Office Ninja – A Day In The Life: Mmmm…Prosciutto Powder?!

Oh ya’ don’t say – free catered food and drinks after a hard days work? I’ll take it and love it! And take it I did. Big thanks to 415 Catering based in San Francisco, CA for showcasing their new catering line to OrgOrg members last Tuesday night.  And, big shout out to Tonic Beverage Catering for keeping us merry and hydrated throughout the evening. This tasty event was hosted at 415’s brand spank’n new kitchen located in SF’s Dogpatch (same building as Kara’s Cupcakes).

How was it you ask? So good! Everything I tasted I found myself asking “what’s in this, it is rosemary, basil, mint, mustard seed?!”  Whatever the spice or herb I’m a tell ya, it was damn good.

Okay so my favs were (in no particular order):

• Compressed watermelon and Crenshaw melon with prosciutto powder and basil. Oh’ yes, I said prosciutto powder.
• Sous vide chicken, grilled romaine, roasted tomato, bacon powder, grain mustard aioli. pictured below
• Vegetarian Meatballs with chile, fennel seed & roasted early girl tomatoes. pictured below
• Kampachi Crudo with a soy plum compote, pink Himalayan salt, free spirit farm peaches, and micro cilantro.

 Before attending this event – I wanted to make sure that I had more of a purpose for being there other than just stuffing my face. So I brought along this handy dandy checklist I put together for when choosing a caterer:

• Have you tasted their food?
• Is the food so tasty that even engineers would get up and mingle for it?
• Do they provide a variety of foods for all kinds of eaters: vegetarian, meat lover, peskatarian, vegan?
• Do they need a kitchen to prepare in; refrigerator, oven, counter space, etc?
• Are they available for catered lunches and/or company parties?
• Are they trustworthy, will they show up on time?
• Is the staff knowledgeable of ingratiates?
• Do they partner with a beverage caterer?
• Is the staff friendly?
• Food presentation?
• Do they provide their own tables and linens?
• Do they cater sweet treats (dessert)?
• What is the cost per person?

Bottom Line – no matter what part of the country you live in, if you’re ever invited into the kitchen of a local chef/catering crew – GO! Don’t pass it up. Taste their food, drink their wine and see what they have to offer. It’s a great way to mingle, try new things, and make new connections. And… if you’re in the SF Bay Area, I recommend giving 415 Catering a call before planning your next event in the city.

Think I missed something on the checklist? Tell me! Just comment on this post and I’ll add it to my list.

Have a favorite caterer that you work with? Please share! I’d love to know your (yes, you Office Ninja) favorite caterers from San Francisco to Timbuktu. It’s always good to have a list of recommended caterers on hand.

Happy eating!