Guilty Pleasures From Duportail House

Kate Frey, the Sales & Event Director at the incredible Duportail House in Chesterbrook, shared with us her two guilty pleasures which are as beautiful a marriage as one that occurs at Duportail House.

Maryland Crabs & Victory Beer! Her favorite haunt is Cantlers in Annapolis for the super fresh & perfectly seasoned Cheasapeake Bay crabs. The winner of Chesapeake Bay Magazine Best Crabs 2009 and featured in many articles, they season their crabs with a special house blend that can intruige even the most diificult taste buds. Combine those with any of the great beers & ales from Victory Brewing and you have a marriage made in heaven or at least Duportail. With 18 beers currently on the list and a development program that is always seeking to be a leader, they are the perfect match for so many foods. From the "Menacingly Delicious" Hop Devil made with whole American Hop flowers to the "Seductively Smooth" Festbier, there is one for every taste & style.

Kate loves the strong & rich flavors that compliment the spicy flavors of crabs. If you are not familiar with Duportail House, you need to explore this incredible venue for your next special event. The historic home which pre-dates Geoerge Washingtons encampment at Valley Forge features incredible grounds, beautiful fireplaces, and a site rich in charm and history. It is minutes from Routes 202, 422, 76 & 476 making it accessible from all directions. In addition, it is convenient to the many hotels of the Valley Forge area. Provence Catering would be happy to introduce you or assist you in planning your next special event at Duportail House.

A Kosher Corned Beef Sandwich is always on the Guilty Pleasure Guest list.

I love a great Kosher corned beef sandwich. It's the favorite Guilty Pleasure of my people. Add in a little Cole slaw and you are in Guilty Town wearing a Yarmulke. That honor is quite appropriate since this tasty knosh is often the most invited guest to any Bar/Bat Mitzvah luncheon. Lean and flavorful, a corned beef sandwich piled-high, is the cornerstone of any life affirming Deli experience.

Over the years, I have had many revelations at the Deli counter. Fantastic Kosher deli food in America has it's epicurean roots in the lower East Side of New York City and an amazing hot corned beef sandwich with a spicy mustard is a right of passage. Didn't you just love the movie "Crossing Delancy?" We learned that the Pickle man was a good catch and that Jewish soul food could share the spotlight with Amy Irving.

While a trip to the famed Carnegie Deli is always a worthy part of a Guilty Pleasure excurison to Manhattan, we have many fantastic Deli's in Philadelphia that are also desrving of recognition. GrubStreet Philadelphia is a terrific online resource and they always have a good opinion on where to dine. Here is their take on the local corned beef landscape.

"Here in Philadelphia, the deli question's an interesting one. We're going to take the contrarian view and say the best Jewish deli sandwich in Philly, bar none, is the Restaurant School special at Koch's Deli. For a little under $10, you get corned beef, honey turkey, brisket, hot pepper cheese, cole slaw and Russian dressing on rye. The sandwich is a killer — and it's great.

Then there are other Jewish delis. Famous Fourth Street Delicatessen, Steve Stein's Famous, Kibitz in the City, Hershel's in the Reading Terminal Market, Hymie's Merion Deli and all the other suburban outposts...."

If you are going to New York City, you might want to check out the New York Times, NYC dining guru Frank Bruni pursuit of corned beef nirvana. There's more to sample in the Big Apple than just the Carnegie Deli. Bruni recently reviewed the new 2nd Avenue Deli. In his Diner's Journal blog, Bruni followed it up with an eloquent rant on Jewish Deli food and tradition.

Guilty while skiing!

We have a post from a reader!

"this one is from my son:

he will never let us pass a Waffle Hut on the ski slopes. fresh waffle withchocolate drizzled all over......

It's got to be eaten outside in the snow or it just isn't right......"

Please continue to send us your guilty pleasures. We love to hear from our readers!

If you have a guilty pleasure that you would like to share, please send it in to jessa13.guiltypleasures@blogger.com. Thanks!

