Tag Archives: juan carlo catering

7 Ways You Can Celebrate Your Child’s Birthday During Covid-19

What are the ways to celebrate your child’s birthday during the Covid-19 pandemic?

  1. Bake a cake from scratch
  2. Suggest a treasure-hunt party
  3. Camp outside for a fun day
  4. Watch your child’s favorite movies
  5. Use Zoom for a virtual party
  6. Consider catering deliveries
  7. Give back through good deeds

Depending on the government guidelines in your area, face-to-face children’s parties might still be not a good idea. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t celebrate this occasion with your loved ones. Because most of your family members are now staying at home, see this as an opportunity to bond and enjoy. Keep on reading for ways to celebrate your child’s birthday during the Covid-19 pandemic!

Bake A Cake From Scratch

Bake A Cake From Scratch

A birthday is not complete without a cake! While numerous bakeshops can deliver this to your home, nothing beats a homemade treat. Besides, you can use this as an opportunity to bond with your child.

Remember to start with something easy and fun to do. If a cake is too much for your kid, you can also opt for other home baked goods like cookies and brownies! Remember that it’s all about the process and not the results.

Suggest A Treasure Hunt Party

Most children love a scavenger hunt. Finding things in unexpected places can give a sense of thrill and fulfillment to your energetic kids. Even if you don’t have a big house or a wide yard, you and your boys and girls can enjoy this activity. You only need to define boundaries where they can’t go to. To make the activity more unique, a map is also a good addition to give them clues.

Camp Outside For A Fun Day

Camp Outside For A Fun Day

Whether you have a backyard or not, camping is another activity your kids enjoy for their birthday. You only need a tent (which you can get online), a picnic basket, and some lights! You can serve microwaved s’mores while telling each other adventure stories inside your temporary home. The best part is, you don’t need a yard to make this happen—you can also do this in the comfort of your own living room.

Watch Your Child’s Favorite Movies

You might be used to playing children’s movies on the TV by now. But did you know that you can invite other viewers—may it be your child’s cousins or best friends—to watch the same video?

A Chrome extension called Netflix Party allows people from different places to view the same movie at the same time. It syncs the video playback so whenever someone pauses the film it also stops for other viewers.

Use Zoom For A Virtual Party

Use Zoom For A Virtual Party

Speaking of virtual activities, you should also consider planning a Zoom party for your child! This way, you can invite their classmates, neighbors, and cousins for a hang-out session without exposing them to the virus.

There are multiple activities you can do for this. You can have a baking competition, arts and crafts party, or a virtual scavenger hunt—which is similar to a bring-me game.

Consider Catering Deliveries

If you have your hands full managing your child’s party, cooking may not be easy on this special day. If you’re craving good food, it might be a good idea to consider catering services.

You can opt for professionally prepared meals packed in group and single-serving packages. If you’re doing a Zoom party, you can also ship these to your guests’ homes! This way, it would feel like a traditional birthday celebration.

Give Back Through Good Deeds

Give Back Through Good Deeds

Aside from these activities, you should also consider doing a good deed in honor of your child’s birthday. For example, you can donate supplies to an orphanage or provide food for front liners. To do this, you can set up a small fruit stand or hold a bake sale to raise funds! If your kid has a hand in skills like cooking, this will come in handy and also make them feel that they’re doing their part for the fundraising activity.

Key Takeaway

Even though quarantine facilities are still in place, there are ways to celebrate your child’s birthday during the Covid-19 pandemic. This way, you can make your kid feel connected to their community and reduce the feeling of isolation.

If you need assistance regarding catering during the pandemic, you can send a message to Juan Carlo! With a little creativity and help from a professional catering service, you will have an unforgettable celebration that your child will enjoy.

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4 Christmas Venues In Manila For Your Christmas Party

What are the best Christmas venues in Manila?

  1. Blue Leaf Branches
  2. Elements Centris, Quezon City
  3. Green Lounge, Ortigas
  4. One Esplanade, Pasay City

Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year, is just around the corner. People look forward to office parties, high school reunions, and family gatherings. There are raffles, exchange of gifts, and delicious catering of different food and drinks to satisfy everyone. If you’re still looking for a Christmas venue in Manila to accommodate all your guests, keep on reading!

Blue Leaf Branches

Blue Leaf Branches

Whether you prefer to celebrate your party in the north or the south, the Blue Leaf and Juan Carlo can serve you. Their branches can be found in Quezon City, Taguig City, and Aseana City in Metro Manila. Equipped with both function rooms and large banquet halls, your guest list will be accommodated whether you have 50 or 500 participants. Some clients who have spent their celebrations here are Kathryn Bernardo, Andi Eigenmann’s daughter Ellie, and Karla Estrada.

