GOOD Magazine interviews Erika Lesser, Executive Director of Slow Food, a great international organization of which BDP is a new member. Think the opposite of fast food, and you'll understand their mission. By the way, GOOD Magazine is good. Read the blog.
Very funny GQ interview Warning: Fifty years of smoking, boozing, snorting, touring and screwing will kill you. Unless you're Keith Richards.
After spending $58,000 on bottled water last year, the city of Seattle has put a ban on buying bottled water for city facilities and events, reports TreeHugger. The city is hoping that their efforts will get more citizens of Seattle to do the same.
You could waste so much time looking at things like Condiment Pack Designs, Generic Macaroni & Cheese Boxes and photos of International Restroom Hand Dryers at CP's MoOM, the Museum of Online Museums. If you are in Austin, TX this weekend for SXSW Interactive, check out my hubby, Jim, speak about A General Theory of Creative Relativity. He has a lot to say about it.
Here in Chicago, we are big fans and supporters of Senator Barack Obama's campaign for the Presidency. Big or Small, show your Obama support by wearing one of these fun t-shirts I created for lowercasetee.com The "Mommy Wants a New President" shirts are still meaningful and continue to be popular! (Sorry, Dad!)
Looking for some great, reasonably priced art? Come out to Ox-Bow's Winter Benefit Thursday, February 21st at 5:30. Gallery 2 at 847 W. Jackson Blvd, Chicago. Ox-Bow is a summer retreat of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Great buys, great food from BDP and cocktails.
Grammy Winners the Foo Fighters are coming to the Allstate Arena on Monday. As a backstage caterer, reading band riders are really not too interesting, a cheese platter here, 20 cases of water there, but we always look forward to receiving their rider. I'm not sure who writes it, but they have a little fun and get my crew in good spirits, happy to work for them. Of course, everything backstage caterers do and see is confidential, but check out The Smoking Gun to see what I mean.
I think I've officially become a groupie. One of my favorite bands happens to be from Chicago, and they happen to play at many of the venues we cater backstage. I saw the second of the five Wilco shows at the Riviera last night. Despite the freezing weather outside, the Riviera was as hot as a sauna. The band has never sounded better. They are aging like a great bottle of wine. They played every favorite song of mine, then I realized they still had 3 nights left to play the entire Wilco catalog. I loved seeing John Stirratt have the spotlight, singing the beautiful "It's Just That Simple." He got a well deserved ovation. Watching Nels Cline convulse, playing the guitar is mind-blowing. Glenn is the real heavy metal drummer, one of best drummers to watch. Pat, with his perfect head of hair, has been a great addition; he's great on stage. Jeff just cracks me up in banter between his beautiful songs. The crowd went crazy when special guest and Chicagoan Andrew Bird made an appearance halfway through the show for "Jesus, etc." He played a few more songs with the band, then came out again later. Live on XRT Tuesday.
An interview with chanting Buddhist Courtney Love. In case you wondered, she shares her chanting guru with Orlando Bloom.
Yesterday we catered for the biggest tour on the road: Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus - The Best of Both Worlds Tour. We had a crew at the Allstate Arena at the 2:00am (thank you Mark and Christen!) quickly putting out a breakfast for the local crew who would arrive at the wee hour of 3:00am to begin setting up the stage and loading in equipment. We then fed the touring crew breakfast at 5:30am, followed by a BBQ lunch buffet from 10:00-12:00, dressing rooms ready at 12:00, followed by a Homestyle Pot Roast and Cornmeal Crusted Catfish dinner from 12:30-4:30. We had fun making it a very pink, girly day - from a dining room with pink linens and pink flowers to pink, girly desserts. Our Pastry Chef, Melissa Humphrey, made a beautiful pink Chocolate Cake with flowers and hearts drawn in chocolate icing, a huge vat of our Big Delicious Banana Pudding and "Miley-High Strawberry Shortcake" a mile-high mound of strawberries, whipped cream and sprinkles!
The show started shortly after 4:00. I took my 10 year old daughter and 2 friends to the show. Very energetic, entertaining and VERY HIGH-PITCHED SQUEALING LOUD. Sadly, the girls could not see very well when a rather large woman in front of them stood up to shake her groove thing. She clearly would have still had a great view had she stayed in her seat, because she was in the front row of the section and because her kids were sitting most of the time. I asked her it she could please sit down so all the kids behind her could see and enjoy the show and she responded "NO! I paid for these tickets and I'll stand if I want to!" That, people, was a crazy, thoughtless person. What does it say when the mother's up dancing to a 15 year old Pop Star and her kids are just sitting? I wondered how many mothers were there with their kids because it was really THEY who wanted to see Hannah Montana. Get a life lady.
Tomorrow we are catering for Creedence songwriter John Fogerty at the Chicago Theatre. In addition to some great hits like "Proud Mary" and "Who Will Stop the Rain," Fogerty has a nice essay in this week's Newsweek. Because my name is Heidi, I've never been much of a fan of the song with the lyrics "you've got the hidey, hidey, high..." It was a number one hit when I was a freshman in high school and, well, people kind of teased me because they said he was singing about me... but little did they know I'd be feeding the guy one day! So there you Okies!
Everyone loves cupcakes. They are the perfect portion and just darn cute. Cupcake stores are popping up everywhere across the country. Cupcakes Take the Cake is a great blog about...cupcakes. Many photos and many links to cupcake cafes.
Any parent with school-aged children is well aware of the increased number of children with food allergies. It's been so long since our children were allowed to eat peanut butter in their classrooms that they barely think about having peanut butter at home. This year Spencer's class is peanut, tree nut and shellfish-free. Grace and Isabelle's classes are peanut and tree nut-free. Even though my kids don't have any allergies, I need to check the label on everything I send in their lunch. The school is considering becoming totally nut-free to make it easier for everyone. The stickiness of peanut butter on little hands makes it more likely that it will get on classroom materials, which a child with a serious peanut allergy might touch. I frequently hear adults comment that they never heard of such a thing when they were growing up, which is completely true. How did an increase in food allergies happen? A woman I met recently from Doctors Without Borders said she has never seen this in all the years she spent in Africa and Asia. Newsweek has an intersting story about the possible theories from the "hygiene hypothesis" which claims we've become too clean and our children's immune systems are not being challenged, to a theory that children born by Caesarean (which is also on the rise) were not exposed to enough healthy bacteria in the birth canal. Some think the parents are waiting too long to introduce some foods which would normally strengthen their child's immune system. Whatever the cause, it's a serious concern.
