Meow....Mazel Tov

This was one of the most fun events we did this year. I love love love parties for teens and Zoe had just become a teen! It was her Bat Mitzvah and we wanted to make it special. Zoe, a precocious and thoughtful girl, is a feral cat rescuer. She really loves cats so naturally, that was her theme. We had a very talented ice sculptor create a regal cat to overlook the festivities. We were inspired by the regal and majestic cats that stood guard at Cleopatra’s castle....like this one.

Jimmy, the sculptor did a wonderful job. He even gave Zoe’s cat a ‘diamond cut’ collar! We displayed Zoe’s cat on the dessert table (this picture was taken before the set-up).

In addition to cats, Zoe loves Chinese food. Thus, the menu was created. A Bite of Heaven Catering served traditional Chinese fare for lunch. But first, there was an Oneg Shabbat, nosh that congregants and guests share after the service, in the hallway outside the synagogue. For the Oneg, we served Assorted Cookies, Potato Puff Pastries, Spinach Potato Crowns, Cows in Comforters a.k.a. Pigs in Blankets, Spicy Chicken Pastries, Mini Rugelach, Cinnamon Rolls and Apple Juice.

Lunch Menu

Vegetable Lo Mein

Fried Rice with Peas, Carrots and Onions

White Rice

Sesame Chicken

Pepper Steak

Vegetable Spring Rolls

For dessert Zoe wanted an Ice Cream Bar where she and her friends could make their own sundaes. We served Vanilla Bean, Chocolate and Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream out of an old fashioned ice cream cart with an umbrella. We also set up a dessert station serving:

Miniature Triple Chocolate Chip Brownies

Assorted Cookies

Strawberry and Blueberry Cheese Cake Tarts

Vanilla Cake with Butter Cream Frosting

The Lunch Buffet with A Bite of Heaven Catering staff in position

Zoe’s color scheme was blue and red. Her mother supplied the lovely napkins, which they folded in pyramid design. We alternated the colors at each setting. The centerpieces were actual cat scratching posts, which were donated to feral cat rescue shelters after the affair.

Zoe’s Big Scoop Ice Cream Bar with toppings: Oreo Cookie Crumbles, Plain M&Ms, Rainbow Sprinkles, Maraschino Cherries, Warm Chocolate Fudge, Caramel Syrup, Strawberry Syrup and Whipped Cream – For the Kid in All of Us!

Zoe wanted a Shirley Temple Fountain. I thought it would be cute to garnish the ‘mocktails’ with Maraschino Cherries and Parasol Umbrellas. I carved Pineapples and used them as holders for the Cherries on Umbrella Picks. The kids loved it! They felt mature while sipping their Shirley Temples and noshing on Chinese food.

Summer Engagement Brunch

Michael and Virginia, a very lovely couple from Manhattan hosted a Summer Brunch to celebrate their recent engagement. It was a beautiful day for the bride to be's family to meet the groom to be's family for the first time.

I was inspired by the beautiful garden and lawn at the home of Michael's aunt. It was the first sunny day I can remember in July. The summer had been so wet and rainy until that Saturday. We were all concerned about rain...but it turned out to be remarkably warm and sunny. In addition to the weather and the garden, I also drew inspiration from Michael's Puerto Rican heritage to come up with the following menu.

Roasted Breakfast Potatoes with Caramelized Onions, Rosemary and Thyme

Garden Vegetable Lasagna featuring Spinach, Broccoli, Red, Green and Yellow Peppers

Avocado Salad featuring Romaine and Green Leaf Lettuces tossed with Sliced Avocado, Purple Onions, Lime Juice, Cucumbers, Tomatoes and Balsamic Vinaigrette

Sliced Roast Beef

Wild Rice with Dried Papaya and Pineapple

Breakfast Burrito Bar featuring Scrambled Eggs, Sausage, Salsa, Shredded Cheddar-Jack Cheese and Bacon

Fresh Baked Butter Croissants

Fresh Baked Apple Strudel

Warm Cinnamon Rolls

Fresh Fruit Display featuring Cantaloupe, Grapes, Kiwi, Pineapple and Strawberry

Freshly Brewed Coffee

Orange Juice, Apple Juice and Peach Nectar Bellinis

The Slanted Juice Carafes are so elegant!

I carved the Cantaloupe to hold loose Grapes but also presented some on the vine.

We thought it would only add to the elegance of the celebration to display the Breakfast Burrito Bar toppings in over sized Martini Glasses. It really looked fabulous.

White Hydrangeas go with just about every type of event.

The guests had a wonderful time and most importantly, so did Virginia and Michael. They are a very loving couple, with a brilliant future awaiting them.