It's Commencement time...Break out the Cap and Gown.

Commencement time has arrived and Provence is quite busy catering many on-campus VIP events throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. For almost a decade, Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania have counted on Provence Catering's elegant food and stylish fun to make their most important events an unrivaled success.


The list of colleges and universities in the region working with Provence continues to grow as does the glowing accolades that continue to fill our inbox. This thank you note recently arrived from an appreciative new client at a prestigious school who was quite impressed with our Pastry Chef.

"The desserts were delicious and definitely hit the spot in the middle of the afternoon. This menu looks wonderful, and I will be in touch in July when we start planning out of events for next year. "

Our desserts always win friends and influence people.

The Bump selects Provence Catering to cater the East Coast Premeire of the movie "Babies" on Broadway.

Provence Catering will back in Times Square next month, catering the VIP reception for the East Coast premiere of the movie "Babies." Hosted by the lifestyle website, The Bump, this movie celebrates parenthood and the lifestyle changes that follow to four different families around the world.


This reception is the third high-profile event that Provence Catering has done for The Knot and their family of websites. Event Planners at The Knot have a close working relationship with Provence and look to the region's finest off-premise caterer to deliver a world class event for their high-end clientele.

"Our standards are quite high and we look to Provence to provide an exceptional product. Their work is outstanding and our customers really enjoy their food and service," remarked Laura, Marketing Manager.

Wharton Leadership celebrate career milestone with Provence luncheon.

The best always want to enjoy the best. Last week Provence Catering was the proud caterer for a elegant luncheon for the Dean's Office at the Wharton School honoring two remarkable employees for their loyalty and outstanding executive service to the University of Pennsylvania.

The Dean's Staff is the very definition of professionalism and a pleasure to work with.

We hail their commitment to a time-honored tradition of business leadership, world class hospitality and WhartonFirst.

Their beautifully displayed menu was expertly executed. Give us a call at 610-539-8330 to learn more about this spectacular spring luncheon and how we can make your next event an unrivaled success.

Let Them Eat Cake

Desserts are my kryptonite; cakes, cookies, cupcakes, pies, pastries, brownies, you name it, I savor them all. Desserts are the ultimate ending to any meal or, well, are sometimes just a meal all on their own. Provence's kitchen is constantly cooking up decedent and mouth watering desserts that are the talk-of-the-town. The aroma of our chocolate praline bombe, apple blueberry crisp, blondies, and creme brulee waft through the air in our office make our staff jumping off the walls for a taste.

Our world-class executive pastry Chef Nicole Endrikat makes some of the best pastries and she’s starting to get recognized around the area to be to the go-to for crème de la crème of pastries, cakes, cookies and much more. Nicole will be representing Provence in the competitive "Let Them Eat Cake 2010" event, the premiere wedding cake design competition of the year. This year the competition will be hosted at the Loews Hotel - Philadelphia on April 12th.

The theme for this year’s event is "A Wedding Through a Child's Eyes." All proceeds benefit City of Hope, and there will be complimentary cake, champagne and door prizes. All of Provence will be out there to support our top pastry chef and we invite you to come cheer on Nicole with us!

Provence Catering Wows FRESH 2010 by defying gravity and making a bold statement of decor!

FRESH 2010 at the beautiful Elkins Estate was a stunning success and Provence Catering was the star of show with an awe-inspiring display of decor and design. More than 500 guests marveled at mid-air magic of Philadelphia's premier off-premise caterer.

With a theme of turning the catering world upside down, Provence Catering debuted their upside-down Wedding Cake Trilogy. Executive Sous Chef Rocco and Executive Pastry Chef Nicole combined their considerable talents to defy gravity with three beautifully decorated wedding cakes seemingly suspended upside down in mid-air. Each cake was a different size, shape and completely edible. Chef's Nicole's award-winning wedding cake is always delicious.

Besides the sensational Wedding Cake Trilogy, Chef Rocco and Chef Greg created an opulent cocktail menu that was the real culinary star of the evening. Give us a call at 610-539-8330 to learn more about our fantastic food and what we served at FRESH 2010.

