It was a wedding that was a decade in the making. From the moment guests entered the venue, they were treated to a variety of visual and culinary delights. Upon their arrival at six, attendees were greeted by a variety of gorgeous passed appetizers, as well as an expansive seafood station – to further enhance the ambience and create the illusion of being “by the sea.” The station consisted of salmon mousse cucumber rounds, mini crab cakes and smoked salmon, all showcased on ice. In addition, unique “shrimp cocktail shooters” were artfully displayed on an elevated custom ice sculpture with holes drilled into the ice to keep each shooter glass perfectly chilled.

After taking their seats, guests enjoyed a gourmet antipasto display that had been pre-set on each table, as well as Italian table wines. The feast contained locally sourced, freshly baked artisan breads from the Hill, house made olive tapenade, olive oil and balsamic vinegar, honey goat cheese spread, and herb feta spread. And this was just the beginning.

The five courses of delicacies that followed included an amuse-bouche, arugula salad with champagne vinaigrette, grilled scallop with truffle mashed potatoes, an intermezzo/fourth course of crisp lemon sorbet, and fifth course of grilled fillet of beef with garlic, assorted roasted peppers and mushroom risotto.

At 11 p.m. a “junk-food” bar was unveiled to the delight and surprise of the guests, that was inspired by the groom’s favorite foods. Buffalo chicken dippers, mini bacon cheddar burger and mini pizza rounds were whimsically served in paper junk food “boats” for the guests As the party wound down and guests left, they were given “doggie bags” to fill at a cookie station featuring a wide variety of mouthwatering and award-winning sweets. The bags also reinforced their love of animals, making a donation to the ASCPA in lieu of wedding favors.

How many years in a row has your company been stuck in the same old grind– settling for the coral colored walls, fake plants and questionable entree choices of a typical banquet center to say “Thanks for working for us again this year!”  Let me guess—the same thing happened this year, right?  

Well, for next year’s holiday party or your next upcoming event, you can politely nudge them over to Hollyberry and we’ll help them throw the office party that really shows their appreciation!  Whether your company likes the idea of a classy, elegant and interesting off-site venue (i.e. The Contemporary Art Museum) or prefers a Winter Wonderland in the comfort of your own office space, Hollyberry can help! We’ll make your next office party’s food and ambiance more memorable than Meredith from Accounting (who year after year has more than her fair share of the open bar if you know what I mean!).  Now I could go on and on about all the ways we’ve jazzed up other companies’ office parties (and could easily do the same for you), but come on people, this isn’t our first rodeo.  We know pictures speak louder than words… so I’ll let these do the talking for us!  Take a look below at just a few of the parties we’ve been able to take to the next level. 

 Contemporary Art Museum Holiday Event

Overlooking the crowd

View of the balcony

Table setup and lighting

One of the large Food Stations

Mushroom Vol au Vent

Vegetable Display

Part of the Dessert Bar-- Ooey Gooey Original and Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake!

                     Hollyberry transformation of an office space to a winter wonderland!

The Bar for the evening

The Dessert Display-- we also had an awesome Wintry Beverage Station complete with Kahlua, Frangelico, Creme de Menthe and tons of other fun toppings!

Bacon Wrapped Pineapple- always a crowd pleaser!

One of the fun centerpieces of the night

As you can see, Hollyberry loves to make any party a memorable one!  Call us at 314-968-9239 so we can help make your next event the talk of the town!

When the economy took a dive, so did all the fun extras, but you and your coworkers (along with everyone else!) are tired of hearing “It’s just not in the budget this year.”  All those fun socials, treats and parties were not just unnecessary budget fillers; they boosted your company’s morale and improved overall efficiency of your office by bringing everyone together in a relaxed, family atmosphere for a momentary break in the madness.

We don’t think you should have to miss out on the fun any longer. We have come up with a few ideas you can pitch to your boss about how to throw this year’s office party without breaking the bank.

Cocktails and Appetizers rather than Full Dinner:

Of course an elaborate five course meal is great, but sometimes looking into a slightly cheaper alternative such as cocktails and appetizers can be just as fun.  This more casual alternative gets people up and socializing while having a few bites of SUPER delicious food.  Skip the funky meat, weird vegetables and limp salad; go for fun crowd pleasers like our Bacon-Wrapped Pineapple, Crab Rangoon in Wonton Trumpets and Fig and Goat Cheese Crostinis.  You and your coworkers will still have a fantastic time, but it won’t cost your boss an arm and a leg.

