Cocina Criolla con MUCHO gusto! CUBANO Y TROPICAL

Cocina Criolla con gusto!

Tropical Havana Nights  - Menu A 

Cocktail Hour

Tapas Table – a stationary display of delicious Latino inspired offerings that your guests can graze on while enjoying their cocktails on the terrace. 

Please choose two (2) from the following:

Bruschetta Cubano – cumin and cilantro kissed tomato bruschetta surrounded by baguette + crispy crostinis

Black Bean Hummous Sunflower surrounded

by Carrot Petals and Green Stuffed Olive Seeds.

Bocaditos de Pollo  - Cocktail sandwiches of grilled chicken

with a spread of cream cheese blended with  olives,

red pimentos & tomato in bite sized soft bread rolls.

Pasta De Bocaditos – Cuban Ham + pimento “pate” spread on bite sized soft bread rolls.

Guava and Cream Cheese Bocaditos

Tortillas de Patatas – A traditional tapas of Spanish Egg and Potato Squares, garnished with Spanish stuffed olives .

Butler-Style Passed Appetizers

…your selection of desired hors d’oeuvres will be passed by the waitstaff during your cocktail hour on beautifully garnished trays.

Please select three (3) from the following:

Sultry Havana Nights Nachos

- thinly sliced planks of crispy fried plantains topped with black bean tapenade and sprinkled with melted cojita cheese and dabs of pico di gallo + fresh cilantro.

Cuban Reuben

- tender pork loin, Manchego cheese, sauerkraut & mustard melted together on mini rye bread bytes.

Drunken Cubita Satay

– grilled chicken marinated in soya, orange, garlic + brown sugar presented on skewers + drizzled with a sweet rum espresso glaze.

Potato, Olive & Tuna Salad

- tossed with sherry vinaigrette

and perched in a petit red potato “cup”.

Papas Rellena con Jamon

- crispy coated creamy potato and ham croquetas.

Empañaditas Triangles

mini potato and cumin empanadas

in a delicate crunchy pastry triangle.

Tropical Havana Nights  - Menu A 

Dinner  Service

Salad already plated on Table as Guests are seated

Food Buffet – each table will be called up one or two at a time to avoid long lines,

Aji Marinated Pork Shoulder (Pernil)

slow cooked Cuban style, lots of garlic, oregano and spices and slowly braised until tender and succulent.

Margarita Grilled Chicken with Flambéed Tequila Cream Sauce

Sliced and sautéed with onions and peppers

 Saffron Rice Pilaf

 cooked in a rich seasoned chicken stock

with sweet green pea and tricolored peppers

Grilled Spring Squash and Italian Zucchini

Tossed with olive oil and seasoned simply with roasted garlic, Kosher salt and black pepper 

Key Lime Caesar Salad

Elegantly served in a cocktail glass already on the table when guests are seated, romaine lettuce is tossed lightly with our house-made creamy key lime Caesar dressing and then topped with croutons and shaved parmesan cheese.

Island Dreaming - Menu B

Cocktail Hour

Tapas Table – a stationary display of delicious Latino inspired offerings that your guests can graze on upstairs on the terrace while enjoying their cocktails. 

Please choose three (3) from the following delicacies:

A festive Pina Tree with fresh mozzarella, basil and cherry tomato branches.  Surrounded by slices of fresh juicy sweet pineapple, grapes and seasonal fruit display

Bruschetta Cubano – cumin and cilantro kissed tomato bruschetta surrounded by baguette and house made crostinis

Black Bean Hummous Sunflower surrounded

by Carrot Petals and Green Stuffed Olive Seeds.

Chicken Bocadito  - Cocktail sandwiches of grilled chicken

with a spread of cream cheese blended with  olives,

red pimentos & tomato in bite sized soft bread rolls.

Papas Rioja Aton - Potato & Tuna Salad with sherry vinaigrette

         Perched in a petit red potato “cup”.

Butler-Style Passed Appetizers Menu B

…your selection of desired hors d’oeuvres will be passed by the waitstaff during your cocktail hour on beautifully garnished trays.

