Highlights from 2009 weddings at RAW!!! Thanks to all of our customers for choosing Reading Art Worksto start your life together...
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Boyer/Whited Wedding at RAW
Tara Boyer and Rob Whited tied the knot at RAW and created their own winter wonderland! Best wishes for many happy memories!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Catering Feature: Top 10 Budget Tips
In these challenging economic times, you want to be careful with how you spend your money but still want to WOW your guests, right? Check out our top ten ways to do just that...
1. The Bar
One of the great things about hosting an event at RAW is that YOU get to bring your own liquor. This is a great cost saving to you as often times, liquor is one of the most costly items on a bride's catering menu. Instead of hosting a bar stocked with every imaginable liquor, mixer and condiment, choose a soft bar that serves only beer, wine and champagne. If your heart is set on serving a true cocktail, add one signature drink to your beverage menu..dream up a great name for your signature special, like “Sarah and Mike’s Romantic Refresher.” You may also choose to create a semi-soft bar, adding one or two versatile spirits to the drink menu. We recommend going with vodka or whiskey. Both are extremely flexible, can be enjoyed alone or in a cocktail, and work well with a variety of mixers.
2. The Three Course Meal
After a sampling of hors d’oeuvres and drinks, a three-course meal that includes a soup or salad, entrée, and finishes with wedding cake is plenty of food for your guests.
3. Go Easy On The Hors d’oeuvres
We suggest you select a maximum of three prepared hors d’oeuvres to serve during your cocktail hour. Remember, you’re just giving your guests something to nibble on before introducing the main culinary event, so an abundance of food at this point in the event is really an unnecessary expense.
4. Self-Serve Bites
Skip the passed hors d’oeuvres altogether and pile cocktail tables high with beautiful spreads of crudités and dips, plates of artisan cheeses, baskets of gourmet crackers and fresh breads, and mouth-watering bowls of fruit. You’ll save money by paring down both on food preparation and serving staff.
5. Skip the Delicacies
Forgo expensive entrée ingredients like lobster, filet mignon, Ahi tuna, caviar, and truffles. If you absolutely must include one of these flavors in your event, ask us to create an hors d’oeuvre that celebrates the ingredient, yet uses it sparingly. A mini blini with a tiny dollop of crème fraiche and a smidge of caviar is a perfect example.
6. Keep It Simple
You may be wild for Beef Wellington or crazy for cassoulet, but these labor intensive dishes take more time and expense than other equally delectable dishes. To keep costs down, choose simple, easy to prepare entrees.
7. Supplement with Stations
Make a budget meal seem sumptuous by adding one or two cost-friendly “stations” to your reception menu. We particularly love self-serve pasta and mashed potato stations, both set with an array of inexpensive but delicious sauces and toppings.
8. Limit Entree Choices
There’s no rule that says you must give reception guests their choice of entrees. To stay within your budget, we create one widely appealing main course, like a savory chicken breast with a wonderful sauce, or a fabulous pasta primavera.
9. Educate Yourself
Certain cuts of beef cost much more than others. Farm-raised catfish is far more economical than wild Alaskan salmon. Organic produce is often more expensive than conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. We will work with you ahead of time to determine which corners you’re happy to cut, and which menu elements are non-negotiable
10. Book your special day at Reading Art Works and we promise you a special day with creative, cost effective and unique catering options!
In these challenging economic times, you want to be careful with how you spend your money but still want to WOW your guests, right? Check out our top ten ways to do just that...
1. The Bar
One of the great things about hosting an event at RAW is that YOU get to bring your own liquor. This is a great cost saving to you as often times, liquor is one of the most costly items on a bride's catering menu. Instead of hosting a bar stocked with every imaginable liquor, mixer and condiment, choose a soft bar that serves only beer, wine and champagne. If your heart is set on serving a true cocktail, add one signature drink to your beverage menu..dream up a great name for your signature special, like “Sarah and Mike’s Romantic Refresher.” You may also choose to create a semi-soft bar, adding one or two versatile spirits to the drink menu. We recommend going with vodka or whiskey. Both are extremely flexible, can be enjoyed alone or in a cocktail, and work well with a variety of mixers.
2. The Three Course Meal
After a sampling of hors d’oeuvres and drinks, a three-course meal that includes a soup or salad, entrée, and finishes with wedding cake is plenty of food for your guests.
3. Go Easy On The Hors d’oeuvres
We suggest you select a maximum of three prepared hors d’oeuvres to serve during your cocktail hour. Remember, you’re just giving your guests something to nibble on before introducing the main culinary event, so an abundance of food at this point in the event is really an unnecessary expense.
4. Self-Serve Bites
Skip the passed hors d’oeuvres altogether and pile cocktail tables high with beautiful spreads of crudités and dips, plates of artisan cheeses, baskets of gourmet crackers and fresh breads, and mouth-watering bowls of fruit. You’ll save money by paring down both on food preparation and serving staff.
5. Skip the Delicacies
Forgo expensive entrée ingredients like lobster, filet mignon, Ahi tuna, caviar, and truffles. If you absolutely must include one of these flavors in your event, ask us to create an hors d’oeuvre that celebrates the ingredient, yet uses it sparingly. A mini blini with a tiny dollop of crème fraiche and a smidge of caviar is a perfect example.
6. Keep It Simple
You may be wild for Beef Wellington or crazy for cassoulet, but these labor intensive dishes take more time and expense than other equally delectable dishes. To keep costs down, choose simple, easy to prepare entrees.
7. Supplement with Stations
Make a budget meal seem sumptuous by adding one or two cost-friendly “stations” to your reception menu. We particularly love self-serve pasta and mashed potato stations, both set with an array of inexpensive but delicious sauces and toppings.
8. Limit Entree Choices
There’s no rule that says you must give reception guests their choice of entrees. To stay within your budget, we create one widely appealing main course, like a savory chicken breast with a wonderful sauce, or a fabulous pasta primavera.
9. Educate Yourself
Certain cuts of beef cost much more than others. Farm-raised catfish is far more economical than wild Alaskan salmon. Organic produce is often more expensive than conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. We will work with you ahead of time to determine which corners you’re happy to cut, and which menu elements are non-negotiable
10. Book your special day at Reading Art Works and we promise you a special day with creative, cost effective and unique catering options!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Welcome to the Loft at RAW, Reading Art Works! If you are looking for an uber cool, one of a kind space to host your next event, come check us out. The building is an old pattern works factory and has some great "bones". We have cleaned up and re-purposed as much of the original architecture as possible--- old beams, beautiful hardwood floors and distressed doors that would cost a fortune at ABC Carpets.... All in all, a unique alternative to a hotel ballroom!
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