Having modern and stunning designs, the Blue Leaf Cosmopolitan named its banquet halls after famous painters such as Picasso, Monet, and Mattise. If you prefer the Filipino Avant-Garde look, the Blue Leaf Filipinas pay tribute to Filipino fiestas such as Sinulog, Pahiyas, and Pintados festivals. For an experience of the beauty of a modern Asian resort, you can opt for the Jade, Silk, and Banyan Halls in Blue Leaf Pavillion.

Elements Centris, Quezon City

Elements Centris, Quezon City

If you want to spend your Christmas party in the metro, one of the most convenient locations in the Elements at Centris. Family members, coworkers, and clients can appreciate how easy it is to commute or drive to this venue. Located at Eton Centris in Diliman, Quezon City, access to both private and public transportation is hassle-free.

If you have a Christmas party coming up soon, the Elements Centris can accommodate up to 350 guests in each of their function rooms. Inviting more people is also possible by combining both rooms to create one large area. The more the merrier, right? All that’s left is booking a professional catering service to satisfy their taste buds.

Green Lounge, Ortigas

Green Lounge, Ortigas

Do you want to spend the holidays with an overlooking view? Fortunately, the Green Lounge is situated on the Penthouse floor of the BTTC Center in San Juan! During the day, the halls will be filled with bright daylight which is perfect for taking photos to last a lifetime. At night, you can see the beauty of the cityscape with its lights and buildings.

Spending your party outside is also possible with the view deck garden. Say cheers to a great year because this venue is perfect for a cocktail party!

If you only have a few guests, the Green Lounge is perfect for you. The ballrooms can accommodate at least a hundred people, while the garden can house 40-60 guests on a banquet setup. This setup is a must so you can offer your guests the best dishes from professional catering service Juan Carlo.

One Esplanade, Pasay City

One Esplanade, Pasay City

Haven’t found the one yet? Whether you have 50 or 800 guests, the One Esplanade can fit your guest list. The Executive Lounge can handle up to 50 pax, while the Bay Ballroom and Coral Hall A&B can fit up to 150 and 800 guests respectively. This is perfect for intimate Christmas parties with a few friends and family, or a full-blown gathering of employees and clients in a year-end thanksgiving celebration.

This venue is located at the seaside corner in Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. While driving to this event place, you can see the beautiful sights of Manila Bay, with its coconut trees, and yachts on the coastline. When you enter the venue, you will be greeted by state of the art architecture which looks simple, yet elegant. The experience will be complete with a delicious serving of food prepared and served to your guests by none other than Juan Carlo.

Key Takeaway

Christmas parties are one of the most anticipated events before a year ends. Some of you are celebrating a small event with loved ones, planning a reunion with high school and college classmates from decades ago, or organizing a full-blown company party with a large group. After you decide on a Christmas venue in Manila, look for a hands-on catering service that will make your holiday celebration successful and memorable.

If you’re interested in Juan Carlo’s catering packages, you may send us a message here. As a veteran supplier with decades of experience, you can rely on our experience of catering to those with a finer taste.

21st Birthday Party Ideas For Guys

What are birthday ideas for guys turning 21?

  1. Host a House Party
  2. Do Charity Work in Your Community
  3. Throw a Black Tie Soiree
  4. Hold a Rooftop Party

 

Whether you want to celebrate and keep things light or go all out and have fun, ensure there will be sufficient food and drinks for everyone. Take the debut planning process and tweak it according to your preference. Scratch 18 roses and increase 18 shots to 21. From throwing a house party to a black-tie soiree with a buffet setup, here are some birthday party ideas for the guys turning 21!

 

Host a House Party

A group of friends having fun at a house party

Unlike having a party at a restaurant or a bar, you have full control of everything during a house party. The drinks, food, lights, and even music. A house party will give you the freedom to celebrate however you want to. With that, you should plan for the party to prevent it from ending disastrously. Here are a few things you must remember when throwing a house party.

 

Set the vibe with mood lights

Rent strobe lights or ring party lights to set the right mood. Take inspiration from your local dance club or bar and incorporate the vibe into the area of your house you wish to set up. A disco ball should do perfectly if you are going to set up a dancefloor where everyone can enjoy dancing the night away!

Line up the booze

Plan alcoholic drinks, fruit punches, and other beverages you wish to serve. Before you hit your local liquor store, make sure you consider the attendance of your guests. Prevent having to run back to the store because the drinks are not sufficient for everyone celebrating your birthday with you.

Establishing house rules

Make sure to establish house rules. Prevent your guests from visiting the rooms they are not supposed to. Another house rule that you should be firm upon is cleaning as they go. With this, you maintain the cleanliness of your house and avoid having to clean the morning after.

Have a party playlist

Of course, what is a house party without a great playlist? If you are not hiring a DJ, make sure to set up your sound system and test it to prevent technical difficulties later on. Queue songs beforehand and make sure at least one person will man the sound system to adjust the song as well as the volume if necessary.

Come up with drinking games

There are plenty of drinking games you can find online. From beer pong, flip cups, to card games, make sure to allocate space, especially for the games. This way, the dancefloor, the game area, the bar, and buffet tables are separate from one another. It will be easier for you to handle each area.

