Posted on Tue, Jun 21, 2011
Southern New England Living magazine, a new publication dedicated to highlighting the many great aspects of Southern New England, met up with Pepper’s co-owner, John Lawrence, to get his insight on planning the perfect house party. Below is an excerpt from "House Party: Tips from the Pros on Planning Your Next Get-together in Style, without All the Stress," by Rachel Arroyo.
Carefully Conceptualize the Menu
Food and beverage are central to ensuring a memorable at-home gathering. John Lawrence - who has co-owned Pepper's Fine Food Catering in Northborough, MA, with his wife Susan for 24 years - says, since 9/11, people have changed the way they entertain. "Before people were entertaining all around, in crazy locations and spending a lot of money. Now it is more of an intimate experience." Don't get him wrong, "People are still having big parties, but the guest list is filled with people they know and love, first and foremost."
Lately he has been seeing a lot of requests for Latin American cuisine. "Ceviches are popular, but with our local ingredients,” says Lawrence. Mojitos are also big. And even though he thought the cupcake trend was going to die off, it's still going strong. "They've become more inventive,” he says, "branching out to include interesting fillings like pina colada and Baileys Irish crème - fun twists on old favorites." A streak of whimsy seems to have taken the party scene by storm. He reports: ''I'm seeing a lot of colors, lively linens in polka dots and lime green."
For crafting the perfect get-together, Lawrence offers a few tips. One: "Think whimsical and think fusion," he says. For instance, if you're using Asian lanterns, go with lime green instead of the traditional red. "It sets a tone." Two: Greet your guests with a cocktail. Cava, a Spanish champagne, is a great value and can be mixed with watermelon or pomegranate juice for a fun, mildly alcoholic drink. Three: "You've got to have the music,” he says, but don't stress about the playlist. Go to Pandora - an online radio station - and pick your favorite artist or musical genre. Four: "Keep the menu fork friendly," a rule he lives by. People shouldn't have to put down their plates to cut bit-sized portions of food. And, lastly, "Consider the guest list," he says. Invite outgoing, talkative people to create an atmosphere for conversation.
You can find the complete article in Southern New England Living's premier issue, which debuted this month. Pick up a copy at your local newsstand or give Pepper’s a call and we’ll be happy to forward one to you!
For more information about Southern New England Living, visit http://www.southernNELiving.com
Posted on Fri, May 20, 2011
The First Harvest
The Massachusetts Horticultural Society kicks off its Garden to Table initiative with the The First Harvest, a 3-course tasting prepared by Pepper’s Catering Chef John Lawrence. The tasting will feature some of the earliest greens from their Chef's Garden, a 22-bed vegetable garden designed to inspire culinary combinations. Join Chef Lawrence as he prepares a wonderful Spring Pea Panzanella Salad, Preserved Lemon & Lovage Risotto and succulent Citrus Grilled Scallops.
The Massachusetts Horticultural Society Garden to Table program was designed to promote the benefits of local harvest and growing your own foods through educational events and cooking demonstrations. Along with the Chef's Garden, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society also planted the Pantry Garden to serve the needs of a local food pantry.
- Where: MHS Horticulture Center at Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street (Rt. 16), Wellesley, MA
- When: Monday, June 6, 2011 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
- Cost: $45 per person (space is limited)
- Reservations can be made by calling 617.933.4995 or by ordering online here.
Posted on Tue, May 17, 2011
Join us on Friday, June 3rd as the Worcester Chamber of Commerce presents The Worcester Women’s Conference at the DCU Center in Worcester from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Pepper's Catering will be on-hand serving some of our tasty dishes.
For more information or to register, visit the Worcester Chamber of Commerce website or call 508.753.2924 x 229. Hope to see you there!
Posted on Tue, Apr 19, 2011
Thanks Everyone for Voting Peppers Catering "Best Caterer"!
The votes are in for Worcester Magazine's "Best of Worcester 2011", and for the 6th year in a row, Peppers Fine Foods has been named "Best Caterer" in Central Mass!
