Questions to Ask Your Caterer

Rebecca McKinney

I was born a foodie. My dad is a chef, baker, and restaurant owner and my mom might as well be because she owns whatever kitchen she walks into. I grew up working in my family’s restaurant and bakery in Pawling, New York – McKinney and Doyle. I started behind the bakery counter at 12 years old after begging my parents to let me start working. At 16 I worked as a hostess. By 18 I was serving tables and training behind the bar where I then worked every other weekend throughout my college career. Even now, when I am visiting my family in New York, I help out where I’m needed. To make a long story short, the food and restaurant industry has been my life for as long as I can remember.

I wanted to create this blog for a few reasons. First and foremost, to share tips, tricks, and knowledge about the food and beverage industry in general but also to help people see a different side of the restaurant world. Every restaurant has a totally unique culture and world within it. I want to help open people’s eyes to more than how fast the service is or how easy or hard it is to secure a reservation.

So, thanks for stopping by! I welcome your ideas, input, and feedback and hope you enjoy!

Eat well & travel often,

Becky McKinney

Latest posts by Rebecca McKinney (see all)

It’s been just under two years since Matt & I got engaged and began the wedding planning process. Though, to be honest, it feels like it’s been about a week. It’s true what they say about the engagement really flying by! Anyway, now that all of the details are finalized and the big day is a short three days away, I thought it would be a good time to revisit this post from last year!

Cooking for a crowd is fun and all but sometimes, hiring a caterer is really the best move. Let me think of an example … oh, I know! Bride to be over here says you’re definitely going to hire a caterer for your wedding, yes? Yes. But you shouldn’t take this task lightly because chances are your caterer is going to do much more than cook some food. In most cases, when it comes to a large event, like a wedding, the caterer is in charge of preparing the menu, helping with timeline coordination, providing table and glassware, stocking the bar, baking the wedding cake, and staffing the service. That’s a lot of responsibility! You’ll want to work with someone who knows their stuff. I know that planning a large event … let’s just call a spade a spade … planning a wedding is stressful and a ton of work, but it’s important that you take your time with the details and know what to expect on the big day. But don’t you worry; you’re in good hands. As the daughter of a chef/baker/restaurant owner who has catered weddings for years, an ex event planner, a previous cater waiter, AND a bride to be, I’ve got your back. Here are some important questions to ask your caterer.Continue Reading

Helpful Wine Storage Tips

Rebecca McKinney

I was born a foodie. My dad is a chef, baker, and restaurant owner and my mom might as well be because she owns whatever kitchen she walks into. I grew up working in my family’s restaurant and bakery in Pawling, New York – McKinney and Doyle. I started behind the bakery counter at 12 years old after begging my parents to let me start working. At 16 I worked as a hostess. By 18 I was serving tables and training behind the bar where I then worked every other weekend throughout my college career. Even now, when I am visiting my family in New York, I help out where I’m needed. To make a long story short, the food and restaurant industry has been my life for as long as I can remember.

I wanted to create this blog for a few reasons. First and foremost, to share tips, tricks, and knowledge about the food and beverage industry in general but also to help people see a different side of the restaurant world. Every restaurant has a totally unique culture and world within it. I want to help open people’s eyes to more than how fast the service is or how easy or hard it is to secure a reservation.

So, thanks for stopping by! I welcome your ideas, input, and feedback and hope you enjoy!

Eat well & travel often,

Becky McKinney

Latest posts by Rebecca McKinney (see all)

I’m getting married in TEN days!! That’s not that many days and time seems to go by quicker every day. Matt and I are thrilled be getting married at America’s oldest winery and between the venue and our honeymoon in Europe, I’m kind of banking on building up our wine collection. But what good is a solid collection if you don’t know how to store it all correctly? Continue Reading

Recipe: Cinnamon Sugar Biscotti

Rebecca McKinney

I was born a foodie. My dad is a chef, baker, and restaurant owner and my mom might as well be because she owns whatever kitchen she walks into. I grew up working in my family’s restaurant and bakery in Pawling, New York – McKinney and Doyle. I started behind the bakery counter at 12 years old after begging my parents to let me start working. At 16 I worked as a hostess. By 18 I was serving tables and training behind the bar where I then worked every other weekend throughout my college career. Even now, when I am visiting my family in New York, I help out where I’m needed. To make a long story short, the food and restaurant industry has been my life for as long as I can remember.

