Vibrant Table
Catering & Events

Catering to the Senses

503.297.9635
Plan an Event
  • Menus
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall & Winter
    • Holiday
  • Delivery
    • Gift Boxes
  • Weddings
  • Venues
  • Events
    • Virtual Events
    • Hybrid Events
  • Floral
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Sustainability
  • Blog
BLOG
  • CATERING
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Fall & Winter
  • Holiday
  • Events
  • Virtual Events
  • Hybrid Events
  • About Us
  • Our Team

What to Expect at Your Upcoming Tasting

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

tasting policy

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!

Rise & Shine: How to Throw a Solid Breakfast Party

April 1, 2016 Filed Under: Catering

Trying to gather the troops to meet up en-masse can be an extreme first world struggle, what with work, school, social, family and recreational activities taking a bulk of the time. But, sometimes you really just want to see your friends all together. When is a prime time to gather around and catch up? Friday? Oh, no sorry, Jimmy has football practice. What about Saturday afternoon? Oh, nope, Sydney has a recital and Mike has an offsite work thing. Sunday? Well, that’s a school night, for crying out loud—Okay…. Wait, How about a Sunday morning brunch? The kids can run around in the back yard and there will be boozy coffee and mimosas. Deal!

Honestly, the hardest part about planning a brunch is the scheduling. Now that you’ve sorted that out, you are good to go. You can take the reins and go Martha Stewart crazy on this brunch, or go the Real Housewives and take an Ambien and just melt into your day. Or make use of that Sunset Magazine subscription and just go DYI – BYOB and utilize your resources.

The Martha Stewart Continental Approach: This is the intricate, impressive, wow your friends method. You’ll have a gigantic spread of seasonal fruits, scones, muffins, artisanal veggie quiches, a lovely arugula salad perhaps, and a mimosa station, equipped with fresh pressed juices to add to your sparkling. Your key to success here will be in the details. You can really add drama and flair with creating a theme on the buffet: a color palette that incorporates the season, creating elevation with risers and unique vessels, fresh floral and greenery, and even custom handmade signs denoting the items. Ah, the Hamptons.

table top

The Real Housewives Approach: You Helped! I mean, you got all of the goods, and you can delegate somebody to set it up and cook it. This is when you trust your guests to tend to themselves. And, by no means is this being a poor host. This is being a laid back, carefree, accommodating host, where you would rather have your close friends cook their own omelets with the ingredients you brought, so they can customize it to their specific liking. This is having a bloody mary bar where you’ve got the vodka, the mixer, and a huge spread of veggies, garnishes, pickled accoutrements and your guests can build their own adventure. And, when in doubt, have your event catered. This takes all of the day-of hassle out of your hands, so you can actually engage with your guests, or take an 8 hour nap. Catering your event gives you the option for a pre-set breakfast, a buffet station, passed items, or action stations, where chefs can impress and cook items up to your guest’s desires.

The BYOB Approach: This is the simplest approach and also the most cost effective. If you do not know about specific food sensitivities or what people may want, just ask your guest to bring an item that they’d like to have served. It usually results in a smorgasbord-potluck style brunch that really captures the essence of you and your friends. Most of you likely lead busy and stressed lives, so take that Sunday morning and make it relaxing, carefree and real. Simple and delicious foods, flavorful drinks and close friends are a perfect recipe for creating that modern “International House of Coffee” moment amongst you and your ladies friends.

Recipe of the Month: Sticky Toffee Pudding

March 26, 2015 Filed Under: Catering Chronicles, Festive Fare, Inspiring Ideas

*  *  *

list of ingredients
  • 1 cup & 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ cup pitted dates
  • 1 ¼ cups boiling water
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
toffee sauce
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • ½ cup pecans
  • 1 cup heavy cream & 2T Sugar, whipped
 toffee_pudding
DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10-inch round or square baking dish. Sift the flour and baking powder onto a sheet of waxed paper. Finely chop the dates. Place in a small bowl and add the boiling water and baking soda; set aside. In a bowl with an electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla; beat until blended. Gradually beat in the flour mixture. Add the date mixture to the batter and fold until blended with a rubber spatula. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Bake until pudding is set and firm on top, about 35 minutes. Remove from oven to a wire rack.

