The Country Cat is a Guilty classic

We saw the most amazing butchering skills and butcher block food last evening while watching Dinners, Drive-ins and Dives. Chef? Owner Adam Sappington of the Country Cat in Portland Oregon is a legend and his food looked Guiltorious.  Adam and his wife Jackie are definitely members of the Guilty Pleasures Club.

Their pork and fried chicken dishes are legendary. The Whole Hog platter is definitely a game changer. Talk about dedication and love, they cure their Hams for four months.  FOUR MONTHS!!!  Is that a pork lovers fantasy or what? We're planning another trip to the Rose City this summer and the Country Cat can expect multiple visits from Guilty, Thin Mint, Junior Mint and Guilty too. 

We can't wait to sample the Butcher Block portion of their impressive menu:

FROM THE BUTCHER'S BLOCK

Entrées

 

Molasses & Hickory Smoked  Duck Leg 
with Dried Cherry Braised Kale, Butternut Squash Puree, & Sherry 19

Two Pieces of Cast-Iron Skillet Fried Chicken 
with Mashed Potatoes & Gravy 15

Braised Lamb Shoulder
on a Stew of Tomatoes, Fennel & Roasted Garlic with Fried Butter Beans, & Gremolata  18

Red Wine Braised Beef 
with Butter-Braised Potatoes & Wild Mushroom Steak Sauce 19

The Country Cat's Whole Hog
with Brined & Grilled Loin, Roasted Belly & Braised Shoulder 23

Heritage Burger 
with Onion Rings 10
Add: American Cheese, “Judy” Spread,
or Blue Cheese 1.50; House Bacon 2

Sides

Bacon Braised Collard Greens 7

Mashed Potatoes with Sausage Gravy 7

Barbeque Baked Beans 7

Guilty's Baseball Adventure

Thin Mint is planning a sensational trip to Italy.  Sounds great to me.  I know it's going to be an unforgettable Gastronomic adventure.  What a fantastic vacation she's working on.

I have another trip in mind.  Guilty turns the Big 60 this summer and yet, in many ways I am still a 12 year old boy. I am sure it's no surprise to anyone, I was quite Guiltorious back in 1966. Baseball was my world. Shea Stadium, Connie Mack Stadium and Wrigley Field Field were my sanctuaries.  I loved the Boys of Summer.  I also loved the over indulgence you enjoyed at the ballpark.

To celebrate my milestone birthday, I am planning a Baseball road trip.  We fly to Chicago and enjoy the passion of the Windy City.  From Navy pier to the Gold Coast to Hyde Park, the Second City is city of Fun and adventure. The restaurants are world class. The comedy clubs are awesome and we'll catch a Cubs game or two at Wrigley.

Then we'll drive north to Milwaukee to visit with club members along Lake Michigan. Sharing Guilty Pleasures is always a blast. Then we'll check out the Brewers at Miller Park.  It's spectacular new stadium and an engineering marvel.  Of course, around the seventh inning, we'll slip away and find a German Beer Garden along Lake Michigan.  After savoring some local microbrews, there will be a prearranged Bratwurst tasting or two. In the summertime, Wisconsin has countless Guilty Pleasures waiting for us to enjoy.

With brats in hand, we head west to Minneapolis and root for the Twins in their beautiful new Downtown Ballpark, Target Field.   Along the way, we enjoy great food, an endless local Fish Fry and share stories with club members in the Heartland who enthusiastically tell us Thanks for Living Well.  Funny, that's what people convey to us around the globe.

Guiltorious adventures at the Borgata

Getting a little stir crazy this winter?  We were too!  There are only so many reruns of Breaking Bad that we can endure without buying a chemistry set.  Guilty and the Living Well Gang needed a crazy night out on the town that was exciting and rewarding.  We knew exactly where to go and it's one of our favorite destinations.  The Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City.  From the day it opened, it's been our Guilty Oasis. The tables are red hot, the restaurants are incredible, the Guilty Pleasures are endless and the Hotel is gorgeous, No business other than Provence Catering understands your unbridled passion for Adult a more than the Borgata and MGM Resorts International.

