Verve Caterers & Events

18/11/2024

VERVE OFFERS a complete event and catering solution irrespective of whether you are planning:
🎈 a special celebration
👨‍💼 a corporate do
💒 or a dream wedding ~

OUR TEAM and service offering are 100% mobile and we can set up a complete event anywhere, plus you are assured of each event being owner run from first hello to final goodbye.

OUR RANGE OF CATERING options include:
👉🏼 canapés
👉🏼 bowl foods
👉🏼 buffets
👉🏼 sushi spreads
👉🏼 drop-and-go platters
👉🏼 multi-course plated meals
and more

CHAT TO US today:
📲 072 233 2002
📧 [email protected]
💻 www.verve-caterers.co.za

13/11/2024

🎈 💍 🥂 🎈 💍 🥂 🎈 💍 🥂 🎈 💍 🥂 🎈 💍

THE TEAM WAS BACK AT a favourite client recently, this time catering a birthday and a surprise engagement!

THE HOSTESS decided on a selection of canapés to start, a plated main course served ‘family style’, and dessert canapés to end.

TO START | Crispy Dumplings I Salmon Fishcakes I Arancini I Caprese Skewers I Potato Rosti

MAIN COURSE I Beef Wellington, Dauphinois Potatoes, Caesar Salad with Porcini dusted Croutons, Garden Salad

A SWEET ENDING I Pecan Nut Brownies I Mixed Berry & Passion Fruit Pavlovas I Lemon Meringue Pies

THANK YOU to our client for choosing Verve to cater for another of your very special occasions. It was a pleasure being back in your kitchen!

••••••••••••••••••
CHAT TO US today for all your catering needs. We’d love to cook for you!
Owner/chef Marius Botha
📱 072 233 2002
💻 www.verve-caterers.co.za

11/11/2024

COOKING IS AN exact science, except when it isn’t. If you flip through community cookbooks or are lucky enough to inherit family recipes, you might come across instructions like “add a dash of soy sauce” or “stir in a pinch of cayenne.” 📜

THESE MEASUREMENTS MAY sound imprecise to some cooks. To others, they’re immediately recognizable. 😬

THAT BEGS THE QUESTION, how much is really in a ‘pinch’ or a ‘dash?’ The answer isn’t straightforward, but by learning to hone your instincts you can cook like a restaurant chef and an old-school Southern grandmother at the same time. 👨‍🍳

HERE'S WHAT TO DO when you see these vague-seeming measurements in a recipe: 👇🏽

🔘 HOW MUCH IS IN A PINCH?
A pinch is equivalent to approximately ¹/₁₆ of a teaspoon. You’ll most likely see it used as a form of measurement for dry ingredients like salt or spices. To dole out a pinch, you can either partially fill your smallest measuring spoon or estimate by grabbing a tiny amount of the ingredient in question with your fingertips.

🔘 HOW MUCH IS IN A DASH?
A dash is a similarly ambiguous term of measurement that typically comes out to twice as much as a pinch, or ⅛ of a teaspoon. This is most often used with liquid, like ‘a dash of hot sauce'. Dashes are often used in cocktail recipes, too.

Source: www.foodandwine.com

06/11/2024

A POPULAR CHOICE for weddings big and small, our harvest tables are a visual feast that sets the tone for a warm, inviting atmosphere. 😃

WITH CAREFULLY CURATED meats, cheeses, fresh fruits, artisanal breads, and unique accompaniments, we can offer something for every palate and accommodate various dietary preferences seamlessly. ☑️

GET IN TOUCH with us for a tailor-made quote today: 👇🏽
📲 072 233 2002
📧 [email protected]
💻 www.verve-caterers.co.za

04/11/2024

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🍾 💃 🪩 🍾 💃 🪩 🍾 💃 🪩 🍾 💃 🪩 🍾

THE VERVE TEAM recently had the honour of catering a very special 21st birthday for a wonderful family at their home high up in the hills of the Mother City.

THE LIGHTS OF THE WATERFRONT provided the perfect backdrop for the glittering celebration ~ tailored menus were served to the parents and the young adults who totalled 130 guests.

