Your Thanksgiving feast by Creative Concepts NYC

Posted on October 8, 2015 by ccnyc10168

Thanksgiving is near and CCNYC is here!

Chef Miguel Urrego has crafted a delicious drop off menu option for your Thanksgiving feast. Imagine having scrumptious homemade food that you can heat, platter and serve. Go ahead take all the glory, your guest are sure to love the food. If you would prefer to have all the bells and whistles of a chef, waitstaff etc. or would like to customize your menu with additional options we would be happy to arrange for you.

-Appetizers-

Field Greens

with caramelized apples, cranberries, and candied walnuts

apple cider vinaigrette

or

Butternut Squash Soup

with toasted almonds, crispy shallots

-Mains-

Free Range Herb Roasted Turkey

served whole or carved

with traditional gravy and cranberry-orange sauce

or

Horseradish Crusted Atlantic Salmon

with truffle beurre blanc sauce

or

Berkshire Pork Loin

stuffed with mushrooms, fennel, and herbs with a mustard grain sauce

-Sides-

Homemade Sweet Corn Bread Stuffing

with roasted carrots, wild mushrooms, and fresh sage

Roasted Root Vegetables

with sherry vinaigrette

Sweet Potato Soufflé

with mini marshmallow topping

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

with caramelized pearl onions, apple wood smoked bacon,

and white balsamic

vinaigrette

-Desserts-

Old Fashion Apple Pie

Spiced Pumpkin Pie

Assorted Cookies and Confections

Price: $75 per person (6 person minimum)

Delivery: On 11/25/15 by 5pm $75.00 On 11/26/15 by 3pm $125.00

Don’t worry! We will send along printed instructions on how to heat the food with the delivery. The food will be in aluminum trays ready for the oven and all room temperature items will be in disposable containers! Contact us today to order at: info@creativeconceptsnyc.com, the last day to order is 11/19/15.

The sun is shining and the weather is sweet…

Posted on July 31, 2014 by ccnyc10168

Join Allison Bottomley as she explores summer trends and reveals some of CCNYC’s favorite dishes, décor, and tricks of the trade.

Summer is a great time to spend time with friends and family celebrating the lighter things in life. At Creative Concepts NYC, we plan events all year long, but we can’t help being inspired by the elements of summer.

To get the ideas flowing, here are some of our favorite takes on summer get togethers.

The Americana Barbecue Summer is the season of barbecue and purposefully playing up the inherent kitsch this American tradition is quite fun. Bite-size burgers, pigs in a blanket, and a faux-lemonade stand are some of the ways we love to play with this theme.

Slider

lemonaid Stand (AOL Event)

French Picnic Get out the gingham! Picnics are a relaxed way to get your family and friends together and outside. We like the idea of a French-themed picnic with quiche, galettes, and clafoutis—all items that that can be prepared ahead of time and served at room temperature. So, check out these recipes, throw on the gypsy jazz, and head in the park. check out How to plan a picnic !

Mini Quiche

Galettes

Movies Under the Stars-There is nothing more cozy than cuddling up with a loved one in front of a movie, but when the weather is so nice who wants to spend two hours inside? We suggest moving the view outdoors mixing the feel of a rooftop party with the excitement and comfort of watching a movie. At CCNYC, we love the movie theater theme. Popcorn and candy displays keep your party simple and fun. We also recommend making these cute popcorn floral containers for a festive décor.

Candy Station

Popcorn Floral

Fiesta Brunch- Piñatas and mojitos anyone? Ole’! A Latin twist to a traditional barbecue is a great way to add flavor to your summer. We love to change up traditional barbecue for tacos, mini quesadillas, and arepas. Check out this recipe for a great take on Chile-Braised Pork Shoulder Tacos.

Piñata Scape

Mini Fish Taco

Food Trend: On A Stick

Posted on July 7, 2014 by ccnyc10168

Join Allison Bottomley as she explores summer trends and reveals some of CCNYC’s favorite dishes, décor, and tricks of the trade.

