Posts Tagged with catering

SPG Catering – Our Provisions, Your Platter

Friday, December 9th, 2011

Having people over is always remembered as fun. Everyone laughing after a couple drinks having a great time. You remember gatherings for that one time you planned a board game night and met your significant other. The struggle to pull it all together is usually lost in the fog of memories – that is until you try to have another. You end up stuck sweating over the stove, again. It’s time for the host to have as much of a good time as the guests. Don’t you deserve to play the purple car in Life, or join everyone else in a rowdy game of Apples to Apples?

Southport Grocery will help ease your stress of your get together. Let us do the cooking for you! Don’t have any idea what your guests will like? We have a pretty stellar catering menu to help guide your way to the land of tasty treats. Having a picnic in Grant Park? Getting together for a luncheon? SPG will pack up lunches or breakfasts in our pretty pink boxes, see our Box Lunch Menu for inspiration. What happens if you already know the perfect dish – the ideal little hand treat – for your wonderful guests? Our chef will work closely with you to get it right. We can build a menu from the ground up, just for you.

Still not enough? What about the fact that we’ll put our stacks of handmade food stuffs on top of your own dishes. That’s right. Those massive pretty plates you have buried in the dark places of your cabinets, those multi-pocketed dishes with a ‘dip’ center – bring those in and put them to great use! Make your party complete with serve-wave that truly is personal.

Too busy to pick it up? We deliver in Chicago city limits, no problem. Where else but SPG can you get a chef to personally see to it that your ordered items are awesome, put on your own dishes, and will even drive it to your house?

Put that personal touch on your catered order, bring together your party style and make our catering your own.

A Mother’s day menu

Friday, April 29th, 2011

So it’s May, and you are too distracted by the warm weather to remember mother’s day is coming up very soon. So where does that leave you? A stack of things to get done, plus all of the normal things you do – and now there is planning dinner either for yourself or for mommy dearest. This year we thought we’d help you build a little menu for a lovely mother’s day brunch.

If your family is anything like ours, when one brother or sister visits mom, somehow the whole gang ends up together.

First course: Mimosas & fruit

Mimosas – In a tall fluted glass pour about 1″ of orange juice, then tilt the glass and pour the Champagne (or sparkling wine) slowly to avoid overflow and foam-overs – with enough practice the two will be distinctively split – making an extra special presentation. We suggest fresh squeezed orange juice and a nice light bubbly for a fresh spring flavor. Avoid: from concentrate, ”orange drink,” and ‘grocery store’ bubbly – it’s mother’s day, make it special; or try something different with Jo Snow Syrups.

Fruit – Normally this time of year early spring fruits are just starting, but cherries and strawberries are just be out of season this year. Go to the farmer market and find what is locally in season: Rhubarb. Fill in the fruit salad with things from the grocery store like strawberries and cherries; the mix would make for a super sweet and lovely mix. Cut the rhubarb into tiny pieces and warm in a pan with some brown sugar, and before serving toss in with cold strawberries and pitted cherries for a hot/cold mix – yum! For a little extra kick and something different toss in some of our vanilla vinaigrette.

Second course: Breakfast tiles & spring salad

Breakfast tiles – pick out your (or mom’s) favorite meat, veggies (dependent on season and availability) or work with our chef to create an extra special tile for this mother’s day from us. We’ll pack it up and you can either have it room temp or warm it up in your oven for a super easy light breakfast beginning. Check out the options we have on our catering menu (under breakfast tiles) to help you along the way. You don’t even have to tell mom you didn’t make them.

Spring Salad – Asparagus, spinach, sprouts, and early greens are just pushing through. It may be too early to do everything you are looking for, but there should be enough at the farmer’s market to make a great salad. This year we are a few weeks behind in the growing season – but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t get a great spring salad together. We’d get some asparagus and slice the stems thin and leave the tops whole and toss them in a pan with some butter, then just rinse the spinach, sprouts and greens and plate them with the warm buttery asparagus on top. Make a simple vinaigrette with extra virgin olive oil and white wine vinegar, then finish it off with some fresh ground salt and pepper. Try a grinder of Himalayan salt or any other of our artisan salts.

Dessert: Cupcakes & strawberries

Cupcakes & strawberries – We love our cupcakes, and they could be dressed up super easy with some fresh fruit. Cut some strawberries into quarters and mix in sugar – to macerate the fruit, or place a nice dollop of your favorite preserves if they aren’t in season. Cut cupcakes in half and plate with flat side up, spoon strawberries and sauce (or preserves) over the halves for a super springy brunch dessert fit for an ideal mother’s day.

Sound like too much work? Just stop by and have bunch with us!

