Vibrant Table
Catering & Events
Catering to the Senses
Our Creative Director & Owner, Kurt Beadell and Garden Designer, Lucy Hardiman’s gardens and events were recently featured in Oregon Home magazine.
What a wonderful tribute to community, food, events and Kurt and Lucy’s passion for gardening and art.
To see full article, click here.
Oregon Home Feature// Photography by David Papizan
What is a client’s favorite part of planning their event? Tastings of course! As part of the event or wedding planning process, clients often want to test the food to ensure it’s to their liking. Though this usually doesn’t require too much convincing of our clients, below we have shared some important details to get you fully prepared for your upcoming tasting with Vibrant Table.
Vibrant Table Catering & Events offers a complimentary tasting for up to 4 guests, for confirmed events valued at $8,000.00 (exclusive of venue rental).
Tastings take place at The Loft at 8th Avenue on Wednesday, starting between 11am – 3pm.
Clients are invited to taste their prospective menu, selecting from up to three hors d’oeuvres, two salads, and two entrées with sides. If dessert will be part of your Vibrant Table menu, you may select up to two for your tasting. For hors d’oeuvres receptions, guests may taste up to 8 items.
If you would like to sample wine, beer, or specialty cocktails, please notify your planner at least one week prior to the tasting; see current drink menus for pricing.
For events totaling less than $8,000.00, or for tastings prior to client confirmation, the price for a tasting is $50.00 – $100.00 per person, based on your menu selections. For events totaling $8,000.00 or more, the tasting fee will be credited to your event invoice when you confirm with Vibrant Table.
Please confirm your tasting with a credit card or check at least one week prior to tasting date. Should you decide to cancel your tasting, notify your planner at least 7 days prior to the scheduled tasting; otherwise, the full tasting fee will be charged.
Think of your tasting as a trial run of what the event will feel like. Your caterer, especially if they are helping with event planning, will want to discuss the specifics of your entire event during the tasting, including the timeline of events. You don’t need to know everything at this time, but this information will help them to put together a list of outstanding items to discuss and decide upon in the future. We know no one will turn down the chance to eat delicious food, so a tasting is the perfect way to mix business with taste bud pleasure. Enjoy!
Evrim Icoz Photography
Alcohol is a key ingredient in most wedding receptions. How else are you supposed to handle Crazy Cousin Chad or your delightfully icy new In-Law, Cheryl. What to serve? How much? Open bar? Cash bar? While your wedding bar does require a bit of planning and money, you can simplify your process with a few easy tips, all while making sure Cheryl is happy with her White Zin with TWO ice cubes.
Serving only beer and wine is a popular and cost effective option. You can offer guests a few choices while keeping it simple and under control. It’s less likely you will have to cut off Chad or ask guests to leave when you aren’t serving hard alcohol. This option is a great way to save some money on alcohol without the stigmas of a cash bar. If you’re hosting your wedding in the Pacific NW, finding microbrews in bottles or cans is easier than ever, and most catering companies provide a wide range of local microbrews and domestic best sellers. Same goes for wine; most caterers have fantastic local offerings for reds, whites and bubbly, and if they don’t have what you like, inquire about corkage charges and bring your own.
If you are wanting to have some fun with drinks, offering guests a full bar during the cocktail hour is a great way to go. Allowing your guests a full range in beverage choices for a 60 minute cocktail social will make both your guests and your wallet happy. Create a His & Her, Her & Her, or His & His signature cocktail for your guests. It helps create a joyful vibe that projects the personalities of the newlywed couple to your family and friends. Be mindful that your creations are something your guests actually want to drink, though. Let it be known, shots are NOT a good idea for a wedding. Chad and Cheryl will become best friends, and your life will be ruined. Simple drinks are quick to produce for the bartenders and even the most discerning guest should be able to enjoy. For great idea suggestions, check out one of our favorite sources, The Commissary.
If you are looking for budget friendly bar options consider cash bars, having kegs versus bottles of beer, providing table wine for your guests and limiting bar hours. If a cash bar is the way for you, be mindful that you will save money, but your guests will purchase their own drinks. Most guests don’t mind this option, but it’s best to inform them ahead of time so they can bring cash, in case they don’t want to use a credit card. Keep in mind with a cash bar, the bartenders can spend more time handling money than making drinks. Kegs versus bottled beer limits the beer options for your guests, but there’s no recycling, no wasted glass, and often times purchasing a keg is less expensive, depending on your guest count. Again, check with your catering company and venue for details about corkage fees, handling fees and beverage policies.
