A Beautiful Diner en Blanc Networking Event
Charles River Ventures invests in experts—people who are the best at what they do. So we were honored when they chose our Boston catering team to service their Israeli Entrepreneurs networking event on September 5, 2014.Our corporate catering department created an elegant French-inspired cocktail party that surpassed expectations and proved that we are among the best experts that can turn a great vision into a reality.
A Diner en Blanc-Inspired Boston Cocktail Hour
The inspiration for this white color theme party was the famous Diner en Blanc. This popular, exclusive party has taken place in France since 1988, when it was first held in the Parc de Bagatelle. Although we did not keep the party location a secret as they now do in France, we put together an impressive rendition of the Diner en Blanc.Customizing a White Party Venue
Each year, the French Diner en Blanc is held at a different (but always very prominent) public location. Charles River Venture wanted to transform the Armony family residence in Arlington into the ultimate white party.We knew just how to make that happen.The yard situated at the edge of quite water was the perfect place to set up modern white furniture and decorations.
We brought in sleek white leather furniture and a few small tables draped in elegant white fabric. Custom color linens and runners were no problem at all for our Boston catering company, which loves to personalize every detail. The design of the event, with beautiful Paris gloss white chairs among high- and low-top tables, perfectly echoed the feeling of the home and the Diner en Blanc inspiration.Celebrating with the Finest Drinks
As the 85 guests arrived, our wonderful staff welcomed them with refreshing beverages and tempting appetizers. We also set up a scotch tasting lounge looking out on the water and a stunning lucite bar so guests could choose from signature cocktails and other fine drinks.Our dr!nk department was proud to offer this fabulous array of beverages:- Beers: Sam Adams Seasonal, Sam Adams Lager, Harpoon IPA, Heineken Light
- Wines: white and red
- The Macallan 12 Year: the exclusive use of sherry casks to produce this single malt whisky makes it one of a kind. The secret to giving it a unique aroma and flavor is that the spirit coming from the stills goes into casks that have been used to age Oloroso Sherry.
- Glenfarclas 12 Year: an exceptional Highland whisky produced with about 80 percent of the spirit aged in used sherry casks and the remaining 20 percent in barrels once used to age bourbon whiskey.
- Ardbeg 10 Year: widely recognized as one of the smokiest and most complex single island malts, peat-lovers were delighted to find this classic renowned drink.
Pantone Color Library of Mini Dishes
We custom designed a menu of small tastes to represent the many faces of friends and the brilliant color they bring to the world. In addition to passing colored macarons, we set up a contemporary display of stationary appetizers. We lit a custom pedestal buffet with elegant drum chandeliers and hot appetizers.
With healthy cuisine continuing to gain a following in Boston, these vegetarian small bites were a big hit:- Chilled potato soup sips with crispy Brussels sprouts: waffle cone, chipotle maple, celery leaf
- Kalamata olive tapenade on shortbread with goat cheese mousse
- Carrot panna cotta with cranberry compote
- Roasted golden beet coins with micro greens and goat cheese mousse
- Forest mushroom tarts with roasted garlic and ricotta
No mater how tempting our veggie-based appetizers may be, our premium meats are always hard to pass up. Few could resist these appetizers:- Turmeric-spiced grilled chicken with chilled jasmine rice salad and saffron aioli
- Asian BBQ salmon with chilled Shanghai noodles
- Mini medallions of beef and purple Peruvian potato salad with apples, golden raisins, pickle relish
After an evening of of cocktails, connections and fine cuisine, guests enjoyed one more delicious macaron. Guests could wrap up the evening with a simple espresso-based drink and the option of taking another macaron for the road.To customize your next event to perfection, contact our creative Boston catering team online or give us a call at (617) 581-1150.Other Articles You Might Like:
2 Holiday Party Themes We Absolutely Adore
The fall season only means one thing: the holidays will be here in a blink of an eye! If you are a Boston company with a budget to host a holiday party, you should already have a set date, venue and a premier catering company. If not, get on it! Or maybe you are so organized that you coordinated the major items, have finished picking your theme and associated decor. To you, kudos!For those who need some help in the creative department, we would like to introduce you to two of our favorite holiday party themes: “Winter Woodland” and “Make Merry.” Both are neutral, in that guests from any cultural or religious background can appreciate the wintry joy associated with each of the themes. Of course neutral doesn’t mean boring. We are always pushing the limits of possibility in catering, and holiday party features are limitless!If you choose one of these themes, your guests will be stepping out of the wintry mix on the streets of Boston and into a lively scene of a rich, glamorous celebration.
Winter Woodland Holiday Party Theme
Rustic chic — that trendy design phrase you’ve heard all year. Well, it has been popular because it’s, well, gorgeous! When paired with elements of wood, organic linens, industrial pieces and even small animals as décor, your Winter Woodland will come alive. We have matched simple, elegant décor with our suggested signature drinks and activities to give you examples of how to personalize your holiday party.Glowing Walk in the Woods
Imagine welcoming guests to your party by way of a snowy walk through an evergreen forest. We can help you decorate as you envision, but we would suggest the following additions that have made an appearance in the latest holiday couture:- Scatter small woodland creatures about the entrance – in trees and behind rocks. These charming little guys will light up the faces of your guests of all ages as they begin to feel like they are in a holiday storybook!
- Hang soft white branches over the copper-colored runway that flows between your woodland setup, completely immersing your guests into your theme.
