Well it has been a while but what a month it has been.



We did a "Test Kitchen" dinner event that was amazing.... "I Remember Papa" (Hemingway) Key West to Havana was the theme of the dinner and it met with great success.



I was shocked at what the guests chose to drink. We had a traditional Tom Collins---a real favorite of Key Wester's in the 50's and they went like hot cakes......now really ....when was the last time you had a Tom Collins in a tall frosty glass with an orange and cherry garnish.....Yum!



The Havana Rose with Cachaca Rum and Guava and lime was a huge hit as was the Traditional Cuban Sangria.



Corey Frisbee came and demonstrated hand rolled cigars, rolled a few for guests to take with them and was a highlight of the evening.



We have developed some new fun food stations that are proving to be major home runs.



Stewart and I will be presenting some of these at our annual conference in Las Vegas in March and we are so excited.



To mention a few:



A DESSERT RISOTTO station featuring warm creamy risotto in several fruit flavors with various flavors of Cotton Candy prepared at the buffet for garnish. Like Strawberry risotto with Balsamic Cotton Candy, Spiced apple/pear riostto with cinnamon cotton candy and Peach risotto with Amaretto topped with ginger cotton candy.....so much fun and very unexpected.



We are having great success with MAC AND CHEESE BARS preparing Mac and Cheese tableside.

Some of our favorites are Leek with Roasted butternut squash and Manchego cheese, Gorgonzola Dolce with sun dried tomato and fresh basil, and Goat cheese with caramelized onion and thyme.
The response to our Lobster mac and cheese goes without saying....Guests are just loving it.



We have a new "A Study in Lemon and Chocolate" dessert that presents a marriage of the worlds two most popular dessert categories --lemon and chocolate.



The display includes clear, tall straight wall vases filled with lemons, all white chocolate chips and all chocolate chips....then we do decadent chocolate brownies, amaretto brownies, chocolate souffle cookies, Lemon white chocolate and almond bars, old fashion lemon squares, lemonata cookies and to add a spot of color vases of fresh red ripe strawberries with lemon curd for dipping.



Our Smoked baron of corned beef has been a masterful culinary success this fall and the smoked corned beef hash and eggs prepared with the left overs will win your heart and wamer your inner being.



Well enough for now... more later....still planning events for December....So happy thanksgiving to all.



I will write again before the holidays. We are starting to sell our hand crafted granola on line and through specialty stores. And, we will be starting our "Winter Soup" sale in January.



Look for these items on line and on Facebook. We ship anywhere so don't miss out.



Until then....Remember "When you discover your passion you will realize your dreams".



Love to all!

Lon

Great news....now you can follow Lon Lane's Inspired Occasions on the Company's facebook page.

Go to www.facebook.com/lonlanesinspiredoccasions for the latest in product offerings and other interesting news.

A spectabular take off on Saturday Night Live in Food and Beverage

It was an incredible night for "Westrope Live-From Kansas City"

Playing off the famous sketches from SNL Westrope and Associates entertained 450 guests with an "On The Set" party with four of SNL Live's famous vingettes.

As guests arrived they were greeted by Tina Faye and posed for photo "opps" and then offered Nuvo shooters,......very pink and flavorful combination of Fruit infused French Vodka, French Champagne and Sparkling white wine.

Honoring Steve Martin's sketch of the "Boy king"- King Tut, 4 muscle men circulated through the crowd with an Egyptian Litter filled with hors d' oeuvres featuring stuffed grape leaves, papyrus cones filled with pistachios and spiced almonds, grilled pita with 3 flavors of humus and herbed olives on small plates.

Food stations included the famed Samurai Warrior Deli station offering Roasted baron of beef and smoked baron of corned beef carved table side by Samurai warriors complete with wigs, kimonos and Samuri swords.

The King Tut Station included Marinated white bean salad, melon with lime, date honey and mint, Mideastern cous cous with grapes, pistachios, almonds and watercress, and tomatoes, cucumbers and red onion salad with dill and fresh mint.

The Church Lady was heading up the Church Pie Sale selling "Very Special" pot pies including seafood, chicken and all vegetarian individual pot pies.....Oh yes....this was "Very Special" indeed.....as was our wonderful actor portraying the "Church Lady" in all her glory.