When our kids were younger and my sister lived right at the corner of Logan Square, we spent several Halloween nights at the Redmoon Theater's Halloween performances on Kedzie Boulevard. Always creative, always a little creepy. There for you to observe and sometimes participate. One particular year had special meaning after my mother died.
I love the Sunday New York Times Magazine Lives. This was a good one. "There is only one acceptable way to own a Ramones t-shirt. This is to have attended a Ramones concert, sweated, bled, transcended and then purchased one at the merchandise table en route to the concert-hall exit." But what do you do when your 10 year-old asks for one? Go to Urban Outfitters? It seems like you can get them anywhere these days, probably even at Target. Do you think the t-shirt has the same meaning as it once did? Can you tell if the 10 year-old is into punk if he or she wears the shirt? Or if his dad was once a punk and wants you to know that by the fact that his kid is wearing the shirt? Has the Ramones t-shirt become the same as wearing the ubiquitous Little Miss Troublemaker t-shirt?
When hiring a caterer for the first time, many are surprised to find there is more to it than just the food. Often forgotten is tax, service, gratuity, rentals, parking, trucking, ice, and let's not forget about beverages. Alina Tugend of the NY Times writes about planning her son's bar mitzvah and shopping around for a caterer. Caterers in the NYC area gave her tips from making sure the caterer is licensed and insured to asking what is approriate for gratuity. For someone who has never hired a caterer, it is sometimes mind boggling how quickly things add up. The point of hiring a great caterer is so you don't have to worry about it or do anything. We plan the event with the client, sometimes in a matter of 2 emails or phone calls for a party for 250, the event is booked, we get the final count and iron out a few detail a week or two before, then we show up while you relax, get dressed, then you enjoy yourself at your own party, we clean up and leave. Your guests rave during the party and when you run into them in weeks following the party. You are thrilled! You are happy that you spent the money to have a professional take care of your party. There is more to it than just the food.
One of my favorite lines from one of my favorite Bob Dylan songs. Dylan and Elvis Costello will be playing at The Chicago Theatre Saturday, Sunday and Monday. When I told my husband about these shows, he had a heart attack. Not because we were catering for Dylan and Elvis, because we have many times, but because he loves them so much. Enjoy the shows Jim!
As I was sitting in the dentist's chair waiting for a cleaning, I came across this interview with Willie Nelson about biodiesel. The funniest thing he said was that his wife "came to him one day and said 'I want to buy a Volkswagen Jetta, and I want it to run on vegetable oil.' And immediately I thought she'd been sneaking into my stash a little bit." We just catered for Willie Nelson at Eric Clapton's Guitar Fest this summer. Willie, like many other eco-conscious bands, Guster and Bare Naked Ladies, are using biodiesel for their many tour buses and trucks which are driven all over the country using tons of gas. They have to go out of their way to get it, or have it delivered to them. If you saw Willie on the Colbert Report, you'd know how much he likes hanging out on his bus, so it's a good thing he's made it environmentally friendly.
We recently catered a 3 night gig with Grateful Dead's Phil Lesh & Friends. One of BDP's artist/employees likes to paint murals and posters for some bands. Here on their website, along with their setlists and photos, is Melissa's art.
Radiohead has a new album which is available on October 10. You can pre-order on their website, because they do not have a record label. The interesting thing is you choose your own price to pay for the downloaded album - I chose to pay 2 UK Pounds or $4.00. Cheaper than iTunes - I hope it's great!
Every mom with girls ages 8 and 10 (that would be me) knows that the hottest ticket in town is for Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana. Are you going? Are you going? Do you have an extra ticket? Do you know where I can get tickets for my family of 6? Please let me go if so-and-so changes his/her mind! Tickets for the 54 city tour sold out immediately. Pollstar says moms across America are claiming a Ticketmaster/AEG conspiracy. How could 20,000 tickets sell out the minute they went on sale? AEG responded that there is no conspiracy, it's more likely that these moms aren't experienced ticket buyers and just don't know how to respond to their children when they don't get the tickets. I just hope I get tickets!
If you are going to Wednesday's Beastie Boys Gala at the Riviera, take a few tips from Adam while getting ready. He wants you to video yourself choosing your Gala attire and whatever you do before the show. Send it in and maybe they will include it in their upcoming film.
On Monday, September 24th listen for BDP Pastry Chef Melissa Humphrey on Q101's Morning Fix 5:30-10:00 a.m. Good thing next week starts out slow because she'd normally be up to her elbows in cookie dough and frosting! (kidding of course). Don't forget to plug BDP and Head of Femur Melissa!
is how Pitchfork describes new single from Head of Femur entitled "Leader and the Falcon." Many bands have seen Femur frontman, Matt Focht, backstage as he is a BDP employee. We're hoping to one day cater backstage for their show!
If you've ever wondered what America eats and how we shop, look no further than Bill Keaggy's Found Grocery List Collection. One shopping list reads "...Good Beer, White Bread, Mosquito Yard Spray..." Now there's a good party! Whether one item such as "Milk" scribbled on a post-it note or twenty items neatly written with the precise brand name, America needs help remembering what to buy at the store. My problem is I can never find the darn list after I've written it. Those lost grocery lists are probably being collected by modern anthropologists such as Keaggy. via Coudal.
The past few weeks have been particularly active at Big Delicious Planet. More specifically, this week sandwiched by two booked weekends. On one end (last weekend), we catered for Nickelback at Alpine Valley Music Theatre, a jazz show a The Chicago Theatre, and two WNBA Chicago Sky games. In the middle we have five days of load-in/stage set up for the sold out Crossroads Guitar Fest at Toyota Park which began yesterday, Michael Bublé for 3 nights at the Auditorium Theatre, and catering the private rehearsals for Mr. Clapton and his band. On the other end (this coming weekend), we have two more Chicago Sky games, the actual Show Day and load-out of Crossroads Guitar Fest and Jimmy Buffet up at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin. Coordinating the many, many menus for these events and the number of people which we will be feeding breakfast, lunch and dinner has been challenging. Leading up to this there were many sleepness nights of dreaming of things to order, people to call, food to prepare, forgotten things. Now that it's happening, things are going smoothly (jeez, I even have time to catch up on this blog rarely enter), head counts are increasing, even doubling, everyone in the kitchen is happily cooking away (way to go everyone!). Anyone in the food service industry would understand when I say "Thank God the Health Department came last Thursday!" Every food service establishment in Chicago is to receive an unannounced kitchen inspection every 6 months. We passed with flying colors, of course.
I just turned on the TV and wanted to buy a New Beetle Convertible. Some songs from Wilco's Sky Blue Sky are in new ads for VW. You can even purchase the songs when you build your new car.