THE EVENING was lovely and casual and the informal starters and main meal dining consisted of:~
•• Harvest Table
•• Sushi Selection
•• Chicken Sliders w/ Hoisin & Pickled Cucumber
•• Prawn, Avocado, Tomato Salad Bowl Food
•• Penne Arrabiata (Tomato, Chilli & Basil Pasta)

THANK YOU to the clients for entrusting this very special event to the Verve Team ~ we thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the evening.

•••••••••••••••••
CHAT TO US today for all your catering needs:

Chef/owner Marius Botha:
📱 072 233 2002
📧 [email protected]
💻 www.verve-caterers.co.za

28/10/2024

CHOCOLATE IS NOT just for dessert anymore. Particularly now that we know it may be actually healthy for us. 😃

WHETHER USED TO add richness and complexity to sauces, chili, veggies or pasta, chocolate is capable of showing off its savoury side. 🍫

IN CELEBRATION OF Chocolate Day, we've decided to share some creative ways to use chocolate in your cooking: 👇🏽

🔘 MOLE SAUCE
Hot chiles and rich chocolate make a mole sauce that's perfect for topping stewed meats or enchiladas.

🔘 CACAO NIB PESTO
Adding cacao nibs to traditional basil pesto gives your dish a smoky dimension. Use this pesto on pasta or spread it on toasted crusty bread topped with grated Italian cheese for a unique and healthy appetizer.

🔘 CHOCOLATE-PORT SAUCE
Chocolate and rosemary are the surprise flavours in a delicious sauce to accompany a seared tenderloin.

🔘 BALSAMIC-BITTER CHOCOLATE SYRUP
A surprisingly simple syrup can elevate roasted baby carrots into an elegant, dramatic, delectable side dish. The syrup goes equally well with roasted beets, and it's also sublime drizzled over a well-seasoned grilled steak.

Source: www.allrecipes.com

20/10/2024

👨‍🍳 HAPPY INTERNATIONAL CHEF'S DAY 👨‍🍳

IN HONOUR OF International Chef's Day, we're celebrating the man behind the magic in the Verve kitchen. 😃

WHETHER HE'S flipping some burgers on the grill, crafting a variety of canapés, or cooking up a few laughs in the kitchen, Chef Marius brings passion, creativity, and flavour to every occasion. 🥂

17/10/2024

Thank you to Nuusflits for this wonderful endorsement – we greatly appreciate the mention!

When organising a year end function, one of the decisions is whether hosting the function at a restaurant, a catering company, or to go DIY.

14/10/2024

FULLY CUSTOMISABLE to your preferences, our 3 course plated meals are the perfect solution for wedding catering, year-end functions or any banquet style event. 🍽

WE OFFER NEARLY any style of cuisine and we'll gladly craft a menu to complement your theme and personal taste. 📜

VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN options can also be catered for upon request. 😃

GET IN TOUCH with us for a tailor-made quote today: 👇🏽
📲 072 233 2002
📧 [email protected]
💻 www.verve-caterers.co.za

07/10/2024

THERE'S A PRECISE SCIENCE to cutting cheese that factors in shape, texture and flavour. 🔪

CUTTING CHEESE BASED ON varietal and shape will help cut back on waste, while allowing everyone to enjoy the same quality in a portion. 🧀

HERE'S HOW TO CUT cheese like a connoisseur: 👇🏽

🔘 WHEELS & ROUNDS (Camembert, Fourme d'Ambert, Edam):Cut even wedge slices from the center to the outer edge — basically the same way you'd slice a cake. Simplify this process by cutting a round in half and working with a half-moon piece to ensure slices are even.

🔘 SOFT WEDGES (Brie, triple cream cheeses):
Cut into even slices from the center of the point to the rind or outer edge. If it's a softer, gooier cheese, cut off a small triangle piece near the point to avoid making a mess.

🔘 HARD & SEMI-HARD RECTANGLES (Gouda, Gruyère, Fontina, Double Gloucester):
First, cut the block horizontally — this will make slicing easier, especially when dealing with guests at parties. Then, cut vertically along the rind piece portion. For the second portion, cut slices across the width of the cheese.

🔘 PYRAMIDS (Pouligny-Saint-Pierre, Cerney):
At the center, square top of the pyramid, slice into even wedges from top to bottom.

