Santa Barbara Catering Company has once again been chosen by Banner Hospitals to be the catering company for Banner’s grand opening event for their newest hospital. Banner Ironwood is a state-of-the-art facility located in gorgeous Queen Creek, Arizona and serving many residents all around the East Valley. Banner Ironwood is not only a full service medical facility but features a calming modern design, making it the premier healthcare facility in Queen Creek.
Serving over 3000 people for this event, Santa Barbara Catering Company has proven itself once again to be the Valley’s premier catering company. This is the second year in a row that Banner Hospitals has selected Santa Barbara. This event was almost a daily occurrence in the month of October, and every day we made sure to create a new and exciting experience for our guests. We are grateful for the main tent that Tri Rentals donated which was set up in the parking lot to help accommodate many of the events. We appreciate their support.
Below is the outstanding menu, created for 3000 people at the Banner Ironwood event, to both stimulate all palates and cater to the health conscious.
Light & Fresh, Dips & Chips Pita Crisps, Tortilla Chips, Garlic Toast Rounds and Bountiful Display of Seasonal Raw Vegetables Served with Roasted Garlic Hummus, Red Pepper Hummus, Garden Vegetable Salsa and Sun Dried Tomato Dip
The Great American Chili Cook-Off Light House Made Turkey Chili Slow Cooked and Seasoned to Perfection Served with Crusty Breads Guests to Top it off with Scallions and Cheddar Cheese for a Little Extra Kick
Custom Yogurt Parfaits The Ice Cream Sundae for Health Nuts Start with Your Favorite Flavor of Yogurt And Top it off with Your Choice of Chopped Nuts, Coconut, Granola, and Diced Fresh Fruit
Sensational! Chef’s Choice of Assorted Cookies and Brownies Bites Sweet, Sweet, Sweet….
October was an extremely busy month for Santa Barbara Catering, with the major theme for all of the Banner events focused on health conscious food choices, prepared right on site. Not only did Santa Barbara cater the grand opening of the new hospital, but they also catered an employee family night for over 700 people. Orientation and team building was another successful event with over 400 people to serve; and another was the dedication which hosted over 500 people. Along with these large events, there were also smaller luncheons and meetings that were catered. Leave it to Santa Barbara Catering to take on any size event and have everyone talking about the top quality service and cuisine for years to come.
Santa Barbara Catering is proud to announce that Pro Em, the Southwest’s largest supplier of event services, chose us to cater their Open House at the grand opening of their new Design Center. We’re honored that, out of all catering companies in the Valley, Pro Em chose Santa Barbara Catering to provide food and drink for this exclusive event!
Pro Em’s clientele consists of the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona State University and the Fiesta Bowl. Their new Design Center is a showroom dedicated to wedding and special event planning so that coordinators can view and select products that they would like to use for their occasions.
The Open House brought out several of the Valley’s top planners, which gave us great exposure and a chance to show off what we’re best at—fresh, delectable food!
As guests browsed the display tables, they were greeted with Sangria and hand-passed hors d’oeuvres.
The hors d’oeuvres menu included:
Beer Battered Coconut Shrimp Satays, accompanied by Honey Chipotle Sauce
Barbecued Pork Sliders slathered in a Spicy Sauce, topped off with Creamy Coleslaw that creates the perfect crunch
Beef Tenderloin accompanied by Arugula, Caramelized Onions and served on Roquefort Polenta
Lemon Parmesan Chicken Skewers dusted with Herbed Bread Crumbs and Fresh Lemon, accompanied with Roasted Garlic Dipping Sauce
Farm Fresh Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Basil, served in an Edible Spoon
Chickpea and Vegetable Empanada with Roasted Garlic and Lemon Hummus
Gourmet desserts came next, and the guests were delighted by these sweet items:
Petite Pistachio Tart with Whipped Orange Scented Crème Fraîche, Marinated Strawberries and Sweet Basil Syrup
Caramel & Sea Salt Truffle , served as a “Lollipop”
Mini Red Velvet Whoopie Pie with Cream Cheese Filling
While Pro Em is known for bringing the complete package to any event, we were honored to be able to create the menu for theirs.
So exciting for all of us here at Santa Barbara and for our client! On May 14, the International Special Events Society (ISES) held its fourth annual Arizona Event Industry Awards (The ZONIES) at Chase Field. ISES honored Arizona’s top industry professionals from 2009 in 13 award categories. Santa Barbara Catering Company took home the award for Best Corporate Event under $25,000 for our planning and execution of the “Agency Event of the Year.”
Zion & Zion, one of Phoenix’s top five full-service marketing agencies wanted to celebrate the opening of its new facility just off Mill Avenue in Tempe with a by-invitation-only party for over 200 guests.
They wanted to present dishes in a creative ways to reflect the creativity of their agency. In addition they wanted to incorporate southern-comfort foods with an elegant touch, while not straying from their environmentally-friendly values.
By generating new trends for the industry, such as the DJ performing on the ceiling of one of the Zion & Zion conference rooms, to the specialty lighting and the unique presentations of the fare, we’re proud to say that our event execution received rave reviews from invited media and secured us a 2010 ZONIES award.
Valentine’s Day weekend was celebrated Euro-style as guests glided around the Phoenix Art Museum in costumes and masks, surrounded by European art and mystery. “Friends of European Art,” a support organization for the Phoenix Art Museum, hosted a “Carnivale” themed party on Friday, February 12th. Santa Barbara Catering provided stimulating food and drink, including Espresso Pot de Crème with a Chocolate Cookie Spoon, pictured below.