Guiltless Pleasure of Helping Children

Please note this touching story by a fellow hospitality professional! Provence Catering is proud to support the troops & their loved ones.

"Just after 911 my husband went over seas. I missed him very much and so did his kids. When I heard that the USO is collecting teddy bears to give out to the families of deployed soldiers I knew I had to get involved. The teddy bears (or other stuffed critters) are distributed to the loved ones when a family member is deployed. they are instructed to hug the bear every time they miss the deployed soldier".
"This display of affection is a way for the loved ones to find some peace and comfort."

She has set a goal of collecting 2,000 teddy bears by January 1, 2010.
Karen can be reached in her office: The Chestnut Club: 610-962-0111 if you have any questions.

Please help and send a brand new teddy bear or other furry friend to:
Karen Pecora
PO Box 188
Berwyn, PA 19312

No Matter what your views on world politics & the Military we cannot ignore or forget those who risk their lifes for our safety & their famalies! We are Provence Catering appluad their efforts & scarafice! Please do what you can & please always remember to sat Thank You to a Vet!

Apple Cider Guilties

Sound the trumpets. Blow the Shofar. Pump the jam. It's Apple Cider time and roadside produce stands are bustling with excitement. Refrigerators can expect to be opened much more frequently as people savor the taste of happy.

No one knows more about the process pf pressing of apples into cider than our own Thin Mint. Her Apple mash knowledge is legendary. Maybe it was her college experiences in upstate New York? In a region known for their Cortland's, Rome's and Macintosh's, no one could polish an apple better than Thin Mint. That Skinny Chick can really shine.

Preservatives are not allowed in Apple Cider. They are verboten! It's all natural or nothing. Sadly and thankfully that eliminates many products. Finding a great apple cider is a guilty pleasure. Add in a great sandwich from John's House of Pork and it's almost a mini-stacation. A second glass is for sharing is required.

Tailgating in September is always a guilty pleasure.

There is so much to enjoy in the month of September. The weather is usually incredible. Temperatures in the 70's make everyday a marvel. The food is fantastic. The vibrant menus of summer give way to a merging of seasonal delights. Indian Summer cuisine is wonderfully different and unique.

While dining at a new hot spot like the Chifa Restaurant on Chestnut Street is a magnificent fusion adventure, some of the most creative recipes anywhere are found in the parking lots of Lincoln Financial Field. Many tailgating fans are fantastic chefs and their gourmet concoctions can be sensational. A walking tour of the parking lots is a gastronomic fantasy and a sensory ride worthy of a final meal.

I love the festival atmosphere up and down each row of cars. Surveying the local landscape and soaking up all the majesty is always a time-tested guilty pleasure. The wide variety of food smells wafting in the air is intoxicating, the loyal fans are stoked and the flavors are remarkable. Great or not-so-great football needs Gluitorious food when tailgating and the Eagles fans always deliver.

Little Hodo's of heaven...

There are so many delicious hors d'oeuvres to enjoy. I have my favorites and they are too numerous to mention. They are each candidates for the small nosh Hall of Fame.

Today I sampled an old friend on the comeback trail, cheese steak eggrolls.



It's China Wok meets South Philly. It's S. Broad St. meets Race St. They were fantastic and a definite nominee for the Yumback Hodo of the Month. It's a brave new world and merging cultures is always a guilty pleasure.

Opulent-Minded Events

The Grand Opening of The Elkins Estate on September 12 was a huge success! Opulent-minded events start with a beautiful, majestic venue like The Elkins Estate. Providing the most lavish display of food and elegance was definitely a guilty pleasure for Provence Catering and hopefully for all the guests!

photos courtesy of kevin york photography

Did someone say hot chocolate?

