We are well into 2010!

{ February 7, 2010 @ 3:50 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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We fell off the blog train!  The past 3 months have been absolute madness!  We finished up 2009 with a bang, a great December for Chef’s Market.    Unfortunately, taking great care of our customers caused us to fall FAR behind on our blog.

2010 started off with a bang!

We participated in two great bridal shows, Enchanted Brides & Weddings the Bridal show.  More to come on those soon!

Carole Ann had a baby boy on January 5th, just a few days earlier than her due date.  Congrats to her and Jon, and their new little man Jonathan!  As happy as we were, that did leave us one man down for one of the busiest booking months I have seen during my time at Chef’s Market!

Adding to the general chaos that was January, we produced a week long corporate event at the end of the month.  Definitely one of the largest and most involved events I have ever planned.  We worked with some great vendors to pull this off!  This will definitely be featured on an upcoming blog post, just as soon as we get some photos back from the event.  We also were lucky enough to be asked to cater Governor Bredesen’s State of the State Address, a brithday party/valentines party for Sharon Ramsey (Dave Ramsey’s wife), several Vandy events (a sure sign of an improving economy!), and a few cool weddings, including the daughter of Joe & Linda Chambers, from Musicians Hall of Fame (We just love them!).

Looking forward, we have just hired a new marketing assistant, due to start mid-week next week, and I am super excited to have someone to help us manage the blog, facebook, twitter, etc.  She is going to be a great asset at Chef’s Market.

2010 is shaping up to be a very good year!

Shannon

Autumn Happenings

{ October 20, 2009 @ 4:42 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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Today Shannon and Chef Derek went up to Bowling Green, KY to do the MidDay Live show! They brought there fall inspired creations, along with their A game to the viewers!

Shannon made a fun center piece using pumpkins and candles. What she did was take double sided adhesive, cut them into strips, placed them on the pumpkins and candles. Then she took items you can find around your house (wild rice, sesame seeds, red beans, wheat, etc. ) and rolled the pumpkins and candles in it! What a fun, cut centerpiece you have! This would be a fun activity to do with your kids, or for a girl’s craft night~

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Then Chef Derek made the most wonderful treat for this time of year…. A Pumpkin Roll! OH YUM! Don’t you just want to dive right into it!

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Here are a few other fall decorating ideas you may enjoy ( I did)

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(Image from Better Home and Garden)

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Happy Fall Happenings!

Carole Ann

Fall is here!

{ October 5, 2009 @ 12:13 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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We are so excited for fall. The change of seasons brings a new set of possibilities! We love to incorporate new colors and  new flavors into our menus and tablescaping!

Fall Weddings are here! Here are a few things I love about fall weddings!!!

fall design board 2009

 

Think of all the fun parties you can have in the fall season!

How fun would it be to have a big football party at your house! Something fun to do would be to project the game on a screen outside or your house, have marshmallows roasting. A buffet full of Chef’s Markets Chips and Queso, Wrap Quarters, and Mac & Cheese Balls!

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YUM! and Oh so Festive!

Think of all the engagement parties that take place in fall. You can really have fun with them! Have a themed engagement party, how about a carnival theme. Host it in a pumpkin patch~! Don’t forget to have bobbing for apples,

bobbing for apples

 

 and donuts on stings!

dounts on strings

Serve warm, comforting soups and breads! You can’t go wrong!

Hope these ideas inspire fun fall parties/weddings!

Happy Fall everyone!

Carole Ann

Cheekwood Bridal Show!

{ September 18, 2009 @ 1:33 pm } · { Design, Sweet Treats }
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We had so much fun at the Cheekwood Bridal show on Sunday! It was so great  to meet all of the new brides and get to talk to all of the vendors! We are excited for the upcoming wedding season.

Here are a few pictures of our booth, designed by the fabulous Shannon Bates! DSCN0676

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We got to show off our fun new truffle cones. They look like mini ice cream cones, but they are actually our delicious truffles sitting atop a mini cone with mousse piped inside! So yummy, and so CUTE!

We also showcases our delicious homemade tortilla chips and oh so fabulous black bean, corn & avocado salsa! Fun was had by all!!!

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We had a great show! Untill next time!

Carole Ann

Desserts! Oh My!

{ September 8, 2009 @ 5:07 pm } · { Sweet Treats, Uncategorized }
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Who doesn’t love dessert? I can’t think of a single person who just doesn’t like dessert!!!

This is my ‘ode to Dessert!

Here at Chef’s Market we love our sweets, and we love to show off our sweets! And, we love it when our brides and Grooms want to do dessert receptions.  We have had lots of request for either a dessert table full of mini desserts, or a unique, one of a kind candy display. Occasionally, especially with fall and the holidays coming up, brides want to treat their guest a feast of sweets!

Get nostalgic with milk and cookies shots and mini homemade hostess cupcakes!

milk shots and cupcakes

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Cupcakes of all sizes!

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cupcake tower

Colorful Candy Bars

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blue and green candy bar

We also get request for Ice Cream Bars (YUM!).  Our ice cream is homemade here in Nashville, and it is fantastic! We can even get many custom flavors! Recently we have done flavors such as: Jack Daniels Butter Pecan, Strawberry Champagne Sherbet, and Sweet Cream Cheese.

ice cream shot

dessert case

And if you just have a sweet craving, come into the shop! We have this waiting for you!

