SARA GOT MARRIED ON THE BEACH IN DESTIN

AND I CATERED THE PARTY!

When the daughter of a close friend decided to get married she decided she wanted the wedding to be on the beach in Destin, Florida.  She also decided that she wanted real authentic Italian food at the reception.  I was honored when she picked me to cater the event.  With 130 invited guests at a location over 200 miles away from my home in Birmingham it became evident very early that proper planning would be critical to the success of the party.  Although the ceremony was on the beach, fortunately the reception was held in a condominium reception center just off the beach.  In addition to keeping the sand out of the food the reception hall provided the use of a small but adequate kitchen to make final preparations.  I'm happy to say the party and the food were a great success. 

Good Luck Sara & Bobby and thanks for your confidence in me.

Cooking has always been one of my passions.  My family comes from southern Italy where the cooking is based on foods that could be harvested from the local land and sea and are prepared mostly with tomato based sauces, olive oil, and pesto.  Most of my recipes are made with fresh vegetables, whole grains and pasta.

After having a number of large parties at my home, helping friends with parties at their homes and a whole lot of coaxing, I decided to start a catering service.  I work by referral and book a limited number of parties.  This allows me to work directly with you in making the best selections for your type and size party so I can tailor the meal and service to your specific wants, needs and budget. 

There is more to a good Italian meal than the main course.  Side dishes, garnishes, presentation and even the bread play an important role in the entire eating experience… and I know my bread.  I use a selection of the best Italian breads based on availability and my Chef’s choice for the dishes being served.  Bowls of seasoned olive oil and specially prepared pesto sauce are provided for dipping.  I use only the finest extra virgin olive oil and imported vinegar and most of my seasonings are grown fresh or imported from Italy.

My menu selections can be used as a guide, however, many dishes can be modified as to spicy or mild, meat or meatless, etc.  So click on the link below and take a look at my menu; and when you’re ready to plan your next party give me a call at: 

205-987-5482     or     205-612-8496

Buon Appetito

Kathy

Authentic Italian Catering

205-987-5482           Kathy Freda           205-612-8496

A Taste of Italy is owned and operated by RKF Enterprises, LLC – 5316 Riverbend Trail, Hoover, Alabama 35244

CATERING MENU SELECTIONS

APPETIZERS –

·         Shrimp Cocktail

Completely cleaned, cooked and peeled.  Served on a bed of ice in a large bowl with side servings of tangy cocktail sauce.

Large Shrimp..31/40 shrimp per lb..6 shrimp per guest…...$3.00 per person

Deluxe Shrimp..25/30 shrimp per lb..5 shrimp per guest….$4.00 per person

·         Bruschetta

Italian specialty consists of slices of toasted Italian bread covered with marinated chopped onions, peppers, tomatoes, cheese and a special blend of Italian flavorings and spices.

Approximately 20 servings per tray…..$35.00 per tray or $1.75 per person

Chef’s Choice is slices of toasted Italian bread covered with a special blend of goat cheese and minced proschutto and garnished with tomatoes, olives, and peppers.

Approximately 20 servings per tray…..$40.00 per tray or $2.00 per person

·         Crabmeat Mold

Choice white crabmeat specially flavored and blended in a creamy sauce and jelled into the shape of a fish.  Served over a bed of lettuce and surrounded with gourmet crackers and garnish.

Serves approximately 25 people…..$55.00 per mold or $2.20 per person

·         Stuffed Mushrooms

Large fresh mushroom caps stuffed with meat, breadcrumbs, seasoning and cheese and served in a red wine sauce.

Approximately 30 servings per tray…..$60.00 per tray or $2.00 per person 

·         Antipasto Platter

Tray of Italian cold cuts, cheeses, roasted red peppers, marinated tomatoes, olives, artichoke hearts, pepperocini and more.  These plates are made up fresh and vary according to availability of some items, however, we always use a mix of fine Italian cold cuts such as Genoa salami, proschutto, and capacolla and cheeses such as provolone and mozzarella.  Anchovies are optional at no additional cost and can be served on a separate plate. 

Approximately 20 servings per tray…..$60.00 per tray or $3.00 per person

·         Fruit & Cheese Platter

Assortment of cheese and fresh fruit can be a good alternative or addition to the traditional antipasto platter.

Approximately 20 servings per tray…..$50.00 per tray or $2.50 per person

SALADS

·         Garden Salad

Romaine lettuce, spring mix, tomatoes and onions in a red wine vinegar dressing

Approximately 20 servings per bowl…..$30.00 per bowl or $1.50 per person

·         Greek Salad

Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, feta cheese, olives and Greek dressing

Approximately 20 servings per tray…..$35.00 per tray or $1.75 per person

·         Chef’s Special Salad

Romaine lettuce, small onions, pecans, sliced pears, blue cheese with a walnut vinaigrette dressing.

