Compliments of the Chef

We love to go over for dinner. Enjoying great food and receiving a complimentary sampling from the Chef is always a fantastic experience. We love being spoiled and respected. Sampling the menu with the Chef as our guide is one of my favorite Guilty Pleasures. Being in the hospitality business has many wonderful perks.

We were out to dinner at Dettera in Ambler three weeks ago and one of our former Sous Chefs was there doing what he does best and better than most. He was working the line with grace and flair. His grill was work extraordinary and vibrant sauces sublime.

Visit and try the Gnocci. It is incredible. The corn soup is worth fighting over. Order your own.

Embrace the Cake

Oh, these lazy, hazy days of August. Where the heat just settles all around you and swallows you up. But just because it’s hot doesn’t mean things are slowing down around here…quite the opposite, actually. The kitchen is just as steamy as the weather outside as we continue to cook up culinary gold right here in Jeffersonville. All the hard work and heat has each of us looking for a little relief.

This week, I’m choosing to cool off with a bite into some cheesecake. But not just any cheesecake – cheesecake with thin caramel swirls running through it. It's the kind of treat best enjoyed with friends mid-week - it's simply not guilty enough for a weekend treat. But surrounded by friends on a steamy Tuesday night in the middle of summer, cheesecake with caramel swirls is a refreshing summer pleasure.

The best thing about cheesecake is that it lingers without getting heavy. It’s the dessert equivalent of an unexpectedly cool breeze on a sticky, hazy summer day. In fact, these hot and hazy days of August are the best days to enjoy a slice of delicate cheesecake. Just one bite into this creamy treat and you’re initiated into the Guilty Pleasures Club, because you suddenly understand what guilty pleasures are all about. Embrace and indulge in the guilty cheesecake lifestyle.

Campfire Indulgences

It’s been a hot, busy summer here at Provence Catering. We lit up World Team Tennis with our refreshing menu selections, and we sizzled for our newlyweds at three weddings in July. Now we’re taking a step back and looking to indulge in—you guessed it—some guilty pleasures.

We’ve now earned a well-deserved breather, and we’re kicking back and putting our feet up on the patio furniture to indulge in some rest and relaxation. After all, it’s hard work sizzling every day in these equally-sizzling temps. While we’re relaxing on the patio furniture, we’re also starting up a campfire to get that twilight chill out of the air. And with that campfire comes that summertime staple of guilt, the s’more.

The s’more is the perfect treat for anyone who likes to lick their guilty pleasures off their fingers. Chocolate, marshmallow, and graham crackers form a team of deliciousness that prove guilty pleasures don’t always have to be complicated. They also prove that guilt is best enjoyed in the company of family and good friends.

We’re supportive of any food that has “more” in the name…it just suggests decadence. So indulge in some s’morey goodness this summer…you’ve earned it, Guiltorious One.

Four Culinary Superstars and .....

We are celebrating the one year anniversary of the Guilty Pleasures Club and the vibe is good. Real good. The expansion of our kitchen is underway. Our food is better than ever. And the buzz on the street is amazing.

It's only going to get better. We now have Moroccan Chef who brings a entirely new menu focus. His food is incredible. When you add Chefs C, J & M to the team, magic happens.

Four Culinary superstars and not one ego. Check out this photo from a recent VIP staff luncheon at Penn.

Tantilizing Twilights in June

It's been a long, difficult and decadent journey to June. But, my Guilty legion, we have arrived in style and we are ready to celebrate any occasion. The posh are ready to nosh! And why not?

While the frozen winter of 2010 was filled with many seasonal Guilty Pleasures, it's the ripe bounty of spring and summer that's been calling my name.

I can hear the grateful spirits coolly cooing"Guilty. Guilty. We have a boysenberry trifle and a bottle of Cabernet Savignon for you. Guilty. Twilight is back."

Yes, the tempting and seductive side of this Guilty Garden is in full bloom and summer is just beginning. After-dinner bliss is back and it's the best of Philadelphia.

Enjoying a tantilizing twilight on the deck with Thin Mint and savoring a successful May is always an amazing Guilty Pleasure. Throw in the rapture of a full moon and there's hope on the horizon.