🔘 LOGS (Chèvre, Sainte-Maure de Touraine):
Cut horizontally to make small, thinly sliced rounds in the shape of coins. It's really important to use a cheese lyre [wire cutter]. A regular knife may lead to mashing the cheese.

🔘 VEINED (Blue cheese, gorgonzola):
Carefully slice cheeses of this nature into points from the bottom center of the thin edge.

🔘 HEARTS:
Cut these like a round cheese, starting at the center to the outer rind, making even slices throughout. Note: slices will be oddly shaped after cutting, but will still taste delicious.

Source: www.foodandwine.com

01/10/2024

🕺🍱 CHEERS to a supercharged week! 🍱🕺

THE VERVE TEAM has had a VERY busy week and a half ~ Verve Caterers & Events has a brand new home in gorgeous Gordon’s Bay’s industrial area and what a job it’s been planning, packing, renovating, unpacking, and scrubbing – all in time for a BIG full-day function this Thursday in the Overberg! 🙏

A HUGE HIGH FIVE to our ladies, Lindy and Lameez, for the long hours and the wonderful spirit that they tackled the challenges of the last week with (as always! 😇) – you are so appreciated 💪

30/09/2024

SPECIALISTS IN YEAR-END FUNCTIONS for almost two decades, the Verve Team has proudly worked with the likes of
•• Avis Rent a Car
•• BMW
•• The Foschini Group
•• Pepcor
•• Suzuki SA
•• Beachcomber Tours South Africa
and many more over the years.

WHAT SETS VERVE APART is our attention to detail from first quote to final goodbye, and our dedication to excellence every step of the way.

WE ENJOY A HIGH RATE of repeat clients because they know the quality associated with a Verve Event is second to none – the client experience is paramount to every member of the team.

ALL FACETS OF YOUR event is in our hands:
•• Full-scale catering
•• Mobile bar set up
•• DJ, PA system, sound
•• Furniture and décor
•• Professional waiter and bar staff
•• Bedouin tents
and everything else.

GET IN TOUCH with us for a tailor-made quote today: 👇🏽
📲 072 233 2002
📧 [email protected]
💻 www.verve-caterers.co.za

24/09/2024

The Verve team would like to wish every South African a joyous Heritage Day! 🇿🇦

18/09/2024

🎈 🥂 🎈🥂 🎈 🥂 🎈 🥂 🎈 🥂 🎈 🥂 🎈

HIGH IN THE hills above beautiful Gordon’s Bay was the location of a memorable birthday party recently.

THE HOSTESS arranged a most special soirée for her brother who was visiting from overseas for his big day. The menu consisted of canapés and bowl foods which are our go-to suggestions for a casual and easy dining experience.

CANAPÉS | Corn Fritters | Chicken Croquettes | Goats Cheese Red Onion Chutney Cheesecake | Mini Beef Burgers | Potato Rosti, Dill Crème Fraiche & Black Caviar

BOWL FOODS | Thai Chicken & Cashew Nut | Beef Fillet w/ Exotic Mushroom Sauce | Wild Mushroom Risotto

DESSERT CANAPÉS | Raspberry Crème Brûlée | Pecan Nut Brownies | Lemon Meringue Pies

THANK YOU to our lovely client for entrusting this wonderful get together to the Verve Team. It was a great pleasure cooking for you!

•••••••••••••••••
CHAT TO US today for all your high-end catering needs:
Owner/Head Chef Marius Botha:
📱 072 233 2002
💻 www.verve-caterers.co.za
📧 [email protected]

16/09/2024

IF THERE'S ONE cooking technique you need to know, it’s how to sauté. Sautéeing is a relatively fast cooking technique that allows you to brown food as you cook off excess liquid to intensify the flavour in your food. 👨‍🍳

THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT things to keep in mind when sautéeing food is the ratio of fat to your ingredient and the size of your ingredient. You’ll need to have enough oil or butter in the pan to facilitate even cooking; however, you don’t want to add so much that you are shallow-frying. 🍄

AS A GENERAL RULE, sautéeing uses anywhere from one to four tablespoons for a large skillet. Of course, this amount of fat varies if you have a smaller or larger pan, or more or less ingredients. And those ingredients should be cut to an even size so they cook at the same rate. 🔪

