andrea

The Vox Theatre

July 19, 2017 by andrea

Eighteen Ninety Event Space

VENUE SPOTLIGHT

Looking for the perfect urban event venue to serve as the backdrop for your next corporate celebration, fundraising gala or wedding reception? Look no further than The Vox Theatre!

As soon as you pull up to the front of the building, you are immediately transported to the days of grandeur from when the building was constructed in 1922. The history of the building comes to life as soon as you walk through the doors; you can almost see the guests piling in to see the latest in cinematic art from the days when the space hosted a silent movie theater. The original stage still stands and today hosts a different kind of show for the many events that come through the doors, adding a sense of drama and romance to wedding ceremonies, gala speeches and social celebrations. Paying homage to it’s days as a ductwork manufacturer and later an automotive workshop, the renovated front garage doors create an entrance unlike any other for guests to set the tone for any event. The dramatic 20’ ceiling has been preserved with the original tin adds a sense of timelessness and majesty to this amazing event venue.

Whether it be watching a couple’s first dance on the striking hardwood dancefloor or congratulating the latest company retirees on the beautifully draped stage, you can trust that everyone can be a part of the action thanks to the wide open views provided by the venue. This expansive, unobstructed space also lends itself well to whatever layout you may have in mind for your event, giving you the flexibility to make your vision come to life without having to work around pre-existing elements.

The Vox even provides a beautiful green space area for guests to enjoy in the middle of the urban neighborhood. Walking through the glass patio doors, you will be greeted by a privately enclosed patio and lush yard adorned with globe lights that is yours for the transforming.

No matter the type of event you have in mind you can feel confident in your decision to work with the accommodating staff at The Vox Theatre. Event Manager Bailey Eichler works tirelessly to make sure your event expectations are exceeded and the details are accomplished to perfection, ensuring that your entire experience, from planning to execution, will be positive and your guests will be left with an experience they won’t soon forget.

Eighteen Ninety

March 17, 2017 by andrea

Eighteen Ninety Event Space

VENUE SPOTLIGHT

The moment you step onto the property of Eighteen Ninety Event Space you are immediately greeted with a sense of tranquility and romance.

The grounds are something out of a Nicholas Sparks novel, recalling a time of simple elegance and whimsy. The rolling green landscape is gracefully appointed with mature trees that provide the perfect shade on a summer day; the pops of color carefully placed around the property with plants and flowers enhance the overall design of the outdoor spaces. The on-site arbor and green space provides the perfect backdrop for couples to share their outdoor ceremony with their guests.

What started out as a concrete slab for tented events has grown into one of the premier wedding venues in the Kansas City area. It’s easy to see why when you step inside the custom-built ballroom that was designed taking into consideration every detail imaginable. When you walk into the space, your eyes are immediately drawn up with the beautiful crystal chandeliers that adorn the space. Partnered with the wood beamed vaulted ceiling the entire space gives a sense of intimacy while still being open and comfortable for large or small parties. The venue offers access to beautiful chiavari chairs, chargers and votives to enhance the décor you bring into the space. The large open patio is a great space for guests to mingle during your cocktail hour before dinner is served.

Also on location is the 1890 house. A timeless space that is often used as bridal suites for couples and their bridal party to get ready for ceremonies taking place on the grounds. Additionally, it provides the perfect space for couples to do their first looks in a place that is meant for just them to enjoy the moment with each other. The large front porch has also been used to host pre-dinner cocktails.

One of our favorite areas on the property is the catering kitchen. Complete with high-end, commercial grade equipment, this space allows us to prepare fresh and delicious meals on-site with ease. No matter if guests are looking to serve a traditional buffet meal or an elegantly plated menu, the facilities provided by Eighteen Ninety allow us the freedom to create products that deliver the level of quality and presentation we expect to provide our clients and their guests.

Offering year-round spaces for your special day, no matter when you choose to take the plunge you can rest assured that your decision to incorporate this venue into your wedding day is one of the best you will make. While the charm and elegance provided by the scenery will only enhance your wedding day experience, the level of service and accommodation you will receive from Joanne Elling, event coordinator, is second to none. Your guests will be treated with all that Weston has to offer, with unique boutique hotels and shops. Partnered with area attractions, it will be the perfect weekend getaway for your guests.

