We also wanted to highlight the fantastic BD Farms stand we purchased the produce from. Bob Dautch has been attending the Tuesday and Saturday farmer’s market since they first began in the 1980’s. His philosophy of fresh, organic, and sustainable is presented in his selection of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, and always has unique produce to bring to shoppers. What do they recommend from their stand? Pea tendrils, fava beans, and tangelos. Jason’s ingredient? Well, we lucked out on two: fava beans and mint. The effect is refreshing without sacrificing flavor. This is exactly what a Spring pasta should be.

Tagliatelle Pasta with Fava Beans, Mint, Guanciale & Parmesan

Ingredients:
5 portions cooked tagliatelle pasta (homemade recipe coming!)
2 cups shelled farmer’s market fresh fava beans
3 Tblsp fresh farmer’s market mint
¼ lb guanciale (cured pork – Italian bacon)
¼ c fresh reggiano parmesano
Salt and fresh pepper

Render guanciale in a large sautee pan for 2 minutes or until slightly brown. Discard half of the rendered fat and remove from heat.

Blanch fava beans in boiling salted water for 2-3 minutes then shock them in ice water. Remove outer hull from blanched fava beans. Place fava beans in sautee pan with guanciale and return to heat.

Cook pasta in the boiling salted water for 1 minute then add pasta to fava beans and guanciale. Add mint, salt, and pepper to pasta with 2 oz of pasta water.

Toss all ingredients together and serve with a light topping of parmesan.

Hungry? We are.

Below is an interview we recently conducted with Armondo regarding his approach to assembling the perfect event. SBBGC is also looking forward to participating in the local Wedding Courtier Fair, which is the brain child of Armando’s. The Courtier Fair will be taking place on March 27, 2010 at the University Club from 2:00 to 6:00.

For more information on Armondo’s event planning services with Alegria By Design, or for more information on the Courtier Fair, you can search his website or use the following information to contact him directly:
www.alegriabydesign.com
armando@alegriabydesign.com
805.452.0450

All the Best ~ SBBGC

(SBBGC) How long have you been in this business?

I established Alegria by Design in 2001.
 

(SBBGC) How did you get your start?

I have a background in retail store design, visual direction, retail branding, photo shoot styling and project management. After taking some time off to reflect on what in life makes me happy, I created Alegria. Alegria reflects my personal dedication to beauty, style, cultural diversity and most importantly, happiness.
 

(SBBGC) What are the most important things that an event planner provides to a client?

I believe that having professional assistance is a wedding gift a bride and grooms give to themselves. From the day planning begins, through the final dance, I want my clients to relax and enjoy the experience. Designing an environment, developing and managing a budget, collecting vendor recommendations and interviewing vendors, not to mention coordinating the wedding day, can be a daunting task. For me, it all comes down to celebrating what matters most in our lives. I feel lucky to be a part of making memories.
 

(SBBGC) What sets a good event planner above the rest?

I begin by working with each couple to determine their dreams for the day: how they want the event to look and feel, what they want guests to remember, and how they envision the day unfolding. The most important thing for couples is to work with people they trust and enjoy, who can help them articulate exactly what they want from their wedding day. From there, all the other decisions come together so much more easily.
 

(SBBGC) What are some of this year’s trends in events and weddings

”Design with precision” and a trend to the “updated Classic” is what I’m experiencing. Excess and unnecessarily overly layered décor has been replaced with impactful placement, functional furniture and more personalization than ever! Soulful events that reflect personal style and tell a story or send a message transform a party to an event!
 

(SBBGC) What do you look for in a good food caterer?

I look for creativity in a caterer. Creating a menu that not only looks beautiful but tastes amazing, requires an innate artistry.
 

(SBBGC) What was your experience working with SBB Gourmet Catering

I refer SBB Gourmet Catering to my clients because I trust and have tremendous confidence in them. SBB Gourmet Catering offers excellent service, years of experience and incredible food at a great price! My reputation is everything and who I refer my clients to is critical. This is a tremendous and highly professional Santa Barbara catering company and to top it off, they are a lot of fun and joy to work with.
 