Embracing the new day.

Pastry is power and we now have an unrivaled energy source in the Provence Catering kitchen. Our new Executive Pastry Chef is a true culinary professional and a natural leader. Enjoying her exceptional pastry skills is quickly becoming a daily Guilty Pleasure.

With her remarkable talent, secret recipes and production prowess, our entire Pastry Department has been dramatically upgraded. We can now offer our discerning clientele a wide variety of incredible miniatures and plated desserts. Funny how quickly the weather changes.

We would like to give a well-earned shout out to the incomparable M who shrewdly took out our trash and lightened our load. "Glad to hear you're finally hiring again."

It's always a pleasure, guilty or not, to embrace the new day.

A humongous iced glass of Sweet Tea is for me.

The temperature is already hovering at about 90 degrees and it's only May 2nd. Apparently Global Warming will be making an impact this summer earlier than ever. My FEMA-like action plan for keeping cool in a heat wave always includes guzzling down a yard of Sweet Tea in a family treasure. It's a humongous 24 oz glass that's been handed down in Thin Mint's Family from generation to generation.

This is a mystical Amber vessel with a proud history of refreshment and it must be securely stashed in "The Freezer."

Guilty Town is one of few communities where each freezer must have an Alter of Icing. We take our beverage containers very seriously on the decadent side of the street.

I love the ongoing tussle between nearly overheating and almost frozen. It's one of life's most omnipresent metaphors.

Chillin' with a slow-brewed minted concoction is always a satisfying Guilty Pleasure. Sipping an icy cold Sweet Tea is the best way to keep focused and frisky.

Making a beeline to the LeBus Bakery

I love LeBus Bakery to the point where I daydream daily about giant chocolate chip cookies and their second cousins, the Brownie Sisters.

The LeBus outlet store is located in King of Prussia, PA. I live only 2 miles from this Guilty Oasis and it's become a weekly excursion. To make matters even more enticing, the pastry and bread selections change daily. I love bakery surprises.

I know I am supposed to be embracing the low-carb consciousness. But this is not Seattle and my New Age mantra is enjoy a different baked good each week. I always believed that every memorable continental breakfast needs humongous Asiago bagel.

Goodies from the bakery can be enjoyed all day long. Stuck in traffic, now about a trio of mini-muffins that can gobbled down with little fanfare. Need a sweet and savory snack before lunch, how about a freshly baked Jalapeno blueberry bread topped with crunchies. I love a struesal topped loaf.

Planning a special dinner? There is always a wide variety of delicious fococcia's to choose from. Today's delicacy was an Artesan delight, smothered with smoked Mozzarella cheese, roasted garlic and fresh basil. Mercy, it was so delicious.

If you have not already done so, make a beeline to the LeBus bakery outlet to find your Guiltorious glee. It will be your happiest moment of the day.

Slaw, Slaw, Slaw....

How much do I love Cole Slaw? Before answering that revealing question, please consider the many residents of Slawville. Let's start with the ever-popular Broccoli slaw bursting with sliced apples. Wow, this is some flavorful veggie heaven and those loud crunches are legendary.

Then there's highly-acclaimed and always popular Pineapple Slaw. It's my personal favorite and the chard's of golden pineapple are delicious all year round Simply put, it's the most refreshing slaw ever.

But sometimes you neeed to go savory. When you are woofing down a rare roast beef sandwich, Bleu Cheese Slaw is the perfect compliment. This Southern Classic is a gamechanger.

The slaw dressing is the key and our's is second to none. We can go "lite" with a reduced-fat mayonaisse or we can ignore the calories counting.

Guess which way the guilty winds blow.

Fancy Food Show is coming in June and you are invited.

The Fancy Food Show is two months away and the Guilty Pleasures Club is already making plans for private tastings, recipe development and culinary networking. Everyone loves to discover a new Guilty Pleasure.

You can expect us to sample cheeses from Norway, Kobe Beef from Argentina and Chocolates from Switzerland. It's 3 grueling days of Guilty Pleasure Heaven. And you are invited. Anyone whyo would like to attend must contact us to by May 8, 2008 to obtain your passport to GuiltyTown.