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NEWS
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Fix the Fat, Buy Local!
Do you find yourself walking into the nearest chain grocery store?
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Who said only Europeans drink espresso?
It used to be thought only Europeans could hold down a cup of espresso in the morning...
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Too Busy To Cook?
Busy business people around the world are sacrificing their personal time to keep up...
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Airline Food Becomes Cuisine?
Little did American Airlines know when they began serving meals... "they" give rise to the most hated
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Check out all
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Fix the Fat, Buy Local!
By: Antonio Abrantes, 11/04/07
Do you find yourself walking into the nearest chain grocery store wondering when it became acceptable for more than three quarters of the store being filled with junk food? It's no wonder why the American norm is obesity. We blame the big fast food restaurants for the growth of fat in America, but the problem is much graver than that.
Do we, as a society, need more than ten different kinds of artificially flavored maple syrup, or fifteen varieties of peanut butter filled with chemicals for our kids, or better yet over sixty varieties of sugar-laden cereal. Why not have varieties in the produce aisle? It can be excruciatingly difficult to find jicama, ginger, or even fresh basil in most of these stores.
These stores are filled with things we don't want until we see their pretty packaging; why can't we control our impulses? Simply put, marketing. Why don't we as society just know what is nutritionally right from wrong and fix our diets? Why are we so afraid of facing reality?
The alternative available us to today are farmers' markets and some independent grocery stores. While some of the items may be a few cents more expensive, it is important to support these smaller businesses that are trying to help America break out of its rut.
We can definitely live (longer) without the junk from the chain stores, buy local and help America lose some of its excess weight.
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Antonio Abrantes, known for both his culinary as well as his baking and pastry skills, is the Director of Culinary Services for
Impact Events Universal, a global event management and personal chef firm. As a Food and Beverage professional for ten years, Antonio has worked under some world renowned chefs while living and studying in New York, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal. Antonio also holds degrees from both the Culinary Institute of America and the Connecticut Culinary Institute. If you have any questions for Antonio, he can be
reached here.
Copyright © 2007, Impact Events Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Who said only Europeans drink espresso?
By: Antonio Abrantes, 11/04/07
It used to be thought only Europeans could hold down a cup of espresso in the morning or as an afternoon drink. We all love those sugary drinks from Starbucks or Dunkin' Doughnuts, but espresso can be so much more refreshing on those cold mornings - and better for your diet, too. Thanks to the Starbucks phenomenon, it is okay to drink this once shunned, "it's too strong" coffee drink. What most people do not understand is that, espresso is made from the same beans of the ever-popular coffee; however, it is ground finer and brewed with significantly less water.
In order to make the perfect espresso you have to start with great beans. Personally, I recommend Illy coffee - the medium roast - it is widely available in specialty kitchen stores or even specialty grocery stores, or directly from Illy's website. The majority of home espresso machines now accept pods - this makes it much easier to make a great cup of espresso without having to grind, and pack your own coffee.
You can tell the perfect espresso apart by its hallmark crema on top - which is light colored, creamy foam. Espresso is always best served with a small piece of lemon rind. Simply stir the rind around in the espresso and remove to eliminate some of that bitterness - you definitely don't need to add sugar. All that separates this from the perfect day is a small shortbread cookie or some biscotti.
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Antonio Abrantes, known for both his culinary as well as his baking and pastry skills, is the Director of Culinary Services for
Impact Events Universal, a global event management and personal chef firm. As a Food and Beverage professional for ten years, Antonio has worked under some world renowned chefs while living and studying in New York, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal. Antonio also holds degrees from both the Culinary Institute of America and the Connecticut Culinary Institute. If you have any questions for Antonio, he can be
reached here.
Copyright © 2007, Impact Events Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Too Busy To Cook?
By: James De Lise
Busy business people around the world are sacrificing their personal time to keep up with their demanding jobs. It is no wonder that many individuals buy ready-made meals. But is this the best choice? Certainly it is not the healthiest option, with all of the preservatives found in these frozen 'delights.' Are we doing ourselves any favors by consuming them? Not really, according to several studies - including one by the European Commission - some preservatives are shown to increase the risk of pancreatic cancer in adults and hyperactivity in children.
According to a recent CNN article, more and more individuals are hiring personal chefs - not just executives, doctors, and lawyers, but more and more of the rest of us - school teachers, court reporters, et cetera - in order to cope with their busier days.