Just a few ideas to get the ball rolling for this Mother’s Day. Make things that will make this year memorable, start, carry on, or put a twist on a tried and true tradition. What are some of your favorite Mother’s Day practices?

Southport Grocery caters?

Sunday, March 6th, 2011

A lot of folks know us for our brunch menu or our cupcakes or the grocery. Something we may get skipped over for though is our catering. Thats right, the same place that allows and even endorses cupcake batter poured on the griddle and combines brisket and breakfast, caters.

There is a handful of places that just copy and paste the restaurant menu and stick the food in metal tubs and let you deal with doing something with the contents. We at Southport Grocery know what it’s like to get those ‘tubs.’ We make most of what is on our menu in the cafe, but also some handmade tarts, crostini, even the ever delicious poached shrimp wonton. Just like in the cafe, we seek out and find the best produce and products we can to make your event special. Make it even more special, and maybe fool the party goers, by bringing in your own platters. Have a pretty floral plate grandma gave you and you’d like to show that you still use it? Bring it in and we’ll fill it full of tasty food.

Have a party coming up and want something more interesting than a pile of over steamed beef? Keep the beef, but bring in flavor with mini sandwiches. Want something a bit more classy than what you had at your high school graduation? Wow your party goers with a bakery tray full of awesome, or a stack of a bunch of flavorful finger food. Have an idea for something already? We can work with you to find the right flavors and type of food that will fit. Only having a handful of people over, but too busy to cook? We can work with your party no matter how big or small.

Make another day unique and have your guests experience exceptional food with our catering at your next gathering, just give us a call or stop by!

Get your (private) party on at Southport Grocery

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

Searching for a place to have your next party? Tired of mashing ever-stranger Google searches? Trying to find that right place with a cozy feeling and great food? Don’t close down a restaurant for the night, open one up for dinner: like ours!

Thats right, we do private parties right here in the heart of Chicago. Shock and awe? Yeah, it happens. We here at Southport Grocery have the unique ability of opening our doors for private parties after normal store hours; this means no back ‘private party’ rooms or paying a huge premium on shutting a place down. You and your guests can sit (or stand) in the comfort of our grocery and cafe, without a worry in the world.

Get some locally grown food into your wedding guests for a rehearsal dinner, wow your friend on their birthday with a restaurant full of friends and butt-kicking-good food.  Want to have a real foodie dinner for your family, no matter what you are celebrating? We can help.

We won’t force you into breakfast, don’t worry!  We really enjoy doing dinners, but if you want breakfast for dinner, we can arrange that too. As far as building a menu goes, we can do anything. If you have something in mind already, we can work with you, and if you have no clue, we can help.  Even if you don’t want to deal with it at all and you want a surprise walking in, like our Secret Supper, we can do that. For private parties we can arrange a full sit-down dinner or passed hors d’oeuvre r. You can even have something in-between, the cafe is your oyster.

So if you are looking now or in the not-so-distant future, think of a local favorite for your private party – us!

Catering from Southport Grocery, a reminder

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

Something you may not know about your favorite breakfast (or lunch) place, we cater! Thats right, we have a catering menu for inspiration or you can always talk to our chef and get something made just the way you want. Some of our favorites? We love the poached shrimp salad on wonton, or the a cheese platter with domestic artisanal cheeses, or the brown onion, roasted chicken & tomoato tart, or the… well you get the idea. But don’t let these squander your creativity, we can make nearly anything, just ask!

We can provide disposable platters, but encourage dropping off your own platters. We think this adds a personal touch, something of your style with our treats on top. We’ll wrap up your oder in the platters and tie a big bow for a perfect presentation.

Have a big meeting or your business is having a lunch with clients? We do box lunches as well. Have one of those early morning meetings and want to reward your steadfast employees? We’ve got breakfast boxes too, coffee cake and yogurt or granola and scone. Get boxes of your favorite Southport Grocery sandwiches, like the Trukey, Roast Beef, or Vege – all come with a bag of chips and a treat! Want to make up your own boxes? That is great too!

We can also provide drinks including boxed water, Izzies, coffee, even chocolate milk; depending on your clients.

Our catering menu is just an outline to your party or meeting, if you are looking for something in particular don’t hesitate to ask!

The other face to Southport Grocery

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

Not feeling up to making everything yourself but still want something heavenly for your holiday party?

Simply bring in your favorite platter – or use one of our disposable decorative platters – and choose your fare. You don’t have to do any of the work; simply take the wrap off and relish the party.

