Executive Chef Christophe Holmes returns to ALE

A Legendary Event is pleased to announce the return of Executive Chef Christophe Holmes. Chef Holmes comes to Legendary with an extensive background in the culinary industry. Holmes was previously the Executive Chef for ALE for 5 years and hired many of our current successful culinary staff.

A 1990 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Holmes’ restaurant expertise was honed in his positions as executive chef of The Georgia Grille and Willi, two fine-dining establishments located in Alpharetta, Georgia. He has also served as executive chef at two top establishments in South Florida, C’est Si Bon, a gourmet shop and catering company in Palm Beach, and John Bull Pub, an upscale 200-seat pub in West Palm Beach.

In addition to his remarkable talent for food preparation and presentation, Holmes’ management skills are a notable strength, enabling him to succeed in fast-paced, high volume environments while maintaining the utmost quality and attention to detail. As Executive Chef, Holmes will once again oversee all aspects of A Legendary Event’s culinary department including menu design, daily kitchen operations, food preparation, and purchasing. He looks forward to working closely with the Executive Sous Chef, Executive Pastry Chef and the entire culinary team at A Legendary Event. Owner and President of A Legendary Event Tony Conway said, “Chef Holmes will be a great asset to our team, as he is well respected in the industry. We’re delighted to have him back on board.”

2010 Allie Awards

The 20th Annual Allie Awards were held this past Sunday night at the new Loews Hotel in Midtown Atlanta. The Allie Awards is Atlanta's premier awards ceremony recognizing and honoring outstanding examples of quality and creativity in Atlanta’s event industry. The awards demonstrate how working together for a common good can promote excellence in event design, planning and production. This year was a special birthday celebration dedicated to the 20th year of the Allie Awards Gala.

A Legendary Event took home the following awards:

Best Plated Menu for DIFFA’s Dining by Design. DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS is one of the country’s largest supporters of direct care for people living with HIV/AIDS and preventive education for those at risk. As the event’s caterer, we were challenged to create and serve a menu for 400 seated guests that would be memorable and innovative.

Best Tabletop Design for DIFFA’s Dining by Design. Each year, a group of the nation’s top designers are invited to create a unique table design to help raise funds for DIFFA. ALE created a table titled “Feast in the Forest” where guests dined amidst a magical forest surrounded by lush greenery, moss and mushrooms.

Best Themed Event Décor for a wedding. ALE featured a bride’s love of nature with a Nature-Inspired Nuptials theme at Atlanta’s Temple and the Buckhead Grand Hyatt Hotel. The décor featured a chuppah completely garlanded with foliage; a lush canopy of magnolia leaves suspended above the dance floor; and a myriad of other “green” features.
Best Use of Rentals for the BMW Event “International Media Launch.” Our venue partner Tents Unlimited was also honored with an Allie for this event; highlighting the custom tent they created to house the lounge and ballroom.

President and Owner Tony Conway remarked, “We are so grateful and honored to receive all of these fabulous awards.” Congratulations to our fellow Allie Award Winners!!

Winter 2010 Green Initiative

Green Initiative Note: With our ongoing recycling program with Greenco, we're proud to report that in the months of January & February, we've recycled approximately 9,230 lbs. of waste!

We are constantly thinking of ways to be more GREEN around the office. We have cut the amount of paper we buy in HALF by using both sides of one sheet of paper. Let us know if you have any simple ideas on how we can decrease our carbon footprint here on Earth!!

The Signature of Spring

With spring around the corner, it’s time to start planning for Easter, Mother’s Day, and outdoor gatherings. When I think of spring, I am typically reminded of soft pastels, bouquets of daffodils, and grilled snapper on the open barbecue. Of course, in Texas, we weren’t as winter-weary as other parts of the country ―but we still welcomed the gentler hand of spring.

Years have passed since my spring times in Texas but we still come together with family and friends to celebrate nature, life, and a mother’s love. This year, look for nature to be one of the prevailing signatures of spring. My company recently provided the décor for a bride who loved nature. We translated that passion into wedding décor that featured a chuppah garlanded with foliage (the cover of the chuppah was made from cotton grown, picked, and ginned on the bride’s Mississippi family farm) and an actual tree stump that served as the wedding cake base. However, the most dramatic feature was the lush canopy ceiling treatment of Magnolia leaves suspended from a grid above the dance floor. A multitude of very large blooming branches created the appearance of a large arbor under which the guests dances. A host of iron lanterns ―each twinkling with candlelight ―was suspended from the grid of leaves and branches at various heights. The bride was thrilled at how we captured the essence of her personality with this nature-inspired wedding décor.

Spring menus will be bold, fresh, and organic. Utilizing locally grown fruits and vegetables straight from the farmer’s truck continues to be the most popular choice. Wild leeks, Vidalia onions, heirloom tomatoes, snap beans, yellow crookneck squash, peaches and blueberries are perfect springtime choices ― especially in response to clients’ requests more salads and healthier eating. Our Executive Chef was recently featured in Special Events Magazine for his “organic spoon-sized salads” composed of micro-basil, edible orchids, raspberry, caramelized Seckel pear, and pineapple relish with African blue basil.
In addition to fresh, organic, and creative ―“Mini” is also in. From gourmet mini burgers (photo courtesy of Lauren Ruebinstein) to cold shots of Vichyssoise ―it seems, bite-sized is the right size. “Petits fours literally fly off the trays at our events,” says Executive Pastry Chef Charles Barrett. Maybe smaller-sized desserts and pastries (photo courtesy of Ric Mershon) reduce the guilt. For some reason, serving smaller portions also seems to stimulate conversation. If you really want your guests to mingle, I suggest serving single, bite-sized hors d’œuvres.

