Summer in Chicago is truly a sight to be seen. It’s the only full 2 months of nice weather we get each year, so we all try our best to make the most of it. In an effort to enjoy the outdoors while the sun is hot enough to allow for cute maxi dresses, shorts, and tank tops, we’ve put together a quick guide to summer outdoor entertaining.

Pick an Occasion

Summertime provides the perfect backdrop for so many different occasions, including:

• Graduation parties
• Picnics
• 4th of July
• BBQs
• Weddings

So whether it’s an official gathering (think wedding or graduation) or just an excuse to bring your favorite people together for a fun time, make an occasion out of it! Pick your theme and hit up the local party store to collect themed plates, utensils, centerpieces, and other fun party pieces. And since it’s summer, we recommend infusing bright, vibrant pops of color if you can make it work with your theme. A little effort goes a long way — and makes for great Instagram photos!

Pick a Location

It might be safe to assume that your summer party will most likely take place at your house, but just remember that you’ll have to plan accordingly if you want to host guests outdoors. Besides needing the obvious chairs and tables, you might also want to consider a tent if the weather is looking iffy. Don’t forget tons of ice to keep drinks cool (most people underestimate this need), and citronella candles/bug spray so guests can fend off any unwelcome additions to the party. And always good to keep sunscreen and water closeby so nobody leaves the party feeling dehydrated or sunburned!

If you’re planning to host a large-scale event, you may want to consider a bigger venue than your own backyard. Take a few moments to browse through our venue partners for some ideas (there are so many amazing options!), and feel free to reach out regarding those that pique your interest! 

Read More…

We love our team and can’t help but dish about how amazing they are during our employee spotlights. In the past, we’ve introduced you to: Dave Sandler and Alexander Rufus.

This week, we’d like to introduce you to Stacey Combrzynski, our Special Events Coordinator.

What does a Special Events Coordinator do?

I get to spend my day helping people take their vision and make it a reality. Whether it be just a simple delivery for a corporate lunch, a 600 person corporate meeting or a large scale social event such as a wedding or mitzvah, everyone has a vision—we just have to help them bring it to the surface.

What’s the best part of your job?

I get to be with people on some of the most important days of their lives – their weddings, their child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah, and their showers to welcome new members of the family. Each one is an amazing snapshot into a set of memories these people will have for the rest of their lives, and we get to be a part of that!

What’s the hardest part of your job?

The hardest part, in my opinion, is getting someone who has big dreams to understand that those dreams also have big price tags. 

Read More…

What could possibly be more fun this summer than a push pop? Nothing really. That’s why we’ve recreated our favorite childhood treat with a variety of fun, colorful, and refreshing fillings that make for a perfect addition to your summer entertaining.

First up is our frozen margarita push pops (adults only) cause no summer gathering is complete without a little boozy treat. And for the kiddos, we have our frozen watermelon push pops that will give your event (and their tongues) a real POP of color.

 Our “fruishi” push pops are a fun fishless and kid-friendly alternative to our traditional sushi push pops, using seasonal ingredients such as kiwi, strawberry, and mango. Or for those that prefer to include a fish option, our ceviche push pops are always a winner.

Read More…

Now that Mother’s Day is over, it’s time to give Dad’s day the attention it deserves. Last year, we shared a Father’s Day menu that we catered for the holiday. This year, we’re serving up another special menu we created just for Father’s Day, along with a shrimp pico de gallo recipe that Dad is sure to love — and you can make anytime!

BOURBON MAPLE SMASH

Bourbon, maple syrup, fresh orange juice,
angostura bitters, sparkling water, orange garnish.

SOUTHWESTERN SHRIMP PICO DE GALLO 

Baby shrimp, avocado, onion, tomato and cilantro,
served with homemade lime yellow corn tortilla chips.

MINIATURE SIRLOIN & SLAW SANDWICHES

Marinated sirloin, wasabi mayonnaise, sesame slaw
and red cabbage on a miniature pretzel round.

SMOKED GOUDA MACARONI & CHEESE

Cavatappi noodles tossed with smoked Gouda cheese sauce,
topped with panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese,
and baked until golden brown.

ROCKY ROAD COOKIES 

Topped with mini marshmallows, pecans and chocolate drizzle.

Our Bourbon Maple Smash drink is perfect for the Dad that enjoys the finer things in life, but appreciates a new take on an old classic. We’re willing to bet that even the most Bourbon-averse person at the party won’t be able to resist a sip.

Read More…

Certified Catering Consultants is a team of experts that represent the leading authorities on catering, both nationally and internationally. Catering by Michaels is proud to employ a member of this elite group, our very own Director of Operations, Jeff Ware.

We connected with the Managing Director of Certified Catering Consultants, Carl Sacks, to learn more about what it means to be a Certified Catering Consultant, and why they’re valuable to catering businesses.

To you, what does it mean to be a Certified Catering Consultant?

We call the entity Certified Catering Consultants to emphasize that we are catering industry specialists. There are many generic hospitality consultants, but we are experts in this specific hospitality niche. We also evaluate any consultant before they join our team — that’s what certification refers to.

The criteria we use for certification include experience as a senior executive in the industry, years consulting for the industry, presentations at industry conferences, publication in industry journals, and education.

Read More…