Portland Catering Archives - Vibrant Table Catering & Events

What to Expect at Your Upcoming Tasting

August 14, 2017 Filed Under: Biz Buzz, Catering Chronicles, Factual FAQs

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!

The dos and don’ts of drink tickets

August 3, 2016 Filed Under: Alcohol, Catering

Evrim Icoz Photography

Be it a corporate, social or nonprofit event, drink tickets can play a pivotal role. Drink tickets might have a handful of pros and cons, but at the end of the day they can provide an easy assist with creating a smooth and successful party.

What to think about—

Will you be offering hosted drink tickets to your guests?
If so, how many will drink tickets will each guest receive?
Who will get the drink tickets?
If you are not offering hosted drink tickets not, how much will guests be expected to pay per ticket? Will the price be different for alcohol, beer & wine?
Limit the amount of drink tickets your guests can purchase.
Keeping your caterer in the loop. We can help.

The perks –

Drink tickets help limit alcohol consumption.

This helps:

Guests, employees, friends, colleagues and family wake up the next day without the feeling of embarrassment, as do you.
Avoid driving under the influence. Although, any event where alcohol is served, you as the host, should provide adequate alternative transportation services, like cabs, public transit, or car services (Uber, Lyft).
If you provide guests with hosted drink tickets it will control your costs, instead of hosting a full bar where guests can line up and order crazy pricy and complicated drinks with no limit.

What to avoid –

Tasting the rainbow. Stick to one or two drink ticket colors. One for alcohol. One for beer & wine. Don’t make it too complicated. You are hosting the event and already have a lot on your plate. Two ticket colors is simple for you, your guests, and the serving and bartending staff to understand.
Offering certain guests more drink tickets than others. The last thing you want to do is upset somebody at a celebratory event because you provided favoritism. That being said, you may have a very good reason for giving your CEO or owner an extra ticket, since ya know, he is paying for the whole event.
Cash bars. If you are offering drink tickets for your guests to purchase, you are also avoiding any cash handling with the bartenders and serving staff. This is great news, because they can focus on making drinks, and you and your team can handle the cash.

The Loft at 8th Ave.

February 10, 2016 Filed Under: News, Venues

VT Group, the company behind two of Portland’s largest and most successful catering businesses, today announced it is fully operational at its new location at 2010 SE 8th Avenue in Portland. The freshly renovated 43,000-square-foot facility is home to Food in Bloom Catering, Vibrant Table Catering & Events, Vibrant Flowers and the administrative portion of f&b cafe. It features a beautifully decorated client reception area and tasting rooms, a state-of-the-art kitchen, a floral and décor design area and ample space to house and stage the equipment allowing Food in Bloom and Vibrant Table to produce the unique culinary experiences for which they are known. There are also several areas throughout the building slated for event space.

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Portland Holiday Catering by Vibrant Table

September 17, 2013 Filed Under: Biz Buzz, Catering Chronicles

WHO WE ARE

Vibrant Table Catering & Events is an event company based in Portland, Oregon and serving the extended Portland-Salem-Hood River area. We offer an extensive range of event related services including catering, planning, production, design and management.

WHAT WE DO

Weaving artistry, panache and experience, we elevate holiday (and any other) celebration to something spectacular. Whether you are looking to host a grand holiday party with full event production or an intimate office gathering with a few delivered treats, our services are tailored to your unique event and needs.

ACCOLADES

Best Oregon Caterer (3x)
Northwest Meeting & Events Magazine
2011-2013

Best Oregon Event Florist (2x)
Northwest Meeting & Events Magazine
2012-2013

Best Portland Caterer (7x)
Oregon Bride Magazine
2006-2010, 2012-2013

Real Wedding: Castaway in Northwest Portland

September 13, 2013 Filed Under: Bridal Boutique, Soiree Spotlights

We are going through pictures of the many beautiful summer weddings. There are so many gems! One is Danielle and Paul’s gorgeous wedding at Castaway in Northwest Portland. Guided by the talented Luxe Event Productions, Danielle and Paul clearly had their guests’ comfort in mind when planning their celebration. It has it all — fun games, personality, elegant beauty, touching moments and plenty of eye-candy.
Our hats go off to the many talented vendors that worked to make Danielle and Paul’s nuptials such an amazing affair: LUXE EVENT PRODUCTIONS, Vibrant Flowers, Adam Trujillo Photography, Blush Furniture, West Coast Drape, The Party Place and My Bartender.

* * *

First of all, Danielle and Paul are a beautiful couple.

Besides adding a romantic backdrop to Danielle and Paul’s wedding ceremony, tenting, pipe and drape carve a private space in an urban setting and protect guests from Portland’s fickle weather.

Lighting makes a difference at your wedding

Lighting sets the mood, draws the eye, defines space… and so much more. Here they offer interesting background to a variety of wedding shots.

Danielle and Paul thought of their guests comfort when planning their event. Lots of fun activities to entertain.

And a comfortable lounge area to relax.

Duet plated entree of grilled skirt steak and rosemary-lemon chicken breast with potato confit and grilled asparagus. For vegetarian guests, the newlyweds chose stuffed roasted pepper with caramelized sweet onion quinoa and a balsamic reduction. YUM!