Armando Martinez
Alegria By Design
www.alegriabydesign.com
armando@alegriabydesign.com
805.452.0450

We provided the Museum’s guests with a dinner consisting of our Santa Barbara Pear Salad followed by a main course of Bistro Medallion of Beef and four cheese ravioli.  Dessert was chocolate cups with a seasonal treat of “Believe Berries”.   The dance floor filled quickly following dinner with the wonder of the season continuing to be felt throughout the evening. The Museum and event organizers truly put on an evening of magic to remember and we are proud that we were included.

We sincerely appreciate and thank Cori Arnold of the Museum staff for her comment about our food and service:  “SBB Gourmet Catering went beyond exceeding my expectations!  Sidney Adams-Raney and Bia Pessoa are highly organized and efficient and brought along a service crew that carries the same of professionalism.  The Santa Barbara Historical Museum staff and Board of Trustees have not stopped raving about the presentation and flavor of the cuisine.  We cannot say enough about what a pleasure it is to have worked with them as a caterer and anxiously await our next event together!”

We are excited about working with the Museum again too.   It is one of the great institutions of Santa Barbara and we feel honored to be one of their premier caterers.   Some of our photos from the “Remember The Magic” event are posted in a gallery below.  You can also find an expanded set of event photos taken by Amore Dolce Photography.  Amore Dolce did a fantastic job of capturing the beauty and energy and magic of the event.

Thank you again Santa Barbara Historical Museum for giving Santa Barbara Gourmet Catering the honor of catering your holiday fundraiser event!!!

Ode to SBB Gourmet Catering

We honestly can’t say enough about our experience with SBB Gourmet Catering. We are a couple who take our food VERY seriously, and our friends and family feel the exact same way. So picking our caterer and our menu for our wedding was one of the most important decisions to make once we started planning the event. And WOW – did we make the right decision. Sidney just got us - and the feeling we were trying to create for our wedding - right off the bat, which made the whole process nothing but pure, unadulterated FUN. And the food… Oh, the food!!! Everything was hot, fresh, beautifully prepared, and INCREDIBLY delicious. We were amazed and overwhelmed at the quality of the food – it felt like we were dining at a four-star restaurant, instead of at an outdoor buffet on a VERY cold night.

SBB Gourmet Catering exceeded all of our expectations, and helped make our wedding more special than we could have imagined. From the food to the staff — who were as just amazing as the cuisine — we could not have asked for a better experience. Or better food, for that matter! And our guests are still talking about how good the food was, two months after the wedding!

So thank you to Sidney and everyone at SBB Gourmet Catering – we hope to dine with you again soon!

Hearts Adaptive Riding recently hosted their largest fundraiser of the year, a silent auction and Hoe Down. The Executive Director, Kirby Gillispie, invited SBB Gourmet Catering (us!) to cater a delicious dinner for them on site. The evening was a great success, with the horses nearby to saying hello and the sun setting in the background - you couldn’t have asked for a more picture perfect dinner! Not only was there good food, but there was a live band, dancing, and an unveiling of a very special portrait of the Hearts Adaptive horse Max by artist Katie Upton.

We here at SBB Gourmet Catering greatly appreciate all that Kirby and Hearts have done for the community and those with special needs. It warmed our own hearts to help their organization with their fundraiser and we look forward to seeing all that they achieve in the coming year.

If you are interested in learning more about Hearts Adaptive Riding, check out their website: http://www.heartsadaptiveriding.org

Best ~ SBB

If you aren’t familiar with Elings Park then take a few minutes and surf over to http://elingspark.org learn more about this incredible location. It is a 230-acre private, non-profit park that has some of the most beautiful views you will find of our city. Constructed upon the old City of Santa Barbara landfill, it has become a real recreational jewel in the time since its creation. Almost 250,000 people use the park each year, and for good reason - it is truly beautiful. If you are thinking of an outdoor venue for your reception or event you might consider putting Elings Park (in particular the Godric Grove area) on your list to check out.

