The Caterist Files ~ Sweet Sixteen!

That ever magical, effervescent age of 16...on the verge of adulthood, but still the little girl! It's a special birthday with a special event to match!

Yes, you will spend a small fortune on that dress, ever so perfect, and probably to be worn only once! And the decorations for the party! Oh, yes! Our young ladies can be every bit as imaginative, when it comes to their 'Theme' as anyone! We've got the Cowgirl Theme, for our country girls, with blue & white and red & white bandanas, cowgirl boots and daisies...Then, there's the Masquerade Theme, with black, white and silvers, the lacy half masks, elbow length mesh gloves and a whole lot of fancy! How about The Red Carpet, for that once in a lifetime walk of fame, with reds, gold and black. The Forest Fairy for our introspective ladies, with its myriad of greens, teals and browns for the magic of Nature. The Paris theme embraces the height of fashion, with colors of black, pink and silver, Eiffel towers and frilly poodle skirts. Our seaside ladies must have their own, as well, with teals and corals, seashells and pearls...and that list can go on...and on!

We've found that, no matter the setting, the food must be #1 Recognizable (Teens tend to have picky taste buds. If yours doesn't, count yourself lucky. But realize that many of the attendees probably do. So make your life easier, and just go with the flow.) #2 Tasty (no bland on this event, save the salt free, no sugar for home on this day) and #3 Trendy ( the latest in teen dining is the Bar, not to be confused with a bar)

So, with those three requirements in mind, we progress! There are a few types of Bars ( Buffet for we oldies, but goodies) that appeal to the Sweet Sixteen crowd. We advise that you involve your princess in this decision...nothing's sadder than a mom in turmoil. See what the friends like, talk amongst yourselves, and we'll work it all out. It'll be great!

One of the favorites of teens is Tex Mex. Hey, that applies to the grown ups, too. Tex Mex has a universal appeal that crosses all barriers. The Taco Bar or Fajita Bar fall under this delicious category.

A Taco Bar would have the classic ground beef taco meat, taco seasoned chicken or pulled pork, both corn and flour tortillas, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, diced onion, Mexican blend cheese, guacamole, salsas and pico de gallo. For sides, you'll enjoy your choice of Mexican Rice or Cilantro Lime Rice; Tex Mex Black Beans or Refried Beans and Chips with Queso.

The Fajita Bar, pictured above, has seasoned fajita beef, fajita chicken or pork with sautéed onion and bell peppers. We include both flour and corn tortillas, along with the rest of the sides, mentioned.

Another teen popular Bar is the Burger Slider & Hot Dog Bar. It's fun and interactive, with guests building their own designs. Makes for a great conversation booster!

This fun, interactive buffet is always a hit! On the burger side, we have Hawaiian rolls, American and pepper jack cheese, bacon, lettuce, sliced tomato, sliced onions, pickles, pickled jalapenos, mayo, mustard, ketchup and relish. For the dogs, we have chili, grated cheese, diced onion, sweet relish, diced tomato, pickled jalapenos slices, ketchup, mustard and salsa. For the go alongs, we'll set out plain chips, BBQ chips, and a tray of crudité with Ranch dip. For teens, I do cucumber, grape tomatoes, tiny baby carrots, snow or snap peas, and broccoli florets. They might not eat all of the vegetables, but we'll feel better, as adults, for having set it out. ;)

The final Bar in our feature is The Pasta Bar. I did a feature on Pasta Bar for a previous blog, that was geared more towards the adults. This one's more in line with our teen's tastes and tolerance.

For this Pasta Bar, we do a wonderful, Rich Marinara Sauce and an Alfredo Sauce. Italian Meatballs and marinated, sliced, Italian Chicken Breast are on the table, for addition where the diner chooses, along with two types of pasta, a spaghetti or linguini and a penne rigate or bowtie. Grated Parmesan and Basil Pesto for garnish will, also, be on the table, along with Butter Sautéed Mushrooms. For the assembled pasta dish, we'll do a Classic Lasagna. It's a safe bet as a hit! Breadsticks or Garlic Parmesan Italian Bread Slices will be available for dipping, and we'll have a nice, fresh Italian Chopped Salad with Ranch and Italian dressing on the side.

The Chocolate Fountain is THE dessert to finish any of these bars off with a bang! Surrounded by strawberries, bites of pound cake, salty pretzels, orange slices, and marshmallows, it's anyone's dream!

And, the best part?? These bars won't drain your wallet like the rest of the party, the dresses and such! so, c'mon!

Book that party for your Sweet 16!

Call the Kinsloe House at 903-874-5791!