Hippie Recipe

One of my closest childhood friends (Becky La Terza) came to visit this week and she brought the best present possible for a foodie... a new simple, delicious, healthy recipe. Of course, I need to share this information with you in order to pay it forward. She calls this recipe Roasted Vegetables.
In her honor, I am calling it Terza Vegetables;

Chop the following into 1/2 to 1 inch bite sized pieces;
Yams
Potatoes
Carrots
Broccoli
Cauliflower

Toss in Olive Oil to get a nice even coating
Shake Italian Seasoning and Garlic Salt onto the mixture
Toss again

Place vegetable mixture in a glass casserole dish

Bake in oven at 360 for about an hour

Cheers!

Stuff it!

Cooking with The Chicks!

What? An interactive cooking class that starts off with the basics and takes you where you want to go… from the Novice to the Veteran cook, this delicious journey will be a treat!

The Theme for this class is STUFF IT!

Stuffed Chicken
Stuffed Tenderloin
Stuffed Pasta

Stuffed Salad

Stuffed Appetizers

Trust us, you will leave Stuffed!


Where? Our commercial kitchen at 3822 S. Union Avenue Tacoma, WA 98409

When? Saturday May 2nd from 4:30pm-7:30pm

Why? Because Food is Fun!

Tickets are $45 ($100 value)

If you have any questions or would like to RSVP, please email us at chicks@threechickscatering.com or call us at 253-475-8333

The BOAB – Bride On A Budget (Saving some Green)

It really doesn’t matter what the stock exchange is doing, Brides have always wanted to get the most for their money when it comes to their big day. Here is some food for thought on this subject straight from the Three Chicks Catering kitchen.

1. Research – Just like you found this blog, research every company involved in your wedding and reception. Google the company and the main people you will be consulting with in order to find out if it will be a good fit for you. You want to work with people and companies that are transparent about their business ethics, pricing and attitude about working with brides. Take a look at professional profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc. This will give you the big picture of who they are and what they stand for.

2. Pretty for Pennies - Catering does not necessarily mean that you have to hire servers. There are plenty of “drop off” options that my fit your needs. Most of the time, “drop off” means disposable chafers and plastic trays, but solving this dilemma can be as easy as hiring one server to simply wait until the event is over to gather the “real” platters and chafers. Most catering companies will work with you on this.

3. Going Green to save some Green – A nice (and cheaper) alternative to renting china for your big day, is to purchase compostable plate service for the reception. Normally, if you served your guests with disposable plates they would think you were cutting corners, however, “going green” makes an eco-conscious statement and is usually around the same price as your typical plastic plate service. Most catering companies carry this option. Our line is called Green Chicks© and it composts within 36 hours.

4. Collaboration – Your catering company should have relationships with other vendors so that you can have a “one stop” shopping experience. Ask your caterer who their preferred Florist, DJ, Audio/Visual, Venue, and Rental Company’s are. Sometimes you can even get a discount by going with a referral. Most Catering companies will put everything on one proposal/invoice and coordinate with the other vendors so that you don’t have to worry about all of the logistics. If you can rely on one event coordinator instead of organizing is yourself, your stress level will drop and you can enjoy your special day!

5. Menus for less Money – Talk to your caterer about what your budget is. This makes it easier to create a menu that will be tasty, beautiful and affordable. Typically pasta and chicken options are the least costly because, as a general rule, the food cost is lower and preparation is less labor intensive. Seafood is one of the most expensive entrees available, but if you mix it with pasta, it becomes more budget friendly.

6. Special Diets – Make sure that your catering company is familiar with your specific dietary needs. Do not try to make a square peg fit in a round hole. Let your vendor know if you need Vegan, Gluten Free, Kosher, Vegetarian, Low Glycemic Index, etc offerings so that they can work these dishes into the menu plan and your guests don’t feel left out because of their dietary needs.

7. The Reception – Most caterers will offer you cake cutting and Champagne toast services at no additional charge if you opt for a full service experience. It never hurts to ask!

8. Ask! – Ask for a deal. If you are open for ideas for your menu, ask your caterer what foods are in season/cheaper and see what they can put together for you at your desired price point.
Hopefully this post is helpful for you in your search for answers. If I can be of any further assistance, don’t hesitate to email me at chicks@threechickscatering.com or give me a call 253-475-8333. I am always happy to help!

Cheers!

Blog on Blogging

Today I am Blogging on Blogging… which sounds akin to eating a “Hot Pocket© flavored Hot Pocket©” (Jim Gaffigan.) In our last few marketing classes, people keep asking what the point of blogging is. Why does writing out thoughts for everyone to read benefit you, your business, and the entire human race? I actually have an answer for this! If you have already heard my chicken bones story, feel free to skim over the rest of this post, however, if you haven’t, get ready to have your mind blown.

