• SERVICES
    • Wedding catering
    • Private cheffing (In-home entertainment)
    • Corporate catering
    • Baby showers and Kitchen teas
    • High Teas
    • Grazing Tables & Nibble Boards
    • Platters and Canapes
    • Cakes and Bakes
    • Gifts and Favours
    • Workshops and Team Building
  • BLOG
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  • CONTACT US
    • PRIVACY POLICY
Laughing Chefs
  • SERVICES
    • Wedding catering
    • Private cheffing (In-home entertainment)
    • Corporate catering
    • Baby showers and Kitchen teas
    • High Teas
    • Grazing Tables & Nibble Boards
    • Platters and Canapes
    • Cakes and Bakes
    • Gifts and Favours
    • Workshops and Team Building
  • BLOG
  • Gallery
  • CONTACT US
    • PRIVACY POLICY

Tag: Special celebrations

5 Articles
Why booking a private chef is the new going out, Laughing Chefs private chefs
Laughing Chefs July 30, 2020

Why booking a private chef is the new going out

With the onset of the Corona virus, and all the restrictions that have been passed in its wake, our options in entertaining has been severely minimised

Today, should you wish to host a special celebration (given that the date of such celebration will be after level 2 at least) you have limited choices. And each choice comes with its own requirements and restrictions. Our best option and suggestion: host it in your own home.

Booking a private chef is the new going out.

For many years, having a private chef was the privilege of the wealthy. Then Corona came along as the great equaliser. What was once destined for the high and mighty is now the go-to for the ordinary. Going out has become socially frowned upon, somewhat risky and above all else, expensive.

By opening your home up and hiring a private chef, whether for a romantic dinner for two or a family get-together, even a bigger celebration like a milestone birthday, baby shower or a wedding, you can have the restaurant experience in the comfort of your own home.

Not only will this save you on the bill (yes, we can help you get away with a more affordable menu option), but you will also save on gratuity and exaggerated bar prices (if you are lucky enough to still have wine, then at least in your home you are allowed to drink it with your meal!). Furthermore you get the piece of mind of knowing with whom you are sharing the meal, helping to keep you and your family save.

Hiring a private chef for that special occasion means entrusting the celebration into the hands of a professional. The chef will do the menu planning, all the sourcing, the cooking, serving, as well as the kitchen cleaning afterwards. You get to enjoy a restaurant quality meal, while enjoying your time with your loved ones. And afterwards, you do not have far to go to get into your bed.

Doesn’t that sound like a winning deal?

Should that sound like a great plan, here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning a function with a private chef, now in the time of Corona:

  1. Have more than one date, and confirm whether the chef will be flexible enough to move to a different date should the restrictions become stricter or even change.
  2. Confirm whether you will be able to move your deposit to secure another date should the above be the case.
  3. Give the chef all the info necessary to plan a delectable meal. If you have allergies or intolerances, or simply do not like certain things, tell them upfront.
  4. Be honest about your budget. Do not say something like “I don’t know what these things cost, so just do a quote and then we can take it from there”. It takes time to work out menus and to do the costing, just so you can shoot us down because the price was too high. Be upfront so that we do not waste each other’s time – time is, after all, money.
  5. Be honest about your and your guests’ status – if anybody has tested positive, please communicate that so that the chef can ensure his/her own safety, as well as the safety of their employees and own loved ones.

What would the chef need in order to give you the best service?

  1. Budget
  2. Timeline – what time will your guests arrive, what time would you like the individual courses to be served
  3. Facilities and equipment – do you have a stove, oven, fridge, freezer, work surfaces
  4. Do you have enough cutlery and crockery
  5. Is it an open plan kitchen, and will the guests have access to the kitchen

The chef might have other specific questions, but these ones are the most common, and in our opinion some of the most important.

If you are considering hosting a special celebration, we highly recommend getting a private chef. And of course, we are available should you need a quote from us 🙂

Food delivery, Pretoria East, Laughing Chefs caterers, weddings and events
Laughing Chefs April 28, 2020

Food delivery in Pretoria East

For orders, please send a Whatsapp to Esrida on 0725114946

We will send you the banking details for EFT as well as further arrangements

R50 delivery fee for Pretoria East, R20 delivery in Elarduspark

For frozen pizzas and pies:

Deliveries every Friday, order before Wednesday 12h

For home-cooked meals:

Order before Wed 12h, deliveries Fridays between 8h and 14h

Sunday lunch:

Order before Wed 12h, deliveries Sunday between 8h and 11h

Laughing Chefs meal boxes
Laughing Chefs Boerekos Lunch, Koestertafel meal delivery, Pretoria East
Meal deliveries, Pretoria East, home-cooked meals with a restaurant twist, Laughing Chefs caterers for weddings, events and other celebrations
Laughing Chefs Pizza Lunch, meal delivery, Pretoria East
Meal deliveries, Pretoria East, home-cooked meals with a restaurant twist, Laughing Chefs caterers for weddings, events and other celebrations
Laughing Chefs February 07, 2019

Secrets, tips and must-haves to make your next picnic the most magical one yet

Is there anything more romantic than a picnic? I will venture a guess – not really. Stripes agrees, she has seen the number of picnics booked in the name of love and romance.

I don’t know what it is, but the whole idea of taking a basket full of delicious things to eat, out into the great outdoors, where you battle the elements in order to eat in relative peace, seems to rank somewhere at the top of the “most romantic things to do” list. I myself am a lover of picnics, not because of the food or the idea, but because when you do attempt a picnic with your loved one the settings and surroundings automatically force you to connect. There is nothing else to do except eat and talk. You can lie on your back and watch the clouds, or listen to the birds. Then eat and talk. Glorious. For most, the fun starts there – with the unveiling and unpacking of the goodies. But for us, the picnic-planners and picnic-packers, there is a lot of work to be done before this special event can take place. The success of your picnic rests on the panache with which you pack, and two undisputed tips – steer clear of any store-bought food, and be well prepared.

Picnics should be about comfort, ease, and joy. Nobody wants to use all of their energy carrying heavy baskets full of china and silverware, to a site that is km far, to sit on chairs (that you also had to carry) passing around cucumber sandwiches as a first course. Or worse, take out the carefully prepared food only to find everything is wilted, limp, or spoilt. For any picnic, there are a few must-have items, without which you will struggle, or even simply fail.

Something to pack the food in

A basket, or a dedicated picnic rucksack, works the best. You do not need anything special, whatever you choose must simply meet the following requirements:

  • Light enough to carry, even when packed full of goodies
  • Keep your cutlery and crockery safe, and clean
  • Keep the food and beverages cold and safe
  • Be able to house the dirty and empty things once you are done, without leaking juices onto the car seat

If you need 2 pieces in order to meet these requirements, then so be it. Maybe you will use a basket or rucksack to carry the cutlery, crockery and glassware, and a cool box for the food and drinks. Or you have a basket that is big enough for everything, plus insulated so it will keep the food cold. Just find something that will be practical and useful.  A few tips: a full cooler stays colder for longer, so ensure that it’s filled with about 75% food and the rest ice. If you don’t have enough food to fill it to ¾, then add more ice. Place ice at the bottom, followed by the heavier foods. Fill in with the lighter items. Pack the cooler directly from the refrigerator, and preferably use ice packs or slabs of ice. Another hack – freeze water in empty milk bottles and use instead of ice packs. And of course, once there always place the cooler in shade and not in direct sun. When packing your basket or another container, start with the items you will need last. Place them in first, e.g. the cutlery and crockery, the condiments, insect repellent, etc. Then follow with the perishable items and things you need as part of the setup. The last thing you place in your basket is your picnic blanket since that is the first thing you will need once you reach the picnic site.

Equipment

Make a list of the food that you are planning to serve, as well as the drinks, and determine what you will need in order to serve this menu. E.g. if you are drinking wine, ensure you pack a wine opener for the corkscrew. Bread, then pack a breadknife and breadboard. Cheese, you will most probably need a sharp knife, so pack one carefully. Don’t forget a cloth (you can pack a wet cloth in a lunch box or glass jar, making cleaning up a breeze) or napkins, and salt and pepper. If you will make use of a table, covered with a table cloth, remember to pack in weighted clips to hold the table cloth down. And remember something that you can use to collect all the trash. You must leave the picnic spot in a better condition than what you found it in – trash free.

For cutlery and crockery, we would recommend going the low waste, single-use-plastic-free route. Opt for bamboo or paper plates, bamboo or compostable knives and forks, and glasses that can be re-used. Avoid anything that is made from plastic or polystyrene that you will have to throw away after use. Metal is another option. For napkins, we recommend cloth, and empty containers and rubbish can be placed in the (hopefully) empty cool box for sorting and disposing of at home.

