Bob Carnes 50th Birthday Party!

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Photo by KWU Weddings

On June 17, 2011 Bob Carnes celebrated his 50th Birthday Party at the Orlando Science Center, with a special appearance by musical guest: Sister Hazel!

Photo by KWU Weddings

Menu

Hors D’oeuvres

Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms
Big City’s popular Spinach Artichoke Dip consisting of Artichoke Hearts subtly blended with Spinach, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Cream Cheese, Onions, and Dill served in a baked Mushroom Cap and topped with Imported Parmesan Cheese

Photo by KWU Weddings

Miniature Beef Wellingtons
Marinated Tenderloin of Beef wrapped in Flaky Puff Pastry Dough then baked ’til golden brown. Served with a Sauce Bordelaise

Tuna Canapés
Sushi-Grade Ahi Tuna rolled in Black & White Sesame Seeds served atop a Cucumber Slice with Cucumber Wasabi Cream & Ginger

Photo by KWU Weddings

Crab Cake Sauté Station
Succulent Crabmeat lightly mixed with Celery, Onions, Peppers, and Capers then sautéed in Butter and Lemon. Served with Caper Remoulade, Saffron Garlic Sauce, and Lemon Wedges

Photo by KWU Weddings

Grilled Gourmet Pizzettes
Individual Gourmet Pizzette Selections including: Smoked Salmon & Dill, Barbecue Chicken, Brie & Caramelized Onions, Pepperoni, and Cheese Pizzettes baked on Pita Bread.

Photo by KWU Weddings

Beef Flambe Station
Tender Medallions of Beef seared to a perfect medium. Medallions are then sautéed to order with Specialty Sauce including Steak Diane Flambé Each Plate to be served on Herbed Rice Pilaf. All Items are assembled and prepared on request by one of our Chefs.

Photo by KWU Weddings


Photo by KWU Weddings


Grilled & Roasted Vegetables Display
Squash, Zucchini, Carrots, Red & Green Peppers, and other Seasonal Vegetables marinated, then grilled and roasted. Served with a Vinaigrette Verde Dipping Sauce.

Photo by KWU Weddings

Mashed Potato Martini Bar
Rich and Creamy Traditional Mashed Potatoes and Sweet Potato Mash uniquely served in a Martini Glass with Toppings including Crumbled Bacon Bits, Shredded Cheddar Cheese, Sour Cream, Chives, Miniature Marshmallows, and Streusel Crumbles.

Photo by KWU Weddings

Chicken Chardonnay
Poached diced Chicken Breasts, White Wine, Heavy Cream, and Shallots tossed with Mushrooms

Dessert

With the Liquid Nitrogen Technology, we actually freeze ice cream to order, right in front of you! Also, the ice cream is frozen so quickly that the ice crystals stay very small which means extra creamy premium ice cream for you to enjoy. Flavors include Heath Bar, Macadamia Nut, White Chocolate Chips, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, & Coconut.

Photo by KWU Weddings


Vendors

Caterer: Big City Catering
Venue: Orlando Science Center
Photographer: KWU Weddings
DJ & Lighting: Tagas Event and Production Services
Cake: Cut the Cake
Furniture: Room Service

Photo by KWU Weddings

Photo by KWU Weddings

Venue Highlight: Orlando Museum of Art

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Since its finding in 1924, the Orlando Museum of Art’s purpose has been to enrich the cultural life of Florida by providing excellence in the visual arts. To meet this objective, the Museum has dedicated itself to collecting, preserving and interpreting notable works of art. Annually, the Museum presents 10-12 exhibitions on-site and 13 exhibitions off-site, award-winning art enrichment programs, unlimited gallery tours, teacher in-service training programs, video programs, distinguished lectures, art appreciation lectures, studio classes, lecture/luncheon programs and many other events. This venue could be the perfect unique location for your wedding or special event!