Provence Catering is committed to Excellence. Every Time. Our best work is yet to come.

Tasting Kudo's

With the benefit of catering in the region's premier venues, the wedding business at Provence Catering is up dramatically, over 500% in 2010. The Phoenixville Foundry, Elkins Estate, Chestnut Club, Dupertail House, Grounds for Sculpture and the Camden County Boathouse have all helped position Provence as the area's "gotta have" Wedding Caterer.

Tastings are a key component in the selection process and it's a lot of fun. We have the opportunity to get to know the families and it's a shared moment that is sweetened with laughter and remarkable hospitality. We received a wonderful note today from a stunning couple getting married at the Elkins Estate. They selected Provence as their caterer.

"We would like to thank you for making our tasting so very special. We truly did not know what to expect and we were blown away by the amount of time, attention and detail that was put into our tasting. With this being said, we are so excited about our big day. Thank you to your wonderful staff at Provence."

No, thank you.

Society of Wedding Planners Dinner at Elkins Estate

On March 3rd, Provence Catering was honored to be asked to provide food & beverage for the elite Society of Wedding Planners dinner in Philadelphia. This group of the leading wedding planners and professionals is focused on the education, development, and growth of the wedding professionals industry. When we were approached about catering this great event we could think of no better venue than the amazing Elkins Estate. In our get it done attitude we contacted the Estate and were gladly welcomed by Anessa Pappas & Lindsay Martin who quickly agreed to arrange the use of the venue for this great group.

According to Karen Pecora, Society of Wedding Planners (SWP) President, "I picked up the phone and contacted Gene at Provence and didn't worry about anything else, It was done." The estate looked incredible that night. The linens from Choice Party Linens perfectly accented the estate. The compliments flowed about the amazing menu selections that evening. "amazing flavor", "incredible presentation", "filling & flavorful but not heavy", & "simply great food" were many of the compliments passed on to us that night from a room full of discerning and knowledgeable wedding professionals.

As the evening progressed and presentations began I was humored to hear Michael Yatvins comments about how this SWP (Society Of Wedding Planners) event was even a better audience than his initial misconception of it being for the Society of Wealthy People. Michael was right, In fact this great audience allowed us to showcase the incredible food and service that makes Provence Catering a leader in the industry.

Our sincerest thanks to Karen Pecora & The SWP Team, as well as Danielle at Choice Party Linens, Alyssa Maloff Photography, Cinemacake Videos, and of course the Elkins Estate for making this a great evening. When choosing caterers for your next event whether it be at Elkins estate, your home, or any one of the venues in which we work I encourage you to consider the caterer endorsed by the SWP as we were that evening.

Valentine's Day Commitment Ceremony

On Valentines Day, Provence Catering was honored to sponsor and organize an amazing event for a loving and committed couple. Sue and Lisa celebrated their love in front of family & friends at the Chestnut Club as part of National Commitment Day celebrations. National Commitment Day is a grass roots movement to dedicate a day each year to the many loving couples that are truly committed to one another but are prevented from marriage by laws and prejudice.

The ceremony & reception were the gifts of so many incredible hospitality and special events people and were coordinated through Provence Catering. Below is an excerpt from a letter written in thanks to the many wonderful people who helped make Sue & Lisa's day special;

"When we found out that our ceremony was to be held at the Chestnut Club in Center City we immediately ran to the nearest laptop to get information and check out pictures from their website. We both instantly fell in love with the venue and its description and couldn't’t wait for the big day to arrive.