From The Atlantic Monthly in 1997, Ian Frazier's absolutely hilarious Laws Concerning Food and Drink; Household Principles; Lamentations of the Father. This should be framed, hanging in every household with small, messy, disobedient children. Will keep parents laughing!
Another great article in this week's New York Times Dining section was about Children's Menus. This is something that has irked me for some time. Chicken Fingers, Chicken Fingers, Chicken Fingers. Do chickens really have fingers? Almost every restaurant has the same lame menu for children.
Last Friday I threw a sushi making party for my daughter Isabelle's 10th birthday at the BDP kitchen. It was the greatest time and every single one of the 14 girls who attended love to eat sushi with their families, and had so much fun making it. Every time my kids want sushi in their lunch boxes or for dinner, I can't help but think of Molly Ringwald as the sushi-eating princess in The Breakfast Club; but at the same time, I think that this is a terrific lunch compared to a Lunchable. Is it only city kids who are exposed to more than Chicken Fingers and Dino Bites? Of course not, but living in a large city might give you more choices in restaurants. However, one of my city friend's kids will only eat chicken fingers and macaroni and cheese for dinner, every night! If we have more interesting food to offer our children, and have them eat what we are eating, rather than have them eat off the Kids Menu, they will develop a more sophisticated palate and better eating habits.
Every Wednesday I look forward to reading the New York Times Dining section. This week was especially great with an article about the trends in choices of water served in restaurants. Every time I go to a restaurant and they ask "What type of water would you like? Bottled, Sparkling or uh, tap?" I want to laugh. A few years ago Ellen and I took 5 other people to Vong (in Chicago) for an anniversary dinner. The server asked what type of water we would like, and feeling the pressure to order something other than tap, we ordered bottled. At the end of the lovely, but not too exciting meal, we received the check with $78.00 worth of water! What a joke. This article was mainly about the waste of single-use bottles and the trend in drinking locally, as well as eating locally. Some restaurants (probably Vong included) say that losing the profit would be too big a hit make it worthy.
Big Delicious Planet will be catering Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival on July 28. Proceeds for the fesival fund the Crossroads Centre treatment center in Antigua. Artists playing include Clapton, Jeff Beck, John Mayer, BB King, and dozens of other guitar gods.
Hmmm, could I ever get the Big Delicious Planet crew to make a lip-dub video? And what song would we choose? Check out what these hipsters did after hours. That seems like quite a production. Great choreography!
Wilco's Jeff Tweedy played the most excellent solo show at the Vic Friday night. The concert was a fundraiser for Near North Montessori School's Scholarship Fund, where my kids and his kids go. Tickets were open to NNMS parents and then to the public. The first 30 people in line, mostly die-hard fans, were able to put in a song request. Jeff played the songs and acknowledged the people who requested them. Awesome show that helped to raise a lot of money for a great school!
Gapers Block, one of Chicago's best information portals just opened their Drive-Thru. Eveything about the Chicago food scene will be here - restuarant reviews, cool information about Chicago markets, recipes, etc. Basically, the site I wish I had time to do!
Congratulations to our clients Arny Granat and Jerry Mickelson. Jam Productions was named Independent Promoter of the Year at the annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards.
Maybe the name doesn't sound right, but to fans wanting to attend this summer's Ozzfest it sounds great. Free! And the bands on the lineup will play free. Hmmm, I'm sure Ozzy and Sharon have a great plan for paying the enormous catering bills for the 1450 crew and band members that eat all day, not to mention the crew's pay, and the promoter, Live Nation. They are banking on sponsorships and merchandise sales to help foot the bill. I expect a lot of new bands wanting great exposure will be playing this summer.
New York City restaurant bloggers are getting the dirt on new restaurants minutes after they open, and the competition to post them first is relentless, according to yesterday's New York Times. It's no surprise that more people are turning to the internet to get restaurant reviews and to get the dish on restaurant hopping among chefs. Some feel that a review of a restaurant's first 30 minutes under a new chef is a little unfair, while others feel the free, "instant marketing" is unbeatable (if it's positive). Like foodies who want to be the first to discover a new, hot restaurant or a hidden gem, bloggers are practically posting text and photos while they are eating. The sous chef is probably blogging from the kitchen while cooking your dinner!
Last night three college friends and I dined at the Latin restaurant, Carnivale. After we were seated, my friend Linda mentioned she had forgotten to TiVo the season finale of "Top Chef," so she called home to ask her husband to record it. The food there was absolutely wonderful, much better than I anticipated. For starters we ordered Ropa Vieja on Plantains with a Spicy Aioli (spectacular), Guacamole (BDP's is much better, but their homemade chips were the best I've tasted), and Scallop Ceviche (take a pass ont this, not that exciting). Our entrees we outstanding. I ordered Rum Marinated Pork Shoulder on Puerto Rican Rice & Beans with Plantains. This is apparently the chef's grandmother's recipe. I normally wouldn't have chosen a pork dish, but our affable waiter told me I should try it. It was really one of the best Latin dishes I've ever had. My friends ordered Arroz con Mariscos, a seafood paella with orange zest, and another Grilled Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce, and a Grilled Fish with Roasted Yuca. All were truly excellent. During our meal, the waiter pointed out that "Top Chef" was filming in the restaurant. "What?" said Linda. I have never seen the show, but two popular contestants, Sam and Elia, were upstairs. Just then, they came out from behind the velvet drapes for a photo-op. Linda happened to have her camera with her, but was too nervous to go up there, so Jackie grabbed it and ran up the stairs, took a photo and came back down. Linda couldn't believe it! Jenny and I told her she should go up and try to get a photo with them. Did I mention the cocktails at Carnivale are stupendous? While their photo session was still happening, Linda and Jackie went up there and handed the camera to someone, got on either side of Elia and Sam, got two photos. They had no idea where these two women came from. It was really hilarious. When I got home later, Elia was on the front page of the NYT's "Dining In" section. Never would have known who she was until tonight.
In August of 1994 I quit a job at a catering company to start planning a new one. I had a background as a film production coordinator/producer and knew that the film business desparately needed a new caterer, and hoped to get into backstage catering, which I did with my former boss. My husband and I were brainstorming at the newly opened Double Door when the name hit him. I wanted a name that was very distinct and that said "we can cook practically anything from anywhere." Big Delicious Planet was perfect. Ellen and I partnered in December, cooking mainly out of her 3rd floor apartment and using mine as an office. We both shopped daily, prepared, delivered, served and cleaned up... until the phone was ringing off the hook. After a year we moved into a commercial kitchen and started hiring a staff. Good thing - making 400 box lunches for the Grateful Dead's security 2 days is a row should not be done at home. For 12 years my sister and I have been partners in Big Delicious Planet, today I'm on my own. The company which started on a whim, has grown more than either of us expected, thanks to our loyal clients and great crew we have. Ellen moved to London today. Ellen, I'll miss you being here. I hope you love London and find true happiness. I love you - your little sis.
