Behind the Scene Cuisine

We Believe in Small Business

2011-11-18T08:07:00.000-08:00

Dear Valued Customers,

As the leader of a small business that has grown with the support of the community over the past twenty five years, I know that small businesses have a responsibility to be leaders in the communities and neighborhoods that they serve.

La Prima is committed to supporting the people in our communities and to promote sustainable practices whenever available. Our partnerships with area businesses help us to provide our customers with the quality, value and agility that is essential in today’s market. Our College Park garden, and partnerships with local young farmers, provide key ingredients to our kitchens. Our staff, in turn, takes pride in transforming those ingredients into the delicious, high quality food we serve our clients. As the President of La Prima, I am proud of the work that they do, and proud to provide a living to our more than 150 employees and their families.

I hope that you will take advantage of American Express Small Business Saturday by placing an order online on November 26.

We greatly appreciate your business and wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Dave Evans

New Crops Planted for Fall Harvest

2011-09-01T12:06:00.001-07:00

Refreshing Summer Special

2011-07-29T11:34:00.000-07:00

We are happy to introduce the first of our August specials. Celebrate the summer with our cool gazpacho made with tomatoes and herbs from our garden, paired with a grilled chicken caesar salad. Please allow our customer service representatives and event planners to assist you in making tasty choices for you and your guests.

This special includes:

Garden Gazpacho

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

Assorted Cupcakes

$12.99 per person

Available Aug. 1st-14th

*10 person mimimum

Don't miss tomorrow's BBQ!

2011-06-28T13:24:00.000-07:00

Seasonal Sensations

2011-06-09T07:58:00.000-07:00

Before diving into menus or deciding what to cook in your own home, consider taking advantage of the seasonal specialties, some of which you may find in your own backyard.

Backyard Herbs

With the second year of La Prima's garden (located at our headquarters) under our belts, we've become especially enthused at the perks and thrills of having our own fresh ingredients at our fingertips. We've incorporated blossoming chives, fresh basil, and other herbs into many of the dishes on our menu on our new menu. The difference is apparent, not only in flavor, but in the refreshing summer aesthetic it provides. And who doesn't love the colors and flavors of summer? For a better idea of what to include in your dining to-do list visit "The Year in Food", a beautiful food photography blog by Kimberley Hasselbrink, that offers great insight and on the seasonal subtleties that can make a meal.

A brand new treat from Chef Kyle. It's identity is top secret until further notice.

Now we just can't wait for the tomatoes to ripen!!

Visit The Year in Food

Summer Colors We Love

2011-05-24T08:29:00.000-07:00

With summer weather seeming to tease this area each day, we can't help but daydream about upcoming summer weddings. While our event planners are skilled at dreaming up everything from elegant black and white Capitol Hill weddings, to enchanted outdoor Virginia weddings, this seasonal color pallette has certainly caught our attention. This light, bright array will complement any indoor or outdoor wedding with bursts of yellow blooms, soft accents, and lighthearted luminocity. Tell us what you think!

Beautiful tablesetting that beams "happiness".

Who doesn't love lemonade or a fruity fusion of sorts on a beautiful summer day?

Try La Prima's house made rose scented marshmallows. For a real treat, ask for our bite-sized smores: House made marshmallows dipped in chocolate and covered with grahm cracker crumbs. Yum!

New table linen from one of our prefered vendors, Perfect Settings.

Try "Fancy Dot" in shell for a softer look or "Casablanca Leaf" in apple to make your tables really pop.

Photo credits for first three photos: Wedding Flowers by Color – Martha Stewart Weddings

Breakfast Bliss

2011-05-19T08:15:00.000-07:00

Enjoy one of La Prima's new creations now available on our new menu:

Bacon, Cheddar and Leek Biscuit

Served warm and buttery to perfection.

La Prima's Menu Now Available!

2011-05-19T07:53:00.000-07:00

Take a look inside.

La Prima Catering is pleased to present our new Home and Office Menu. You will find many tasty new items to complement our most popular dishes. Our customer service representatives are ready to offer suggestions, describe new favorites and assist you in choosing the best menu selections to suit your needs. Please click on the menu cover to access new menu items you're sure to enjoy.

Rooftop Event

2011-05-19T07:20:00.000-07:00

Beautiful view of Alexandria from last night's rooftop event in Georgetown.
We hope everyone enjoyed themselves!

