Ready to make a (small) crowd pleasing dish? A seafood tower is where it’s at! We’ve ordered seafood towers for special occasions when we’re in a Vegas restaurant or brunching by the beach. When the tower arrives at the table, there’s an instant reaction of ‘wow!’ But did you know they are not very difficult to make? And since we’re still spending lots of time at home, we want to share how to make a seafood tower for your next special occasion, like Easter! We made one for our first gathering after we got our vaccines and we couldn’t help but go a little overboard. Our dear friends loved it! Here’s how to make it. What you need for the tower structure You’ll want a large bottom platter, a medium cake stand, and a narrow container for the top. If you don’t have these exact items, shop your home for platters that you can use. The key here is to find platters that can be stacked on top of each other to add height, but make sure they have a lip or bowl so the items inside don’t spill. You will be adding a lot of ice to your platter, so you don’t want to use something that’s too flat where water can spill. For our tower, we used a circular platter I got from Costco as the base, a glass cake stand for the middle, and a wide clear vase for the top. I also used a low-profile tupperware container to add height in between the bottom and middle layers. Make sure you build the platter at or very near where it will be placed for your gathering. Since you’ll have three layers of platters, moving it around can be tricky. Ingredients For this seafood tower, we kept things pretty simple. All items were purchased at Costco except the parsley. We went with fresh seafood, but if you have anything that’s frozen, let if thaw overnight in the fridge. Instructions Assembly Be sure to warm up plenty of butter for dipping. Try to give everyone their own bowl of butter so you don’t have to worry about anyone double dipping. Then, enjoy! And be sure to take a bow, you’re going to get lots of compliments.
Author: webdeveloperswj
MAMA MIA! GET LAST-MINUTE 💐 & 💝 GIFTS FOR MOTHER’S DAY!
Mother’s day is this weekend and we are sooo ready to be treated like queens! Even if we have to drop subtle hints as to where the pancake mix is, and which pillow needs fluffing. We hope you get to enjoy to the fullest! Have you had a chance to pick up a gift from a special mom in your life? Maybe you won’t be able to see them this year, or want to surprise a hard-working mama you know. Check out these gifts you can order today! Wishing all of you all a beautiful Mother’s Day! Patty & Iris Mother’s Day Special – Plus Free Mini! A medium, designer’s choice bouquet designed using the freshest seasonal blooms Your custom order arrives with an adorable matching FREE mini arrangement. Includes FREE delivery to limited areas. Order Now Brownie Dessert Box Original & Turtle This delicious brownie box comes with 45 Brownie Bites that you can share or refrigerate or freeze some for later! This box is also great for adding a sweet treat to your dessert table. Order Now Candles”Golden Rose” Candle Essence of Orange Blossom & mandarins Coco-Soy Beeswax 11 oz 30-45 Burn Time Order Now “Turquoise Moon” Candle Essence of lavender and stimulating rosemary relaxes the mind Coco-Soy Beeswax 10 oz Burn time 30-40 Hrs Order Now “Plantita” Candle Cactus Floral Coco-soy Beeswax 11 oz burn time 40-50 hrs Order Now
WELCOME YOUR TEAM BACK TO THE OFFICE WITH THOUGHTFUL GIFTS
After more than a year away, it’s finally time to return to the office. As COVID restrictions ease and we get used to a post-pandemic world, most companies have either started welcoming office workers back into the office or are making plans to do so. But not everyone is ready for the big transition. While some folks are excited to get back, we know this can come with lots of apprehensions for others. Everything from traffic, to child care, to simply being around others for long periods of time can be on our team member’s minds. One way to give a warm welcome back and ease tensions is with a welcome back gift. Imagine their delight when they walk into the office for the first time in over a year, and they are greeted with something personal and memorable on their desks. They are very likely to go home telling their families about it, and may even take a pic for the gram. We’re sharing a few simple gift ideas that will show your appreciation in a variety of ways. If you’d like to purchase any of these gifts for your team members, let us know! We work with the talented gift makers featured in this blog to help you get the gifts you need for your team members, just in time for return to work. For all employees Make sure you leave a card, post-it note, or some type of personal message at the desk. This is a great opportunity to express your heartfelt appreciation. Here’s a sample note: Dear (team member), Welcome back! It’s been a tough year and we’ve all been through so much. Through it all, you worked hard and made a difference for our team. I appreciate your dedication, and I’m so lucky to have you on the team. We hope you enjoy this small token of appreciation to welcome you back to the office. Let me know if there’s anything I do to help you with your