I loved NPR's All Things Considered Vocal Impressions: Hearing Voices. Listeners were asked to partake in an experiment in which they call in, listen to and descibe voices. Very poetically, the sound of famous people's voices were described as - Marilyn Monroe "a voice to make a 7-year old boy think differently about girls," Truman Capote "A screen door spring," Patsy Cline "It warms the back seat of a Nash Rambler," Morgan Freeman "the perfect pie crust" and "the way Old Spice smells."
A dozen years ago today, BDP catered for Aerosmith at the newly opened United Center. Thanks to Buddy Sokolick at Jam Productions for our first gig! At the time, we unconcerned about whether we would be in business the following week, not knowing where this new venture would take us. Since 1994, we have catered backstage to more than a thousand concerts, and countless other events. I guess you never know where your life and career will lead you. Thanks to all of our clients for their loyalty to Big Delicious Planet, and for giving us 12 successful years! We truly appreciate doing business with each of you!
One thing I love about iTunes is reading the Celebrity Playlists. A person's playlist is essentially a look into their heart and personality. Some of them crack me up, some give me ideas for my own cd's, others are plain dull. The best one is definitely Frank Black's because he chose 15 Burl Ives songs and his descriptions for choosing them are hilarious "Good piano in this one. There might have been a bottle at the session." "This song makes me want to get into my cowboy and Indian pajamas and dream of life on the run." "Burl Ives as the angry young man. Pissed actually." ...You get the picture. Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite) has a funny one, too. I have often wondered about the many celebrities who choose their own songs for their playlists, is it just plain arrogance or are they just trying to push an album, sell their new movie?
On March 9th, we will once again cater the 25th Annual Benefit for the Crossroads Fund at the Chicago Cultural Center. Each year Crossroads raises money for grants they distribute to community organizations that support social and economic justice. They support a wide variety of organizations from women's health and crisis centers, AIDS awareness and testing, immigrant centers, senior centers, etc. In additon, they offer workshops on financial planning and taxes. From now through December 5, Crossroads, along with Give A Day to World AIDS, are sponsoring a photo exhibit at Roosevelt University entitled "Speaking the Unspeakable," which includes portraits of survivors of Rwanda's genocide. 250,000 Rwandan women were raped in 1994, and 60-75% of them are HIV positive. Crossroads' funds help run clinics that provide healthcare and counseling for these women.
Morrissey is coming back to the Aragon Theatre on November 21. Anyone who knew me in college knew what a huge fan I was of The Smiths. Before I returned to college in the fall of 1986, my brother, Peter, and I went with some friends to see The Smiths Queen is Dead tour at the Aragon. It was a fantastic show and a wild, wild night. When I first started backstage catering in the early 90's Morrissey was one of the first shows I worked. The line outside the Aragon at 6 in the morning was so long, I couldn't belive it. Fans were sitting out there writing letters to him, which were later taken to his dressing room. I never would have waited in line that long, no matter how much I liked someone. Backstage had to be completely vegetarian, still to this day not popular among the local stagehands. He's played the Aragon and Chicago Theatre several times since then - The Aragon is definitley a great room to catch this performance.
If I had more time to write lovely thank you notes and drop friends letters here and there, rather than send a thoughtless, boring email, I'd buy these beautifully designed Binth cards. Chicago-based Binth is surely on their way to all the hot lists with their stylish notecards . Their line of baby cards are adorable, and the baby book is gorgeous. Makes me think I should have written more than a few entries in my first born's book. My 8-year old nephew's monster-like drawings are incorporated in the designs of his mother, Suzanna Bierwirth. Remember these for the holidays!
Last week The Chicago Tribune featured a story about Chicago bands you have to see now, before they are famous. Head of Femur, originally from Nebraska and now Chicagoans, was one of the five bands on the list. Frontman Matt Focht has been part of our BDP staff for over a year. They've toured with Bright Eyes and Andrew Bird (also on list), and have opened for Wilco. In August they played a great kids show at The Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. My kids are unofficial fan club members (they got to stand on the stage and shake hands with the band). They played a nice set which included "Ape Man" by the Kinks and "Vegetables" by The Beach Boys (I think). Catch them at the Empty Bottle on Saturday, October 28. Congratulations Matt!
Talented singer/songwriter India.Arie performs at The Chicago Theatre tonight. Acoustic Soul was a beautiful album, one of the best in 2001. She also has a beautiful, colorful website!
It's hard to believe the weather in Chicago is so cold this week, and that we have New Year's Eve shows on the books. For you jam band hippies, Umphrey's McGee is playing at The Aragon for three nights. For you broken boy soldiers, The Raconteurs will be bring the year to an end at The Riviera. Jack White must like to spend his New Years in Chicago - The White Stripes played at the Aragon a couple years ago.
Sometimes we just have to say no to the crazy requests of clients. Only brown M&M's in a band's dressing room, ok. Cooking a piece of fresh fish every hour for another famous person, ok. Catering a dinner party that is suspended in the air, no thank you. Luckily, my clients were only pulling my leg. The creative folks at Catalyst Ranch told me this was their next team-building event. I (lied)told them there might be a liability issue. Didn't think I could get anyone work it. What if someone dropped a fork or knife?
If you are a fan of Bob Dylan, maybe you can figure out how to get from Condoleeza Rice to Bob Dylan, or from Bugs Bunny to Bob Dylan. Check out my husband's website, Coudal Partners, where they are running a promotion for his newest album from Columbia Records. Many chances to win the new cd or the entire Bob Dylan collection, that's 47 cds! Too bad I'm not eligible.
Last night Indian sitarist Anoushka Shankar gave a beautiful performance at The Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. The 26 year-old Anoushka began her sitar training with her father, legend Ravi, when she was 9 years-old. At 11 she began performing and recording with her father (who is 60 years her senior), and has composed and recorded a her own solo albums. Until now, her music has been traditional Indian, but her lastest cd Rise, has a more creative, atmospheric vibe. Nominated for a Grammy last year, the cd combines traditional sitar with western trance-electronica, jazz and various world rythyms.
Singer/actor Tom Waits makes a rare appearance this week at The Auditorium Theatre. He's been around for probably four decades, know for his gravelly singing voice. His muscial collaborator is his wife, Kathleen Brennan. Acting credits include Night on Earth, Short Cuts, Ironweed, The Cotton Club, The Fisher King, Bram Stoker's Dracula. He's also composed many film scores. Check out a 2002 interview with Tom Waits on Fresh Air.
