This week I would like to feature one of our esteemed District Favorites: Windows Catering! They are fresh, fun, and fabulous, and when working with Windows, ‘no’ is simply not an answer. They will listen and truly turn your event ideas into reality, leaving you and your guests talking about the wonderful food and presentation for years to come! This week I had an interview with Kelsey Hendrickson, a lovely Event Consultant at Windows Catering.
As spring is (hopefully) approaching, what new flavors and dishes will Windows Catering be offering to clients and those interested in your services?
One of the biggest trends we’re still seeing is local, sustainable and seasonal. This spring we’re focusing on fresh ingredients with what’s in season. Some fun new menus are:
Specialty Drink Ideas: A Cherry Old Fashioned (Sweet and sour cherries muddled with orange juice, maple syrup, a dash of bitters, served with bourbon over ice and garnished with cherry foam), Pineapple Mojitos, and Blueberry Pie Martinis
Hors d’oeuvres: Spinach filled Crepes tied with Chive Ribbons, Spring Pea Soup Shooters with Maryland Lump Crab, Mini Lobster Corn Dogs
Plated Entrée: Spring Long Island Duck breast with a Bing cherry glaze over roasted rhubarb and fennel bed with corn and wild rice flapjacks and topped with a Bing cherry relish
Plated Dessert: A Deconstructed Pineapple Upside Down Cake served in a martini glass accompanied by a home-made coconut sorbet.
What do you offer to couples who inquire about Windows Catering for their wedding? How is your plated dinner structured, and do you offer buffet or cocktail style receptions?
The first step in all of our wedding consultations is to fully understand the bride and grooms vision for their wedding. Once we understand their personalities, culinary expectations, budgets and desired look and feel, we are better able to make menu suggestions and assist in designing their ideal reception.
Windows can offer a wide range of reception options. Whether it’s a plated dinner, traditional buffet, themed stations, or any other option, we can make it happen. I think it’s always great to incorporate different food elements that reflect the couple’s background and culinary preferences. People tend to eat with their eyes first and want a ‘wow’ factor in the food presentation, so we focus on using fresh ingredients, stylistic presentation and making sure a plate or buffet display is colorful and consistent with the overall look of the event.
One example of integrating our client’s background and vision into our culinary creativity is a couple I am working with whom have strong roots in the South. The bride and groom were raised in Georgia and Virginia and we’re creating a southern style barbecue, with pulled pork mini sandwiches, pecan crusted chicken, and grilled Virginia trout on sweet onion crepes.
How flexible are your menus? Are your chefs able to tweak and customize your menus in order to completely satisfy your clients?
All of our menus can be customized and tweaked to the bride and grooms preferences. We treat cuisine as an art form, which could translate into an Asian themed rehearsal dinner reminiscent of their first date or a cocktail reception with fresh, local seafood and produce for they’re out of town guests. We understand that this is their day, and we’re happy to help reflect their style and personality in the food.
What trends have you noticed in desserts at weddings- are couples often ordering cakes or dessert bars? How creative have you gone for desserts at a wedding?
Ever since Martha Stewart and Amy Atlas started showcasing Dessert Bars the classic wedding cake has been transformed. I love that couples are customizing their weddings with an added final twist. The dessert station has become a final focal point of the evening, and when it’s the last thing they’ll see, it’s great to make an impression!
The more popular dessert bars we’re seeing are an assortment of different sweets monochromatic to the colors of the wedding. One such way is customizing our famous French macaroons to be monochromatic with the colors of their wedding. I love placing the macaroons and colored candies in beautiful apothecary jars on the dessert table. Another creative twist is the Vintage candy bar; it’s a fun, budget friendly way for guests to leave your evening on a sweet note.
Thank you so much Kelsey. Hearing about all of these delicious foods from Windows Catering is making me so hungry! Many companies can serve food at your event, but Windows truly caters to your needs and unique vision for your special day. That’s why they are a District Favorite!!
