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The ‘anatomy’ of Jules-catered parties

by | Jan 14, 2013 | Entertaining, Events, Menus, Our Favorite Things, Parties, Party Planning, Service, Team

How does Jules cater parties? With the help of Jules’ Director of Business Development, Jenny Willig, we began to count the many ways.

A food station before party-time; notes in bowls are one way the kitchen and ‘front of the house’ communicate

“I’m glad you asked about this,” said Jen, “because my sense is that some of our clients so strongly associate us with one particular type of event that they may not fully appreciate Jules’ wide-ranging capabilities.”

We can guess at some of the distinctions, we offered. How would you break things down?

Party variables

“When partnering with individual clients and working through the event-planning process, we factor in a number of basic elements, including:

  • Drop-Off Versus Staffed Event
  • Venue Location
  • Logistics of Event (plated, buffet, alcohol served?)
  • Food Display/Presentation

Jules also offers simple or elaborate flowers, table decor, and other decorations

What about menu options? we wondered.

“Culinary preferences and menus are of course the heart and soul of Jules Catering, but this is such a vast topic, let’s focus on food another day.”

Over the course of 2012 we captured in photos at least some of Jules’ wide-ranging capabilities–

“Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Drop-off

Every day, the five vans in Jules’ fleet are loaded up and sent on their way to drop off food in and around Boston. On a typical weekday, Jules makes about 45 drop-off deliveries.

Jules Catering drivers triple-check lists before loading, driving, and dropping off

Jules drops off hot and cold food to corporate and academic institutions, as well as to private homes.

Staffed Events

“Drop-off is a big part of Jules’ business,” Jenny continued, “but some parties require–and some budgets allow–on-site chefs and and/or bartenders and/or waitstaff. Whatever the budget and customer preferences, Jules’ expert sales team works hand in hand with clients to ensure successful events, and–when a staffed party makes sense–Jules has at the ready a full-service team.”

Jules Party Chefs Takes Charge in Private Homes

Jules’ party chef Alex preps appetizers in a client’s home kitchen

Party staffer Gus rolls up his sleeves for party prep in private home 

Jules Party Chefs Prepare Food On-Site in Corporate Kitchens

Some Jules-catered events call for on-site party chefs

 Jules Waitstaff Set Up Wine Bar in Private Home

Ready for bubbles? Greg and John are ready to pour!

Jules Offers Full-Service Bars and Expert Bartenders

This wedding party featured a full-service bar; Anita is ready to mix and pour, Daniela is ready to serve

Venue

“What are the desired atmospherics? This is one key variable we take into account when selecting a venue or adapting to a given space,” Jenny continued. “Of course the good news is: Jules can create a party atmosphere in any location.”

Large Off-Site Venue
(Cocktail Party)

Jules staff prepare for a large off-site party that featured food stations, bar, and cafe tables

Private Home
(Cocktail Party)

Jules caters parties–large and small–in private homes

 Corporate Venue
(Holiday Cocktails, Dinner, and Candy Station)

Candy station set-up for an on-site corporate holiday event

Corporate Venue
(Small-Scale Holiday Brunch)

John, a regular on Jules’ waitstaff team, awaits arrival of families for corporate holiday brunch

 Tent
(Wedding Catered at  Private Home)

Members of the Jules team strategize next steps in wedding-party set-up

 

Food display and presentation

“Jules loves a party,” Jenny continued, “and we pride ourselves on the quality and ever-changing variety of our passed hors d’oeuvres, our buffet offerings, and our plated meals.”

Passed hors d’oeuvres

Hors d’Oeuvres (Almost) Ready to be Passed and Served

An on-site party-chef arranges Coconut Chicken with Pineapple Salsa on a Nambé (leaf-shaped) platter

Hors d’Oeuvres Can Be Prepared and Passed in Private Homes

Jules prepares to pass hors d’oeuvres

Waitstaff Pass Hors D’Oeuvres in Large Venue

Large cocktail party fundraiser featured passed hors d’oeuvres

Food stations

Many parties Jules caters feature help-yourself food stations. Parties like these may or may not also feature passed hors d’oeuvres.

Food Station in Private Home
(Adjacent Buffet Table Is Reflected in Mirror)

This party in a private home included a buffet (reflected in mirror) and food stations

A simple, but elegant, cocktail party display

Stationary Food Displays in Large Reception Area

There’s an art to setting up stationary food displays

Jules Catering dessert station–before setup

Jules Catering dessert station–after setup 

Buffets

“Of course a variation on the food station is the full-fledged buffet table,” Jenny explained. “Even buffets designed for large groups can be minimally staffed.”

Buffet Setups in Private Homes

An especially splendid Jules-catered cocktail party buffet

An extra-special Sunday brunch buffet

Buffet Setup for On-Site Staff Holiday Party

This holiday buffet for 90 guests was capably managed by just two staff members

Holiday Office-Party Buffet in Private Home

Some of Jules’ clients opt to host ‘office parties’ in private homes

 

Jules really IS a “full-service” caterer

So, we challenged Jenny. What if we were to say we were ready to party and wanted to brainstorm our options?

“I would say, ‘Give Jules a call!’ ”

Jules-catered events run the gamut from dinner for two at home to off-site events for 2,000 

Jules Catering Order Sheet for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and dinner

Jules can also help arrange for music

 

Photo Credits: Liz Muir