A very serious matter…

I was celebrating the Holidays this past Friday at a gathering at The Venue with my friend (and coincidentally, my insurance agent) Kim Peters when the topic of discussion turned from the succulent nature of the carved roast, to the more pressing matter of why clowns are still in existence. I have been a lifelong proponent for the eradication of clowns but I have largely kept my opinion to myself because I wouldn’t want to “steal the joy” of clownery from the rest of the world. As it turns out… the rest of the world feels the same way I do.
It wasn’t so long ago that I read an online report on a research study that took place in England. 100% of the respondents responded negatively to the question “Do you think clowns are funny?” My college professors would be hugely disappointed in the fact that I don’t have a citation for this research article… but you are just going to have to believe that it exists. So, let’s take another look at the results of the study again. 100% of respondents did not think clowns were funny. This begs the question, were any of the respondents clowns themselves? If they are not funny, what is the point of the existence of clowns? In my humble opinion, clowns are only here to be the source of phobias and horror movie fodder.
After coming to this conclusion, I propose we shut down the clown colleges! We need to end the reign of clown terror that they have spread among us like marshmallow crème (extra creamy and evil.) In the event planning and catering industry we get many weird and wonderful requests (That’s a whole other blog) but I have never had a client ask for clowns. This is a good thing, because I actually don’t know any clowns. If I did, they would never know my real name or address.
It would only be fair if I were able to lie about my identity to a clown the same way they lie to me (and you) with each brushstroke of makeup they apply to their face. Each polka dot of deception on their oversized jumpsuits. Each bulbous red plastic nose glued to their heavily made up face. Every oversized shoe and honking horn accessory…
But I digress…
Let us pull together as a community and infiltrate these clown cells and bring them all back into a society where they can take up another occupation such as a produce manager in the local grocery store, or an alligator wrangler, or an automobile mechanic that only works on Volkswagens. As a society, we can tame this unnatural evil and make a better world for our children…
A world without clowns…

A new take on an old classic!

Here’s a little known fact that I found on a website called allthingschristmas.com
Jingle Bells was originally named “One Horse Open Sleigh,” and it was written for Thanksgiving.
Here’s an even littler (???) known fact;
I rewrote the words…


Dashing through Tacoma
In a bright pink Chevrolet
38th Street exit we go
Laughing all the way
Hungry tummies rumble
All the way in to The Venue
What fun it is to laugh and sing
And eat a meal tonight

Oh, Cordon Bleu, Roast Beef a jus
Steamed Asparagus
Oh, what fun to fill my plate
With the Chicks gourmet buffet
Honey Ham, Rack of Lamb
Vegan options too!
Caprese Stacks, Stuffed Mushroom Caps
And Jackie’s Caviar Mousse

Now I can hardly move
I’ve tasted every dish
To live this night again
Is my only wish
My waistband’s getting tight
Won’t hold another pound,
So I’m going to loosen my pants
And go another round!

Oh, Cordon Bleu, Roast Beef a jus
Steamed Asparagus
Oh, what fun to fill my plate
With the Chicks gourmet buffet
Honey Ham, Rack of Lamb
Vegan options too!
Caprese Stacks, Stuffed Mushroom Caps
And Jackie’s Caviar Mousse

... I'm hungry...

Appetizers Anyone?

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Vegan-Tastic

When we scored our big Google account this past summer, we made some positive changes in our abilities and goals as a company. If you do any kind of search on what the big dot com companies feed their employees, you will find yourself searching their job postings to find out how you can get in on the five star cuisine action. Their requests are simple; Top Quality, Variety, Environmentally Friendly, and Vegan options. We had Top Quality in the bag. Our, well over, 50 menus tackled the variety request. Our newly implemented Green Chicks line of compostable plates and utensils satisfied the environmentally friendly requirement. But, we had only served Vegan meals once a year with the traditional Thanksgiving Tofurky.
In order to do this, and do it right, we brought in a Vegan Chef to teach us all about vegan philosophy and lifestyle. In a nutshell, the term vegan was created to describe people who avoid products made from or by animals. This includes anything from textiles to food. It became necessary to differentiate vegans from vegetarians because the term vegetarian had been interpreted, by some, to include dairy products.
While we were not intent on becoming solely a “vegan” caterer, we wanted to learn more about this demand in the community. The Seattle/Tacoma area is known for its diversity and there is a much higher vegan population here than in many other parts of the United States. According to Wikipedia, at least today, vegans in the United States are made up of between 0.2-1.3% of the population.
Numerous studies have shown veganism to be a healthy lifestyle which lowers many common health risk factors including high blood pressure, stroke, high cholesterol, and even forms of cancer. Veganism is also a major friend of the animal kingdom as subscribers to the philosophy believe that animals should not be used for human benefit. It is, however, a bit of a challenge to find restaurants and caterers that are familiar with vegan requirements. For this reason, we are happy to be a part of the solution for people looking to hold vegan events (weddings, parties, luncheons, dinners, etc.)
Our attitude towards any vegetable inspired challenge is this;
“Ve-Gan Do It!”

