Take Away Gourmet was launched by ABC Member Chuck Adams, who currently serves as the company’s owner and executive chef. As a distinguished graduate of the Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts, Chuck has been employed by some of the top resorts, hotels and off-premise catering institutions in the tri-state area. He has been featured on the Food Network as a freelance chef and food stylist alongside famed personalities such as Colin Cowie, Emeril Lagasse and Matthew Kenny.

Take Away Gourmet encompasses over 20 years of Chuck’s experience in the culinary arts by mixing in his strong hotel, resort and restaurant experience into one. Chuck believes in hands-on management, working with and encouraging his staff on a day to day basis. He asserts that there are three key ingredients to a successful event: great food, continuous communication and focused attention to detail. In order for Take Away Gourmet to stay on the cutting edge of ever changing food trends, Chuck has made an art out of tweaking classic American dishes with his own personal touch while incorporating the elements which made them popular to begin with.

What keeps Chuck motivated? “Passion, curiosity, and never lagging behind with what’s current & stylish”

We are happy to share one of Take Away Gourmet’s latest events!

It was a great night for Take Away Gourmet. Celebrating their private clients 60th Birthday Party, the theme of the evening was “Latin Fusion” at a private residence in Bergen County. Chuck Adams and Matthew Janson, Executive Sous Chef, headed up the evening in providing guests with a customized menu with Latin market sourced items which were both unique and very tasty!

As guests arrived, they had the opportunity to grab their place cards, mingle with fellow friends and experience some fine Latin-fusion h’orderves.

The featured appetizers for the evening were Corinader Crusted Tuna Medallions on a Baguette Crisp with Green Olive Puree, Goat Cheese & Lavender Honey in Phyllo, Gazpacho Shots in square shot glasses with lime infused Jicama Spear, Curried Vegetable Empanada with Tomato Tamarind Sauce, Mini Tuna Tacos with Julienne Seared Tuna Taco Sauce, Mango Salsa and Fresh Cream, Smoked Scallop in a Coconut Wonton with Lime Aioli and Fresh Lime Zest and finally Grilled Shrimp wrapped in Prosciutto and Dried Papaya with House-made garlic mayo.

 Guests also got to experience the signature cocktails of the evening: Pineapple Batida Rose Cocktail & Blood Orange Margaritas! This was the perfect way to embody the Latin theme of the evening.

Guests were then invited to the basement, which was completely redesigned into a Latin-Fusion escape by Take Away Gourmet with the assistance of the client, for dinner accompanied by some speeches. Guitarists stood at the entryway helping create a nice, relaxed ambiance for all.

The Latin-fusion was integrated within the main menu itself by Take Away Gourmet. The first treat was Baby Arugula, Sweet 100 cherry tomato, toasted pecans, warm goat’s cheese with aged sherry dressing and plantain chip in a cucumber.

This was then followed by Mangospacho with shaved cucumber, chive oil with coconut lemongrass foam.

The main dish of the evening was a Certified Premium Black Angus filet of beef with Take Away Gourmet’s very own signature house made Adobo Rub. This dish included a Yucca Pancake and Sautéed Asparagus.

 Finally, guests were treated to some coffee & tea, grilled pineapple skewers, mini key-lime tarts and beautiful wine-bottle designed cake provided by Tammy Dunwoody of the Art of Cake in Bergen County, NJ.

A great time was had by all at the event!

Date: Wednesday March 14, 2012

Time: 6:00pm (registration begins at 5:30)

Location:

The Sheraton Eatontown Hotel

6 Industrial Way East

Eatontown, NJ 07724

The Jersey Shore chapter of the Association of Bridal Consultants invites you to a night of dinner, drinks, and education as the Sheraton Eatontown shares with us the true ease and flexibility of hotel weddings!

Hear how to satisfy your clients’ wishes for that beach wedding in Asbury Park, while securing your clients the comfort and flexibility of a weatherproof reception with hotel rooms right upstairs.