We have a flourishing catering menu with some of your steadfast favorites like our Hummus – with crackers & crudites (6.50/serving). Go with something ‘catering-only’ like the green olive, goat cheese, and walnuts on crostini (24/dozen) or pear wedges & arugula wrapped prosciutto (28/dozen) – so many choices even that picky aunt will be happy. Check out our entire catering menu.

Have something in mind? Ask, we do custom menus! Only 48 hours notice is required – sometimes more for those larger parties.

Get a taste of handmade without all that work – from Southport Grocery and Cafe’s catering.

Our Potato Mash

Monday, December 8th, 2008

5 lbs. small red potatoes
2 cups sour cream
3 oz. unsalted butter
5 oz. white cheddar cheese
Salt & Pepper to taste

Rinse and clean potatoes before putting in a large pot. No need to peel them, the mash tastes better with them on! Add cold water to the pot, just covering the potatoes, and a dash of salt. Bring to a boil and cook for approx. 15 min. or until tender. Drain potatoes and while they are still hot, smash together with the sour cream, butter & cheddar cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Do-It-Yourself Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

Thanksgiving Dinner often asks us to dig deep into old family recipes or call upon our (often rusty) kitchen skills. You know you can nail Aunt Bea’s stuffing,
but can’t bake a pie to save your life.

Therein lies the niche of the A La Carte Thanksgiving Catering Menu offered this year at Southport Grocery & Cafe. Do-It-Yourself…as little or as much as you like.

Get a leg up in the kitchen with Urban Accents Gourmet Gobbler Kit ($16.00) or Gravy Goodness Mix ($4.95). Not quite sure what to do with a turkey baster?
We have whole oven-roasted, free-range turkeys, 10lbs. serves 6-8 ($60.00) or 14lbs. serves 8-10 ($75.00).

We all know side dishes are essential to Turkey Day. We offer a host of sides to mix and match with your own from sage-sausage stuffing ($15 small / $30 large) to
honey & herb braised carrots ($12 small / $24 large).

Whether it’s baking mixes from Barefoot Contessa or our own homemade pies, we can help you do-it-yourself. Just don’t ask us to do the dishes… You’re on your own there!

Here is our entire Thanksgiving Menu…

Starters

roasted butternut squash soup    $9.95 qt

ginger carrot bisque    $9.95 qt

artisanal cheese platter    $7.50 per serving, minimum 12 servings

mushroom & sun-dried tomato pockets   $24 dozen

green olive, goat cheese & walnuts on crostini   $24 dozen

brown onion, roasted chicken and tomato tart   $28 dozen

rosemary ham-gruyere-mustard palmier   $28 dozen

pear wedge & arugula wrapped in prosciutto   $28 dozen

mushroom & sun-dried tomato pockets   $24 dozen

poached shrimp salad on wonton   $28 dozen

smoked duck-lentil salad on lavosh   $28 dozen

Sides
Small serves 2-4 people; Large serves 4-6 people

fall fruit with vanilla vinaigrette   $10 small / $20 large

sage-sausage stuffing  $15 small / $30 large

sweet potato-parmesan puree  $12 small / $24 large

our red potato mash   $12 small / $24 large

house-made turkey gravy  $10 pint / $20 quart

honey & herb braised carrots  $12 small / $24 large

brussel sprout mushroom bake  $14 small / $28 large

ginger almond green beans $12 small / $24 large

Entrée

oven roasted, fresh, free-range turkey $60 10LB serves 6-8 /$75 14LB serves 8-10

Dessert

rustic apple oatmeal pie   $20 serves 6-8     
                             
maple pumpkin pie   $18 serves 6-8                                                

our famous cupcakes  – vanilla or chocolate  $2.25 each

dessert tray…cookies, brownies & biscotti    $3.50 per person, minimum 6 servings

From the Grocery

More than Gourmet Turkey Stock Base   $6.25

Urban Accents Gourmet Gobbler Kit  $16
(spiced brine, large brining bag & rub!)

Urban Accents Gravy Goodness Mix  $4.95

Urban Accents Sumptuous Stuffing Mix  $4.95

Barefoot Contessa Cranberry Harvest Muffin  $12.95

Stonewall Kitchen Pumpkin Pancake Mix  $8.50

Maggie & Mary Pumpkin Chiffon Mousse Mix  $4.75

Bea’s Pumpkin Butter  $6

Our House-Made Cranberry-Red Grape Sauce  $5.95
 
Our House Roasted Nuts  $10.95 lb – $16.95
Vanilla Walnuts
Cinnamon-Cayenne Cashews
Pecan Au Poivre
Sesame-Oregano Almonds-Pistachios

Place your orders by 4pm Sunday, Nov. 23rd. Final Pick-Up will be 7pm Wednesday, Nov. 26th. We will be closed Thanksgiving Day.