Catering for Open Houses

By Sarah Blakeslee ~ Senior Event Manager

We recently had the pleasure of working with high-end Yoga and Fitness Apparel Company Lululemon to take their vision for their customer appreciation event and bring it to life. The exciting event took place at the Tower Hill Botanical Gardens, the perfect setting for a rustic fall garden look.

After the guests enjoyed yoga in the open air great hall they made their way into the reception room to be greeted by staff members presenting fun and healthy appetizers.  

Guests also got to snack on granola from the Granola Bar. They could choose from Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Granola or Chocolate Chipotle. All accompanied by various nuts and candy mix-ins. The Granola Station was truly a hit!

A Cider Station provided the beverages for the evening. Offering both cold and hot apple cider served in Irish coffee mugs. Wine Barrels provided a unique table to display the glassware for the station. Note:These can be rented from Peterson’s Rental Company.  

Before guests departed for the night they took with them Seed Bomb Favors presented on hanging branches by the exit.

By Liz O’Neil ~ Senior Event Designer

At Pepper’s Fine Catering, we have the pleasure of continually developing custom, creative menus for our clients, as each and every event is unique.  Some of our parties have themes, and as true culinary artists, our Chefs have put together some terrific catering menus for such special events.

Keep in mind, just because a party has a theme, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to wear a costume (but that didn’t stop us, clown noses anyone?) Success can be achieved easily with some simple and tasteful themed décor, creative menu planning and some of our favorite catering recipes.

Recently, we had a client who was throwing a Carnival Themed Birthday Party for her daughter’s 6^th Birthday.

Together with our Chefs and Style & Design department, we put together a fabulous event with fun décor that didn’t break the bank. The menu was simple and delicious, incorporating Carnival Themed Food with some heartier options to appease all palettes.

~Sweet Potato Fries and Seasoned Potato Fries in a Specialty Cone

~Pop Corn in Carnival Themed Boxes

~New England Clam Chowder

~Hot Dogs

~ Mac & Cheese

~Pulled Pork Sandwiches

~Murrays’ BBQ Chicken

Remember, themes can come from anything—movies, culture, television, eras and trends. Just about anything that interests you or the guest of honor can make a great theme. So have fun and let Pepper’s help you plan a terrific themed catering menu for a memorable event.

By Lindsey M. Dugan ~ Event Manager 

Rocheleau Tool & Die is a family owned and operated company since 1938, specializing in blow molding machinery and automation equipment for the plastic and packaging industry. Located in Fitchburg, MA, the company decided to have a party in celebration of their 75th Anniversary on August 3rd, 2013 at the Fitchburg Art Museum. Pepper’s, with years of experience working at the museum, was thrilled to be asked to cater this event and really wanted to help Rocheleau Tool & Die make their event extra special.

Playing off of the company colors, Pepper’s brought in beautiful linens in Orange, Yellow, Silver and Royal Blue in various patterns and textures. With added décor and florals created in-house, Pepper’s worked closely with Rocheleau Tool & Die to enhance the “feel” of the event and take it to the next level of spectacular!       

The event took place in three different locations of the museum, in a sense, creating 3 different smaller events in one. As guests entered the event, they walked through the entrance of the “Old Building” and were offered a glass of Champagne as well as a few passed appetizers. Two stationary food displays of cheese, savory cheesecakes and a Mediterranean table full of various vegetables, dips and spreads were available for guests as well.    

After sampling the food in the 1st room, guests were welcomed down a long hallway lined with art into the second room-the upstairs galleries of the Simmonds Building. This room featured a beer & wine bar, a pasta station, a “Having a Ball” meatball station and a larger selection of passed Hors D’Oeuvres.  

The last location, the downstairs level of the Simmonds building, created the largest impact as far as the décor and food, featuring a chef-active carving station of tenderloin and potatoes, a large beer & wine bar, a coffee station and a large dessert display. Again, a variety of hot passed appetizers were offered here as well. Desserts were created with the company colors in mind, including yellow and blue Whoopie Pies, chocolate dipped marshmallows and mini cheesecake pops! 

