The South Florida chapter of the National Association of Catering Executives' 11th annual Taste of NACE fund-raiser welcomed more than 300 guests to Panache's warehouse in Pompano Beach. Called "Icy Hot," the dinner soiree juxtaposed atmospheres, from tropical heat to Arctic cold. Panache president and owner Kelly Murphy designed the event to encourage networking and mingling.
Frost Lighting of Boca Raton articulated the theme with watery cool and sizzling lighting effects. In the lounge, Frost underlit So Cool Events' clear Lucite furniture and set pieces with a slow-changing spectrum.
Guests sat down for a six-course meal in the main dining room, but dinner was anything but stationary. After the second and fourth courses, diners swapped tables in an elaborate musical chairs shuffle, giving attendees the chance to interact with different tablemates and see the work of the 10 designers who created 30 separate centerpieces and table atmospheres.
Among the centerpiece interpretations of the night's theme was Famous Firsts Ltd. and MSE Events' four-foot homage to the Miami Heat. A flurry of red and orange flowers burst from a base made of basketballs; a three-foot Heat logo hovered over a basketball net suspended above. Outside the Lines, Event Decor Inc.'s old-fashioned table had romantic touches, topped with sage green linens and a pink rose-patterned overlay, and the centerpiece featured pastel roses and lilies stuffed into a small suitcase and polka dot hatbox.
Caterers served a vibrant range of specialties headlined by Blue Moon Fish Company's herb-roasted Australian rack of lamb with wild mushroom risotto, Catering Concepts' caramelized stuffed roast pork loin, and Touch Restaurant's farm-raised baby quail with aged prosciutto in chipotle port syrup.
After dinner, guests enjoyed dessert and coffee in the frosty-looking lounge. There, they drenched fruit and pastries in flowing cascades of Belgian chocolate from Café Ala Carte's chocolate fondue fountain. Café Ala Carte also served up its signature cappuccino. To further the chocolate rush, Susie's Scrumptious Sweets served chocolate-chili mousse shots and crème brûlée.
Throughout the night, DJ Omar, booked through Jimmy Jam Productions, kept the party rocking. Jimmy Jam owner James Conway served as M.C. and also provided live acts, such as saxophonist Dr. J, who wove around tables during dinner, serenading guests.
—Vanessa Goyanes and Juan Carlos Rodriguez
Frost Lighting of Boca Raton articulated the theme with watery cool and sizzling lighting effects. In the lounge, Frost underlit So Cool Events' clear Lucite furniture and set pieces with a slow-changing spectrum.
Guests sat down for a six-course meal in the main dining room, but dinner was anything but stationary. After the second and fourth courses, diners swapped tables in an elaborate musical chairs shuffle, giving attendees the chance to interact with different tablemates and see the work of the 10 designers who created 30 separate centerpieces and table atmospheres.
Among the centerpiece interpretations of the night's theme was Famous Firsts Ltd. and MSE Events' four-foot homage to the Miami Heat. A flurry of red and orange flowers burst from a base made of basketballs; a three-foot Heat logo hovered over a basketball net suspended above. Outside the Lines, Event Decor Inc.'s old-fashioned table had romantic touches, topped with sage green linens and a pink rose-patterned overlay, and the centerpiece featured pastel roses and lilies stuffed into a small suitcase and polka dot hatbox.
Caterers served a vibrant range of specialties headlined by Blue Moon Fish Company's herb-roasted Australian rack of lamb with wild mushroom risotto, Catering Concepts' caramelized stuffed roast pork loin, and Touch Restaurant's farm-raised baby quail with aged prosciutto in chipotle port syrup.
After dinner, guests enjoyed dessert and coffee in the frosty-looking lounge. There, they drenched fruit and pastries in flowing cascades of Belgian chocolate from Café Ala Carte's chocolate fondue fountain. Café Ala Carte also served up its signature cappuccino. To further the chocolate rush, Susie's Scrumptious Sweets served chocolate-chili mousse shots and crème brûlée.
Throughout the night, DJ Omar, booked through Jimmy Jam Productions, kept the party rocking. Jimmy Jam owner James Conway served as M.C. and also provided live acts, such as saxophonist Dr. J, who wove around tables during dinner, serenading guests.
—Vanessa Goyanes and Juan Carlos Rodriguez
To go with the "Icy Hot" theme of the National Association of Catering Executives' 11th annual Taste of NACE fund-raiser, red roses and votives flanked Creations Productions' fiery revolving centerpiece.
A towering centerpiece of tropical flowers and oranges complemented the mango- and papaya-colored linens of Touch Catering's Latin-style table.
Boca by Design competed with the fiery colors of other areas, with an icy-hued table with blue linens, silver chairs, and white and blue flowers suspended above the plates.
Famous Firsts and MSE Events created a New Orleans-style table with canary yellow linens and multicolored chair covers tied with matching yellow sashes.