Veteran's Day with The Chicks

It's Veteran's Day 2008. Just 10 minutes ago, I received a text from my former Navy Chief, Gary Spevak. Both of our Naval careers ended about the same time, and ever since January 2005 I have been a proud veteran of the United States Navy. Gary has even more to be proud of as he served an entire career in the military, whereas I served one tour of duty. Who would have thought that I would be a "party chick" 3 years later? It's pretty amazing where life takes you if you are open to it. My experience in the military, as a whole, was positive. I am very aware that it had everything to do with the leadership I was under. I have met quite a number of veterans and active duty military over the years who had experiences that were similar to mine. I have also met some that had nothing nice to say about their tour of duty. One thing that we all have in common though, is the pride that comes with serving our great country. There is an amazing brotherhood and sisterhood you join when you serve your country. My husband and I have shaken hands with Marines (once a Marine, always a Marine) who fought in World War II. The most amazing part was that they were as honored to meet us as we were to meet them! It is true that once you serve, you take on the legacy of those before you who gave up their very lives for our freedom. It is an amazing honor and a responsibility to carry it forward to the next generation.
Today, I am thinking about all of those I have stood side by side with as well as those I took orders from and gave orders to. I am grateful to those who picked up the baton after we passed it down. Happy Veteran's Day and thank you for your service!

Loyalty in a Lagging Economy

I don't know about you, but I am tired of reading and hearing all the gloom and doom about the economy and the precarious future of our financial investments. It really is enough to make you double up on your meds and hide under your covers with the curtains closed. Virtually every media outlet is reporting increased amounts of stress in the workplace and interpersonal relationships due to the state of our economy. Even longstanding successful companies with proven business models are feeling the pressure to downsize in order to remain in existence through this storm. Employees are uncertain about their job stability and their productivity suffers as a result. This represents an "about face" from the job market as recent as a year ago. Employees had their pick of employers, because of the low unemployment percentage, and would constantly be on the lookout for better opportunities. Employers had to adapt to higher turnover in fields that were traditionally filled with devoted career oriented employees. As the economic landscape changes around us, business trends are following suit. We are forced to reevaluate what we need to do to survive. I want to share with you a positive aspect of "battening down the hatches" as a family, company and even as a country.
Your average employee (Joe the Plumber, if you will) has to decide where to place their loyalty. Hard times have a way of helping us all identify our priorities in life. How much do we need to get by? Can we accept a decrease in pay in order to keep our jobs? I once worked for a Physician who eloquently described this scenario as "bleed or amputate." We learn to depend on each other a little more in order to get through the hard times as a team... and in some cases, a family. In no other industry does this feel as literal as in the food industry. We spend an incredible amount of time together under extreme amounts of stress and pressure. On early mornings, we drink our first cup of coffee together. This carries on throughout the day, taking meal breaks to prepare food for each other, and sometimes ending the day with a fabulous dessert that will never be appreciated by anyone outside the walls of the Three Chicks Catering building.
We are learning, as many other businesses are, that success sometimes means getting through the rough times intact. There is no trophy at the end of the race, and you usually get a little dirty by the time the trial period is through. When all is said and done, you look around at the people who worked so hard along side you to make it happen, and know that you will always be a part of something bigger than yourself.
I just want to encourage everyone to see this time for what it is. These times are meant for reflection, team building, and strengthening your commitment to succeed. Grab on to those around you because they are your best allies in challenging times. Together, we will get through this and party on the other side!

