A Last Minute Event Success - High Point Chamber of Commerce
September 13, 2006
On September 7, 2006 Meredith Williams, co-owner of Pepper Moon Catering received a frantic phone call from Dana Hester, Director of Membership for the High Point Chamber of Commerce. Their caterer had pulled out unexpectedly for an event scheduled for the following Thursday, September 13. Dana explained that the event was to honor those individuals who contributed financially to the building of their new Chamber of Commerce office, located on State Street off Main. After understanding the dilemma Dana and the Chamber were facing and wanting the opportunity to showcase Pepper Moon to those attending the event Meredith agreed to cater the event in one week.
100 – 125 guests were expected for the event to begin at 6:30 with a dedication in the front lobby. At the initial site inspection the following morning Meredith saw much potential to make this event personal to those who helped finance it. President Tom Dayvault, understandably, was hesitant to allow food and beverage on the newly-carpeted areas of the facility. Meredith was able to convince Mr. Dayvault to allow guests to mingle personally with him in the rooms they helped to build.
Having recently attended a catering tradeshow in Denver, Colorado with two of her staff, Meredith wanted to showcase some trendy menu items experienced at the trade show. Having not served these items previously Meredith and the Pepper Moon Chef created a menu that would entertain and satisfy the Chamber staff and their guests. The menu consisted of Short Plates. Short plates are tiny vessels filled with upscale and unique, small handmade hors d’oeuvres. The actual food is not so unusual, it is the presentation of the food that makes it special. The menu consisted of:
Beef Bruschetta
A slice of Beef Tenderloin on a freshly-toasted Bread Round
With Tomato Scallion Chutney
And topped with Bleu Cheese Crumbles
Only in this case we wanted to avoid bleu cheese crumbles getting crushed in the carpet. We altered the hors d’oeuvre to have a gorgonzola cream sauce on the bread under the slice of beef tenderloin.
Hors d’oeuvres Trio
Sweet African Pepper, Goat Cheese rolled in Pistachios and Three-cheese Pimento Cheese on Celery
All served in a white paper tray
Microsandwiches
A trio of different tiny homemade biscuits stuffed with varying accompaniments
Served on a bread and butter plate
Soup Shooters
Butternut Squash Apple Soup and Potato and Leek Soup
Served in shot glasses, for sipping
Shrimp and Grits
Two Jumbo Shrimp served over Pepper Moon Signature Gourmet Grits
Finished with Lobster Reduction and Fresh Rosemary
On a 3” square china plate
Sweets!
Very attractively displayed bitesize desserts
White Chocolate Cheesecake Pops!
Chocolate Pudding Shots served in a shot glass with a chocolate cigar and tiny spoon
Banana Crème Brulee fired on a teaspoon
The evening went off without a hitch. Pepper Moon supervisors and staff worked diligently to perfect the items served to the investors and guests of the Chamber. Both Dana Hester and President Tom Dayvault expressed their thanks to Pepper Moon for rallying with such a unique event in a short period of time to entertain these very important guests. (….and Meredith was very happy no carpet was stained!)