Sunday, June 10, 2012

mitzva- licious celebrating a bar mitzvah + bat mitzvah NYC style


The rain held off for the most part with only a slight drizzle,  but the view from the 11th floor greenhouse of lower Manhattan and the new Liberty Tower was spectacular no matter the weather.

Elliott and Eva became 
a Bar and Bat Mitzvah
at the New Shul.  
Their B'nai Mitzvah luncheon 
celebration 
at Scholastic Greenhouse 
and Rooftop Terrace 
following the services for 
100+ friends and family members 
was a joyous, fun and beautiful experience.




Here's what Linda, the mom of these two amazing young people, 
had to say about their family's experience 
with CuisinEtc Catering and Events NYC's bar mitzvah caterers.


When it came time to plan our children's b'nai mitzvah, we were more than a little overwhelmed.  We had been to a few prior events catered by CuisinEtc Catering and Events and loved their food and aesthetic, so decided to give Lisa Teiger a call.  




immediately our mind was put at ease--Lisa listened to our wants, understood our needs, and respected our budget.  We felt strongly that the event should be unpretentious and kid-centered, yet also have delicious food, beautifully presented.

Not only did Lisa find us a wonderfully appropriate setting,
Scholastic Greenhouse, with both indoor and outdoor space, light, and views, but she took care of all the table decorations in addition to providing a sensational meal.  



Lisa and the CuisinEtc team's level of creativity is astounding--we agreed on edible centerpieces, but had no idea that they would also provide dozens of whimsical figurines and plants to liven the tablescapes.  

The children's tables were equally delightful, sporting strawberry, pineapple flowers and multicolored whimsical marshmallow bouquets and button-candy napkin rings. 

Chef Andrew created a meal that was a feast for the eyes as well as the tastebuds, with an abundance of seasonal ingredients and dishes that appealed to both young and old palates.  

I cannot thank the CuisinEtc Catering team enough for making our family's celebration such a memorable success!

Cheers!
Linda K.




Child's Whimsical Tablescape
Napkins with
Candy Dot Bands 

wheatgrass skewered with crudite and antipasto
brought the outdoors inside in the lovely greenhouse setting in the chic NYC Soho's Scholastic Center

whimsical table settings featuring pieces from our extensive collections
and wheatgrass waiting to be skewered for edible tablescapes
the multi colored napkin lent a festive and
childlike air to the whimsical garden setting

Due to the weather and slight drizzle, the cocktail hour started out inside and ended up being both indoors and outdoors as the sun came out and stayed out!  Awesome space to have that option.



our modern take on the classic Jewish offering 
..Deconstructed bagels & lox on edible spoons
..Fun + Funky Mini Forks 
with Goat cheese & asparagus frittata bytes 



no matter the occasion or age of the guests 
- a perennial favorite passed hors d'oeuvre 
is always the ubiquitous franks in a blanket 
aka "cows in the comforter" 
and our signature presentation 
includes a catcher's mitt in a field of wheatgrass. 
photo credit: chasi@chasiannexyphotography.com
chasi@chasiannexyphotography.com
our signature cows in the comforter being enjoyed by kidz of all ages! 
photo credit: chasi@chasiannexyphotography.com






This garden setting B'nai Mitzvah Luncheon Menu included a combo of kid and adult friendly offerings - something for everyone...
  • three cheddar mac and cheese
  • garlic and herb roasted sweet potato wedges
  • mandarin broccoli salad (click for recipe)
  • angus beef sliders with speared pickles
  • ginger chicken graced with roasted corn + pineapple salsa
  • Moroccan preserved lemon + garlic roasted atlantic salmon with organic black quinoa, organic arugula, diced israeli cucumber + roasted heirloom tomato - our modern take on tabbouleh.  Delicious, fresh and inviting... 
View of left side of the buffet setup
Guests were able to walk down either side of a T shaped buffet 

artichokes, moss, growing micro greens and river rocks,
all natural decor touches
complimenting not only 

the Scholastic Greenhouse Venue setting
but our elegant signature
hand wrought copper chafers as well.
the cuisinEtc signature copper
and wrought iron serving pieces
add warmth and beauty to your event
Chef Andrew's
 attention to detail is astounding!

Angus Beef Sliders - a hit with adults and kids alike

Our lovely Lady Garden Statue overlooks the
Moroccan Salmon Preserved Lemon "Tabbouleh"
with Organic Black Quinoa, Roasted Heirloom Tomato
and Organic Israeli Cucumbers.