What is your maximum capacity?
Maximum seated capacity for a dinner using all spaces – 350 (Rotunda, Meeting Rooms and Grand Gallery)
Maximum seated capacity for a reception in Rotunda & Meeting Rooms – 250

Maximum capacity in the auditorium – 250

We do have large events here, up to 1000 guests, but that would require use of the “full museum” with guests scattered throughout, including in the galleries, and very limited seating.

What’s included in your basic rental package?
The basic rental package includes use of the space for the hours booked, 3 hours for set up, 1 hour for teardown, free rehearsal 4-5 pm the day before a ceremony, and use of our 60” round tables, chairs, banquet tables, serpentine tables and cocktail tables. One nice thing about the museum is that it’s open Tuesday-Sunday (only closed on Mondays) and is located on a free parking lot, so brides who have booked their receptions here can stop by any time to just look at the space as they make their plans – it’s completely accessible at their convenience.

What kind of add-on items does your venue offer that are not in the basic rental price?
Our one add-on is a cocktail hour in the Grand Gallery with gallery access for guests for $575.

When can vendors come in to set up and deliver items?
Caterers are allowed in 3 hours ahead to unload into the kitchen and use the Meeting Rooms as a staging area and are allowed to set up in the Rotunda at 3:30 pm and in the Grand Gallery at 4 pm, when the museum closes to the public. Other vendors are allowed to come in throughout the afternoon before an evening event, and items such as flowers and centerpieces and favors may be delivered any time during the afternoon to be put in place by the caterers when they have access to the event space.

Is there a space for the bride and groom to change and/or relax?
Yes, we let them use our Education Classroom, a large carpeted room with chairs, where their caterer can bring snacks and drinks and they can meet with the photographer and bridal party. If having a ceremony here, the bride can use the room to dress in.

Who will be supervising and troubleshooting the day of the wedding?
The Facility Rental Sales Coordinator and a Facility Assistant will be present throughout the entire set up and the event until all guests are in the final location (if they’re moving from cocktail hour to reception area, for example). The Facility Assistant stays through the evening and is available to help with any facilities questions (temperature, lighting, vendors’ questions) through teardown. We have security guards in the galleries at all times that guests are there.

Are there limitations on decorations?
Very few. Nothing can be hung from the walls, but there a place where hanging items are allowed. It’s rare that something is not allowed, but it has happened if it’s something that might be hazardous to people or the museum itself or its contents. If flower petals are to be strewn, for example, they must be white if real, must be artificial if any other color, so they don’t stain the white marble floor. We allow flowers, balloons, candles (as long as the flame is surrounded by a nonflammable holder). If something is questionable, ask to make sure it’s okay.

Are any other events or weddings booked for the day of the event?
There would not be anything else booked at the same time as a wedding or wedding reception.

Is there a coordinator available from the venue to help or do clients have to hire one separately?
The Facility Rental Sales Coordinator is available for facility kinds of questions and coordinates details with the caterer and other vendors but doesn’t function as a wedding coordinator. Many renters do hire wedding coordinators, but not all do.

Do clients need to use any specific vendors?
We have a list of approved caterers that we ask clients to use, but they are not limited as to other vendors.

When can clients do a rehearsal?
Rental clients can have a rehearsal for no extra charge 4-5 pm the day before the ceremony in the space where their wedding will be.

What will they do if it rains (if you’re having an outdoor ceremony)?
We don’t have an outdoor ceremony space so that doesn’t come up here.

What information do you think clients often overlook in the contract?
What I try to direct everyone’s attention to, to be sure they don’t overlook it, is that we require a Certificate of Liability before theevent and the balance of their rental fee is due 60 days before the event; they have paid a 30% deposit to book our space. When I send an invoice for the fee balance, I send information on where to get the Certificate of Liability.


