Food Feature: What’s Hot in 2014 Culinary Forecast

While researching event industry trends for 2014, I stumbled upon this awesome forecast of 1,300 professional chefs (members of the American Culinary Federation) who were surveyed to find out what the hottest menu trends of 2014 will be. This write-up has really opened my eyes to what goes on in the culinary world. If you're looking to find out more about the food and beverage industry, reading up on these trends will definitely help. Check out this first set of findings.

 

It's interesting that some of these trends have been ongoing from years past. Even though some of them have been trending for a while, it is beyond useful to see where they rank based on these chefs' perspectives for 2014.

In my time within the hospitality program at Endicott College, I was able to get great insight of the culinary industry. With the knowledge of the professors and the extensive curriculum, students were able to identify themes in the food and beverage industry that these chefs identified as well. This forecast put together the top 5 culinary themes and I must say, I completely agree with them.

 

And of course I couldn't finish up this post without letting you all know about the trending cocktails and alcoholic beverages of 2014! Check out what the chefs are thinking will be a hit this year.

 

 

I hope this brief post has given you a new perspective of culinary arts and how much food really impacts the world around us. If this feature has intrigued you then please check out
What's Hot in 2014 Culinary Forecast to learn more. Let these 1,300 chefs devour the details for you in 2014!

Wick'ed Lit

Sorry for the long return of devour the details but as many of you can relate, the week of Christmas is hectic and leaves very little time to get the creative juices flowing. So without further adieu, here is the newest post!

Wick'ed Lit Candles was established in 2013 by three friends in Pelham, NH who love wine, candles and sharing great times with the people closest to them. They decided to combine the things they enjoy the most and were able create a sophisticated yet fun product that they could share with others.

All of their candles are environmentally friendly. Wick'ed Lit Candles are hand poured into recycled glass bottles, each hand-cut and sanded to a smooth edge. Customers are able to choose from bottles with their original labels, Wick'ed Lit company label or custom labels for special events.

They also use 100% natural soy wax which benefits both the environment and the US soybean farmers. Soy wax is non-toxic and burns cleaner than other types of wax.  Soy candles also burn slower and cooler than other wax candles, creating a longer burning candle.

They have a variety of clean and relaxing fragrances available in four different categories: Wine, Spirit, Sparkling, and Brew Wicks. These candles make for excellent gifts and party favors! Be sure to check out Wick'ed Lit Candles and order this unique product today. Keep devouring the details Wick'ed Lit!

Sondra Celli

In honor of the new season of 'Gypsy Sisters' starting tonight, I thought I'd share some information on one of the top gypsy dressmakers in the Boston-area, Sondra Celli. Her dress company is located on Moody Street in Waltham, MA.

Sondra Celli is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology. Upon graduating the Fashion Institute, Sondra attended the Scholastic International Program allowing her to travel and study design in Italy, France, England, Switzerland, Sweden, and Denmark. Her award-winning work has been seen in publications such as Harpers Bazaar, New York Magazine and Vogue.

One could say that Sondra’s trademark is her attention to detail and personal service, however, she is better-known for understanding a gypsy’s fashion priorities. She doesn’t hesitate when getting a phone call from a gypsy bride who needs the biggest, boldest, best dress fit for a princess, in just five days. Sondra delivers because she’s been a part of the gypsy culture for years. She makes each gown unique and better than the rest, because she knows that after the wedding day, the bride settles down to a lifetime of child-bearing and house-cleaning.

Here are some of Sondra's gypsy creations.

If you're a gypsy or just a fan, have Sondra Celli devour the details of your dream dress!

Eventbrite

What's a great event tool for online ticket sales? Checkout Eventbrite, an online ticketing service that allows event organizers to plan, set up ticket sales and promote events and publish them across Facebook, Twitter and other social-networking tools directly from the site's interface. It is also used as a search engine enabling attendees to find and purchase tickets to different events. Eventbrite was founded by its CEO Kevin Hartz, its President Julia Hartz and CTO Renaud Visage and was officially launched in 2006. Since 2006 it has grown significantly and is now recognized worldwide.

Eventbrite works in three easy steps. 1) Create an event webpage, 2) Promote your event, and 3) Manage event entry. The company generates revenue by charging organizers a fee of 2.5% of the ticket price plus $0.99 cents per ticket sold, but does not charge any fee for free events.

