Facing a pressing party-planning dilemma? Not to worry—there’s a wealth of Westchester resources at your beck and call.
Q. I really need help with serving, organizing, and the clean-up afterwards.
When you’re in a pinch, LifeWorx, (400 King St, Chappaqua 914-458-9933, lifeworx.com) can be well worth the $200 annual membership to have round-the-clock access to service staff when you need it. The in-home staffing company can be your go-to source for everything: creating the menu, doing the grocery shopping, preparing and serving the meal, and cleaning up afterwards, all for $40 to $60 per hour. Personal assistants can take care of tedious tasks like mailing your invites, tracking RSVPs, you name it, for between $45 to $60 per hour.
Margaret Monteforte’s party staffing works through Turco’s Supermarket (380 Downing Dr, Yorktown 914-243-9100). They’ll arrange food on your platters, set the tables, serve guests, pack up leftovers, and wash the dishes for a $25 deposit fee, then $20 per hour, per employee, for the event.
Errands on the Run (175 Main St, Mount Kisco 914-241-0079; errandontherun.com) can also help with all your legwork.
Q. Is it possible to meet the dietary needs and wants of my guests and still have a great spread?
Avril Kaye Caterers (2 James Way, Rye Brook 914-472-7712, avrilkaye.com) specializes in customized kosher fare that puts a twist on the traditional: contemporary, boutique dishes that are modified and updated depending on the season. If you don’t eat meat or wheat, Jolo’s Kitchen (412 North Ave, New Rochelle 914-355-2527; joloskitchen.com) catering menu features vegan dishes and gluten-free options—using only grains, seeds, veggies, nuts, fruits, and other organic, super-fresh ingredients—so flavorful that even your meat-loving guests will savor.
Candida Canfield’s Dinner In Hand (New Rochelle 914-380-5084, dinnerinhand.com) offers full menu of dishes, including a 400-calories-or-less menu, and family-style faves like meatloaf and lasagna—and delivers them right to your door, too.
Ethnic menus are a nice change of pace for a party. Indian restaurant Mughal Palace (16 Broadway, Valhalla 914-997-6090; mughalpalace.com) offers platter combinations of curried fish, lamb tikka, mango pickles, samosas, and more. For sushi, try Ginban Asian Bistro (421 Mamaroneck Ave, Mamaroneck 914-777-8889; ginbanasianfusion.com); for authentic family-style Portuguese fare, call J Lincoln Barbeque (68 E Lincoln Ave, Mount Vernon 914-665-8800).
For a finger-licking good time, try Wild Westchester BBQ Co., (465 Main St, Armonk 914-273-4995, wildwestchesterbbq.com). They take care of everything from food and equipment to staff and entertainment, while doing what they do best: creating a just-off-the-grill, all-you-can-eat buffet. And, if your guests don’t indulge in beef or pork, go for the full New England Clam Bake menu with grilled lobster tails and shrimp kabobs.
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Lulu’s wraps up all your dessert needs. |
Q. My menu is covered except for a fabulous finish.
To-die-for desserts is one of the specialties of Silver Spoon Sweets—the dessert focus of Silver Spoon Catering (200 E Main St, Mount Kisco 914-241-0955; silverspooncateringny.com) known for crafting cuisine specific to each event. The dessert choices are endless. From celebratory cakes to velvety chocolate mousse or chocolate hazelnut ganache to build your own dessert crepes or dessert party stations to healthy but tasty and artfully presented fresh fruit platters, they can satisfy any sweet tooth.
Or, if you’re up for a bakery run, Lulu Custom Cake Boutique (40 Garth Rd, Scarsdale 914-722-8300; everythinglulu.com) whips up confections that taste as good as they look. La Tulipe Desserts (455 Lexington Ave, Mount Kisco 914-242-4555; latulipedesserts.com) also offers a sumptuous array of almost-too-pretty-to-eat desserts ranging from custom cakes, tarts, and melt-in-your-mouth macaroons to their gelato and sorbet creations in almost every possible flavor. You can’t go wrong when one dessert is actually named “Paradise.”
A gluten-free diet in no way means taste-free when it comes to desserts. Three Dogs Gluten-Free Bakery (510 N State Rd, Briarcliff Manor 914-762-2121; threedogsgfbakery.com) creates elaborate custom cakes, cookies, and cupcakes with gluten-free flour that are tasty enough to pass the decadent taste tests of all your guests. And, they’re also able to accommodate other sensitivities, such as dairy-free, soy-free, or peanut-free items. All you have to do is ask.
Q. Any ideas for a budget-conscious, yet still elegant approach?
In addition to full service catering, Scarsdale’s Standing Room Only (1491 Weaver St, Scarsdale 914-472-3002, srofinefoods.com) also has a gourmet retail marketplace that is perfect for planning at-home parties with on-site party managers to help customize a perfect menu.
While “budget” may not come to mind when thinking of Whole Foods Market (1 Ridge Hill Blvd, Yonkers 914-378-8090; 110 Bloomingdale Rd, White Plains 914-288-1300; wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/catering), it offers a pretty sweet deal: Get a turkey, three sides, and traditional trimmings for four ($50), eight ($85), or 12 ($120).
Q. I think I may need more chairs for my party. Can I rent more in a pinch?
Party Line Tent Rentals (21 Vreeland Ave, Elmsford 914-592-1200; partylinerentals.com) has your back. And not just with a full range of seating styles, but all your party essentials from tents to cookware to linens to flooring and lighting (yes, we’re talking chandeliers and patio walkway lights), even bounce castles or snow cone machines for the kids. If it’s rentable, Party Line has it.