Athens, GA jam band Widespread Panic plays 3 sold-out shows at The Chicago Theatre this week. When I worked for this band in '94 or '95 they were so concerned they didn't have any swag (t-shirts) for the catering staff, they took our addresses and sent us each of box of cd's, t-shirts, and other goodies. They probably don't do that anymore, but I will always remember how nice they were back then - well, they still are.
Several years ago, Ellen and decided Big Delicious Planet needed a fresh brew. Of coffee, that is. We both like strong coffee, hers black, mine with 2% milk. We found a small Chicago coffee roaster not too far from our kitchen, Intelligentsia Coffee. We made an appointment to go there, met with the owner, Doug Zell, who took us on a tour of their new facility. Loud rock music blaring, cool looking guys, nice aroma, we loved it already. Doug asked us what we like in a coffee, then started weighing and mixing some beans. We wanted something covering the globe, appropriate for the name of our comapny. We tasted several different combinations before we came up with our own blend. Every Tuesday we get a call from them, asking how many 5 pound bags we want roasted, ground and delivered on Thursday. They have become an extremely successul company since they opened shop, travelling the world, building relationships with coffee growers and paying a higher than average rate for their beans. The New York Times Business section featured a story in June about Intelligentsia that is worth reading next time you're enjoying a cup of joe.
John Soss of Jam Productions and I were talking recently backstage at Bon Jovi's Soldier Field show about our DePaul neighborhood, raising kids in the city, private vs. public schools and the music kids listen to today. I told him for each of my 3 kids' birthdays, instead of a goody bag with a bunch of cheap toys, I always make a cd with their playlist in a fancy Jewelboxing system. I had to look up the lyrics to all the songs my 9 year-old chose for her June birthday, in order to not miss any f-bombs. Sometimes when you are listening to music in the car with kids yelling and cars honking, it's easy to miss the "a## cracks" on a Gorillaz hit or in an Avril Lavigne song. The "life's a piece of s#@!" on Monty Python's Always Look on The Bright Side of Life. You may not really "hear" it when you're just listening to it, but you certainly don't want some other 9 year-old's parents to hear it on a cd you sent home with them. While John and I were talking, he didn't mention that he had this very funny story being published in The Chicago Tribune's Sunday Magazine. While we haven't quite gotten to the concert-going age with our kids (except the Grateful Dead reunion show), I'm right there with you John!
The Grateful Dead has made a licensing agreement with Rhino Entertainment to oversee the band's intellectual property, reports The New York Times. The arrangement will free the band of managing the immense achive of live recordings, its website, Dead merchandise and use of its likeness. Bob Weir said "In the last couple of years, it became apparent that the business was just too much trouble. The Grateful Dead of yore was built around being a touring band, and when we stopped touring, the structure wasn't there." Drummer Mickey Hart said "To us, the Grateful Dead was always about the music, not just going to board meetings. The business got so big, and, and that's not what we signed up for. When we don't have to do business together, maybe we can become friends again. Maybe we can even play together again."
Backstage at the Dead's reunion show a few years ago, I met a friendly man who claimed he had not worn shoes in years (looked like it). He also claimed he designed the Dead's lightning bolt and famous dancing bears. He said his name was Owsley, but I later discovered he also went by Bear. Bear had been the Dead's soundman for years, had an LSD lab and now he is a jeweler in Australia. A real renaissance man.
Last week I came across the catering rider of Frank Sinatra. He was the third act booked at the United Center, where I was freelancing as a catering consultant/supervisor for the first few concerts they had there. He liked to have packs of cigarettes everywhere with one cigarette sticking out. He also like Kleenex tissues everywhere. He also liked Campbell's Chicken & Rice Soup. And Life Savers, and cough drops. Other things he had in his dressing room were assorted egg salad and tuna salad sandwiches, jumbo shrimp and a pretty nice bar set up with his favorite, Jack Daniels.
A few years before this particular show, when I was with the catering company Eat Your Hearts Out, I worked for him for five shows at The Opera House. He was really cute in an old man sort of way. I remember walking past his dressing room where his wife, Barbara, was standing behind him, both of them looking into the mirror, trying to fix his hair or hair piece before he went on stage. He always dedicated a song to Barbara at the show, where she was sitting in the front. One night that week, while he was on stage, I heard a few of his production people scream in a panic backstage. They wanted to know where they could get another pair of tuxedo pants pronto, they asked me what size tuxedo pants I was wearing (yes, the one an only time I ever had to wear a tuxedo), not the right size. Apparently Mr. Sinatra had split the backside of his pants when he took a bow. Finally, Frank Jr., his conductor, had to pull him aside and tell him. Everyone was worried. Classic Frank - he just laughed and made a joke with the audience about it. He was the coolest.
When Jim and I were married 13 years ago we had a Gipsy Kings cover band, Spanish Fly, play at the reception. The music was beautiful, great for dancing and went great with the tons of margaritas being poured. Definitely not your basic wedding band back then. Having catered for them several times since my wedding, I have discovered that they are actually French and not Spanish, and the biggest selling French act ever. They will be at the Chicago Theatre this Thursday.
There's nothing better than a picnic on a beautiful summer evening. Have it in Chicago's gorgeous Millennium Park with free, live music, it's even better. As part of the Music Without Borders series, Seu Jorge and Amadou & Mariam got everyone feeling good and dancing last night. Young and old. Kids were doing cartwheels, enjoying the rhythm of African drums. The weather could not have been more perfect.
Big Delicious Planet will be catering for Bon Jovi next month at Soldier Field. The show is nearly sold out. Jon's biggest fan is probably Oprah. He surprised her last September with a check for $1 million for hurricane relief. That alone should make anyone a fan.
Returning to Union Park on June 24th and 25th is the 2006 Intonation Music Fest. The 2-day festival was a huge success last year and they have a great line-up this year. Big Delicious Planet will be catering backstage.
Madonna kicked off her Confessions Tour Saturday night. E! Online has the funniest headline: "What do you get when you mix a mock crucifixion, Kabbalah, political diatribes and a plea for AIDS relief with a giant crystal-covered disco ball? Madonna, of course" That's a $2 million Swarovski crystal ball! She's coming to the United Center for 5 nights sometime this summer. We were given a handful of free tickets for her last tour, which was very entertaining, visually spectacular, yet hard to take seriously. I couldn't control my laughter when she sang and played guitar to John Lennon's "Imagine." She's a true entertainer. Sometime I wonder, will Britney Spears be doing this when she's 47?