Rosemary and Garlic Roasted Sweet Potato

Citrus Grilled Chicken
with Roasted Corn + PIneapple Salsa




the Urban Chic Garden Setting makes
Scholastic Greenhouse Atrium
the ideal spot for your next event 
twin cakes by Emma Lively
Nutella and Red Velvet
Thank you for a beautiful day of catering and celebration at Scholastic's Greenhouse Atrium Venue in Soho NYC.  

The view and venue is incredible and the venue is always  a pleasure to work with.
chasi@chasiannexyphotography.com


Each client's journey is so unique 

and for us it is 

a great honor to be able 

to participate in enhancing 

the special day for our clients, 

by creating an unforgettable experience 

for the family and their friends .  

Mazel Tov to Eva and Eliott.  

Wishing you a sweet and full Jewish life.

Event Credits

Caterer:                        CuisinEtc Catering and Events NY

Venue:                         Scholastic Books Soho Greenhouse

Food Photography
and Food Styling:          Lisa Teiger   646-932-3496

Event Photographer:      Chasi Annexy


Cake Baker:                  Emma Lively



Wednesday, May 30, 2012

NYC Bar Mitzvah Party celebrating 13 years of amazing community with The New Shul



Thirteen years ago a new temple emerged in downtown NYC, started by a small group of families who wanted a place that reflected their values and families.   The New Shul is a warm vibrant community and spiritual congregation that is progressive, inclusive, independent and egalitarian and as they put it is " life affirming and spirit moving".
Amazing 13 Shaped Challah by New Shul Member Laurie Wessely

On  a Saturday night earlier this month, everyone was moving and dancing in celebration of New Shul's Bar Mitzvah 13th Year Celebration on Cinco de Mayo.
Ring Toss Game was FUN Photo Credit: Barry Adler

Photo Credit: Barry Adler
photo credit: Barry Adler
and everyone knows what's a Bar Mitzvah without the HORA, FOOD and DRINKS.
The Energetic DJ from Summit Soundz Entertainment had the crowd up doing the Hora, playing games and dancing the afternoon away to tunes that appealed to all ages.-  There were face painters, photo boothes, and a contest featuring The New Shul mixologists that ranged in age from 7 - 70 competing in a Signature Drinks Contest.  The adult boozy and family soft drink mixologists poured samples of their whisically named concoctions for all to try and vote on with their dollars.   Every vote counted and by stuffing dollar bills and check into your favorite mixologists boxes the winner was determined by popular choice and the New Shul raised a bit more gelt over the ticket price.

Fun drink competitors for the Adult New Shul signature drink included
A Mazel Tov Cocktail, The New Mule (an obvious play on the New Shul),
A Cilantro Rum Infused Torah-tini, the Cucumber and Basil Cooler, and a Gimlet 613
Andy Cohen - the Mazel Mixologist


Stephen Fried mixed it
up deliciously
with a refreshing
basil cucumber cooler
the  New Shul Signature Drink Winner
Martha Spector
New Shul Mixology Contestants
The Mock-Tail Winners
photo: Barry Adler

CuisinEtc has been catering for New Shul events for the past three years and we were excited to be asked to coordinated all the food and as well as provide more delicious food to round out the celebration - we know this  crowd who have eclectic tastes and ALWAYS appreciate great food and fantastic displays!!

The CuisinEtc culinary team brainstormed and consulted with their peers over on caterbuzz and slowly a plan started hatching.   Notice of course the signature Trojan horse table but this time used a mirror as the table top, creating a second tier using a beautiful jagged shaped piece of wood, raised up above the mirror.
The design for the evening was  Elegant Vintage
offering comfort food and shabby chic decor that's kid friendly to kidz of all ages from 2-90.

Torahtini - Martha Spector (winner)
Gimlet 613 - Mark Philips
Mazel Tov Cocktail - Andy Cohen
Cucumber Basil Vodka Cooler - Stephen Fried
The New Mule - Karen Loew


Rockin Rozberry Shul-y Temple - Jeremy, Bellamy and Molly Richardson (winner)
Oreo Classico - Sher Family
Triskaiderkaphilipa -Max Shatan


Check out this amazing vintage drawer display - as the guests entered through the 1960's Carnaby Street Silver Curtains - the first set of vintage drawers held a wonderful variety of chef made salsas at a station aptly named "Micah's Build a Better Chip Bar"  - in ode to Cinco de Mayo.


