(This is an archive of past newsletters. For the current edition, see Roundz News)
Roundz News July/August 2010
In This Issue: Meet Chef Smith • Readers' Choice Award • Roundz on Facebook • Featured Recipe: Moroccan BBQ Sauce • Buy Local Challenge • Recent Roundz Raves
Photo Courtesy Leadership Anne Arundel
Smith & Pope- downtown Annapolis
Meet Chef Smith!
Chef Pope and Roundz Catering welcome Chef Kevin Smith to the Catering Team!Pope and Smith met in 1995 working together at Matters of Taste Catering in Alexandria, VA.Chef Smith has worked in Washington, DC’s Marriott International, the Ritz Carlton and the highly touted BET on Jazz Restaurant, a holding of Black Entertainment Television.He was also chef for the corporate headquarters of BET, where he catered to entertainers and sports stars such as Diana Ross, Clinton Portis and Steve Francis.Smith was chef for the Kossiakoff Conference & Education Center at the Johns Hopkins’ Applied Physics Lab in Columbia, and the Naval Academy Officers’ Club. His talent, creativity and meticulous attention to detail mesh perfectly with the Roundz philosophy.Welcome, Chef Smith!
Readers’ Choice Award
Recently the Capital-Gazette Newspapers conducted a poll of their readers to find “the best of the best” in the area.Thousands of votes were cast, and Roundz Catering was recognized as a Finalist in the “Best Caterer” category.A huge thanks to everyone who gave a great shout out for Roundz!
Roundz on Facebook
See more photos, get more tips & recipes and take part in discussions!Find Roundz Catering and Consulting on Facebook and “like” us!Current FB chat: What kind of cooking class would you like to see Chef Pope conduct?We have a few ideas we are kicking around but want your input! Read about them on our FB page.If you aren’t on Facebook but would like to learn more about cooking classes, email info@roundz.com
Moroccan BBQ sauce Want something to give your seafood a Roundz "zing?" Try our unique Moroccan BBQ sauce on shrimp or salmon as a glaze. Chef Pope shares his recipe:
1 ½ cup Ketchup
½ cup Rice Wine Vinegar
1 T. Ground Corriander
1 T. Ground Cardamom
1 T. Ground Cumin
1 t. Fresh Lavendar
1 T. Whole Clove
2 T. Whose Star Anaise
1 bunch cilantro (NOT cut- kept in bunch with rubber band)
½ cup honey
3 T. Onion Powder
Add all ingredients in a medium saucepan.Simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes.Salt & pepper to taste.This earthy glaze will wow your guests.Enjoy!
Buy Local Challenge July 17-25
Take the challenge to eat at least one thing from a local farm everyday during Buy Local Week.Enjoy the summer bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables from your local farmers’ market or produce stands. For a more information on where to buy local produce, meats, dairy and more, see www.marylandsbest.net
Recent Roundz Raves
Here’s an excerpt written by a Roundz client and posted on WeddingWire:
Our recent wedding in June was truly memorable, thanks in large part to the delicious food and great service provided by Roundz…In the planning stages we spoke directly with Chef Zach Pope (instead of someone in sales as with other companies), so we knew that nothing would be changed or lost in translation. We had very particular demands about the food, even sending in various recipes and Zach was wonderful in working with us to come up with the perfect tastes and combinations! He really knows food. People raved about it…We got comments from our guests not just on the food, but on the friendliness of the staff too! ...You will not find a friendlier team than Zach, Kevin and their staff.
Thanks Yasmin and Jean!We wish you endless happy years together!
Roundz News May/June 2010
Cheese and Vegetable Presentation
Roundz Spring Celebrations
Spring at Roundz is filled with wonderful celebrations and fabulous foods. We have new photos and menus from recent events in Photo Roundz. Check them out for inspiration and contact Chef Pope to create your menu today! 202.744.9595 or zach@roundz.com
Association of Wedding Professionals
Following a series of wedding industry awards, Roundz Catering has been chosen as a member of the Association of Wedding Professionals. AWP members represent the businesses, vendors and services of the wedding industry that promote and encourage the highest level of integrity and professionalism. All AWP members subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics set forth by the association. Roundz Catering is proud to join with this group.