The Foo Fighters will be playing an acoustic tour this summer, with Frank Black of the Pixies will open for them at The Auditorium Theatre.
Here's a fun contest/wordgame called Booking Bands on my husband's website. Mash up the name of a book with a band. My ideas weren't that creative since they received them from tons of their readers -The Grateful Dead Zone, Morris Day and The Time Traveler's Wife, Of Human League Bondage, Coldplay Mountain, The Tale of Peter Gabriel Rabbit, Fried Green Day Tomatoes, Shalimar the Insane Clown Posse, Rage Against The Time Machine and the funniest - Are You There Godsmack? It's Me, Margaret.
I guess we are getting old. I have no idea who Fall Out Boy is, but we really appreciate their popularity. Today they are back at the UIC Pavilion for the second gig at the venue in a month. We are catering the last show of the tour for the Wilmette, Illinois band.
Frank Zappa's music comes to the stage with a tribute tour Zappa Playing Zappa. Frank's son Dweezil will be on the tour, joined sporadically by his brother, Ahmet, and other guest musicians. I learned about Frank Zappa's music when I was living in Oklahoma, the same time I learned about Cheech and Chong - not a good combination! All I remember now is a song about Raisin' my Lonely Dental Floss. In response to Tipper Gore's 1985 testimony before the Senate panel about the influence of explicit lyrics, Frank said " I wrote a song about dental floss, but did anyone's teeth get any cleaner?" The show will be at the Auditorium Theatre on June 17.
For the last week the crew has been setting up the sound and lights for Late Night with Conan O'Brien, which will begin taping tomorrow at The Legendary Chicago Theatre. Big Delicious Planet is the exclusive backstage caterer for the Theatre and will be providing snacks and beverages to the dressing rooms and green room for his many guests and crew. Surprisingly, the show really only tapes for one hour with the audience. I thought it would be much longer, and then edited. From what I've read in the papers, among Conan's guests will be Cheap Trick, Dave Chappelle, Barack Obama, Wilco, Common, Sean Hayes and let's not forget Mr. T.
Icelandic quartet Sigur Ros brings their beautiful, drowsy music to the Chicago Civic Opera House this Tuesday. Not a venue that many rock or alternative bands play. Strangely enough, we catered to Iceland's best export, Bjork, at the same venue a couple years ago. Svefn-g-englar is one of their best tracks - reminds me of a chilly under water head trip.
Like many foodservice businesses, Big Delicious Planet employs many immigrants. Today we had zero. Many of them requested the day off to attend today's march for immigration rights, we approved, since we disagree with the recent passage by the House of Representatives of a bill that could rewrite our country's immigration laws. These people are very important to us: Juan C from Mexico and Oscar from Honduras, have been with Big Delicious Planet for over 8 years working as our prep chef and dishwasher. Ramon, our head supervisor, has been with us for about 5 years, Juan O. 3 years, Marcos and Raul about 1 year each. These men work their tails off for BDP and our clients, and we appreciate everything they do. It was a heck of a day without them! The US Senate will vote on this bill later this month.
Finally, announced to the public: Radiohead will be playing a two-night gig at the acoustically perfect Auditorium Theatre on June 19 and 20. Awesome venue choice. The band was last in the area when the played Alpine Valley probably 3 summers ago, before that when they played Grant Park. Claimed to be the only 2 shows in the area this year, or for a long time. Not a concert to be missed. They put on an incredible show.
Foie Gras in Chicago, Sous Vide in NYC. The trend in cooking by the industry's most innovative chefs is no longer allowed in NYC. Sous vide or vacuum-sealed cooking, has been banned by The NY Department of Health for fear it could lead to incidents of food poisoning if done improperly. The process of cooking sous vide takes a single portion of meat, chicken or whatever, then vaccum seals it, then cooks it at a low temperature of 180-200 degrees and is then refrigerated until reheated. Chefs who use this technique claim the food tastes more intense, and is more nutritional because nothing is lost in the vacuum - sounds like an Everlasting Gob-Stopper, mmmm here comes the roast beef and blueberry pie! NY health officials claim that sous vide is more a food manufacturing process than a culinary proccess, and until they figure out the official food safety guidelines for restaurants who wish to use this type of cooking, they will fine those who do it. The Illinois Dept of Public Health states that an establishment which conducts "reduced oxygen packaging" must develop a HACCP program, so no problem here if you implement this food safety system. Can you tell I finished a 15 hour/2 day course today, to renew my Foodservice Sanitation Certification?
Yesterday, The Chicago City Council voted to ban the sale of foie gras (fatty livers of force-fed ducks and geese). The ordinance, which begins in 90 days, makes it illegal for Chicago restaurants and retail establishments to sell the foie gras, and will fine those who do. Foie gras has long been considered a delicacy, frequently served at French and high-priced restaurants. Not that I eat it, but should our city council dictate what we eat? What about veal? I love Mayor Daley for saying "We have children getting killed by gang leaders and dope dealers... and we're dealing with foie gras? Let's get some priorites." Yeah! What about the kids?!
Our kids' school, Near North Montessori School, recently had a fundraiser which I/Big Delicious Planet donated a couple parties for people to sign up to attend. The first was a Dad's Cooking party held at our kitchen. About 24 NNMS Dad's came to learn how to prepare a meal for their family (so many of them never cook), and have beer and margaritas. I decided to do a Mexican theme: grilled steak and chicken fajitas, beans, guacamole, salsa, margaritas, etc. They all paid attention for about 3 minutes, then, as I expected, went back to chatting and drinking (shots of tequila). A few guys would come back to the work table and ask a couple questions or help for a little bit, out of politeness I imagine. It was really a lot of fun and mainly to get Dads out and meet new friends from the school.
This Friday, with a couple moms from the school, I'm hosting a Mom's Belly Dancing Party at Catalyst Ranch. Middle Eastern appetizers and beverages with a few belly dancers showing some new moves to about 50 moms. Shake it!
The WNBA has a new team this season - The Chicago Sky. VIP ticketholders will get a delicious buffet dinner before each home game catered by Big Delicious Planet! We will be the caterers for the courtside Skyline Club at the UIC Pavilion. More information coming soon to their website about purchasing those tickets.
Billboard talks with Iggy about his upcoming Stooges album, produced by Steve Albini and some tracks by Jack White. Stooges also have an upcoming reunion tour.