Rustic Signature Drinks
As guests wander to the bar, we will be waiting there to help them get their party started. Adorn rustic evergreen, pinecones and tousles of baby’s breath to brighten up strings of beautiful LED lights so that your bar will be a fun place to stop over and over. Our specialty is our customizable signature drink menu but here are a few suggestions to go along with your Winter Woodland theme:- Mulled wine with cranberries and rosemary
- Maple-bourbon Chai tea toddy
’Tis the Season for Giving:
If you have asked guests to bring a charitable donation in the form of money or gifts, may we suggest having a gift-wrapping station! Of course, the wrapping will be burlap and the bows made of colorful soft twine. Guests could drop their rustic chic package in our life-size woodland sleigh and admire the pile of gifts that will continue to grow as the night progresses.Memories to Take Home:
If your guest list is large enough, it might be fun to set up a backdrop of a cozy cabin scene where guests can pose for pictures! Our event planning team can help you choose a photographer who can help guests pose in their new rustic home in the woods. It might be fun to have props on hand as well. Small woodland animals like a fox, squirrels and owls could be a great feature to some entertaining photos!Make Merry Holiday Party Theme
The chic look of this holiday party includes warm shades of white, a variety of metallic accents, snowy or frosted décor and beautiful lights. They are not only traditional holiday decorations, but also happen to be a current design trend, as LED lights are so simple to hang from ceilings, beneath bar tables, around DJ stands or wherever you can imagine. So, we’ll go along with that and create a space so inviting that guests will not want to leave at the end of the night!All-White Holiday Party
As guests enter your party, we imagine they will smile as Bing Crosby’s booming voice sings his classic carols. If you plan for an intimate party with a small guest list, we think it would be cool to have a record player adorned with small pea-sized LED lights! It is a true meeting of vintage and contemporary style. As always, playing music that makes your guests sing-along will put everyone in the holiday spirit.Industrial Look, Warm Feelings
The theme will have décor that looks handmade, using aged metals, metallic accents and various shades of white linens and other natural materials. We will write our place settings and cuisine descriptions in flowing cursive print as well as life-size copper letters glowing with antique light bulbs, possibly spelling “Make Merry” or whatever else you would like!White Signature Drinks
Elegant and soft, our Make Merry theme would only be complete with a delicious signature drink made especially by our catering team. We suggest the following choices:- Bubbly Champagne with a toss of fresh berries at the bottom of the glass
- White Cranberry Martini
A Snowy Lounge
Guests can share a drink and some hors d’oeuvres with old or new friends at our snowy lounge! Our furniture rental partners can bring in soft white couches embellished with rustic linen pillows and plush white blankets. To make it a more intimate area, we envision beaded lamps set on the side table near the couches and, of course, a handcrafted wood table on which to set your drinks.This blog offers only a small peak into the possibilities for these two holiday party themes. Most likely, we have stirred your interest enough that you may want to speak with one of our event planning professionals. Please call or email us, as we are happy to help you with all the steps to make your holiday party unforgettable!More Articles You Might Like:
9 Boston Brand Celebration Party Ideas
The best way to highlight your company’s success and create a buzz about your brand is to host an unforgettable event.When you host an awesome event, corporate partners, clients, friends of the brand and employees alike will really strengthen their brand loyalty.But, how do host the most amazing brand celebration?Check out this list of exciting brand party ideas.How to Host an Awesome Brand Celebration
- Bring your company mascot to life. MIT’s mascot, TIM, had a grand time entertaining 900 guests at the 100th anniversary party held recently at Boston’s Johnson Ice Rink Center. Your mascot could join guests in a photo booth, dance with them or act as a prop in silly selfies! Tip: Make sure you choose a quality performer for the job. Brief the person on acceptable activities at the event and ensure he understands the importance of the mascot’s job as a brand ambassador.
- Use Instagram photos to display the company’s legacy. Your Boston event planner can create a stream of relevant images from the corporate social media platform. For example, if you are celebrating the brand’s 10th anniversary, focus on images that display the brand’s evolution throughout the years. Or, if you are hosting a store’s grand opening party, colorful images of their products will give your guests an emotional connection to the brand.
- Display tweets about the event in real time on the big screen. This one-of-a-kind party feature will have guests eager to tweet about the event. Creating buzz on social media will spark the interest of the online community and help highlight scenes from the glamorous event! Tip: Make the event’s official hashtag visible as people enter the party. This will get their creative juices flowing and raise awareness of this large-scale event. Also, place hashtag reminders near the entertainment and food displays.
- Raffle off desirable company swag. It’s important to remind guests what items will be in the raffle and what time the winners will be announced. Now, you’ve inspired guests to stay for the duration of the event, as no one is quick to turn down a wonderful gift!
- Display fun facts about the brand in the centerpieces. These could include images or bold fonts, anything to instigate conversation among guests seated at the tables.
- Request that event staff dress the part. What better way to raise excitement than by having more brand ambassadors in the form of friendly staff serving delectable menu items!
- Create a visual spectacle of the menu items that embellish the brand style. For example, our team developed a fun, original way to present to donuts by hanging them from a custom copper display! It was visually delightful and begged guests to try a bite.
- Choose a specialty cocktail that stimulates conversation (and tastebuds!). Don’t forget to ask your catering team to help choosing a creative name for each cocktail, ideally one that incorporates the brand theme. Tip: Include a beautiful virgin cocktail in the drink menu to ensure every one of your guests can enjoy themselves!
- Hire a videographer to capture the energy in the room. Even better, write a few questions related to the brand for your videographer to ask willing guests. Your celebration will have clients and potential clients inspired to give praise of a product or simply talk about how memorable the event has been. Incorporate these positive, original responses caught on video into marketing material in the future!