Carole Ann

It’s in the details

{ September 3, 2009 @ 10:06 am } · { Design }
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We often peruse magazines and the web for ideas.  Often we find that the things that make a wedding most unique is the small details.    The touches that make a wedding personalized or stylized to fit the bride and groom.  Here are some of our favorites over the last month or so.

Cute flatware rests for an earthy table setting

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We love these unique flower containers, a break from the ordinary!

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Personalized stir sticks for your signature drink

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We just love these place cards

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Beautiful presentation for table assignments

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These hanging monograms are simple, yet striking against this old barn

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Photographers are so creative in finding ways to photograph the wedding rings.  This retro candy provides the perfect colorful backdrop for these bands.

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Simple but elegant water jugs convey messages

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Whatever the look of your wedding, we encourage you to look for some special touches that will make your day special and unique!

Shannon

It’s a small small world…

{ August 20, 2009 @ 1:33 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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Why is it that we just L-O-V-E things in miniature?  Hasn’t this always been the case for animals?  Puppies, kittens, baby chicks…they are all sure to get a collective “awwww, isnt it sooooo cute???”

So has been the case with food over the last couple of years.  Here’s a look at just a few of the mini items we have created in the last year or two.

An oldie, but a goodie…the truffle shot.  Perched above a shot of champagne, sparkling cider, or liqueur, this is a perfect treat!Truffle Shots

Strawberry stuffed with goat cheese, topped with pine nuts, nestled on a bed of baby greensWalking Club Med Salad Appetizer

Spring roll short plateRice Paper Wrap Shortplate

Dessert Trio ~ Why choose one dessert when you can have a bite of all three?Mini Dessert Shortplate, Dessert Trio

For some reason, everyone loves to eat things out of martini glasses!  Check out this blood orange & grapefruit panna cottaPanna Cotta Martini

Shrimp with a little corn avocado & black bean salad.  This bite is sure to make you ask for seconds!Shrimp Appetizer

These mini grilled cheese sandwiches will leave you feeling nostalgic.  Served here with a tiny cobb salad.Mini Grilled Cheese & Mini Salad Appetizer

Wow!  Cupcakes are Über hot this year!  Our mini cupcakettes are the perfect compliment to your wedding dessert bar!Mini Cupcakes

Bite sized cornbread muffins stuffed with goat cheese?  Yes please!  Top that off with a raspberry coulis, super delicious!Mini Corn Muffins, Mini Bite Sized Stuffed Muffins

Mini wedding cakes?  This is one cake you can easily eat by yourself!Mini Individual Wedding Cake

Soup Shots , what a great way to serve multiple soups.  Mini portions will allow your guests to sample them all!Soup Shot, Mini Soup Bisque, Demi Tasse Soup

Mini mousse shots & glittery truffles!Mini Mousse Shots, Mini Truffles, Mini Desserts

I hope you enjoyed a peak at some of our tiny treats.  We will continue to miniaturize everything we can get our hands on, until this trend fades!

Shannon

Come see us at The Cannery Open House

{ June 29, 2009 @ 4:37 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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cannery open house

Sunny finds for Summertime!

{ June 29, 2009 @ 12:22 pm } · { Summertime }
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Check out this great website for the foodie in you ~ Sur la table; The art & soul of cooking.  www.surlatable.com

I stumbled across the perfect items for your summer cookout!

bev jars

I love these beverage jars, they look clean, crisp and refreshing. Even better, they come with cute little eraser board signs for labeling!

recycled glassware

Want to make your party a little “greener”?  These recylced glass coolers are the perfect way to do it.  Have fun AND help the environment??? Yes please!

margarita stripe towels

These margarita striped towels are so bright, they make any day sunny!

bobby flay

And what cookout is complete without Super Chef, Bobby Flay’s “Burgers, Fried, & Shakes”?  Try out his tuna burger with pineapple-mustard glaze and green chile-pickle relish!

Shannon

Her Nashville – A magazine anniversary story

{ June 25, 2009 @ 8:49 pm } · { Design, Sweet Treats }
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Last year when Her Nashville Sales rep Christy Bryan called me to set up an appointment to talk about advertising in a new magazine, I have to be honest and say I was a little less than interested.  I am constantly bombarded with phone calls about advertising opportunities plague my days!  However, when she dropped off a mock up of the magazine at the restaurant, I was more than intrigued!  The flashy, and yes, girly!, cover got my attention fast.  And although my advertising budget had pretty much been allocated for the year, we worked out a deal to get us into the first issue of the fab mag.

Fast Forward to present…I am now an avid reader, and huge fan of the magazine.   The girls I work with (including me) are always excited when they drop off the new issue at the restaurant.  The artwork is amazing, and articles interesting and always entertaining!

Besides being a reader, I have had the pleasure of working with their staff on several events.  When Reaghan Roper asked me about catering their 1st anniversary party, I jumped at the chance.  Reaghan is always a pleasure to work with, and I knew she would let us do something fun!  So we came up with a fun pink motif and a funky pink dessert station.  The event was held at Terrazzo, a hip new residence in the gulch, and the stage was set, complete with a pink carpet runway!

Enjoy a few pics from the party!

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