 

Do Charity Work in Your Community

A young man holding a box of donations with his volunteer friends in the background

Are you into community service and love volunteer work? Holding a small charitable event in your community or within your chosen institution remains a great way to celebrate your manhood. Choose to hire a catering service to provide food for your invitees. Regardless of whether the attendees are adults or children, a local caterer will be able to provide you with a suitable menu. Finally, invite your family and friends over to help you with the activities you have planned for the attendees from the charitable institution. Indeed, there is no better way to celebrate your birthday than with the people you love while doing charity work for your community!

 

Throw a Black Tie Soiree

A man in a black suit and tie

If you cannot think of a manlier version for a debut, you can call your formal celebration a black-tie soiree or black-tie event. A black-tie soiree is an event wherein every male is mandated to wear black bow ties or neckties. The event originated in British and American conventions during the 19th century wherein the dress codes were often tuxedos, dinner suits, or dinner jackets with black ties. Moreover, it is a semi-formal Western dress code for formal evening events. For women, they typically wear muted-colors like beige, gray, or midnight blue. Similar to a regular debut celebration, you can begin with a grand entrance, have a song and dance performance, and of course an after-party!

 

Hold a Rooftop Party

A group of friends taking a selfie at a rooftop party

Rent a rooftop space or make use of your connections to score that spot for free on your special day! It does not matter how you acquire the space, the thing that matters the most is how you will maximize the area to accommodate your guests. Apart from the headcount to ensure the rooftop area can house your guests, prioritize the buffet table setup. You can either have cocktail tables or the normal 8-seater tables and a long buffet table for all the viands as well as beverages.

 

Key Takeaway

Growing into the next phase of adulthood could either be a huge pressure or relief for men. A young man’s 21st birthday is no ordinary birthday. It is a significant turning point for a boy to turn into a young adult. He is now able to legally partake in adult activities. With that, ensure the safety of the birthday celebration with these wholesome birthday party ideas for guys!

4 Popular Venues in Metro Manila for Your Corporate Event

What are popular venues in Metro Manila where you can host your corporate event?

  1. Blue Leaf Mckinley
  2. Elements Centris
  3. Green Lounge
  4. One Esplanade

 

Corporate events are not only a popular facet of working life but also an important one. They can be considered as tools that help your company and its employees grow. Whether it’s for hospitality or business purposes, corporate events have been known to hire available local catering services in order to bring people together.

However, this type of event is rarely about the food because the venue also plays a big part in its success. Physical space, parking availability, accessibility — all these things and more are important factors to think about when choosing a place to host your particular occasion.

To help you choose and ensure your corporate event’s success, here are 5 popular venues in Metro Manila where you can host a great event.

 

Blue Leaf Mckinley

Starting this list, we have Blue Leaf Mckinley. This might be one of the most popular event spaces available because of its location. Mckinley Hill is located in BGC, a premier financial and lifestyle district in Metro Manila. It is a corporate hub where business and leisure meet, and that makes the Blue Leaf events pavilion the perfect place for your corporate event.

An accessible location, it also boasts three different kinds of pavilions perfect for any occasion, not just your corporate event. They vary by size, capacity, and design, so you can choose a particular pavilion based on what you need. One thing that is common across all pavilions is that all are classy, so you really cannot go wrong with the Blue Leaf.

 

Elements Centris

Element Centris

Elements Centris is an event space located in Quezon City. It boasts a huge physical space of 1,165 square meters which means it can accommodate any kind of event. The event space itself is separated into 2 halls: the prosperity hall and the fortune hall. Both of these halls can hold up to 350 people, but if that is not enough, they can be combined into one great hall to suit any kind of large group. Suites are also available for those wanting more private space.

 

Green Lounge

The Green Lounge is an event space that definitely satisfies the environmentally conscious side of people because it is situated in the first-ever ‘green building’ in San Juan, the BTTC Centre. Aside from being one of the only green buildings in the country, the BTTC’s penthouse floor houses the Green Lounge, an event space that presents the views of the Ortigas and Makati skyline while hosting your event.

In terms of its features, the Green Lounge has only one air-conditioned function hall that has a capacity of up to 200 people. A beautiful open garden is also available for use if the hall is not enough for the purposes of your corporate event. Look no further than the Green Lounge if you want to have an event that is accentuated by a beautiful skyline and a touch of nature.

 

One Esplanade

One Esplanade

If the previously mentioned Green Lounge has a touch of lush greenery, then One Esplanade, in contrast, has the power of water on its side. An events venue situated near Manila Bay, One Esplanade offers the use of 3 function halls, Coral A & B and Pearl Hall – all designed so that they stand out from other event venues. Both Coral A and B have a capacity of a maximum of 400 guests each but hosting a big event is still possible by combining both rooms for a capacity of 800.

