Gourmet Open House

My boss, Heidi and her husband Paul hosted an Open House this weekend at their home just outside of Newtown. It was a great affair with friends from work and Paul and Heidi’s neighbours coming together over some great food. 

There is nothing like Fresh Fruit as an appetizer. Sweet cherries, grapes and strawberries bursting in your mouth. Nice healthy nibbles. The fruit went well with the Peace Valley wines that Paul had selected for the event.

The wines also went well with the Cheese Display that the Caterer put together for the event. There are six different cheese to chose from along with some melon, pineapple, blueberries, strawberries and blackberries.

There were two savory appetizers ready for us when we arrived.  The first was Caramelized Onion and Arugula Strudels.  These pinwheel apps contain a sweet onion and slightly bitter arugula mixture. The smoothness of the mixture contrasted nicely with crisp texture of the phyllo dough. Simple combination but well executed.

The second savory appetizer was the Lemongrass Shrimp.  These tasty shrimp skewers were well prepared with the lemongrass giving the delicate shrimp a light Thai flavour. The pineapple presentation gave the shrimp a tropical feel and great decoration for the table.

Facebook Friend and co-worker Kara brought her Vegan White Bean Dip with some Taco Chips.  The dip was nice ‘n thick and creamy. I detected a slight garlic flavour in the dip. Kara also brought a Hummus dip that brought the garlic a little stronger.  Both were welcome additions to the table as they were homemade and well made.

As if the many appetizer wasn’t enough about 4:00, the caterer opened up with full blast of  entree bites for us to enjoy.  The first dish on the kitchen buffet was a Rosemary Marinated Filet Mignon. Served at room temperature, the tender beef was served with a Creamy Horseradish Sauce. The tang of the sauce contrasted nicely with sweet herb infused meat.

The second dish was a perfectly Poached Salmon with a Creamy Dill Sauce.  Well presented with carrots, lemon, limes and orchid flowers giving great colour to the dish.  The salmon portions were delicious with a great salmon taste, sweat with a little taste of the sea. The dill sauce contrasted with the sweetness of the flesh. A drop of lemon juice made the salmon flavour intensify.

 The surprise of the main entrees was the Portabella Mushroom Caps with Leak Ragout. The meaty portabella mushrooms were coated by a creamy Leak Ragout. The contrast of the dense, meaty mushrooms and the almost cheese like ragout was very nice. This vegetarian dish was a nice change from all the protein in the Filet and Salmon.

For sides, the Caterer prepared Marinated Grilled Vegetables, Long Grain & Wild Rice Salad and Roasted Red Bliss Potatoes. The veggies included Grilled Peppers, Zucchini, Asparagus and Carrots.

The Roasted Red Bliss Potatoes were matched up with some Balsamic Vinaigrette with Feta Cheese. The sweetness of the potatoes matched well with vinegar and the salty cheese making a nice potato salad.  The small bite-sized potatoes went well with the main entrees of filet and salmon.

The Long Grain and Wild Rice Salad also went well with salmon.  At first I thought the plump pieces of fruit were raisins but come to find out the were Sun-dried Cranberries that were plumping up from the Sage Vinaigrette. I passed on the Rice Salad but others passed pleasing comments on how well the rice was cooked and the nice contrast of the sage in the vinaigrette and the sweetness of the rice.

I am never sure if the the Tomato Mozzarella Salad is a side or a main entree.  This version is amazingly colourful with the Multicoloured Heirloom Tomatoes, White Mozzarella and Green Basil.  This classic dish looks very modern with the flower garnishes. The drizzle of Balsamic Vinaigrette gives the dish a shine and nice contrast in tastes with the sweetness of the Jersey Fresh tomatoes and the tang of the vinegar. It was an nice vegetarian dish.

For dessert, the caterer put together a comprehensive tray of different confections and fresh fruits. I won’t even try to name all the different pastries and sweet bites are on the tray.  I did try the Mini Cream Puffs and Eclairs along with some fruit but take a look and I bet you can find a least a couple of goodies you could complete the meal with.

 Thanks to Heidi and Paul for hosting a great Gourmet Open House.  Donna and I had a great time talking with old and new friends while eating some great food. I hope the pictures and descriptions did justice to party.  Thanks again.

Bryce’s Catering Co., 1438 Manoa Road, Wynnewood, PA 19096               610-658-2400

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Tags: Appetizers, Bucks Co, Catering Co, Cheese, Dessert, Fruit, PA, Seafood