Personal chefs do not have to be expensive, usually they cost about the same as going out to eat at a nice restaurant - only the menu is customized for you, you do not have to go out, no waiting for reservations, and you aren't expected to tip.
With the new levels of personal chefs available to us, you can have someone prepare meals fresh three times a day, or simply come by once or twice a week, preparing freezable meals that you can easily reheat.
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James De Lise is a seasoned hospitality professional whose career has spanned more than ten years. Originally from New York, he has worked and studied in Atlanta and London. James holds a degree in Culinary Arts from the Culinary Institute of America and is the Managing Director of
Impact Events Universal, a global event management and personal chef firm. If you have any questions for James, he can be reached
here.
Copyright © 2007, Impact Events Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
Previous | Close | Next
Airline Food Becomes Cuisine?
By: James De Lise
Little did American Airlines know when they began serving meals on their DC-3s in 1936 that they were going to give rise to the most hated - and welcomed at the same time - product for travelers across the globe. For some, airline food is the ubiquitous retrieve they look forward to - simply breaks up the monotony for those long haul flights. For others, it's a loathsome occurrence they must endure - it is not like they can easily bring and cook their own food at 30,000 feet.
From barely recognizable meat loaf to the vegetarian meal you ordered only because it sounds safer, airline food came from pretty abysmal beginnings. Now with celebrity chefs teaming up with airlines the tides are gradually turning. With food scientists developing ways to ensure that the change in taste with the pressure and altitude is accounted for, airline food as become a thing to look forward to for the right reasons.
The only thing holding the industry back at the moment is the buy your own onboard "sandwiches" and "salads" - I'm not entirely convinced that you can call them sandwiches or salads due to their sad lack of quality. It's time for all of the airlines to jump on the bandwagon of a few and turn airline 'cuisine' around.
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James De Lise is a seasoned hospitality professional whose career has spanned more than ten years. Originally from New York, he has worked and studied in Atlanta and London. James holds a degree in Culinary Arts from the Culinary Institute of America and is the Managing Director of
Impact Events Universal, a global event management and personal chef firm. If you have any questions for James, he can be reached
here.
Copyright © 2007, Impact Events Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
FAQ's
When you hire Impact Events, you can expect:
So how does Impact Events Universal guarantee your event will be perfect?
What qualifies Impact Events to plan my next event?
What do you offer on the culinary side?
How much advance notice do you need to plan my party?
Where can you execute my event?
How much does it cost to hire you?
What is a personal chef? What do they do?
What are some of the services the personal chefs provide?
What distinguishes your chefs from just finding one on the local grocery store bulletin board?
Isn't having a personal chef just for the uber rich?
Can we book anytime for a chef?
What if I'm not home when my chef is?
How long does it take the chef to create the meal?
What about having a chef on staff full time?
How do you handle billing for your contracted, on-going personal chef service?
What time of day can a chef be of service?
I've never used a personal chef, how does it work?
What if my chef and I don't get along?
Are your chefs uniformed?
Are your chefs licensed?
Do you cook in my kitchen?
How do you come up with the menu?
Who does the clean-up?
I don't have a lot of money to spend; can you work within my budget?
Can I have a say in the planning?
If my event is a so-called destination event can Impact Events Universal handle the transportation and lodging needs of our group?
I've noticed some other event planners tack on a variety of surcharges to my bill, including gratuity and other expenses, is this the standard?
Do you expect any kind of gratuity?
Why should I outsource the event instead of handling it myself?
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When you hire Impact Events, you can expect:
Prompt, courteous service
Expertise in the event planning and culinary fields Meticulous planning (we plan your event down to the minute) A team of experts that will ensure everything goes perfectly during your event Outstanding customer service and around the clock availability before, during, and after your event.
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So how does Impact Events Universal guarantee your event will be perfect?
At the initial consultation we will talk about the scope of your event, including size, dates, possible themes, and budget We draft a proposal that outlines exactly what you will get We guarantee to stay within your budget (no hidden, last-minute costs!) We modify the proposal to meet your needs Once we agree on the proposal, we will book your location, secure vendors, and begin the meticulous planning process. You NEVER NEED TO LIFT A FINGER FROM THIS POINT ON (of course, we are always available to answer your questions and discuss your concerns... that's what we're here for!) On the day of the event, our expert on-site coordinator will ensure that everything goes exactly according to plan, so you don't have to worry about a thing.