transition back. Best,(You) When you want to send an inspirational message We can’t always be there to pump up the team every minute of the day. Why not give something to inspire them while they sip on their morning cup of joe? This tin camping cup can be personalized with any message. This ‘tapetito’ rug for the mug is a fun touch. It’s hand-sewn with vibrant colors, bringing lots of zest to a team member’s desk. This combo is sure to send positive vibes throughout the office. When you want to give something more masculine This succulent plant in a handsome geometric vessel will make their desk pop with some stylish flare. When you want them to know you support their life outside of work This colorful notepad and to-do list lets your team know you understand they are juggling a lot between work and home. Give them a way to keep organized and ready to tackle their day, and let them know you are cheering them on! When you can’t manage a real life plant We all love real plants. But with folks only in the office a few times a week, they may not be able to give them the TLC they need. Que the succulent candle! These cute candles give a workstation the look and feel of a live plant, but the durability of a candle, meaning it will stay pristine on their desks for months to come. When you want to create a zen environment This portable wax melt set gives your team member a chance to create their own mini-retreat at their desk. The set comes with delicious smelling wax scents, such as ‘mimosa’ and ‘sangria,’ that can have them feeling like they are back on their last tropical vacation. The warmer and tea-light candles are the perfect size to bring a gentle ambiance to their workstation. When you want their first day back to be extra special This mini bouquet of flowers is a darling gift for team members who deserve something extra special. That’s because these bouquets come with fresh flowers in their favorite colors, in a unique smiling vase. This is the perfect gift for someone who has held things down all year and really made an impact. Let them know you see them and really appreciate their efforts. Whether it’s a unique gift, card, post-it note, or message on their whiteboard, do something special to welcome your team members back to the office. They will always remember your thoughtfulness and will feel so much better about coming back into the office.
IF EATING WERE AN OLYMPIC SPORT…
We love the Olympics! ⚽️🤸♀️🏋️🏃🏾♀️🏊🏼♀️ There is so much to enjoy – from the outfits to the music, to the stories of the athletes enduring so much to get to this moment. It’s a special experience enjoyed around the world. 🇯🇵 And with so many sporting events going on around the clock, we need to make sure we’re prepared with fabulous snacks. To help us with this Olympic level of binge-watching, we’re sharing this fun Olympics-themed charcuterie platter to keep you entertained throughout the entire program. 🧀 We’ve included: 🔥The flame: ice cream cone or gold container with regular and hot Cheetos ⭕️The rings: blueberries, popcorn, blackberries, green grapes, & strawberries 🏅The medals: white double stuffed oreo cookies with fruit roll-up for the necklace 🥜Fillers: Almonds, pistachios, Parmesan crisps, cheese & crackers, and dark chocolate Check out our reel on how to make this dish!
9 JAPANESE FOOD CATERERS TO TRY FOR YOUR OLYMPICS VIEWING PARTY OR NEXT EVENT
The Olympics give us a beautiful reason to celebrate our heritage, unique cultures, and cheer on the amazing athletes that devote their lives to being the best in the world! Since the 2021 Olympics are in Tokyo, it makes sense to get in the spirit by ordering Japanese food. We’re sharing some great Japanese caterers for you to order from while you host an Olympics watch party at home. Or go all out and have a beautiful meal created right in front of you by some very talented chefs. From sushi to teppanyaki, check out these 9 Japanese-inspired caterers from across So Cal to hire for your next event. Teppan Catering Arigato Hibachi Based out of Rowland Heights, Teppan Catering Arigato offers the same type of food and eye-catching show you would find in a teppanyaki restaurant, except it is set up in your backyard. From the onion volcano to the sizzling entertainment, if you’re having a party, they will bring the fun. Their menu is extensive, and don’t forget the sauces (ask for the garlic butter). Plus they will bring a full setup with tables and chairs, table cloths, plates, utensils, etc. http://www.teppancatering.com/ I.8sushi iEight sushi started in the midst of the Pandemic 2020. What started as a small startup from the comfort of a home in Los Angeles offering “Delivery sushi in a Pizza Box” to close family and friends, the word started to spread. Their sushi is inspired by Filipino & tropical flavors, and has unique toppings, offering a fresh take on traditional sushi rolls, all delivered in a sustainable container – a pizza box! For a gathering at home, order their Party Box which comes with 12 rolls. Pickup and delivery in the San Fernando Valley. Sushi With Attitude Fusing sushi & musubi together, Sushi with Attitude offers individual bento boxes for a crowd. They started as a small food stand at the 626 Night Market in 