For Mother’s Day I wouldn’t veer too far away from classic brunch dishes. Stacey Eames, owner of Atlanta’s trendy Highland Bakery says, “Our Crab Cake Benedict with sautéed spinach is by far our most popular Mother’s Day item. We’ve been at this location for over five years and Mom’s seem to order the same items year after year. I guess they like what’s familiar ― I find that to be very endearing.”

Easter fare can be a little more inventive. If you’re inviting guests, I suggest having the standard Honey glazed baked ham available so that those expecting it will not be disappointed. Do try an unexpected side dish like Orzo pasta salad or Cheddar Cheese Buns (extra delicious when served with ham slices and Dijon-styled or coarse German mustard). For dessert pick up something unique from your local bakery ―a Rhubarb almond crumble or Brazilian Carrot Cake ―quite different from the American version.

Regardless, of where you live or how frequently you entertain ― you’ll surely note this year’s bold, organic, locally-grown, miniature, alfresco, nature-driven, classic, colorful and creative signature of spring.

**To read more of the March/April Issue of Affluent Magazine, check out the new digital version!

Delta Air Lines Event

On Tuesday March 16th, most of the team here at A Legendary Event helped with a very important event at the Delta Heritage Museum. The Delta Business Elite flight attendants were in town for a meeting and we were asked to do a seated luncheon event for 225 guests in the Delta Air Lines historical hangar. The seated luncheon for 225 guests (which ended up really being for 256 guests) was focused around customer service; therefore, we had 1 service staff per 2.5 guests. This helped us provide outstanding service from the second our guests were seated to the very end of the dessert!!

The guest dined under the “Spirit of Delta” which is a Boeing 767 that retired to the historical hangar on May 7, 2006. The Delta Air Lines staff is very familiar with this aircraft as it signifies the first Boeing 767 bought by Delta employees for $30 Million. The aircraft represents the gratitude employees had for Delta, after none of the employees were laid off when the company was experiencing financial troubles in 1982. Employees raised the money through payroll deductions, and on Dec. 15, 1982, gathered in Delta’s Technical Operations Center in Atlanta to present the aircraft to the airline. What an honor it was for all of these employees to dine under such a significant and important symbol of their company!!
There were two looooong banquet tables which collectively seated 225 guests. Three small tables had to be frantically added when 26 more guests arrived then planned. The three course luncheon lasted about 1.5 hours and consisted of a cylindrical stacked salad, a trio of burgers, and a raspberry chocolate dome for dessert. Mmmmmmmmm!!! (Photo credit goes to the "Legendary" Wilward Hughes)

A Legendary Event Wins International Catering Association Awards!!!!

Happy Spring!!! I wanted to let you in on some exciting news about our company!!

At an award ceremony on March 8th in Las Vegas, our team was presented with the following prestigious awards from the International Catering Association (ICA):

2010 Spotlight Award for Catering Company of the Year. Our company was chosen amongst many top US and International catering companies nominated for this award. The judging criteria included customer service, menu design and creativity, all aspects that we take great pride.

2010 Catersource ACE (Achievement in Catering Excellence) Award for the Best Catering Company in the South Region. This award recognizes companies that have shown noteworthy achievement in the catering industry through culinary, business, community and professional development. There is a winner for this award in four regions in the United States and Internationally.

2010 CATIE Award for Best Plated Menu for DIFFA’s Dining by Design. Each year, a group of the nation’s top designers are invited to create a unique table design to help raise funds for DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS). As the event’s caterer, we were to create and serve a menu for 400 seated guests that would be memorable and innovative.

2010 CATIE Award for Best Themed Menu and Presentation for the Julie & Julia Screening Party. On July 8th, we transformed the empty Niketown into a Moulin-Rouge-style affair for our annual “Ladies Night Out.” Four hundred of company owner Tony Conway’s closest female friends and clients were treated to cocktails and French cuisine prior to the exclusive screening of “Julie & Julia”―Sony picture’s film about Julia Child’s life in France.

Tony Conway, President and Owner of A Legendary Event said, “We’re so honored to be winners of these very extraordinary awards. I am so proud of my team’s hard work and determination this past year.”

Thank you to all of our FANTASTIC Clients!!! Thank you for your continued loyalty and support!!!

NEW Atlanta Social Datebook

We have partnered with Atlanta Magazine and their fabulous blog, ATL Intel, to start a new Atlanta Social Calendar. In the past, we have all tried to keep up with upcoming social events using Seasons Magazine and Facebook. Now, if you need something to do this weekend, just go to ATL Intel and click on the social datebook.

For all you party planners out there, it's very simple to add your event to the datebook. Click on the bottom of the datebook where it says "browse the full social datebook" and click the "submit your event" tab. For your event to be eligible, the event must have a philanthropic component (such as benefiting a non-profit) and must be open to the public (for example, tickets or sponsorships should be available for purchase). You also have to be an Atlanta Magazine Insider to be eligible.

Hope to see the calendar full of fun and wonderful parties!!