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Vibrant Occasions Catering is pleased to announce the introduction of family-style private dinners, a new service designed to enhance communal dining experiences for special events, weddings, and rehearsal dinners.
Family-style dining features dishes served on large platters placed in the center of the table, allowing guests to serve themselves. This arrangement promotes interaction and a sense of togetherness often missing in more traditional catering formats. The coordination required to execute family-style dining successfully means it is not commonly offered by many catering companies.
"Family-style dining offers a unique blend of sophistication and comfort, creating an atmosphere where guests feel like part of a large, joyous gathering," says Chef Serge Krikorian of Vibrant Occasions Catering. "It's not just about the food; it's about the experience of sharing a meal together, passing dishes around the table, and engaging in lively conversation. This style of dining brings people closer and turns any event into a warm, communal celebration."
Here are some tips to make the most of this dining style:
- Menu Selection: Choose a variety of dishes that cater to different tastes and dietary preferences. Include a mix of comforting, nostalgic options and more sophisticated, indulgent dishes.
- Balanced Courses: Plan a menu that offers a balanced progression of courses, from appetizers to main courses and sides, ensuring a harmonious blend of flavors and textures.
- Table Setup: Arrange tables with minimal decorations to provide ample space for serving platters. Pre-set items like bread and drinks to facilitate easy service and reduce congestion.
- Serving Logistics: Use appropriately sized serving platters and utensils to make it easy for guests to serve themselves. Ensure each dish has its own set of serving tools to maintain hygiene.
- Guest Interaction: Encourage guests to pass dishes and interact, enhancing the communal experience. Smaller tables with a maximum of eight guests work best for this setup.
- Dessert and Beverages: End the meal on a high note with a variety of dessert options and beverage stations. Consider interactive elements like a coffee or hot chocolate bar with various toppings.
Family-style dining is particularly effective for events that aim to create a warm, intimate atmosphere. It is well-suited for:
- Weddings: Creates an inviting and interactive dining experience.
- Rehearsal Dinners: Encourages guest interaction and conversation.
- Family Gatherings: Enhances the feeling of togetherness.
- Corporate Events: Provides a relaxed and engaging dining option.
Key Elements of Family-Style Dining
Successful family-style dining depends on several key factors:
- Table Setup: Minimal decorations are recommended to provide space for large serving platters. Tables should ideally accommodate a maximum of eight guests to facilitate the easy passing of dishes.
- Serving Platters and Utensils: Platters should be easy to handle, and each dish should have appropriate serving utensils to maintain hygiene and ease of use.
- Pre-set Items: Some items, such as dinner rolls and drinks, should be pre-set to avoid congestion during the meal.
- Staff Coordination: Adequate staffing ensures the seamless flow of food from the kitchen to the table and assists guests as needed.
Vibrant Occasions Catering’s first family-style dinner service recently took place in May of 2024 at a private residence in Dumas, Arkansas. Here’s a look at the menu:
Family-Style Dinner Menu Sample
1st Course
- Chicken Pot Pie: Individual servings of a homestyle favorite made with all white meat chicken and tender vegetables, topped with a flaky crust.
2nd Course
- Cabernet Braised Beef Short Ribs: Beef short ribs slowly braised in cabernet wine infused with a puree of leeks, carrots, celery, and tomatoes until fork-tender, served with a flavor-packed sauce reduction.
- Blackened Chicken Breast with Cajun Cream Sauce: Cajun blackened chicken breast draped with a creamy, flavorful sauce.
- Mashed Potatoes: Whipped with butter and cream for a smooth, rich texture.
- Green Bean Provencal: Tossed with blistered grape tomatoes and applewood smoked bacon crumble.
- Dinner Rolls: Freshly-baked wheat rolls.
- Sweetened Iced Tea: Pre-set on the dining table.
After Party Desserts
- Flambeed Donut Holes: Donut holes filled with sweetened mascarpone cheese, flambeed with butter, brown sugar, and rum, served over a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a chocolate drizzle.
- Hot Chocolate & Coffee Bar: A variety of toppings for hot chocolate or coffee, including chocolate and caramel syrups, whipped cream, marshmallows, caramel chips, and crushed peppermint.
More options available. View full menu here.
To explore the array of catering options offered at Vibrant Occasions, please contact:
Mary Krikorian
Managing Partner
Vibrant Occasions
Email: mary@vibrantoccasionscatering.com
For media inquiries about Vibrant Occasions, please contact:
Meredith Corning
PR Agency
Meredith Corning PR
@meredithcorningpr
Email: meredith@meredithcorning.com
About Vibrant Occasions Catering:
Chef Serge Krikorian and his wife, Mary Krikorian, started their catering business in 2002 and have been in the family restaurant business since 1994. Having catered thousands of events over the years as Dinner’s Ready, they launched Vibrant Occasions Catering, a new name that more accurately depicts the level of food and service provided at weddings and social events. Krikorian was born in Lebanon and moved to the United States with his family as an adult entering college. He now hails from the quaint town of Benton, Arkansas. His southern hospitality paired with his penchant for developing unique international fusion-style recipes, especially sauces, has garnered his reputation as foodies' fan favorite in his community and now on the Youtube space for his cooking show, Cooking with the Kriks. After years of dreaming about owning a mobile kitchen, in December 2020, Serge and Mary launched Our Mobile Kitchen with the intention of providing fresh, 5-star quality chef-prepared cuisine to patrons visiting where the mobile kitchen is parked or on site for catered weddings and social, private or corporate events. Krikorian is an alumnus of Henderson State University where he studied business earning his Bachelor’s Degree and met his wife, Mary. He earned his MBA from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Serge became a restaurant entrepreneur when he purchased an old, run-down pizza parlor he and Mary revived called Sergio’s Pizza. After a few years, they knew the restaurant business was not for them. Mary booked their first official catering gig, much to Serge’s surprise. They began receiving more and more requests for catering luncheons and events. The catering business took over after six months and they never looked back. They have three sons who often work in the business around their academic and career schedules, making their enterprise a family-built business.
About Us: Vibrant Occasions is a catering company based in Benton, Arkansas serving special events, weddings, corporate galas and fundraisers.
Contact Info:
Name: Mary Krikorian
Email: Send Email
Organization: Vibrant Occasions Catering
Website: https://vibrantoccasionscatering.com/
Release ID: 89132240
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