Open bars are a crowd pleaser, because your guests can essentially get anything they want, within reason. I mean, a night involving Mezcal or Jager never ends well. With an open bar, be mindful of your budget, and decide what product you want to have as your mainplayers. We suggest a solid starting lineup of five spirits, along with a couple of unique additions: vodka, gin, tequila, whisky, scotch. Hopefully, you will know your audience well enough to know if they are going to be snooty towards a whisky, scotch, bourbon, barrel aged, or rye. If that’s the case, maybe offer a couple varieties of your brown spirits. It goes without saying that mixers are going to be your friend, so provide a variety that will cater towards your demographic. Soda, tonic, gingerale and a variety of juices, along with beer, wine and non-alcoholic offerings will complete your fully-loaded bar.
We emphasize the non-alcoholic offerings because they are often overlooked. They are extremely cost effective, simple and necessary. Yes, if you provide alcohol at any function, you legally need to offer a non-alcoholic alternative at all times. Sparkling and still bottled water, coffee, tea, lemonade, juices, or even more creative options like agua fresca or a customized punch will keep your guests hydrated, social and safe. While we are in the business to provide an unforgettable wedding, we abide by all OLCC rules and regulations, and if necessary we will cut off Cousin Chad, and we will replace Cheryl’s White Zin with some La Croix. The most successful event is measured by ensuring all guests are safe so they can actually enjoy your event.
We have some exciting news! VT Group has been recognized with an ACE Award. We are still swooning from the honor and can’t wait to share why this is such big news for us.
What is the ACE Award?
Standing for ‘Achievement in Catering Excellence’, the ACE Award is a recognition from Catersource. There are three regional categories — East, West and International — and two financial categories — businesses above $2 million in sales and businesses below $2 million in sales. VT Group received the ACE Award for the Western region, which is everything west of the Mississippi River, in the above $2 million category.
What are the criteria?
Caterers are judged on a variety of factors in two stages. The first stage reviews culinary achievements, outstanding business practices, and contributions to community. Five finalists are then selected. The second round of judging looks at brand materials, recent events, and testimonials.
Who are the judges?
Judges are Catersource board members and the previous year’s winners. That means we get to help choose the recipients of the 2015 ACE Awards!
What is Catersource?
Catersource is one of catering’s leading industry organizations and is dedicated to the education and growth of professional caterers. Their outreach includes an industry magazine, tradeshow and conference. They also have formed the Leading Caterers of America (LCA), a professional peer organization of award-winning caterers that support each other by sharing experience and knowledge. Vibrant Table has proudly been a member of LCA since 2010.
Why is winning the ACE Award a ‘big deal’?
The ACE Award is one of our industry’s highest honors. Being in the same category as larger markets such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston, we believe that a win for VT Group is a win for Portland. President Art Fortuna says it best: “We’re proud to be able to score another win for the Portland food scene as a whole – particularly since we believe serving such a unique and discerning market is what puts us at the top of our game.” So way to go, Portland! Thank you for challenging us to ever-greater levels of excellence and creativity!
Who is VT Group?
VT Group is a collection of hospitality and event companies based in Portland, Oregon. Flagship brands include Vibrant Table Catering & Events, Food in Bloom Catering, f&b cafe and catering and Vibrant Flowers. They also manage event venues including the new Exchange Ballroom, Treasury Ballroom, Atrium at Montgomery Park, Lan Su Chinese Garden and the Loft on Belmont.
Thank you to Evrim Icoz Photography for allowing us to use his image in our header image. This image has been stylized by Vibrant Table.
Here are a few stunning shots from the talented Ambient Sky Studios, who also created the video above. Based in Portland, Oregon, we cannot say enough wonderful things about Ambient Sky!
Lighting played a crucial role. Hanging globes and stage backdrop conjure snow, while candles represent a warm hearth.
These amazing linens from La Tavola create a rich, textural backdrop.
Details of pine cones, winter greens, and raw-cut branches create a woodland feel.
Hanging snow globes with ‘snow’ and twinkling fairy lights add height.
Vibrant Table’s menu incorporated earthy flavors to complement the rustic theme.
Salmon Tartar with creme fraiche and caviar on a cucumber round.
A majestic dessert display offers home-style treats.
Reminiscent of nights around the campfire, a self-serve Smores Bar is a popular hit.
What a Winter Wonderland!