A smaller corporate event is also possible to host in One Esplanade as Pearl Hall is a quaint, elegant space that is perfect for 150 people. One Esplanade is built with the modern principles of design in mind – transparency, light, sliding panels, and juxtaposition – along with the maximizing of natural light and appropriate materials, One Esplanade provides versatility for any type of event.

 

Key Takeaway

There are definitely no shortages in Metro Manila when it comes to venues perfect for your corporate event. The important thing to do is to prepare properly whether it’s making sure you have a guest headcount or contacting the best local catering services to provide food for your event. Having an interesting program is also useful in order to have a successful event, so don’t neglect that either. Choosing the perfect venue is just a start.

How to Plan the Perfect Princess Themed Birthday for Kids

What are the essentials for a good princess-themed party?

  1. Invitations
  2. Decorations
  3. Activities
  4. Menu
  5. Party Favors

 

The Princess theme party is one of the most in-demand themes since the emergence of new Disney princesses. You can even hire party hosts that specialize in this. You can bring your daughter’s favorite princess to make their special day as magical as it can be. All year round these events are happening and birthday parties are one of the most special. It’s a celebration of life. It’s one of the most festive events filled with happiness and good memories.

Daughters love princesses and fairy tales. Princess parties are a perfect way to let your daughter experience a day in the life of a princess. What does a princess party entail? It’s about bringing the princess experience to your daughter by fully immersing their birthday with the fairy tale enchantment. Let you and your daughter’s imagination flow. Make their fairy tale dreams come true by hosting the perfect princess party for them. Here’s an easy guide on how to do it.

 

Invitations

Invitations

Start with the invitations. You can go as simple or as elaborate as you can. Pick a specific princess your child wants the most, then begin to center everything around that incorporate colors, symbols, shapes, and everything related to the character as a base. You can choose to have your party invitations printed or handwritten. Use scented paper or parchment paper for the main material of the invitation letter. Seal the invitations with wax for elegance. You can even send out video invitations for your guests.

 

Decorations

Remember that children love bright colors. This stimulates their creative mind. Don’t forget to add these elements for your decorations. Take a look at your venue and decide your plan of actions. If your venue has a specific aesthetic ready, this can make your decoration process easier. Like earlier, take a look at the theme of the princess you decide to use. For example, Belle from Beauty and the Beast. The film is filled with rich colors of gold and blue. You can make this appealing by using muted golds and blues with pops of brighter versions to make it balanced. If you want to fully immerse your guests, you can go all out and use furniture pieces and backdrops that resemble the setting of the princess story. It’s good to note that a good princess-themed party is about bringing the experience closer to your kids.

 

Activities

Activities

Keep your guests entertained with fun activities. You can take the usual birthday party games and add a magical, princess-themed spin to it. Make sure that all your activities for the day are safe for the kids. Use soft materials such as foam and blunt plastic. For any princess, you can try sing-a-longs for the first round of games. This can hype up the guests for the following activities. If you have Legos or building blocks, guests can compete in building the best castle for their respective teams. Scavenger hunts also bring a lot of energy in the party if you desire it.

 

Menu

You can opt to have your menu catered for your daughter’s special day. You can hire a catering service that can serve the food in stations or as a banquet. Banquets give a much more prestige fairy tale feeling. Make sure that the menu you choose is balanced in sweets and healthy meals so it can appeal to everyone. A good way to keep the energy up is by also serving some ice cream as dessert.

 

Party Favors

Party Favors

Make your party favors colorful and memorable. Party favors can be packaged in colorful boxes or bags that can include candies, princess-themed favors, and small tokens. You can add tiaras, cupcakes, magic wands, and candies for your party favors. You can decorate them with ribbons and sparkles like large sequins. Colorful leaves are also environmentally friendly and pleasing to add to your party favors.

 

Key Takeaway

The princess theme party is about bringing the magical experience closer to home. Princess themed parties are very popular among kids lately due to the emergence of various princess related films and remakes. Make your daughter’s birthday memorable by choosing the right venue and the perfect magical day for an enchanting princess experience.

#RealWeddings: Modernized Elements Of Greek Mythology Brought This Couple’s Dream Wedding To Life!

Original article courtesy of Metro Style

When fantasy and history cross over to the present world, magical things can happen.

When fantasy and history cross over to the present world, magical things can happen

The same can be said for newlyweds Anna Mabasa and AJ Muhlach on their wedding day. The prettiest elements of their big day were inspired by Greek mythology and their all-time favorite book series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians!

Wishing to translate the bigger-than-life aesthetics of ancient gods, Anna made sure to incorporate signature Greek goddess-inspired details in her dress, the décor, color scheme, and the symbols representing her union with AJ.

In the end, everything turned out exactly the way she envisioned her big day, and then some; this bride radiated with a glow that Aphrodite herself would have been happy to see and couldn’t be more pleased to get her finally ever after in such a beautiful ceremony.

 

About the couple

How did you and your husband meet?