I love hot chocolate. It's a creamy delight of Guiltorious proportions. I tried to include a hot chocolate bar on a menu for a high-profile event this coming weekend and I was overruled. Their reason was some nonsense about the temperature still being in 70's. What does that have to do with my pursuit of guilty pleasures. Drinking hot chocolate filled with a myriad of mixins like pepperment and chocolate chunks the perfect way to welcome in the splendor of October.

We have a sensational Hot Chocolate Bar and it's a true guilty pleasure no matter what time of year. How could you resist...

White and dark hot chocolates accompanied by Mini-marshmallows, crushed peppermint candy, white chocolate chunks, dark chocolate chunks, whipped cream and cinnamon sticks.

Preparing a big time menu for a big time day is always a guilty pleasure

The wings were cooked early. Dueling recipes were the order of the day. The CEO's Buffalo Wings and Teriyaki Wings featuring a delicious Bone Sucking sauce.
The soft steak rolls from the Collegeville Bakery were secretly tucked away by 9 am. There is a chicken cheese steak looking for a lunch partner.

The baby back ribs were marinated by 11 am. We are sampling three regional barbecue sauces. Louisiana Sweet Mesquite is today's rub of choice.

Dinner is going to be flavorful journey. It's a big time menu for a big time day!

Today's glorious! Today the sun is shining. Today is the opening of the NFL season. The world is in better balance when it's first and goal to go. Watching football alone or with the family is always a guilty pleasure.

Looking good when it counts is always a Guilty Pleasure.

The summer's over and it's time to lose the shorts, hide the flip-flops and burn that certain Hawaiian shirt.

Our jam-packed events calendar is getting more formal, the high-holidays are fast approaching and the Bar Mitzvah of the year is just three weeks away.

The clock was ticking and Guilty needed a makeover. I have avoided going shopping for months, hoping the tide would turn in my insufferable battle of the bulge. Unfortunately, my prayers are not going to be answered in this regard and I went shopping for fashionable suits. This dynamic CEO needs some style, if you please.

With Christopher's help, I found the answer at Men's Wearhouse. Four gorgeous suits later and I am ready for the limelight. Looking good when it counts, is always a Guilty Pleasure. Especially when it's for your family. I may look like Buddah lately, but I dress like Armani.

Entertaining your best friends is always a wonderful Guilty Pleasure

Don't you just love entertaining? I enjoy all of it. The event planning. The stylish invitations. The delicious food. Yes, I am Guilty as Charged when it comes to gleefully planning a menu and loving Provence's food. The excitement looming. The new clothes waiting. Your guests beaming. The magic and the mirth beckoning. Yes Guiltilorians, I love it all!

We are having a special milestone event next month as our son is making his Bar Mitzvah. This is a wonderful family moment to cherish and enjoy. Besides our son's stellar performance, the best part of the weekend will be sharing our joy and good fortune with many of our dearest friends. Especially our unexpected guests.

With that pleasant surprise in mind, it's time to celebrate, indulge and enjoy the Guilty-side of life with your best buds. It doesn't matter whether you are raising the flag of guilt-ridden fun in college, skiing one more run at Stowe, chillin on Long Beach Island or toasting your children, partying with your best friends is always a five star guilty pleasure to savor.

The timeless stories flow, the laughter rumbles, the friendship is eternal and the rapture is real.

Thank you Ronnie, Carlene and Hannah for joining us.

True American Spirits!

There are few things in the distilled spirits world that give such a taste reward & feeling of American pride as a small batch or single barrel bourbon. I am a bourbon fan as is my father who at 88 & going strong still appreciates a glass of Wild Turkey or Old Grandad. I am fortunate, I am in a different generation, one that has seen the mastery of the science and method of fine spirits production. There are three slightly different types of fine micro produced bourbons:

1. Single Barrel(The Finest Kind): As bourbon is aged, the barrel & where the barrel is stored all affect the final product. In normal operations hundreds of barrels are combined together and finished to produce a consistent bourbon. In single barrel production the finest barrels are selected by the experts during ageing and pulled aside to age even longer. These are then bottled & labeled with a bottle & barrel # for authenticity. The Father of this was Elmer T Lee of Leestown Distillery who released the first of this type in 1984. An amazing product known as Blanton's. ( My Personal Favorite)

2.Small Batch: which was embraced by Jim Beam. This is based on the idea that bottling single barrels is too quirky and the better approach is to take your finest barrels & blend them together to yield a larger batch of top quality spirits.

