USA & UK Comfort Foods

As I mentioned in the last post, Stewart and I were fortunate enough to be presenters at the Catersource Conference in Las Vegas. We had an audience of several hundred people and we spoke about making Comfort Foods from Around the World. With many of our clients not wanting to or able to spend as much on their functions, we found that traditional comfort foods are always a guest favorite, but we wanted a way to make the Unique and Unforgettable.
We explored foods from the USA, the UK, Italy, Central Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Africa, and The Orient. Foods such as pot pies and potatoes can be turned into show-stopping action stations that will leave guests talking about it for days after the event.
Starting with America, Inspired Occasions has taken Mac and Cheese and Pot Pies and has given them an Inspired twist. Instead of a traditional chicken pot pie, we are doing beef and venison versions as well as gourmet seafood potpies including shrimp, crab, and even lobster. Of course, we can’t forget about our vegetarian guests… vegetable pot pies can be a great entrée for vegetarians, or a side dish for everyone.
We have had a lot of great feedback with these when made at action stations. We have a few varieties of the protein and then different “crusts.” Toppings such as sweet potato or herbed biscuits, or puff pastry circles fit perfectly atop a ramekin full of pot pie.

On our mac and cheese station, we are doing several varieties of the classic version. For example, we do a Leek Macaroni with Manchego Cheese and a Lobster Mac with Mascarpone cheese and Sherry. Even our tried and true dishes like our Carmelized Onion and Goat Cheese Macaroni work great with this set up. Bowls of macaroni are on display, and then the cheese sauce is kept warm in a chafing dish. Chefs continuously heat the sauce and cheese and add macaroni to order, so it is always hot and fresh.
Gourmet toppings like frizzled leeks, bacon bits, diced tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, green onions, shaved fennel, and fried shallot rings not only make the action station look beautiful and plentiful, but also enhance the flavors of the dishes.

Across the pond, England is known for its cheddars and Bangers (sausages). For buffets or stations, Inspired Occasions does a beautiful cheese spread of white, yellow, sharp, mild, smoked, and goat cheddar cheese. These are paired with various fruit and vegetable chutneys. (For you long-time Inspired Occasions fans, you know how wonderful our Cheddar and Chutney Savory Cheesecake is… We incorporate all those flavors into this display)
In addition to the cheeses, grilled Bangers and flavored mustards are served, rounding out the comfort foods. The mustards can be flavored to match the rest of the menu. For example, we incorporate spicy mustard, Guinness mustard, honey mustard, raspberry mustard, etc. Also served with the meats and cheese are assorted breads, flat breads, and crackers. One additional way to enhance the station is by pairing the food with English beers and beers that pair well with the selected cheeses.