A Winemaker's Dinner Catered by Barbara Llewellyn Catering and Event Planning
Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at 5:00AM 
California is a mecca for good food and those with a discerning palate flock here year-round solely to enjoy the delectable offerings. Chef Barbara Llewellyn has been demonstrating California's celebration of seasonal, light-hearted, unpretentious fare quite nicely in her namesake catering and event planning company for over 25 years. She was born in Cape Cod, Massachusetts and practically raised in the hospitality industry {her family owned a duck farm and a catering business}. Barbara and her tight-knit crew have mastered the art of executing personalized private events in Northern California. Their genuine knowledge and experience at countless event locations and private estates in San Francisco and the Bay Area, Lake Tahoe and the Wine Country make them quintessentially Californian in spirit.
We invited Barbara Llewellyn Catering to create a menu for a winemaker's dinner at Scribe Winery in Sonoma. The food, the setting, the company...it was all you could ask for in a dining experience. "To us a quintessential Wine Country meal embodies simple, local, rustic elegance," she says. Although Barbara's name is synonymous with catering weddings and events, she does open up her kitchen in Oakland during the summer months for lunch! Friends, neighbors, artists and business folk check in daily on twitter and Facebook to find out the ever-changing menu offerings. Swing by the kitchen located at 434 25th Street from 11:30am - 2pm for lunch.
We're so happy to have you as a member of The Collection! What is it about The Collection that inspires or excites you? First and foremost, we are excited about the opportunities for collaboration and inspiration! We love that brides and grooms are able to come to one place and sample the work of so many talented vendors. We enjoy the opportunity to share our experiences and ideas, and build upon them with other members. We also love the access to the studio to meet and create with clients and vendors local to the Wine Country.
What should a couple keep in mind when creating a menu for a summer wedding? Summer in the Bay Area is such an exciting time of year for produce, flowers, and beautiful weather. It is key for couple’s to keep their surroundings in mind, and draw influence from the season's offerings. In the summer especially, keep the menu fresh and light and emphasize simplicity. There are so many wonderful farms in the area, we aim to enhance the flavors and bring out the beautiful colors, without altering the product too much. We like our menus to be innovative and delicious, but recognizable.
In terms of food and drink, what is quintessentially Wine Country? To us a quintessential Wine Country meal embodies simple, local, rustic elegance. There is also a tremendous opportunity to educate guests and bring new perspectives on food in the Wine Country in a comfortable, but unique setting. We like to highlight smaller production wineries to create a look, feel, and taste for the event that is unique to other experiences.
Any fun and unique ideas for food stations? Guests have a lot of fun with our Heirloom Tomato Bars. We start with beautiful slices of heirloom tomatoes that can be topped with fresh crab or chicken salad, fresh basil, garden lettuces, mozzarella, burrata, gourmet salts, cracked pepper, and olive oil and vinegars. The station is really colorful and fresh, perfect for a summer event. We also have a lot of interest in our pairing stations. Wines with bites, chocolate, cheese, soups and salads... These interactive stations create an opportunity to entertain and educate.
What can a couple expect from Barbara Llewellyn {think taste, service & style}? Our clients know us for delicious food and outstanding, professional service.
Taste: Our food is classic, with a twist. We like our menus to be recognizable, but interesting, and of course fresh and delicious! We love highlighting local farms and purveyors. Our chefs are even known to call Barbara to bring in herbs or Meyer lemons from her own organic garden. Our in-house pastry team also adds an extra dimension to our menus. The homemade rolls, pastries, and melt-in-your-mouth cracker bread are “out of this world!”
Service: Our service is ever-present, but non-intrusive. We believe that our staff is our greatest asset.
Style: Our style is casual, yet elegant. Perfect for a California Wedding.
Barbara Llewellyn Catering and Event Planning is a member of The Collection Event Studio.
Photography by Lori Paladino
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