Jay's Blog – Food for Thought

Jay and Eleanor Mastroianni received a Lifetime Achievement Award from CATERSOURCE today during opening ceremonies at the 2010 CaterSource Conference and Trade Show at The Paris Hotel, Las Vegas. They were recognized for their 50 plus years of INNOVATION within the Catering Industry. All of us at Jay’s Catering are proud of the FOUNDATION these two trailblazers have set. CONGRATULATIONS Jay and Eleanor. XOXO

Jay received his award surrounded by his children, grandchildren, employees, and a standing ovation from over 1000 colleagues.

The CaterSource Lifetime Achievement Award was presented by Michael Roman, President of CaterSource and Meryl Snow, Founder of Feastivities Events.

My oh my… mini pies. Pies are truly one of my favorite things. My Mother baked pies and my Grandmother baked pies. For me they conjure up memories of flour, butter, aprons, and family. So when our Master Baker Ismael made these adorable, tasty, mini pies the other day… I was smitten. Imagine how excited your guests would be to find one of these fruit filled treats at their table. Kind of feels like a down home welcome.

The charming South County beach town of Dana Point has so many hidden treasures for weddings and celebrations. Here is a little peek into a few of my favorites. The quaint little water front BARN below is available for small celebrations or (my favorite) rehearsal dinners. It over looks the vintage Tall Ships and Dana Point Harbor.

Who doesn’t LOVE a Pirate Ship? Imagine getting married on the Tall Ship Pilgrim… what an experience. Open air, harbor views, strings of lights, and sea birds singing. OH… even a plank and cannon.

After your ceremony on the Tall Ship, enjoy being tendered by boat over to the Dana Point Yacht Club as your guests greet you dockside. Entertain Cocktails and appetizers on one of the two waterfront patios. The ballroom is set  for a casual yet elegant beachy dinner reception. Three of the four walls have floor to ceiling windows to view the harbor lights. Dance until midnight if you wish.

If you would like to tour all of these great venues in one day, you can. The Dana Point Yacht Club is hosting Romance on the Water, a bridal event on February 28th. Click HERE for more information.

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced Jay’s Catering has been selected to receive the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for Catering in Southern California! The annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

Jay’s Catering is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada. Awards were given to winners across 19 different service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the success of the top wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “The annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program has given us the unique opportunity to highlight the best wedding professionals in each region as reviewed by brides and grooms who have utilized their services in the past year.”

I’m a little obsessed with delightfully DELECTABLE French Macarons. Unlike their coconut counterpart, macaroons, which are COOKIES made with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk, FRENCH MACARONS are similar to a MERINGUE, and made with almond flour, powdered sugar, egg whites and food coloring. Once baked the cookies are SANDWICHED with a buttercream, ganache or jelly filling. What a wonderful TREAT. Available in many colors and flavors. Boxed up in your favorite flavor and color to enhance your CELEBRATION. Perfect for weddings, showers and your special VALENTINE. BON APETIT.

Okay, so here’s my take on picking your team for Superbowl… it’s all about the food consumed. If I were throwing a Colt’s party the food would be down home, midwest, comfort food. This would include sandwiches, deviled eggs, pasta and potato salad, chips and salsa, deli meats, pizza, meatballs, and bacon wrapped wieners. The beverages would also have to compliment the food. I would serve up big tubs of beer and soda… all in bottles of course. The day would not be complete without desserts of gooey brownies and cute little football cakes.

Now if I were to throw a Saint’s party the faire would have to be multi-cultural with a definite french twist. This of course would include caviar, fancy cheeses adorned with fruit, flatbreads with salty meats, fried macaroni and cheese, sirachi fire-cracker rolls, drunken tomatoes, grilled vegetables, lobster stuffed potatoes, shrimp, and crab cakes. To compliment I would serve a Pouilly Fuisse and prepare mixed fruity cocktails with mint, mini vodka shots, and of course a french champagne. Small individual desserts of french macarons and creme brulee would finish off our celebration.

Now based on these menus I have probably shown my hand. GO SAINTS!!!

You won’t want to miss this Bridal Fair at the incredible Dana Point Yacht Club. Sparkling water and MARINA VIEWS. Meet over 60 vendors and take home valuable resources and cool SWAG. Taste incredible cakes, amazing appetizers, sip CHAMPAGNE, meet some of the top floral designers and photographers, and take a front row seat at Marry Me Bridals 2010 FASHION SHOW. Admission includes a chance to win a DREAM WEDDING, valued at over $15,000.00. If you are planning a wedding… this is THE PLACE TO BE. Get your tickets HERE.

VALENTINES DAY is almost here and there isn’t anything quite as SWEET as a Valentine you can eat. Heart-shaped COOKIES, lollicakes, candy apples, petits fours, decorated CAKES, chocolate dipped cherries, MACARONS, mini bundts and berry TARTS, are an easy way to say “I love you”. All of these TASTY treats are baked to order, so they are as FRESH as can be. MY FAVORITE….. lolllicakes, PERSONALIZED for my SWEETHEART.

You could even order a Valentine Sweet Treat Tray for an assortment of the most popular treats. Photo courtesy Hanssie Trainor Photography.

You know I never miss a holiday. Especially if it involves food. Today is National Chocolate Cake Day. So here is a little CHOCOLATE eye candy to get you through the day. At Jay’s, chocolate cake comes in many forms. From BROWNIES and bars… all dressed up, cakes and LOLLICAKES… decorated with treats, to the always popular CUPCAKE… decorated for any theme or decor. ENJOY!!!

Oh the childhood joy of CHOCOLATE CAKE. Call and start your CHOCOLATE memories TODAY!