Fresh from the garden… Ideas for your summer tomatoes!

August 26, 2015 by andrea

As summer comes to a close and kids head back to school, I can’t help but reminisce about my own childhood summers in Wichita. My siblings and I filled our summers with sports, swimming, biking, jumping on the trampoline, and, of course, hide and seek. It was usually during the hiding that I would find myself crouched behind one of the many planters in my parents’ garden; noshing on barely-ripened cherry tomatoes. It’s these memories of sun warmed tomatoes, right off the vine, that get me geared up to incorporate this juicy summertime fruit into almost any dish that I can rationalize them being in.

When our culinary team develops new items and menus, we strive to keep up with the ever changing culinary industry. We often search for new ways to manipulate our ingredients and present items in a way our customers have never experienced. We use new found inspiration from literature, dining experiences, and even consultation from our industry peers. However, some of our favorite items at Brancato’s Catering have come from the collaboration of our childhood memories in the kitchen that honor the integrity of the ingredients and let the quality speak for itself.

Small bites are some of my favorite items to create. I love mixing a mélange of flavors into the ‘perfect bite’. Each ingredient stands on its own, but they all come together to complement each other in the end. A few of our summertime favorites have been our traditional Caprese Bruschetta and our ‘classic with a twist’ Pork Belly BLT. Fresh heirloom cherry tomatoes pop with color from behind the balsamic glaze and extra virgin olive oil on this signature Italian favorite.

Oven-roasted roma tomatoes lend a slight sweetness to our BLT appetizer to balance the salty pork belly and toasted brioche.

During the chilly holiday season, we take advantage of the sweet tomatoes that were picked in their peak season, blanched and canned to preserve a great tasting product. We turned a childhood favorite on its side with our Grilled Cheese and Roasted Tomato Soup Shooters. This combination works well as a passed appetizer during a cocktail party or as a late night snack station.

A simple roasted red pepper-tomato coulis finishes off one of our gluten –free favorites. Our Cannellini, Kale, and Yukon Gold Potato Cake is also vegan, but we’ve caught a couple of our carnivore cooks enjoying this hearty dish. Fresh haricot verts add that tiny pop of color to round out this simple, yet elegant plated dinner.

Event Recap: KU Medical Center

June 17, 2015 by andrea

Whenever you are throwing a party honoring a person for professional accomplishments, it is always a challenge to honor who that person is and the contributions they have made. We were tasked with creating a fitting tribute to the honoree that would be upscale and dignified while still being casual and comfortable to fit their personality.

Planning started six weeks out with an initial meeting to discuss plans at which point our team was given the freedom to really create the look and feel of the event. Special considerations were made in the meal as BBQ was a special request, but we also had to fit in items that were nutritious and health conscious. BBQ and healthy are not exactly terms that marry well, but our culinary development team managed to pull it off through fresh seasonal selections in fruits, vegetables and proteins while offering smaller, portable portion sizes for the mingling crowd. Everyone raved about the bright flavors and unique flavor combinations brought to the table, and were especially impressed with the specially selected beer pairings that fit with each station.

Bite Size Pigs in a Blanket- Bite-Sized Smokies | Flaky Crust | Mustard | Ketchup

Caesar Baskets

S’More Tartlets

Boulevard Tank 7 in mini mugs

Station 2:

Grilled Shrimp & Sweet Pineapple Skewers

Grilled Peaches- Honey Balsamic Glaze

Boulevard Pale Ale in mini mugs

Station 3:

Cheese Corn Bake Bowls- Brancato’s BBQ Burnt Ends | Cheesy Corn & Ham Bake | Crispy Onions

Jalapeno Stuffed Mac & Cheese Bites- Sriracha Ranch

Cherry Cheesecake Shooters- Classic Cheesecake | Cherry Filling | Crumbled Graham Crackers

Boulevard Wheat in mini mugs

On the rentals side we were tasked with taking the blank slate of the open-air courtyard and transform it into an event venue to fit the upscale but casual BBQ theme carried over with the food. We knew we had to provide seating with shade as there was not much provided naturally in the courtyard. We were able to provide ample seating with shade through the use of our umbrella tables, giving guests the freedom to have a seat, enjoy food but still get up a move around if they wanted.