Being spoiled at the Borgata is always a certified Guilty Pleasure,  They always know how to treat people right.  Thanks for Living Well.   

Spring is here and Fun's coming on fast.

Do you love the roar of the crowd?  Guilty does!  So does Thin Mint. Why not host a Kentucky Derby Party.  It's a annual celebration that goes well beyond a Mint Julip. The women are fine, the hats are spectacular and the food is awesome.  Fun's on outside and closing fast. Make sure your party catered by Provence  has a photo finish,  Thanks for Living Well.  

Share the love in Guiltytown

Live Well. Live Guilty. Live a Legendary Life......

January 17th came and went last week without raising a glass to the American Hobbit aka Benjamin Franklin. We corrected that oversight with a fine French Bougelet.  One of the Founding members of the Guilty Pleasures was toasted recently in Princeton as we catered a Guilty Pleasures luncheon featuring Filet Mignon soaked in roasted shallot butter. On decree from the secret brain trust of the Guilty Pleasures Club, no calorie counting was allowed in this Central Jersey hamlet for January and February as spicy french fries and beer-battered onion rings provided the perfect accompaniments to our exceptionally tender tenderloin.

Individually prepared by Chef Greg and Chef Jay, the Banana's Foster provided a wickedly delicious dessert. This flambeed Mari Gras favorite is always a GPC attention getter. Second servings are highly-recommended.

This decadent winter luncheon was worthy of a Guilties nomination, Copycating is enthusiastically encouraged. After all, the pursuit of happiness is a groundbreaking inalienable right granted by the U.S. Constitution. It has been long rumored that the esteemed Dr. Benjamin Franklin, looking to hide a secret life, was an original member of the Guilty Pleasures Club. We are still waiting on official confirmation. There is no better way to celebrate the monumental moments in your life than with an event extraordinaire catered by Provence.

To paraphrase the wisdom and visionary words of our most-famous local founding father.......

Raise your glass in tribute.  Live Well. Live Guilty. Live a Legendary life!

Working out Guilty style

Yesterday was a very successful day for Provence Catering at The Wharton School. Great Food! Great Clients! Great Caterer!  Zero Waste!!!  What could be better?  

Of course, being around such a bountiful and beautiful buffet means we need to workout more. Thankfully, Guilty has a plan.

Guiltilicous Southern Crawl is totally Charleston

The most memorable days in the catering commissary are when the event calendar is completely full and the chefs are preparing all kinds of delicious food.  I tend to get spellbound by all the great sauces, incredible entrees and tasty side dishes especially when our Dixie smoker is billowing against a frozen sky.  It's totally awesome. My Guilty Meter is maxed out. Then, all of this fantastic food comes together in an Epicurean dance that is strictly cutting edge. Our goal is to make sure each menu is a gastronomic feast that's meant to be savored and pared.

Then it the middle of all this full scale production, one chef slips away and makes a surprise breakfast for everyone. How great is that?  Today's Guilty Feast was scrambled eggs. southern grits with smoked ham & red eye gravy accompanied by miniature grilled Fontina Cheese sandwiches with Orange Marmelade.  It was totally Charleston. I love that Southern crawl across my plate.

All that was missing were those warm Guiltilicious Apple Fritters with snow on top. How scrumptious does that sound.

Dazzling Dinner Parties are back in 2014. Adding an extra course or two is always a Guilty Pleasure.

Now that the holidays are in full swing, it's time to start planning an extravagant dinner party for next year that features a certified Guilty Pleasure or two on the menu? And why not?  You certainly deserve it!  Hosting this well-earned milestone celebration with your best friends is probably long overdue.

LEMON CURD PAVLOVA    With fresh berries and a caramel cage.   

With an improving economy, the timing is perfect for a more opulent approach to intimate celebrations.  Let's start your evening with the pleasure of enjoying pared wines with each course and a slower-paced meal with the people who matter the most.  When your sitting in the front row as you often do, why not dine elegantly with an extra course or two? Having a fourth or fifth course at the ready, is the only way to dazzle in 2014.  There are just too many incredible gastronomic delights to enjoy and for this fabulous feast, you should not forgo any of them.  I ask that you consider last evening's Fourth Course, Chef Ameerah and Thin Mint's incredible dessert.....

