passed horderves or self-serve stations? Were you thinking hot, cold, mixed? Have you estimated how many guest will show for cocktails. These are all important considerations when trying to plan your budget.

4. Desert: When considering a caterer for the big day I suggest finding one that does cakes as well. Generally you will get a better overall package deal if you go with someone who can supply dinner and dessert. Consider the amount of dessert you would like. Consider the timing of dessert and how much your guest will eat. Guests at a late night wedding are less likely to want heavy sugars and mass amounts of coffee. Talk to your caterer about what they think would be appropriate based on the time of day and season.

5. Consider Your Guests Dietary Needs: Try and pick a menu that will agree with the vast majority of the guests but always account for individuals needs. Let your caterer know if specialized dishes will need to be set aside to account for allergies, kosher practices, or any other dietary restrictions.

6. Listen to the Professional: Once you’ve considered your price range, must haves and guest needs it’s time to start looking for the right caterer. If you’ve thought carefully about the above the caterer should be able to easily assist you in planning your wedding day. Schedule tasting and shop around but in the end make sure you pick someone you are sure can deliver the perfect day. They should be knowledge, have a great reputation, and make you feel at ease. Your wedding day is the day you will remember forever make sure you entrust it to a caterer that understands that.

If you have more questions or would like to schedule a tasting give me a call at (845)-518-6533

 

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, which is why you should trust The Chocolate Mousse Caterers for everything you’ll need. As your wedding caterer, we will handle every detail of your wedding reception. Only one special wedding at a time assures perfection and world class service. It is our pleasure to make your vision a reality, from intimate to extravagant, traditional to unexpected; we are dedicated to creating your ideal wedding and reception.

The Chocolate Mousse creates memories that will last a lifetime. We will be with you every step of the way, from event planning, menu design and decor to entertainment and logistics. All of our catered affairs are custom designed to meet your every want and expectation. Regardless of your needs or budget, the experienced professionals at The Chocolate Mousse will work with you to help make your wedding day dreams come true.

Our primary goal is to make your exceptional day a day like no other. Our entire team will be at your service making your wedding a pleasant, and worry-free event.

 

What you can expect…

– Unlimited Planning, Unlimited Consultation

– Creative options to prioritize your wedding budget and get the most out of each dollar

– Help organizing, prioritizing and taking care of the legwork involved in planning a wedding

– Help finding a great venue that fits your personal style and funds

– A personalized menu that is created with the highest quality ingredients, attention to detail, freshness, and flavor

– Custom wedding cakes

– Referrals to preferred partners to seamlessly complete the wedding planning process, from venues to florists, photographers and deejays – we’ll create your wedding dream team

– Wedding day coordination so you won’t have to repeat your details and preferences to various vendors

– Rental coordination for Tents and Chairs – from backyard to ballroom and everything in between; China, Glassware, and Flatware in hundreds of styles and colors; Linens, Napkins and Overlays – from the standards to one of a kind

– Staff – from captains and servers to chefs and utility workers – professionals that care that your wedding is special, memorable, and stress-free

– Customized bar service during your reception

Your wedding deserves the best planning, and The Chocolate Mousse Caterers will ensure that your wedding reception is flawless. We provide the best, most attentive, wedding planning available!

We can’t pick out your wedding dress but we can take the pressure off of planning the rest of the day. To find out how we can help you contact our in house wedding planner 845-518-6533 or at Heather@ChocolateMousseCatering.com

 

 

Now we know our ABC’s…..of grocery shopping. Now that you have spectacular ingredient purchasing tips under your belt, let’s get cooking! And where better to begin than breakfast.

Does this sound familiar? You wake up and then you start the rush… get ready for work, get the kids out the door… breakfast, perhaps not. Maybe you do get a chance to grab a buttered bagel or a muffin, maybe you even stop for an Egg McMuffin. On a good morning, you may eat a piece of fruit, a pastry, or an egg sandwich. Unfortunately, none of these are the best way to start the day. In the Monday through Friday grind, it seems breakfast leaves us with few easy and healthy options.