Please select three (3) from the following:

the  soul of Cuba quesadilla – soft wheat tortilla layered with ham, roast pork, pickle slices, Swiss cheese, potato chips and grainy mustard griddled to perfection in the kitchen and passed while still hot in triangular wedges

Coconut crusted chicken

served with a vibrant chimmichurri dipping sauce (lime, garlic, parsley and cilantro)

Miami Vice Chicken Lollipops – tender chunks of sofrito + olive chicken cooked as a risotto and formed into lollipops and coated with panko (optional stuffed with cheese) served with mojo citrus garlic dipping sauce

Sherried Mushroom Empañadas – sautéed pancetta ham and fresh button mushrooms in a rich sherry sauce enveloped in a half moon shaped cream cheese pastry dough and sprinkled with black sesame seeds.  Baked to a golden perfection. Passed perched on a boxing glove.

Ropa de Viejo Pastelillos – a delicious mix of slow braised beef, mashed plantains , cheese and roasted peppers in a flaky puff pastry dough.

Havana Nights Nacho- crunchy planks of fried plantains topped with black bean tapenade and sprinkled with melted cojita cheese and dabs of pico di gallo + fresh cilantro.

Island Dreaming - Menu B

Dinner  Service

Salad:  Mixed Spring Greens with colorful purple cabbage, julienned carrots and cherry tomato tossed with honey balsamic vinaigrette waiting for your guests as they are seated at the table on pretty oblong vintage glass plates.

Carving Station:  Our Chef will hand carved the meat entrees  in front of your guests

Grilled Key West  Chicken

Pan Seared boneless, skinless chicken breast, seasoned with our custom blended margarita spiced seasoning.

Cumin + Cilantro Rubbed Mojo Pork Tenderloin

Our delicious version of Lechón Asado - Roasted boneless pork loin, marinated Cuban style in mojo of sour orange, garlic, oregano + more, then rubbed with piquant Latin-American seasonings and roasted to tender perfection.

Menu B served with Sides of

Arroz Congrí; - fluffy rice with slow simmered seasoned fresh black beans, cooked together with house-made sofrito oil

Plátanos Maduros - traditional sweet plantains but served with a side bowl of optional garlic sauce.  Your guests will enjoy the contrast between the sweet and the heat!

Colorful Carnivale Salad - black bean, charred + roasted

red pepper, grilled zucchini + roasted corn salad

in a lemon + cumin kissed dressing

Upper Crust Caribbean - Menu C

Tapas Table – a stationary display of delicious Latino inspired offerings that your guests can graze on while enjoying their cocktails upstairs on the terrace.  Small plates, napkins and forks where appropriate.  Beautiful bountiful displays with a tropical flair

Please enjoy all of the following selections

Bruschetta  Cubano – cumin and cilantro kissed tomato bruschetta surrounded by baguette and house made crostinis

Black Bean Hummous Sunflower - Surrounded

by Carrot Petals and Green Stuffed Olive Seeds.

Pina Tree with Fresh Mozzarella and Cherry tomato branches.  Surrounded by Slices of fresh pineapple, grapes and seasonal fruit display

Potato and Tuna Salad with Sherry Vinaigrette

served in a petit red potato “cup”

Chicken Bocadito Biscuits  grilled chicken with cream cheese,  olives, red pimentos and tomato in a bite sized soft bread roll

Butler-Style Passed Appetizers Menu B

…your selection of desired hors d’oeuvres will be passed by the waitstaff during your cocktail hour on beautifully garnished trays.

Please select three (3) from the following:

Cuban cigar – layers of ham, pork, pickle, mustard + swiss cheese rolled into a wonton skin, dusted, with black sesame “ash” and fried until golden and crispy. 

Passed perched  in a wooden cigar box!

Nuyorican Mofongo Beef Lollipops – Our take on a favorite dish of the Caribbean..  Seasoned green plantains, crushed chicharronnes + roasted garlic mixed with seasoned ground beef + onions, and baked into delicious parcels, skewered and floating atop a rich slow simmered olive tomato gravy atop an Asian spoon.

