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Whether you call them Chef Attended Action Stations, Performance Stations or Chef Bars (our favorite), this service style is HOT! Today’s feature is the last installment in our Service Series and is a specialty at Puff ‘n Stuff Catering.

Action stations are the most interactive ways to serve your guests and bring an added level excitement, entertainment and…action to your special event. Guests watch with excitement as their food is prepared to order by lively chefs! The concept is simple and can be adapted to most event styles:

• Cocktail Reception: server pass specialty cocktails, set-up full bars and sprinkle hors d’oeuvre portion action stations through out the space to encourage mingling, conversation and movement around the room.
• Chef Bar Party: arrange mixed size and height tables through out the event space, select your favorite mini plate portion action stations and enjoy! Guests explore Chef Bars at their leisure, select their preferred seats and experience a tapas-style dinner they won’t soon forget.
• Family Style Meal: couple a salad and side dish buffet with 2-3 entree portion action stations arranged evenly through out the room for a relaxed atmosphere with a twist.
• Formal Dinner: select upscale action stations with 2-3 complementary dishes at each station such as a mini steakhouse wedge salad, grilled and sliced filets and smashed potatoes. Provide assigned, formal seating to give guests the option to eat while mingling or comfortably in their seats.

Action stations can be set-up in formal event spaces, outdoors or in a private residence. The flexibility, interaction and creativity offered by this service style continues to increase its popularity for all event types including weddings, corporate events, and social events such as birthdays, anniversaries and bar/bat mitzvahs.

The Puff ‘n Stuff Catering team continues to “passionately perfect” the art of action stations and we love creating unique and personal stations for our clients. Stations can be developed from family recipes, favorite dishes and our vast menu of action stations. Some of our most popular action stations include Lobster Mac ‘n Cheese in which our rich, creamy lobster mac is freshly prepared and served from a hollowed 80 pound wheel of Grana Padano cheese, and the Vertical Bento Box – a rotating, Asian-inspired display filled with multiple dishes such as our Asian Trio Plate and King Crab with Pink Grapefruit served on peeled grapefruit slices finished with a tangerine gastrique and lemon foam.

Why not try this growing trend at your next special event? For more inspiration, keep scrolling to see highlights from the Puff ‘n Stuff Catering kitchen and check out this Perfect Wedding Guide post by our friend Jody Wimer, board member of the International Caterers Association and President of JPC Event Group in Pennsylvania!

Thank you to K & K Photography and Unrue Photo for sharing your images in this post!

Photo Credits:
K & K Photography, Jeff Kathrein, www.kandkphotography.com
Unrue Photo, John J. Unrue, www.unruephoto.com

Today’s featured event is not just a birthday party, it’s Madison’s one-of-kind Black & White Birthday Bash at Heaven Events Center! This club inspired shindig was decked to the nines with black, white, hot pink and zebra print…everthing! From the lux pink carpet and bouncer greeting her guests, exciting uplighting bouncing off the walls, and VIP lounge furniture, each element showed off the party’s theme. Even the specialty mocktail of the night — The Hot Pink Mar’teen’i — sported the birthday girl’s favorite colors!

Choreographed dancers filled the dance floor, while a t-shirt artist passed out custom t-shirts and kids feasted on ice cream from Coldstone Creamery. Puff ‘n Stuff Catering provided delicious food that everyone could enjoy including the kids! Featuring “s’mores indoors” and even a create-your-own-nacho bar, this celebration truly had everything a birthday girl could ask for!

Wild Dinner Buffet

Create Your Own Nacho Bar
Vegetable Quesadillas piped with Rose Sour Cream
Cheeseburger Sliders & Fries

Out of Control Desserts

“S’mores Indoors” Marshmallows on bamboo skewers, flamed,
rolled in Micro Chocolate Chips and crushed graham crackers

Event Credits:

Caterer: Puff ‘n Stuff Catering
Cinematographer: VHVIDEO.COM
Venue: Heaven Events Center

Have you dreaming about planning a romantic wedding in Tuscany or a glamorous affair in New York, but woken up to a local wedding reality? Well, we’re happy to share that you can have a fabulous wedding in your hometown that feels like it’s in a land far-far-away…without breaking the bank!