No Kids Allowed!

As the mom of a 3 year old I don't get out as much as I used to. That doesn't mean that I don't want to have a good time, it just means that my priorities are a bit different than those of a 21 year old. Last Friday I was invited to an event in Seattle that sounded marvelous! Good people, good food, good beverages, etc. I didn't have a baby sitter, so I figured I would forgo this particular party. As it turns out, the event was totally family friendly and my young daughter would have had a great time. By the time I found this out though, it was much too late.
This scene plays out many different ways all over the place. Parents are unsure if weddings, Christmas parties, Birthday parties, etc are going to be "kid friendly" or not, so they make their own decision without consulting with the host/hostess. While, on the other side of the invitation, the host/hostess is afraid to look tacky by announcing that children are not welcome. No bride wants to see her wedding reception reduced to a live reenactment of "Lord of the Flies." The real problem lies in the lack of communication. The host/hostess of an event has every right to restrict the guest count to adults only, and there are many ways of approaching this situation. In my experience, the best way is to spell it out for the guests. While there will occasionally be the guest who will ignore your request for adults only, most people will respect your decision and comply. On the other hand, we have seen a trend lately where the hosts provide childcare in a separate location (not too far from the main venue) in order to make it less stressful for the guests. Another option, if the concern is the mounting food bill, is to have a "kids buffet" made up of childhood favorites like macaroni & cheese, hot dogs, punch, cookies, and even pizza. Most caterers will take care of all of this for you.
We have all seen what happens when parents let their offspring go wild at someone else's expense. It's never pretty, and the fallout can include breakage of rentals, damage to the venue, and even the loss of friendship. The best thing to do is to clarify "the rules" before making plans to attend or not. We all deserve a great event!
Cheers!
Jayme

Oktoberfest!

The month of October has always been special to me. The weather is changing. The air smells "fresher" somehow, and even though the sun spends less time shining down on us, the colors in the leaves make up for that with their bright reds, oranges, and yellows. It's like nature's mirror to the sun. It just feels cozy and festive. All of the really fun holidays are right around the corner (sorry Labor Day... I still love ya) and excitement is in the air.
One of the greatest Holidays (according to my extensive research) is Oktoberfest. Traditionally, this holiday is celebrated over 17 days in Munich, Bavaria Germany and it is characterized by the consumption of mass quantities of food and beer. There are certain beers that are considered "Oktoberfest" beers, however, Trader Joes has a beer named Oktoberfest if you want to play it safe when filling your cooler. According to tradition, the official suppliers of the Oktoberfest celebration in Munich are six breweries consisting of; Hofbrau, Paulaner, Lowenbrau, Augustiner, Spaten, and Hacker-Pschorr.
Now, since we are a catering company, I am going to focus a little bit on the traditional food that is served at Oktoberfest. Here is our custom Oktoberfest menu;

Beer Cooked Bratwurst
Served with french hoagies, sauerkraut with sauteed onions & German mustard

Jumbo All Beef or Polish Dogs
With all the fixin’s

German Meatballs
Tossed in Beef Caper Cream sauce

Warm German Potato Salad
Our version of this traditional German classic

Garden Patch Greens
Romaine, sliced cucumbers, shredded carrots, tomatoes, cabbage & croutons with house balsamic vinaigrette & bleu cheese dressing on the side

Fresh Baked Apple Strudle
Baked until golden

I honestly don't know how anyone functions after consuming copious amounts of beer (and I am not talking about Corona Light here...) and heavy food. Whenever I participate, it becomes Nap-toberfest. They actually have a term for this in Munich. The word is "Bierleichen," which means Beer Corpses... Come to think of it... I think I have my Halloween costume picked out!
Cheers!
Jayme

Keepin' it real

I have been in a reflective mood ever since my birthday on Sunday October 5th. I am not sure that I want to announce my age to the world yet either, so lets just say it rhymes with shmirty shmears shmold.

There really isn't anything to be secretive about anymore. Nowadays a 30th birthday is cause for some of the biggest catered celebrations on our calendars. Life expectancies for both men and women are in the high 70's which means we have MUCH more time to get our acts together and decide whether marriage and kids are something we want to be a part of our lives. 30 has become what 21 used to be, a tangible passage into adulthood. My mom, the subversive hippie that she was, didn't have her first child (ahem... me) until she was 34. While in the 1970's that was "far out," it is much more common today. In essence, as a society, we have pushed back the hands of time to extend our childhood until our 30's. Humankind is pure genius!

