GreatEvents Group

Chefs Battle for the Title of Cravings' Next Best Dish

2011-09-08T20:23:00.003-06:00

Cravings Market Restaurant and GreatEvents Catering are excited to announce their first "Cravings Next Best Dish Cooking Contest," in search for the restaurant's newest "signature item." The event takes place on Sunday, September 18 at 4:00 pm and will benefit the Brown Bagging for Calgary's Kids Society (BB4CK).

Moroccan Infused Ling Cod, one of four finalists for the "Cravings Next Best Dish Food Contest"

Fourteen talented chefs from GreatEvents Catering and Cravings Market Restaurant participated in the pre-selection round on August 29 and 30. Each presented a dish to a panel of judges formed by local foodies and professional chefs who selected the top four contestants that would move on to the next phase.

At the Grand Finale the top four will battle it out "Iron Chef Style" for the $2,000 grand prize before a new set of judges,including Kathy Richardier, editor for City Palate Magazine; Julie Van Rosendaal, CBC Radio food columnist and writer; Beat Hegnauer, Executive Chef at the Banff Centre and international judge; and Derek Dale, Executive Chef at Stampede Catering.

Audience members will also have a chance to taste sample sized plates from each contestant and vote for the "People's Choice Award," granting the winner a $500 cash prize.

Ulrich Kuenz, owner of GreatEvents and Cravings, explained that the competition "was created with the initiative to support the company's passion for gastronomy while furthering our commitment to the culinary arts, promote the talent of our chefs and support the community," he said.

The restaurant is expecting to raise $7,500 with ticket sales to support Brown Bagging for Calgary's Kids, a grassroots organization that helps eliminate hunger in the city's schools by providing nutritious meals to children and youth in need.

Tickets are available at Cravings for $75 and include 4 sample-sized meals and wine pairings. Details and menu for the evening can be found at www.cravingsmarketrestaurant.com

GreatEvents Group is the umbrella company of GreatEvents Catering, GreatEvents Rentals, Cravings Market Restaurant and Office Gourmet Catering. As the official caterers for Spruce Meadows, GreatEvents is known for incorporating the best and latest food and décor trends. Cravings is a unique eatery with a twist, where guests can stroll through different stations and interact with the chefs while watching their meals be prepared right before their eyes.

15 Wedding Décor Ideas

2010-10-12T13:19:00.000-06:00

1. Eco Chic: This trend is here to stay. Use “earthy” tones for your linen, fresh local flowers or plants from the farmer’s market for your centerpieces or grandma’s home-made jam for your guest favors.

2. Glam Blast from the Past: Combine vintage colors and patterns like damask or lace with a light blush pink or ivory color and accent the table with some bling and pearls to create a glamorous 40’s vintage look.

3. Myth Buster: One of the most common mistakes brides make is matching their bridesmaids’ dresses with the tablecloths. Instead of blending in your bridal party with the linen, use contrasting colours with accents so they stand out from the crowd… and the tables!

4. Something Blue: Teals, turquoises and navy blues are making their way with gorgeous tones and combinations. Whether it’s in your linens, flowers or dresses, blue is on its way back.

5. Mix it Up: To make your décor more interesting use centerpieces with different heights, a mixture of containers and unique fillers like feathers or fruits while keeping a cohesive look.

6. Set the Mood: Lounge themes are hot this season. Include couches, large pillows and small tables to create a fun, laid back atmosphere.

7. First Class Seating: Add an elegant touch by using chiavari chairs or ghost chairs adorned with chair sashes or ornamental objects to accentuate your colours.

8. Under the Big Tent: Outdoor weddings are becoming more popular, with a variety of tent sizes to choose from, you can enjoy your special day surrounded by nature and your loved ones.

9. Lighting is Key: Special event lighting is the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to decorating and setting a mood. Use your wedding colors to light the room or just shine a couple bursts of light on your main focal points in the room.

10. Dance Till You Drop: Dance floors have come a long way. Try a digital dance floor that projects interactive images while your guests dance the night away.

11. Wedding Fashionista: Next time you’re in the mall, pay attention to clothing and home décor color trends. Chances are the wedding color trends are soon to follow and you’ll be ahead of the game!

12. Covered Up: For a softer look use rented chiffon draping to cover the walls of any venue or tent.

13. That’s a Wrap: Take your cupcakes further with color coordinated cupcake wrappers. You can find them in all colors or even patterns such as damask, poka dot, butterfly cutouts and more.

14. All Eyes on You: If a long head table isn’t your style, try a different table shape. A boardroom style head table has the bridal party sitting across from one another and the bride and groom at the top of the table side by side. Or try a round table in the centre of the room for a change. Both will allow free flowing conversation instead only having the people next to you to speak to.

15. Story Boards: Having troubles putting things together? Create a wedding story board by cutting out different ideas from magazines, the internet or books and paste them onto a huge poster board to help you and other people helping you visualize what your wedding day will look like.