Earth Day Pledge

2011-04-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day from La Prima Food Group! We hope to share some of the environmental efforts we have made over the year in order to implement even greater efforts for the year ahead. La Prima pledges to remain comitted to reducing the environemntal impact of our products and services while maintaining the quality of our food in the following ways:

Garden and Prospective Sustainable Menu

La Prima’s HQ in College Park, MD will be starting its second season with its own garden on the premises. This year the garden will yield tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh herbs and enough basil to meet all of our needs for the year. This will be a continuous effort in our long-term plan of developing a sustainable menu in addition to our standard menu.

Optional Green Service

La Prima offers the option of green serving materials for every order and event. There is a $1.00 charge per person for Greenwear compostable settings (this includes plates, cutlery, cups & napkins) Greenwear is 100% biodegradable and is certified by the Biodegradable Plastics Institute.

Composting and Recycling

In its kitchens, La Prima composts all qualifying food production materials, such as vegetable peelings and other organic matter and where it is allowed, we remove used compostable dishware and cutlery as well as food waste in order to compost it through our provider. This allows for composting of over 10,000 pounds of waste per month to be put back into the soil as nutrients as opposed to accumulated waste.

LPFG recycles paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, and aluminum in our offices and kitchens. We also recycle our chafers and urge our clients to allow us to pick them up to reuse them.

Source Reduction through Green Purchasing

La Prima makes a constant effort to reduce transportation energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions by buying products as local as possible. Examples of companies that are either local or east coast include our produce, dairy, eggs and chicken. Our Dairy is supplied from Harrisburg Dairies of Pennsylvania; all chicken prepared by La Prima is raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland; our eggs provided by Coastal Sunbelt Produce of Savage, MD. This of course does not include the produce grown in our own garden.

Also, our kitchens located throughout D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Philadelphia allow for easier access to our delivery/service locations and cutting back on the amount of driving necessary for our operations. In addition, our routes are strategically planned in order to use the least amount of gas possible. Another way we are able to reduce packaging, energy and emissions required in shipping and delivery is to buy in bulk.

Cookie Day in the Bakery!

2011-03-10T08:20:00.000-08:00

I was thrilled to walk into the kitchen at La Prima's headquarters this morning to find the bakery overflowing with cookies! While I consider cookies a meal in and of themselves (suitable for breakfast, lunch, or dinner) our bakers were hard at work for a much more appropriate purpose - preparing 2,100 cookies for one of our favorite clients. Here's a look into cookie paradise:

You know you want one.

Weekly Special 2/21 - 3/4

2011-02-21T07:18:00.000-08:00

La Prima's White Turkey Chili is More Notorious than Ever!

2011-02-17T08:13:00.000-08:00

Have you ever tasted La Prima's savory White Turkey Chili?

As an employee of La Prima Food Group it seems as if I can’t even hand out my business card without people initiating a chili conversation, or in the least, asking me for the White Turkey Chili recipe. People can't get enough! I am happy to say La Prima has been honored for their world class recipe, which can be found in Stephanie Anderson’s, "Killer Chili: Savory Recipes from North America's Favorite Restaurants". Below is an excerpt from Anderson’s delectable cookbook. La Prima is proud to represent Washington, D.C. and we invite you to taste it for yourself. Please visit Rita Italian Café located in Tysons Corner, Virginia or have lunch delivered right to your home or office by visiting our website or calling us a 301 588 2377.

"One inventive item on the menu is the White Turkey Chili. It uses two kinds of turkey--turkey breast slices and ground turkey-- for a real punch of flavor and texture. Combined with the turkey are the bite of jalapeno chiles and Tabasco, the smooth nuttiness of pearl barley, two types of beans, and subtle flavors of dried marjoram and summer savory, a sweet, mild herb perfect for meat dishes. This chili is a lighter alternative to standard red chilis, but it's just as satisfying."

White Turkey Chili

2 tablespoons canola oil

½ cup finely chopped onion

1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic

4 teaspoons ground cumin

1 pound turkey breast slices, cut into 1/2 –inch dice

½ pound ground turkey

3 cups chicken broth

¼ cup pearl barley

2 tablespoons minced jalapeno chile

1 teaspoon dried marjoram 1 teaspoon dried summer savory

One 15-ounce can cannelloni or Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed

One 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

Several dashed Tabasco sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

Chopped green onions, shredded Cheddar cheese, and sour cream garnish

*serves 4

In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the cumin and stir, about 30 seconds. Add the diced and ground turkey and sauté until no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Add the broth, barley, jalapeno marjoram, and summer savory. Cover and simmer. Stir occasionally, about 40 minutes. Add the cannelloni and chickpeas. Simmer, uncovered, until the barley is tender and the chili is thick, about 15 minutes. Season with Tabasco sauce, salt, and pepper. Serve with green onions, cheese, and sour cream.

