Thanks to all the press, VIPs, filmmakers, sponsors, star pass holders, attendees and volunteers that participated in this years festivities.

Here are a few photo highlights from this year:

Fruit Carving Platter

Desserts for DIFF attendees

Salad Cocktails for DIFF attendees

Chocolate Covered Strawberries and Dessert Tarlets for DIFF attendees

To stay updated on our open houses, special event coverage, photos and more–be sure to follow G. Texas Catering on Facebook!

After receiving the call from the Red Cross, G Texas Catering responded within hours to provide more than 300 meals for emergency workers and victims of the storms. Utilizing our new mobile kitchen and food trailers, we were able to respond quickly to this urgent situation with Barbeque Beef, Chicken and Pulled Pork meals. These were packaged for easy delivery to the Tarrant County Red Cross where they were delivered to individuals in need.

Our brand new mobile kitchen and food trailers are also available for use at private events and festivals throughout North Texas. As proved this week, our catering equipment is well equipped for producing large volumes of quality food–even in the most challenging situations.

If you are interested in helping out families affected by these recent storms, please contact the Red Cross.

Mobile Kitchen used to create meals for those affected by the storms throughout North Texas.

The entire festival runs from April 12 to April 22 and during this entire period we will be catering the Festival Lounge. Open to VIPs, Filmmakers, Sponsors and Star Pass Holders only, this lounge provides an exclusive area to relax, drink, eat and take full advantage of the festival’s offerings. Also sponsored by G Texas Catering, Stella Artois and Barefoot Wines, the Festival Lounge will be open from 4:00pm-2:00am everyday, so come out and see us if you have a special pass!

In addition to the everyday catering of the Lounge, we will also be assisting with special event catering throughout the festival:

Press Party on April 11th at the Festival Lounge

Filmmakers Welcome Party on opening night on April 12th at the Festival Lounge

Special Event on April 14th

Korean Filmmaker Honoree Event on April 17th at the Crow Collection of Art

2 Centerpiece Screening Parties (location & time TBD): These special events include well-known talent, artists, and parties after the screenings.

The Festival Lounge is located in Suite 240 in Mockingbird Station (between the Angelika Film Center and the Trinity Irish Pub). You may purchase tickets to DIFF and/or the Festival Lounge here.

Wedding cakes are often considered the main attraction in any wedding. Although the design and type of wedding cake is easiest to note, the unique cake toppers and frosting also attract attention from guests. Moreover, when it is time to cut and serve the cake, its taste comes to the forefront of conversation. Indeed, the wedding cake is not just an ordinary dessert during weddings; it is a significant part of the event (it even has its own ceremony in some wedding traditions); thereby making the occasion more meaningful and memorable.

When planning a wedding in Dallas, it is ideal to use a local bakery and caterer. There is a wide range of wedding caterers in Dallas that also offer customized wedding cakes. Wedding venues in Dallas may also include suggestions or provisions for wedding cakes in their wedding event packages. A Dallas event planner, on the other hand, can also place you in contact with bakeries that match your individual tastes and desires.

The styles of wedding cakes have greatly evolved from the simple one layer cakes of the past. Wedding cakes are no longer limited to being tiered and topped with a bride and groom figurine. Nowadays, wedding cakes come in various shapes, colors, styles, designs, and sizes! Often reminiscent of the overall wedding theme, the variety of ways to design and style wedding cakes is indeed endless.

Cake toppers, frosting designs, and cake concepts make a wedding cake even more unique and one-of-a-kind. In Dallas, venues for weddings have displayed a wide variety of cake designs including a western style wedding cake complete with cowboy boots, wedding rings, and all things loved and used by the couple: a box of Louboutin shoes, purse, and pearl necklace for the bride while screwdrivers, nails, and bullets for the groom.

Other modern designs include stenciled monograms, architecture inspired themes, licorice wedding cakes, miniature wedding cakes, wedding cakes with dotted designs, calligraphy designs, and even crushed candies. The cake truly is a significant part of a wedding–even providing symbolic and nostalgic importance for many couples, and even their guests. Because of this, couples should spend extra time choosing a perfect baker that is appropriate and suitable for their tastes. Below is a list of local bakers in Dallas that produce a wide variety of wedding cakes including custom made wedding cakes for a reasonable price.