“We met way back in August 15, 2010 during AJ’s mall show with his previous boyband, XLR8

“My cousin, who was their friend, invited me to support them since they were just starting out in the industry and could use a lot of support. He got my number from my cousin a month after that and started texting then calling me. It all happened so quickly! After a very short time, we were already officially dating!”

 

How long have you been together?

“We’ve been together for eight and a half years. Our relationship was about to turn eight when he popped the question.”

 

 What are your current occupations?

“AJ is an actor, and I run our own cheesecake business called Sugar Baby.”

 

What do you enjoy doing together or bonding over?

“We are not very outgoing. AJ and I are both introverts so we mostly keep to ourselves. Although we enjoy going out sometimes, we prefer going to places which aren’t crowded. Most of the time, we just bond over binge watching movies and series, but nothing beats our love for reading and eating. Oh, and yes, we both live for iced coffee!”

 

Preparing for the wedding

Why did you choose a Grecian-inspired theme for your wedding?

“It was based on our most favorite book series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. We are both fascinated by the books because they revolve around Greek mythology.”

 

How long did you prepare for your wedding?

“Nine months! We started preparing around August 2018, a month after he proposed to me.”

 

What were the challenges of organizing your wedding?

“I guess everyone would agree with me on this: the hardest part is the guest list! AJ and I both come from big families and with him being an actor, our network was just so big that it was so hard to shortlist who we both want to invite.”

What was the best part about getting ready to get married?

What was the best part about getting ready to get married?

“The best part was spending a lot of time planning everything together. We were very hands-on when we were planning everything. It was fun for me that we both got to pitch our ideas and play around with them until we reached a decision.”

 

How did you decide on the wedding venue?

“I wasn’t very particular with the venue. AJ and I just both wanted it to be in Tagaytay. Ate Charisse (Tinio), the owner of NicePrint, suggested Club Ananda. AJ and I went to check it out and we just both got the ‘This is it’ feeling. It has lush greenery, a serene ambience, and our visitors didn’t have problems with the parking space.”

What were the highlights of your wedding ceremony and reception?

What were the highlights of the wedding ceremony and the reception?

“There’s too much that I want to say but I would say the best part was when I walked down the aisle and saw AJ looking so dashing in that all-white suit. He was smiling and crying at the same time!

“On our way to the reception, our energy was dropping. We stopped by Starbucks to buy our iced coffees first to give us more energy for the day!

“I also got goosebumps when I saw what FJ Sionson did to our reception area. It was just how we both wanted it to be. AJ and I, along with our best friends, also prepared a choreographed piece for our first dance. The food was amazing and the program flowed smoothly. The reception also ended with a bang as we had the screening of the final episode of Game of Thrones along with our guests who are also fans of the series.”

 

Share some tips for other couples preparing for their own big day.

“Set a budget and stick with it as much as you can. If you have to splurge on anything, splurge on your photographer or videographer because you will look back at these images in the future.

“Also, choose the best caterer because your guests will thank you for it, and they will all go home with happy tummies.

“You also should invest on a good on-the-day coordinator because they will make sure your program goes smoothly all throughout.

“The guests that you’ll invite should also be people who you want to be there—the ones who are really close to your heart. It’s your day and you have all the right to not invite the people who do not contribute to your lives as a couple.

“Aesthetics will only come after these. Enjoy the process no matter how tiring it gets because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

The wedding outfit

The wedding outfit

Tell us something about your wedding gown.

“I actually had a design in mind when I came to Vee Tan. When I saw her work years ago, I already had my mind made up that she would make my wedding gown. She helped me with the details and made my dream gown come to life.”

 

What were other noteworthy details about your wedding look?

“I didn’t have many accessories for the wedding because I wanted the dress to stand out on its own.

“I just wore simple teardrop-shaped faux diamond earrings that my sister, who was my maid of honor, bought for me. AJ gave me a bangle a day before our wedding.

“The look that I had was simple; I just told my best friend and makeup artist, Hernan Soriano, to try and make me look like a Greek goddess and trusted him to do the magic.

“AJ wore anchor and helm cufflinks from Rodel Briñas and a customized gold handmade trident pin made of wires by Macky Combe.”

Details

Details

Number of guests: “Originally, the plan was to have only 80 guests but since we both came from big families, the number shot up to 150.”

Church: “Our wedding ceremony was held at Iglesia Ni Cristo Lokal ng EVM at Tagaytay, while the reception was at Club Ananda, Sandari Batulao.”

Wedding date: “May 20, 2019. It also happened to be AJ’s 27th birthday!”

Wedding coordinator: “Events Embassy was the one responsible for the smooth-sailing program.”

Photographer: “Only the best, NicePrint Photo!”