Creating an event webpage yourself let's you customize your ticket information in a creative and professional way. Simple tools help you put together a page with logos, images, and URLs, and send barcoded tickets. Its online or mobile accessibility makes it quick and easy for people to buy tickets and register for your event. They allow more payment options to easily collect money online with their credit card processor, PayPal, and more.

In order to promote the event, Eventbrite allows you to email personalized invitations to your contact lists. You can keep your event private or automatically list your public events on search engines and the Eventbrite directory. Increase your turnout by letting attendees promote your event on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to their friends and network. This setup is so great, it even allows users to track attendance. See how many people are coming to your event and view your ticket and registration sales so you can ramp up your promotional activity as needed.

With Eventbrite you can manage all of the event data. Print a guest list or use one of their free apps to check in people and scan barcoded tickets with your phone. Attendees can access your event info and tickets on the go with the Eventbrite mobile app which is great for going paperless. You can sell tickets at the door and collect customer info with their secure mobile box office app for the iPad.

If this ticket sales system is something you haven't used before, it is definitely something to consider when planning your next event.

Eventbrite has developed two applications targeted towards event organizers. Their mobile app, 'Entry Manager', is available for both iPhone and Android. 'Entry Manager' allows organizers and planners to see the number of tickets sold to a particular event, the number in attendance, and offers several ways to check in attendees. The mobile app also links back to the user’s page on Eventbrite, providing post-event details and an attendee summary report.

The newest application called 'At The Door' is described as a mobile box office. It allows the user to check in attendees, as well as purchase tickets and process credit cards on-site. Anyone in the industry would agree that these two apps make ticket sale operations extremely efficient.

Let Eventbrite help your devour the details when selling tickets for your next event!

Chocolate State of Mind

What's a great treat to bring to holiday parties this season? Chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate. Here are five easy to make festive sweets using melted chocolate and creativity!

Chocolate covered candy canes. Use these to add peppermint flavor to your hot cocoa.

 

Chocolate covered marshmallows. Putting a lollipop stick through the marshmallows makes them easier to dip in the hardening chocolate. Use creativity to decorate!

 

Chocolate dipped fortune cookies. These are great because they are not only satisfying but also fun to eat thanks to the fortune inside.

 

Chocolate covered Oreos. The only thing that could possibly make Oreos even better is covering them with chocolate.

 

Last but not least, the classic pretzels dipped in chocolate. A salty and sweet treat, these can be easily decorated and put on display. Yum.

 

 

 

Devour the details and turn these chocolate ideas into reality for your next holiday party!

What Gifts to Give Your Friends this Holiday Season

Everyone has those friends that can be so hard to shop for. I am that friend for my friends haha! But if there's one thing I've learned from growing up in a technology-filled era, it's that you can find almost anything online. Especially with sites like Pinterest and Groupon, great gift ideas are constantly spilling out at you. That being said, I used Pinterest as an anchor for finding gifts on Etsy.com. Inexpensive and easy, Etsy is an e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items, supplies, as well as unique factory-manufactured items. The site follows in the tradition of open craft fairs, giving sellers personal storefronts where they list their goods for a fee of $0.20 per item. Here is what I found..

For your friend that is always cold but is also very stylish, this monogrammed fleece vest is perfect!

 

For your friend who always looks their best, design them a compact mirror so they can check themselves out!

 

 

For your friend who is into photography, here's one way they will never put the camera down!

 

For your friend who has moved across the country or just a few cities away, this coordinate bag and bracelet are an awesome reminder of home for them!

 

 

For the guy in your life who's not afraid to standout, choose one of many patterned bowties like this bicycle one to impress your well-dressed man this holiday!

 

 

 

Shop on and devour the details!

Pnina Tornai

You must all know by now that I am quite obsessed with 'Say Yes to the Dress'. One of my favorite designers on the show is Pnina Tornai. She is an exclusive designer for Kleinfeld and is a leading international bridal and evening wear designer.

Growing up in Israel, she dreamed of being an actress but she put her dreams to the side and attended high school instead. After she finished high school, she enlisted for military service. In Israel, when a male or female turns 18, he or she must enlist in the military. When her time in the military was completed, she decided to pursue her acting career by enrolling in acting school in Paris.

In her spare time, Pnina began designing dresses that complimented different roles she wanted to act in. People began to notice she had a talent for something other than acting. She decided to put her dreams to the side when her third husband convinced her to bring her dresses to Kleinfeld Bridal Salon.

