Here are a few great ways to thank those outstanding, and necessary administrative professionals who help you succeed each and every day:

.Support their professional development. Have them attend a seminar or training session this week either on or off-site. Allowing them to observe the day through career development sends the message that you appreciate their efforts.

.Give a meaningful gift. Everyone gives flowers, coffee mugs, balloons or similar items. This year, why not invest in gifts that help advance assistants’ careers, such as books, CDs, DVDs, or other career-enhancing tools. Take your pick – and reinforce the respect you have for their career aspirations. Or give your administrative assistant something that has meaning to them: Whether it is a favorite book or a spa.

.Treat them to lunch. In our busy work days and weeks, managers and assistants rarely take time to stop, eat, and converse. Whether it is this week or 3 weeks from now, be sure to use the time to get to know your assistant even better, and avoid talking about work. Make your assistant feel as special as he or she is.

.Cater a company lunch: This is a great way get everyone together in one room to thank for their hard work day in and day out, with beautifully prepared food that appeals to all the senses of taste, smell, and sight.

.Give them special flex time. This depends on your employer’s policies and project deadlines. If you can let your assistant leave a little early one day this week, it’s a nice way to say, “Thank you for the times you’ve stayed late to help me.”

.Offer a sincere thank you. Sometimes, the most invaluable gifts we receive are heartfelt compliments. Whether you publicly praise assistants at a department meeting, or personally look them in the eye and express your gratitude, the gesture is sure to be appreciated.

The first weekend of tournaments is the safest time to have a party to celebrate your favorite college basketball team because all the teams that make it to the tournament will play that first week.

Here are some ideas to make your March Madness party a success as well as a memorable time with friends and family.

.Having the event at your own home is a great place to host a party, but if you want to take it to the next level, how about booking a private party room with drink specials, private seating, big screens, and catering services to enjoy a big day full of games.

.Send out invitations to all of your college buddies or your basketball fanatic friends.

.Decorate using the orange and black basketball colors for your March Madness party.

.Bottle services, drink discounts, and special food catering services can all be a part of your NCAA tournament get together. Having some betting or some bracket pools during your basketball party is another way to have everyone get into the games and add more excitement to the event.

. Feeding a party can be like feeding a basketball team, so make sure you have enough food. Select dishes like Pizza Casserole, Chicken Penne Casserole, Spicy Nacho Bake, Slow-Cooked Turkey Sandwiches, Creamy Hash Brown Potatoes, Zippy Spaghetti Sauce or Slow Cooker Mexican Dip.

.If your party is going to be smaller, you might want to add to the party’s basketball theme by serving only ball or circle-shaped dishes like, Sausage Cheese Balls, Calzone Pinwheels, Stuffed Potato Skins, Bacon-Broccoli Cheese Ball, Meatball Pizza, Parmesan Potato Balls and Cheese Ball Snack Mix.

From the food to the drinks a March basketball event is a great way to enjoy your weekend and make the bracket challenge that much more exciting.

Light Breakfasts Menu

A light breakfast consists of an assortment of fresh fruit, cereal, and baked goods. Make sure seasonal, fresh fruit is included. Summer fruits include berries of all kinds, cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew. A winter assortment of fruits includes oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, green or red grapes, kiwi fruit, and bananas. Granola and other kinds of cereal can be eaten with milk or sprinkled on yogurt to make a parfait. Also adding an assortment of fruit yogurts served in glassware adds a little flare to the catering.

You can also add baked goods as an alternative. These may include Danishes, cinnamon rolls, pastries scones, and tea biscuits. Muffins whether blueberry, banana, bran or corn, are always a favorite. Finally, different flavors of bagels topped with cream cheese, smoked salmon, butter or fruit preserves are always a hit.

Hot Buffets Menu

Buffets allow for dishes to be prepared in advance and kept warm in chafing trays. You can serve egg dishes, such as scrambled eggs, eggs Benedict, or huevos rancheros. Also, an assortment of breakfast meats, such as sausage, bacon and ham is always a good idea to include. In addition you can also include pancakes and French toast accompanied by warm, pure maple syrup. Finally, include breakfast potatoes, such as hash browns or lightly seasoned home fries.

Omelet Station

A made-to-order omelet station is always a crowd-pleaser. Cheeses to include are Swiss, cheddar, Gouda, and provolone. Meat choices can be sausage, bacon, and ham. Diced vegetables, such as mushrooms, onions, and peppers should also be included. Don’t forget that salsa and sour cream make excellent omelet toppings.

