by Judy Foodie | Oct 4, 2017 | Events, Our Services, Testimonials
The latest offering for the office from Chef Michael’s Catering was a delicious exercise in chasing tastes and textures, and “Yep!” I AM singing the praises of a business office’s lunch. The delivery and set up were timed perfectly and with efficiency. Our mid-day spread included fresh sandwiches of Virginia Ham & Swiss pleasing paired with salty slightly sweet ham and buttery Swiss–a traditional combination coaxed to be outstanding, as well as “The Ultimate” Meatloaf, seasoned and richly flavored with elegant (no heavy slabs here) slices thoughtfully portioned, yielding “Sammie Perfection” with crisp lettuce, a touch of tomato, and thin-thin-thinly sliced onion–there was also a colorful vegetarian sandwich that garnered the comment that “…this did not seem like an afterthought that was “schlubbed” in for vegetarians.” Nice, Chef Michael! For side offering and other salad selections: a generous dollop of chunky homemade potato salad that was creamy to the bite, with zesty crunch and much flavor, Tabbouleh (a favorite of mine) and CMC’s was infused with lemony thrill, loaded with colorful bits of parsley,roasted tomatoes full of zing, interspersed with a base of fluffy nutty cracked wheat–a simple yet delicious iteration, however the Grilled Asparagus and Parmesan Salad diverted my attention with firm tender bites of perfectly grilled slender green asparagus, a liberal flurry of nice Parmesan treated to a flawless classic Dijon vinaigrette. Rounding out the selections, certainly deserving a mention was the Asian Shrimp salad, vibrant with good-for-you-ness, full of spinach, little medallions of water chestnut, slices of Napa cabbage, flavorful crunch in the form of snow peas, dashes of carrot, and golden toasted slices of almond, topped...
by Judy Foodie | Mar 4, 2016 | Events
CHEF MICHAEL’S RETURNS TO VINTAGE CAROLINA CHARITY EVENT: “NOW AND FOREVER: THE HEART OF GIVING” HENDERSONVILLE, NC, MARCH, 2016 – Chef Michael’s Catering will once again provide delicious small-plate offerings at the annual Vintage Carolina gala charity event. Vintage Carolina is Community Foundation of Henderson County’s signature event celebrating local philanthropy. This year’s gala, titled “Now and Forever: The Heart of Giving,” takes place Monday, March 7, 2016, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Hendersonville Country Club. Cost is $120 per person, and proceeds help support CFHC’s charity work. CFHC funds help everything from animal welfare and the environment to health, education and scholarships. 2016 marks the charity gala’s eleventh year. Chef Michael’s Catering provides elegant, upscale and casual food for parties such as weddings, galas, and rehearsal dinners, as well as corporate, government and non-profit meetings, events and fundraisers. “This is the third year we have been invited to participate,” says Michael McKnight, executive chef. “Our relationship to community is extremely important to Judy and me – always has been.” Chef Michael’s Catering handles events throughout Western North Carolina, including Asheville, Hendersonville, and surrounding counties. Since its founding in 1982, CFHC has been helping people make lasting contributions to causes that address community needs, with more than 500 widely varied philanthropic funds already established. Last year, CFHC received more than $1.9 million in contributions and awarded more than $2.7 million in grants to nonprofits and scholarship recipients. In addition to great food, beer and wine tastings will be provided by Bold Rock Hard Cider, Burntshirt Vineyards, The Country Vintner, Empire Distributors, Mutual Distributing Company, Saint Paul Mountain...
by Judy Foodie | Nov 12, 2015 | Events
Chef Michael’s Catering really enjoyed working with the great folks at Burntshirt Vineyards recently. A client from Columbia, SC, held a customer appreciation Wine Tasting event, which we catered. The tasting consisted of seven (7) courses, each paired with a different wine. (Sorry, we didn’t get pictures of the first two courses.) You can take a look at the menu below the photos. Our client sent us a wonderful review, and we look forward to working with them on another event. Wine Tasting 3rd Course: Pork Tenderloin, Sweet Potato Rosette, Apple Cider-Thyme Reduction Sauce, by Chef Michael’s Catering at Burntshirt Vineyards in Hendersonville, NC. Burntshirt Wine Tasting 4th Course: Guests raved about the flavors of this Roasted Butternut Squash with Toasted Pecans, Caramelized Onions, & Bleu Cheese served with an Unoaked Chardonnay. Wine Tasting 5th Course by Chef Michael’s Catering: Tender Beef Brisket, Demi Glace and Roasted Red Pepper Polenta at Burntshirt Vineyards in Hendersonville, NC. Production of Mixed Green Salad, Gruyere Cheese, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, White Wine Vinaigrette by Chef Michael’s Catering at Burntshirt Vineyards in Hendersonville, NC. Wine Tasting 6th Course: Phyllo Cup of Mixed Greens, Gruyere Cheese, Applewood Smoked Bacon Salad by Chef Michael’s Catering at Burntshirt Vineyards in Hendersonville, NC. Chef Michael McKnight adds final touch to his Bananas Foster Crepe served as the 7th course at a recent wine tasting event he catered for clients at Burntshirt Vineyards in Hendersonville, NC. Wine Tasting Final 7th course: Vanilla Pastry Cream and Bananas fill the inside of this delicious Bananas Foster dessert served at Burntshirt Vineyards in Hendersonville, NC. Our catering client was very pleased,...
by Judy Foodie | Oct 19, 2015 | Events, Our Services
Perhaps the best way to summarize why the United Way named one of its donor societies after the aristocratic Frenchman, Alexis de Tocqueville, is through one of his own comments: “Americans of all ages, all stations of life, and all types of disposition are forever forming associations…In democratic countries knowledge of how to combine is the mother of all other forms of knowledge; on its progress depends that of all the others.” United Way of Asheville & Buncombe County’s local chapter of The Tocqueville Society was created in 1990 to recognize individuals and couples who invest $10,000 or more each year. Since that time, members of The Tocqueville Society have generously given nearly $12 million to change the lives of their neighbors in need. In 2013, the A-B United Way Tocqueville donors surpassed the $1 million mark, representing 20% of the total dollars raised in their community campaign. Amazing! No doubt that as an aristocrat traveling to America in the 1800s, Mr. Tocqueville would have eaten quite well. We like to think he’d enjoy our menus, too. Here’s a Heavy Hors d’Oeuvres Dinner Party we previously catered for The United Way of Asheville & Buncombe County. Sausage & Sage Stuffed Mushrooms House Smoked Trout with Horseradish Cream on Belgian Endive Petals Crispy Polenta Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper Relish Oysters Rockefeller Shooters Crispy Smoked Provolone Risotto Balls Chicken Yakitori Skewers Winter Quiche with Poached Pear, Gorgonzola, and Applewood Smoked Bacon Marinated Roasted Winter Vegetable Platter Chef Michael’s Mint Oreo Milk Chocolate Truffles Bourbon Pecan Pie Tartlets Ginger Cream Puffs with Caramelized...