Tag Archives: catering services manila

Steps In Planning A Perfect Valentine’s Day Celebration

What are the steps in planning a perfect Valentine’s Day celebration?

  1. Schedule a date in advance
  2. Send romantic flowers
  3. Prepare an intimate dinner
  4. Dress to impress your partner
  5. Do not forget the small details
  6. Plan other activities for the day
  7. Engage in deep talks

Happy Valentine’s day! Did you know that the history of this day began during the 3rd century in Rome? Legends say that a priest defied the emperor’s order forbidding the marriage of young men by secretly performing marriage rites for couples in love. As this day is marked to celebrate love, you must have a perfect Valentine’s Day plan for your partner. Keep on reading to learn more!

Schedule A Date In Advance

Schedule A Date In Advance

If you’re both working, you and your partner will undoubtedly be busy during the Valentine’s season. If you’re certain of their schedule, you can get away with planning a surprise date, but just to be sure, communicate with them about setting a day to celebrate this occasion with just the two of you.

This way, you and your partner will have time to prepare your gifts. You can still incorporate surprises here and there to make this day memorable for your loved one.

Send Romantic Flowers

Traditionally, flowers are given during Valentine’s Day. While chocolates are also nice, there is something about these aromatic blooms that sets the heart fluttering. It’s like sending a message without saying anything, as there is such a thing as the language of the flowers. As roses are the most popular choice for this occasion, did you know that different shades have different meanings?

A deep red rose will unmistakenly send your partner a message of deep emotion like love and longing, while a pink one will convey gentle admiration. If you’re looking to express your romantic feelings, you can’t go wrong with a red Ecuadorian rose from Juan Carlo.

Prepare An Intimate Dinner

Prepare An Intimate Dinner

As Valentine’s Day is commonly spent eating out, you can expect that many restaurants will be booked during this busy season. If you’re planning to dine out at a nice restaurant, secure a reservation in advance so you can have your spot.

But if you want a more intimate celebration, you can’t go wrong with having a romantic dinner at home. It is quieter and more relaxed than dining out. You can prepare your signature meals or order professionally curated dishes for a fine dining experience at home.

Dress To Impress Your Partner

If you’re in a long-term relationship, you may be wondering if you still need to dress to impress. Your partner won’t stop loving you if you don’t put the effort into your appearance. But from a romantic aspect, it will help set the mood during this intimate occasion.

While you and your partner are closer than ever, it is recommended to spend effort in grooming for Valentine’s Day. Your partner will be happy knowing that he is a special person whom you can show the best version of yourself.

Do Not Forget The Small Details

Do Not Forget The Small Details

Whether you decide to dine out or spend an intimate dinner at home, it is a good idea to pay attention to the details. Try placing scented candles on your dinner table, putting up pictures of the two of you around the room, or setting up heart decorations. A little time and effort will make a world of difference.

To set a romantic mood, the following ideas might help you:

  • Use Christmas lights to illuminate the room
  • Tie red ribbons on flowers and plants
  • Have a handwritten card on the table
  • Scatter rose petals around the room
  • Set aside some chocolates for dessert
  • Have a bottle of wine ready after dinner

Plan Other Activities For The Day

If you have time for a whole day, it is recommended to plan other activities leading to an intimate dinner at night. Think of something you and your partner will enjoy so you can make the day memorable. Some ideas you can do include:

  • Going for a picnic at the nearest park
  • Looking at the skyline at night
  • Biking together on a beautiful path
  • Planning a surprise breakfast in bed
  • Going on a simple trail hike for fresh air
  • Engaging in a game night
  • Spending time in a museum

Engage In Deep Talks

Engage In Deep Talks

Due to the business of life, it is hard to talk about meaningful things with your loved one. A Valentine’s date is a great opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation, whether you communicate about life itself or your plans for the future.

You know your partner best and whether it is time to talk about plans of marriage and settling together. If you prefer, you can take it slow and get ideas by reading wedding blogs. If you wish to have this special occasion soon, you can attend a tasting event by Juan Carlo the Caterer.

Key Takeaway

Having a perfect Valentine’s Day plan is key to making this season of hearts memorable for you and your loved one. But if things don’t go according to your expectation, don’t fret and just do your best to enjoy this special occasion. There will always be other opportunities to plan these dates, as long as you stay strong and commit to each other.

If you’re interested in wedding packages, trust only Juan Carlo. As an experienced caterer to those with finer taste, they will make your dream event come true on your special day. For any questions and inquiries about their catering packages, do not hesitate to send a message here.

7 Useful Tips On Hosting An Event During COVID

What are the useful tips on hosting an event during COVID?

