America has been celebrating President’s Day since 1885, but lets make this year extra special. Enjoy apple, cherry and blueberry-filled pie pops with your family and friends. Just fill two small circular pie crusts with your favorite filling, brush each layer of crust with egg wash and press between a cake pop stick (which you can find at your local cake decoration store or Michaels). Bake them and sprinkle powdered sugar over the tops then serve. So fun and so patriotic!

Happy President’s Day from LA Spice

 We’re “Mad Men” for the Natural History Museum… 

 

We recently catered an event at The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County that highlighted the new exhibit, Artistic Evolution, a part of the larger initiative, Pacific Standard Time: Art in Los Angeles 1945-1980.

Attended by 120 guests, the event focused on a time when the museum was the premiere art venue for the City of Los Angeles. Art historian Dr. Charlotte Eyerman presented an in-depth look at the show’s paintings, drawings, and prints from Los Angeles’ past, including works from artists like John Baldessari, Ed Ruscha, Lee Mullican, and Mel Ramos, pictured here with Steve & LeAnne Schwartz (me!) in front of his picture “The Atom”.

To match the post-war era art displayed throughout the event, we created a retro-50′s vibe focusing on nostalgic eats and mod details.

The Yum:

“Daily News Read All About It” 

Appetizers:

French Onion Dip in Martini Glasses served with Celery, Carrots, and Tomatoes

Swedish Meatballs on Skewers

Classic Deviled Eggs

Lamb Kabobs with Mint Jelly

Signature 1950′s

Drinks:

Classic Martini with Orange Bitters and a Lemon Twist

Old Fashioned with Bourbon, Bitters, with a Sugary Twist of Orange Peel and Cherry

Classic Cosmopolitan with Vodka, Cranberry Juice, and a Squeeze of Lime

“Breaking News…Dinner Time…in the Fin Whale Passage”

Entrees:

Steak Diane, a Sauteed Thinly Sliced Pounded Filet Basted in a Rich Cognac Sauce

Sauteed Chicken Breast Supreme with a Creamy Mushroom-Sherry Sauce

Caesar Salad with Garlic Croutons and Shaved Parmesan

Peas and Pearl Onion

Macaroni & Cheese

Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Chives

Nostalgic 1950′s

Dessert:

Strawberry Pop Tart with Vanilla Ice Cream and Chocolate Sauce

The Look:

The event had a retro feel, decorated in black, white, and red accents, surrounded by the amazing natural artifacts of the museum.

The centerpieces of deep red amaryllis and roses created a striking contrast on the black linen and the white of the china and wood chairs.  We even used a retro-elegant napkin fold reminescent of fine dining establishments of the era.

We can’t wait to hear about Pacific Standard Time’s next new art exhibit!

It’s that time of the year again.
The most wonderful time of the year.

The time when we crave chestnuts roasting on an open fire,
and the fresh scent of pine and peppermint in our homes.

Click the following links to discover our favorite sources of inspiration for this holiday season.

We hope it inspires you too!

What We’re Listening to in the Office

Cranberry Centerpieces

Festive Drink Ideas

Unusual Produce from our Favorite Farm

Fall Color Trends

Los Angeles Chefs’ Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes

How We Debunk Holiday Stress

How bar-inspired made-to-order stations really {LA}spice things up.

It’s no secret that people love watching food being made-to-order. It’s like watching an artist make a masterpiece or a scientist create a new invention. Party guests love to chat away, sipping on a signature specialty drink and nibbling on chef-created small plates, personalized to every individual taste.

We love the Amalfi bar from Town and Country Event Rentals as pictured above.

The elongated deep wood table top and high bar stools give off a “Cheers” vibe, but with a more elegant look. A bar never fails to emit warmth, comfort, and fun…any time or place in any situation.

And that’s what is so great about bars. They are a blank canvass that can easily create a new and exciting setting for your party.

We used the Amalfi bar and bar stools recently at an “End of Summer Bash” in Rolling Hills as a tapas bar, but there are many different uses for a bar at your next party or event:

Shake your Salad and Martini Station
Asian Fusion Station with wok, sushi and sake
Pub Crawl Station with pub-inspired grub and drinks
Taste of Italy Station with wine tasting and antipasto
Early Bird Station with mimosas and crepes
Lets be Kids Again Station with juice cocktails and childhood favorite finger foods
Mad Men Station with Tom Collins and tonics and tidbits in blankets
Caffeine Station with coffee-infused drinks and treats
Girls Only Station with cupcakes and cupcake-inspired cocktails

Bars hold a relaxing atmosphere where people can catch up with old friends or make new ones. With its community style seating, it’s easy to create an atmosphere where “everybody knows your name”.

Great additions such as these carnival lights from Town and Country Event Rentals give the bar an intimate and romantic, yet playful look from day until night-time.

We would like to thank all the readers of the Los Angeles Daily News for voting for LA Spice as the “Best Caterer” of Los Angeles!  We are so excited and honored to win this award for the second year in a row.  After 20 years in the catering business, it is wonderful to know we are still spicy!

Take a big bunch of fiesta, mix in a few sambas or mariachis, sprinkle it with hot colors and warm lights, and your fabulous fiesta will be in full swing as your guests are enjoying their margaritas and mojitos.

Continue reading “How to Throw a Fabulous Fiesta” »

Oranges freshen up everything, from table to food and its presentation. Not to be feared, we suggest you embrace it! Here are a few tasty (and beautiful) ways to play with color!

Continue reading “Orange You Glad It’s Summer?” »

While we love a spoonful of sugar, we are mad about a spoon that is filled with these delectable savory items. They are good medicine for any event!

Continue reading “Just a Spoonful of Savory” »