Invitations and other printed materials: “We picked Print Divas for our invitations. They also designed our wedding monogram.”

entourages outfit

Entourage’s outfits: “I let my maid of honor and bridesmaids decide on whatever design they wanted. My only instruction was that they look for flowy dresses because I wanted them to look like Greek goddesses as well. I helped them by adding a few details here and there to go with our theme. We had it made at Mercy Tongol’s dress shop. The best man’s and the groomsmen’s outfits were decided by me and AJ. We didn’t want it to be too complicated but wanted them to look clean, simple but still crisp. Gladly, we found the linen shirts at Uniqlo and asked them to bring any cream-colored pants that they own.”

Groom’s suit: “The suit was made by Rodel Briñas. He was very easy to work with and helped us find the best materials for AJ’s suit since he’s very particular when it comes to the fabric and the fit. Rodel also had the monogram embroidered in gold at the back of the suit.”

Bridal shoes: “The design of the bridal shoes was simple; I was very particular with finding a pair of gold gladiator heels to go with our theme. I couldn’t find any so I sought the help of Raymond Bragais.”

Florist

Florist: “The bridal and entourage bouquets, plus the boutonnières, were made by Dusty Rose Florals. They were handmade using faux flowers. The set designer, on the other hand, was FJ Sionson. He did a very beautiful job and even added Greek pillars and statues to go with our theme.”

Host: “Two of our friends, Algerome Asuncion and Ton Soriano, served as the hosts. Together, they balanced the reception from the solemn parts to the fun and entertaining ones.”

Entertainment: “There wasn’t a dull moment as we had performances from Mark Mabasa (a grand finalist of X Factor), our friends the Magno Twins and Sam Mangubat (Tawag ng Tanghalan first runner-up), Alyssa Muhlach, and Alonzo Muhlach. We also hired the band Shades of Revery to play for us.”

Officiator: “The wedding ceremony was officiated by Ka Herbert Bolaños.”

Caterer: “The guests enjoyed our mini cocktail area prepared by Dirty Dogs while the scrumptious dinner was prepared by Juan Carlo the Caterer. The beautiful cake was made by Honey Glaze Cakes.”

Giveaways: “Linen sprays that come in two scents. For our male visitors, we chose the Sea Breeze scent to symbolize the god of the sea, Poseidon. For our female visitors, we opted for Olive scent to symbolize the goddess of wisdom, Athena. These were handmade by Rej Aquino.”

Hairstylist and makeup artist: Hernan Soriano

Wedding hashtag: #AM2AM

Original article courtesy of Metro Style

15 Great Summer Sweet Treats

What sweet treats to have for the summer season?

  1. Blueberry Tart
  2. Mint Chip Ice Cream Pie
  3. S’mores in a Jar
  4. Frozen Yogurt (Pops)
  5. Mango-Strawberry Crumble
  6. Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwiches
  7. Summer Fruit Pie
  8. Milk Chocolate Banana Pudding
  9. Tri-Berry Trifle
  10. Blackberry Lime Cream Puffs
  11. Banana Ice Cream Sandwiches
  12. Peanut Butter Pie Pops
  13. Fruit Cheesecake Pie
  14. Oreo Cheesecake
  15. Summer Shakes (S’mores)

Summer is just around the corner and that means plenty are planning their getaways or cookouts that are going to serve as their best vacation! Even catering in Manila ramp up during these times because more parties happen in the summer. You’re bound to see some of the tantalizing sweet treats on their menus. The best part is that these are also easily made at home. So whether you find yourself whether you’re looking for some tantalizing sweets at a party or want to make your own, this list is for you.

  1. Blueberry Tart

Tarts will definitely be the craze come summertime because of their yummy, sweet and addicting taste. With just a dash of cool blueberries, this pastry will definitely put a glamorous twist on your summertime snacking. This is especially because the traditional recipe includes a refreshing lemon-infused cream cheese filling, which is sure to get your mouth watering!

  1. Mint Chip Ice Cream Pie

Ice cream cakes are really delicious, especially during the hot days, but they cannot beat a good slice of mint chip ice cream pie. The best part about this dessert is that it’s easy to make. All you would need is some mint ice cream. Just stuff it in bread – or a similar pastry – and it’s good to go!

  1. S’mores in a Jar

Smores in a jar

When you think about summer activities, camping is sure to be one of them and no campfire cookout is complete without s’mores! This classic campfire treat is great in  itself, but it can be a lot classier. You can do this by putting them in a jar and storing it in the fridge for a while before consuming. Not only will it help the flavor, but it’ll also turn it into a cool treat perfect for any time; even when you’re not in front of a fire!

  1. Frozen Yogurt (Pops)

Who doesn’t love a good fro-yo? It’s the trendiest summer treat. You should definitely have this if you’re planning a summer party. Pick you and your guests’ favorite flavor of yogurt, then request your caterer to turn it into a Popsicle; that will be sure to keep the heat away! You and your guests will definitely enjoy indulging themselves in this fabulous treat.

