It’s that time of year again!  On Sunday, May 19^th.  LA Travel Magazine will host Taste of the World.  From 2pm to 5pm, food and wine connoisseurs will converge on Rolling Hills Country Club in Palos Verdes to partake in a uniquely immersive experience featuring an orchestrated day fueled with excitement that transports guests around the world through food and beverage, accompanied by masterfully curated entertainment experience, ultra-premium beverage offerings from Specialty Spirits to Local Brews and a competitive Chef showdown where you decide who wins.  Sample the culinary creations of top Southern California chefs, while sipping on fine wines and bubbly or indulge in specialty cocktails made by Flair Bartenders.  Guests can also enter to win a cruise to the Mediterranean.  Space is limited for this exclusive event so purchase your ticket today.

Location:  Rolling Hills Country Club, 1 Chandler Ranch Road, Rolling Hill Estate, CA 90274

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If you have a decent budget for your craft service supplies, why not wow the crew with a few quick and easy appetizers.  They expect the basics like cookies, chips, nuts and jerky, but when you show up with something interesting like a platter of freshly grilled chicken quesadillas or  Blueberry-Banana-Almond Milk smoothies, they’re going to be pumped!  You can choose to tray pass these to the above-the-line crew or platter them on the buffet for the below-the-line crew. 

1. Shrimp Cocktail:  Add a bit of cocktail sauce to a dipping bowl and surround it with fully-cooked tail-on shrimp.
2. Hummus Variety:  Add a 2 to 3 varieties of hummus to separate serving bowls, then surround them with options like pita bread, raw veggies and sliced Fuji apples for dipping.
3. Teriyaki Meatball Skewers:  Sautee a bag of pre-cooked meatballs in a skillet and skewer with  toothpicks before serving.
4. Club Sandwiches: Toast a few slices of bread and layer with sliced tomatoes, lettuce and pre-cooked bacon or used the left-over bacon from breakfast.  Cut sandwiches into quarters, skewer and serve. 
5. PBJs w/sliced bananas: Spread almond butter on one slice of bread and blueberry preserves on the other.  Add a few slices of banana between the two and presto!  You’ve got a Banana PBJ sandwich.
6. Mini Chicken or Veggie Eggrolls: Sautee pre-cooked eggrolls in a hot-skillet and serve w/dipping sauce on the side.
7. Hot Ready-Made Soup:  If you a soup terrine or small chaffer, heat up a container of pre-made soup and let the crew serve themselves.  Don’t forget to set small bowls and spoons nearby.
8. Gourmet Cheese & Charcuterrie Platter:  Layout a selection of pre-cut cheeses, a variety of cured meats, a few crackers, some olives and sliced fruit like apples or figs.  Serve this for all to enjoy!
9. Hot Turkey Sliders:  Heat a few slices of turkey lunch meat in a skillet and layer it between dinner rolls topped w/a slice of provolone cheese.  Serve with mustard on the side.  A hot sandwich is a great way to wrap out a 12 hour day.
10. Grilled Cheese w/Sliced Tomatoes:  Skip the cheddar, layer a variety of cheeses like a smoky gouda and tangy Swiss along with a slice of tomato between two hearty slices of bread.  Grill them to perfection.  Slice and serve it up hot!  They’re going to love it! 

Craft Services is used for most TV, film, music video and live event productions.  It mostly consists of a variety of beverages like coffee, soda, Gatorade, juices along with snacks like cookies, potato chips and more.  These items usually are to keep the crew nourished between catered meal services, which happen every 6-hours according to union rules. 

Depending on the budget, craft services can be the basics or elaborate with fancy platters of grilled chicken skewers, hot soup, deli sandwiches or more.   However, when producers have VIP clients on location they provide more of the latter to make sure their special guests feel more comfortable.  VIPs often provide the production company with a rider, which outlines their specific needs.  A “rider” can include almost anything under the sun such as a fully stocked bar with top shelf liquor, hot towels, only organic or gluten-free foods, sushi from their favorite restaurant, $8 protein bars, and more.  The bigger the Diva, the longer the rider.  The goal of the green room is to make sure the VIP feels welcomed and special.

While rates for the green room attendant may be around the same as a union rate crafty, this individual must have the skills and temperament of a first class flight attendant.  The attendant not only sets up a beautiful buffet of refreshments, but ensures that it will stay stocked, clean with lots of variety.  Presentation is everything!  VIP green rooms can be setup for 1 guest or up to 50, but the same level of detail and service is necessary no matter how many guests are being served.  Catering companies like Dine With 9 Catering provide attendants with both first class dining and production assistant experience. Our catering division also prepares gourmet platters and treats, which will ensures that VIPs have a first class green room experience.

Production shoots for TV, film, music videos, commercials and photo shoots can last up to 14 hours or longer. While union rules require hot meals every 6-hours, your crew needs nourishment throughout the day. Craft service for low budget film usually work with just the bare basics to save money. Having a craft service attendant on-duty will allow for the management of your budget for food each day, maintain food safety, and keep the craft services table looking presentable and well stocked. Aside from the basic, it’s always a good idea to add a few platters of grab-and-go snacks like PBJs or turkey sliders for the crew, it budget permits. Below is a list of the basics in order of priority:

• Bottled Water
• Coffee
• Gatorade
• Variety of nuts like almonds, pecans, trail mix and walnuts
• Fresh Fruit like bananas, apples and oranges
• Packaged snacks like chips, cookies, granola bars
• Sweets like chocolate bars, M&Ms, licorice
• Gum and mints
• Perishable items like plates, napkins, cups
• Soda & juice variety
• Ice

BUDGET BACKYARD BBQ

When you’re ready to plan your next backyard BBQ on a budget, delegate to save time and money. The ideal BBQ allows everyone to relax, eat, play games and have a good time. Feel free to invite all your friends and relatives to help you out. Arrange for games that allow guests to play as a team or one on one.

Choose a few games for team building:

• Cornhole or Beanbag toss
• Bocce Ball
• Dominos
• Twister
• Potato Sack Race (use large garbage bags as a substitute)
• Drunk Limbo (Play this late in the day after everyone has had a few drinks. Things get interesting)

It’s also a good idea to include exclusive one-on-one games like chess, checkers and a deck of cards. The idea of the games is to allow people to interact with each other in the spirit of competition.

You can also save money by planning your own playlist instead of hiring a DJ. Choose upbeat music that you’re sure the crowd will enjoy. You don’t have to wire sound throughout your backyard if you use wireless speakers. Simply connect to your Ipod or computer playlist.

Hire a personal chef to prepare the meal. This will give you time to enjoy with your guests. Call Dine With 9 Catering for an estimate. Our chefs will plan a menu within your budget to make sure the pickiest eaters are satisfied.

Decoration is also something you can delegate to the kids or those guests who arrive early. Use your favorite color Gingham linen to cover the tables. Gather things like sea shells, lanterns and ornate objects for your tablescape. Use streamers across the back gate and as a way to encompass the party area. Don’t forget to also use colorful disposable plates, napkins and cutlery to continue the theme of your BBQ.

The last item you can delegate is the bar. Ask guests to bring a bottle of their favorite spirit. You can save money by purchasing all the disposables, non-alcoholic beverages and ice for the bar. It’s also a good idea to create a non-alcoholic house drink that can be spiked with alcohol. Try our recipe for Ginger-Mint-Lemonade. Add this beverage to a large self-serve container. Now you’re ready to party!