Association of Wedding Professionals Member
Friends Foundation April Wine Tasting
Roundz in the Community
Isabel's Gift Silent Auction Winner- Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Hugh Giorgio who successfully bid on a Roundz Catering Package as a silent auction benefitting Isabel's Gift, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families with sick children in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. For more information, see www.isabelsgift.org Friends Foundation- Roundz was the select caterer at the Friends Foundation Spring Wine Tasting. The Friends Foundation is an Annapolis based nonprofit organization formed in 1998 by a group of friends to raise money to help those in need. Over the years they have raised thousands of dollars for local charities. For more information, see www.friendsfoundation.com
Roundz 4 Bean Summer Salad
As you prep your grill for warm weather, don't forget the side dishes to fill out your menu. Roundz 4 Bean Summer Salad is the perfect accompaniment to chicken, beef or pork. Ingredients: 1/2 Cup Black Beans 1/2 Cup Red Onion 1 Cup Great Northern Beans 1 Oz. Fresh Salsa 1 Cup Pinto Beans 3 Oz. Basil Pesto 2 Cups Green Beans 1 Tsp. Garlic
Gently simmer the dried beans separately after soaking overnight. Option: for additional flavor, add onions, bacon and/or thyme to cooking liquid. Strain beans thoroughly and allow them to cool to room temperature. Quickly blanch fresh green beans or use previously frozen green beans and do not blanch them. Cut green beans into one inch lengths. Saute onion and garlic for a couple of minutes until translucent. Add all ingredients together and stir gently so as not to break up the beans, tasting and seasoning as you go. Cover the salad with plastic wrap and allow it to sit outside the refrigerator so flavors can continue to marry. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
4 Bean Salad Raw Ingredients
Chef Zachary Pope
4 Bean Salad Raw Ingredients
Chef Pope & Roundz Team
Recent Roundz Raves
"Thank you so much for making the birthday celebration so wonderful. The food was fabulous and your staff could not have been more professional. We received so many compliments from our guests. Roundz made the event so enjoyable and effortless!" -- S. Gimbert, McLean, VA
"Thank you for the wonderful food! Our customers are STILL talking about how good it was." -- Dawn Schultz, Twice as Nice Tours, MD
"The food was spectacular as always...It was a huge success...The tomatoes and couscous are my new favorite!" -- Janna Bowman, J. Duck Event Management & Productions, VA
Roundz News March/April 2010
Alderman Fred Paone, Chef Pope & MD House Speaker Mike Busch
SOUPer Bowl Thanks
Over $1300 was raised for the Annapolis Light House Shelter at the 4th Annual SOUPer Bowl Lunch at Heritage Baptist Church in February.Thanks to all who came to enjoy hearty soups and support a great cause. Roundz Catering has been a sponsor of this event since 2006.See more action shots of the SOUPer Bowl at Photo Roundz.
Roundz In-Home Dinner Party
Food & Wellness
If you are one of the lucky ticket holders to the sold-out Annapolis Rotary Black Tie and Diamonds celebration (March 6th at the Westin Hotel in Annapolis), you can bid on a special Roundz silent auction item:an elegant 5-course dinner for 4 in your home catered by Chef Pope. Funds raised at this event will benefit The Wellness House of Annapolis, a facility serving cancer patients and their families through the recovery and healing process.
Food & Music
For the fifth year, Roundz will cater the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra’s 20th Anniversary Gala reception on Saturday, March 13, at St. John’s College Key Auditorium in Annapolis.The reception and silent auction are from 5:30-6:45 PM, followed by the concert at 7 PM.For ticket information, see www.cysomusic.org
Asparagus nestled in Roundz Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Presentation
April: All About Asparagus
The 25th Annual Asparagus Festival kicks off this month in Stockton, CA, but you don’t have to travel that far to celebrate this awesome veggie.The spears you buy in the store are shoots from an underground crown.It can take 3 years for crowns to develop but once they do, they can produce for up to 20 years.Asparagus is packed with good things- Vitamin K, folic acid and Vitamin C among others- and is easy to prepare.Chef Pope’s favorite asparagus prep: grilling.Asparagus has a flavor that will stand up to anything, including a roll on the grill.Rinse the spears and place them in a plastic bag with vegetable oil and seasoning (preferably curry powder or fresh thyme and always with a healthy dose of garlic!)Once the spears are coated, grill them for about 4 minutes.The next day, any leftovers can be chopped and added to a salad. It’s simple, healthy and delicious.Enjoy!
Roundz News February 2010
Roundz announces... Coming on the heels of our 2009 recognition as a WeddingWire rated vendor, Roundz Catering has been honored with WeddingWire's 2010 Bride's Choice Award, based on surveys and client reviews. This honor recognizes the top 5 percent of local wedding professionals who demonstrate excellence in quality, service and professionalism. Chef Pope thanks his clients for their patronage and support.