Buy the book HERE

A recent reception

2011-01-26T10:45:00.000-08:00

Vegetable Terrine

Upscale Coffee and Tea Presentation

Cajun Chicken

Risotto Cakes

Staff

Bacon Wrapped Dates

Stuffed Salmon

Cold Day at the La Prima Garden

2011-01-26T08:46:00.000-08:00

***

We're anxiously awating the spring and all of the fresh, home-grown produce that comes along with it.

Keep your eyes out for photos of our expanding garden as well as a new sustainable menu!

***

Healthy February School Lunch Menus from La Prima

2011-01-14T07:58:00.000-08:00

Click Here to visit the H Generation website.

New School Lunch Nutrition Requirements

2011-01-14T06:42:00.001-08:00

Yesterday the USDA announced the first amendment to school lunch guidelines in fifteen years. These new nutrition guidelines will help curb child obesity by implementing several different standards in all cafeterias. Some fundamental healthy upgrades include:

· Requiring more servings of fruits and vegetables.

· Requiring calorie limits for all school meals.

· Banning most trans fats.

· Requiring all milk served to be low fat or nonfat.

· Increasing the amount of whole grains served.

"The more we can reinforce the right set of choices and encourage the right set of choices, the greater the chances are that we will get a handle on obesity," U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, explained to "Good Morning America." Because children get 50 percent of their daily calories from meals at school, it is important to instill these healthy habbits early.

La Prima proudly stands behind this effort towards a healthier generation of children by preparing balanced meals under this criteria in its H Generation™ menus for schools in the Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia area. Click here to learn more about this program, and the schools we serve in your area.

Click to read the articles referenced here:

Exclusive: USDA to Announce Healthier New School Lunch Guidelines by Elisabeth Leamy

USDA unveils new school lunch rules by Mac McLean

New Year's Promotion

2011-01-07T12:30:00.000-08:00

Click to view Newsletter

Don't miss special deals on Lunch Packages during January and February!

La Prima is excited to announce several new menu items that

are available by subscribing to our Newsletter.

This week's special :

Cajun Combination

Chicken Breast Stuffed with

Andouille Sausage and Crawfish

Served Warm with Natural Juices

Confetti Rice Salad with Black Beans

and Multicolored Peppers

Jalapeño Cornbread

White Chololate Cappuccino

Bread Pudding

$9.99 per person

To subscribe, email your name and email address to

abartholomew@laprimacatering.com

Place an order today by calling 301 588 2377.

Try one of La Prima's festive hors d'oeuvres

2010-12-22T07:30:00.000-08:00

Antipasto Picks

Soppresatta, provolone cheese,

Kalamata olive stuffed Peppadew peppers

on bamboo skewers

$3.59 per person

Holiday Receptions 2010

2010-12-20T08:56:00.000-08:00

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

2010-12-14T09:45:00.000-08:00

Chocolate dipped strawberries brought to you by our new executive pastry chef, Elizabeth Hutter. Show someone how much you car ethis holiday season.

Call today at 301-220-1001.

First Holiday Party of the Season at Madame Tussaud's

2010-12-08T07:33:00.000-08:00

Julia Roberts looking over the beautiful buffet

The bartenders, Raphael and Elton John

Second bar

Sliced Tenderloin of Beef

J. Edgan Hoover and a guest inspect the sp

Turkey and Sage Mustard on a Mini Cranberry Muffin

Winter Newsletter

2010-12-03T10:11:00.000-08:00

Click here to read our Winter Newsletter

Give back with us - Find a local food bank

2010-12-02T10:11:00.000-08:00

This holiday, join La Prima Catering and its employees by donating to our neighboors in need. Click on the link below to find a food bank near you.

http://feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx

Enjoy your holidays even more this year by doing your part to ensure others can do the same.

La Prima's Holiday Inspirations Menu

2010-12-01T07:46:00.000-08:00

Click to View Larger

Call 301-220-1001 to place your order.

