Chicken and Waffle Appetizer

Chicken and Waffle Appetizer

Direct quote from current bride-client, “Chicken and Waffles are the new Cupcakes”.  Um, OK.  This caterer gal is from New England.  I never heard of Chicken and Waffles until I moved to Northern Virginia.  And even then I was here a long time before I saw this item on an actual restaurant menu.  I had heard about it from the film “Mildred Pierce”, but never actually witnessed the culinary creation in person.  Then, it exploded.  Currently in 2016 it is everywhere:  Chicken and waffle appetizer.

  And I have a great back story for my own creation of Miniature Chicken and Waffles Appetizer.
Two years ago I sat down with a bride in groom planning their catered wedding reception menu.  Near the end of the meeting the groom sheepishly remarks that Chicken and Waffles was a childhood favorite and was there any way I could incorporate this into the menu.
The challenge.  The result:
Miniature waffles with small fried chicken bite and maple syrup.  The rest is history.  Perfect combination of sweet-salty-savory and some crunch.  It’s fried chicken, people.
Not surprisingly, the other childhood favorite from this same groom:

Pigs in a Blanket

  Yup, Pigs in a Blanket.  Miniature of course.  And for a contemporary touch, dusted with Gorgonzola Crumbles.  What I find remarkable about these types of menu suggestions is the throwback to comfort foods.  When I have a client ask for “children’s options” for a menu, I typically look them in the eye and reply, “who do you think will be the primary consumer of that Mac ‘N Cheese?”  It’s the adults.  The grown ups LOVE things like this.  My clients are delighted to see Tomato Soup Shooters with Grilled Cheese Bites:

Grilled Cheese Bites with Tomato Soup Shooters

 I’m not knocking menu items with exotic ingredients and complicated execution, I’m only saying preparing simple – and doing it well – hits the ball out of the park.  What is more enticing than cheddar cheese oozing out of asandwich bite that has been browned in golden butter?  
Or handmade miniature biscuits with Tomato Bacon Jam?

Biscuit with Tomato Bacon Jam

 Catering By Teatime had been providing full service catering in the Washington DC and Northern Virginia suburbs for over 30 years.  We keep on top of the current trends, but still recognize what the average guest likes to eat.  Quite often that is a simple request:  folks want to eat food that they recognize.  Sometimes that means something from childhood, albeit with a twist. Soup in a shot glass.   Bacon can be a JAM?  Grilled Cheese Sandwiches can be a BITE?  Chicken and Waffles can be an appetizer that is consumed in two bites?  And so adorably cute?  Pigs in a Blanket with Gorgonzola Cheese??  Aside from all these menu items being delicious, they are just so much FUN.
And isn’t that what you want at a party?  Of course you want the food to be delicious.  That’s a given, along with a wedding cake being pretty.  But fun:  that’s what every host and hostess wants for their event, for their guests to have a great time and to have had fun.
Call us today to help plan your next event!
www.cateringbyteatime.com