Central Florida and the Tampa-St. Pete areas are home to numerous venues that lend a destination vibe without the destination price tag. Local venues not only reduce travel expenses for you and your guests, they can reduced your stress level and be perfectly transformed to resemble the exact destination that you wished for. Today we would like to share some of our favorite local “destination” venues in hopes they can make your wedding vision come true!

The Big City
With Broadway lights and stunning glamour, New York has a place in everyone’s heart. The Mezz, a Downtown Orlando venue, has the bright lights, chic design and city-scaped floor-to-ceiling windows to bring a New York themed event come to life!

Las Vegas, NV
Adventurous and modern, Heaven Events Center is the perfect venue for a Las Vegas style event. Filled with glitz and state of the art technology like LED lighting and HD TVs, this locale close to Central Florida’s attractions is sure to keep guests thrilled just like the fast city of Vegas!

Travel Back in Time
The Ballroom at Church Street offers elegant Victorian style in the heart of Downtown Orlando with large detailed stain glass windows, double grand staircases, and spacious ballrooms. If you yearn to celebrate in classic style, this space can be decked to fit any fairytale wedding!

Tuscany, Italy
Couples longing to venture into Italian wine country for their big day need only to travel to Sarasota’s Powel Crosley Estate. This large stone mansion is surrounded by beautiful gardens setting the scene for a breathtakingly charming and romantic wedding.

Tropical Paradise
Paradise Cove offers a lush, tropical backdrop for a scenic waterfront wedding. Nestled near Disney’s Lake Buena Vista area, Paradise Cove’s thatched-roof and open-air patio, beach front bars and sandy shores will make you feel like you’re miles away from the city!

Latin Locales
If you seek venue rich in cultural history with a latin flare, The Cuban Club in Ybor City is a must-see. With its large ballrooms, theaters and open-air space, this space can transform a party into an exciting, fun-filled fiesta!

Welcome to the Part 2 of The Service Series! Today we’re exploring at the elements of plated meals. As wedding and event trends come and go, plated service is elegant and timeless.

Each meal is meticulously prepared and plated in the kitchen, and personally presented by servers who make a direct connection with each and every guest. In addition to the extra level of attention given to guests, seated meals create an intimate ambiance and the perfect environment for conversation. And for hosts with creative culinary ambitions, the plate can easily become the canvas for a beautifully designed entrée.

From a practical standpoint, plated meals significantly reduce food waste as portions are planned precisely to the final guest count. Guests with special dietary requirements can be discretely served a meal that suits their needs without offering this selection to the full guest list. This style is also extremely beneficial during structured events with a program or when the host wants to control the flow of event. Service of the various courses can be timed around a speaker or special event to ensure the proper level of attention to the event’s focus or to signal times of free conversation.

Although plated service delivers a high level of guest interaction, it’s also the most labor intensive and commonly the most expensive service style. For plated meals where guests pre-select between multiple entrées, assigned seating is required to guarantee the plates are delivered correctly.

When choosing between service styles for your next event, weigh the benefits of plated service alongside the style of your event, the mood you hope to create and of course your budget! And remember — the pros at Puff ‘n Stuff Catering are here to help answer your questions. To get inspired, take a peek at some of our delectable plated entrées!

Special thanks to the photographers who shared their work! Damon Tucci Photography & Jerry McGaghey Photography

Here is a little ’60s infused inspiration for your Tuesday! We had fabulous opportunity to partner with Divine Light Photography, Tampa Wonderworks Films and several other Tampa/St. Pete wedding pros to create this retro Mad Men inspired wedding at the Postcard Inn on St. Pete Beach.

Already featured on Style Me Pretty, this fanciful day will hopefully get your creative juices going and take you back to a cooler era. Check out the gorgeous images and video from the shoot, and read on for the details on our throwback comfort foods and clever treats.

Mad Men // Postcard Inn // 16mm + HD from Tampa Wonderworks Films on Vimeo.