Waffle Station

A waffle station is another great idea to really please your guests. Provide guests with a choice of freshly made whipped cream, maple syrup, warm chocolate sauce, honey, bananas, and fresh berries to top the fresh waffles.

Breakfast Beverages

Make sure to provide several beverage selections. Of course, no breakfast is complete without freshly brewed coffee, both regular and decaffeinated. Include an assortment of teas, such as breakfast tea, black tea, and herbal blends. Make sure that half-and-half, light cream, sugar and a sugar substitute are available. Hot chocolate or cocoa with tiny marshmallows on the side is also great to have. In addition to freshly squeezed juices, include orange, grapefruit, and pineapple. Don’t forget to include two milk alternatives with one low-fat version.

Cajuns are fond of their spice and rich foods, and since they live so close to the Gulf of Mexico, seafood is a big item in their dishes. Some favorites are crawfish, catfish, crabs, and oysters. Cajun spices always consist of three vegetables.  The most desired vegetables that add flavor to Cajun cuisine are bell peppers, onions and celery. A couple of other favorites are cayenne pepper and garlic.

Many Cajun foods are made from a roux, which consist of a base made from flour, fat and water. It is used to make things like gravy, stews, and of course Gumbo. An authentic Cajun meal usually consists of a three-pot affair. One pot is dedicated to the main dish, the other to steamed rice, special made sausages, or some other seafood dish, and the third containing whatever vegetable is plentiful or available.

Some primary Cajun food favorites include Boudin, Gumbo, and Jambalaya. Boudin is a type of sausage made from pork, pork liver, rice, garlic, green onions, and other spices. Boudin balls are commonly served in southern Louisiana. Gumbo is a type of stew that has sausage, shrimp, crab, oysters, and can also have chicken or pork. It also contains tomatoes, okra, and many other spices and seasonings.  Jambalaya contains rice, chicken or beef, and/or seafood such as shrimp or crawfish, and almost anything else.

Cajun food hasn’t changed much over the years, but the love of Cajun food is stronger than ever!

Researching the type of food each company provides will ensure you select the right one for your unique event.  The quality of the company’s services can be of concern.  You want to make sure your catering company serves your guests high-quality foods.  This can be done by selecting a caterer that specializes in crafting the trendiest meals and hors d’oeuvres in the industry.  By reading the company’s menu you can get a sense of their specialties.  You can also review what other customers are saying about their services.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions, some caterers adjust their menus to meet the needs of their customers.

Keep in mind there are many hot trends in the catering business today that may factor in on your selection.  Many customers prefer to have special dishes served at their events, while others simply want their dishes served in a unique manner.

Once you have selected the right company for your event ask for recommendations of what you should serve and how to better the menu based on the season.  A successful event from start to finish is based on the right questions and proper preparation.

Comfort foods like burgers, pot pie and risotto are popular during this time of year. Caterers have also been putting a bit of a twist on the traditional American classics. For example, Kobe beef burgers or short-ribs braised in wine—adding a little oomph to ordinary dishes that people know provides guests with a little change of pace from what they are used to. Brides and grooms have the option to make the changes they like because chefs have the ability to create meals that truly resemble the uniqueness of each bride and groom (making their wedding reception truly special.)

The traditional first course dinner salad is still used, but the option to select hot appetizers is becoming more popular for fall weddings. Couples are choosing to provide their guest with hearty soups and chowders, like butternut squash soup, pumpkin soup, and seafood based soups to warm their guest. Other popular foods include toasted appetizers, such as a bruschetta with pear and gorgonzola, or crostini topped with bleu cheese and wild mushrooms.  For the fall entrée, many caterers are offering duck, lamb, and even quail paired with seasonal veggies like leeks, onions, carrot and celery. For the wedding cake consider choosing a flavor that compliments the fall season—dark chocolate or a pound cake laced with amaretto compliments a fall wedding. Couples are also offering additional desserts aside from the cake like apple tarts and pies.

For a unique and unforgettable fall wedding remember to be venturesome but choose flavors that will appeal to the majority of your guests. When you do that, your wedding will not only be remembered for its uniqueness, but for the use of seasonal flavors!

April Newsletter

Since becoming one of the corporate caterers in the Philadelphia area, I have learned many things about how things should be done to make your special event a great event that will long be well remembered. Marketing and advertising are key components in finding out how well a Philadelphia caterer is known. Have you ever seen or tasted their work before. Are they established and, again, do they have a good reputation.

If you would like further advice on how to pick a Philadelphia caterer such as myself, please give me a call: David Simms, 215-236-3900 or visit me online at www.eatibledelights.com