City Style and Living: CHINOOK CENTRE EXPANSION VIP GALA

2010-10-04T14:56:00.000-06:00

City Style and Living: CHINOOK CENTRE EXPANSION VIP GALA: "The red carpet comes alive as part of the VIP gala opening at Chinook Centre An ice sculpture with Chinook Centre's new insignia Guests we..."

Tiffin for You, an Old Tradition with a Contemporary Twist!

2010-05-11T16:42:00.004-06:00

Calgary, Alberta …GreatEvents Group and Office Gourmet Catering are thrilled to announce the launch of an exciting new culinary concept for Calgary called “Tiffin for You.” Starting Monday, April 26th, Calgary businesses will be able to order traditional Indian Tiffin Boxes with a fun, contemporary twist.

Filled with East Indian and Western cuisine, including vegetarian options, and prepared fresh daily by Office Gourmet Catering chefs, the attractive containers will be delivered to offices ready to eat for breakfast or lunch. The Tiffin Boxes consist of several stacked stainless steel boxes with a carry-handle, each box containing the customers’ choice of a hot entree, a side, and a dessert.

Recently featured in an episode of “Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares,” Nottingham’s Curry Lounge revived its flagging business in part by launching a successful Tiffin takeaway and delivery service.

The concept of Tiffin box delivery was originally developed in Mumbai, India, where an intricate network of thousands of "dabbawalas" (the closest English translation would be the "lunch box delivery man") has, for over a century, delivered a home-cooked lunch from the kitchens of wives and mothers direct to the city's workers.

“We are very excited to bring this unique, traditional and environmentally friendly concept to the Calgary market,” says Ulrich Kuenz, President of GreatEvents Group. “At the heart of our menu offering is the finest ingredients in an array of both classic and adventuresome dishes that showcase our creativity and commitment to the highest levels of quality.”

For busy individuals and families who want to try the Tiffin Box menus but can’t order them through their office for whatever reason, they will be able to pick up the same meals in a Tiffin Box or in recyclable packaging that can be microwaved or cooked in the oven. These meals are called “Cravings To Go” and are available at GreatEvents Group’s Cravings Market Restaurant (7207 Fairmont Drive SE).

Tiffin for You is an operating division of GreatEvents Group, Calgary’s premier one-stop-shop for catering and rentals since 1982. As the official caterers for Spruce Meadows, GreatEvents is known for incorporating the best and latest food and décor trends. GreatEvents Group is the umbrella company of GreatEvents Catering, GreatEvents Rentals, Cravings Market Restaurant, Office Gourmet Catering and most recently, Tiffin For You.

For more information visit www.tiffinforyou.com

Science and Food Pair Up at GreatEvent's Open House

2010-03-16T13:21:00.003-06:00

Calgary, March 16th 2010- The GreatEvents Group headquarters will set the stage for an exclusive culinary evening with their 1st VIP Open House, which will be held this Thursday, March 18th from 4 to 8 pm to honour their best clients.

The evening will feature the latest food trends, such as small plate presentations and the debut of “molecular gastronomy” in the Calgary food scene. These innovative techniques consist in the use of chemistry and physics for the preparation of food.

Guests will have the opportunity to taste some of GreatEvents Catering’s newest additions, presented in themed action stations with menus inspired from the Four Elements: Earth, Wind, Fire and Water.

Another GreatEvents exclusive, will be the preview of their new “Tiffin for You” line of products. This Indian inspired concept will deliver delicious hot gourmet meals presented in a “portable buffet” container with an eco-friendly approach.

Attendees will also be able to catch up with the latest trends in event décor thanks to the displays in the GreatEvents Rentals Showroom, featuring a selection of specialty linen, flower arrangements and decorative accessories.

This will be the first of a series of annual GreatEvents VIP Open Houses.

Cravings and Office Gourmet give back!

2009-06-17T15:27:00.004-06:00

This past Sunday, June 7th, Cravings Market Restaurant teamed up with its sister company, Office Gourmet Catering -both part of the GreatEvents Group of companies- for the annual MS Walk in support of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.

Office Gourmet provided healthy cookies as snacks for the walkers at the stops along the route and Cravings was the official lunch sponsor for the second year in a row, donating 2,500 wraps for the walkers and volunteers.

GreatEvents Rentals also played an important part in the walk by providing all the tents at a special discount rate.The event was a complete success with over 2,300 people participating in the walk, which raised funds for support, research and hopefully one day, a cure for MS.

Thanks to all the GreatEvents family for another great year supporting this cause!

Great job everyone!

Welcome to GreatEvents Blog

2009-05-21T15:38:00.000-06:00

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new blog; a space where we can share with you the latest news, ideas, tips and trends from GreatEvents, as well as the event industry in general. We will also provide a space for our customers, where they can post pictures, comments and feedback from their experiences with us.

We hope you enjoy reading our blog and we can't wait to hear from you!

Welcome to the GreatEvents Blog!!!