Speaking of shelter we had to provide shade and structure for the food and the 3-piece zygot band hired by the client. We accommodated this through 20×20 Frame and a 20×40 Frame tents. We also had to provide some sort of flooring under these tents to protect the landscape of the courtyard taking into account the recent onslaught of rain to the area and the amount of foot traffic those locations would experience. To accomplish this we provided a stage for the band and custom-made covered flooring for the food tent.

We were able to carry that BBQ theme through the space with bright pops of color through the use of red and white gingham patterns, bandanas and solid red table coverings on the bar high tables and accents we provided. We were also able to add a bit of fun with the metal troughs and buckets to provide grab and go waters for guests on the warm July afternoon.

Whenever you are planning an outdoor event, there are always challenges to overcome, with this specific event we were challenged with very specific load-in/out times, uncertain weather conditions and temperatures as well as a tight event timeline to stay on-track. We are very proud of how our on-site and office staff handled these opportunities and provided a fun and dignified event to honor a very special person.

Ingram’s 40 Under Forty

May 5, 2015 by andrea

“Business isn’t just business for Andrew Brancato- it’s personal. The president of Brancato’s Catering runs not only that operating unit, but is part of an executive team of three other thriving divisions, and the common denominator for all is family. ‘Growing up in a family-owned business not only instilled the values of hard work, dedication and loyalty, but also galvanized my commitment to family, faith and community,’ Brancato says.”

We are proud to congratulate our President, Andrew Brancato on being selected as one of Ingram’s magazine’s 40 Under Forty Class of 2015. We are honored to have him represent our team among the 39 other talented and successful professionals in this year’s class. To be qualified for this honor, Andrew had to demonstrate innovation in his field, commitment to his team and dedication to his community. With this recognition, Andrew is joining an elite group of leaders who bring so much to the professional and civic communities of Kansas City.

On behalf of everyone at Brancato’s Catering, we are thankful to have Andrew as a leader of our team and look forward to seeing how your vision for this company shapes our future!

It looks good enough to eat!

April 13, 2015 by andrea

Have you ever been to an event and felt like you couldn’t tell where the decor stopped and the food line started? Food service has come a long way from the days of simple, straight and standard buffet lines, we can now build elaborate, engaging and edible works of art that are appealing to your eyes as well as your taste buds.

There are several factors to consider when deciding how you want your food to be displayed. One of the biggest is theme. Does an elaborate sprawling display fit into your overall event theme or would a sleek modern look be better suited? If you are going for the grandiose, you would want the big display to highlight that, however if your look is more subdued, you would want to convey that in clean lines and simple structures.

Another factor that plays into theme is decor. What textures, materials and colors are already present that can be incorporated into your concept?

Considering what exists can be useful to create a seamless, cohesive look to your display. It also would not make sense to have a soft floral display at an event that is highlighting raw materials and hard edges.

From an execution stand-point, space is one of the biggest factors your caterer will consider.

Do we need to go up or out when building your display? We want to make sure we can fit what we want to do where it needs to go. Your display wouldn’t have the impact you want if it is dwarfed by the venue; it also would run the risk of becoming overbearing if it is too large in the space you are utilizing.

Will your venue be indoors or out? We would want to think very carefully about incorporating a tall display that has a chance of toppling over when a gust of wind comes through at your outdoor event.

We also need to consider temperature of the product with regard to location. For example, we can create beautiful and elegant food displays on marble slabs however those slabs hold temperature very well. We would want to plan accordingly to cool or warm the marble to accommodate the product it will hold.

Finally, another element to consider would be accessibility. Obviously, your guests have to be able to get to the food in order to enjoy it while your caterers will need to be able to easily access the display to replenish the items.

If executed correctly, food displays can not only enhance an event but can also be a showpiece that makes your event the talk of the town. If you are looking to add the impact of a custom designed food display to your next event, we have just the team to help with the planning and implementation to ensure flawless execution. Just give us a call and we can help your vision come to life!

andrea

Eighteen Ninety Event Space

Eighteen Ninety Event Space

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