Pnina's designs were rejected initially but she later returned to Kleinfeld's for other pitches. Her new designs were eventually accepted and she has been Kleinfeld's best seller ever since.

Pnina has never taken a sewing lesson in her life. Her designs are wanted by brides across the world. She brings a new and fresh design approach to bridal, one brides and other designers have never seen before. Her gowns are classic but unique and always sensual. The fabrics she uses are light and her details reflect her individual sense of style, glamour and beauty. I adore her. Check out Pnina's page on the Kleinfeld website and see how she devours the details.

Boston NYE

Upon special request, I thought I'd post about some Boston New Year's Eve parties.

At Rumor nightclub on Warrenton Street you will find a newly renovated dance floor with premium sound, lighting, and décor. In the main Room DJ Dera will be spinning the hottest top 40 mashups and in the back room DJ Enice will be bumping international house and Latin hits. A champagne toast will be provided at midnight and party favors given before you leave.

Cure Lounge on Tremont Street is a high end boutique lounge and nightclub with brand new dance floor, LED screens, and lighting. In the main room DJ CASE will be playing the latest dance and top 40 tunes. In the back room DJ Austin Downs will be spinning international house music. Premium VIP bottle service packages are available and a champagne toast will be provided at midnight with party favors given before you leave.

Venu also on Warrenton Street will be hosting a 'throwback' New Year's. Hot 96.9 DJ Hustle Simmons will be playing hip-hop and RnB classic all night. You will find two rooms of entertainment with live countdown and visuals of the ball drop. A champagne toast will be provided at midnight and party favors given before you leave.

Stoddard's at Temple Place is a two level gastropub with 30 taps and countless craft cocktails. The live ball drop will be displayed on a 60' Screen. Complimentary bar snacks, a champagne toast at midnight, and party favors will be provided. Pre-Fix dinner available upon request.

Studio 57 at The Revere Hotel on Stuart Street is a 7,000 sq ft space that transforms into a huge dance party for one night only! On the main stage DJ Dolo will be bumping the latest top 40, dance, and hip hop tunes. You will find 60 LED's and intelligent dance floor lighting/visuals, surprise dancers and performers, custom decorated VIP areas and tables, and a champagne toast with party favors at mdinight.

Jerry Remy's at Fenway on Boylston Street is a 10,000 sq ft entertainment complex with live band and DJ. You will get two drink tickets upon entry, complimentary appetizers, and party favors. Times Square Ball Drop will be on display on two 6x11 hi-def screens.

Nix's Mate on Broad Street is a swanky space inside Boston's Hilton Hotel. DJ Greg Pic will be there playing today's hottest dance music. There will be passed apps and a Moet reception. You will find the live ball drop on numerous flatscreens around the space.

Get your Sushi, Sake, and Champagne on at Society on High on High Street. Boston's best sushi chefs will be rolling live rolls into the New Year. You will find Moet Chandon based sparkling cocktails provided throughout the night. A free champagne toast at midnight and party favors given before you leave. Live music by Louie Bello and Friends and DJ Mario spinning all night.

Buy your tickets for any of these parties here.

Impress your friends and devour your NYE details with these party suggestions.

Summertime Sadness

Summer is by far my favorite season. With this winter weather, my wishful thinking kicked in and I decided to pin some backyard barbeque ideas! Here's what I came up with for a sizzling summertime get-together.

 

Tablescape! These bandana place-settings are adorable for any backyard barbeque. I also love the use of sunflowers as centerpieces and lemons to weigh down the paper plates.

 

http://mollyann-m.blogspot.com/2009/05/all-american.html

 

Similar idea, stuff a mason jar with a bandana and silverware at each place-setting.

 

 

http://www.pinterest.com/esmirelda/

 

Here's a cool way to stow all of your beverages! Incorporating the chalkboard on the front allows you to switch up the description of what's inside whenever you want.

 

 

http://www.allisondavisphotography.com/blog/2011/08/24/kali-kyle-wedding-reception-at-event-1013-plano-wedding-photography/

 

Sides of baked beans in these awesome mini-mason jars are perfect for backyard barbeques. They are so cute and your guests can take them home!