2015, and based on their success, launched Sushi With Attitude. For the holidays, they offer fun platters and themed boxes like the “The Brady Munch” in honor of Tom Brady’s return to the superbowl. Give them a call for a custom platter with your favorites. They offer pickup or delivery from their space in Koreatown. Masa Sushi When the occasion calls for an extra special treat, try Masa Sushi. Chef Masa services up an ultra-premium omakase menu in your own private dining setting. They specialize in bringing you the freshest, best quality fish. Their high-quality talent and tools help them serve both traditional favorites like melt in your mouth toro and yellowtail belly, along with unique creations like seared salmon with green onion, Japanese radish, lemon skin, ponzu and topped with a homemade fried garlic chip. Sushime Rolin This husband and wife team opened their West Covina restaurant in 2019 to offer good vibes, great service, and amazing food. Through the pandemic, they pivoted to offering the same flavor and fun in their takeout menu. Now customers call them to order sushi platters for nights at home with friends. The Bad & Boujie roll, Mango Nificant roll, and the seared salmon come highly recommended! Sass Papa Sushi If you like spicy sushi with aguachile sauce, then you’ll want to try Sass Papa sushi. Chef Luis is known for his unique creations which he meticulously arranges around serving platters. DM him for the menu, and you’ll get to choose from many unique rolls like the Hot Cheeto roll, which comes with spicy crab, cucumber, avo, cream cheese and Hot Cheetos outside. Based out of Sylmar, make sure you give at least a week’s notice to make sure you get on the list. Sushi Catering The name says it all. On most nights, Sushi Catering can deliver individual meals to you anywhere in the South Bay, or ask them to come by and cater your next big event. They can stage a beautiful sushi tower for your guests, like the one shown here. Or simply call ahead and they can hook you up a party platter of 6 signature rolls, 6 traditional rolls, and 2 tempura rolls. The chef offers a traditional menu with a twist. Try the Mexican roll with shrimp tempura, crab, topped with spicy tuna and cilantro chimichurri. Teppanyaki Japanese Catering Everyone loves a fire show! With a minimum group size of 12, they will travel to your location and bring their teppanyaki menu of chicken, steak, shrimp, or lobster along with the traditional sides. They set up a long table with cloth linens and nice dinnerware, making your occasion feel extra memorable. And of course, they bring the entertainment with a cool fire show! A great way to make your guests feel extra special at home. http://www.teppanyaki-catering.com/home M’s Sushi Private Catering Chef Mou founded M’s Sushi Catering with the idea that fine sushi is an experience that should be shared with family and friends. Customers leave rave reviews touting their freshness, professionalism, and artistry. Their presentation is so beautiful! Their sushi is caught fresh and prepared the day of your event and their sauces are imported directly from Japan. For a special milestone birthday or event at home, check out M’s Sushi Private Catering.
FUN OLYMPIC TREATS TO MAKE WITH THE FAM
There’s nothing like the Olympics to get the family inspired to try a new sport or turn up the heat in their own sport! One of our favorite sports to watch is gymnastics. When we were little, we can remember watching the gymnasts and thinking we wanted to be just like them! Patty took gymnastics lessons and loved every minute. The Olympics inspire us all to bring out our best. What is your favorite sport to watch? Of course, we’ll need some fabulous snacks to celebrate the occasion. Check out these adorable treats to share with your family or guests. Bring home the gold! You can make a gold medal with golden Oreos and fruit roll-ups. Twist open or slice open golden Oreos with a knife. Cut a fruit roll-up into thirds. Make a loop with the fruit roll up and add it to your Oreos. Close your Oreo to make your medal. Weightlifting for beginners You can make dumbbell weights with chocolate mini donuts or ding dongs and a cookie straw or pretzel sticks. If you use a cookie straw, cut it in half. Attach a donut to both sides of the cookie straw. Optional: use white frosting to add numbers to the weights. Rhythm is a Dancer Make a rhythm gymnastics baton with fruit roll-ups and a cookie straw. Slice a variety of fruit roll-ups into thin strips. Use a toothpick to attach the fruit roll-ups to the cookie straw. Start horsing around Make a pommel horse with a Twinkie, Pocky chocolate-covered pretzel sticks, and a Kit Kat. Put the Kit kat in the refrigerator for 5 minutes to make sure it’s nice and cold. Break the kit kat into two pieces. Cut the Pocky sticks in half and dip the top into warm water. Immediately put the tip of the Pocky stick into the middle of Kit Kat. Let it settle for a minute. Add the Twinkie on top. That’s Fire Make an Olympic Flame with hot Cheetos, regular Cheetos, and an ice cream cone. Depending on your cone, you may need a shot glass to keep it in place. Add alternating hot and regular Cheetos to make the flame effect. Happy snacking!