Venue Highlight: ICEBAR Orlando

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ICEBAR Orlando is the largest permanent ice bar in the world. It is featured as one of the top 10 “Extreme Barhopping” bars on Travel Channel and “Americans Best” on the Food Network, making it it an experience that you wouldn’t want to miss out on. The state of the art lighting, the superb carvings, and the music is the perfect venue for your wedding reception!

Here are some questions answered by our friends at ICEBAR Orlando. These are crucial questions that will help you choose whether this is the right venue for you and your next event or occasion.


What is your maximum capacity?

Inside the actual icebar 50 comfortable, 75 max at any one time.

What’s included in your basic rental package?
Fully staffed ultra lounge and Icebar, the world’s largest bar made of ice and the “coolest bar in the USA!”

What kind of add-on items does your venue offer that are not in the basic rental price?
DJ, Audio Visual enhancements, branding, interactive video floor, catering, flair bartender, entertainment, full band, dueling piano, and photographers.

When can vendors come in to set up and deliver items?
Day of the event

Who will be supervising and troubleshooting the day of the wedding?
General Manager – and Sales Manager


Are there limitations on decorations?
Yes, decorations may not be hazardous, may not be live fire, must not be taped or tacked to any part of the venue. All balloons must be removed. No decorations not approved allowed inside ice bar.
Are any other events booked for the day of the event?
Depends on the time of the event, and if it is a total buyout.
Is there a coordinator available from the venue to help or do clients have to hire one separately?
We do not provide a wedding coordinator, we do have an event planner.
Do clients need to use any specific vendors?
All vendors must be pre-approved and be fully insured and licensed. No venders allowed without providing insurance certificate. No food served that is not from an approved caterer.

What information do you think clients often overlook in the contract?
The specifications for liquor served.
And anything else you want our clients to know about your venue? Like more about where it is and all about the ICEBAR?
Icebar Orlando is two venues in one, first the main attraction is a bar made from 50 tons of ice carved by the International champion Aaron Costic into a winter wonderland. Drinks are served in glasses made of ice, and everything, including the fur covered seats are ice. It’s amazing and so cool in Florida, kept at 27 degrees . The rest of the venue is a balmy 72 degrees and an ultra swanky lounge with cool blues and hot lighting. Stage and sound system along with full liquor service and in house catering is available.

The Heaven Event Center

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The Heaven Event Center is a newly completed space that offers a large, high end, flexible space for anything from weddings, seminars, receptions to art openings! The name says it all, its just like heaven, to anyone hosting an even or wedding.



We asked our friends at the Heaven Event Center to answer some frequently asked questions to give you a look at this heavenly venue.

  • What is your maximum capacity? We can host 600 guests standing and 350 seated.
  • What is included in your basic rental package? Our basic rental package includes 24hr use of the facility, beautiful Italian white leather couches and white sheers framing the windows (with a view of the aforementioned lake), 4 LED color changing fixtures down lighting the main wall, use of a 500 sq. ft kitchen, equipped with warming ovens, a 3 door fridge, multiple sinks and prep stations (no open cooking allowed), over 400 parking spaces, a vertical format HD flat screen in the lobby (bring your photos on DVD), a quadraphonic speaker system that is I-pod driven (the client can plug his own in if he wishes) then pipes music in the lobby, restrooms and patio. The package also includes a maitre d’ who stays at the venue for the entirety of the event, the cleaning fee and power for 6 20 amp circuits and 60 amp 3 phased disconnect.
  • What kind of add-on items does your venue offer that are not in the basic rental price? Table and chair rentals, lighting & A/V by PTE Productions, Customized slide show in the lobby on the HD TV and Coordination Services by Heaven.
  • When can vendors come in to set up and deliver items? The day before if time permits, but the rental is for 24hrs which allows the vendors to set up earlier in the day.
  • Is there a space for the bride and groom to change and/or relax? We have a private office on the second floor for the bride and groom to relax during the event, but we do not ahve a special changing room available.
  • Who will be supervising and troubleshooting the day of the wedding? Event manager and Security Staff on-site.
  • Are there limitations on decorations? We ask that there be no fog machines or open flame (Candles are ok!)
  • Are any other events or weddings book for the day of the event? No, the client reserves Heaven for 24 hours.
  • Is there a coordinator available from the venue to help or do clients need to hire one separately? The Heaven Event Center offers a Coordination Package at an additional cost.
  • Do clients need to use any specific vendors? The Heaven Event Center requires all vendors to be licensed and insured.
  • When can clients do a rehearsal? The evening before the wedding is available for the client to rehearse in the event space.
  • What will they do if it rains (if they are having an outdoor ceremony)? We have a 7,000 sq ft event ball room that can be sectioned off with white drapes in the event we needed to use inside space.
  • What information do you think clients often overlook in the contract? Intent to extend. We often ask our clients 2 weeks before the event to get an exact ending time for our security on-site. If they wish to extend after their end time, there is an additional fee.