Overall, the event was a definite success! The guests left very happy and Pepper’s received many compliments, including follow-up phone calls and emails, from both employees and family members of Rocheleau Tool & Die. One guest even called to say that “this was the most spectacular event (he’s) ever been to” and that he was “blown away” by how wonderful the staff, food and décor were! The ambiance was unique and inviting and the location of food and drinks enticed the guests to mingle throughout the museum.  The added attention to detail and the wide variety of food options really helped to showcase what Pepper’s can do when given the opportunity to shine!  

As we celebrate our 25th year in business, we spend a lot of time reflecting on the many pieces that make up the Pepper’s Pie. We’ve created and worked thousands of fabulous events over the years, including everything from baby showers and weddings to large scale galas.

We understand that every single event is important and unique, which is why we put our very best into creating memorable experiences for hundreds of thousands of local community members. The diversity of our jobs and clients positively affects every member of the Pepper’s team. By working closely with so many different people, we have come to value our community and pledged to work hard to strengthen it. At Pepper’s, we remain committed to supporting many local charities, by donating our cuisines and resources to both non-profit and community organizations.

Over the years we’ve supported Massachusetts Veteran’s Inc, Worcester County Food Bank, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Rachel’s Table, Dress for Success and Shrewsbury Youth & Family Services, among others. This past week we dropped off a healthy and delicious lunch to the “Women in Build” group of volunteers who were helping build a home with Habitat for Humanity in Lowell, MA.

We take pride in working with these groups, knowing that we’re connecting with our community to make it a better place. The satisfaction received from making a difference is absolutely priceless. We look forward to continuing our commitment to the community through our volunteer work with you.

What:  Spring Forward… Think Back to RIHS’s Silver Screen

When:  Saturday, April 27 at 7:00 PM

Where: Rhode Island Historical Society, 110 Benevolent St, Providence RI, 02906

Price: $50.00

Are you a food and/or film buff?

Join us Saturday, April 27^th to support the collections of the Rhode Island Historical Society (RIHS) with a night of silent films and great food! 

 Pepper’s will be among the caterers wining and dining guests at the historical and grand Aldrich House in Providence, for an evening of screenings from Rhode Island’s golden age in film—the 1910’s and 20’s.

Pepper’s, along with five other area caterers, will be offering up a taste table of culinary delights to rival the magic of the big screen.

 To purchase tickets or learn more about the event, click here. 

“Frankenstorm” Sandy wreaked havoc and tragedy on millions of people living along the East Coast. Our hearts go out to those who lost friends and love ones. There is no doubt that it will take millions of laborers of all types and trades, to assist in bringing people’s lives back to normal.

 Pepper's Fine Catering got the call the day before the storm hit for a very unique corporate catering opportunity. To help workers weather the aftermath of the storm, Pepper's dispatched and mobilized to set up a temporary kitchen that would feed over 200 linemen and tree trimmers working to restore power in Western, Mass. A team of six were deployed to Greenfield, MA by the top level of companies who provide these services, Base Logistics out of New Orleans, Louisiana. Base, as we refer to them, was nothing short of amazing--terrifically organized and committed to the task at hand.

It was equally impressive to observe the dedication and professionalism of the employees from National Grid. Often, we take things such as turning on a light switch for granted, and can’t understand why, when the power goes out, it doesn’t come back within a few minutes. We observed crews working day and night to put the power back on. The hard working volunteers that we were feeding were nearly falling asleep when they finally had a chance to have a hot dinner.

To date, we have been out on the road for 13 days serving over 2600 nutritious and filling meals to a very receptive audience. And these guys can eat! Double portions on numerous items are a common request.

Serving these men and women was a privilege and a pleasure. It was nice to make a contribution to the disaster relief, in our own Pepper's way. Now we are buttoning down the hatches and securing all equipment, so it will be ready for the next Nor’easter.

Twenty-five years ago, Susan Lawrence fulfilled a lifelong dream of opening her own food business, and on Nov. 8, 1987, Pepper’s Fine Foods was born. Four short months after opening the doors, seasoned chef John Lawrence entered, seeking a new food service opportunity. Something magical began to unfold, but the magic wasn’t just in the kitchen. Susan and John fell in love over food, married in the midst of it, and have built their lives and a successful catering business around it.