A few weeks later we had the opportunity to actually visit the Chestnut Club and take a look around, as well as to meet the lovely Healy Edmonds and have all our questions and concerns answered. As Lisa and I wandered around we were again impressed by the high vaulted ceilings, the floor to ceiling windows, the exposed brick walls, and I was particularly impressed by the multitude of candles covering the surfaces of the venue. As Healy and Jessa Pion (of Provence Catering) described for me the big day, in my mind I had this stunning vision of how everything would unfold. At last that day finally arrived and it was everything I had pictured, and so much more!
Walking into the Chestnut Club on my wedding day, the first thing I noticed was that the venue was such a study in contrasts. It had vintage architecture mixed with modern windows and exposed brick walls. It was huge and spacious but with the right lighting was also extremely intimate. It was classic elegance and modern edge all rolled into one. They showed us the round, where our ceremony would take place, and it was utterly unique. I had never seen or heard of a 360o ceremony before! I don’t even know how to describe the gratitude I felt (and still feel) toward everyone present from Provence Catering, as well as Healy and Karen Pecora (who I finally had the pleasure to meet) and pretty much everyone involved with our big day! Working together, they created the most stunning ceremony and reception in a gorgeous venue, and I didn’t have to worry about a thing! Literally! I can say absolutely honestly that even though I was a nervous wreck, Karen and Healy and the men and women of Provence Catering took care of every last detail and made absolutely sure that the day went perfectly smoothly, so I had plenty of time and energy to focus on not falling as I walked down the aisle.

So, on the day of my wedding I enjoyed a fabulous venue, food that was to die for, elegant décor, a joyous atmosphere, and endless support from the women and men who made it all happen. I was all smiles!"

Thanks to Shutter Booth Photo Booths, Alyssa Maloff Photography, Franks Union Wine Mart, New Hope Winery, Natural Designs Floral, Select Event Rental & Cindi Bene, Eventions Lighting, East Coast Events& Entertainment, Sandy O & The Creative Juice Group, Karen & Healy at The Chestnut Club, Eco-Bar for their Organic Mixers, Ice Concepts, Amy Evaninger for her incredible piano & vocals, Journeys of the Heart & the owners & team at Provence Catering.

Society Of Wedding Planners March Meeting

Provence Catering is very excited to be the host caterer for the Society of Wedding Planners March meeting at the incredible Elkins Estate. What an incredible event this will be and we are expecting an wonderful turn out. In addition to the beautiful setting, the incredible foods presented by Provence Catering there will be presentations from Rebecca Druckenmiller from The Queen of Hearts and our key note from Michele Paiva www. michelepaiva.com. Our sincerest thanks to Danielle at Choice Party Linens, Irene at Party Rental, Anessa and Lindsay at The Elkins Estate, Karen Pecora and The entire SWP Group for their support in this wonderful event. If you are interested in this incredible organization or event please contact Karen Pecora or check out their website at http://www.societyofweddingplanners.com/ Come out March 3rd and see a a great trio: Provence Catering, The Elkins Estate and The Society of Wedding Planners.

Vesper Boat Club

Vesper Boat Club is located on historic Boathouse Row in Fairmount Park, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The club recently completed a thorough renovation with meticulous attention to restoring the house to its original splendor. The memorabilia and artifacts on display narrate the extraordinary history and traditions of Vesper, the Olympics and rowing, including the well-known Kelly family. The boathouse is available for private parties, receptions, weddings and corporate events. Features include spectacular views of the Schuylkill river and the Philadelphia skyline.

The spacious reception room features extraordinary Vesper memorabilia including photos, trophies, plaques and banners of Vesper members and victories spanning more than a century. The round bar room opens to the front deck. With its original working fireplace, wet bar and wraparound bench seating, this intimate room has many uses and possibilities. The front and rear decks overlooking the river and historic Kelly Drive provide additional space during the warmer months.

Upon request, members are available to speak about Vesper and the rowing tradition. A rear balcony tent is available. It has heating, air conditioning and a built in large-screen audio/visual system available. There is a 175 guest maximum for cocktails or other stand-up receptions. 100 guests capacity for sit-down dinners in the reception room.