The Cone Heads were in rare form as they offered guests Parfaits in cone shaped glassware.
Lemon and white chocolate parfaits and Black Forest Cakes in cone glasses were a huge hit.
Blue styrafoam heads topped with pave white carnation cones completed the "cone head" look.

Each station had huge rear projection screens playing clips from famous SNL Live sketches suitable for each station. Guests actually stepped up on the Set to select the food items.

A "Blues Brothers" band completed the evening....

Trapp and Company in conjunction with the planners at Lon Lane's Inspired Occasions created the
event. Ken Sherman and Todd Chester masterminded the electronics, floral and set designs.
It was an evening that will not be soon forgotton....Now, isn't that special"

"I remember Papa"- A dinner celebrating Hemingway... a culinary journey through Key West and Havana, Cuba

Sunday night was spectacular.

Lon Lane's Inspired Occasions staff presented an incredible small plate themed dinner celebrating the land masses on each side of the Gulf Stream.

I was born and raised in Florida and Key West was a favorite destination.

I love the food, drink, two oceans, laid back atmosphere and most of all I love the romanticism of Key West's most colorful resident (in my mind) Earnest Hemingway.

It was this inspiration that prompted me to create a "I remember Papa" dinner celebrating two of Hemingway's favorite spots....Key West and Havana.

So...true or not .......It is true in my mind and now it is true in the minds of 15 satisfied diners.

Here is how the evening unfolded as we bounced back and forth across the famed Gulf Stream...


From the Bar:
Key West Margaritas
And the Havana Rose--Island Rum--Lime and mint with a pink sugar rim
Spicy Mango Sangria-with Jalapeno and Cilantro

Butlered Hors d' Ouevres:
Conch Fritters
Alligator Bites with a tropical Tarter Sauce
Lime and Coconut grilled shrimp with a touch of spice

Small Plate dinner:
Key West Seafood Gazpacho with shrimp, crab and avocado served in martini chillers.

Havana Salad with Spinach, Mango, Guava, Guava paste, a Sauteed Goat Cheese Medallion and Fried shallot rings. Dressed with a blood orange vinaigrette and served with Pecan cornbread spiced with dark rum and served with a tangerine butter.

Key West Baked Grouper

Filet of Fresh Florida Grouper topped with tomato, celery, onion, garlic, lemon, green peppers and fresh oregano. Baked until tender and fragrant.
Served in bowls with the pan broth.


KEY LIME SORBET

HAVANA STYLE ROPA VIEJA (Old Rope or Old Clothes)
An incredilby flavorful dish of shredded flank steak with tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic and of course red wine.
Served on a bed of saffron rice and garnished with fresh garden peas

And Finally .....A tribute to both Cities.
Grand Marnier Flan with a brulee orange cap,
House crafted Chocolate Habanero Ice Cream with a hint of lime
Caramelized Pineapple on a fresh sugar cane sugar.

Cuban Coffee

The night was magical.

Everyone loved the journey and pictured themselves in Old Key West or in the heart of Havana. On the Terrace at Hemingway's haunt or in the Gardens of a Havana Hacienda.

Chef Stewart Lane introduced each course serving as the culinary tour guide and the guests were mesmerized....

It was a night to remember for both Lon Lane's Inspired Occasions staff and the guests we had the honor to serve.

Let us take you on a culinary journey......It is a blast.

Lon

Lon Lane's Inspried Occasions Grand Opening Blog

Greetings to all:

Well they said I would never do it.

Granted I am a little late but alas....I am here.

The Lon Lane's Inspired Occasions Blog is officially open and dedicated to all of you who have a passion for food, love hearing about food, enjoy entertaining, are looking for new ideas, love table top decor or just love hearing about fun events in Kansas City and other cities in the country we visit sharing our craft.

Tune in to hear about trends in food and entertaing, hot and trendy libations with both alcohol and non-alcoholic versions.

You might even pick up a few tricks of the trade as you scan our pages.

At any rate, come often, enjoy the prose and try some of our suggestions. Then let us know what happened and how good it feels to make other people happy.

Enjoy...

Lots of love coming your way from our house to yours.

Lon and Marcia Lane