Today's Treat is...

2010-12-01T07:11:00.000-08:00

Mexican Hot Chocolate

serves 2

hot chocolate ingredients:

1 cup whole milk
1 cup 2% milk
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 vanilla bean, split down center
tiny pinch of cayenne pepper
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp (about 82g) finely chopped bittersweet chocolate

Heat the milk, cinnamon stick, vanilla bean, and cayenne in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and reduce to low for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Bring the heat back up to medium-high. When the milk begins to bubble around the sides turn the heat off and stir in the chocolate. Keep stirring until smooth.
Remove the vanilla bean and cinnamon stick. At this point I poured the mixture into my specialty hot chocolate vessel fitted with frother and frothed for a few seconds. If you don't have a frother, you can leave the mixture in the pan and use a whisk to froth.
Serve with a dollop the Cinnamon Whipped Cream (see below).

cinnamon whipped cream ingredients:

1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp caster sugar

Pour the cream into a chilled bowl and beat until soft peaks form.
Add in the sugar and cinnamon and beat to stiff peaks.

Photo and recipe credit to La Prima's new blog to follow, Spache The Spatula

La Prima's First Harvest Year

2010-11-12T08:51:00.000-08:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

With the harvest festival quickly approaching, La Prima would like to take the time to look back over our flagship year cultivating and harvesting our own herbs and vegetables.

With the help of a few La Prima green thumbs, our grounds at the La Prima Headquarters in College Park, MD has transformed into a garden, yielding giant heirloom tomatoes and sweet grape tomatoes, watermelon, squash and cucumbers, fresh herbs and enough basil to provide for six-months worth of homemade pesto sauce.

At this time, we'd also like to offer our thanks and appreciation to our customers, whose business has allowed us to improve the quality of our food and the expansion of our services provided.

Featured Item: Fall Harvest Salad

2010-11-12T06:51:00.000-08:00

Upon recommendation of Executive Chef, Kyle Vermeulen, try our

Fall Harvest Salad loaded with crisp mesclun greens, dried figs, candied pecans, shaved butternut squash and tossed with while balsamic vinaigrette.

Visit our website to view our full Fall/Winter Menu and

our variety of fresh, hearty salads.

Not-So-Big-Wedding Weekend a Great Success

2010-11-09T10:46:00.000-08:00

This weekend La Prima participated in the Not-So-Big-Wedding Challenge. We always love a chance to feature our yummy menu items, but this wedding showcase had a particularly good turn-out and lots of enthusiastic couples. We were also impressed by the other vendors, who all went through great efforts to present their best decor, photography, menus, event planners, and venues as a whole, to give these spouses-to-be a wide range of wedding options to meet their needs. Here are some photos from the event.

Our pretty pink table was designed by Good Luck Events with the help of La Prima event planners. The settings and decor pieces were provided by Perfect Settings.

To view our menu, please visit the "Sample Menus" page of this blog. As always, our event planners are ready to answer any questions you may have about the big day.

Give us a call at 301*220*1001

Admit It...

2010-11-04T07:21:00.000-07:00

You're at work, and you're starving. Step away from the vending machine.

Instead, get together with some colleagues and check out La Prima's Catering menu. We'll deliver whatever your heart desires right to your office.

Visit us online or call today to place an order for your home or office needs.

www.laprimacatering.com

301.220.1001

2010-11-03T12:16:00.000-07:00

Attention Brides! Join La Prima at the Not-So-Big Wedding Challenge

Please join La Prima Catering and "Team Matrimony" this Sunday, Nov. 7th, at Rockwood Manor for some inspiration and tips from the best on how to coordinate your wedding within a budget.

La Prima and the following vendors will be there all afternoon to answer any of your questions. Come meet your event planner for the big day!

La Prima Visits Elliot in the Morning

2010-11-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

Elliot chowing down during the show!

The Elliot in the Morning crew and La Prima's own, Dustin

Elliot at the hot buffet

testing, testing

The spread continues

Toni with the dream team

Yummy Fall Smoothie

2010-11-01T10:49:00.000-07:00

To prepare Pomegranate-Orange smoothie you will need:

**seeds of 4 pomegranates (free of any yellow pith)
**freshly squeezed juice of one orange
**blender

Process pomegranate seeds with orange juice and some ice in the blender until smooth. Divide between two glasses and enjoy!