Sue and Lisa's Commitment Day

This coming Sunday at the beautiful Chestnut Club in Philadelphia, a wonderful couple will enjoy a dream come true as they celebrate their commitment to one another. Sue and Lisa won our free commitment ceremony and reception through an essay in the PGN that is sponsored by Provence Catering to mark the inaugural National Commitment Day. Provence Catering with the support of so many incredible sponsors (including The Chestnut Club, East Coast Event Group, Brian Toner at Eventions, Alyssa Maloof Photography, Natural Designs Floral, Select Event Rental, Shutter Booth Photo Booths, Sandy O and The Creative Juice Group, New Hope Winery, Franks Union Wine Mart, Ice Concepts & Eco-Bar are making this dream come true for this incredible couple.

Here is their heart warming and humorous essay:

Lisa and I met on October 7, 2007, which you may remember as the day Outfest was held that year. I had just transferred to Temple University and decided that volunteering at said event would be a good way to make friends in the LGBT community here, and Lisa was looking for a good way to spend a day off work and decided to volunteer herself. I arrived at 8am and was given the task of taking vendor requests for tables and chairs and assigning people to carry them to the proper location. Lisa was selected to work under me and carry tables and chairs where I told her to. Also assigned to me were several young teenage girls, who decided that spending hours at the nearest Starbucks was a better use of their time, and a drag queen whose unfortunate choice of footwear (four inch stiletto heels, to be exact) rendered her essentially useless, thereby making Lisa one of the best workers I had, and I certainly took advantage of that (later she tells me that she was trying to impress me with her work effort). With our duties complete, Lisa and I decided to explore Outfest together and get to know each other.

By the end of the day she had asked me out (twice, because she was so nervous) and given me an impromptu kiss as I said goodbye. I was a bundle of nerves before our first date a week later, and turns out I had reason to be as it was a complete disaster. Rather than spending time alone together, we ended up driving all around Philadelphia attempting to locate my roommate whose car had broken down. Despite all that, and having been through hell and back with each other, Lisa proposed to me a year into our relationship. We moved in together and here we are, looking forward to celebrating our two year anniversary at this year’s Outfest.

So why do I think we deserve this wonderful opportunity being offered by this contest? Well, we're young. And because we're young, we are broke and impatient. I will (hopefully) be graduating this coming May, and I have recently sent out my applications to medical schools all over the northeast. While I am busy with school, Lisa is working full time in Rio Grande, NJ and is sacrificing working 5 days of the week, 2 hours away to keep a roof over my head and food on the table while she works on obtaining a scholarship for flight school. In short, it's a feat unto itself being able to pay rent on time (somewhat), and the truth is that we have no idea what school I will get into and where we will be a year from now. So we were given a choice. Wait another few years until I am done with school completely to tie the knot, or do it after graduation with a limited amount of time and a budget of $0. We both decided that we would rather not wait that long. Truth is told, the how and when and where part doesn't matter so much to me. All I need is me and her and it will be perfect. But I know Lisa feels differently. She may smile and say, "Baby, we can have a city hall ceremony with just my mom there, it doesn't matter", but I know she wants the ceremony with all the trimmings. She wants the cake and the catering and she wants her huge, crazy family to be present. So maybe the biggest reason I think we deserve this opportunity, dear reader, is a selfish one. The reason is this: the greatest gift to me would be the ability to give her this opportunity. Since the day I met her I have been telling her that she is deserving and worthy of the best things that life has to offer, and if it is within my power to give her these things than I have to try. I have to take this chance and hope for the best.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my story and for providing the lucky winners in the gay community such a wonderful gift.

Our Best Wishes To Sue and Lisa on this incredible occasion and thanks to all those who helped make their dream a reality and showed their support for National Commitment Day!

National Commitment Day

A change is coming and Provence Catering embraces change and supports the commitment of two people! On Valentine's Day 2010 the nation and two incredible individuals will mark the first celebration of National Commitment Day in a grand way. National Commitment Day is a movement that is quickly embracing the nation and commemorating the commitment to one another made by loving adults. We, at Provence Catering, embrace change and support loving, committed relationships. In celebration of the Inaugural event, Provence Catering with incredible support of so many generous industry supporters will help Sue and Lisa celebrate this grand moment. Sue and Lisa were chosen through an essay competition held in the fall. (You can read their essay on tomorrow's blog). These two amazing people will have a chance of a lifetime, one they only dreamed about before entering this essay competition sponsored by Provence Catering and featured in the PGN. They will take their commitment vows at the beautiful and chic Chestnut Club in Philadelphia. Karen Pecora and Healy Edmonds, like all the sponsors and supporters, could not say "Yes, how can we help?" fast enough when they were asked to support this great event.