Signature Cocktails vs. Open Bar

Skip the usual and go for something fun.  A Gingerbread Man Martini or Blue Snowflake Cocktail can be a nice additive to a beer, wine, and soda bar rather than splurging on a full open bar. 

Disposables vs. China

In times like these, it’s difficult to watch a good portion of your budget go to rentals.  We have great disposable plates (not like white, flimsy paper ones you get at the store) that are sturdy, black and glossy—no one will think twice about them and they’ll save you a pretty penny.

Super Slim Budget?

Opt for only desserts—but do it in style!  Go for fun items like our Gooey Butter Cupcakes, Pumpkin Sweetie Pies, or Strawberry Baby Cakes and have a fun dessert display in the office instead of your usual dinner, cocktails, appetizers, etc.  It makes a big statement that the company still cares about its employees and all that they do throughout the year. 

If you are still looking for something fun and different, but you don’t see it here: give us a call and let us take the work off your hands.  We love coming up with fun ideas to fit within your budget!

Best of luck planning!

I could have sworn it was just a week ago that we were welcoming the  warm summer air, but right before my eyes, summer flew by.  Now, everyone is getting their costumes together Halloween.  Before we know it, it’ll be the middle of December and the holiday season will be in full swing!

For all of us over at Hollyberry, the holiday season is already at the top of our minds.  Isn’t that crazy!?We are gearing up for one of our busiest seasons, and can’t wait to share all the goodies we have in store with all our loyal customers!  We just can’t wait any longer– so here’s a little update of what’s going on this holiday season at Hollyberry!

Do you ever get tired of getting the same old popcorn, sausage, crackers, and chocolates for the holidays year after year??  We feel your pain, so that’s why we are introducing the Taste Experience Tins!  We took a new twist on some classics to provide you with fun, unique and interesting flavors packaged in familiar and recognizable foods.   Triple Nut Kentucky Bourbon Brittle, Jalapeno Pistachios, Chianti-infused Sausage, Sweet and Spicy Kettle Korn and Sea Salt Caramels (these are my new obsession!) are all part of this awesome new line.  All these fantastic goodies are packaged in beautiful keepsake tins–and of course we had to add in some Hollyberry sweets!

Next–since it was so popular last year, the Show off St. Louis line is back!  What better way to celebrate the holidays than by giving gifts that support your local businesses.  Packaged in a recycled and fully recyclable (we’re going green here people!) khaki-pinstriped boxes, these St. Louis favorites are sure to please.  Hollyberry’s famous Gooey Buter Cake, Mound City Pistachios, and Billy Goat Potato Chips are just a few of the delicious items we found to Show off St. Louis!

Want your gifts to be all about the goodies??  Skip the emphasis on packaging and save on costs with our Bakery Box Selections.  These simple white bakery boxes are filled to the brim with Hollyberry Favorites–Dave’s Double Chip…Lemon Heaven…the list goes on and on, but I don’t want to start drooling on my desk so I had better stop there

And as a Hollyberry favorite, we have the classic and always refined Baltic Birch Crates.   A huge variety of sweets and snacks plus the reusable packaging make these crates a Hollyberry staple. 

Last but not least, we are proud to announce that we are once again pairing up with St. Patrick Center with our “Gifts that Give Back” program.  St. Patrick Center helps to provide “opportunities for self-sufficiency and dignity to persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Individuals achieve permanent, positive changes in their lives through affordable housing, sound mental health, employment and financial stability.”  At a time of year when giving gifts is a high priority, it feels great to be able to use those gifts as a tool to give back to the St. Louis community. To learn more about St. Patrick’s Center and their efforts, visit http://www.stpatrickcenter.org/. 

We are very excited about all our Holiday gifts!!  If you have any questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call at (314) 968-9239 or visit http://hollyberrybaking.com/shop/.   We want to ensure you get the best service at Hollyberry, so you may notice our selection of gifts through online ordering is limited; give us a call to inquire about customization and anything you don’t see online!  Happy Shopping!

I almost forgot…  if you like our sweets AND also need catered food, did you know we can handle it all?!  Just visit http://www.hollyberrycatering.com/social-events-and-weddings to learn more about catering for any holiday events you have coming up!