Starting Off Right

Antipasto Kabobs

grape tomatos, fresh mozzarella balls, Kalamata olives, and artichoke hearts skewered ’60s style and served with aioli dip

Mini Monte Cristos “On the Rocks”

a classic indulgence served in a small rocks glass with layers of organic berry preserves and white powdered sugar

The Chicken & The Egg

even more sinful than mom’s deviled eggs and filled with spicy southern fried chicken

Smokin’ Dessert Cigars

classic crêpes rolled tightly, filled with chocolate mousse, dipped in chocolate and decorated to look like smoldering cigars

Mom’s Classics with a Twist

Classic Shrimp Cocktail

Chilled Small Shrimp served with cocktail sauce in a mini martini

Porthole Caesar Salad

fresh lettuce tossed with shaved parmesan cheese, an Asiago tuile and a classic Caesar dressing and tucked into a large crouton

Personal Beef Wellingtons

a retro entertaining staple stuffed with mushroom duxelles, wrapped in a puff pastry and served with Madeira wine sauce

Dutchess Potatoes

garlic smashed potatoes swirled and lightly browned

Green Bean Casserole

the original recipe served in a mini casserole dish

Thank you to the amazing vendors who made this inspiration shoot possible!

Cinematography: Tampa Wonderworks Films

Photography: Divine Light Photography

Bar Service: uDream Events

Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid

Cuisine: Puff ‘n Stuff Catering

Event Coordination: Simply Divine Events

Floral Design: Events in Bloom

Hair: Holly Nazario of Collective Creations

Linens: Connie Duglin

Makeup: Jess Waldrop

Models: Raph Schwyter + Lili Rey + Kriss Pugh + Brianna Strum + Christina Kolosvary + Chris Dube

Stationary: Not From a Box

Venue: The Postcard Inn

Vintage Furniture & Typewriter: MMD Events

Wedding Cake: Cakes By Nomeda

Wedding Gown: Buffalo Gal Vintage

Wedding Veil: Anglo Couture

The Groom’s Cake – one of the few distinctly masculine wedding features – is a Southern tradition making a popular modern-day comeback. A surprise or gift from the bride, the groom’s cake is customarily served at the rehearsal dinner or as an alternative to the wedding cake at the reception. Traditional groom’s cakes feature masculine colors and rich flavors like chocolate, red velvet or the groom’s favorite flavor.

However, contemporary groom’s cakes themed for his favorite sports team, hobby or profession are making quite a stir at receptions across the country, not just in the south. And following wedding cake trends set by shows like Cake Boss and Ace of Cakes, intricate and ornate groom’s cakes are becoming quite popular. But no matter whether you’re interested in sweet and simple or styled and stunning, any groom is sure to appreciate the thoughtful gesture of presenting him with his own special treat.

For more inspiration, read on to see a few custom groom’s cakes from the bakery at Puff ‘n Stuff Catering, and some ideas from around the web that are fit for a king (and your groom)!

Photographed by: Pilster Photography Created by: Puff ‘n Stuff Catering

Created by: Sugar Suite

Created by: Puff ‘n Stuff Catering

Original Post by: Wedding Wire

Photographed by: Brian Phillips Photography Original Post by: The Knot

Photographed and Original Post by: Pohlman’s Cakes

Photographed and Original Post by: Theme Cakes by Traci

Original Post By: Sweet Retreats Blog

Photographed and Original post by: Pink Cake Box

Photographed and Original Post by: Cake Central

Photographed and Original post by: Sugar Coated Bakery

Photographed and Original Post by: Ace of Cakes

When an large influx of wedding guests enter the reception space and attempt to locate their seats all at once, name cards are incredibly helpful in directing guests to their assigned tables. However, the use of traditional black and white paper name cards is dwindling and personally designed place cards are on the rise. Many couples have taken it upon themselves to go one step further and customize their guest name cards in a way that reflects their wedding theme, favorite hobby, and even making them an edible treat for guests to enjoy before their main course!

And what better way to show immediate appreciation to your guests than to greet them with personalized name cards designed just for them?  Whether you use sweet treats, trinkets that coordinate with your wedding theme or personalized mementos, have fun and be creative! Anything from wine corks to feathers to chocolate can be used to create something special that defies tradition. Take a look at some inspirational pieces and enjoy!