Putting bite-size foods on a stick is a terrific way to dress up appetizers and make main courses more cocktail party-friendly. CCNYC has done many skewered hors d’oeuvres for our clients some of our classic favorites include: Watermelon, Mint, and Feta skewers with Aged-Balsamic drizzle, Chocolate Dipped Vanilla Cake Pops, and Ancho-Chili Pineapple Glazed Meatballs (pictured above).

We’re constantly experimenting with new ways to keep our menu exciting and the ‘food on a stick’ craze is one we LOVE! The food trend is an incredibly easy DIY item for your next soirée. All you need are skewers (bamboo are our favorite and eco-friendly) and a little ingenuity. Spearing small bites adds elegance to a menu item, while also saving on plates and utensils as these nibbles can often be served on a napkin and nothing else.

Photo courtesy of Mattbits.com

Photo courtesy of Return to Sunday Supper

We’ve combed the lot for inspiration and have seen everything from a Korean “French Fry-Wrapped Hot Dog” on a stick (courtesy of mattbites) to “Baby BLTs” on a stick (courtesy of Return to Sunday Supper), but the gallery below contains some ideas and recipes we’re most jazzed about. So, flip through these sweet and savory recipes and get ready toincorporate ‘food on a stick’ into your next party!

For more information and other recipes check out these fun resources: Sweets on a Stick On A Stick 100 on a Stick

Sweet & Savory Recipes and Ideas Savory: Ham and Melon Pops Scallion Meatballs tomato-bocconcini-basil-skewers Sushi Pops Pork Belly w. 63 degree egg

Sweet Recipes: Strawberry Orange Popsicles Peanut Butter Oreo Pops Bite-Sized Baked Brie Breakfast Pops Macaron Pops

Welcoming Allison Bottomley to the Team

Posted on June 30, 2014 by ccnyc10168

The Creative Concepts NYC team would like to welcome our newest Associate, Allison Bottomley. Allison is joining us from the world of global nonprofits where she has worked in fundraising and events for the past four years.

Allison Bottomley, CCNYC Associate

With a passion for performance and production, Allison came to New York in 2003 to study musical theatre. Her practice and understanding of performance translates into her event work as she focuses on creative design and putting on a polished show! Allison spends her hours outside of CCNYC performing in NYC’s cabaret and variety shows, cooking—and eating, practicing yoga, and traveling. Her love of travel has taken her to study abroad in Brussels and has carried her throughout Europe and the Americas. One of her first projects at CCNYC will be collaborating with Creative Director Benjamin Lester, to co-create a summer series of blog posts. So keep an eye out for her work here as she highlights summer trends and reveals some of CCNYC’s favorite dishes, décor, and tricks of the trade.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 14, 2014 by ccnyc10168

Happy Holidays

Posted on December 18, 2012 by ccnyc10168

DIY: Donut Hole Tower

Posted on August 16, 2012 by ccnyc10168

Many of Creative Concepts NYC‘s clients like the idea of a tablescape, and miniature everything! One of the many creative ways CCNYC accomplishes this is by making custom donut hole towers. They are super easy to make and fun, while adding much needed hight to a breakfast spread or themed event. Here is how all you DIY enthusiasts can get in on the action!

left to right: The supplies- foam cone, tissue paper, toothpicks, & stapler. lay out paper and wrap while stapling along the way. cut off excess and staple to bottom.

stick in toothpicks and attach donut holes.....it's that easy!