Maryland Speaker of the House Mike Busch, Chef Pope and Mrs. Maryland United States 2009 Ginny Meerman at the 2009 SOUPer Bowl
You are invited...
Sunday, February 21, Chef Pope will prepare and serve a selection of hearty soups at the 4th Annual SOUPer Bowl luncheon to benefit the Annapolis Light House Shelter. Mike Busch, Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, and Ward Two Alderman Fred Paone Chef Pope will join him as celebrity servers. Chef Pope has donated his time to this event since its inception, and has helped raise thousands of dollars for this worthy cause.
Chef Pope's menu for this event: Traditional Chili, Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup, Baked Potato Soup with all the fixings, Warm Bread, Salad, and Dessert.
The public is invited and admission is free, but donations are requested to benefit the shelter. All funds collected at this event go directly to the shelter. We'll see you on Sunday, Feb. 21, from 11:30 AM-1:30 PM, at Heritage Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 1740 Forest Drive, Annapolis.
If you cannot make this great event but would like to make a donation, send your check (made payable to Heritage Baptist Church with the notation "Light House Shelter SOUPer Bowl") to Heritage Baptist Church, 1740 Forest Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401.
Live, In studio, it's Chef Pope! We're talking about the SOUPer Bowl: Wednesday, February 3, Chef Pope will be live on the air on WNAV 1430 AM, to preview the 4th Annual SOUPer Bowl Lunch for the Light House Shelter. Tune in to hear him on the Bill Lusby show at 8:35 AM!
Wednesday - February 3 - 8:35 AM - WNAV 1430 AM
Chef Pope was inteviewed about the SOUPer Bowl fundraiser on WNAV in 2009
Roundz Recognized "Roundz Catering is THE BEST!!! Please look no further!" "Responsive, flexible, AMAZING food, great service." "I highly recommed him (Chef Pope) for any events."
This is but a sample of reviews from Roundz clients on WeddingWire, one of the nation’s leading wedding technology companies. Positive client ratings (4.9 out of a possible 5) led to Roundz Catering's selection as a WeddingWire Rated Vendor for 2009.This recognition honors professionals for excellence in the wedding industry.Thank you to all our valued clients!
Roundz Mini Filet Sandwiches
Festive Fare Wouldn’t it be great to host a gathering of family and friends without the fuss?Roundz Catering can help you make it happen with simple, tasteful fare that will delight you and your guests.While Roundz is booked for New Year’s events, we can provide platters and other seasonal celebratory cheer to be dropped off before your event.Call Chef Zachary Pope today (202.744.9595) to plan your menu.
Speaking of Celebratory Cheer…
What better way to warm your holidays than with a soothing sip of steamy apple cider?Cider is a versatile drink suitable for children’s gatherings or cocktail parties.Chef Pope offers this recipe for your holiday gatherings:
1 gallon unpasteurized cider (Unpasteurized cider is available at some organic markets.You may use pasteurized if you prefer.)
HALF can of orange juice concentrate
1 PINT of cranberry juice
4oz.dark or light brown sugar
Cider spice mix (there are many available commercially. Chef Pope recommends finding one with these ingredients: star anise, cloves, cinnamon, lemon, nutmeg, allspice and mace.Remember, with these spices, less is more.Approximately 1 tablespoon will suffice if you mull the ingredients 3-4 hours.)
Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker or in a large pot on the stove to begin the mulling process. Be sure to cover the pot.When you mull a liquid, you heat it to bring out the flavors.Set the temperature on low for at least 3 hours.If after mulling, your cider is too strong don’t be afraid to add water or apple juice.
Garnish with clementine slices or cranberries for a festive touch.For adult gatherings you may want to use this very versatile recipe with Rum, Brandy, Red Wine, Port or one of your favorite Liqueurs such as Frangelica or Tuaca. Cheers!
Cider and Mulling Mix Ingredients
Maryland Speaker of the House Mike Busch, Chef Pope and Mrs. Maryland United States 2009 Ginny Meerman at the 2009 SOUP-er Bowl
Mark your 2010 Calendar!
Sunday, February 7, Chef Pope will prepare and serve a selection of hearty soups at the 4th Annual SOUP-er Bowl luncheon to benefit the Annapolis Light House Shelter.Chef Pope has donated his time to this event since its inception, and has helped raise thousands of dollars for this worthy cause.Everyone is invited on Sunday, Feb. 7, from 11:30 AM-1:30 PM, at Heritage Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 1740 Forest Drive, Annapolis. One hundred percent of funds collected at this donation-only luncheon goes directly to the Annapolis Lighthouse Shelter.
