Vibrant Springtime Recipes 

Bold spring flavors are some of the best event menu items!

A spring season inspired menu is nothing if not colorful, flavorful and refreshing. And with the Texas weather approaching its hottest, we could do with the refreshing! We’ve curated some lip smackin’ springtime recipes that would be perfect for your next dinner party – recipes straight from the Gil’s kitchen, that’ll make you taste the spring season!

Seared Ocean Trout, Mashed Fava Beans, and Hon Shimeji Mushrooms

Ingredients:

• 4 pieces 6 oz. ocean trout
• 1 lb. hon shimeji mushrooms, roots removed and separated
• 1 cup fava beans, peeled
• 1 cup English peas, peeled
• 1 shallot, minced
• 2 T. parsley, chopped
• 2 T. butter
• 4 T. Crème fraiche

Recipe

Blend the fava beans and peas in a food processor to create a coarse paste. Add the minced shallot in a little olive oil over low heat. Add the fava bean-pea mixture to the shallot and mix well. If needed, add a splash of water to keep moist. Season with salt and pepper and fold in the chopped parsley. Reserve.

Season the fish with salt and pepper and set aside. Put a heavy bottom sauté pan over high heat; add enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan and take the fish – sear flesh side down for about 2 minutes. Lower heat to medium and let fish cook slowly for 2-3 more minutes. On another burner, heat another sauté pan over medium heat, add butter and sauté the mushrooms until tender.

To serve, put a spoon of the fava bean/pea blend in the center of a plate, add a little mushroom on the side with the fish on top. Garnish with the crème fraiche and a few pea shots.

Beet & Strawberry Salad with Strawberry and Poppy Seed Dressing

This salad is not only deliciously colorful but also a blast of antioxidants – something your skin would be thankful for!

Ingredients:

For Salad:

• 1 bunch red beets, medium
• 1 bunch yellow beets, medium
• 2 pints fresh red strawberries
• 10 oz. arugula
• 3 oz. goat cheese
• Aluminum foil (to wrap the beets)

For Dressing:

• 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1 tbsp. poppy seeds
• 6 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• 2 tsp. sugar, granulated
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Recipe

Preheat oven to 425*F. Coat the beets in olive oil and wrap them up in the foil. Roast them directly on the preheated oven rack for an hour. Pierce them with a fork to check if they’re done. Let them cool, then peel off the skin and chop into square-shaped chunks.

To make the dressing, combine all the ingredients in a blender, except the oil and the poppy seeds, and blend until smooth. Then slowly add oil to the blender and blend for 5 seconds.

Transfer the arugula and beets in a large mixing bowl and drizzle the dressing generously. Add the poppy seeds and crumbled goat cheese on the top while serving.

Chilled Snap Pea Soup

This snap pea soup is really easy to prepare and it’s perfect for those spring evenings when there’s a slight chill in the air.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. fresh snap peas
• 1 shallot, mined
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3 cups buttermilk
• 1 tbsp. butter
• 1 tbsp. kosher or Himalayan salt

Recipe

Sauté the garlic, shallot, and the peas in butter over a low heat until they tender. Then, mix the sautéed ingredients with the rest of the ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Add seasoning to taste.

Asparagus with Turmeric-Spiced Almonds

This sweet-spicy asparagus recipe is a must have for your rehearsal dinner.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup almonds, sliced
• 1 lb. asparagus, soft stems, 3-inch pieces
• 1 tbsp. agave nectar
• 1 pinch turmeric
• 1 pinch ground cumin
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• 1 pinch sea salt
• 1 1/2 tbsp. grape seed oil,

Recipe

Preheat the oven to 325*F. Cover a baking sheet with some oil and set aside. Take a small bowl and mix the turmeric, salt, cumin and agave. Then slowly add the almonds as to coat thoroughly. Spread the coated almonds on the prepped baking sheet and bake for 6-7 minutes until light golden. Set aside.

Set a large heavy skillet over medium heat and add the remaining oil. Then add the asparagus and cook lightly for 5 minutes until soft. Take a serving dish and add the asparagus. Top with lemon juice and almond dressing.

Wedding Caterer DFW | Gil’s Elegant Catering

 

Still trying to decide which serving style is best for your special day? Buffet meals and plated dinners each have distinctive pros and cons; either one could be a good fit for your wedding day. Last month we brought you our top reasons to serve a plated dinner; today, we’re taking a look at buffet-style meals. Take a look at a few benefits of serving your wedding dinner buffet-style:

• Casual feel: for some couples, a plated dinner is a bit too formal. A buffet, on the other hand, creates a more casual atmosphere—which may be desired for an intimate reception or a more laid back celebration.