Come on in and experiece  the retro chic bar mitzvah menu for this uber hip afternoon NYC Bar Mitzvah celebration:

Micah's Salsa Bar

a selections of chips ranging from traditional corn tortilla chips, blue corn chips, whole wheat chips to lime corn chips allowing everyone to customize their own selections.





Chef Micah Fredman's
Fabulous Salsas included:
  • avocado crema
  • pico de gallo
  • roasted tomato avocado salsa
  • grape, pear + scallion salsa
  • pineapple caramelized onion salsa
  • black beans with jalapeño + cilantro
  • crumbles queso fresco 
  • house pickled radishes + jalapenos
Micah's Recipes for some of the Salsa Bar Selections

Pickled Radishes
The radishes are sliced thin on a mandoline and covered 
with pickling liquid that has been brought to a boil. 
The liquid is 
9 parts white vinegar, 
3 parts sugar, 
3 parts water and 
1 part salt. 

Avocado Crema
 a bottle of cream blended with an avocado and seasoned with salt and lime. 


Roasted avocado tomato Salsa
is made by broiling or grilling vegetable oiled 
and salted tomatoes for a while - until they 
have colored fairly deeply (some would say burned). 

Cool slightly and smash or blend in a mortar or blender 
(not too smooth). To that you add finely diced white onion garlic and jalapeño, 
and small chunks of avocado and season with salt pepper and lime. 

As for the Pico di Gallo, it's really simple as well and 
it's hard to give a recipe, because most of us all  already realize, 
what's in it - the same five ingredients - 
that is in most Mexican food in America
 - tomato, garlic, onion, jalapeño and lime. 
Dice everything fairly finely and add salt and lime juice to taste. 
You can seed the jalapeños to allow for the full flavor 
without all the heat and spice. And go heavy on the FRESH lime juice.

That folks is a typical chef's recipe - more a methodology than exact quanitites
since they have the experience to know the taste and such- but follow  
your instincts as well to create fresh delicious accompaniments to chips - 
not just opening a jar but making a delicious and healthy snack for yourself, 
friends and family.  Thank you Micah for generously sharing your knowledge.

and let me make a plug for my friends at Tortilleria Nixtamal in Corona who not only make the only fresh commercially available masa in NYC but also produce fresh corn tortillas - which we have often used to make our own freshly fried corn tortilla chips - a whole 'nother experience from opening a bag of frito lays...  They run a small restaurant at that location and have a kiosk in downtown Manhattan,  but warm tortillas hot off the presses or freshly made chips with any of the salsas that Micah made would be like taking a mini stay-cation for me and my family.



Grape Nut Bytes surrounding pebble potatoes with salmon caviar + creme fraiche

One of the cuisinEtc Hostess with the Mostest... Miss Joni

Edible Spoons by Jack 
creative displays and toppings by CuisinEtc
 

Which came first?
the chicken or the egg??
Edibles by Jack Sesame Spoon
topped with Deconstructed Devil Egg

Our Pretty in Pink Salad featured fresh mango + blackberries 
you can find the recipe for this delicious dressing in the link above.
FLOTUS SHAKE IT UP !!  
Salad Bar Displayed in Vintage Drawers

EGG-zactly what was offered at this Bar Mitzah Celebration you ask? 
CLICK on the TV below to enlarge some the menu offerings.
carnivale mac n cheese balls
and fried onion rings

check the cute kid in the background


salmon caviar pebble potato with creme fraiche
deconstructed silky lemon egg salad
on edible sesame spoons
lemony scented dill deviled eggs and feta basil and sun dried tomato deviled eggs



Kidz... of all ages
... just want to have fun!

come on in and toast
some marshmallows
and 
enjoy a 
salted caramel
s'more on us!



Salted Caramel S'Mores Station











Event Credits:
New Shul Bar Mitzvah Producer 
+ Executive Director:        Amy Eisenwald-Golding
Event Committee Chair:    Marissa Cohen
DJ and Photobooth:           Summitsoundz Entertainment LLC
Facepainting                      Debby Lee Cohen (member)
Linens and Decor:              Dusty Berke
The Magician                     The Great Lerdini's Magic Show

Catering + Food Decor:     CuisinEtc Catering + Events NYC
Edible Spoons:                   Edibles by Jack
Food Stylist:                       Lisa Teiger
Executive Chef:                  Chef Andrew Alexander-Crossan

thanks for visiting y'all - see you in cyberspace and be sure to leave a comment below.
life is a journey
let us help you 
make it a delicious one.

Lisa Teiger
Culinary Fashionista