Learn how a hotel room block works, and how to best estimate the number of rooms your clients will actually need.

Discover the difference in booking hotel rooms direct, versus through a booking company.

Tour the event space and guest rooms, taste the food, and build relationships that will enable you to better meet the needs of your clients.

Learn about Starwood Preferred Guest points, and what they mean for you!

If you’re in the business of helping clients choose a venue and/or hotel for their wedding, you don’t want to miss this opportunity to be better informed.

DATE: Wednesday March 7, 2012

TIME: 6:00pm-9:00pm

Location: Cedar Hill Golf & Country Club

100 Walnut Street

Livingston, NJ 07039

The New Jersey chapter of the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) and the New Jersey North chapter of the International Special Events Society (ISES) are proud to present the third annual “Say Yes to the Best” Bridal Showcase on Wednesday March 7, 2012from 6:00pm-9:00pm. This exclusive event will be held at the Cedar Hill Golf & Country Club in Livingston, NJ. 

Enjoy the elegant venue and the magnificent views of the golf course and surrounding hillsides. Have a sip of champagne or your favorite cocktail while meeting some of the most prestigious vendors in the area. All participants in this event are hand selected by an appointed committee within the ISES and ABC organizations, making it truly the best of the best.

Gain some inspiration from our vendors during our designer showcase contest.  We will be presenting a variety of floral and event design showcasing tables, where you, our valued guest, will vote for your favorite designs!  The winning designer will be presented with a prize.

Our guests will have the ability to explore many different resources for their special day. Some of the many different types of exhibitors we will be featuring include: Hair/Makeup, Entertainment, Bridal Gowns, Tuxedos, Car Services, Florals, Style Services, & Event Planning.   

Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

All ticket proceeds will benefit Wish Upon A Wedding, a non-profit organization providing weddings and vow renewals to couples facing terminal illness and serious life-altering circumstances, regardless of sexual orientation.

If you are a vendor interested in participating please click here!

If you are interested in attending please click here!

The North NJ LNG kicked off 2012 at one the newest venues on the market, McLoone’s Boathouse in West Orange, NJ. While McLoone’s is well known for its location at the Jersey Shore, the restaurant brings the shore to North Jersey with this scenic venue. Perched on a reservoir, the location offers a fantastic view along with an ambiance that really makes you feel like you are relaxing at the beach.

The evening started with a guided tour, and our hostess from McLoone’s Boathouse explained to guests the various ways this new, chic venue can offer its services for weddings, engagement parties, Mitzvahs and the like.

After guests breathed in the surroundings, we were invited to the private dining area reserved for our meeting to start our educational seminar in video marketing, headed by our guest speaker and ABC NJ Member, Damon Dietz of Absolute Media Productions.

Video Marketing is one of the newest ways planners and vendors can maximize exposure for their business. Damon’s information session included all the ways professionals can use video to increase their marketing efforts. But why video anyway? Damon shared with guests that 60% of online traffic comes from online videos and that 85% of people are more likely to book your services with a video.

Damon shared some pointers to help planners get started with their video efforts. For those who are just getting started or who can not afford to hire a professional to shoot some videos for their site,  he recommended bartering or even getting a flip camera and taking some “behind the scenes” footage of an event.  He recommended starting by creating a “get to know you” video which can be easily filmed at your home or office and finally, getting video testimonials from your clients; something that is sure to capture much more attention than those written testimonials!

Throughout the presentation, guests had the opportunity to taste some of the finest appetizers and desserts McLoone’s has to offer, including Endamane, Tomato & Mushroom Pizza, Bruschetta, Hummus & Pita Bread, and finally… red velvet cake topped with cream cheese icing!

A great time was had by all in attendance.

We would like to thank Damon Dietz for his fabulous presentation (www.absolutemediaproductions.com), Ian Audio (www.ian-audio.com) for providing us with the sound and projection, David Toth of David Toth Photography (www.davidtothphotographer.com) for providing us with wonderful pictures of the evening and Jen Oshiki, Banquet Coordinator at McLoone’s Boathouse (www.mcloonesboathouse.com) for hosting us!