The first problem, not eating at all is a big problem. Starting the day with an empty stomach means that by the time you are into your groove, your blood-sugar is dangerously low. This results in needing an instant sugar fix, which is usually a donut or some other unhealthy choice.

The second problem is that “on the go” breakfasts, such as pastries and cereal bars, are generally sugary and carb laden, low in protein, and nothing but empty calories. This starts your day with high blood-sugars, which your body naturally adjusts for, leaving your blood sugar on a roller-coaster ride all day long.

The third problem is that “traditional breakfasts” are usually not convenient and definately not healthy. Fried eggs, sausage, cheesy omelets, hash browns, and anything English or Scottish are just too fatty.

So what are we left with? There are actually a lot of options. Here are just a few ideas, but with these guidelines, I know you can think of many more.

*Look for protein with very little saturated fat. Whole-grain carbs that are high in fiber and low-fat dairy or soy options add loads of nutrients.

Where do you find the time? Get up just 15 minutes earlier and pack your breakfast to eat on the road or at work. Waking up just a bit earlier allows you to drink your cup of tea or coffee and take a deep breathe before the chaos of your day begins.

Here are some easy ideas:

 

Hot Cereal
1/2 cup Instant Oatmeal
1 Tablespoon Ground Flaxseed
1/4 cup Fresh or Frozen Fruit
1/8 cup Sliced Almonds
Add Cinnamon, Vanilla, and Honey (not a lot) for extra flavor. This quick meal is full of fiber, nutrients, and protein and only takes 5 minutes to make!

 

Cold Cereal
Granola

6 cups Rolled Oats
1 cup Unsweeted Shredded Coconut
1/2 cup Wheat Germ
1/2 cup Ground Flaxseed
3/4 cup Almonds
1/2 cup Pumpkin Seeds
1/2 cup Sesame Seeds
1/3 cup Honey
1/3 cup Flaxseed Oil
1/3 cup Orange Juice
1 teaspoon Vanilla

1- Mix together and stir well.
2- Spread in a thin layer on baking sheets.
3- Bake in preheated oven at 325F for 10 minutes.
4- Sir and bake another 10 minutes.
5- Stir again and bake 5 minutes (watch carefully to prevent burning)
6- Cool
7- Add 1 cup Died Fuit
8- Store in airtight container

This is a whole-grain, high-fiber cereal. It has a high amount of protein and is low in sugar. Add low-fat milk or soy milk and some berries if you like… This also makes a great snack.

 

Eggs

1/4 cup Raw Spinach
1 Tablespoon Onion
1/4 cup Tomatoes
1 Tablespoon Flaxseed Oil
1 Tablespoon Cheddar (shredded)
2 Egg Whites
1 Egg

1- Saute Vegetables in Oil. Season with Salt and Pepper
2- Scrambled eggs in vegetables
3- Sprinkle with cheese and enjoy

Egg whites have virtually no fat and cholesterol… but also limited flavor. Adding 1 whole egg to the whites adds to both visual and taste appeal without adding a large amount of lipids

 

Parfaits
Yogurt
1/2 cup Fresh Berries
3/4 cup Non-fat Plain Yogurt
1/4 cup Granola
1 teaspoon Vanilla

1- Mix Yogurt with Vanilla
2- Layer ingredients and enjoy!

Cottage Cheese
1/2 Green Apple (diced)
1 Orange
1/2 Red Pear (diced)
1/4cup Grapes (halved)
5 Strawberries (halved)
1/4 cup Orange Juice

1- Toss cut fruit in Orange Juice
2- Layer with fat free Cottage Cheese
Shake

1/2 cup Yogurt
1/2 cup Fat Free Milk or Soy Milk
1/2 cup Frozen Fruit
2 Tablespoons Almond Butter
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
1 teaspoon Honey

1- Blend together and Enjoy

This quick meal is full of fiber, nutrients, and protein and only takes 5 minutes to make!

I hope these help you get a great start to each and every day.

Happy Eating,
Chef Heather