Tostones boricuas -  handmade plantain cups filled with delicious picadillo of beef, olives, raisons, garlic and topped with bubbly melted cheddar cheese

Miami Vice Chicken Lollipops – tender chunks of sofrito + olive chicken cooked as a risotto and formed into lollipops and coated with panko (optional stuffed with cheese) served with mojo citrus garlic dipping sauce

Mojo Chicken on Red Pepper + Black Bean Cakes

- we marinate the chicken sour orange, cumin + oregano,

coat it with flour and quickly fry for a delicious crispy chicharrones atop petit seasoned black  bean cakes

Ropa de Viejo Pastelillos – a delicious mix of slow braised flank steak, mashed plantains , cheese and roasted peppers in a flaky puff pastry dough.

Sherried Mushroom Empañadas – sautéed pancetta ham and fresh button mushrooms in a rich sherry sauce enveloped in a half moon shaped cream cheese pastry dough + sprinkled with black sesame seeds.  Baked to a golden perfection.

Passed perched on a boxing glove that you supply.

Havana Nights Nacho- crunchy planks of fried plantains topped with black bean tapenade and sprinkled with melted cojita cheese and dabs of pico di gallo + fresh cilantro.

Upper Crust Caribbean - Menu C

Dinner  Service

Salad:  Spinach+ romaine salad

with mandarin oranges and roasted red peppers

 drizzled with margarita rum vinaigrette

waiting at the table in individual Margarita glasses

Salmon Rojito – Sautéed filet of salmon simmered in a rustic tomato and sherry sauce crowned with Spanish olives and a fine dice of sweet red bell peppers,

Mojo Seared Chicken Breast – Island mojo marinated boneless skinless breast of chicken.  A delicious tender chicken dish, topped with mozzarella, scattered chopped tomato + cilantro

Calypso Roasted Pork with Guava Habanero Sauce

Cuban slow simmered black beans over white rice

with balsamic and charred pepper sauce

Smoked paprika + cumin scented roasted potato wedges.

Creamy Alfredo pasta with peas and cheese

Julienne of fresh carrot + zucchini sautéed with fragrant cumin, wine and lemon + sprinkled with fresh lemon zest.

corporate and social holiday events

The holiday season is always a busy one for all of us, caterers especially.
Shopping for gifts, sending cards and messages, baking and cooking for family and friends.

This holiday season the events produced and catered 

by CuisinEtc Catering + Special Events NYC 

ran the gamut from intimate house parties 

to festive cookies and hot apple cider for 250 

attended by Mayor Mike Bloomberg, 

a variety of Chanukah latkes and hot chocolate,  

and culminating in an elaborate holiday event 

for a favorite corporate client 

with a bevy of delicious beverages, 

hors d'oeuvres, an amazing variety of  

buffet items spanning a 40 foot conference table 

and fun passed desserts, 

including Kaluha eggnog.  

Enjoy the pictures and menu items posted below.

boozy brownies
delicious fudgy brownies with pipette shots
of Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, Caramel Liqueur
and Virgin Irish Creme

Blue potato latkes with indian spiced chutney

traditional Chanukah latkes

Individual Shrimp Cocktails in Sake Cups
CuisinEtc Catering + Special Events

Greek Salad Bytes
CuisinEtc Catering + Special Events NYC

Grilled Shrimp with Blueberry Gastrique Pipette

Lobster Mac + Cheese
a much requested favorite of
CuisinEtc Catering + Special Events NYC Clients

petit rosemary lamb chops

with dual dipping sauces

festive house party Christmas Day

loved the variety of rosemary wreaths
the design team at
CuisinEtc Catering + Special Events NYC
produced for this years
New York City Metro Area holiday parties

zucchini rollups amid
the rosemary wreath

can we offer you a warm
organic roasted tomato
soup sip shot glass
with hanging cheddar star?

 a trio of hot creamy dips were served 

with house made savory biscotti

The team at CuisinEtc is known for our

attention to detail with beautiful displays

lovely signage, delicious food and decor.

pear balsamic gorgonzola
spinach salad in mini cosmo glasses

 Guests enjoyed the filet mignon 

+ mustard glazed loin of pork

accompanied by horseradish crema, 

caramelized onion marmalade + 

housemade sage apple mustard

offered with petit artisan rolls

holiday carving station

fabulous desserts including
cuisinEtc's signature Boozy Brownie  Bytes
with Godiva chocolate liqueur pipettes

Fun, Feastive and Edible Holiday Decor

Our culinary team was looking for holiday sweet treat inspirations and ran across these ideas.  Easy to execute with maximum impact and minimum fuss.

  www.foodiggity.com  
recipe http://bit.ly/v4Z8J8

Santa's Hat

Ingredients:

Brownies

Fresh Strawberries

Marscapone Buttercream

Basically make a pan of your favorite brownie recipe 

- use a cutter to make circles.

