Food

July 17, 2012

For a recent dessert display created by Chicago-based Sugar Chic Designs, Nicole Greene of Truffle Truffle contributed caramel chocolate-covered pretzels rolled in beer batter toffee and displayed in a cigar box.

Photo: Carasco Photo

At Art Basel Miami Beach’s Ten Great Years celebration last December, Shiraz provided cigar-shaped mini Cubans stuffed with ham, cornichons, and cheese. Servers passed them around in repurposed cigar boxes.

Photo: Carly Otness/BFAnyc.com

In October 2011, Macquarie Private Wealth hosted a Mad Men-inspired cocktail party in Toronto. Servers dressed as cigarette girls passed around sushi in the shape of cigars, created by Appetizingly Yours Events & Catering.

Photo: Josh Fee for BizBash

Robert Gilbert, the executive chef of special events and catering operations at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, creates edible cigars that are served as antipasto. Air-cured smoked pastrami, provolone cheese, boursin cheese, roasted red peppers, and paprika are minced up and rolled up into grape leaves to look like cigars. The edible ash is made from grilled, smoked and pulverized banana leaves.

Photo: Courtesy of Walt Disney World Resorts

Another version of Walt Disney World Resort’s edible cigar, served in a mini ashtray filled with salt rocks.

Photo: Courtesy of Walt Disney World Resorts

At Moto in Chicago, Chef Homaro Cantu creates a Cuban cigar with edible ash. The recipe involves brined pulled pork shoulder wrapped in sliced white bread and collard greens, dipped in red pepper puree. The cigar is then served in an ash tray with ash made from ground sesame seeds and tapioca maltodextrin.

Photo: Michael Silberman

Close, but no cigar: Mena Catering in Miami creates eggnog crème brûlée served in a clear ashtray with an edible chocolate cigarette.

Photo: Elizabeth Renfrow for BizBash

Coca-Cola’s “Beatbox” Pavilion

Despite its lack of visible logos, Coca-Cola’s pavilion for the 2012 London Olympics makes a striking brand statement with an exterior marked by 200 red and white panels. The interactive pieces respond to gestures and movements by visitors, emitting sounds and music as people walk through the structure in Olympic Park.

Photo: Nick Hufton/Hufton & Crow

Seattle CityTarget Launch

To launch CityTarget in Seattle, Plymouth Pillars Dog Park became a doggy paradise Saturday that included a “bonetender” at a stocked Bone Bar that offered complimentary treats and toys. Seattle’s Rally Marketing Group helped develop the experience.

Photo: Courtesy of Rally Marketing Group

Pop-Tarts “Crazy Good Summer” Pop-Up Concert

The Kellogg’s brand hosted a Pop-Tarts pop-up concert on Northerly Island in Chicago July 19. With performances from Carly Rae Jepsen, Boys Like Girls, and teen sensation Austin Mahone, the event also allowed guests to pose on the red carpet with giant plush Pop-Tarts.

Photo: Jeff Schear

Zing Vodka Launch

For the Zing vodka launch produced by Chad Hudson Events for Zing, Maloof Ventures, and Bravo, Hudson's team made the garden at the Maloof residence appear to come to life on Wednesday night. Topiaries, shrubs, trees, and statues all popped, through lush decor and live models.

Photo: Sean Twomey/2me Studios

Travel & Leisure’s World’s Best Awards

Travel & Leisure hosted its annual World’s Best Awards July 19 at the newly opened Conrad New York. A sleek wall display housed five tanks filled with Patrón-based cocktails, which guests could pour themselves.

Photo: Diane Bondareff/Travel + Leisure

CTIA Wireless Foundation’s 18th Annual Achievement Awards Dinner

The July 23 event at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington had an island theme and featured several large centerpieces from Volanni with large banana leaf flowers with hydrangea in the center. Events by Andre Wells produced the event.

Photo: Eli Turner

'Chiquis 'n Control' Premiere

At an intimate media event for about 160 guests and 10 media outlets on Wednesday, mun2 promoted the season premiere of Chiquis 'n Control at the SLS Beverly Hills. In One Production Group created a salon setup as a branded photo op to tease out the theme of the show: Janney Marin's experiences opening her new salon, Blow Me Dry.