For more information check out their website: http://www.heaveneventcenter.com/

Wedding Bites: Mr. & Mrs. Schaefer

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Congratulations Nicole & Dustin!

Have you ever met a couple just absolutely meant to be together? From our first meeting all the way through the wedding day, they were just perfect for each other. On Saturday, we had the pleasure of being a part Nicole Porter & Dustin Schaefer’s wedding celebration at the Lake Mary Events Center. The couple’s color palette was absolutely stunning with tiffany blue and hot pink against a black background. It was a beautiful wedding with a special couple.


The cocktail hour was held in the pre-function hallway and foyer of the Lake Mary Events Center. As the guests were mingling and signing the guest book, they enjoyed a Big City Cheese Board display, butler passed Buffalo Chicken Sliders, and a Trio of Mediterranean Hummus passed in miniature martinis. The guests also had the pleasure of listening to beautiful music by harpist Catherine Way.



The guests dined on a delicious menu including: a plated Field of Greens Salad, Striploin of Beef Carving Station, Rosemary Roasted Potatoes, Grilled & Roasted Vegetables, and a Pasta Fresca Station where they got to create their own dish. Thanks to Cakes By Design for creating a tasty cake and groom’s cake for the guests to enjoy.

Special thanks to Jonathan Gray Florist and their team for doing such an amazing job on the flowers. From the ceremony flowers including columns with draped fabric, amazing hot pink carnation centerpieces and to the bride’s beautiful bouquet, they were breathtaking as always.

A lot of other vendors helped make their day wonderful. Dr. William Gregory performed their ceremony. Edmund Rhodes and his team with Rhodes Studios took marvelous pictures of the couple and wedding guests all night long as well as videography of every detail. Jay Edwards with Liquid Entertainment kept the party going with great music.

All in all, it was a wonderful day and we truly wish Nicole and Dustin all the best in their future life together!

Welcome to the Big City!

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Like the proverb says, “Good Food Ends With Good Talk” , and what better way than through a company blog! Welcome, to our official blog: “Memorable Events by Big City Catering!” With so much taking place in the Big City, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to share our experiences with you.

The name “Big City Catering” came about after noticing that Central Floridians were unable to get “Big City” cuisine in the Metro Orlando area. Whether your event is an intimate gathering or an extravagant gala, we at Big City will create a personalized menu matching the theme, style and flavor of your event. At Big City, our main objectives are to deliver a Unique Culinary Experience, offer Exceptional Service, and create Memorable Events. We hope this blog will give you insight into what Big City Catering is all about!

Be sure to bookmark and check back often. Our blog will feature advice and tips to make your event extra special, recipes from our incredible chef, Roy Daniel, and unforgettable events we have had the privilege of being apart of. We will also be highlighting vendors and venues in our local area!

So feel free to post a message, leave a response, and enjoy all the insightful ideas and information Big City Catering has to offer! Also, view our New company website at: www.BigCityCatering.com