Yes, that’s right.It will be here before you know it- Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas- the trifecta of year-end celebrations.Get a jump start on the holiday “to do” list. Book Roundz Catering to take care of your office parties or in-home celebrations and you’ll be amazed at how stress-free your event will be.Call soon, the Roundz calendar is filling quickly.You can reach Chef Pope at 202.744.9595 or zach@roundz.com
Speaking of Halloween... October 31st falls on a Saturday this year, making it the perfect time to gather with neighbors and friends.Roundz can supply you with frighteningly delicious hors d’oeurves to delight your adult tricksters.Contact Chef Pope for suggestions, or see our Menu Roundz page for ideas.
Frightening Frui-shi! Roundz never forgets that Halloween is all about the little ones, so for a healthy treat you can make at home Chef Pope suggests Frightening Frui-shi! It's a great way to sneak in a fruit disguised as a Halloween treat.This fun fruit sushi is a colorful and tasty way to celebrate the season, and your little goblins will be none the wiser!
Ingredients: Fruit leather or Fruit rolls and a selection of your favorite fruits.In these photos, Chef Pope used an Asian Pear, Red Pear, Kiwi, Banana, Clementine, Cantaloupe, Seedless Grapes and a Honey Crisp Apple.
Directions: Chef Pope fashioned two types of fruit sushi.First, a mock sashimi sushi, using a rectangle slice of red pear and sliced grapes.Then, he made a mock nagiri by placing small slices of fruits on unrolled fruit leather. Once in place, roll it together and trim any excess.These delectable tid-bits got two thumbs up from our taste tester (who preferred the blue rolled sushi!)Enjoy! For more photos of this recipe, see our Photo Gallery.
Nagiri Frui-shi
Sashimi Frui-shi
Taste test yields thumbs up!
Come Ye Thankful People…
Need a new side dish to “wow” your guests?Let Roundz add a new twist to your traditional Thanksgiving table.Chef Pope has a variety of old favorites with new flavorings, such as: Sweet Potato Gratin; Potato, Apricot and Toasted Pecan Casserole; Sesame Green Beans; and Roasted Root Vegetables.Contact Chef Pope to reserve your side dish today!
As you plan your Thanksgiving menu, Chef Pope suggests using a variety of seasonal vegetables.Some of Roundz favorites:Spaghetti Squash, Rutabaga and Kabocha Squash.Not sure what to pair them with?Think of traditional Thanksgiving flavors, such as sage, rosemary, pumpkin spice and cinnamon.
Introducing Wedding Roundz
Due to growing demand, Roundz.com has expanded to include in-depth information on wedding catering.Even if you aren't making a trip down the aisle, you’ll find a wealth of information on event planning and reviews from Roundz clients.Our four new pages include:
§How do you go from a general idea of foods you like to the fairy-tale fare your guest will love?Wedding Roundz homepage
Go Team!Let’s Tailgate! Season tickets, stadium seat cushions, big foam finger- these aren’t the only things you need for the perfect football afternoon.Let Roundz kickoff your season with the ultimate tailgate feast.Think slow smoked pork barbecue, tasty wings, pasta salads, mouth-watering desserts and more!Roundz will deliver your fully-packed Tailgate-To-Go to your home before game time, allowing you maximum time to eat and enjoy. Watching the game with friends at home?Roundz can deliver a spread that will have your commentators raving.Call Chef Pope today for more information.
Chef Pope prepares for football season.
Local Harvest Dinner Maryland is blessed with a rich variety of food. Seafood, meats, produce, dairy, grains, wine...it's all here. Let Chef Pope demonstrate how products from area farmers can be used in a unique local harvest meal. Make your next dinner party educational and delicious. Contact Roundz today to schedule an in-home celebration of Maryland's best.
Roundz Cooking Classes Chef Pope's Summer Grill Roundz cooking class was a sizzling success! If you are interested in future cooking classes, please contact Roundz Catering at zach@roundz.com. See more photos in the Roundz Photo Gallery under Event Roundz.
Stay connected with E-Roundz! There is so much going on- cooking classes, special tastings and big events! Roundz Catering has launched a Email newsletter to keep you up to date on the latest happenings, current food trends and recipes. If you would like to join our mailing list, let us know by emailing info@roundz.com