On November 5th, Zion & Zion, one of Phoenix’s leading full-service marketing, PR, advertising and interactive agencies celebrated the opening of its new facility just off Mill Avenue in Tempe with a by-invitation-only party.
At the core of the fantastic event, attended by well over 200 of Zion & Zion’s clients, as well as members of the media, political figures and business leaders from throughout the Valley, was Santa Barbara Catering.
Santa Barbara prepared fare for the guests that included such trendy delicacies as Shrimp and Grits, Chicken and Waffles, and a Mac & Cheese bar with martini serving glasses suspended in mid air.
As if the amazing cuisine and exceptional guest list wasn’t enough, Santa Barbara event planners coordinated with Zion & Zion’s internal PR and event planning team to bring to life the Ziontini—an Elderflower, Grey Goose and Bombay Sapphire based concoction, conceived by Scottsdale bartender Cole Apodaca in response to a Valley-wide competition held by Zion & Zion to create the signature Ziontini for the event.
Comments on the event included, “This was THE agency event of the year!” and “Phoenix has never seen an agency party this well done!”
The Santa Barbara catered Zion & Zion spectacle was made complete by the placement of popular Phoenix figure DJ Brazilia atop one of the Zion & Zion conference rooms, playing a variety of modern music, and complemented by lighting effects from Sound Lighting FX and modern centerpieces and illuminated décor from Petal Pushers.
Zion & Zion CEO, Aric Zion, commented, “The event was a runaway success. Clients networked with other clients and found new business opportunities; our firm closed significant additional business as a result of the event; and the rave reviews from the media and community leaders continue to echo.”
DuGué Zion, Zion & Zion’s COO, added, “Santa Barbara was key in making this event so successful. I can’t even count how many people commented on the food and the service and asked for Santa Barbara’s contact information.”
Aric Zion summed up by saying, “By all accounts, the event was even more of a success than we had hoped for, and we couldn’t have pulled it off without the contributions of the Santa Barbara team!”
The Farm at South Moutain and Santa Barbara Catering Company hosts Where Magazine's gala awards
Hundreds of Arizona’s top concierges, managers and travel industry members from the state’s elite resorts, hotels and publications will gather under the glittering Pecan Grove canopy of The Farm at South Mountain for Where Magazine’s Silver Plume Awards.
On Sunday, November 15th, Where Magazine will honor the Valley of the Sun Concierge Network with its annual Silver Plume Awards to acknowledge the industry’s Concierge of the Year, the top Up and Coming Concierge, the Anna Snider Distinguished Service Concierge and the General Manager of the Year Award.
As a major partners and sponsors, Santa Barbara Catering Company and The Farm at South Mountain will host, manage and cater the gala event. Chef Gregory LaPrad of Quiessence Restaurant will kick off the event with fall-inspired hors d’oeuvres during a cocktail reception. Next, Santa Barbara Catering Company will serve a rustic multi-course farm dinner showcasing the season’s bounty.
“Santa Barbara Catering has an established reputation for its pristine cuisine, over the top events and ultimate care for guests,” said Sarah Green, Where Magazine’s marketing manager. “That’s exactly what this event is meant to celebrate.”
Invitations to the Silver Plume Awards were distributed exclusively by Where Magazine. The Farm at South Mountain is one of the Valley’s top event venues for weddings, corporate events, company picnics or gala dinners.
First Crush has become a tradition in Tempe with over 300 people attending each year. Renowned jazz artist Alice Tatum and her band entertains the crowd while they sample a variety of wines accompanied by delicious tastings compliments of Santa Barbara Catering Company. Take a peak at this year’s amazing Spanish themed menu . Tables are filled with exciting gift baskets and packages for people to bid on. Last year over $55,000 was raised, of which 100% went to support all the programs and services TCAA provides to our community.
“Our company was born and raised right here in Tempe,” says Santa Barbara Catering CEO and TCAA board member Pat Christofolo. “We hope our participation inspires other businesses and community members to support the TCAA and their efforts to improve the lives of those who are in need.”
DETAILS:
The “First Crush” Charity Gala & Auction will be held on Friday, October 16, 2009 from 5:30 PM-9:00 PM at Hayden Ferry Lakeside, 80 E. Rio Salado Parkway. Tickets are $75 per person. Dress is casual.
The August “100 Best of Arizona” issue of Arizona Highways has named the Farm at South Mountain the “Best Place To Picnic Under A Pecan Tree.” As a sister company to Santa Barbara Catering Company, the Farm is a premier event venue for weddings, company picnics and corporate events.
The 12-acre oasis features rows of grass lawns and a canopy of historic pecan trees that provide a pastoral setting for casual afternoon lunches from the Farm Kitchen, or an exciting outdoor venue for large events.
Keep morale and spirits up during tough economic times with budget-savvy options for the office or corporate party. In a time where some groups are cutting back budgets and staff, experts like business consultant John Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray and Christmas, encourage companies to ‘show employees that they are appreciated, even in these trying times.’
During the last holiday season, National Public Radio (NPR) covered the topic of office parties and invited listeners and Challenger to comment on their plans for the office holiday parties.
“Canceling parties altogether is a very tough statement about where the company’s at. It can only be damaging to morale. It makes people even more insecure about their job,” he says.
Your Santa Barbara Catering Company event planner can help craft a special event to boost spirits and celebrate success at your company. Call us today at 480-921-3150 to explore options for the next corporate party!
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