  1. Mango-Strawberry Crumble

Our country is blessed to have plenty of mangoes and strawberries because sweet flavors are best balanced by tangy ones. But you can’t really call these fruits  summery unless you place these in desserts. If you’re wondering what desserts you can turn them into, then the best versions are vibrant strawberry and mango crumble. The fruits’ perfect pairing and contrasting colors make for a dish that tastes as cheerfully indulgent as it appears.

  1. Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwiches

Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwich

A good cup of ice cream is the most reliable dessert one can turn to anytime it gets too hot. But this common food can be upgraded by whipping up a strawberry ice cream sandwich. When you make these, just be sure to have enough time to freeze it for up to three days. It’ll be a total hit for your younger friends and family.

  1. Summer Fruit Pie

Fruit Pie

The essence of summertime is perfectly captured in this fruity crust pie. No matter what your favorite fruits are, you find a couple or more of them as the main star of this dessert. If you want to do this on your own, then don’t forget to blend the ingredients together so you get that perfect fruity and summery feeling.

  1. Milk Chocolate Banana Pudding

Pudding is a classic sweet treat, but like many of the other items in this list, it can still be taken up a notch. If layers of banana, wafers, milk, and a chocolate pastry cream is added, then the result will be a richer and more indulgent pudding dish. This can be made perfect when topped with curled chocolate shavings for an elegant finish.

  1. Tri-Berry Trifle

Berry Trifle

Summer isn’t complete without a trifle; a dessert made up of fruits, a thin layer of sponge fingers (or cake), and layers of jelly, custard and cream. But it must be kept in mind that a trifle isn’t complete without whipped cream on top of it for added satisfaction.

  1. Blackberry Lime Cream Puffs

Up for some puffs? This blackberry lime cream puff recipe is just the right finger food you’ll need for a summer at the beach. To do this, just split the profiteroles into halves first. Then, fill it with some citrusy lime cream and ripe blackberries. The end result should be mouthwatering out-of-this-world blackberry lime cream puffs.

  1. Banana Ice Cream Sandwiches

Make everyone’s day great with these banana ice cream sandwiches – one of the most loved baked goods for the summer! You can make this yourself by grilling buttermilk-based banana bread and filling it with an ice cream flavor that should suit the taste of the crowd. To top it all, you and your family will definitely love the rich, natural sweet-tasting bananas that the roasted banana bread will bring you.

  1. Peanut Butter Pie Pops

Pops are best enjoyed during the summer, but they’re pretty common. So why not make your own usual flavor? Try this frozen peanut butter pie in popsicles that both kids and adults will definitely enjoy. Plus, you don’t need to worry about the time consumed making the recipe. This is because it’s the kind of recipe you make easily and leave overnight. You can sleep on it and enjoy the sweet treat the next day.

  1. Fruit Cheesecake Pie

Fruit Cheesecake

Thinking of ways to make use of your fresh fruits in the refrigerator? Well, here’s one you could try that’s perfect for the weather. This fruit cheesecake pie only requires some fresh fruits, tea biscuit crust, and some cream cheese filling! Just because it’s called a pie doesn’t mean that you need to bake it. All you need is a refrigerator to do the work for you.

  1. Oreo Cheesecake

Oreo Cheesecake

First off, everybody loves Oreo. Second, everyone loves cheesecake. Combine these two and you’re ready for the summer! When making this, it only takes a bit of effort to crush them the Oreo into bits. From there, it’s easy to incorporate the flavorful cookies and cream into a cheesecake that could become your ultimate dessert favorite to add it to your summer favorite.

  1. Summer Shakes (S’mores)

Summer shouldn’t pass without having one of the various versions of the classic shakes – from the basics to the ultimate shake experiment of the era: the S’mores Shake. It shall bring you nostalgic memories while at a campfire on a summer night; definitely a getaway done right.

Key Takeaway

It might be getting hot outside, but with the cool, sweet treats that are aforementioned you can definitely enjoy it more than ever.

The Characteristics of a Quality Caterer

What makes a good caterer?

  1. Being adaptable to provide any menu at the best quality.
  2. Being able to perform the service in a timely manner.
  3. Being able to manage a large team to work as one.
  4. Being able to keep the client happy.
  5. Being able to keep their employees.
  6. Complying to food safety regulations.

Hiring catering in Manila can seemingly be a daunting task for anyone. Luckily, in this article, we will teach you what characteristics you should looks for in a catering service to know if they can deliver.

What makes a caterer good are really just a few basic things. It’s how the caterer is able to balance all these things altogether that will give him a name in the business. By being able to take simple cogs and form them into a complex set of gears that work together, a caterer can turn even the simplest dining event into a grand gathering. This is the type of service that you want

However, in this article, we’re going to focus on you, the consumer, and we’re going to help you choose the caterer that’s best for you. That’s right, today we’re going to be discussing the qualities that make up a quality caterer!

food laid out on a counter

What Makes a Good Caterer?