  1. Know the latest guidelines
  2. Cut down the guest list
  3. Maintain clear communication with guests
  4. Ensure a socially-distanced floor plan
  5. Opt for outdoor venues
  6. Make hygiene supplies available
  7. Rethink the menu

Hosting an event during COVID can be extremely challenging. Whether it’s a wedding, children’s party, corporate gathering, or debut — every event must implement health protocols while still ensuring that guests enjoy to the fullest. As the premier choice for catering in Manila, we at Juan Carlo understand that no one wants to postpone their special occasions. Here are some useful tips on hosting an event during COVID. Make your celebrations memorable and keep your guest’s safety in mind! Read on.

Know The Latest Guidelines In Your City

Know The Latest Guidelines In Your City

Every city has different guidelines for holding events. It’s important that you stay updated on announcements from the local government unit and health authorities.

Depending on the current community quarantine situation in the area, you might need to implement health and safety protocols ranging from the mandatory wearing of face masks, placing contact tracing registration booths, maintaining social distancing, having handwashing stations, floor markers, to doing temperature checks.

Cut Down The Guest List


While you might be tempted to invite every relative and friend to the event, keep in mind that it is not a practical choice right now. For everyone’s safety and to maintain proper social distancing, you need to consider cutting down the guest list.

Think about it. Do you really need to invite forty of your parent’s friends or friends that you have not talked to in years during your wedding or debut? It might be better to avoid +1 guests as well.

There is a silver lining when it comes to reducing the guest list. You can make the event more intimate and memorable with only a few of your closest relatives around. This is especially ideal for weddings. To add to that, you have fewer tables to decorate. You can reallocate your funds towards more items such as a grand arch or perhaps an international dinner menu.

Maintain Clear Communication With Guests

Maintain Clear Communication With Guests


If you are planning an event during COVID, it is likely that your guest list will drop due to imposed travel and gathering restrictions. Make sure to plan ahead and communicate with your invited guests regarding their schedule availability. Remember that traveling guests from other cities and countries will need to do self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival.

Ensure A Socially-Distanced Floor Plan


Local government units may not have a limit on the number of guests. However, they do encourage people hosting events to focus on ways to limit physical contact with each other. That being said, you should not ensure the venue has the capacity to accommodate guests but rethink the floor plan to properly space them.

If you hire the right catering service, they would know how to set up tables to practice social distancing. At Juan Carlo, we can assign smaller tables grouped by immediate households or by whatever your preference is.

Opt For Outdoor Venues

Opt For Outdoor Venues


COVID is transmitted through respiratory droplets produced when breathing, speaking, singing, coughing, sneezing. A useful tip for hosting an event during this pandemic is to opt for outdoor venues. Move the celebration outside and let your guest enjoy with safety in mind.

For example, weddings can adopt a stunning garden theme while debuts can have a Bohemian inspired touch to them. There are various outdoor spaces that can practice social distancing and not sacrifice the beauty of the venue itself.

At Juan Carlo, we have plenty of partner venues to make your dream events come to life! Check out the Old Grove Farmstead, Fernwood Gardens Tagaytay, Acuatico Beach Resort, or Forest Barn for a quick trip near the Metro.

Make Hygiene Supplies Available


Now more than ever is the time when guests will want to see sanitization protocols being observed. Have hygiene supplies readily available at all times including hands-free sanitizers, hand washing stations, and perhaps a staff that readily disinfects tables.

Rethink The Menu

Rethink The Menu


There are so many ways to infuse taste and creativeness when it comes to event menu services and still maintain health protocols in place. Traditional buffets and grazing may not be the safest choice for now, but you can always opt for plated meals and chef-attended stations with plastic covering in place.

The overall goal is to minimize guest touch-points while also designing a delightful food experience. Tell your caterer to have beverage attendants going around as well instead of dispensers.

At Juan Carlo, our multitude of set menus has been successfully tried and tested before, with guaranteed satisfaction. From classic Filipino appetizers that bring well-loved flavors to blends of European and Chinese dishes — choosing our catering service in Manila provides the most diverse selection of food that will offer unmatched gastronomic experiences for your guests.

Key Takeaway


It can be extremely challenging to host an event during COVID. With the ongoing threat of infection, those who are planning to celebrate occasions must implement health protocols while ensuring that guests enjoy to the fullest.

At Juan Carlo, we can work to make your dream events come to life with safety in mind. We have catered to some of the country’s most famous personalities and a wide array of event types. May it be a wedding, debut, corporate gathering, or children’s party — you can partner with our event planners and let our renowned catering team ease your worries.

Click here to browse our services or click here to get in touch with our team!

Hors D’ouevres For Your Wedding

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What are good hors d’ouevres for my wedding?

  1. Cherry Tomato, Basil, and Feta Skewers
  2. Build Your Own Taco
  3. Deviled Eggs
  4. Caprese Skewers
  5. Spicv Pepper Snacks
  6. Little Lobster Rolls
  7. Manchego Crackers
  8. Black Pepper Gougeres with Pancetta and Tomato
  9. Lamb and Pistachio Meatballs

One of the most difficult choices to make when planning a wedding is looking for a viable catering services in Manila. Food is a big part of any celebration, after all, and making sure that it’ll be perfect is one of the highest priorities.