 

 

http://celebrationsathomeblog.com/2011/05/backyard-bbq-inspiration-part-1-tabletop-buffet-free-printables.html

 

Also for your guests to take home, whip up some barbeque sauce party favors. A delicious way for your guests to remember the day/night!

 

 

http://www.hwtm.com/index.cfm?page=albums/view_album&albumid=8045

 

Cherry lime freeze pops are perfect treats for backyard barbeques and are extremely easy to make!

 

 

http://www.michaels.com/Cherry-Lime-Freeze-Pops/34434,default,pd.html

 

When the day turns to night, have your guests stick around for an outdoor movie! How cool are these blow up screens made for backyard viewings? They are also great for watching sporting events.

 

 

http://finestproductsreviewed.com/new-open-air-cinema-cinebox-home-12x7-backyard/

 

I hope these ideas were able to get your mind off the snowy weather for a little while and can help you devour the details when planning your first summer barbeque!

Shake Up Your Swap

Every year we do a Yankee Swap on Christmas Eve with my dad's side of the family. It is always very loud, filled with laughter and joy. People put in a variety of gifts from quesadilla makers to knit scarves to movie passes. I never really thought to have a themed Yankee Swap until this year when I was doing some themed party research. If you're looking to shake up your swap this Christmas, here are some great ideas to follow!

'Re-gift'

Ask people to bring an item from home that they don’t ever use. One of the biggest perks of this theme is that there are typically some pretty funny stories behind the unwanted items.

'DIY'

If your family is on a tight holiday budget, having this theme may allow more people to participate. It is a low-cost, creative way to get everyone involved and find out some secret craft talents as well!

'Ugly Ornament'

Ornaments are inexpensive, gender-neutral, and come in a lot of varieties which gives an opportunity for everyone to join in! Turn this theme into a contest and award an additional prize to the person who brings the ugliest decoration.

'Letter of the Alphabet'

For this theme, guests have to bring something to the party that starts with a particular letter of the alphabet. Assign the same letter to everyone, or give each person a different one to really shake up the exchanges.

'Naughty or Nice'

This theme is mainly to get everyone to be a little naughty. Lewd gifts are encouraged so it may not be appropriate for all ages but would definitely be a good time with your closest friends! And don't worry, Santa won't find out!

'Ugliest Hat or Socks'

Similar to the ugly ornament idea, hat or socks are inexpensive and can be really funny/inappropriate. Having to wear the hats or socks for the rest of the night will also keep everyone laughing for hours!

'80's'

Pretty self-explanatory. Anything 80's goes!

'Who Wants to be a Millionaire'

Have a scratch ticket/lottery ticket swap. This could be a lot of fun to see who wins big!

'Ugliest Item Under $10'

Guests can literally bring anything that they find unappealing as a gift for $10 and under. Cheap and hilarious, everyone will like this idea!

'Candy/Food/Booze'

A Christmas classic. Who doesn't enjoy any of these items!


Hope these themes help you put together a detailed swap you can devour!

Pop, Clink, Drink: New Year's Eve!

New Year's Eve is one of the most fun nights of the year. It's a time to celebrate with friends and family, gushing over the year you've had and spilling your expectations of the year to come. When the clock strikes midnight, pop that bottle and let the champagne flow, cheers to the New Year and let the good times roll!

 

If you decide to host your own party this year, here are some fun design ideas and delightful drinks to help you ring in 2014!

 

These beautiful shimmering balloons make for great wall décor and gives the illusion of champagne bubbles. A truly whimsical idea!

 

 

http://honeyandfitz.com/

 

Celebrate 2013 and 2014 with these DIY sparkle candles. On the other side of the 3, you can put a 4 so once it hits midnight you can blow out 2013 and relight the candles for 2014! They make a great centerpiece and bring a romantic ambiance to any party.

 

 

http://projects.diycenter.net/2013/11/17/could-do-this-with-holiday-words-also-2/

 

What's a NYE celebration without confetti? Fill a giant balloon with different kinds of confetti and smaller balloons to release at midnight so you can celebrate the start of 2014!

 

 

http://shoptwixt.blogspot.com/2009/12/ultimate-tween-new-years-eve-party.html

 

Celebratory drinks are in order for a night like this. I highly recommend trying these two unique cocktails that will surely impress your guests.

 

Put a scoop of tangerine or mango sorbet into wine glasses and fill with champagne. The sorbet gives an extra chill and sweetness to the bubbly and is something unique and easy to do.

