I feel like we say this every year, but 2017 truly was one for the books. Once again, we found ourselves involved with a number of innovative events that pushed us to be more creative than ever. But no challenge is too great for our team! We relish in the opportunity to design and cater unique events that our clients and their guests will be talking about for years to come.

To get a taste of what we were up to in 2017, here are 7 events that truly defined the year:

1. ILEA Chicago Master’s Dinner
   

   ILEA is the International Live Events Association. During their signature Masters Dinner, we take the opportunity to showcase our creativity through brand new plated menu items. With plenty of industry peers in attendance, the pressure is on to go above and beyond! 

For this event, the first course, main course, and dessert were all new items. Pictured above, a special set up for Beef Tartare. Below, a Plated Heirloom Root Vegetable Salad.

Linens: BBJ Linen | Decor: HMR Designs | Venue: Chez Chicago

Read More…

Let’s be honest, going out on New Year’s Eve is nearly always a bit of a disaster. It’s impossible to get a good table at a good restaurant, and, even when you do, the food prices are jacked up and the quality takes a hit because the kitchen is slammed.

If you skip food (never a great way to celebrate New Year’s Eve) you’ll still spend the better part of an hour wading through a crowd to reach a bar and order an overpriced cocktail. Don’t even get us started on herding the cats you call friends into one venue at the right time to celebrate together.

The deluge of reasons not to go out on NYE is driving more and more people toward hosting their own parties. Not only do they dodge more bullets than Neo in The Matrix, but they also take advantage of the slew of positive aspects of celebrating at home with friends and family.

Once you have your numbers set for your NYE event, you can start thinking about food.

But don’t panic—you don’t have to cook. There are catering services out there that will take care of you. For the Chicago area, Catering by Michaels leaves you wanting nothing for your winter holiday entertainment besides, perhaps, some signature family dish that’s hidden in your grandmother’s Rolodex of secret recipes.

Getting in Touch with Finger Food

When it comes to celebrating New Year’s Eve at home, don’t feel like you’re required to serve up a six-course meal. If you’re hosting a larger party, focus on finger food and appetizers to help keep in check the bubbly booze and homemade cocktails.

You can keep things simple with a spiced bourbon nut mix, a gourmet international cheese display, and a gourmet vegetable “baton” display, which is a beautifully designed selection of blanched jícama, beet, asparagus, English cucumber, green beans, yellow squash, peppers, and carrots garnished with cherry tomatoes and broccoli. And don’t forget the shrimp cocktail shooters!

Or, you can take it to the next level with a holiday tea sandwich display, lobster dip in a crock, Southwestern shrimp pico de gallo, a glorious holiday seafood spectacular display, our guest favorite winter panzanella salad, or an Asian skewer display. With more than 50 appetizer and cheese platter options – we’ll help you find exactly the right tasty bites for your New Year’s Eve party! 

Read More…

Christmas traditions are bountiful around the globe, though the way locals celebrate vary from country to country and even family to family.

However, one aspect of Christmas celebrations that is universal, from Japan to the United States, is food. Nothing brings family, friends, and a community together better than food, drink, and warmth.

By taking advantage of our experienced chefs at Catering by Michaels this holiday season, you can have a stress-free Christmas and a bounty of delicious food.

With more than 40 entrees from Whole Roasted Leg of Lamb and Apple Cider Glazed Spiral Sliced Ham to Turkey Tetrazzini and Wild Mushroom Pot Pie, you’ll find the perfect centerpiece for your holiday celebrations.

Then, it comes down to sorting through our ample selection of appetizers and side dishes.

You can dive into the deep end with seafood by nibbling on our Holiday Seafood Spectacular, Grilled Jumbo Shrimp Sampler, or Smoked Salmon Display. Or, you could mix things up with our Winter Panzanella Salad, Vegan Sweet Potato Quinoa Cakes, and a Spiced Bourbon Nut Mix.

Read More…

December is a time for celebrating—but not everyone has the time, energy, or budget to throw an all-out bash. Furthermore, December tends to be a busy time (at least at the beginning of the month) where people try to get as much done as possible before the end of the year.

Even if you’re not planning a company holiday party, it’s still nice to acknowledge the holiday with your hard-working employees. Even something as small a nice catered lunch in the month of December can help you to show your appreciation and give employees an hour (or maybe a few if you’re feeling generous) away from their desks.

Think of holiday catering as an opportunity to bring everyone in the office together in a relaxed setting before holiday craziness sets in. The closer you get to Christmas, Hanukkah, and the New Year, the harder it will be for everyone to focus on work. It’s much better to accept the fact that as the holidays loom nearer, the office will be a little less productive. Instead of forcing employees to make it look like they’re working, take the opportunity to do something fun.

Catering by Michael’s corporate holiday menu includes options for everyone in the office—even the biggest Grinch about food. Furthermore, most of our food items can be prepared in terms of many different types of dietary restrictions and preference so nobody feels left out of the celebration.

Read More…

Love is in the air from Thanksgiving to Valentine’s Day! Did you know that December is the most popular month to get engaged? It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise: the glamour of the holidays and coziness of the impending cold weather inevitably bring people together. Getting engaged in December means that you can start your new year off in engagement bliss and focus your New Year’s resolutions on wedding planning!

According to WeddingWire, 6 of the 10 most popular dates to get engaged occur in December. This has a lot to do with extensive time off for the holidays. The most popular engagement dates include: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years’ Day, and Valentine’s Day.

During the holidays, you want to make full use of your holiday time off to enjoy. Most couples that get engaged in December use the time to celebrate the big news with their families. Those that can’t wait might use these extra days off as an opportunity to get ahead of the planning process and all it entails: finding a wedding planner, scouting out venues, and starting to think about the all-important food that will be served on the big day.

The average couple hires about a dozen different vendors to help with their wedding day: the cake, photographer, flowers, and so on. With so many options and limited time to kick it all off without a hitch, many default to vendors who are upfront with need-to-know information and who are great with communication.

Here are the top 5 biggest planning challenges:

• Determining budget and guest size
• Making decisions
• Keeping track of expenses
• Knowing you’re on the right track
• Finding vendors

At Catering by Michaels, we pride ourselves on our ability to bring together many different aspects of the wedding planning process. Working as your caterer, we connect with many other wedding vendors to create a beautiful event: your photographer, the venue, designers, and so on.

Read More…