The John F. Kennedy Center Opera Ball took place May 21 at the Organization of American States in Washington. For the event, in which the Washington National Opera celebrated a diamond anniversary, Occasions Caterers and Design Foundry created a custom hanging dessert buffet.
Le Méridien Chicago Oakbrook Center has introduced three new locally inspired menus for meeting breaks. The hotel's Sweet Home Chicago menu offers a variety of self-serve candy that originated in the city, including Lemonheads, Milk Duds, Red Hots, Tootsie Rolls, and Dots. Named after the blues song by Robert Johnson, the candy-shop-inspired display—which also offers pretzel bites and lemonade and iced tea—comes with a chalkboard sign that displays information about the Chicago-founded National Confections Association.
The second Chicago-theme menu is Nuts on Clark, a summer-inspired display that offers popcorn, nuts, and more as an homage to Clark Avenue, which is two blocks from Wrigley Field. The display offers a variety of popcorn toppings and mix-ins including caramel, chocolate, and garlic olive oil, candy and nuts, and flavored seasonings including ranch, cheddar, and sriracha. Beverages include bottles of Americana-brand flavored soda.