The food be a mix of dishes that would satisfy your guests. A good menu should be a mix of foods that can cater to everybody who will attend, such as choices of vegetarian food, low-fat food, or even dairy-free food. But all of these decisions will ultimately have to depend on the budget you are willing to shell out.

However, don’t focus only on the main course. When it comes to the appetizer section of a menu, the hors d’ouevres are an essential part of the menu to plan with your catering service. This is what will set the mood for your guests before they enter the reception area since this is usually served during cocktail hour. With the proper hors d’ouevres, you can give your guests a preview what your reception program will be like; demure and classy or wild and fun.

Without further ado, here are some mouth-watering hors d’ouevres you can serve at your wedding reception; some of which are so easy to make that you can even do that at home.

feta salad

Cherry tomato, basil, and feta skewers

You’re going to need as many cherry tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, and pieces of sliced feta cheese as you want with this one. You’re going to marinate the cheese in a mixture of olive oil, crushed garlic, and thyme. Cover and refrigerate that overnight. Prepare these only once you’re ready to serve. Onto each toothpick, you’ll be skewering one cherry tomato, one basil leaf, and once cube of feta cheese. Just be careful to be gentle with the cheese so it does not fall apart on the spot.

Build your own taco

With this, your guests can craft their own perfect taco according to what they want. Aside from the obvious tortillas or taco shells, you can opt to give your guests other classic options such as fresh salsa, chopped romaine lettuce, cilantro, caramelized onions, lime, meat fillings such as braised pork or chili, sautéed mixed mushrooms, beans, shredded cabbage, sour cream, and many more! Other than that, why not try adding a couple of ingredients that are more on the side of the eccentric?

deviled eggs

Deviled Eggs

A classic appetizer and all around finger food. All you’ll need are as many eggs as you want. Boil these eggs, then peel them under cool water. Dry them, then slice them in half and collect all of the yolk. Put the yolk in another bowl, and mash them. Combine them with mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Pipe them back onto the egg whites, sprinkle them with some paprika, chopped chives, and crumbled bacon, and serve.

Caprese Skewers

Caprese Skewers

These appetizers are a common choice to serve to guests who are mostly vegetarian. Especially when tomatoes are in season, this can be particularly pleasant. This salad on a stick is a great option for those who also want to stay healthy while enjoying your wedding.

Spicy Pepper Snacks

Serve this with an enticing display to encourage guests to get a pepper or two. Stick to the not so spicy kinds so that people will feel the flavor but not the heat. You can also prepare a variety of there: Peppadews can be stuffed with mozzarella, yellow peppers can be roasted, and shishito peppers can be flavored with sea salt flakes.

Little Lobster Rolls

This one is especially fitting for a summer wedding by the beach. These lobsters in little bites are good way to treat guests to a taste of what is supposed to be part of a luxurious meal. To create this at home, first you must bake some small rolls of dough. When this is cooked, put egg wash on the small pieces of bread and bake this until it golden brown. While the baking happens, you can start removing the meat off of the lobster and mince it. Mix the fine lobster into mayonnaise with salt and pepper. Fill in each bread roll with one teaspoon of the lobster mix.

Black Pepper Gougeres with Pancetta and Tomato

You may believe that puffy pastries are the best but they become absolutely addictive when served with Italian bacon. The amount that you have made may be too little because your guests will want to keep getting second, thirds, and even fourths!

Manchego Crackers

These crackers have a sharp and nutty fromage with a fruity paste. This makes this appetizer the best of gourmet cheese served in a bite. To create this, add cheese, flour, butter, and salt in a food processor and pulse this mix until it resembles crumbs. Add heavy cream and pulse it again. The result will be a dough-like consistency. Form two rectangles with this, wrap them, and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Then roll out this dough onto floured surface and transfer it onto a baking sheet. Cut the dough into 1½ inch squares and separate them from each other. Chill these for 20 minutes. Then remove the center where the fruity paste will be. Chill these again for 20 more minutes. Then bake the squares until they are it because golden brown; 18-20 minutes. Add the paste in the center and there you have it.

Lamb and Pistachio Meatballs

Even though the Swedish are best known for their meatballs, you’ll be craving for the Greek ones more after trying this hors d’ouevre. This contains lamb, onion, garlic, pistachios, parsley, breadcrumbs, egg, coriander, cumin, salt, and pepper.

Key Takeaway

Hors d’ouevres are simple yet satisfying foods that can be eaten in a bite. These are important for your wedding because they can keep the guests busy and entertained while waiting for everyone to arrive in the reception venue. Always be sure to pick the perfect set of hors d’ouevres to satisfy your guests.