I want mine, you got yours

The event calendar has slowed to a crawl with several elegant Holiday dinners going out the door.  As the kitchen begins to exhale, the chefs don their Elf costumes, reroute the sled and shop like it's judgement day. So many gifts to purchase and so much traffic to avoid.  It's like appearing in an episode of Survivor. Making up for lost time is easier said than done, but we do it deftly.  And we do it with love. We have some very dedicated employees with joyous families.  Putting your family first is the greatest Guilty Pleasure of all.  But so is taking care of yourself.  The magic of shopping for others only works if you spoil yourself as well.

Sometimes it's procuring a rare Brazilian Rum like Leblon Cachaca.  That Amazon firewater works for me. If you have not stoked the embers with that Guilty Pleasure, you are missing a special moment. Other times it's a timeless fashion like Thin Mint's hand sewn boots from Portland Oregon.  The quality of her new leather boots is magnificent and the look is sublime. This ability to balance the beam between giving and receiving will always enrich to your good character.  Do not miss out on the opportunity to play it forward.  It's so worth it!

One domain where Guilty definitely knows his good fortune, is the catering kitchen. I may be in charge in the Executive Suite, but once I walk through the commissary doors, everything changes. Thin Mint is the Boss and she's the BOMB .  With a refined pallet and extensive knowledge base, Thin Mint is the keeper of the flame. She is remarkable on so many levels.  Just ask any of our staff or discerning clentele.  With a warm smile or cool refrain, our Executive Chef can teach, motivate, delegate and inspire.

Our staff is always learning new techniques and our clients benefit from that evolution. The need for menu development never stops and our staff knows that innovation can happen 24/7. For a Guilty Soul like me, it's always fun in the kitchen.  It's hard not to be gleeful when there's sweet and savory to explore.  Like a New Year's Day parade, an impromptu Guilty Pleasure moment is always worthy of the front row.  Here's a photo from Thursday's dessert sampling.  It's good to be Guilty.  Every Day!!!

It's Here! It's Here!! The Hump Day Hurrah has arrived!!!

Giving anytime of year, especially to those less fortunate at the Holidays, is always a pleasure.  Guilty or not, we applaud this act of kindness. Today's Hump Day Hurrah from Provence Catering is a recognition of two outstanding organizations working together to help families in crisis.


The first Hurrah recognizes The Laurel House of Norristown.  We have long supported the tireless and amazing work of this local charity.  They have rescued countless abused women from domestic violence and set them on a path of putting their life in order.    Charitable donations, job opportunities and clothing are always welcome.

Villanova University for their continued generosity to local charities and families in need. From the President's office to the classroom, Villanova is all about world class education and helping others.  As is the case at many of the region's premier universities, Provence Catering is honored to make them an exceptional host when it matters the most.  Great job Father Pete and Team Villanova!

Together along with Provence Catering, these two outstanding local institutions made a lot of people smile at the at The Laurel House
with a delicious Holiday meal.

Hump Day Hurrah is coming and lets plan your 2014 Guilty Pleasures Party

Hump Day at Provence Catering is coming and you know that means....You know what that means. Tomorrow is our Hump Day Hurrah and we have rock stars in the community to recognize.

Come cheer us on and like us on Facebook.  You also visit us at www.provencecatering.com.   I hope your hungry because it's time plan your Guilty Pleasures Party.  We would love to spoil you and your guests in 2014.  