Mario Batali, Alice Waters, Charlie Trotter, Rick Bayless and Thomas Keller didn't need it to have successful restaurants and to be recognized by the James Beard Foundation many times over. Last Thursday's Chicago Reader Restaurant Edition asks the same thing and lists Chicago area culinary schools and their (yikes!) tuition. People, if you really love food and think this is what you want to do, get some good knives, get a job in a restaurant or catering company and pay attention. Watch and learn. Read cookbooks, magazines, look at photos of food presentation. You shouldn't have to pay a fortune for a low-paying position as a line cook. Email us if you're looking for a job!
A few weeks ago we catered to Hasidic reggae-rapper, Matisyahu. That was ther first time we had to wait until sundown to have a dressing room and dinner ready. His album 'Youth' has been very popular and he will also be at Lollapalooza this summer. Now I heard rave reviews on NPR about an Islamic albino rapper named Brother Ali, from Minneapolis. He was recently at SXSW and is claimed to be a hot new act. Let me check out the Christian right rappers and I'll get back to you.
Jack White has a new band named The Raconteurs with a couple of bands that opened for the White Stripes on their last tour, Brendan Benson and the Greenhornes. The single, 'Steady as She Goes', sounds good, album will be released in May. The Ranconteurs are scheduled to play at Lollapalooza.
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is scheduled to tape a week in May at The Chicago Theatre. If you don't stay up late enough to watch his show, I don't, learn more about the Harvard graduate's strange mannerisms on Wikipedia: left arm spasm before he tells a pucnhline, hops around like a bunny, unbuttons and rebuttons his suit. Hmmmm, very interesting.
Lollapalooza 2006 just announced the line-up for their 3-Day festival to be held in Grant Park on August 4, 5,& 6. Very exciting to us music nuts here. I really like the diversity of the bands - hippie, hip-hop, trip-hop, world and down right rockin'. Rachel A. was screaming when I told her Manu Chao was a headliner. We can't get enough of him at our kitchen. Chicago bands aplenty with the always awesome Wilco, Kanye, Poi Dog, Common, Umphrey (I think they are or are now Chicagoans). Chili Peppers never disappoint, worked for them on Lollapalooza in '93 or '94 when they had the lightbulbs on their heads. Sonic Youth is the cooolest as are Flaming Lips. Looking forward to seeing a bunch of new bands I don't know. Tickets on sale now. $130.00, not a bad deal for 3 days of music.
Last weekend I was in Berkeley, CA for my cousin Will's wedding. My Aunt Lizzie and I went to lunch at The Cafe at Chez Panisse, Alice Waters' restaurant that started the "California Cuisine" movement. The restaurant's menu changes daily and focuses on serving the best organic ingredients available. The food food is pretty staightforward and simple. Lizzie and I each had an Avocado and Poached Beet Salad with Fresh Sorrel - absolutely perfect, two of my favorite things to eat. For my lunch entree I had an Arugula Pesto Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes. It was really great, although not the most exciting sounding entree to choose since I have been wanting to go this restaurant forever. We were going to a wedding that evening, so everything else seemed too heavy to consider. Sometimes the simplicity of a meal and the fact that the ingredients have a limitited availability is was makes is so pleasurable.
I just listened to this new cd in my car. Pixies in Tokyo, Japan on December 6. Opens with Bone Machine "You're into Japanese fastfood and I drop you off with your Japanese lover..." My kids like La La Love You. Look for "Hey" the best of their last tour on coming out soon on iTunes.
A reflection of The Smith's Johnny Marr looking back on the album The Queen is Dead. I love the part where The Smith's hijack The Style Council's equipment and play unannounced at a Red Wedge concert. I was a huge fan of their previous albums, Meat is Murder particularly, but this album's tour was when I first saw them in concert - at the Aragon Ballroom. Thanks Coudal Partner's Bryan Bedell for the link.
I was chuckling in bed the other night reading this one in The New Yorker. Il Divo, for whom we are catering this Friday, is a quartet of extremely punctual, dreamy, young European studs, who have a middle-aged fanatical following. Moms fly across the country to meet up with other fan club members to see the show. They can't make up their minds which one they adore more. Am I missing something here? Maybe. I think I'm going to stop by and check these guys out. Do I want to be a member of David's Darlings, Sebastien's Sirens or Carlos's Cuties? I'll decided later and let you know.
Or should it be Lo Lo Lo? Lollapalooza, the monster of a show that we catered last summer, is coming back to Chicago's Grant Park the first weekend of August. This time for 3 days, more than 120 bands, and more area to cover. The bands will likely be announced next month, promising to have a line-up that will blow your socks off. With the success of last year's show, bands have been wanting to get on the bill. With that many bands, this might be the only show you need to see all summer. Let's hope it isn't the hottest weekend.
Thanks to Chef's Blogs for linking Sugarbuzz! I really enjoy reading many of the blogs listed here. It's interesting to read what chef's, professional or not, around the world have to say about the food they love, the experiments they are trying, the careers they are making or breaking. Many big names such as Jamie Oliver and Emeril are linked here, but also culinary students and people who just love to cook.
Blind husband and wife West African duo, Amadou and Mariam have been making music together for 28 years. Their album which was released last year, Dimanche a Bamako, was produced by the talented Manu Chao, whose own music fuses Latin, French and every other rhythym and sound you can imagine. Sung mainly in French, Dimanche a Bamako has happy, upbeat and eerie African rhythms fused with an assortment of reggae, funk, sirens, answering machines and laughter. Okay, maybe not a very good description, but I absolutely love this cd and listen to it all the time. Amadou and Mariam will be on the bill at Coachella this spring.
Sheryl Crow's Wildflower Tour made a stop at The Auditorium Theatre on Saturday night. A yummy dinner of Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Haitian Voodoo Fish with Mango Salsa, Rice & Black Beans Cubano and Corn Pudding was enjoyed by all, Sheryl included. Sheryl, if you are still looking for a caterer for your wedding, remember it was Big Delicious Planet that you were raving about! (post note: Sadly, Sheryl can take off her yellow wristband, the couple have split.)
Saturday my husband, Jim, and I went to a fabulous dinner party for 9 couples at our friends, Sarah and Cliff's, Bucktown home. They bought a cooking party at a Near North Montessori charity auction last year donated by Chef Juliet Greene . She and her cooking partner, Elissa, were there with a super nice menu, recipes, all the premeasured food and equipment needed for each cooking station. Everyone mixed up into small groups to work on a part of the meal - Coconut Shrimp Lollypops (delicious, I ate about 3), Cucumber Salad, Chicken Pad Thai, Apple Galette with a Ginger Whipped Cream. We all had a great time talking, slicing, dicing, drinking, then we sat down to a beautifully set table and ate our creations. Everyone was asking who made this, who made that. Great idea for a party!