• More food options: if you’d like to provide multiple entrées or sides, a buffet could be your best bet. Serve multiple dishes, allowing guests their choice of delectable foods. Plus, guests can easily pass on any dishes that might not suit their palette.

• No wait time between courses: while a multi-course meal can actually help schedule flow, it does involve a brief pause between each course. A buffet, on the other hand, allows guests to enjoy the full meal all at once, without waiting for each new dish to be served.

• Easy planning: take a look at our buffet options to form a pre-selected menu. Once you’ve decided on your buffet items, there’s no need to track guests’ food preferences or worry about a seating chart that will appropriately serve chicken or beef to each guest. A buffet can help alleviate planning stress from the bride and groom, without sacrificing amazing food and service!

No matter which route you take, Gil’s Elegant Catering will always bring delicious flavor and impeccable service! We set our standards high, for any serving style. Visit us to learn how Gil’s came to be known as the top wedding caterer DFW has to offer; our incredible food is renowned throughout the metroplex, and our service standards are unmatched. We hope you’ll give us a call and schedule a consultation so you can see for yourself!

Best Dallas Event Caterer | Gil’s Elegant Catering

 

Gil’s Elegant Catering is proud to be the best Dallas event caterer. Over the past thirty years, we’ve developed relationships with the city’s top wedding and event professionals. These talented vendors help make any celebration a success! One of the most important vendors you’ll select throughout the planning process is the venue. The event venue sets the tone for the rest of your occasion, and is key to bringing your vendor team together under one roof.

Gil’s Elegant Catering proudly serves over 70 venue locations in the city, ranging from elegant ballrooms and barn wedding venues to corporate event centers. Beyond that, we also provide catering in private residences and corporate offices upon request. We’ll go wherever the celebration takes you!

Today, we’re highlighting a few of our preferred venues throughout the Dallas area. Take a look at our list, and be sure to visit our Venues page for a full list of tried-and-true places all over the city to host your special occasion.

Preferred Venues:

• The Empire Room on Riverfront Boulevard: Gil’s is the exclusive caterer for this versatile wedding and event venue, located in the heart of downtown Dallas. Their “blank canvas” venue, outdoor patio area, and incredible view of the nighttime skyline make The Empire Room an excellent choice for any occasion.
• Rosine Hall at the Dallas Arboretum (Daytime events): The Dallas Arboretum is a long-time hallmark of The Big D. We’re proud to partner with The Arboretum, serving delicious lunches and snacks to garden visitors throughout the day. We are also a preferred caterer for weddings and special occasions hosted at this staple Dallas attraction, located on White Rock Lake.

 

Our other venue connections span the map, from Plano to Fort Worth and everything in between. Take a look at our Venues page to start your venue search with a pre-vetted list of top-tier pros.

No matter where you host your special day, we hope you’ll consider Gil’s—the best Dallas even caterer! Our commitment to quality food, unparalleled flavor, and high-caliber service has garnered our recognition throughout the industry over the past three decades. We hope you’ll give us a call so we can customize a menu for your celebration!

 

 

 

 

On the fence about a plated meal, versus a buffet-style dinner? Each serving style has its pros and cons, but our expert team of Dallas wedding caterers has seen it all! Either option can be an excellent choice—and we’ll always bring delectable food and impeccable service, no matter which route you choose. But to inform your decision, we’ve collected a few benefits of serving a plated dinner. Take a moment to review our list before you make a final decision:

• Formal feel: of course, a major benefit of a plated dinner is the formal tone it sets for the rest of the evening. As the most traditional serving style, it automatically evokes timeless elegance and a formal atmosphere. If you love the idea of a classic wedding, a plated dinner is definitely the way to go!

• Everyone gets their meal at the same time: another important benefit of a plated dinner is the serving time. Seated guests will enjoy conversation until meals are placed before them—at the same time. Unfortunately, even a streamlined buffet will still require a line—meaning guests will serve food, sit down, eat, and finish their meal at different times.

• No crowd bottlenecking: on the same note, a plated dinner will help avoid bottlenecking in your event space. Instead of crowding near a buffet area, guests will remain seated. For this reason, a plated dinner is the ideal choice for a small venue, or a venue with a lot of guests.

• Schedule flow: the courses of a plated dinner allow a more structured timeline. Schedule toasts or even first dances between salad and entrée, to keep the event flow moving along throughout the evening. Plus, stay on track with an accurate timeline—as opposed to a buffet, which may require a bit more wiggle room as people serve themselves.