Creative Concepts NYC’s Local Summer Inspirations

Posted on June 5, 2012 by ccnyc10168

Earlier this year there was an exploration of the favorite tropical inspired dishes of the principal’s at CCNYC. It was such a hit, so here is another common thread, summer inspired dishes and adventures too!
Julie Sommers, Director of Catering
Julie’s most resent summer ‘staycation’ adventure was a short ride away to Island Park near Long Beach. There she found an amazing off the road seafood joint called Peters Clam House. No fuss no muss, but amazing all on it’s own! She enjoyed old standbys: Blue Point Oysters, Cherrystone Clams, and a Lobster Roll. “They certainly were not glamorously served over a bed of ice, but rather a paper plate, but it didn’t matter because they were so fresh and amazing! The Cherrystone Clams had a nice cold sea flavor and the Blue Point Oysters had an amazing sparkle with salinity. Of course, we didn’t stop there, we had to have a Lobster Roll too. We ate so much we had to roll out of the place!” A true summer adventure with some amazing fresh seafood right here in NYC’s back yard!
Miguel Urrego, Executive Chef
Over Memorial Day weekend, Miguel enjoyed some quality family time while camping at Wildwood State Park in Wading River, New York. The annual family adventure involved several other families as well, “…we took over the place which meant the need to feed a ton of people. One of my favorite meals I made was a simple menu with things that were readily available and literally at arms reach, like BEER! We had Beer Braised BBQ Chicken with Garlicky Chinese Broccoli. Very kid friendly and tasty with an ice cold Modelo Especial. I will be making this again and again, it was out of this world!”
Benjamin Lester, Creative Director
Benjamin took the ‘staycation’ to heart and did exactly that. After a lovely afternoon at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens he was inspired to stay in and cook up some of his favorite summer dishes. “It was so hot out that weekend, I instantly needed Watermelon and beer!” He enjoyed a simple meal of Watermelon Salad with fresh mint, Kale Salad with Chickpeas, Pecorino Romano Cheese, with a Lemon Thyme Vinaigrette, and grilled Flank Steak with a dry rub of Pepper and Salt. “It was an evening of breaking out my favorite easy summer dishes and BBQ corn chips and Negro Modelo, of course! It’s official, summer is on!”

Creative Concepts NYC at The New York Magazine Wedding Event 2012

Posted on May 8, 2012 by ccnyc10168

Creative Concepts NYC worked the floor with their sublime interactive booth, by Benjamin Lester, at New York Magazine’s 2012 New York Wedding Event! The event took place at Metropolitan Pavilion and was dazzling thanks to touches of creative bliss by Taylor Creative Inc.

Guests had an opportunity to meet with the CCNYC team including, planner extraordinaire, Julie Sommers, while tasting exquisite bites by Miguel Urrego, CCNYC’s Executive Chef. The menu included:

Smoked Chicken Salad with Almond Slivers, Cranberries and Chives Served on Dill Corn Edible Spoon

Wild Salmon Tartare with Caviar on Wonton Crisps

Seared Foie Gras with Sour Cherries on Toasted Brioche

http://weddings.nymag.com/photos.html

All the ‘who’s who’ of the wedding industry attended and participated including CCNYC friends from Curtain Up Events,Generation Events and Sugar Flower Cake Shop. The entire evening was a huge success thanks to the New York Magazine event staff.

THE OUT NYC Urban Resort, Hosts CCNYC Spring Tasting Event 2012

Posted on April 30, 2012 by ccnyc10168

Creative Concepts NYC was thrilled to have teamed up with THE OUT NYC Urban Resort for their 2012 Spring Tasting Event!

THE OUT NYC Urban Resort is New York’s first, straight-friendly, gay urban resort located in Hell’s Kitchen just steps from Times Square and Chelsea. Boasting the best of lodging, dining, nightlife and design all in one place! The property offers several amazing event venues that are available for private events.

The stellar event was held in the atrium and sun deck of the property where guests enjoyed a live sushi station, cocktails and, Chef Miguel Urrego’s, delectable passed hors d’ overs.

The mood was set by CCNYC’s Creative Director, Benjamin Lester, offering a fresh simple spa like design with cozy seating, lounge areas, and gorgeous florals.

No detail was left behind and all ran smoothly with, CCNYC’s Director of Catering, Julie Sommers’ flawless leadership. The event was bursting at the seams with key industry players, major corporations, and future and prospective clients all in thanks to, CCNYC Representative and social butterfly, Nikki Lazar.

If you would like more information on THE OUT NYC’s venues or would like to be involved and or attend the next tasting event, please contact CCNYC at info@creativeconceptsnyc.com or (646)308-1243.

Cherimoya, the Best Kept Secret!

Posted on March 23, 2012 by ccnyc10168

By Creative Concepts NYC‘s Executive Chef, Miguel Ureggo

My first experience with Cherimoya was when I was in Ecuador visiting a good friend for his wedding, congratulations Diego and Jaclyn! As we toured throughout the countryside we stopped by a stand on a dirt road where local farmers and villagers were selling the delicious fruit. Our friends insisted that we try the Cherimoya and bring some for the road.