~SBBGCG

“It is not easy planning a wedding from 3,000 miles away which is exactly what we did when we hired Sidney from SBB Gourmet, to cater our affair at the Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse in Los Olivos, Ca. The food was exquisite, perfectly seasoned, from fabulous hors d’oeuvres, to spectacular main courses, to homemade guacamole and chips. Their rib-eye steak was incredible, just perfectly grilled on the huge outdoor barbeque, along with cedar plank salmon and wonderful side dishes - not to mention vegan and vegetarian options we which we requested.

The months leading up to our event were filled with phone conversations, proposals, emails, and constant contact between our New York based family and Sidney and Bia, the catering managers. All questions were met with courteous, quick responses, and respect for my budget.

We had Sidney and Bia oversee the rentals and lighting, which was a great decision on our part because we felt we wanted only one vendor to contact, as opposed to several. They kept me in the loop at every turn.

My experience with SBB Gourmet was unparalleled. Perfectly executed catering, wonderful people, and fairly priced.”

Daveen and Gary Dean
Plainview, NY

On June 7th we catered the Annual Family Picnic for Transition House. This event honors the amazing contributions of the volunteers, staff, donors, and clients that make up the heart of Transition House. This year was extra special, as Transition House celebrated their 25th anniversary in Santa Barbara. That is quite a milestone. Shalhoob Meat Company provided the tri-tip and chicken for the event and SBB Gourmet Catering and Grilling (that’s us!) had the fun of grilling on site, carving the meats, and serving the fabulous guests.

Transition House is a local nonprofit organization that provides food, shelter, and assistance to families in Santa Barbara who have lost their housing. It is a tragic fact of life that many Santa Barbara families suddenly find themselves without a home. Where would you go if this were to happen to you? The staff and volunteers at Transition House stand ready to help. They assist with emergency housing needs at their shelter and then provide a path toward independence through transitional living and affordable housing. They do a great job, and have an incredible 60% success rate in helping people get back on their feet. Check out their website at: http://www.transitionhouse.com/

Just a few days earlier on June 5th we catered the Unity Shoppe Golf Classic at Sandpiper Golf Course. The Golf Classic is a large fundraiser to benefit the operations of the Unity Shoppe. We donated our catering prowess to help make it a delicious event. Pulled pork sandwiches, homemade potato chips, and a colorful array of fresh peaches, plums, and apricots rounded out the lunch selection. It was a lot of great food and great fun in service of a great charity.

The Unity Shoppe is a local nonprofit organization that seeks to assist individuals in need. Their philosophy is that homelessness and welfare dependency can be prevented through the supply of basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing. If people don’t have to choose between paying the rent and feeding their children they can focus on staying in their current home and stabilizing their life. The Unity Shoppe assists over 19,000 people a year and maintains a local “Free” store that helps provide necessities like food and clothing. Check out their website at: http://www.unityshoppe.org/

To wrap up, these are fantastic local organizations that provide critical services to those Santa Barbara residents most in need. We love and respect what they do, which is why we will continue donating to their cause in the future. We hope that you will consider doing the same.

Best ~ SBB

Click HERE to read more!

• “We have chosen a date for our event. Are you available on that date and time?”
SBB Gourmet Catering has the capability of catering multiple events per day. So, we can and will do our best to meet your needs pertaining to the date and location you have selected. We have conducted at times five events in a single day and a senior member of our management team has been at each event to ensure our quality standards our met by our own staff as well as our subcontractors . We do encourage you to reserve your date at your selected location as soon as possible and then contact us accordingly.

• “We have chosen a date and venue for our event, now what?”
There are several fundamental things you must consider at this time that will help start the dialogue with any contractor, including us, as follows:
- Date, Time, Location, and Availability of Location (check out our listing of venues)
- Number of guests
- Food Service
- Buffet
- Plated
- Stations
- Family-Style
- Rough Idea of a Catering Budget
- Food
- Rentals
- Service Charges or labor
- Image you want to remember of your event

• “What makes one caterer better than another?”
This could also be posed as “Why should I hire SBB Gourmet Catering?” There are a few things that make one caterer “stand out” against one of its competitors. Some critical areas to consider are:

1. Quality of food. Fresh ingredients sourced locally from local farms and markets is critical to the look and flavor of the dishes. Ask your prospective caterer about the quality of food they serve and how it is prepared. Is it prepared on location at your event? SBB Gourmet Catering utilizes the freshest food and ingredients available locally and we prepare all of our dishes on-site. Some of our favorite testimonials come from wedding photographers who sample food from 100’s of different events and numerous caterers in their line of work; one recurring quote being….”this is isn’t typical wedding food, it is REALLY good!!!”