At 2:30 pm, Sue and Lisa will proclaim their love and commitment to one another in a ceremony conducted by Journeys of The Heart at the Chestnut Club in Philadelphia in a room accented with lighting from Brian Toner at Eventions Lighting. Floral arrangements will be from Jeff Sells at Natural Designs and top of the line rental from Select Event Rental. Thanks to Dave and Cindy the room will shine in all its glory! After the ceremony ends, the party begins in earnest with great food and service from Provence Catering and incredible beverages from Franks Union Wine Mart, New Hope Winery and Eco-Bar Juices mixed with Rainbow Absolut. Music will be provided by Mike Rossi at East Coast Event Group and a very special musician, Amy Evinger. An incredibly special touch will be provided by Sandy O and The Creative Juice Group. Images of the day will be captured by Alyssa Maloof Photography and Shutter Booth Photo Booths. This event, a dream come true for Sue and Lisa, is made possible through all these supporters who embrace change and support loving committed relationships. We are all excited to be part of the First National Commitment Day Celebration and this incredible day for Lisa and Sue.

Snow Poll and the benefits of well-founded optimism..

Our hands are raised high and our spirits too! Our smart and savvy clients know that being snowbound is the perfect time to plan a sensational party catered by Provence and thankfully we've been quite busy. Business is booming as winter's cabin fever has everyone looking forward to an exciting spring and summer hospitality season .

As you know, well-founded optimism is always the best way to melt the ice and snow.

Penn Medical School recruits the best of best with a sensational buffet from Provence Catering.

The best of the best were in attendance last week at the University of Pennsylvania's Medical School premier recruitment dinner as Provence wowed over 120 guests with a spectacular and under-budget buffet.

When the competition is Harvard, Yale, Johns Hopkins, Washington University of St. Louis, Duke, Stanford or Northwestern, only the best will do when it comes to on-campus hospitality. When the world's brightest pre-med students are considering which medical school to attend, you only get one chance to make a unforgettable first impression.

With millions of research dollars on the line every day, the Penn Medical School wants to impress and connect with each prized recruit. We make
that happen at each event. Smart and savvy administrators/event planners know that Provence Catering can really help optimize all of their events. That's because, no matter whether it's university or corporate catering, great hospitality helps attract the best candidates, great hospitality helps win business or research grants and great hospitality helps foster lifelong relationships. Whom you select as your catering partner is that important!

For the sixth year in a row Provence Catering was selected to cater this high profile recruiting event because of our exceptional service and world class cuisine. For the best of the best, only the best will do.

Customer Service is always our top priority.

No matter what the event; No matter how busy we are; No matter what...from crafting a delicious menu proposal to elegant or trendsetting decor to providing a VIP tasting to returning phone calls promptly, Customer Service is always our top priority.

We work with so many different types of people, many glowing, some dimmed, but our approach is always the same. We consistently provide exceptional food and our dedicated staff goes beyond the norm to deliver a superior customer experience when working with Provence Catering.

Gene Blum, our well-respected and savvy Director of Event Planning, has a PhD in Customer Service and he received a very tender and telling note today from a client hosting a memorial Repasse luncheon. Her note conveys a great deal about the quality of Gene's remarkable character and Provence's unwavering commitment to our discerning clientele no matter their budget or size of the event.

She wrote "Thank you so much for your kind words...Wow, talk about going the extra mile. I really appreciate it! Not only will I keep you in mind for any future catering needs that I might have, but I will recommend you to others. If you are a reflection on how the company deals with their patrons, than I know it is a company that I would want to give business to. Thank you again." We are so very fortunate to have Gene on our staff and we know you will love working with him as well. You can give him a call at 610-539-8330 to plan your next event.