Cherimoya is a tropical fruit also known by the native people as, “chirimoya”. The delicious fruit is known to originate from the Andes of South America and is grown naturally in Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia and Peru. It is now harvested through Central America, California, and the Eastern Hemisphere.

At first, I was a bit hesitant to try the fruit due to the odd rough green appearance. It has a greenish hard cover skin which is not edible, it resembles a fresh artichoke. It seemed like the fruit was unripe and not ready to eat. The treasure of the fruit is in the inside (when ripened properly) which has a sorbet like texture. Once we split it in half and I took the first bite, I was blown out of this world!! The tasty fruit is known to be a ‘custard fruit’ to locals because of the creamy, fresh and sweet flavors. The flavor is a combination of banana, pear, white peach and strawberry. The fruit is absolutely out of this world, It’s one of the best tasting I’ve ever had in my lifetime!!! Once you have one bite, you won’t want to stop eating the delicious fruit!

Creative Concepts NYC Gives Back!

Posted on January 18, 2012 by ccnyc10168

CCNYC is dedicated to giving back and this past holiday season we chose Hope Lodge NYC. Located in midtown Manhattan, Hope Lodge NYC is the House of Hope. The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge Jerome L. Green Family Center offers lodging and support services at no cost for cancer patients receiving outpatient treatments in Manhattan, while away from home.

American Cancer Society Hope Lodge Jerome L. Greene Family Center NYC

On December 8, 2011 Creative Concepts NYC Teamed up with Bonne Fete Baking, and YouCake to donate their services and provided food and gifts to support the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge Holiday Bash. The Hope Lodge Holiday Bash with program Emcee Diana Williams of WABC-TV benefited the programs and services of Hope Lodge NYC Jerome L. Greene Family Center.

CCNYC's Benjamin Lester, and Nikki Lazar

For more information on Hope Loge NYC and if you would like to contribute to their amazing cause and efforts, here is link to do so: http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/SupportProgramsServices/HopeLodge/NewYorkCity/index

Cater your Tailgating

Posted on December 1, 2011 by ccnyc10168

One of Creative Concepts NYC‘s innovative products is tailgating parties. That’s right, we pull up with you and your crew and whip it up right out of our vehicle and put out a spread. All you have to do is pop open your brewski and enjoy the fruits of our labor! The menus are geared towards your personal tastes and will surely prove to be fun, simple, and delicious grub for all! Menus can be more elaborate or just plain simple and comforting, below is a sample menu of a party we did featuring easy small bites by Miguel Urrego.

Does your tailgate party kick ass? We want to hear about it!

Tailgating Small Bites Menu

Backfin Crab Fondue
w/ Garlic Ciabatta

Grilled Chorizo on Crispy Jalapeño Polenta Cakes
w/ Cilantro Creme

Prosciutto Wrapped Shrimp
w/ Aged Balsamic

Truffled Mac & Cheese Bites

BBQ Pulled Chicken Panini
w/ Pepperjack & Avocado

Mini Kobe Beef Franks
w/ Caramelized Onions & Grain Mustard Aioli

Enjoy The Game!

Congratulations Jenn & Joe!

Posted on October 25, 2011 by ccnyc10168

An enormous congratulations to one of our favorite couples Jenn & Joe! Clients like these two are the reason why we love what we do, we couldn’t be happier to have been part of their big day! Check out what they had to say about us below

Dear Julie + Ben,

What could we say… WOW! Our wedding was outrageous! It was everything we could have hoped for + so much more! The reception we envisioned really came to life because of all your hard work. The bars, pink pillows, the table settings…. we could go on and on…LOVED it all! Not to mention the food, it was delicious. So happy with all of your choices. Our guests and Joe could not get enough of those mushroom apps. I think he ate a whole tray! And the desserts were just perfect- yummy! Your staff were polite, courteous, and attentive. I just want to say I truly appreciate the relationship we established over the past year + all your advice, tips, and calmness were a huge help!

Love,

Jenn and Joe