Photo: Ernesto Huerta-Juarez

MKG Summer Party

New York experiential agency MKG’s Olympic-inspired summer office party on Wednesday had a panel of judges rate guests as they arrived.

Photo: Victor Castro

UrbanDaddy Samsung Galaxy Note Launch

At the July 17 technology launch at the Brixton, planned by BrandLinkDC, guests could try out the gadget as well as see its features in use through entertainment such as portrait drawings and handwriting analysis.

Photo: Jeff Martin & Daniel Swartz

Kiehl’s Third Annual LifeRide for amfAR Finish Line Party

The 10-day philanthropic motorcycle ride along the Eastern Seaboard wrapped up with a finish-line party July 20 at the Kiehl's Georgetown store. The event, which raised awareness for H.I.V./AIDS research and resources, featured motorcycle-themed decor and cuisine including a dessert display from Georgetown Cupcake.

Photo: Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Kiehl's Since 1851

Xylobands in action at a Coldplay concert.

Photo: Courtesy of Xylobands

Lumina the Laser Violinist puts a futuristic spin on a classic instrument. The musicians, booked solo or as a duo or trio, play with a laser bow while standing among pulsing light beams. Based in the U.K., Lumina travels worldwide; fees range from $5,000 to $12,000 not including travel costs.

Photo: Courtesy of Lumina the Laser Violinist

At this year's Prudential Real Estate's conference in Orlando, Dallas-based Corporate Magic paired live dancers with digitized butterfly wings projected inside floating orbs to create a single, fluid movement of person and pixels onstage. In-house animators achieved the effect by using green-screen technology. Prices start at $10,000.

Photo: Jeffrey A. Davis

Los Angeles-based Le Ombre performs a mélange of dance and acrobatics against a backdrop of images and shadows, and can perform sets that incorporate branding, graphics and messaging. Full-length shows run from 60 to 90 minutes. The group travels internationally, and prices range from $25,000 to $65,000 for U.S. shows.

Photo: Brightroom Inc.

The laser harp from Lightwave International has light beams instead of strings for its performers to pluck. When the performer’s finger interrupts the beam, it sends a signal to its audio technology to play the corresponding note. A performance costs between $7,000 and $12,000.

Photo: Courtesy of Lightwave International

Companies including Google and Disney have booked iLuminate. Dancers wear bodysuits outfitted with wirelessly controlled lights that coordinate with the dancers’ movements, resulting in sci-fi visuals. Based in New York and Los Angeles, iLuminate performances start at $6,000.

Photo: Courtesy of iLuminate

Kansas City, Missouri-based Quixotic Fusion offers an eclectic swirl of acrobatic feats, pulsing rhythms, and colorful digital images and light projections. The group can perform from five-minute openers up to 75-minute features. Prices start at $15,000 for shows in the U.S.

Photo: James Duncan Davidson

At the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, a collection of six marigold chandeliers filled the V.I.P. tent ceiling, each standing eight feet high and made from thousands of strands of silk marigolds in the brand's recognizable yellow shade.

Photo: Claire Barrett Photography

Rental Trend: The Ghost Chair

The Ghost Chair's armless version, the Victoria Ghost, was used at MoCA Chicago's Art Edge gala in February.

Photo: Rick Aguilar Studios

Creative Edge Parties in New York offers a cut-your-own pasta station with hanging sheets of handmade pasta in different flavors and bowls of sauces so guests can choose their own custom combinations.

Photo: Karsten Staiger

At the Campfire Ball benefit for Children’s Oncology Services in May at Venue One in Chicago, Cork Catering set up a make-your-own s’mores station.

Photo: Gerber + Scarpelli Photography

Great Performances has stocked bars with infusions like blackberry maple whiskey, honeydew cucumber gin, and pineapple vodka.

Photo: Erik Jimenez

Daniel et Daniel in Toronto offers an adult soda bar with spiked floats featuring rhubarb, chili, cherry, and root beer flavors.