I wanted to create this blog for a few reasons. First and foremost, to share tips, tricks, and knowledge about the food and beverage industry in general but also to help people see a different side of the restaurant world. Every restaurant has a totally unique culture and world within it. I want to help open people’s eyes to more than how fast the service is or how easy or hard it is to secure a reservation.

So, thanks for stopping by! I welcome your ideas, input, and feedback and hope you enjoy!

Eat well & travel often,

Becky McKinney

Latest posts by Rebecca McKinney (see all)

I guess technically it’s still summer but being up in New York and starting to see the leaves change, I’m officially in fall mode. And what could be better in the fall than a hot cup of

Photo from Chocolate, Chocolate and More

coffee with a side of fresh biscotti? I found this recipe for Cinnamon Sugar Biscotti on a blog called, “Chocolate, Chocolate and More,” and gave it a try earlier this week. It’s a winner so I wanted to share it here with you too!Continue Reading

5 Easy Spice Blends You Can Make Yourself

Rebecca McKinney

I was born a foodie. My dad is a chef, baker, and restaurant owner and my mom might as well be because she owns whatever kitchen she walks into. I grew up working in my family’s restaurant and bakery in Pawling, New York – McKinney and Doyle. I started behind the bakery counter at 12 years old after begging my parents to let me start working. At 16 I worked as a hostess. By 18 I was serving tables and training behind the bar where I then worked every other weekend throughout my college career. Even now, when I am visiting my family in New York, I help out where I’m needed. To make a long story short, the food and restaurant industry has been my life for as long as I can remember.

I wanted to create this blog for a few reasons. First and foremost, to share tips, tricks, and knowledge about the food and beverage industry in general but also to help people see a different side of the restaurant world. Every restaurant has a totally unique culture and world within it. I want to help open people’s eyes to more than how fast the service is or how easy or hard it is to secure a reservation.

So, thanks for stopping by! I welcome your ideas, input, and feedback and hope you enjoy!

Eat well & travel often,

Becky McKinney

Latest posts by Rebecca McKinney (see all)

Spices are key to all meals. Without them, everything we ate would be bland and boring.  They offer unique flavor to any recipe and can be combined in countless ways to create something new. It is true that you can find pretty much any spice blend at your local super market or specialty food store but they can be pretty pricey and you can actually make your own blends with spices you probably already have in your kitchen.

Plus, when you make your own spice blends, you can be sure they are free from any freaky additives or preservatives. Let’s get right to it. Below are my five favorite spice blend recipes. Will you give them a try?

Cajun Spice Blend
2 Tbsp cumin
2 Tbsp coriander
2 Tbsp paprika
1 ½ tsp salt
1 ½ tsp black pepper
Cayenne pepper to taste (the more you use, the hotter it’ll be)
1 Tbsp dried oregano

 

Curry Blend
2 Tbsp cumin powder
2 Tbsp ground coriander
2 Tbsp turmeric
1 ½ tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Italian Spice Blend
2 Tsbp dried basil
2 Tsbp dried oregano
1 Tsbp dried thyme
1 Tsbp dried rosemary
1 Tsbp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp salt

Chili Seasoning
2 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp regular paprika
1 tsp smoked paprika (or use 2 tsp regular paprika if you can’t find smoked)

Taco Seasoning
2 Tbsp chili powder
2 Tbsp ground cumin
1 ½ tsp onion powder
1 ½ tsp garlic powder
½ tps cayenne pepper
½ tsp black pepper (optional)
½ tsp salt
½ tsp oregano

How many of these could you make right now using what you already have?