The House of Happy returns. Guilty habits rule the day!!! Thankfully Provence Catering's event calendar is empty today so no parties are impacted by the weather. Working at home is always productive during a mid-week snow storm.(okay, it's really a snow dusting.) Thanks to a dire weather forecast, the entire mid-Atlantic region seems to be shut in. Many members of the Guilty Pleasures Club have seized upon the fury of Mother Nature to begin the 12 Nights of Holiday Guilt a few days earlier. We love innovation in all forms, particularly among the Guilty. A true Guilty historian knows that many great Guilty Pleasures have been borne out of successfully coping with extreme weather conditions. The Great Blizzards of 1995 and 2009 were the inspiration for the famed "House of Happy" and the feeling of contentment that follows. This sense of wintertime fulfillment was reportedly the motivation behind the highly-acclaimed episode of the Sopranos where Paulie and Christopher are desperately running through the snowy forests of the Jersey Pinelands. Haven't we all been lost and famished in the snow before? Maybe without the bloody wounds of course. Here's how Happy happened in 1995 and the remarkable relounging results were quite by accident: Before heading to the streets of Saddlebrook, NJ to recover my aging Audi from five feet of snow, I put a tray full of marinated Turkey Drumsticks and thighs into our convection oven to slowwwwwww cook. Preparing Sunday dinner at 9 am seemed like the perfect way to start the day. Turkey, especially the dark meat has always been one of my all-time Guilty Pleasures. I love the comforting smell and rejoice in the flavor. From the Thanksgiving drumstick to my award winning dark meat turkey salad to tender cheeks, the moist and flavorful dark meat of Tom Turkey is constantly calling my name. Shoveling out of blizzard conditions that day was a painful and grueling experience. The strain of digging out from sixty inches of snow caused shear exhaustion and an urgent need for Guiltorious rejuvenation. After two hours of FEMA-like duties, I trudged through the snow and crawled up the stairs to our loft apartment looking for a miracle. I must be delusional to expect a game changer. Then Happy happened! Upon entering into our toasty abode, I was overcome by the incredibly delicious aroma of a slow-cooked Gobbler. Since I had forgotten about my bird in the oven, the enticing smell of the roasted turkey really made me smile. My entire disposition and energy level changed. Suddenly I felt happy. The house smelled happy. As you know, scrumptious food aromas have that magical uplifting power. Think chocolate chunk cookies or a reincarnation of Holiday dinner. The anticipation of devouring a mammoth drumstick made me the Guilty creator of the "House of Happy."

The House of Happy returns.  Guilty habits rule the day!!!

Thankfully Provence Catering's event calendar is empty today so no parties are impacted by the weather. Working at home is always productive during a mid-week snow storm.(okay, it's really a snow dusting.)  Thanks to a dire weather forecast, the entire mid-Atlantic region seems to be shut in.  Many members of the Guilty Pleasures Club have seized upon the fury of Mother Nature to begin the 12 Nights of Holiday Guilt a few days earlier. We love innovation in all forms, particularly among  the Guilty.  

A true Guilty historian knows that many great Guilty Pleasures have been borne out of successfully coping with extreme weather conditions. The Great Blizzards of 1995 and 2009 were the inspiration for the famed "House of Happy" and the feeling of contentment that follows. This sense of wintertime fulfillment was reportedly the motivation behind the highly-acclaimed episode of the Sopranos where Paulie and Christopher are desperately running through the snowy forests of the Jersey Pinelands. Haven't we all been lost and famished in the snow before?  Maybe without the bloody wounds of course.  

Here's how Happy happened in 1995 and the remarkable relounging results were quite by accident:

Before heading to the streets of Saddlebrook, NJ to recover my aging Audi from five feet of snow, I put a tray full of marinated Turkey Drumsticks and thighs into our convection oven to slowwwwwww cook. Preparing Sunday dinner at 9 am seemed like the perfect way to start the day. Turkey, especially the dark meat has always been one of my all-time Guilty Pleasures. I love the comforting smell and rejoice in the flavor.  From the Thanksgiving drumstick to my award winning dark meat turkey salad to tender cheeks, the moist and flavorful dark meat of Tom Turkey is constantly calling my name.

Shoveling out of blizzard conditions that day was a painful and grueling experience. The strain of digging out from sixty inches of snow caused shear exhaustion and an urgent need for Guiltorious rejuvenation. After two hours of FEMA-like duties, I trudged through the snow and crawled up the stairs to our loft apartment looking for a miracle.  I must be delusional to expect a game changer.  