WHEN YOU ARE READY to sauté, heat the oil or butter in a skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add your ingredients, keeping an eye on the amount of food and the size of your pan. 🧈

IT'S IMPORTANT YOU DON’T overcrowd the pan with food when sautéeing. The ingredients need enough room to brown — if there is too much food, the ingredients will steam instead of brown. As you cook, be sure to stir them occasionally, to make sure everything is evenly cooked. Stirring while sautéeing means even if there are hot spots in your pans or on your stove, the ingredients will get cooked equally. Cook until they are lightly browned and reach the desired doneness, often anywhere from one to 10 minutes. 😃

Source: www.foodandwine.com

12/09/2024

IT IS NEVER too early to start planning your year end function, however it should never be left to the last minute! 😃

IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING to plan yours, here are some things to consider: 👇🏽

☑️ BUDGET
Set this early to avoid a headache later on.

☑️ DATE
The normal time for a company year end party is in the first two weeks of December, however this is not a set rule. Choose a few dates to present to prospective venues.

☑️ VENUE
There are so many venue options to choose from and your event planner can help with your final selection. The venue you choose will inevitably be determined by the size of event and budget.

☑️ GUESTLIST
Think about who you will be inviting (staff, clients, plus ones).

☑️ INVITATIONS
These should be sent out early and include all the details about date, venue and dress code.

VERVE CAN ASSIST with planning and executing the most spectacular event to end off your working year. 🍾

CONTACT US for an initial discussion about your ideas and budget and let us come up with some great concepts. 🥂
📱 072 233 2002
📧 [email protected]
💻 www.verve-caterers.co.za

09/09/2024

🍱 🕊️ 🍱 🕊️ 🍱 🕊️ 🍱 🕊️ 🍱 🕊️ 🍱 🕊️ 🍱

THIS PAST WEEK the team was called on to provide a spread of canapé snacks for a celebration of life that a client in the agricultural industry was hosting.

THE VARIETY of items that left the kitchen early on Tuesday morning included an assortment of savoury and sweet bites for the 200 attendees ~

•• Arancini Balls •• Mini Bagels •• Chicken Satay Skewers •• Teriyaki Chicken Skewers •• Chicken Spring Rolls •• Caribbean BBQ Chicken, Corn Bread Squares •• Butter Chicken Rotis •• Pulled Pork & Cole Slaw Sliders •• Beef & Cheddar Sliders •• Beef Empanaditas •• Beef Souvlaki Skewers •• Mini Vetkoek w/ Thai Curried Beef •• Smoked Trout & Spinach Clafoutis •• Hake & Smoked Trout Cakes •• Chicken Caesar Wraps •• Grilled Beef, Rocket & Caramelised Onion Wraps •• Lemon Meringue Pies •• Lemon Cheesecakes •• Pecan Nut Brownies •• Strawberry & Lemon Cheesecakes •• Carrot Cake Squares

THANK YOU to our client for entrusting the catering for this most special occasion to Verve. It was a pleasure cooking for you.

•••••••••••••••••••
CHAT TO US today for all your catering needs. We’d love to cook for you!

Owner/chef Marius Botha:
📱 072 233 2002
📧 [email protected]
💻 www.verve-caterers.co.za

02/09/2024

SALMON IS ONE OF the most popular fish to cook and eat. It’s incredibly versatile and has a buttery, melt-in-your mouth texture when perfectly cooked. But there’s a fine line between properly cooked salmon and a dry, mealy disappointment. That is why it’s so important to know the ideal final temperature when cooking salmon. 🍣

COOKED SALMON IS BEST enjoyed medium-rare as this provides the optimal moist, tender and buttery texture without drying out the muscle fibers. The ideal final temperature would thus be 52°C. ☑️

A CRITICAL PART OF the cooking process, especially for more delicate proteins like salmon, is carryover cooking. After your salmon is removed from the heat source, whether it's a grill, skillet or oven, the internal temperature will continue to increase. 🌡️

RESTING IS AN IMPORTANT part of the cooking process. It is important that you allow it to rest for a minute or two to allow the heat to spread throughout the protein. If you don’t allow the fish to rest, you risk serving fish that is seared on the outside and cold in the middle. ✖️

Source: www.foodandwine.com