Stay tuned next month for a different perspective! We’ll highlight the benefits of a buffet dinner, so you can make an informed decision on which serving style is best for your special day. In the meantime, take a look at our menus and get in touch with our team of Dallas wedding caterers. We would be happy to answer any questions, and would love to provide an incredible menu for your special day.

Can you believe the holidays are approaching so quickly!? Christmas and New Year’s are just around the corner. There’s a lot to love about this time of year… from twinkling lights to presents stacked under the tree, magic is in the air during December. We’d like to think Dallas catering and delicious food play a big role in making the holidays so sweet! This Christmas season, don’t forget to sample our favorite traditional holiday sweets. Feel free to check this list twice:

• Christmas Cookies: every kid loves baking Christmas cookies… and what better way to get in the holiday spirit? Add holiday-themed icing and sprinkles for an afternoon making memories.

• Gingerbread: right up there with baking Christmas cookies, decorating gingerbread houses is a delicious and festive activity. Add a bit of competition by making it a challenge! Have friends and family vote on the winning creation.

• Chocolate Fudge: a decadent holiday treat, chocolate fudge is a long-time Christmas favorite. Prep a few batches ahead of time to deliver to neighbors as a holiday hostess gift. Tie in a cellophane bag with an oversized bow—voila!

• Hot chocolate: the perfect wintertime treat. Pour a steaming mug of hot chocolate as you decorate the tree or watch a favorite Christmas movie. Don’t forget the marshmallows!

• Christmas feast: roast turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce… the whole nine yards! If you’re feeling ambitious, serve up a traditional Christmas feast guaranteed to impress your guests.

We hope you enjoy these top favorite Christmas flavors. What are some of your own? We love to hear about new traditions and family favorites.

For the holiday hostess, sometimes there’s also a bit of stress involved at this time of year. Welcoming friends and family into your home is always rewarding in the end, but the to-do list is seemingly never-ending. We’d like to remind you of holiday hosting tips from last year—guaranteed to help you host Christmas festivities by planning just a few things ahead of schedule:

 

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Gil’s Elegant Catering! Thanks for making 2016 our best year yet… but 2017 is shaping up to be one for the books as well. We appreciate all our couples and vendors who have supported Gil’s over the years. We look forward to serving you with Dallas catering in 2017!

 

 

It’s that time of year! Engagement season is here, bringing with it sweet proposal stories, happy couples, and stunning new bling. Don’t be surprised if several of your friends pop the question (or say “yes!”) between now and February! Statistically, it’s the most popular time of year to get engaged—with over 40% of the year’s total proposals occurring from Thanksgiving to Valentine’s Day.

If you have a few lucky friends or family members sporting gorgeous new sparkler, you might be thinking about hosting an engagement party to celebrate your loved one’s big milestone. Traditionally hosted by the parents of the bride and/or groom, modern engagement parties can now be hosted by any friend or family member who wishes to entertain! If you’re hosting an engagement party this season, we’ve got you covered with our best catering tips:

• Plan for gifts: even if the happy couple is not expecting gifts, some guests may show up with presents in hand. Plan an easy-access drop spot near the entrance where you can conveniently deposit gifts. A decorative basket works well for collecting envelopes!

• Avoid bar backup: If you’re serving drinks, plan ahead. You don’t want guests to bottleneck near the bar area. Ask a few helpers to assist you with pouring drinks to keep people moving—and to avoid having any guests over-serve themselves.

• Plan 2–3 appetizer “stations.” Engagement parties often bring together a bunch of people who are meeting for the first time. Use your appetizers to facilitate conversation and movement. Instead of just one hors d’oeuvres table, set up 2–3 appetizer “stations” brimming with delicious bites. Guests will be more inclined to wander from one table to the next, meeting people along the way.

• Or… let us handle it! The easiest way to eliminate stress? Allow Gil’s to handle all the catering details. We promise to bring our most delectable flavors, beautifully displayed at your event. You can sit back and enjoy hostessing: welcoming guests, introducing loved ones, and raising a toast to the happy couple. We’ll take care of all the catering details, so you can impress your guests and enjoy the party stress-free.

With just a few of our best catering tips, you’re ready to host the perfect engagement party. Your bride-to-be friend will be honored by your hosting gesture! If we can assist in any way, please don’t hesitate to call. We’d love to be a part of your celebration.