3.Small Scale: This approach is to work with the larger production methods of the large distilleries but utilize only premium quality bourbon to start. Maker's Mark is the best Legal example of this. (We can discuss the other type of spirits at a later date)

So the next time to need to unwind, celebrate a great American Holiday or just sip some pure Americana pour some Knob Creek, Bookers, Blanton's, Jim Beam, Maker's Mark or any of the premium American Bourbon's in a glass or over ice. And why not compliment it with a great cigar! ( As an FYI the finest tobacco in the world for wrapping cigars comes from Connecticut)

Happy Labor Day & God Bless America!

Foodie & Charity Events

With so many great charities & in a business that reaches deep within our pockets and warehouses to help everywhere we can, I have the fortunate ability to indulge one of my true Guilty Pleasures "Foodie Events & Charity Tastings". What a great way to over indulge, mingle, bid on auction items that are truly just guilty pleasures & drink the finest in wines & spirits all while helping others & feeling great about it. This week starts a wave of such events: Saturday is the Elkins Estate Gala http://www.elkinsestate.org/ & Sunday is the Grounds For Sculpture Benefit http://www.groundsforsculpture.org/. What a great way to start the fall season. I see Tylenol & Pepto on my desk next Monday but no remorse. It is all for a great cause.

Enjoying Michael's Franks, Guilty as charged

Everyone loves Cocktail Franks. They are the most popular of all hors d'oeuvres . Bar none!

Numero Uno, if you are keeping score.

No matter how high-end the affair, no matter how "shi shi" the soiree, no matter how elegant the event, those little doggies are treated like VIP's. I always offer them limo service to my mouth.

Most catering companies give their customers a pre-made fozen product. They just open a box, pop'em in the oven and they're good to go. No labor. No fuss. No muss. No Soul.

Our approach to dogie delirium is the other side of the coin. The one that really shines. We offer our discerning clientele"Michael's Franks." It's an in-house produced product and only Kosher or Kobi beef hot dogs will do. There's definitely labor costs, but it's money well spent. More importantly, there's certainly soul as they are handcrafted four your reception. You might call that fuss, we call it custom-to the-client catering. From 1 to 10,000, they are identical delights and a real crowd pleaser.

"Michael's Franks" from Provence Catering is a far superior menu option than the frozen appetizers you will find elsewhere. Our chef's handwork, presentation syle and culinary expertise, make them one of our most frequently requested cocktail party delicacies.

Eating them in moderation is almost impossible since they are soooooooo yummy. Whereas, scarfing them down with a spicy mustard and an icy cold IBC Black Cherry soda is a true Guilty Pleasure that never ceases to satisfy.

Guilty in the moonlight

I am a loving that lunar glow show. Is there anything more awe-inspiring than gazing at a full Sugar moon as summer fades?
Throughout history, the September moonlight has been the cultural cornerstone for many ancient civilizations and their names reflect the moon's seasonal majesty. The Chinese saw magic in the Chrysanthemum Moon. The Choctaw Indians came of age underneath the Mulberry Moon. In Colonial America, the famous Harvest Moon was a guiding light.

Our early September weather this week has been Chivas Regal and that top shelf experience is the perfect backdrop for many a Guilty Pleasure.

Looking for a Celtic romance? Then a Singing full moon is your best friend.

Looking to party like a Southern rock star? Is there a better Rebel yell than howling in the Tennessee moonlight?

Looking to be a lunatic? The Cherokee Indians danced wildly underneath the Nut Moon.