We'd like to thank you all for your votes and support; our clients' satisfaction really does mean everything to us! Also we want to congratulate and thank all of our team here at Peppers who work so hard to make us - and keep us - #1!
Thanks again everyone!
Posted on Thu, Apr 14, 2011
It’s time to push the burritos aside and make way for some fabulous contemporary Mexican cuisine! Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style with Chefs John Lawrence and Paul Wilson as they team up at The Clarke Culinary Center in Milford to demonstrate the ease of cooking some great Mexican dishes. Enjoy Chilled Shrimp and Crab a la Veracruzana, Duck Carnitas and melt in your mouth Tenderloin with Morel Mushrooms and Chipotle Cream! It's Cinco de Mayo at it's best!
- Where: The Clarke Culinary Center, 393 Fortune Blvd., Milford, MA
- When: Thursday, May 5, 2011 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
- Cost: $85 per person
- To Register: Call 800-842-5275 x206 or visit Clarke Culinary Classes for more information and directions.
Posted on Thu, Feb 10, 2011
Voting Ends Friday, March 11...Please Vote Online Today!
Pepper’s is so proud to have been voted Best Caterer by Worcester Magazine for five straight years, and we are eager to continue the tradition!
Help us to extend our run to 6 consecutive years by voting for the 2011 Best of Worcester Awards! Voting began this week and within 8 hours, Pepper’s had already received 100 votes! Join in the fun and cast your vote today to help keep Pepper’s in Worcester’s Winner’s Circle!
Voting runs through Friday March 11 but you hope you’ll vote much earlier than that!
Posted on Tue, Feb 08, 2011
On Thursday night, February 24, 2011, the American Heart Association and Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, MA join together once again with their annual fundraising event, "Go Red in Your Own Fashion" to help promote awareness for "Go Red for Women®", a movement dedicated to the prevention against women’s heart disease.
Cocktail hour begins at 5:30, with the good stuff provided by Peppers Fine Foods catering; their menu featuring tasteful & healthful recipes influenced by the American Heart Association Cookbook. The evening will continue with a fashion show and finally entertainment by comedian and former contestant on the reality show The Biggest Loser, Kelly MacFarland.
Tickets for "Go Red" at St. Vincent Hospital are $25 and the proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association.
"Go Red in Your Own Fashion"
When: Thursday, February 24, 2011 - 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.Where: Saint Vincent Hospital Atrium 123 Summer Street Worcester, MA 01608
For Tickets Visit: The American Heart Association
Posted on Mon, Feb 07, 2011
February 2, 2011 – Pepper’s Fine Foods Catering, a full-service caterer serving a broad section of New England with an emphasis on Massachusetts, is pleased to have been selected as a 2011 winner in The Knot Best of Weddings, a special section in The Knot Boston magazine and on the Boston regional section of www.theknot.com, the Internet’s most-trafficked one-stop wedding planning solution.
This is the second year Pepper’s has been voted a top pick for The Knot Best of Weddings.
The Knot Best of Weddings 2011 provides a “by brides, for brides” guide to the top wedding professionals across the country and is a must-have when it comes to selecting the best-of-the-best wedding resources. Engaged couples will find detailed feedback on local wedding businesses reviewed by thousands of newlyweds.
Posted on Sun, Jan 30, 2011
WeddingWire is thrilled to announce Peppers Fine Foods Catering has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011!
Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds who shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.
Peppers stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.
“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Peppers Fine Foods for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”
We are happy to announce that Peppers is among the very best wedding caterers within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.
For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.
Posted on Tue, Jan 25, 2011
03/15/2011, Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center: This Metrowest Chamber of Commerce event will showcase the region's excellent culinary and cultural attractions with representatives from the area's finest restaurants, caterers, gourmet and ethnic markets, gift boutiques, wineries, brew houses and local purveyors.
Live entertainment, raffles and People's Choice Awards make this a fun and inexpensive night out. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. For more information and a list of participating vendors, please visit the
Metrowest Chamber of Commerce.