Approximately 20 servings per tray…..$45.00 per tray or $2.25 per person

 MAIN DISHES

·         Lasagna Bolognese 

Layers of lasagna noodles, sausage and ricotta cheese kept moist and tasty with our own Bolognese pasta sauce.

Approximately 20 servings per tray…..$69.00 per tray or $3.45 per person

·         Eggplant Parmigiana

Layers of fresh eggplant covered with ricotta and parmesan cheese and our own tasty family recipe tomato based pasta sauce.

Approximately 20 servings per tray…..$69.00 per tray or $3.45 per person

·         Sausage, Peppers and Onions

This southern Italian dish contains bite-sized pieces of hot or mild sausage smothered with sautéed peppers and onions and kept moist in its own savory juices.

 Approximately 20 servings per tray…..$69.00 per tray or $3.45 per person

·         Baked Ziti

Ziti, meat and cheese baked in our own rich family recipe tomato based pasta sauce.

Approximately 20 servings per tray…..$60.00 per tray or $3.00 per person

·         Chicken Parmigiana

All white meat chicken breasts covered with cheese and our own family recipe tomato based pasta sauce.

Approximately 20 servings per tray…..$75.00 per tray or $3.75 per person

·         Roasted Chicken

Whole chicken slow roasted for hours and served in quarters or halves with choice of fruit and honey or pesto sauce.

Approximately 20 servings per tray…..$75.00 per tray or $3.75 per person

 ·         Meatballs

Hand made Italian meatballs served in our family recipe tomato based pasta sauce.

Approximately 35 servings per tray…..$87.50 per tray or $2.50 per person

·         Shrimp Linguini

Medium sized shrimp served with linguine and our own basil based pesto sauce.

Approximately 20 servings per tray…..$75.00 per tray or $3.75 per person

·         Stuffed Shells or Manicotti

Pasta shells or tubes stuffed with flavored ricotta cheese and topped with our own family recipe or Bolognese tomato based pasta sauce and mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Approximately 20 servings per tray…..$69.00 per tray or $3.45 per person

·         Pork Tenderloin 

Marinated loin of pork covered with an apricot glaze.

Approximately 20 servings per tray…..$69.00 per tray or $3.45 per person

·         Tortellini 

Tortellini pasta filled with your choice of meat, cheese or vegetable and covered with our own family recipe or Bolognese tomato based pasta sauce.

Approximately 30 servings per tray…..$90.00 per tray or $3.00 per person

·         Ravioli

Cheese or meat filled pasta served in our family recipe tomato based pasta sauce.

Approximately 20 servings per tray…..$60.00 per tray or $3.00 per person

DESSERTS –

·         Chocolate Walnut (or pecan) Brownies

Rich moist chocolate brownies with fresh chopped walnuts or pecans.

Tray of 20 brownies…..$35.00 per tray or $1.75 ea.

·         Tiramisu

A traditional Italian favorite can be served with or without liquor flavoring.

Approximately 20 servings for $55.00 or $2.75 per person

·         Italian Cream Cake

A light creamy cake covered with cream cheese icing and lots of pecans.

Approximately 20 servings for $55.00 or $2.75 per person

·         Pignoli Cookies

A true Italian treat made with almond paste and pine nuts.

Tray of 20 cookies…..$30.00 per tray or $1.50 ea.

AMENITIES

·         Breads……………………………………………………………$1.50 per person

Butter……………….…………….………………………………included

pesto, olive oil dips……………………………………………….available

·         Plates, Napkins, Utensils

Deluxe Plastic Ware Silver Service………………………......$2.00 per person

Metal Ware. …………………………………………………...priced separately

BEVERAGES

·         Iced Tea – Sweet or Un-Sweet………………………………….$1.25 per cup

12 oz cold cups………………..……………………...……….….included

·         Coffee…………………………………………………………….$1.50 per cup

Hot cups, creamer, sugar, sweetener……………………….…… included

All platters and trays are provided with the appropriate serving utensils, such as large spoons, forks, tongs, etc.  Hot foods include the use of double burner warming racks and trays and an adequate supply of burner cans (WARMING RACKS WITH BASE PANS MUST BE RETURNED AFTER THE PARTY OR MAY BE PURCHASED AT A COST OF $10.00 EACH).

Our base price includes delivery to any location within 20 miles of the Hoover Galleria and set up of platters and warming racks on your tables.  Delivery and set up charges for locations further than 20 miles will depend on the actual location and size of the party.

Other services we can provide include:

Full Service…………$30 per staff member per hour (minimum 2 hours)

All our catering events are buffet style.  We can provide a staff to keep food trays replenished, give general assistance and direction to guests, maintain a neat and orderly serving area, clean up food items after the party and simply help the entire event go smoothly.  We typically recommend one staff member for every 25 guests.

A Taste of Italy is owned and operated by RKF Enterprises, LLC – 5316 Riverbend Trail, Hoover, Alabama 35244