Make Mascarpone Buttercream (recipe here: http://bit.ly/v4Z8J8) 

Pipe ring of mascarpone buttercream, 

Top with strawberry that you have cut the stem off of 

and pipe a dollop on top of the strawberry "hat" to finish.  

Rudi 

the Red Nosed

Reindeer Pop

Not sure where the CuisinEtc culinary team found this one but it seems to be a chocolate covered marshmallow with pretzel ears and red hot candy nose - you can get candy eyes in a candy supply store but if not a white candy with black food coloring should do the trick.

Sweet and Salty
Around the holidays you often find speciality shaped pretzels - this holiday treat is a riff on the buckeye cookie....made with tree shaped and bell shaped pretzels sandwiching a peanut butter filling and dipped in chocolate.

photo:  http://bit.ly/tq7o3j

Use your favorite buckeye cookie recipe (smooth peanut butter, sugar, butter creamed together) and this no bake recipe could become a new family favorite.











Oh Hannukah Oh Hannukah

source:  the Shiksa in the Kitchen
http://bit.ly/s1TOBl

A great miracle happened here...

How cute are these edible dreidels
Materials:

Marshmallows
Chocolate kisses
Nutella Hazelnut Spread
Pretzel Sticks
Sprinkles
Cake Decorating Gel






Festive and Healthy

source:  www.gingerandgarlic.blogspot.com

materials:
..1 medium styrofoam cone (available at craft stores such as Michaels)
..toothpicks
..2-3 holiday shaped cookie cutters like gingerbread men, stars or bells,
..fresh fruit, - she used green + black seedless grapes, strawberries, kiwis, dried cranberries and cantaloupe melon.
..cilantro or parsley garnish

Edible SnowFlakes
They say no two snowflakes are exactly the same...
Here's a different take on the snowflake that our own
cuisinEtc culinary team
came up with for holiday events.

edible snowflake by cuisinEtc catering and special events nyc

Materials
fresh mozzarella balls - cherry sized
blue cheese stuffed olives
bamboo knotted skewers
bamboo tear drop mini plates

edible tablescape cuisinetc catering and special events nyc
mozzarella + olive snowflakes, rosemary tree, fruit + veg garnishes

Fragrant Edible Wreath

Make a wreath out of fresh rosemary sprigs
garnish with assorted olives, marinated peppadew peppers, 
fresh mozzarella balls and baby cornichon pickles.


Happy Holidays from all of us 
at CuisinEtc Catering and Special Events.
May your holidays be filled 
with love, fun, friends, food and family.




P.S.  Call us for your next special event.  


We love to make your party a delicious one, 
where you too get to be a guest !!!

hurray for Red White and Blues

Happy to be back in our home away from home, Northern California
catering and helping to produce another great summer event,  the CKA Ranch Red White and Blues Holiday weekend bash  in Willits, California, a great spot in Mendocino County, just up the road a stretch from Sonoma and Napa.

the menu which runs the gambit from traditional
- bbq ribs,
    15 hour pit smoked brisket,
             buttermilk fried chicken,
                    burgers and franks on the grill

to the exotic - tandoori chicken,
                                      lamb burgers,
                                            handmade puposas,
                                                lobster mash,

                                                 brussel sprout salad

blue cheese slaw,

deep fried stuffed olives,
(three kinds - stuffed with blue cheese,
stuffed with garlic and herb cured)

freshly shucked oyster shooters
shucked by sheriff Todd and served with vodka and hot sauce
....they went down a cool treat on a hot day...

cajun fish tacos, grilled local wild caught salmon with sweet pea sauce,
pistachio rogue river blue cheese risotto balls (ultra yum),

thai chili spiked strawberry pop tarts, nutella and summer bing cherry poptarts, and house made meyer lemon curd

silvermoon mango mimosa and pomegranite martini minis,

and lavender lemoncello lemonade to name a few.