Miss the meeting? Check out Damon’s presentation by clicking here.

On Tuesday, January 17th, the Philadelphia LNG met at the Union League for a night of hair and makeup! The Union League of Philadelphia is one of Philadelphia’s most historic properties, a location that co-director Lynda Barness thought worthwhile for Philadelphia LNG members to see.

Victoria DiPetrio, owner of Bella Angel, joined us to speak about bridal hair and the things that she needs from planners to get the job done right. She also demonstrated how to properly insert and remove a veil and how to take a bride’s hair from a “down style” for the ceremony to a simple updo for the reception. The hands on demonstration was great for members to practice before a bride’s big day.

Makeup Artist Beke Beau also spoke about bridal makeup and answered questions moderated by co-director Rebecca Richman, regarding airbrushing vs hand application and things she would suggest we carry in our emergency kits to fix makeup emergencies.

Our gracious hosts provided us with a delicious meal and were also on hand to give us a tour of the property. Ashley Bartoletti was also kind enough to join us to shoot headshots and take the beautiful photos of our event that you see here.

Our next meeting will be on April 3 at Glen Foerd where we again hope to get hands on with table top setting and ballroom planning.

For more information about the Philadelphia LNG contact Lynda Barness at lynda@idoplan.com or Rebecca Richman at rebecca@qohweddings.com.

Today she has one of the most successful florists in New Jersey. Although the shop is a full service florist, Robyn’s passion is designing and creating beautiful weddings. Fueled by her energy and talent she meticulously handcrafts unique Bridal bouquets and inspirational centerpieces. Her creative vision can transform any venue into a breathtaking dream for the Bride and Groom’s wedding day. If she is your planner or coordinator her knowledge, confidence and calmness allows the Bride and Groom, and their families and guests to relax and enjoy their special day. “Timeless Elegance in Decor, Details, & Design for All Weddings and All Occasions” is the motto that Robyn’s florist stands by and thrives on to make every event a success.

We are proud to share one of Robyn Rohsler’s recent events with you:

There was a romantic and enchanted feel to this wedding which took place in October. White pumpkins, silver branches and  Swavorski crystals adorned the tables and ballroom.

It was truly fairy tale story of a prince finding his princess.

This wedding had so many sweet details and tiny touches that made it a truly memorable and beautiful  night to remember.

Resources:

www.weddingflowersbyrobyn.com

www.seasonscatering.com

www.kleinfeldbridal.com

Location: The Sheraton Eatontown Hotel, 6 Industrial Way East, Eatontown, NJ  07724

Date: February 8, 2012

Time: 6:00pm (Registration begins at 5:30)

The Jersey Shore chapter of the Association of Bridal Consultants invites you to a night of dinner, drinks, and education as the Sheraton Eatontown shares with us the true ease and flexibility of hotel weddings!

• Hear how to satisfy your clients’ wishes for that beach wedding in Asbury Park, while securing your clients the comfort and flexibility of a weatherproof reception with hotel rooms right upstairs.
• Learn how a hotel room block works, and how to best estimate the number of rooms your clients will actually need.
•  Discover the difference in booking hotel rooms direct, versus through a booking company.
• Tour the event space and guest rooms, taste the food, and build relationships that will enable you to better meet the needs of your clients.
• Learn about Starwood Preferred Guest points, and what they mean for you!

If you’re in the business of helping clients choose a venue and/or hotel for their wedding, you don’t want to miss this opportunity to be better informed.

With more than 20 years in wedding related sales and marketing, Alan Berg is uniquely qualified to help local wedding businesses achieve their goals. Alan spent 11 years at The Knot, the leading lifestage media company, most of them as Vice President, overseeing the sales, education and training of the local sales team and local wedding pros around the country.

Alan is the author of the books “If your website was an employee, would you fire it?”, “Don’t Paint the House” and the brand new book and e-book “Your Attitude for Success”, all available on his website.