1. Frosted Art Bakery

Specializes in bridal cakes, over-the-top party cakes, cupcakes, petits fours, etc.; creates cakes for various types of occasions including bridal events, birthday parties, and social events; offers about 70 flavors of cake and continuously develops new flavors.

2. Elena’s Cakes

Offers exceptional designs for various types of cakes perfect for magnificent centerpieces for every special occasion; promises both taste and design of their cakes will make every occasion unforgettable; offers assistance in designing cakes, determining the size of the cake, and discussing unlimited variety of decorations.

3. The Baker Boys

Famous for cakes that bring excitement to every special event; offers an assortment of deliciously flavored cakes at reasonable prices; serves the entire Dallas Fort Worth area

4. Mama-Licious Cakes

Specializes in unique, hand-made cake decorations and gum pasted flowers; provides custom designing for wedding and celebration cakes; serves Dallas Fort Worth, Harlingen, McAllen, and Brownsville, Texas.

5. The Cake Guys

Recognized nationally for setting industry standards and for providing the best tasting cakes in Dallas Forth Worth; has been featured on TLC on The Cake Boss and Next Great Baker; cakes have been published in Bride’s Magazine, people Magazine, The Knot, Texas Wedding Guide, Modern Luxury, D Magazine, and Martha Stewart Weddings.

To hire the best baker for weddings, contact an event planner in Dallas who is highly knowledgeable of various Dallas wedding caterers and bakers. Make weddings unforgettable by celebrating with an unforgettable cake both in taste and in design.

Appetizers

-Apple Wood Smoked Bacon Wrapped Chicken Knots with Jalapeno Sliver
-Lobster Bisque Shooters

Main Buffet

-Smoked Sirloin with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms displayed in Oversized Skillet or Paella Pan
-Hot Water Jalapeno Corn Bread

Macaroni and Cheese Bar

-Homestyle Mac and Cheese with Toasted Bread Crumb topping -White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
-Custom Toppings include: Buffalo Chicken Bites, Crumbled Bleu Cheese, Crispy Bacon,
Broccoli Florettes, Diced Tomatoes, Scallions

Martini Salad Station

-Hearts of Palm with Fresh Diced Tomato and Avocado, Balsamic Drizzle

Dessert Station

-Interactive Smores Station or Chocolate Nacho Bar

Interested in attending? RSVP here!

Time: Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012 from 4:30p-6:30p

Where: Jack Daniel’s Saloon in Gilley’s Dallas Complex | 1135 South Lamar St., Dallas, TX 75215 (map it)

For a full list of potential vendors outside of this narrow area, visit LocalHarvest.org which aggregates local vendors.

View Dallas/Fort Worth Farmers Markets in a larger map

White Rock Local Market

This non-profit, independent farmers market is located conveniently in East Dallas and operates March-December on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month from 8am-1pm. All members must grow or make what they sell. For those of you living within the city, this market allows a break from a typical supermarket experience. Due to the selective nature of availability, however, it may be important to strategically plan ahead to maximize benefits.

Grand Prairie Farmers Market

This market features Texas produce and vegetables along with select speciality products such as soaps, honey, tamales, and more. Running from March 31-Dec. 17, the market is open rain or shine from 8am-1pm. On certain days, the market occasionally features live music and demonstrations as well.

Four Seasons Markets

Run by one company, there are three markets in the area highlighting local, fresh merchandise. With locations in Richardson, Dallas and Lewisville, visitors throughout the metroplex can easily reap the benefits of these markets. Open every Saturday year round, each location differs in available times: Richardson (9am-2pm), Dallas (10am-2pm) and Lewisville (10am-4pm).

Coppell Farmers Market

This market has a narrower frame for business, only open from April-November, 8am-12pm.

Rosemeade Market and Greenhouse

This market operates more like a typical grocery store, focusing on Texas produce and fresh items. Open year round, 7 days a week–this definitely provides a medium option for shopping local and working around busy schedules.

Downtown Arlington Farmers Market

This open air farmers market provides local produce in an intimate, open-air setting. Open from April-December, Downtown Arlington Farmers Market is open two days a week: Fri/Sat from 8am-1pm.