Who’s excited for this year’s state fair? Here at Gil’s, we all are! As a DFW event caterer, we have a prime location for visiting Texas’s greatest food and fun event of year. From fair rides and midway games to fried everything, the state fair never fails to impress. Last year we brought a few state-fair-inspired dishes your way, and today we’re adding to the list. Here are a few fair-inspired trends that will take your action stations from passé to Pin-worthy. Take a look at these ideas you can easily incorporate into your big day:

• Make it a station: part of the fair fun is the presentation of it all. Adding an action station (or two… or three!) to your event will provide both delicious food and entertainment for your guests. Plus, you’ll encourage movement around the room for better event flow.
• Serve up a late-night snack: just like those fried fair foods tend to taste even better after a late night of fun on the midway, late-night event foods always garner plenty of appreciation. Serve up a sweet treat surprise, or a savory midnight snack. Your guests will love it!

• Signage: the real key to many of these fair dishes is the name. Something about “Crunchy Fried Oinkers” is far more intriguing than “Pulled Pork Sandwich.” Put your thinking cap on to come up with some creative names for your food stations, and have your calligrapher create a few custom signs to impress your guests.

 

With three easy ideas, you can impress guests with state-fair-inspired fun. Which state fair foods are you loving this year? How can our DFW event caterer team transform them into a playful dish for your big day? We’d love to help you pull it all together—just get in touch so we can chat about your ideas!

We hope you’re enjoying these cooler temperatures as much as we are! Here in Dallas, it’s finally starting to feel like fall. Earlier this month, we brought you a few of our favorite autumn appetizers—perfect to serve at a fall wedding or event. However, special-occasion appetizers from the top DFW event caterer are a rare treat. What about fall flavor for the everyday menu? Today, we’re posting about some easy fall dishes anyone can make at home!

In general, fall is all about robust flavor, garden-ripe vegetables, and hearty comfort foods that bring families together. Add a few of these easy recipes into your menu rotation at home to bring the warmth and flavor of the autumn season to life on your table.

Butternut Squash Soup: a classic staple of a fall menu! This soup is easy to make and hits all the right flavor notes. Serve with toasted french bread for lunch, or as a first course to a hearty dinner. Tip: make a big batch and freeze in individual containers so you’ll always have a warm comfort food at the ready.

Fettuccine with Sausage and Kale: this hearty entree is a flavorful dish guaranteed to please. It works well as a standalone dinner, or can be served in smaller portions alongside additional sides. Add a glass of red wine to round out this delightful fall entree.

Pumpkin Roll: It wouldn’t be fall without a little pumpkin! These delicious sweets are easy to make, and always a hit with any crowd. Whether you serve them at home, or arrange a display for the next family party, you’re liking to have an empty platter at the end of the night.

Add these simple recipes into your routine for a taste of fall flavor. They’re tried and true dishes approved by your top DFW event caterer. Let us know how they turn out!

As always, if you’re in need of a fantastic menu for your next wedding or event, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’d be honored to bring delicious flavor and exceptional service to your big day.

 

We’re welcoming cooler temperatures and a change in color as we usher in the fall season. As a full service Dallas wedding caterer, we love autumn for its distinctive flavors. The crisp weather and ripened gardens lend themselves to robust menus, packed with savory bites. If you’re planning a fall wedding, rely on seasonal vegetables, hearty soups, and family-style comfort food to make your autumn menu a smashing success! Today we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite suggestions for autumn appetizers:

• Cheese board: something about a classic charcuterie board perfectly captures autumn weather. Flavorful cheeses and dried fruits hit the perfect combination of savory and sweet. Guests gather around this display to nibble on delicious bites and mingle together, making your cheese board a perfect choice for the fall season.

• Our passed canapes make for a delightful seasonal treat. Try a Belgian Endive Petal, complemented by Danish Blue Cheese and a delicious Caramelized Bosc Pear Chutney. Artfully crafted to nuance the best flavors of the season, this is an excellent choice to wow guests with flavor and presentation.
• Our grilled vegetable platter is another top-notch selection for the fall season! With asparagus, zucchini, squash, portobello mushroom, baby carrots, and more, this appetizer is bursting with garden-fresh flavor and makes an impactful display at your venue.

You can’t go wrong with any of these three autumn appetizers! These tried-and-true favorites are known for their outstanding quality and presentation—hallmarks of our services here at Gils Elegant Catering. If you’re still looking for a full service Dallas wedding caterer, feel free to get in touch. We’d be happy to whip up these delicious fall appetizers on your big day, or to craft a custom menu for any season!