Photographed by: Punam Bean Original Post on: Green Wedding Shoes

Photographed by: Martha Stewart Original Post by: Blue Orchid Designs

Photographed by: He and She Photography Original Post by: Green Wedding Shoes

Photographed and Original Post by: Do It Yourself Weddings

Photographed by: NBarrett Photography Original Post by: 100 Layer Cake

Happy Monday! Today we’re bringing you the beautiful spring wedding of Nikki and Chris at Tampa Bay Watch. Situated on the scenic shoreline of Cunningham Key, their ceremony was held on the venue’s spacious waterfront lawn set with palm trees, mangroves and crisp white chairs. The picture-perfect setting on the Gulf of Mexico created a gorgeous sunset backdrop as the couple said their “I do’s.”

Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed wine and classic hors d’oeuvres on the wrap-around terrace and a delicious family-style dinner inside the window-lined main hall. And to make the evening even more exciting – they were also celebrating the bride’s grandfather’s 90th birthday! To honor him, the couple requested a special cake table filled with hand-crafted decorative cakes just for the occasion. Read on to see pictures of their special day and beautiful menu!

Waterfront Hors d’Oeuvres
Coconut Chicken Brochettes skewered chicken breast coasted in coconut served with tropical salsa
Warm Phyllo Cups with Brie and Chef Jimmy’s house-made citrus honey
Smoked Chicken Cranberry with Caramelized Onion Bruschetta
Spinach Bouchée puff pastry filled with a creamy Boursin spinach dip

A Breezy Dinner
Freshly Baked Artisan Breads
Citrus Greens Salad frisée, arugula and baby spinach
with sliced Florida oranges, fennel, toasted almonds and a citrus vinaigrette
Glazed & Grilled Mahi Mahi Margarita
Jerk Marinated Chicken Breast
Seasonal Vegetables

Event Credits:

Catering/Linen/ Bar: Puff ‘n Stuff Catering

Flowers: Botanica Design Studio

Entertainment: Brace Entertainment

Photographer: Jerry McGaghey Photography

Venue: Tampa Bay Watch

Video: Chad Whelan Videographer

Puff ‘n Stuff Catering Special Event Planners will be available to answer your wedding questions this Sunday at the Perfect Wedding Guide Bridal Show at the Hilton Orlando Hotel from noon until 4 p.m. Stop by our booth for inspiration, special offers and to taste our cuisine.

While you’re there, register to win your choice of a free champagne toast or butler-passed hors d’oeuvre at your wedding catered by Puff ‘n Stuff Catering!

You can even use this coupon to purchase buy one get one free tickets for you and a guest!

When planning a catered event, future hosts have many questions for our team of catering pros including one of the most frequently asked questions – how should the meal be served?

There are three primary service styles: plated, buffet and action stations – and we love to educate our clients about the benefits of each and create a personalized service blend that best suits their individual event goals. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be giving you an inside look at the strengths and challenges of each service style to help you make the best choice for your next event!

Today’s featured style is the simplest and one of the most popular service options — the buffet. Many brides and event hosts warm up to this crowd-pleasing setup for its variety, flexibility, and efficiency. When faced with large groups or those with diverse tastes, buffets offer stress-free planning by allowing multiple entrée and accompaniment selections and give guests the freedom to fill their plates with only their favorite dishes. Buffets can also be arranged strategically to manage the flow of guests around a room, and divided into themed tables to organize multiple cuisine styles. Requiring less service staff than a traditional plated dinner, a buffet is a very cost effective way to serve any size group. In addition to decorating guest seating tables, buffet tables can also be lavishly decorated, decked out for a theme party or simply elegant. The choice is yours!

A buffet style meal may not be the best choice if your goal is to create an intimate or sophisticated atmosphere at your event. And although caterers are typically able to guarantee the minimum amount of food needed to satisfy guests, buffets are the most likely to end with leftover food. As with any service style chosen, buffets can include perceived challenges or cons – the key is to evaluate all of the options and decide what’s most important to you.

With efficient costs and endless options, one thing is for certain – buffets are back!