february, 2008 las vegas, nv dressing up your events presented by

February, 2008 Las Vegas, NV

Dressing Up Your EventsPresented by


PRESENTER Lon Lane

– Chef President/Owner Lon Lane’s Inspired Occasions, Kansas City, MO

– Named Kansas City’s “Best Personal Chef” 2004-2005 and 2006-2007


WHY ARE WE HERE? The purpose of this seminar is to

explore inexpensive ways to dress up your events focusing on areas such as bars, buffets and service / utility areas thereby establishing a signature look for your company while adding dollars to your bottom line.


OVERVIEW Bars Service Areas Buffets Decor


BAR SET UPS


BARS Jazz up garnishes by using serving

sets– Lemons– Limes– Olives– Cocktail onions


BARS Purchase from floral wholesale

supplier Inserts are Libby 9 ¾ oz. “hanging

votive” pieces (#444)


BARS Fill space under

insert with garnishes or olives

Use matching vases for bamboo pick

Put fresh squeezed juices in cruets.


BARS Purchase light weight Plexiglas

pitchers and ice tubs to display ice and beverages

Available from Wal-Mart (yes!), Bed, Bath, and Beyond, World Market, and others


BARS


BARS Purchase halogen or LED light box to

put under pitcher ($65, Fancy Faces)– Colored specialty drinks really shine– Cover box with spandex cover


Use multiple pitchers to create a “signature bar”


BARS


BARS Use spandex to hide coolers and

trash cans– Available from local rental company or

Sculptware


BARS - Glassware Tower glassware or set in pyramids

to add height to your bar Use back bar to store over-flow

glasses and start with those Make bar attractive, yet functional

– If it is set for all show, the bartenders will make a mess of it very quickly!


Bars - Glassware


BARS - Glassware Display martini glasses in “martini

curtain.” Cut from the bottom and work your

way up Great way to add to décor (and your

bottom line) by only renting a coat rack!


GLASSWARE


BARS – MISC. Use oversized glasses for garnishes

(martini glasses, champagne flutes, etc) Use leg extenders for bar height tables, or

add risers to the tables to make them bar height

Add floating candles or floral to bars Chaffer Caddies for self service and

children’s drink stations


CHAFFER CADDIES


TIPS ON RENTALS AND DECOR


RENTALS AND DECOR Every catering company arranges for

rental through local rental company You should receive a percentage

discount on all orders What about damaged and missing

items???


SELF-INSURE YOUR RENTAL Add a 10% damage waiver to all

rental items– Avoids charging client for broken or

missing items– “Insurance policy”– Rental including damage waiver…


SELF-INSURE YOUR RENTAL Money goes straight to bottom line Last year, rental billings were $445,000… Over $40,000 was collected through

damage waiver Total damage bill from rental company just

$6,000 $34,000 PURE PROFIT to invest in

new equipment


BAR SNACKS


SNACKS Dresses up the bar and provides a

light snack for guests Minimal cost to produce, high profit

margin Easy to eat and tastes great!


SNACKS Vertical Crudites


SNACKS Pickled pearl onions Drunken grape tomatoes

– Sides of vodka marinade and kosher salt Flavored popcorn

– Truffle oil, jalapeño seasoning, others Spiced Nuts

– Cumin and cayenne, rosemary, Chinese five-spice


“NUTS AU TROIS”


SERVICE AREAS


SERVICE AREAS - General Really can make an event “buttoned up” Guests may not notice each detail, but will

know they did not see items that deterred from the overall look

Budget may limit what you can do, but prioritize what will be most noticed


HIDING UNDESIRABLES Waiters Trays and Tray Stands

– Tray stand with tray– Cover with 90” ROUND cloth– 2nd tray on top of cloth, covered in spandex tray

cover • This way you can bus entire tray, and still have a

covered tray jack

Bussing Trays– Cover with charger covers to match color

scheme


CHARGER COVERS


HIDING UNDESIRABLES Trash Cans and Coolers

– Spandex covers Table legs

– Use linens to the floor on all tables• 120” round, 132”x90”, 156” x 90”, etc.

– Use Spandex as an under and top with a fancy cover

• Great for outdoor events


SPANDEX AS AN UNDER


HIDING UNDESIRABLES TENTS

– Poles and Frames• Wrap all poles and frames in fabric to match

linen selection (available through rental company)

• Custom-made covers for concrete weights to match wraps (from rental company)

• Add lighting along frames to make more upscale

– Use frame alone to define a space in a larger area.


BEVERAGE STATIONS Mise en place / Bussing station

– Plan on 1 water pitcher and 1 coffee pourer per table– Cream and sugar packets pre-separated for each

table Self Serve Station

– Silver coffee urns with 18” silver tray under each– Drip tray under each pour spout.– Don’t forget teaspoons for coffee service!– Matching creamer and sugar containers


BEVERAGE STATIONS


GUEST TABLES Table pads Chargers or place plates 1 votive per person… work into

glassware Linens to the floor / Specialty linens Chiavari chairs

– DON’T FORGET CUSHIONS!!!


SERVICE TRAYS Silver, porcelain, glass lines Turn silver trays into copper trays

– Look for hallmark Use shot glass to collect picks Stainless steel picks instead of bamboo When passing lamb chops or Asian

spoons, have a server follow to pick up discards.


COPPER TRAYS


BUFFETS


BUFFETS Sets overall tone for all food at event As many displays as there are

caterers Develop a “signature” look for your

events


INSPIRED OCCASIONS’BUFFETS

Traditional silver “Eclectic” to add interest

– Very contemporary– Black/white/Nambe (polished aluminum)– Votives and floating candles

“Less is best”



Clean, un-cluttered, geometric Creative risers

– Square shelving from Bed, Bath and Beyond• Cut in half to have different sizes

– Glass blocks– Glass floral vases– Inverted bowls or platters – Cake stands



Self skirting linens– 120” square on a 5’ square table– 132”x90” on 6’ banquet– 156”x90” on 8’ banquet

Use aluminum serving trays with sterno to keep warm, or use on butane burners with hotplate

Eating utensils in containers – Glass cubes, on plates, etc.



No starting point or ending point– Scatter plates and napkins around table– Make buffet table more a “gathering”

point than a line up If using roll-ups, display in glass

vases Display napkins on square plates



As food displays empty, convert them to floral displays– Plastic cones for beverages, mousses,

or crudites can be replaced with a single flower

– Vertical crudites can be filled and add floating candle


SAMPLE BUFFETS


COLLECTIONS


COLLECTIONS Oriental

– Japanese fishing floats– Porcelain spoons– Square plates and platters– Hanging paper lanterns– Multi-colored to go boxes


ASIAN


COLLECTIONS Copper

– Serving and bussing trays– “Tuscan” style pieces

• Urns• Baskets

Pewter


GLASS COLLECTION Cylindrical and

square vases Serving platters Cake stands Votives Pourers (olive oil,

sauces)

Passing trays Fish bowls

– Same Libby inserts

Eclectic pieces Candle sticks Blocks / Risers


COLLECTIONS Silver bud vases Enamelware serving pieces Beverage dispensers

– Infusers– Tea pourers


QUESTIONS


Thank [email protected]

[email protected]

To download this presentation, please go to www.inspiredoccasionskc.com, then go to Awards and News. You will see the ICA/Catersource link on the right.

february, 2008 las vegas, nv dressing up your events presented by

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