This one's for you Sarah. Teen Jodie Foster singing in French. Can you please translate this for Hallie and me? Love the special effects from the 70's. via Coudal Partners.
Tiny Mix Tapes is a great website for cd and concert reviews. Half the bands I have never heard of, but my favorite part of the Tiny Mix Tapes is the Automated Mix Tape Generator - send them a suggestion of a type of "mixed tape" you would like and they will make you a tracklist. There are tons of raunchy suggestions, some of the cleaner ones happen to be: "your friends just ditched you at an arcade and you're totally broke" "my ex-boyfriend and ex-best-friend are getting married" "songs to encourage grammatical awareness while grading papers" Need loud music to listen to while you are getting your wisdom teeth pulled? They can probably come up with it. Send them a suggestion and see what happens.
Note to our fun, loving client whose party went on until 11:30 the next morning: next year, consider adding breakfast with eggs cooked to order. We do it all!
Overheard at an intimate dinner party we catered last night - "I think that may be the best meal I ever had in my life." Well, thank you very much!
You've probably seen there name, wondered who they are - Trans-Siberian Orchestra, well we are just as curious and will cater for them tomorrow at the Allstate Arena. I'm guessing it's a rock opera Christmas concert with lots of laser lights and guitar solos. Give me a review BDP crew.
We cater for British synth-pop Depeche Mode tonight at the Allstate Arena. Bringing my old college roommate for her birthday and a little nostalgia.
Friend of Big Delicious Planet and our Lollapalooza "Ice Man" is in the band Head of Femur. They played at last summer's Intonation Music Festival and are currently touring with Andrew Bird.
An article in the New York Times last Wednesday, At Center of a Clash, Rowdy Kids in Coffee Shops is generating much debate. At the center of the story is A Taste of Heaven, a coffee shop in Chicago, known for outstanding scones and loved by moms and tots. Exhausted by tikes running wild and parents not doing much about it, the owner hung a sign that read "Children of all ages have to behave and use indoor voices when in A Taste of Heaven." They're not the only place that would like children to be considerate of fellow eaters. Child-friendly restaurants such as Webster Street's Toast have added to their menu "Children should use inside voices." Is that so offensive? I have heard from one restaurant owner that children sometimes run into their kitchen - Hello, Parents! Danger! Danger! Little Sebastian almost knocked over the Fry Cook taking the basket of Dino Bites out of the deep fryer!
In my opinion the people who are offended by such signs are the self-centered, clueless parents who would rather be doing anything else than watching their kids. They know that sign is speaking to them. We have three young children and go out for dinner at least twice a week, and never to a McDonald's. Our kids are not angels all the time, but before we leave our house we explain the behavior we expect, and again in the car, and again before we walk into the restaurant. BB we call it, Best Behavior. We plan our stategy - we usually choose a place that is happy to have kids (ie. places that give crayons or etch-a-sketches), a place that isn't too quiet (in case one gets the urge to talk a bit loudly), a place with dim lighting (in case we need to cover a mouth, pin one down to the banquette, or kick one under the table - kidding!), and of course one that serves food we all will enjoy. If one of the kids starts getting crabby, we eat quickly and get out. We enjoy talking with our kids at the table and playing guessing games while waiting for our dinner to arrive. Dining out with kids is great way for a family to celebrate together and for parents to relax. It's also an ideal environment for learning proper manners and for learning to like a variety of foods. Children will be children, so parents please be parents. It's like the dog owner that doesn't pick up after his dog, it gives all the other dog owners a bad rap (thanks for that one, Molly).
Tomorrow night we are catering a private screening of Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire for 500. The movie, aka Harry's Hormones are Humming, doesn't open until Friday.
Sinead O'Connor has a new reggae album, which has gotten decent reviews, and will be at The Riviera Theater next Tuesday. 1990's I Don't Want What I Haven't Got is one of my all time favorite albums. I think I have had 3 copies of it over the years and never get tired of listening to it.
Thursday we catered a swank 50th anniversary party for The Alter Group at the Chicago Historical Society. Popular on the elaborate buffets were Lamb Chops Vindaloo, Sushi and Thai Crab Cakes.
Big Delicious Planet
451 North Elizabeth Street
Chicago IL 60622
312 455 1019
It seems like this winter will never end. Slow month for our concert catering: The Pogues, Gipsy Kings, Pink Martini, Justice, Patti LaBelle.
Jimmy Buffett comes to Chicago's Toyota Park on July 24th & 26th.
Posted on 03/01In February we cater backstage to Marilyn Manson, Wilco (5 nights!), Foo Fighters, G. Love, Hives, Phil Vassar, Chris Botti
Posted on 02/10Catering gigs of interest this month: Lenny Kravitz, Velvet Revolver, Dancing with the Stars, moe, Lisa Lampanelli
Posted on 01/10How are we celebrating today? By making appetizers and desserts for two big holiday parties, catering Michael McDonald's show at the Chicago Theatre, and many corporate lunches. Thanks for another great year!
Posted on 12/06Our last concert catering gigs for the year - Anita Baker, The Old Town School of Folk Music's 50th Anniversary Concert, Michael McDonald, Dave Koz & Friends, Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus, Ozzy Osbourne and Rob Zombie, Jeff Tweedy, Duran Duran, and 3 nights of Umphrey's McGee with Tortoise and The Wailers.
Posted on 12/01We still have some availability for Holiday Parties. Email us or Call 312-455-1019 with your date and info.
Posted on 11/27Every Tuesday before Thanksgiving we deliver pies to clients all over Chicago. It's our way of thanking them for their business and giving us another great year. Special thanks to BDP Pastry Chef Melissa Humphrey and Assistant Lizzy for making the 200 pies!
Posted on 11/20Kelly Clarkson, Keith Urban, Feist, Neil Young, Sammy Hagar, Kid Rock, Hall & Oates, Brian Culbertson, John Butler Trio, Jimmy Eat World, Frankie Valli, John Fogerty
Posted on 10/31Tonight we are catering a very imitate dinner party in the Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum. Located at the SW corner of Michigan Ave & Wacker Drive, this very tiny museum barely seats eight guests.
Posted on 10/25The holiday season is coming quickly. Call Big Delicious Planet for hip holiday menus.
Posted on 10/02A killer month for catering concerts at BDP: Phil Lesh & Friends (3 nights), Live, Interpol, Spoon, The Black Crowes, Bright Eyes, Under Oath, Ween, Kathy Griffin, Queens of the Stone Age, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Girl Band, Annie Lennox, Gov't Mule and... 3 nights with Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello!
Posted on 10/01