 To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Pepper's Fine Catering in Northborough, owners John and Susan Lawrence are holding a social media sweepstakes on the Pepper’s Fine Catering Facebook page.

 Share the story of how you met your significant other or spouse on our Facebook page from November 1^st until December 1^st to be automatically entered in our Delectable Dates Sweepstakes.

 The winner, selected at random, receives a romantic dinner for two provided and delivered by Pepper’s Fine Catering. We will help you create a night to remember with our inspired and innovative dishes—prepared by Pepper’s lauded-chef and using only the finest local and regional ingredients.  

 So, head over to our Facebook page and share your story.

How did you meet your significant other or spouse? Let us know by posting your story on the Pepper’s Facebook wall. Include a photo if you wish and tell us how long you’ve been together.

We look forward to reading your stories!

Susan and John Lawrence have been named recipients of the 2012 Veterans Inc. Whiting Award for Philanthropy.  Pepper’s will receive the award on October 20^th at the biennial Military Ball Gala for Veterans Inc., a Massachusetts-based non-profit organization serving to provide supportive, transitional and permanent housing, food assistance,  and employment services/training to veterans and their families.

Pepper’s Catering has been deeply involved with Veterans Inc. since 1999. During the past 13 years, the Lawrences have provided culinary classes as a resource for veterans and given cooking demonstrations focused on healthy meal preparation. And each year, John and Susan donate the Pepper’s staff and expertise for the biennial Military Ball Gala, catering the affair free of charge.

“Since the beginning of their involvement with Veterans Inc., John and Susan have been champions in our organization,” said Lieutenant Colonel Vincent J. Perrone, President and CEO of Veterans Inc. “Their involvement really goes beyond their generosity as Pepper’s Catering. In addition to volunteering food-based services like cooking classes and catering, John and Susan are actively involved in soliciting donations and additional volunteers for events as well as working on the logistics that are so important for continuing the work we do to help our nation’s veterans and their families thrive.”

Pepper's is proud of our efforts to help nonprofit organizations and the local community.  Our volunteer endeavors have included working with The Worcester County Food Bank, the Special Olympics, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Rachel’s Table, the Girl Scouts, Go Red for Women at Saint Vincent’s Hospital, the March of Dimes, the United Way, the VNA Care Network, and the Veterans Administration.

About Veterans Inc.

Veterans Inc.’s mission is to help veterans re-gain control of their lives so we can eliminate homelessness among veterans. In many cases, Veterans Inc. actually saves lives, as our clients tell us time and again. We aim to remain a leading provider of services that improve the lives of veterans and their families by providing the highest quality services; and continuing to create new opportunities in the areas of health, employment and housing. Visit Veterans Inc. online at www.veteransinc.org.  

In our never-ending desire to seek out the best in quality and local products, Pepper’s is going “all in” with an outstanding regional chicken producer, Murray’s Chicken. In a tasting panel of 15 Pepper’s palates, an overwhelming thumbs up went to Murray’s for taste and moistness.

Murray’s Chicken is fed an all-natural, all-vegetable diet of 100% soybeans and corn. Many people do not realize the amount of antibiotics, growth hormones and drugs that are in most chicken feeds. In our humble opinion, this is simply not right. Humane conditions are also important to us. The chickens at Murray’s are never caged—they have plenty of room to stretch their wings, and enjoy access to sunlight and fresh air. We strongly believe that this makes for a much healthier, tastier chicken.

Murray’s Chicken is the first chicken certified as ‘lean’ by the American Heart Association, and the only chicken to be labeled ‘lean’ by the USDA. A Murray’s chicken is a hormone and antibiotic-free heritage chicken. Their quality of life eliminates the need for antibiotics, as unsanitary and inhumane conditions are generally the reasons why birds develop and carry the types of diseases that call for antibiotics in their feed.

Murray’s Chicken is a true leader in sustainability—in fact, you can actually trace a Murray’s chicken back to the hen house where it was raised using Google Earth.

Pepper’s is proud to feature Murray’s chicken on every Pepper’s menu with a dish containing chicken. We know that when you taste it for yourself, you’ll certainly agree.