2. Direct engagement and presence of senior management. It is imperative that the client and the catering company establish a friendship and communication level from day one to avoid conflict and ensure that as your event approaches, you have confidence that you can have a worry-free event and enjoy this special time. Many catering companies fall short in this area. Sidney Adams-Raney, the owner of the SBB Gourmet Catering, attends every event that her company caters. Most importantly, there is a personal relationship that develops in this process between Sidney, her management team, and the client which is invaluable.

3. Working with the client’s budget and special needs. Each of our clients is unique as are their needs and desires. And some are incredibly unique. You should not hesitate to impose any of these on your prospective caterer. Within reason, you might be surprised how responsive your caterer can and will be. However, you need to understand that this is a negotiation. Your prospective caterer has costs that must be absorbed in his/her business. Trade-offs can be made in all aspects of the event without compromising quality and image. The most experienced and knowledgeable caterer will be able to help you with your total budget. There are some key things to consider as you approach the negotiation process with any prospective caterer:
- Enter the process with a good idea of your total budget. If your caterer knows this, he/she can work with you and find flexible means to shift costs here and there to optimize your budget without compromising quality, image, and service.
- Your caterer has fixed costs including kitchen staff, service staff, event management staff, rentals, and overhead… once you recognize this, and the costs of menu scenarios and items that present to you, there will be a surprise at how willing and able this critical member of your event team can help you and work with you to control the total costs of your event. You will find that in many cases, the food caterer is actually the focal point of events as they have so many talents in-house. We encourage you to utilize us, accordingly. Some caterers are more adept at this than others. We encourage you to engage SBB Gourmet Catering in this dialogue.

4. References. Ask your prospective caterer for names of previous clients with recent experience and that would not mind being contacted. A great source of reference is the managers of venues who each have their favorites for good reason and will gladly provide you a recommendation based on their own past experience.

• “What does your catering do to help reduce its impact on the environment?”
There is a lot of “greenwashing” occurring in the catering and restaurant industry; firms touting their environmental performance when they really are not measuring their impact or setting goals to improve. It is not possible to reduce the environmental impact of your operations without knowing how much impact you are having. You cannot manage what you don’t measure. So if you are interested, we encourage you to add to your question list to a prospective caterer, how much CO2 emissions they produce each year and how much waste they produce, followed by how much they plan on reducing that next year. The impact a catering company has on the environment includes the following primary things:

SBB Gourmet Catering is also an active supporter of the Santa Barbara Community Environmental Council, The Unity Shoppe, The Transition House, Montecito Trails Association, The Nature Conservancy, and Hearts Adaptive Riding Center in Santa Barbara.

Other pertinent questions you might pose to a prospective caterer:
• “Can you offer a menu including vegetarian or vegan offerings? Can you cater to other special needs such as kosher and provide menu items for lactose intolerant guests?”
• “What are the advantages of having your caterer also manage the rentals for your event?”
• “Do you provide bartending and alcohol service?”
• “Who will actually manage and be my primary contact for my event? Who are these people and how long have you been associated with them?”
• “I have selected my venue for the event. Have you ever provided catering services there?”
• “How can we sample your food? Can you prepare something special for us to sample not on your menu?”
• “Just for fun, what is the worst disaster you have had to manage associated with a client’s event? What was the eventual outcome?”

~SBBGCG

A special thanks to the Montecito Association, who orchestrates the event every year and all the other multiple supporters including the Montecito Rotary Club. From the pancake breakfast served up by the Montecito Fire House to the parade to the afternoon celebration – it was a great time.

Click on the photos below to check out the celebration.

~SBBGCG