Gala event held at the Centre in the Square

On Saturday May 8, 2010, Select catered a sophisticated gala event on the stage at Centre in the Square fro 270 guests following a concert performance.  The event featured passed canapés, cheese and fruit displays, wrap bites, and our premium coffee and tea station.  Event decor and planning was completed by Straight Street Event Services.  

Welcome to the Hungry Olive!

We are now firmly settled in our storefront location at 35 Cherry Blossom Road in Cambridge. The Hungry Olive offers paninis, sandwiches, salads, freshly baked pastries, a daily hot meal and house-made soup, as well as drinks, coffee, and cappuccinos. Stop by to see our new place or come in for lunch!

Cost Saving Tip of the Week #3

Limit the timeline of your event.

Have you considered a brunch, formal afternoon tea, or late evening stand-up reception? There are plenty of alternatives to a traditional sit down dinner that can save you money without compromising on quality. The longer our staff are on site at an event, the higher the staff cost will be. Weddings in particular can add up quickly if your ceremony is planned for the early afternoon and your dance goes until after midnight. Our staff arrive before any guests are on site to set up tables and chairs, and we remain on site until the party winds down so we can take care of putting everything away. Trimming your wedding timeline is one of the best ways to drastically cut your costs.

First wedding at the Lang Tannery

On May 1, 2010, Select Service catered the very first wedding ever held at the Lang Tannery in Kitchener.  Located at the corner of Charles and Victoria in Kitchener, the Tannery is being completely updated and renovated to include retail shops and an event space.  The wedding featured food stations, passed canapes, and a martini bar with an ice luge. The ice luge was provided by Ice Culture Inc.

     The three food stations took the guests around the world as they sampled items from a Norwegian themed table with a mashed potato bar and gravlax platter, a Mexican table with black bean and beef quesadillas, and an Indian food station with butter chicken, basmati rice, and dhal rissoles.  The late night tables include a market stall station with freshly cut vegetables, cheeses, and sliced deli meats with breads and condiments, and a French inspired desserts and coffee station with profiteroles, petit four sec, petit four glace, biscotti, and chocolate covered strawberries.

   

Cost Saving Tip of the Week #2

Decide on the most important features of your event, and budget around them.

If food is important to you, Select Service is your caterer. We cook everything on site at your event, and we never sacrifice on food quality. What is the most important part of your event to you? Is the food the focus? The party? The entertainment? Allocate your budget around the focus of your event and spend the money where it counts.

Although you may be quoted different prices for food, service, etc, in our experience, a wedding reception ends up being about $100 per guest, for food, service, and rentals, unless you are planning something truly extravagant. There are plenty of ways to trim your budget elsewhere, but when you hire the best, you are letting us know that you care about the food, the presentation, and the service of your event.

Select Service at More Than Just Desserts fundraiser for the Arthritis Society

On Sunday March 28, 2010, Select Service participated in a fundraiser for the Arthritis Society called More Than Just Desserts. Along with five other restaurants, we served bite-size hors d'oeuvres and sweets to the attendees of the gala event.

Select's table features our own pulled pork in a Waterloo Dark beer and chipotle barbecue sauce served in miniature tart shells, and our signature chocolate fountain with fresh fruit and profiteroles. Our pulled pork was a big hit, and it was a close run for "Best hors d'oeuvre".

Event Cost Saving Tip of the Week #1

Offer a signature drink.

Whether planning a wedding, or a simple dinner at home, offer a signature drink to limit the selection at the bar. The drink can be a simple non-alcoholic punch or a fun cocktail, and you can offer the drink all night long or as guests arrive. Your guests will drink what is offered to them; an event is no different than inviting friends to your home and offering what you have prepared. A fairly simple bar with beer, wine, soft drinks, and a signature drink will go a long way.