Farmers Market of Grapevine

Located in the heart of Downtown Grapevine, this Main St. farmers market highlights local food and crafts. Open April-Oct on Thurs/Fri/Sat from 8am-4pm.

Living Green Outdoors Farmers Market

This market is located in old-town Lewisville, surrounded by the long time culture and history of the town. Opening on May 14 and closing Sept. 10, this short period of time still manages to flourish the second saturday of each month from 8am-12pm.

West Village Farm-to-Market

This market serves the busy, West Village district of Dallas. Open April-August from 10am-2pm every Saturday

Downtown Dallas Farmers Market

One of the largest and most notorious markets in Dallas, this features an indoor and open-air section. Open daily from 8am-8pm, this market is open 362 days a year but flourishes strongly on the weekends. Even if you don’t shop locally often– for event planning or other special event affairs, it can be a nice change of pace to shop locally and learn about where the food you are serving actually comes from.

Although as a local Dallas caterer we are familiar with surrounding food hot spots, most of these farmers markets mentioned are for personal or family use. Certain co-op groups exchange trips to larger Farmer’s Markets and bring back sufficient amounts for surrounding families in the area. As noted by the map above, many of these options are not limited to the confined Dallas area, but extend to include the full metroplex–some even within acceptable distance to our Forth Worth Catering office.

The kitchen can be a mysterious, complicated place for some people. By getting a good foundation of the basics, the rest will surely fall into place. One of the most frequently used tools in cooking is the knife–by conquering the many different kinds and uses for knives, your utensil drawer will no longer be a scary, incomprensible part of your kitchen. You don’t have to be a corporate event caterer or professional chef to appreciate and have a quality collection of knives. Here’s a look at the basics for when you decide to go all out and try to cook for a very special event of your own.

Chefs Knife (French Knife)

The chefs knife, also known as the French Knife, is the work horse of the kitchen, used for multiple tasks rather than being extremely specialized. Chefs knives are often used for mincing, slicing, dicing, chopping veggies, slicing meat and occasionally disjointing large pieces of meat. These knives range in length from 6 to 14 inches. There is a gentle curve from the point of the blade to the handle that allows for a balanced, smooth rocking motion.

Paring Knife

Paring knives are also designed to be multipurpose tools, but tend to be much smaller than a chef’s knife. Ranging from two to four inches in length, this smaller size allows for more agile, intricate activities such as peeling, deveining seafood, etc.

Bread Knife

A bread knife typically has a a long, thin serrated blade which allows for slicing of bread without crushing it. These blades range between 6 and 10 inches long.

Meat Knives

As a texas caterer, meat and barbecue are important parts of our menu, and meat knives are an equally important part of our kitchen.

Carving Knife

Carving knives are primarily used for cutting thin cuts of meat. Ranging from 8 to 15 inches, these large, thin blades allow for precise slicing.

Slicer or Slicing Knife

A slicer or slicing knife is closely related to a carving knife, but is traditionally longer and narrower. Typically slicer knives have flat, plain blades but may sometimes come in serated forms. A slicer knife ranges from 10 to 12 inches because one of the main purposes of the slicer is to make long, clean strokes when carving meat or poultry. Slicer knives may also be convenient for slicing sandwiches, vegetables and fruits.

Boning Knife

A boning knife has a thin, flexible blade with an extremely sharp point and is used to remove bones from cuts of meat. The blade allows for intricate work around the bone and typically ranges from 3 to 9 inches in length.

Cleaver

A cleaver has a large, thick rectangular blade for separating, or “cleaving”, meat from the bone. This thick, heavy blade is designed to allow for quick strokes through tough surfaces without breaking or splintering the blade. A typical home kitchen cleaver is around 6 inches long.

In Europe, wines are largely known for the region the grapes were grown, not the varietal, due to the importance of soil and growth habits.

A well trained bartender or caterer will likely to be able to help you choose a desirable wine based on your meal or taste. G Texas Catering provides full bar service at a variety of events–weddings, corporate events, conventions, and many other events in which attendees may need help choosing wines.

Red Wines

Red wines are created using red or black grapes. Red wine grapes are commonly grown in warmer climates, and tend to stay on the vine for longer. This factor combined with the fact that red grapes tend to be produced with the skin of the grapes intact helps create a more bold flavor and give red wine its distinct color, tannin and flavor.