After the event, we handle all clean-up and follow-up duties so you can walk away without worrying about a thing... and knowing that you made the right decision choosing Impact Events
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What qualifies Impact Events to plan my next event?
Our company started on the east coast as a corporate event planning firm. After we moved to Central Oregon we changed our name to Impact Events Universal as it better says exactly what we do.
Some of the recent high profile events we have participated in include a Rudy Giuliani campaign fundraiser and a product launch for Microsoft.
We have a stellar reputation in the industry and are equipped to handle events anywhere around the globe.
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What do you offer on the culinary side?
Not everyone loves to cook (for small or large groups!) but everyone deserves to eat great food! At Impact Events, we offer a suite of culinary services to meet your every need.
We are uniquely positioned to offer many culinary services including, but not limited to:
Personal chef services on a contracted, recurring basis or for unique, one-time events (such as a romantic anniversary dinner, small party, or large family gathering) Full service catering for your event, whether you choose Impact Events as your planning service or not
We can prepare meals daily for strict dietary needs We can work with your doctor or trainer to ensure you get exactly what you need, without having to worry about getting something you don't need.
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How much advance notice do you need to plan my party?
We can work with anything from 2 years notice (or more) to 2 days notice (although events with short notice do have some restrictions due to available services in a short time frame)
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Where can you execute my event?
Our name says it all - Universal - we will execute your event wherever you want us to. We are a global firm dedicated to your satisfaction.
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How much does it cost to hire you?
For event planning, we can work within any budget. Our fee comes out of your budget, not on top of it, and you won't need to sacrifice quality because our unique position in the marketplace allows us to contract services at substantial discounts, saving you several times what our services would cost.
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What is a personal chef? What do they do?
A personal chef is the restaurant experience brought to you the client at the leisure of one's home, office, event venue, etc. He/she is hired to attend to maintaining and providing the best quality meal for a client in a home, at a board meeting, at a party, or dinner for two. We tailor menus to the client's taste and wants and make it happen, no meal too little or big. Our personal chefs cater to every food wants or needed and devote their time to each clients preferences and desires.
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What are some of the services the personal chefs provide?
Our personal chefs provide daily meals prepared and cooked at the home or another client venue. We also can execute coursed dinners and tasting menus.
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What distinguishes your chefs from just finding one on the local grocery store bulletin board?
Our chefs have a passion for food and have professional training and excellent references. Our promise to you is quality and consistency. We bring the fine dining restaurant to the comfort of your home.
We do this without the wait and sometimes-deplorable service that we come to expect of the majority of restaurants.
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Isn't having a personal chef just for the uber rich?
Not at all, when you factor all the costs involved with going out to eat or even preparing everything yourself you will be pleasantly surprised.
Factoring in our fee and menu charge, your typical meal should come out lower or the same as a comparable restaurant. This is because we are able to charge less than restaurants due to our infinitely reduced overhead.
Using their skill set they can reduce any waste products to a marginal amount - definitely not the same as if you wanted to try out that Food Network
TM recipe yourself.
The time saved is almost benefit enough in today's work-centric society.
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Can we book anytime for a chef?
Depending on what you are trying to accomplish (one-time or ongoing) we need usually at least a week. However, we are able to accommodate shorter notice by having one of our corporate chefs travel to you in the interim.
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What if I'm not home when my chef is?
You can make arrangements to give the chef access to the venue. Our chefs have been background checked and carry insurance so there is no need to fear any ill consequences.
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How long does it take the chef to create the meal?
This definitely depends on the menu. One of our culinary services representatives would be happy discuss that with you.
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What about having a chef on staff full time?
We would be happy to assist you with that, the costs would vary based on your individual requirements.
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How do you handle billing for your contracted, on-going personal chef service?
At the time of booking we will bill you for the first and last week of service and at the end of each week we will bill you for the next week. We accept cash, check, and major credit cards - and of course you may redeem our gift certificates for this service as well.
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What time of day can a chef be of service?
We can have a chef available to you at anytime. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Midnight Snack - you name it, we do it.
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I've never used a personal chef, how does it work?
Our chef will contact you regarding your specific needs and prepare a regular menu with you. Each day we will deliver your meals at a specified time to ensure the highest quality, freshest ingredients.
