Crisp and Cool Days Are Here Again

The fresh days of fall are now upon us after a long summer of luxuriating poolside. As steamy as those summer days were, we’re now happy to have these forgiving days us again. The crispness of these early fall mornings is matched only by the crunching leaves on the ground outside.

The kids have reluctantly gone back to school, and football season is now in full swing. Now is the season to come back home and reconnect with the family around the table and rediscover that connection we’ve been missing all summer long. The Harvest Moon will be rising soon, and there is no better place to watch it than surrounded by friends and family.

What can be more enjoyable than a Labor Day weekend blessed with family, sensational weather and great boundless energy. The past few days have been unforgettable with temperatures in the 80's, low humidity and lots of Guilty Pleasures. From attending College Football on Friday to watching the Phillies on Sunday to dreaming big on Monday, it was a dazzling conclusion to a memorable summer.

Sultry romance is always a Guilty Pleasure.

How much do we love smooching underneath an August moon. There are three full moons when the day's are long and the weather's is steamy. The last orb of the summer welcomes the change of seasons as there is romance in the air

No matter whether I am going out on the town or hangin' at home, it's always delightful sharing a special moment with the one you love. . Guilty Pleasures come in many forms. Mine, on this sultry summer evening, is savoring my Thin Mint and being more in love each day.

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.