Red wine types: Barbera, Brunello, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dolcetto, Gamay, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Syrah or Shiraz, Tempranillo, Zinfandel

White Wines

White wines are created by processing non-colored grapes or red-skinned grapes (but not allowing the processing to extract pigment from the skin). White wines typically have less body than red wines.

White wine types: Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Viognier

Rosé Wines

A rosé is a type of wine that holds characteristics of both a red and white wine. Just enough red grapes are used to help create a pinkish color, but not completely transform the rosé to a full red. There are three major ways to create a rosé: skin contact, saignée and blending.

Skin contact involves keeping black (or red) grapes in contact with the juice for a short period of time (typically one to three days). The must is then pressed and the skins are discarded. This method creates a wine more similar to that of a white.

The second method occurs when a producer is trying to increase the tannin and color to red wine, pink juice is removed and fermented separately to create a rosé in a process called saignée.

The third method of blending simply combines red and white wine to create a desirable color.

Dessert/Fortified Wines

Dessert wines are sweeter than traditional wines and are meant to be consumed after a main course. These wines are created by not completing fermentation fully. The nature of this wine is a result of the natural sweetness that is enhanced the longer the grape ripens on the vine. The sweetness of dessert wine can be attributed to a a mold infection, freeze late in harvest (ice wine), or addition of brandy (which stops fermentation).

Here is a list of some speciality holiday recipes from our favorite recipe blogs:

Appetizers

Caesar Salad Deviled Eggs

For any gluten free, vegetarians and anyone on a low-carb diet, this new twist on the classic deviled egg should surely satisfy most party guests. This recipe incorporates a lot of fresh herbs and interesting spices, but feel free to mix and match to taste.

For the full recipe, visit here.

Cream of Pumpkin Soup with Curried Pecans

This simple soup packs a huge punch and incorporates two favorite southern holiday flavours–pumpkin and pecans. Whip this up in less than 30 minutes for any surprise guests! This vegan, gluten free soup can be adjusted to fit nearly any dietary need. For the full recipe visit here.

Main Dishes

Black Rice, Corn and Cranberries

Vegetarians are often faced with limited options and simple replacements–particularly during large holiday celebrations. This Black Rice, Corn and Cranberry Salad will appease both meat enthusiasts and picky vegetarians. With such a large flavor spectrum, this dish provides a perfect blend of sweetness with hearty rice and corn. The coloring and beautiful nature of the dish alone will help send your meal to new, inventive heights! For the full recipe, visit the New York Times Blog.

Prime Rib

As its namesake implies, Prime Rib is one of the most delectable pieces of beef rib meat. Due to its special, impressive nature, this roast is largely saved for special occasions or holidays. For those looking for an alternative to the typical ham, Prime Rib provides a delicious, succulent full flavor option–perfect for a Southern style meal. It may be difficult to find true Prime Rib at your local supermarket, so you may have to call ahead or find a specialized meat market. With just a few spices and some patience, prime rib will likely be the star of your holiday meal. For a full recipe, visit the Pioneer Woman’s website here.

Dessert

Gluten Free Salted Caramel Apple Dumplings

For those of you with special needs guests, this gluten free dessert adds a touch of speciality and thoughtfulness with just the right amount of American classic flavoring. For the full recipe, more photos and detailed instruction visit here.

This event provided a wonderful opportunity for the public to interact with members of the military, veterans and their families in new, exciting ways. More than 700 volunteers worked together to make the event possible. With an ultimate fundraising goal of 1 million dollars, the Sky Ball benefit worked towards the lofty goal of allowing the Forth Worth Airpower Foundation to broaden its’ goal of directly supporting members of all branches of our military and their families.

The entire special event was catered with the hearts of our military and their families in mind. With roughly 3,000 guests including 500 VIP seated guests in attendance, the event was quite sucessful. Every member received full china service and chose from this thoughtful menu:

Entres: Quail Bacon Knos, Shrimp Ceviche, Tender Roast Beef, Smoked Salmon & Crab Cakes

Sides: Grilled Asparagus, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Caeser Salad with Parmesan Chicken Skewer, Bread

Dessert: Lemon Sorbet with Fresh Berries, Caramel Apple Empanadas