Toffee Sauce: Combine the butter, heavy cream and brown sugar in a small heavy saucepan; heat to boiling, stir constantly. Boil gently over medium low heat until mixture is thickened, about 8 minutes. After the cake is cool, cut slices and drizzle with toffee sauce, top with a spoonful of sweetened whipped cream.

*recipe photo from whatjessicabakednext.com/

*  *  *

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

  • To find tips on summer hosting
  • Review other Vibrant Table recipes
  • Peruse our catering menus

 

Vibrant Valentine @ F&B Cafe

February 3, 2015 Filed Under: Biz Buzz, Brilliant Blooms, Festive Fare, Inspiring Ideas, Vibrant Vendors

Just in time! We’ve teamed up with our sister company Food In Bloom to offer some super special Valentine’s Day goodies. Stop by the F&B Cafe at Rejuvenation to visit our gift stand! We have unique oddities, wreaths, terrariums and plants shaped like HEARTS! What more could you want? Vibrant Flowers will also have a display of fresh flower arrangements and bouquets on the 13th and 14th. Don’t just expect a dozen roses, expect something bespoke created by one of our designers!
vibrantvalentinemain copy

Take your sweetheart out for lunch or a tasty bite to eat provided by F&B Cafe off their NEW menu!  Walk around Rejuvenation and get inspired by all of their unique home fixtures. Enjoy a day of treats!

F&B Cafe is located at 1100 Southeast Grand Ave. Portland, Oregon 97214

Want something extra special? Call us to place an order for your Valentine to pick it up at our offices.  503-297-9635

You might also like:
  • Visit us @ Vibrant Flowers
  • Like us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Pinterest
  • Vibrant Table Catering and Events

Recipe: Pumpkin Creme Brulee

September 19, 2014 Filed Under: Festive Fare

Want to satisfy your sweet tooth? Our Executive Chef, Eric Petrus makes a killer creme brulee. It’s a perfect introduction for the fall season and a great way to impress, well, anybody. You get to use a torch!
pumpkin creme brulee
INGREDIENTS:
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  2. Whisk egg yolks and brown sugar together in a large bowl. Stir in heavy cream, pumpkin puree, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  3. Divide pumpkin mixture between seven (5-inch) ramekins about 1/2 inch from the top.
  4. Place the ramekins in a baking dish and fill with the baking dish hot water to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
  5. Bake in preheated oven until just set, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove ramekins and refrigerate until completely cool, at least 2 hours.
  6. Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of sugar onto each creme brulee. Melt the sugar with a chef’s torch until crisp and dark brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.

 

*  *  *
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
  • Review other Vibrant Table recipes
  • Peruse our catering menus

 

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 16
  • Next Page »
Plan an Event
Vibrant Table
Catering and Events
facebook
twitter
instagram
pinterest
youtube
2010 SE 8th Avenue • Portland, OR 97214
503.297.9635
TriMet stops   Google Map
Join our team and apply today!
Wedding Wire
The Knot
Yelp
Google+
Portland Business Alliance
Leading Caterers of America
Sustainability at Work
Join our mailing list!

    Vibrant Table is a proud entity of VT Group: Oregon’s premier hospitality purveyor.

     

    Check out our exclusive venues:

     

    The Loft at 8th Ave
    The Exchange Ballroom

    Lan Su Chinese Garden
    VT Group provides casual to high-end, full-service catering, event production and facility management. Our mission is to foster exemplary relationships within our community, developing and maintaining quality connections with partners who share our same ambition, drive and values.
    Back to top
    Privacy & Cookies Policy
    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settings Read More   ACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT