Event Tag: Spring

Build the Perfect Party Spread: Mix & Match Catering Ideas for Every Spring Celebration

spring party catering ideasSpring is when we gather for all sorts of celebrations – from Mother’s Day brunch to graduation parties, wedding and baby showers, and team get-togethers, we all love a great party in these warmer months. But, where to start? Putting on any celebration can feel a little overwhelming. What will you serve, what will the set up look like? Do you even have the time to make it happen? The good news is that you don’t have to do it all. Smart planning that includes catered dishes can save you a lot of time and worry and put you where you belong – with your guests and not stressing in the kitchen.

If you’re planning your own spring celebration, Butcher Boy is the one-stop key to making hosting a breeze. Start with our extensive catering menu featuring delicious appetizers, entrees, platters, salads, sides, roasts, and desserts. Add your favorite beverages from our wide beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic selections, browse locally curated specialty items, and set your table with one of our beautiful Caspari table settings.

Here are a few suggested menus to inspire your celebration. For a full list of items, explore our complete catering menu here.

Mother’s Day Brunch or Dinner: Keep it elevated but effortless with our ‘create your own’ quiche options, including ham, spinach, broccoli, bacon, and more. Pair with a fruit platter and fresh salad and add a decadent sweet finish with our pastry platter featuring French macarons, brownies, and lemon, raspberry, and coconut bars.

If you want to make it an elegant Mother’s Day dinner, we’ve made it simple with our prepared entrees or roasts. Go classic with a hearty meat lasagna or upscale with a dish like our marinated sirloin tips served with a decadent Merlot wine sauce or our tenderloin roast. Choose side dishes such as green bean almondine, rice pilaf, or herb roasted potatoes. Finish with a stunning Konditor Meister cake for a meal to remember.

Build the Perfect Party SpreadGraduation Party: If you’re feeding a crowd in a drop-in setting, keeping it easy and delicious is the key. Opt for dishes that can be left out – great options are finger or wrap sandwiches, antipasto, cheese and crackers, and fruit. Salad and vegetable crudite can also be great side dish options. Think the classic “build your spread” formula – pair 2-3 savory platters with 1-2 sides and a dessert tray such as our house-made whoopie pies, mini cannolis, or brownies.

Sports Teams / End of Season Celebrations: These are all about keeping it fun, casual, and kid-friendly. Mix hot and cold options for variety and set up food in an easy buffet style with plates and utensils to keep everything together for the “grab and go” vibe. Wings, mac and cheese, phyllo puffs, and sausage rolls are real crowd favorites. Don’t forget one of our delicious cookie, brownie, or whoopie pie platters for those sweet tooths!

Build the Perfect Party SpreadShower-Ready Spreads: For zero-stress baby and bridal shower food ideas that feel special, think thoughtfully selected light offerings that look and taste delicious. Pair mini beef wellingtons or boursin and prosciutto stuffed chicken spirals with a shrimp cocktail platter and a variety of salads. Add wine, champagne or craft mocktail ingredients. Save decadence for dessert with our new pastry platter, other sweet platter options, or a Konditor Meister cake. Keep presentation elegant and coordinated with Caspari tableware.

Backyard Parties and ‘Bring Your Own’ Banquet Halls: Whatever the occasion, party size, or location, we make entertaining easy. Chicken or beef teriyaki skewers, steak tips, sides and salads are great options for laid-back mingling at your backyard party. If you’re renting a function hall where you provide your own food, our full trays of Italian meatballs, homemade sausage and peppers, or Mediterranean chicken and antipasto platters are ideal for buffet-style serving. Our catering selections can be scaled up or down depending on your guest count and are designed for easy transport, setup and clean up.

So, spring into your spring celebrations with confidence, knowing Butcher Boy is there to make hosting your next party a breeze. Explore all our catering options online, or come see us for expert help in selecting the menu items for your special gathering.

Fresh Starts: Lighter Meals & Seasonal Favorites

Spring is one of our favorite times of the year. What was gray is now green — temperatures are warming, everything is budding, and we can finally get out to enjoy our favorite outdoor activities. Spring also marks a culinary shift. After long months of hearty comfort food, it’s time to lighten up.

At Butcher Boy, we feature a wide selection of fresh seasonal produce, perfect for pairing with your favorite entree. Prime spring veggie picks include asparagus, spinach, broccoli, and carrots. This mouth-watering asparagus recipe featuring maple-Dijon vinaigrette is a great accompaniment to a grilled ribeye or strip steak cooked over high heat with simple salt and pepper and finished with butter.

grilled flank steak chimichurri butcher boy marketFresh spring vegetables are a perfect complement for lighter meat and poultry dishes. Need some inspiration? Check out this delicious grilled flank steak topped with a vibrant and flavorful chimichurri. Add a salad featuring seasonal spring greens like arugula and baby spinach for the perfect light and nourishing spring meal.

Speaking of grilling, this is the perfect time to dust off your grill and get cooking. There’s nothing like it to give meat and vegetables an extra kick and delicious flavor that melts in your mouth.  For some ideas, check out these easy weeknight Butcher Boy grilling tips.

One great way to add extra flavor and tenderness to your spring dish is taking a little extra time to marinate your ingredients. The best marinades enhance and highlight the natural flavor of your meat or produce, making the result amarinade perfect centerpiece for a great meal. Add grilled veggies or a simple salad, and no one will feel like they’re eating “light.” Marinades are perfect for leaner flank steak, London broil, or sirloin tips. Butcher Boy carries over 15 types of marinated meats, made in-house, so you can just toss them on the grill or in a pan.

And what would a deliciously light spring meal be without the perfect wine pairing? Not just for your preferred protein, the right wine pairing can bring out the unique taste qualities of any food, including your favorite vegetables. It’s all in creating a combination that brings out the full flavor depending on ingredients and preparation. For some ideas, explore spring meal pairing ideas here.

Too busy taking full advantage of the beautiful spring weather to cook? Whether it’s for a crowd or a table for one, we’ve got you with our own freshly-prepared selection of entrees, salads, side dishes, and desserts, both house-made and locally sourced. Come on in and check out the latest we have on offer!

Butcher Boy Makes Our Own Fresh Ground, Hand-Tied Sausages

hand-tied sausages

One of our most popular offerings is sausage. You can serve it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! Did you know Butcher Boy makes our own? Since our founding nearly 70 years ago, we’ve been making fresh-ground, hand-tied sausages in all your favorite flavors.

Throughout the year, you can find in our butcher case:

  • Sweet Italian Sausage
  • Sweet Fennel Sausage
  • Hot Italian Sausage
  • Tomato & Cheese Sausage
  • Garlic & Cheese Sausage
  • Chicken Sausage
  • Turkey Sausage
  • Tomato Sausage – English Style
  • Breakfast Sausage
  • Steak & Cheese Sausage

We can provide sausage out of the casing, too. Just ask the butcher!

So what’s the best way to prepare sausage? Cooking can be difficult to master using a single technique because grilling or frying can mean the sausage crisps up quickly on the outside, leaving the inside undercooked or dry. One popular way around that challenge is to parboil sausages before throwing them on a grill or into the frying pan. This method ensures that the insides cook more quickly and the casing won’t burn. The result is perfectly crisp, but tender, juicy sausage.

There are two general tips to follow, no matter your cooking method:

  1. Bring the sausages to room temperature. Take them out of the fridge about 20 minutes before you start cooking. This will help them cook evenly, and there’s less chance that the skins will break as they cook.
  2. Don’t pierce your sausages. While some might believe poking a few holes in the meat will keep it from breaking open, it isn’t necessary, and you risk losing a lot of tasty juices in the cooking process.

 

hand tied sausagesWhat are your favorite ways to eat sausage? Sweet or hot Italian links with peppers and onions is a favorite cookout addition to burgers and hot dogs.

Sausage goes great with pasta dishes as well. This recipe with sausage and orecchiette and greens manages to be both quick and light.

Visit us at Butcher Boy to see all the options and ask us for cooking suggestions. Don’t forget you can get just about everything else on your grocery list, from snacks and appetizers to desserts, too.

Get a copy of our Summer Favorites Shopping Guide here.

Catering for Easy and Festive Spring Celebrations

Warmer weather brings flowers and celebrations – Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, graduations, wedding showers, and more. For many of us, the idea of “throwing together” a party is pretty intimidating. What will we serve? Will it be enough? How can we impress our guests without running ourselves ragged?

catering butcher boy north andover maWe’ve got the answers. At Butcher Boy, we offer an extensive selection of catering options – from mouth-watering appetizers to delicious entrees and side dishes, even luscious desserts. Whether your vibe is laid back and casual, or more upscale, we have just what you need. All you have to do is serve and hear the compliments that are sure to come your way.

Looking for a nice Mother’s Day or Father’s Day spread? Perhaps you’ll want to start with sausage rolls or phyllo puffs, or maybe the always-popular bacon-wrapped scallops. Follow with a comforting entree like Baked Stuffed Shells or elegant Mediterranean Chicken or one of our signature roasts. Accompany your meal with one of our delicious salads and selections from our wide assortment of vegetable, rice, or potato sides.

bakery custom cake butcher boy north andover maDid you know our bakery not only features cakes, breads, and pastries from popular local bakeries, but our own creations? End with a scrumptious dessert platter featuring authentic Italian cookies, brownies, fruit tarts, fresh-filled cannolis, or even New England’s iconic whoopie pies. For the ultimate dessert offering, consider a beautiful Konditor Meister cake, each a delicious work of art.

Putting on a casual party spread? Our platter assortment is extensive, including a variety of sandwiches, antipasti, as well as festive party and fruit options. Don’t forget the jumbo wings prepared with our famous marinades in Teriyaki, BBQ, or Buffalo flavors.

These are just a few of the many catering options we offer.  Let us help make your next gathering not only memorable but one both you and your guests can enjoy!

Springtime Wine Pairings

Springtime Wine PairingsSpring is in the air, and it’s a great time to think about changing up the beverages we pair with our favorite springtime meals, specifically wine. This time of year, you might want to move from heavy reds to light reds, rosés, and whites — lighter wines that are perfect for lighter meals.

The possibilities and choices of wine seem to be endless, and if you’ve ever stood in a wine shop trying to choose among them, the task can be overwhelming. Or, if you or your dinner guests just happen to not prefer wine, the decision about what type to drink can be even more difficult. So where to start?

Sparkling wines are an excellent starting point for those who might normally choose a spiked seltzer or fizzy cocktail. Your taste buds will appreciate the chilled bubbles along with the sweetness. Prosecco is the sweet Italian cousin to traditional French champagne. Lambrusco is a sparkling red worth a taste.

Want to try other red wines? It’s the tannins in wine that give that puckering, sometimes drier taste, but there are lighter reds with lower tannin levels that might appeal to a non-wine drinker’s palate, such as Pinot Noir or Syrah.

Now let’s get back to pairing with spring foods. When salad is on the menu, either as an entrée or a substantial side dish, look for white wines with so-called “green” flavors. Vinho Verde, Grüner Veltliner, Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc, and Albariño will fit right in with leafy greens. Pinot grigio is a good match for pasta primavera.

There are a couple of choices of wine to pair with asparagus, depending on how it’s cooked. Try a Pinot Bianco with grilled asparagus, but a dry rosé would work well with asparagus that is oven-roasted. Artichokes can be difficult to match with wine because they can make it taste overly sweet. To counter that effect, pick a tart white with good acidity, like a Sauvignon blanc.

Let’s get to the meat of wine pairings. Is baked ham on the menu for Easter? Then choose Riesling for its fruity flavors of apple, apricot, and pineapple that will go naturally.

If you’re serving lamb for Passover or Easter, well, then a red wine might be the obvious choice. However, a tender spring lamb needs a wine that won’t overpower its delicate flavors and texture. One popular suggestion: Grenache, which is typically light and has fruit flavors.

When it comes to fruit, in most cases you’re going to want a wine that’s very sweet and bubbly, especially with a dessert. Champagne doesn’t have to be reserved for special celebrations. A sweet Gewürtztraminer is another option, or sparkling rosé.

While you’re shopping with us for your spring holiday meals or weekend dinner parties on the deck or patio, let us show you our wine selection and help you choose the best ones to serve with your menu and please all your guests. Then tell us which ones are your favorites!

Easy Weeknight Grilling

Sometimes it takes a while for our New England weather to catch up to the season, but now that the days are getting warmer and longer, it’s finally time to uncover the grill and take a break from standard kitchen cooking duty. Why wait for weekends? Make the most out of the sunshine with easy grilling recipes, even on your busiest evenings during the workweek.

weeknight grilling hamburgersBurgers are usually a quick family favorite. Butcher Boy has the freshest ground beef for the best-tasting hamburgers. Shop with us for the buns as well as your favorite toppings and sides, like lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, coleslaw, or potato salad. Our selection of prepared sides can take the stress out of cooking a full meal on nights when you’re short on time.

Grilled sausages are another easy option, especially in foil packets with peppers and onions to make clean-up a breeze. Sub rolls make for an easy grab-and-go meal or grill up any leftover veggies you have on hand and toss them together with the sausages on a bed of rice for a well-rounded dinner. How about ready-to-cook chicken in a variety of flavorful marinades to choose from? We’ve got a well-stocked case of customer favorites ready for you to pick up. Pair that with a salad and some grilled potatoes for a simple meal any night of the week.

weeknight grilling steak skewersUp your weeknight game with steak tip skewers. Simply pop some plain or marinated steak tips onto wooden skewers, with veggies in between. When you stop in at Butcher Boy, we’ll help you choose the best cut for your kebabs. Enjoy time on the deck or patio and out of the kitchen while your skewers grill by picking up a salad from our deli.

No matter what you choose for your protein main entree, fresh mixed vegetables on the grill always go well together. Toss zucchini, cherry tomatoes, red onion, mushrooms, broccoli florets, cauliflower — or anything, really — in some olive oil and garlic and cook them up in a grill basket.

Don’t save dessert for weekends, either. After a long, cold winter, it’s time to make these ordinary days a little sweeter. Take advantage of later sunsets and comfortable temperatures when you have a chance to pull yourself away from work and school devices. A springtime meal outside can be just the thing to brighten up your week. We have a bakery stocked with all your favorites, from small cakes and pies for sharing to individual pastries, cupcakes, and other treats.

What are your easy grilled favorites? Share what you love…and don’t forget to visit us for all of your ingredients!

 

grills perfect match

Entertaining Basics to Celebrate the Good Times

Summer is a wonderful time for celebrations, whether it’s an impending wedding, birth of a baby, a graduation, or other milestones and accomplishments. When you want to bring family and friends together for the occasion, Butcher Boy can help. Any of our appetizers, entrées, side dishes, salads, platters, desserts, and more can be ordered and picked up. Simply tell us how many guests you’re expecting, and we’ll guide you on quantities.

More about the menu in a bit, but what about arranging the other elements of your party?

Make a Plan

Whether you are having a handful of people over or the entire graduating class, outlining a plan will take some stress off your shoulders. Set the date, determine the guest list, decide on the type of invitation – electronic or paper – and budget. Do you need music, party game ideas, or other entertainment?

Think Inside the Box

If you’re hosting more than one party within the next couple of months, repurpose as many supplies as you can get away with. Store trays, glassware, and serving utensils in a plastic container till you need it. Purchase disposable plates and napkins in bulk and in a color that will last you through several celebrations to avoid running out or having too many for any one event. We have a variety of styles in paper plates, cups, serving utensils, décor, and more so you can pick up everything you need in a single trip.

Decorating Details

A little goes a long way when it comes to decorations. A touch of color here and a hint of texture there will be enjoyable and memorable to the guests. If the weather cooperates, you can extend your gathering to the outdoors, and simple strings of lights when the sun sets can create nice ambience. You can get creative with where and how you string them for each event. If the party is staying indoors, you can turn down the overhead lights and string your lights indoors to create a welcoming atmosphere. Festive details like flag garland or table decorations are fun. Depending on how many children will be at the event, unscented candles are a subtle touch. Small bunches of flowers in mason jars make nice centerpieces and accents.

Satisfy Every Appetite

There are many options for feeding your party guests, depending on the size of your crowd, time of day, weather, and the mood of your gathering. Would you prefer to serve finger foods and appetizers, or is an entrée better with a few side dishes and snacks beforehand? If the sun and temperature make eating anything heavy too uncomfortable, maybe cool salads, fruits and sandwiches will hit the spot. Grilling can be easier for smaller groups, and we can help you select some of the best meats and marinades to impress your guests. We’ve got some steak recipe suggestions, too. If you’d rather leave the cooking to us, don’t forget to browse our extensive catering menu. Swing by our wine and spirits aisle and stock up on all of the ingredients for a signature cocktail and other beverage options.

Be Prepared

The better prepared you are before the day of the event, the more fun you will have hosting it. Create your music playlist ahead of time, test the speakers and have your charger nearby just in case. Make as many food items as you can or pick up your order the day before. If you are using the grill, be sure you have enough propane. Remember the ice! Another thing to remember is the placement of your food and drinks. Be sure that the path and space for serving won’t get too crowded as your guests serve themselves. Set the tables up ahead of time to ensure you have enough space. And don’t forget to delegate some tasks so you can mingle and enjoy yourself, too!

Every Party Has a Beginning and an End

Once the majority of guests have arrived, you can kick off the festivities with a special toast or ice breaker activity. As a party winds down, sometimes people aren’t sure when it’s okay to leave or if they are going to miss out on anything else if they do. Signal the end of a celebration with a group photo or a final toast to the guest of honor.

Whatever the celebration, enjoy your time to eat, drink and be merry. Spring parties are a great way to gear up for summer cook-outs! Butcher Boy will be here, with everything you need.

Spring Into Fun In The Merrimack Valley

Spring - Merrimack ValleyThe sun is out, the birds are singing, the trees and flowers are beginning to bloom. It’s time for spring cleaning – inside and outside! – and taking on some of our favorite pastimes of the new season. Whether you’re gardening, playing weekend rounds of golf, catching a baseball game, or enjoying outdoor activities with the family, you’re likely doing it all with an extra spring in your step now that winter is behind us.

There are some fun events planned in the area over the next few weeks, also. Here’s a look at what’s ahead.

May 4

Enjoy the sounds of the talented Merrimack College jazz ensemble and other student musicians at the Merrimack Music Jam weekend. It’s on campus at the Rogers Center for the Arts.

May 4 & 5

One of the world’s most successful movies of all time also is an award-winning stage production, and you can buy tickets to see Titanic the Musical at the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly while doing good at the same time. The show is a fundraiser for the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center.

May 19

The 47th North Andover Sheep Shearing Festival will be held on the Town Common from 10am to 4pm. This family-friendly event includes shearing and blacksmithing demonstrations, music, craft booths, food vendors, pony rides, and cow-pie bingo! There will be free parking and shuttles from the Franklin and Middle Schools.

May 28

Nature’s Playgroup at Stevens-Coolidge Place is the perfect opportunity for children and kids at heart to explore the wonders of the outdoors. This is the time when it’s okay to get dirty! Keep your eye on the Stevens-Coolidge calendar for events and activities all season long for the whole family.

Through the month of May

Smolak Farms is a favorite destination for adults and kids of all ages. In addition to the regular activities such as hay rides and feeding the animals, the farm playground is free and open to the public any time.

During a busy spring weekend, what will you have for lunch or dinner? Let us help take the stress of menu planning off your plate. Swing by Butcher Boy for the best selection of specialty cut meats perfect for the grill, whether you’re in the mood for chicken, steak or anything else on our menu of prepared or ready-to-cook items.

Food that Entertains – Cheese and Antipasto Party Platter Recipes

With great entertaining comes great responsibility to serve unforgettable food. With the end of the school year quickly approaching, and spring and summer holidays right around the corner, the outdoor entertaining season is practically here. 

Busy hands make light conversation, so it’s best to avoid cooking elaborate meals for an occasion where guests may stop in at any time. That’s why we carry platters with our own roast beef and turkey finger sandwiches, and imported ham and chicken spiral wraps ready to order from our Catering Menu. We’re also a fan of creating mini chip-and-dip stations with our bean dip, cheddar blue cheese spread, or red pepper jelly spread, all available in-store. 

Remember, the best food for an event is food that travels! Thrill hungry socializing guests with these easily prepared, no-stress platter recipes: 

1) The Charcuterie and Cheese Board

The Charcuterie and Cheese Board
via AHU Eats

Assembling an impressive charcuterie and cheese platter doesn’t have to be a hassle. AHU Eats breaks down the ideal ingredients for the ultimate meat and cheese ensemble. The key to pulling this beautiful arrangement? Variety! For cheese, AHU Eats recommends using a soft, medium, firm, and smelly cheese. For meats, select a range from mild to spicy and from more to less fatty. Add some fresh food and an edible vehicle like a crusty baguette, then arrange on a large cutting board, platter, or your choice of serving tray. 

2) Antipasto Appetizer Cheese Board

Antipasto Appetizer Cheese Board
via Damn Delicious

It’s not always easy to please a crowd. Damn Delicious guarantees a sea of smiling faces when you serve their antipasto platter and cheese board. This recipe includes the traditional antipasto assortment of olives, cured meats, peppers, and Italian cheeses along with focaccia bread and marcona almonds. Make sure you pick up some mini skewers for the marinated olives and small mozzarella cheese bites, also known as bocconcini, all available at Butcher Boy.

Get more tasty and simple party food recipes from our post on Spring Antipasto Platters and Appetizers!

Happy spring!

Want more party food ideas?

Stop by our store in North Andover. We’re always here to answer your questions.

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