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What if my chef and I don't get along?
Simply tell your sales representative or the Director of Culinary Services and we will be sure to find you a suitable replacement as quickly as possible. We won't look past any option so long as it means that we are exceeding your expectations.
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Are your chefs uniformed?
Our chefs will arrive professionally attired in a full chef's uniform.
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Are your chefs licensed?
All of our chefs have taken food safety courses and have the relevant licenses or certifications required by your municipality.
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Do you cook in my kitchen?
Yes. We can cook in most kitchens, but if special circumstances exist we can work out an individual arrangement.
When you and your guests sit down to your meal, you can bask in the credit for all of the irresistible aromas coming from your kitchen. With our signature dishes, your guests are sure to be impressed.
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How do you come up with the menu?
Your chef and our Corporate Executive Chef will work together to create a variety of menus to assure you won't become bored with our services. Of course if you have any special requests let us know and we will be sure to accommodate them.
There are two steps to our service:
1. Tell us what you like
2. Sit back and enjoy
It is as simple as that.
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Who does the clean-up?
We do! You don't have to worry about a thing!
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Who supplies utensils and cooking supplies?
We provide everything, even when cooking in your kitchen.
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I don't have a lot of money to spend; can you work within my budget?
Definitely! In fact, using our preferred vendors, we can typically stretch your dollar further than if you were planning your event on your own.
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Can I have a say in the planning?
We work with you from the beginning to ensure the event is exactly what you want. From there, we take care of the rest. If you have questions or concerns, or want to make any changes (or use a specific vendor) we will do everything in our power to help.
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If my event is a so-called destination event can Impact Events Universal handle the transportation and lodging needs of our group?
Most assuredly, whether you are footing the bill for everyone's transportation or want them to book their own from a 'block' of seats or hotel rooms, we are more than able to assist.
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I've noticed some other event planners tack on a variety of surcharges to my bill, including gratuity and other expenses, is this the standard?
Unfortunately, in this day and age, everyone seems to be focusing on their wallet rather than the client—many of our 'competitors' are included in this category.
We do not charge anything other than our 'fee' and the costs from our vendors. Your invoice will be quite simply, a line by line listing of vendor charges with a description of what they were for and our one line fee.
Our fee is agreed upon ahead of time and will not increase. Rest assured, we do not appreciate hidden fees when we buy products and services from others and our integrity and code of ethics prohibits our use of such tactics.
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Do you expect any kind of gratuity?
Other than your satisfaction we do not expect any gratuity. Salaries and any other incentives reward our staff members; they don't expect any tips. As a matter of fact, if anyone from Impact Events asks for a gratuity please report it to our Managing Director.
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Why should I outsource the event instead of handling it myself?
By allowing us the privilege to execute your event you are ensuring that industry experts are dedicating themselves to exceed your expectations while staying within your budget.
You are better situated to serve both your personal and professional life when you aren't stressed out by planning an event. Our professionals have extensive experience planning events - after all, it is our full time job - and you are better served doing what you do best - your life!
Everyone seems to be work-oriented these days. Event planning is not your day-to-day specialty - it's ours. Let us take the burden of managing and arranging every aspect of the occasion for you.
So you can bask with the credit of a job well done, and secure a favorable review the next time the HR minion rolls around.
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What are some of the services the personal chefs provide?
Our personal chefs provide daily meals prepared and cooked at the home or another client venue. We also can execute coursed dinners and tasting menus.
Back To Main
What are some of the services the personal chefs provide?
Our personal chefs provide daily meals prepared and cooked at the home or another client venue. We also can execute coursed dinners and tasting menus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Impact Events Universal is your full-service event planning and culinary partner. When you hire Impact Events, you know that you'll get a smooth, impressive event that will leave your clients asking, "How'd you plan this whole thing... and never lose a night of sleep?"
We regularly plan events for groups as small as 2 people all the way up to corporate events hosting thousands. No matter the size or budget of your event, you can rest assured that Impact Events Universal will handle every detail, from picking a date and location all the way to cleanup... and everything in between.
We treat all events the same: as our most important event ever. Our goal is to have your guests walk away in awe of how great your event was, and to have you walk away in awe of how easy everything was. We want your repeat business, we want you to send referrals to us, but most importantly of all, we want to make you proud of the job we've done.
