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.