So, it’s almost Super Bowl Sunday. What will be on your menu? The ubiquitous chicken wings, beer and chili are fun, but as Canadians, we’ve already had that party menu for Grey Cup, right?
So, why not mix things up a bit and show off how clever you are by having soup for Super Bowl? It’s easy. Just borrow a bunch of bowls from your friends and make a bunch of different soups. Set up a soup buffet. Make some homemade bread and a big salad and you’ll score a touchdown!
Need some soup recipes? Check out this roster from my repertoire:
• French onion
• Carrot Coriander Soup
• Parsnip Lemon Soup
Cupcakes epitomize the food trends of personalization and portion control. In my last Topline Trends newsletter I wrote about how pull-apart “cupcake cakes” are trending up. These clusters of cupcakes, positioned in beguiling shapes, offer the visual impact of a whole cake but the serving ease of, well, cupcakes.
I’m a huge fan of cupcakes not just for kid’s parties where they are a brilliant choice that allows guests to be served quickly and easily, but also for more swish affairs. At my own 40th birthday I had a cupcake tree laden with gorgeous fluffy white cupcakes generously swathed in pink buttercream frosting. Likewise, cupcakes have become a popular feature at stylish weddings.
Recently the ProChef Smart Brief (an online aggregate newsletter for the foodservice industry conducted a poll where they asked chefs, “Would you consider adding cupcakes to a gourmet menu?” I was on the ‘yes’ side of the argument, as were over 70 per cent of respondents.
To the other 20+ per cent all I have to say is check out an Eini Cupcake– and yes, gentle readers, they taste as good as they look! — and think about revising your (wrong) answer.
Would you serve cupcakes at a formal party? Why or why not?