Then Happy happened! 

Upon entering into our toasty abode, I was overcome by the incredibly delicious aroma of a slow-cooked Gobbler. Since I had forgotten about my bird in the oven, the enticing smell of the roasted turkey really made me smile. My entire disposition and energy level changed. Suddenly I felt happy. The house smelled happy. As you know, scrumptious food aromas have that magical uplifting power. Think chocolate chunk cookies or a reincarnation of Holiday dinner.  The anticipation of devouring a mammoth drumstick made me the Guilty creator of the "House of Happy."

Snowy Day. Guilty Day. Chipper Day.......

When it comes to the weather, the new normal is pretty freaky.  Yesterday's fantastically fun snowstorm was only magical because it was Sunday and most of us were lounging at home by a roaring fire, safe and Guilty.  Is that the best or what? If it was on a Monday, it would have been a disaster.

We took full advantage of yesterday's blizzard-like conditions in Philadelphia and went totally Guilty.  We camped out in front of our massive HDTV to watch the Eagles kick butt.  While we cheer for another team to the north, we are big Chip Kelly fans.  The Eagles have been amazing under the new Head Coach and it seems like they are just getting started.  Coach Kelly must be a lifelong member of the Guilty Pleasures Club. (we will investigate further) Can't you just sense Chip's passion for the finest Guilty Pleasures when it comes to socializing and dining?  There are too many decadent delights in Oregon to ignore and even the healthy farm to table cuisine in the Northwest can definitely inspire the Guilty. You know he's living well and so are the Eagles.

And thankfully, so are we!!!  Guilty and Thin Mint capped off a relaxing Sunday with a sensational family dinner.  Everyone enjoyed:

Five Spice marinated Lamb Burgers on freshly baked Pretzel rolls with a Yogurt Red Chili dressing
Miniature Red Bliss Potatoes stuffed with New York Cheddar, Applewood Bacon and Green Scallions.
Charred Green Beans
Green Leaf Lettuce with Hothouse Tomatoes, Strawberries and stuff.  
Warm Pear Cobbler with Vanilla Almond Hagen Daz.  

The weather turns, the ice cometh and the Lobster Corn Chowder soup boils....December has arrived in Guiltytown.

Soaring temperatures plummeted this weekend as a ginormous ice storm has engulfed the entire country.  It's definitely affected the weekend plans for many Hobbits and Hobbyists. From Dallas to Las Vegas to Portland to Boston to Middle Earth, members of the Guilty Pleasures are fighting back against the Shivers with a time-tested array of personalized remedies.  As you know, nothing warms your soul or lifts your spirits more than trip to the Guilty side of life.

Deep in my hard drive I have developed many positive protocols for Living Well(okay, so my hard drive is really my cranium.  Thankfully my grey matter is still dedicated to proposition that Living Well is the only way to live). I have an endless list of top secret pleasures to rely upon for attitude adjustment.  In this case, when the weather's nasty, I conquer the cold with an incredibly flavorful soup. Not Campbell's, Lipton or Progresso mind you, but a delicious homemade concoction that makes your toes toasty and your smile bright.  No soup does it better in early December than Chef Greg's famous Lobster and Corn Chowder.  The rich creamy broth is made with love and chocked full of fresh Maine Lobster.  It's the best cold fighter ever. Especially when you share it by the fireplace with Thin Mint.

Not matter what you have planned today, you must take the time to curl up on the couch with a steaming bowl of Guilty Goodness.  Make sure you use a very large bowl.  No wimpy cereal bowls please. Size definitely matters when it comes to keeping warm and staying Guilty. Please make sure you share your Guilty Goodness with the Thin Mint of your dreams.

Too much Turkey for the Holidays? How about a change of pace with a Dim Sum Family Feast in Chinatown?

As always, our traditional Thanksgiving Dinner was wonderful and delicious. We celebrated the holiday on Wednesday because one of the founding members of the GPC had to be in Europe at the World Court on Thursday for a conference at The Hague. Our first cousin, aka Not Guilty, has been known to defend a War Criminal or two from the Eastern Block before a United Nations Tribunal.  To quote a wise man,"Even the worst of humanity needs great legal representation."