 

 

http://mypinsblog.tumblr.com/post/50928481070

 

Cotton candy has an awesome look when it is used in different cocktails. Use pink cotton candy with champagne to give this awesome sparkling effect.

 

 

lorand.typepad.fr

 

Don't delay, devour your NYE details today!

Food Feature: Chive Sustainable Event Design & Catering

Today's topic of conversation is Chive Sustainable Event Design & Catering out of Beverly, MA. Their goal with catering is to provide zero-waste by composting and recycling everything. They also pride themselves on sustainability and using 'honest food'; their head chef has built strong relationships with all of their farmers and producers and they know what goes into their products. Chive sources local dairy, artisan cheeses, grains and sweeteners, like maple syrup and honey, from New England states. For the few items they cannot source locally, Chive chooses organic whenever possible. Catering and food is not their sole focus, they also provide design and event planning services. Chive also has connections with a few New England breweries and different rental companies that can really take any event to the next level. I highly recommend checking them out if you're looking to host a unique event experience!

 

 

 

 

Chive is ready to devour the details at your next event!

Cute As A Button Baby Shower

There are so many baby shower themes out there but this one especially stood out to me. The 'Cute As A Button' theme can be for a baby boy or a baby girl. Based on the different design ideas I found on Pinterest and Google images, I would use a white, yellow, and brown color scheme and incorporate personal touches here and there for this design.

 

These invitations are perfect for this baby shower theme. I love the use of actual buttons on the invite!

 

 

Google Images 

 

If you've already picked out the baby's name, this is a perfect way to put it on display! You can also turn this into a game by having guests guess how many buttons are on the letter for a prize.

 

 

http://www.pinterest.com/lisagb54/

 

The use of paper globes, hanging circles, and the 'Cute As A Button' banner pull this baby shower gift-tablescape together and fit the theme perfectly.

 

 

Google Images 

 

Button centerpiece arrangements and napkin holders are a great way to carry the theme out. Both are easy to make and inexpensive to buy!

 

 

http://s65.photobucket.com/user/jennn721/media/buttonbouquet.jpg.html

 

Google Images 

 

You can incorporate buttons onto display cards, order button shaped cookies, and add candy buttons to cupcakes as a sweet treat for your guests!

 

 

Google Images 

 

Add flair to your party favors by gluing a button to a paper clip to keep the bags closed! By using yellow buttons and white paperclips on your favors, you are making your color scheme well-defined.

 

Google Images 

 

If there's still room for cake, this would be perfect for your theme! Just change up the color scheme and vuala, you have an unforgettable dessert.

 

 

http://www.pinterest.com/drurys/

 

I hope this theme and details spark an interest with you and you're able to create an even better baby shower. Now what are you waiting for? Devour those details!

 

 

Candy Cane Creativity

Welcome to December, the month when it is totally acceptable to devour as many candy canes as possible! These winter treats are not only tasty but also decorative. Here are some great ways to turn inexpensive candy canes into festive holiday décor. Enjoy!

 

This candy cane heart 'Merry Christmas' wreath is an adorable way to show your love for the holidays. Simple enough to make, hot glue the candy canes back to back around a styrofoam circular cutout. What a great gift idea!

 

 

http://sulia.com/channel/crafts/f/f0ec21f2-e53a-40cf-a501-9ef177eb7065/?source=pinterest&pinner=124773473

 

These centerpieces are great for a Christmas tablescape. You can make your own Santa hats or buy them at most stores around this time of year. If you find that the Santa hats are too much, just use three square glass vases and fill them with candy canes for a great holiday centerpiece.

 

http://paintmeplaid.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/121111_web_07-2.jpg

 

These awesome display cardholders made from candy canes will surely impress all your guests. Again, it's as simple as hot gluing three mini candy canes together. Inexpensive and easy is the way to go with decorations when you have to worry about so much more this holiday season!

 

http://www.industriousjustice.com/2011/12/how-candy-cane-place-card-holders.html

Candy cane candles will really tie all holiday décor together with the red and white color scheme. I love the way this looks!

 

http://www.pinterest.com/aluv15/

 

Last but not least, display candy canes at the bottom of a vase to bring holiday festive-ness to your average synthetic flowers.

 

http://www.topdiyprojects.com/2013/11/candy-canes/

 

 

Bring some holiday cheer this year with candy cane creativity and remember to always devour the details!