Photo: Courtesy of Mary Giuliani Catering & Events, Inc

Mary Giuliani Catering & Events in New York created a devil-your-own-egg bar with hard-boiled eggs set on ceramic cartons and mini pails filled with toppings like paprika, caper powder, chives, and bacon.

Photo: Courtesy of Daniel et Daniel

At an event at the Chicago History Museum in April, Jewell Events Catering used a Japanese ice-shaving machine to make treats guests could customize with flavors including cran-raspberry and mango.

Photo: Courtesy of Jewell Events Catering

Staffers from Spencer’s for Steaks and Chops at the Hilton Orlando serve cherry and Coca-Cola floats topped with frozen brandy drops, dark chocolate cake soaked with Coca-Cola, and sour cherry mousse at a dessert station that used nitrogen to freeze ingredients.

Photo: Courtesy of the Hilton Orlando

For a promotional party in New York, Thomas Preti Caterers served individual fondue cups filled with warm chocolate sauces, with items like marshmallows, kiwi slices, and strawberries to dip.

Photo: Lyn Hughes Photography

Trend: Open Kitchens

At Nespresso’s Pixie Launch in March at Williams-Sonoma at the Shops at Columbus Circle in New York, guests interacted with chef John DeLucie of the Lion, who served gravlax cured with “rosabaya de Columbia” espresso, crème fraîche, shaved baby vegetables, and pumpernickel croutons; and with Bouchon Bakery pastry chef Sébastien Rouxel, who offered his version of a cup of coffee with a fromage blanc parfait.

Photo: Courtesy of Mas Event + Design

Trend: Open Kitchens

Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Orlando purchased an interactive mobile kitchen with a camera and two flat-panel monitors to show its chefs’ preparations.

Photo: Courtesy of Disney

Trend: Open Kitchens

To match the futuristic look of a Lexus Event in April at Center548 in New York, Creative Edge Parties made desserts and cocktails like passion plume meringue dipped in a bowl of nitrogen, and the “Vanilla Infusion,” with Absolut Vanilia and tangerine and vanilla kumquat marmalade.

Photo: BizBash

Pinch Food Design in New York offers an interactive dessert station that changes the vantage point of the food, so guests look up to reach for hanging sweet galettes and then top them with whipped cream and fresh fruit.

Photo: Kerri Brewer

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resort in Orlando has a new backpack contraption called the “Rocketman” that straps to the back of a staffer, who can serve beverages among mingling guests.

Photo: Courtesy of Walt Disney World Swan And Dolphin Hotel

At an Aaron’s Catering promotional event for clients at Haven Lounge in Miami in July, a server passed fruit bars to guests, and then a second server approached with a tray of misters filled with alcohol to spray on the popsicle.

Photo: Luis Arturo Mora Photography

Mena Catering in Miami created a hash bar with soft poached eggs served in a martini glass with an assortment of freshly made ingredients and hollandaise sauces.

Photo: Courtesy of Mena Catering

Pinch Food Design in New York created a taco station, where guests could decorate homemade tortillas with an array of toppings served in custom-made resin pedestal pieces inspired by handcrafted Mexican pottery.

Photo: Kerri Brewer

At a March event at Gotham Hall, Elegant Affairs Caterers created “salad-tinis” made by “chef-tenders,” who mixed ingredients with oversize drink shakers and served them in martini glasses.

Photo: Jan Van Pak

At a promotional event at Skylight West in New York in June, Great Performances showcased its house-made sodas, ice cream floats, and handspun milk shakes at a soda jerk station.

Photo: Mimi McCormick

Blue Plate in Chicago is one of the caterers now using a device called an “anti-griddle”to freeze snacks as guests watch.

Photo: Courtesy of Blue Plate

For outdoor events, the W Boston builds an iced-tea bar featuring infusions such as matcha green tea and herbal variations.

Photo: Courtesy of Culinary Concepts

Thomas Preti Caterers in New York recently created a Bloody Mary bar with ingredients including pickled vegetables, scallions, beef jerky, and rosemary stirrers, plus spicy elements like banana peppers and jalapeños.

Photo: Carol Haunton