My dog is a giant Alaskan Malamute who literally devours every food scrap he can get his paws on. One evening after preparing delicious Chicken Enchiladas (from scratch) I discarded the bones, gristle, and remaining undesirable parts of the chicken. About an hour later, my dog (Atreyu) busted open the garbage can and ate EVERYTHING. Once I realized what happened, I started freaking out because everyone knows that you should never let your animals eat cooked bones due to the fact that they splinter and cause choking, internal bleeding, and many other horrific maladies. Of course, it was the middle of the night so I turned to the world wide web for answers before I rushed down to the Animal ER. I googled “dog ate chicken bones” and happened upon a blog run by a veterinarian. Her post told me exactly what to do, what to look for, and when to load up the 120 lb dog and head to the ER. I followed the instructions which said to feed the dog bread and other food products that would pad the stomach lining and hopefully prevent punctures, bleeding, etc. Don’t take my word for it… take hers! She’s the Doctor.

My point in all of this is that you never know who wants to know what you know. I am forever grateful to this faceless blogger for getting me through a very stressful night as a dog owner with a guilt trip. When you blog, keep your reader in mind. How can you help someone else solve a problem that you could navigate blind folded with your hands tied behind your back. It’s like giving your reader a reassuring hug through your blog… a Blug….

And on that note, I am signing off with a heartfelt CHEERS!

My favorite place to hear music: The Gorge

The perfect place for music

The scenery is breathtaking! Even if you aren't feeling the music, the background is amazing! Last concert I saw there was OAR and Dave Matthews Band.

Twittering About

Like anybody else, I have been trying to figure out ways to make this social networking trend work for me and my company. The rewards I have already experienced include fostering a closer relationship with the surrounding community by making myself available and approachable. Social Networking allows people to get to know people. In a time where people don’t trust corporations, they would much rather get to know the people that comprise a business then hear an advertisement created by some marketing guru.
I believe one of the reasons for this marketing shift is the fact that people are not interested in the “hard sell” anymore. People want something of value from you before they care about what you have to say. This value can be a feeling of camaraderie, expert advice, discounts, feelings of being important, or just respect in general for who they are and what they might need. People have unprecedented access to information and expect transparency from the companies they do business with. If I was able to bring one important concept with me, from the ten years I spent in healthcare, into the catering business, it is the fact that patients/clients come to the table informed and prepared. No longer do you get the benefit of the doubt just because you have letters behind your name.
That being said, I have had some very interesting experiences exploring the likes of facebook, twitter, and blogging.
Twitter has turned out to be the most challenging for me, and perhaps this is because it is the newest site I have decided to become active on. There are instructions scattered about the internet on how to “properly” use Twitter, but I am the sort of person who jumps right in and learns better by experience. One thing I have noticed is that there are a lot of marketing executives with Twitter accounts. Because there is so much media focus on social marketing, everyone is jumping on board, whether they know what they are doing or not. So many of these marketers are trying to bring the “old school” marketing tactics they have always used into this new world of Social Media Marketing. Some of the deceptive activity includes “following” as many people as they can in order to get them to reciprocate and “follow” them back. Afterwards, they will “un-follow” these same people in order to make it appear as if they have a huge following, thereby gaining Twitter clout and validation. This goes against everything that this new generation of marketing stands for. The world of business has changed because people don’t want deception and games anymore. People want transparency and trusting relationships with those that they purchase goods and services from.
On the flip side, I am encouraged by the entrepreneurial spirit that is thriving in these changing times. People are harnessing the power of the internet to drive people (willingly) to their websites by offering rewards and value. I believe the key difference between these two different types of marketing is the value and respect they place on their potential client. If you treat me like a number in your statistics, I want nothing to do with you. On the other hand, if you are interested in who I am and what I might need or even have to offer you, then I am open to a reciprocal relationship that could potentially benefit us both.
Twitter, and social marketing as a whole, is what you make of it. Take the time to learn the culture of the program and use it for its’ strengths. I have found that careful attention to the right people on Twitter keeps me on the cutting edge of what is happening in the world of technology, social media, economics, and society as a whole. Becoming an insider is well worth enduring the learning curve that comes along with exploring this strange new world of marketing and social media.

Image taken from http://ethicalmedia.com/

The Mobile Office

Nems (Owner Chick) and I have been teaching classes on the explosion of social media marketing and low cost tips in utilizing today’s technology to the advantage of you and your company. No class is the same because our scope of knowledge changes with each passing day! I want to reiterate that we are NOT experts… just a couple of Chicks trying to make sense out of the vast amount of information that is out there. One of the trendiest finds we have noted is the total mobile office. This used to be the elusive dream of people everywhere. Only available to owners or top executives at large companies. Today’s technology allows people to work from home, vacation, or even on the road. Most companies can become web-based with ease. Phones are so much more than phones. In fact, during my last 10 day trip to California, I used my Blackberry to keep track of all of my emails, answer the “Chick” line and generally keep my life organized! It’s a blessing… and a curse! Some people find this to be an intrusion of their work life into their home life. In a way, it is an intrusion, but I think of it more as a blend. It benefits both employer and employee by allowing more family time (no commute time) and freeing up the employer’s financial assets that would be spent on maintaining a workspace for employees. Not every industry can benefit from this, but the ones that can, are! Business Week had a very good article on this workplace shift; http://blogs.zdnet.com/forrester/?p=165
It is well worth a read if you interested. This is one of MANY reports on the trend.

Besides embracing the inevitable change that comes with technology, these new advances are big wins for both quality of life and the environment.

Cheers!

Jayme