From one of our favorite sites, http://crumpetsandcakes.blogspot.com/

Tips on an Eco Friendly Thanksgiving

2010-11-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

It’s November!! Which means Behind the Scene Cuisine is excited to start up the conversation about Thanksgiving. While it might be overwhelming and maybe even overkill, we feel we're entitled as the food experts and providers to give ourselves a head start so you can have the perfect holiday.

Before I share and article I found about food waste, I'd like to share so statistics we're very proud of at La Prima.

In the month of August we kept over 10,000 pounds of waste out of landfills by composting all qualifying food production materials, such as vegetable peelings and other organic matter. We recycle cardboard, glass, plastic and aluminum in our offices and kitchens. Furthermore, we offer 100% compostable place- settings, platters and to-go containers to our clients, so that you can do your part too.

______________________________________________________________

The following excerpt was found at Green Living Ideas, written by Jennifer Lance-

As it turns out, Americans waste an astounding amount of food — an estimated 27 percent of the food available for consumption, according to a government study — and it happens at the supermarket, in restaurants and cafeterias and in your very own kitchen. It works out to about a pound of food every day for every American.

Unfortunately, only two percent of that food waste is composted compared to 62 percent of lawn debris.

Food waste in landfills produces methane gas, a greenhouse gas 20 percent more damaging than carbon dioxide. CNN explains:

But moral and economic issues aside, it is the environmental concerns around food waste that is driving the push for reform on how to treat the problem of leftovers. Methane, the gas food waste produces, traps 23 times as much heat in the atmosphere as the same amount of CO2, the EPA says. And landfills are the place you will find most of it — they account for 34 percent of all methane emissions in the U.S. Food Democracy shares some staggering statistics from the UA study:

Households dump $43 billion worth of food a year, or about 14 percent of what they buy. That doesn’t include plate scrapings.
15 percent of that waste includes products still within their expiration date but never opened.
5 percent of American’s leftovers could feed 4 million people for 1 day…
Reducing food waste by half could reduce adverse environmental impacts by 25 per cent through reduced landfill use, soil depletion and applications of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.

Creepy Cocktails!

2010-10-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

LOVING the Sinister Cider Cocktail!

Makes 1 cocktail

Fine black sanding sugar
1 lady apple, chopped
1/2 lime, cut into wedges
1 ounce maple syrup
1 ounce apple cider
2 ounces vodka
Ice
Club soda
1 thin crosswise slice lady apple, for garnish

Directions

Moisten the rim of a martini glass with water. Place sanding sugar in a saucer and dip rim of glass in sanding sugar to coat; set aside.
In a cocktail shaker, muddle together apple cubes and lime wedges. Add syrup, cider, and vodka; fill with ice. Cover and shake until well combined. Strain into prepared martini glass; top with club soda. Garnish with apple slice and serve.

La Prima wishes you a spook filled holiday party!

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Sinister Cider Cocktail - Martha Stewart Recipes

2010-10-27T12:09:00.000-07:00

Gourmet caramel apples from The Yummy Life

Before Halloween has come and gone, taking all of the gorgeous leaves and last traces of nice weather with it, try this easy and decadent treat to show off to your friends. Forget you're average carameled apple and up the anty with this candy candy candy apple!

La Prima's Favorite Cakes

2010-10-27T11:40:00.000-07:00

This is going to be a regular recurrence. After all, who doesn't love a beautiful (not to mention delicious cake)?! Here is the first and so thus favorite addition to La Prima's Favorite Cakes:

This is not only our favorite because it is modest, pretty pretty, and perfect for the small Virginia wedding it was made for, but primarily because the brother-in-law of the bride made it for the happy couple the day of their wedding! There's a little extra love in this cake.

View other pictures of this wedding on our Facebook page.

2010-10-27T08:18:00.000-07:00

Here we go, La prima enters the blogosphere. We're all pretty excited. Before the voices behind La Prima Events decided we were ready for this new frontier, we investigated the other kids on the blog block. Sure enough, caterers from around the country are doing a masterful job at portraying themselves, their work, and their clientele. We've got a lot to live up to but La Prima has a continuing history of evaluating, evolving, and often staying one step ahead of the competition. Let this be the casual, yet official forum for our passion to be seen and shared. Let all food lovers share their voice regarding all that is event-worthy in the past, present and future, right here at Behind the Scene Cuisine!!!