We decided to not have a second a Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday.  Too much stuffing and mashed potatoes can be one of Guilty's Holiday dieting dilemmas. So we decided to go rogue and meet in Chinatown for a Dim Sum family feast. Not that countless handmade dumplings and noodles are better for Guilty's never-ending diet, but they are awesome. 

When we arrived at 11:30 am, Chinatown was packed with people and Thanksgiving was nowhere to be found. With Shiffie leading the way, family members both young and not so young, sauntered into the Dim Sum Garden on Race Street for a celebration of our many blessings. We were practically the only Caucasians in the restaurant when we settled around the largest table in the place. It was Chinatown at it's finest.  Having just beaten the lunchtime crowd, we were fortunate to be there on so many levels. The service was great, the food was incredible and the company around the table was even better.  Everyone ordered two dishes each(Guilty ordered three dishes just to be safe) and sharing was required.  It was wonderful experience and we can't wait to do it again next year.  

It sounds like Dim Sum is going to be an After Thanksgiving Holiday Tradition!  Besides, you haven't lived until you seen Guilty use chopsticks!  OMG!!!

Jersey's Best...It's Heirloom Tomato Time at the President's table

Don't you just love tomatoes grown in New Jersey?  These locally grown beauties are the best in flavor and firmness.  They taste delicious and are a dieter's delight.  There are so many scrumptious ways to enjoy this healthy Guilty Pleasure.

Recently we catered a VIP dinner al Fresco for a remarkable University President.  Our Heirloom tomato salad had her discerning dinner guests toasting Provence's Executive Chef.  World Class appreciates World Class.

Having our talented culinary team in spotlight and receiving accolades from one of the world's academic leaders is always a pleasure, guilty or not.

Pass the sherry vinaigrette please.

PIEMANIA IS A WARM WINTERTIME GUILTY PLEASURE

It's now December and winter is settling in. It's time to get cozy. We have several tried and true epicurean delights that help us cope with frozen mornings and frost-filled evenings. One of our favorite survival strategies comes straight from the ovens of our Pastry Department. PIEMANIA IS BACK and we are true believers is the power of the Pie! Here is our Guilty Mantra, repeat after me...

I love warm pies in the winter.

I love warm pies that are baked in different shapes and sizes.

And I especially love warm pies that are served ala mode.

Piemania is our salute to living well in GuiltyTown.

At your next party catered by Provence, Guilty suggests you get lost in PIE MANIA. It's a selection of freshly baked of large seasonal pies to include Strawberry, Banana Creme Pie, Blueberry, Apple crumb, chocolate pecan and Key lime pie accompanied by vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and Chantilly whipped cream.

We love to be creative when it comes to pies and last week we decided to experment. We enjoyed a warm Apple crumb pie with a Caramel & Sea Salt Gelato. The combination was so delicious we were lost for words. Sometimes you are lucky enough to savor a personal Guilty moment that is almost indescribable. This was one of those rare raptures.

Princeton's Peacock Inn is a First Class Guilty Pleasure.

This past weekend was just a sensational moment in time. The Indian Summer weather was especially beautiful, business is booming and the word is spreading, "Provence Catering's highly acclaimed international cuisine is better than ever." The reviews on the web are outstanding. We are being hailed by many of our discerning clientele as the Mid-Atlantic's finest off-premise caterer.

Thin Mint and Guilty celebrated their 22nd Wedding Anniversary this weekend, enjoying a five course gastronomic feast at Princeton's Peacock Inn. Our gourmet meal was magnificent and the service was sublime. Everything was perfect and I highly recommend spoiling yourself at this storied property that dates back to the Revolutionary War. Here is a great review on this recently renovated historic landmark.

Provence is thrilled to be at Appleford

Provence Catering is now available to cater events at the Appleford Estate and we could not be happier. The gardens at the Villanova estate are second to none and the perfect setting for a beautiful wedding reception.

Give a call to learn more about Appleford Wedding specials.