This particular subject may be a bit complex to hear, but important nonetheless. What makes a caterer good are a few basic things that altogether form a larger, more complex series of gears that mesh together to make a great event even better. Here are a few things that may shed some light with the matter at hand:

The Menu: Delicious No Matter What

Firstly, the most basic and essential ingredient in making the perfect caterer is the menu. But when the word “menu” is mentioned here, it doesn’t mean the caterer’s own personal menu full of his own specialties; it means his his ability to create any quality menu.

The keyword is in the name of the service itself: “cater”. A good catering service must do exactly what this word means by knowing how to adjust their menu to serve its client’s needs. But not only that; they also need to know to pull off the said menu without compromising quality and integrity then that’s perfect. Basically, it has to taste like it’s their specialty; even though it isn’t.

That being said, it’s a big plus if the caterer is highly knowledgeable in different cultures, customs, and religions. That way, they can provide quality food no matter what an event’s guest list may be while knowing the appropriate manners and gestures to use while serving.

Furthermore, the menu is the lifeblood of any catering service. Even if the food looks great, if it doesn’t taste great then that’s going to be a problem. The caterer has to be willing to go the extra mile to ensure that their food tastes as good as it looks.

Logistics and Practice: Efficiency of Service

While being adaptable to create any menu is a good quality of a caterer, another is the passion for food service. This may be a given already considering that they are in the catering business, but what’s being referred to here is the willingness to go through the various processes of such a service. This entails that they must study, master, and continuously improve their storage, transportation, cooking, and presentation methods.

Organizational Skills: Management of Resources

Being a caterer doesn’t just mean food and service. It means management of a team and all the resources needed to run the entire service during the event proper. With both a front and back end staff to manage, you will want a caterer that can manage both smoothly. Since food presentation and preparation takes a while, you must be able to trust a caterer that they know how to organize and time their actions to make sure food is always coming out of the kitchen.

The Customer Experience: Care for Work

In connection to the caterer’s willingness to adapt to suit the client’s needs, a suitable customer service experience is expected of the caterers as well. This means that the staff of the service must have good work ethic, be well-mannered, and care for the services they provide; the making of any good customer service. This is especially because they will be working closely with with the customer in designing their menu and fine-tuning everything for the event. Doing so requires time, patience, diplomacy, and good communication; some of the facets of a good customer experience. After all, there is no point for a caterer to be willing to adapt if they offend the customer along the way.

Employee Motivation: A Reflection of their Empathy

This article already discusses in length why a caterer must provide good customer service must be adaptable to the customer’s need. But the underlying reason as to why you need to find these qualities in a caterer is because these show their motivation to work. When a caterer and their staff are motivated, they are also sincere with their work. This means that they are 100% willing to provide their service.

This can work backwards. Meaning that you can see if a catering service is good if their employees look motivated. If they do not, then take this a warning sign that it’s possible that the service doesn’t care for their own employee satisfaction. Be wary of this because it may be a reflection of how the treat their clients or at least their sincerity in doing so.

Details, Details: Giving Your Event the Attention it Needs

Another quality that makes a caterer good is their attention to detail. Like what we discussed earlier, everybody wants to make their event as perfect as possible and one way of doing so is fine-tuning details with the customer and for the caterer to meet the client’s demand, the caterer has to both be attentive and willing. Attention to detail entails acknowledgement, planning and execution of small ideas with little to no mistakes to help them form the bigger idea that is the event.

For a caterer, this means that they have to be attentive and willing to plan with the client. If they can do this then you will know that the value the roles of all the small factors when it comes to planning an event. In other words, they must understand that the tiniest details are the building blocks of the whole event. But not only that; they must execute said details well and with little mistakes.  A caterer that gives these little things attention is one that cares for you and your event.

chef sniffs ingredients

Food Safety: Catering Common Sense

Finally, what makes a good caterer great is of course, food safety. Obviously, the food must be safe to eat. Nobody wants to get sick and no caterer is willing to risk their client’s safety; not mention their name! Thus, you can check if a caterer has good standards if he knows they are updated with food safety laws always and comply with them.

Look at how they store, cook, and handle food. Also, try to know if they prioritize fresh food over frozen ones.

Key Takeaway

We’ve been talking about the caterer’s willingness throughout the article but I’d like to discuss that in more detail. Why would a caterer be unwilling to provide service or to adapt themselves to suit the client’s needs? The answer is motivation. The caterer and their staff have to be motivated and sincerely willing in order for them to provide a satisfactory customer service experience. Remember, a good catering service not only provides quality food but they also have to treat their people well and how caterers treat their employees may be a reflection of how they treat people in general, customers included.

Finally, what makes a good caterer great is of course, acquiesce. Quality in terms of food safety and their willingness to adapt to suit the client’s needs while maintaining their standards. Obviously, food safety is an important issue for both the caterer and the consumer. Nobody wants to get sick and no caterer is willing to risk their client’s safety, especially us at Juan Carlo.

Sure there are a lot more qualities to consider but these basic qualities are what we believe to be the frame the supports a business and we believe that these qualities make a good caterer, great.