Some great ideas for 30th birthdays are 70's themes (specifically the birth year), Memories and guest lists from childhood/high school/college/20's, and Vegas Baby! Which brings up a philosophical question... If you turn 30 in Vegas... does it stay in Vegas?

Cheers!

Jayme

The early Chick gets the worm

This morning I dragged myself out of bed at 8:30. I awoke refreshed and renewed... and grateful. Yes, I got to stay cuddled up in my warm cozy bed this morning while my fellow chicks and "roosters" were up at the crack of dawn setting tables and making things pretty for a breakfast event this morning in Puyallup. Now, if you aren't from around here, don't even TRY to pronounce Puyallup... you will only embarass yourself...

There are some days when prepping, plating, serving, bussing, and cleaning the food, plates, etc sounds like a lot of fun, but there are many more when I am quite content to sit at my computer and perform business analysis, devise marketing strategies and crunch numbers... are you still awake? My point is that catering is not for the weak! It truly takes a special person to get out there and take on the challenge of crazy schedules, intensly hot kitchens, non stop hustling in order to meet deadlines, and doing it all with two large trays, three coffee carafes, and an overfilled water pitcher in their arms.

So, this morning I raise my steaming cup of joe, with two sugars and lots of cream, to the Three Chicks Catering wait staff. Your hard work is amazing and you make this company thrive!

Cheers!

Jayme

Lemonade from Lemons

Whew!!

What an amazing event we had last night. The celebration was in honor of "Women of Influence" in the local region. We teamed up with Hardcastle Entertainment, Dana's Cakes, and Business Examiner to throw an incredible party for these women... of influence.

There were a few wrenches thrown into our plans when we found out (enter the LEMON), just a few days before the event was to happen, that alcohol would no longer be permitted at the event. What??? Our big challenge was to show everyone how to party without alcohol. We weren't exactly sure how we were going to attack this challenge until we realized that we could literally make LEMONADE out of the situation. Check out the beautiful lemonade bar we put together. It was an absolute HIT! The best part of the whole ordeal was that the spotlight would be on our delicious food rather than mixed drinks... blessing in disguise!

The event was a total success! Win, Win.... WIN!

A day in the life of The Chicks

We have a huge event going on tonight that I will tell you about tomorrow. Last night was classic last minute craziness. You can never totally avoid it. It doesn't matter how OCD you are. Picture our kitchen full of Chefs doing last minute prep work, while the rest of the staff loads the "Chick" vans with decor, plexiglass risers, and bling for the food stations (I will have pics tomorrow!) I can't imagine a life where I am not constantly living in a state of being on a "scavenger hunt." We caterers love the challenge of making something ordinary into something unforgettable. As we were checking some of the equipment last night, we discovered some items in dire need of replacement... at 8pm. Off to Home Depot, Sears, and any other place that stays open late on weeknights for our convenience. I love the thrill of the hunt. Give me a good challenge and a latte and I am ready to go! It only took an hour of wandering around in an unfamiliar part of Tacoma to find what I was looking for...

Tonight we shall see how it goes.

Blog On!

Three Chicks is joining the blogging revolution!

We have done so much research and development in the area of partying that it is time to share our vast knowledge with the world. Nems Scarim, the owner of the company, cut her partying teeth at WAZZU... which is now considered a dry campus. So much for that!

We love a good event and that is evidenced by our diverse clientele. We have served everyone from our next door neighbors to Google, and Microsoft. In order to avoid any confusion... these people were not all at the same event. That would have been akward...

Catering and Event Planning is a unique field because you have the opportunity to meet all kinds of people... and most of them are really happy because you are going to feed them. I was once told that you don't mess with three things; People's food, money, and home. For some reason that does not apply to Three Chicks because we go into people's homes, feed them... and yes in order to have a successful business, take their money.

Since this is my first post, I am going to save some knowledge for next time. In the mean time, if you need some help partying, look us up. http://www.ThreeChicksCatering.com

Cheers!

Jayme