Looking for ghosts? That spooky Orb up in the heavens is always a celestial beacon.

Looking for new recipes? The Blackberry Moon is always a sweet inspiration.

Looking for the perfect honeymoon in Cabo? A fiery red Mexican moon reflecting off the of Sea Cortez will make your soul's one. Forever!

Looking for answers? Picasso's moon is a wise sage.

Looking for Thin Mint underneath a Panamanian Moon? Guilty as Charged!

If you are my setting shower water temperature,Thin Mint hot works just fine!

My shower water has to be hot. Shinny chick hot. Not scalding hot like Jessica Alba, but with a temperature capable of softening the toughest morning scruff. Certainly, shower water that's "Thin Mint hot" works just fine.


To me, shaving in the shower is a necessary daily routine and moisturized personal grooming is always a blast. No shaving cream is necessary, but a sharp razor blade is a must. Of course no rushing is allowed and the Skinny Chick Society does encourage their members to share in the fun. Conserving natural resources is part of their International Charter.

Those wise Skinny Chicks have a steady hand and love in their heart. That rejuvenating combination makes shaving in the shower a bonafide Guilty Pleasure. Of course, saving water and sharing laughter is just a bonus.

Self-serving versions of guilt

What is a true guilty act? Not criminal, but self-serving in a "Moi" sort of way. Everyone has their own interpretation.

It could be sneaking an ample sip of your dad's home-brewed Black Cherry wine before the Harvest Moon Ball. The High School years offered innocent moments of self-serving guilt.
Is it visiting the pastry department's rolling rack at 10 am when everyone else is attending a staff meeting? The answer to that question is easy, Guilty as charged. It's fairly well known that I have a PhD in sneaking food guilt. Besides, I make much more sense after eating two pieces of our chef's outrageously delicious sour cream coffee cake. When it's still warm, there's a three spot on the line.

Is it sneaking in front of people at the airport when you have only 20 minutes to catch a flight to the slopes at Snow Basin and the line is longer than a football field? "Me first" guilt never gets old. Anyway, missing that flight to Utah was not an option. We both know that!

Is it stopping by Wawa on Thursday afternoon when the asphalt is 900 degrees and all that can save you is a Wawa freezer shake or two? There's no time to drive to Ray's Drive-in for a fix. You need that liquid ice cream rush now! Heat salvation is a free pass anywhere on Planet Guilty. Watch for a new show debuting this fall on Guilty TV called "Rescue Shake 911" starring me. It's very cool and satisfying.

Self preservation is a Guilty-filled experience. Accept the truth and join the club!

Guilty in the right field corner, September baseball has begun.

Going to a baseball game is very rewarding Guilty Pleasure. Whether you are wide-eyed with your father, dashing with your date or patient with your kids, the baseball diamond is really a field of dreams.

The first game I ever attended in person was a real humdinger. I went with my Dad and we saw the legendary Don Drysdale of Los Angeles Dodgers shutout the New York Mets 1-0 at the new Shea Stadium. Drysdale hit a solo home run to win the game. It was an incredible experience and a father-son sports memory that I will never forget.

The feeling of walking out of the tunnel and seeing the baseball field for the first time under the lights is a very special childhood moment. There is just nothing else like it, except maybe the first day of eighth grade when you see what the summer sun did to all those girls. Both experiences rock your world forever.

The grandeur of baseball is grandeur of America. It's timeless, it's shared and it's unpredictable.

There is a new plot written with every pitch.

Tonight we saw Cole Hammels of the Fightin Phils pitch a two hit 1-0 shutout underneath an awe-inspiring full moon against the red-hot San Francisco Giants. The early September weather was stupendous and the ballpark was packed. This was playoff preview between two hot teams. As an extra bonus, it was also Ladies Night at the yard so the lunar chippies were in full bloom. From our field level seats near the foul pole, it was a magnificent view.

Baseball is always one of my favorite Guilty Pleasures.