He is a business & marketing consultant, in-demand professional speaker and member of the National Speakers Association, the leading organization for professional speakers.

He speaks to thousands of local business professionals every year through webinars and live presentations.

For more information on where Alan’s speaking near you, his consulting services, books, DVDs and online videos, visit www.alanberg.com , email alan@alanberg.com or call 732-422-6362

Are your collateral materials worth the paper they’re printed on?

While we live in a digital world, printed materials are still key to any business. We’re a “less-paper” society, not a “paperless” one. You have many different kinds of printed collateral materials from business cards to brochures, postcards to price lists and menus to promotional pieces. Are your collateral pieces supporting your business or are they causing “collateral damage”.

Your collateral materials need to support your brand image, your mission and your goals. Very often they’re the first impression a prospect will have of you and your business. Are they doing their job, or is it time to replace them? If your business has evolved but your collateral materials haven’t, then it’s definitely time to replace them. One of the  ingest mistakes is waiting to use up your current materials before printing new, better ones.

How much is this going to cost?

I’m often asked what new printed pieces will cost and the answer is the same as what a new website will cost you… less than the business you’re losing by having the wrong ones. That’s right, if you lose just one client because your business card, postcard, brochure, etc. turned them off, the profit from that job is likely to have been enough to have printed better ones.

So, what makes a printed piece better? Pretty much the same things that make your other marketing better; they’re well designed, reflect your brand identity, have a clear purpose and a clear call to action. Whoever gets it need to know: Who you are, What you do and What you want them to do now that they have it.

Should I print them myself?

When should you print the materials yourself and when should you print them professionally? If the information isn’t likely to change very often, it’s usually better and cheaper to have them printed professionally. If there are photos then it’s usually better to get them printed professionally. If you often need small quantities of a piece then you may want to consider printing them yourself.

Just understand that printing them yourself doesn’t mean you designed them yourself. There’s no substitute for good design and quality. There are many high-quality printers, laser and inkjet, that will produce a very good image, but make sure that the image that’s  being printed is of sufficient quality to support your brand. If you choose to print them yourself, the goal is to make it so that the person getting it can’t tell that you printed it in-house.

Is print here to stay? While I’m sure we’ll continue to reduce the need to print certain materials, I think it will be a very long time until we’re a truly paperless society. Come to the Wedding Biz conference and you’ll see me do live reviews of attendees’ collateral materials. That’s right, I’ll be analyzing and giving suggestions on how to improve the actual materials of some of the attendees. Are you brave enough to submit yours for analysis?

The event was coordinated by Jersey Shore ABC’s newest directors, Adam and Kristin Polhemus of Bella Bridal Consultants.  Michael and Kristina Valdmaa of Flowerful Events were so gracious to lend their gorgeous 9,000 square-foot studio, and everyone in attendance thoroughly enjoyed the assortment of hors d’oeuvres and wines as they mixed and mingled.

After a festive cocktail, attendees took part in an informative and enlightening conversation headed by Michael Valdmaa.  Discussions of trends, inspiration, pricing structure, challenges, and opportunities within the industry ensued, as well as a lighting lesson from Section One Audio Visual and floral design tips and tricks from Flowerful Events.

Meanwhile, Feuza Reis of Feuza Reis Photography beautifully captured the decor and conversation.  Guests sipped on delectable coffee provided by Cupa Cabana Espresso & Coffee Catering.  The event was successful in contributing to the knowledge and expertise that helps ABC members stand out from the rest.  We look forward to seeing you at the next Jersey Shore local networking group meeting!

If you are a wedding professional in the Jersey Shore area, contact Kristin and Adam to learn how you can benefit from being a member of the Association of Bridal Consultants: info@bellabridalconsultants.com

Photography: Feuza Reis, Feuza Reis Photography

Florals: Flowerful Events

Lighting: Section One Audio Visual

Coffee Bar: Cupa Cabana Espresso & Coffee Catering

Coordination: Bella Bridal Consultants