Food safety

A cool box, or ice packs, are essential to make sure that your food remains cold and safe for eating. Keep your cool box or insulated basket closed, only opening once you want to eat, and eat immediately once you have reached your destination in order to keep the food out of the temperature danger zone. Keep sauces separately, only adding them once you want to eat. Pack hand sanitizer or have another way of cleaning hands before eating.  If you are travelling or walking particularly far and don’t have adequate cooling options, avoid using mayonnaise or dairy products in your food.

Special touches

A blanket, cushions if you can carry them, an umbrella for shade if you won’t be under trees, and insect repellent are just a few of those things that you might not think of, but that is needed to make the picnic special. To ensure there is something cold to drink, freeze water in bottles. The frozen bottles can be used as ice packs, and once defrosted you have cold water to refresh yourself and your company.

The food

As important as the setting might be, the highlight of the show remains the food. When planning your picnic menu, you need to keep in mind it needs to be food that can be transported, that can be served at room temperature, won’t spoil in a cool box with only ice packs, can keep (so you don’t have to make it and serve it immediately), fall in the taste of your company, and provide a balanced meal. Here you have the choice of either going for finger food – smaller dishes and bites that don’t require cutlery and crockery to eat, or more traditional dishes, where you do need a plate and knife and fork in order to enjoy. A few dishes are iconically associated with picnics, such as Scotch eggs, chicken drumsticks, sandwiches, potato salad and quiche. Guaranteed crowd-pleasers, but definitely not the only options out there.

Pasta salad is perfect for picnics – usually hearty, they hold up well. If you want to pack a leafy salad, don’t dress the salad until you are going to eat it. For layered salads, always start with the heaviest ingredients at the bottom, working up towards the lighter ones like the lettuce. Other salad ideas include Middle Eastern couscous salad, a Greek orzo salad, or even a lighter-carb sweet potato salad. Adding vegetable dishes or bites can be a bit trickier as they usually do not handle the heat and transport that well. But there are options, such as zucchini fritters with minted tzatziki dip, pumpkin fritters, or chargrilled veg skewers.

Our favourite menu for a picnic? A selection of cheeses, cold meats, pates and spreads, olives, roasted peppers, gherkins, hummus, crudites and other meze bites, with fresh bread and real butter. Nothing fancy, just good produce that you can pair and add to make a wonderful meal. Social food.

A nice tip? Pack fruit, nuts and biltong for extra snacks along the way, especially if you are travelling with kids and the journey might take longer than you planned.

To end, chocolate brownies are always a winner. Other ideas: cheesecake in a jar, cookies, traditional scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream, or a coconut loaf cake.

For drinks, anything that can successfully be kept cold can work. Ice tea is super refreshing on a hot summer’s day, lemonade or ginger beer (both homemade of course) being another stellar option. And for the grownups, sparkling wine or a chilled white or rose wine is wonderful. Just remember your glasses, and pack enough ice! You can also pack in sangria or spritzers, or pre-mixed G&Ts with the cucumber or lemon slices packed separately. Whatever says sun, outside, and great company. Our best hack to ensure your drinks remain cold (other than freezing them) is: chill as usual, then decant into a flask. That same flask to keep your coffee hot on road trips will keep your drinks nice and cold.

When packing the food, ensure the containers that you are using are leak proof. Place everything in the fridge to chill, and only pack them into your cool box at the last minute. Top with ice packs to ensure safe transportation.

The entertainment

  • Make getting to the picnic a scavenger hunt. Leave clues or a “treasure” map for your family to find their way to the picnic destination.
  • Bring along a board game, boules, a rugby ball, or a Frisbee for some outdoor fun. If kids will be joining you, try to pick a spot with a playground nearby.
  • Plan a hike and bring the picnic with you. Stop when you get hungry or find a scenic spot to eat.
  • Set the mood with a sunset picnic. If it’s allowed, bring a few votive candles and a small bouquet of flowers to add to the ambience.

Those are our top tips for making a magical picnic. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, we hope you implement them for a romantic night out. And if you are worried about your skill in the kitchen, or simply do not have the time to cook and plan, you can always order your picnic from us!

Stripes is wishing you a happy Valentine’s Day, but even more, that you will feel the love the whole year round!

Laughing Chefs January 24, 2019

Bridal shower games

Bridal showers, also known as kitchen teas, is that one get-together that Stripes really dislike. She says if you want to start a war, put ladies from 2 different families and friends who all feel they are the BEST friend together in a room, armed with mimosas and toilet paper. Sooner rather than later something ugly starts to rear its head, and if not contained it will break free and take over. Her solution? Play games. But not the run of the mill, same old same old games. Be creative to get the guests interacting. That way they will be too busy to nitpick and pick fights.

Here are Stripes’ suggestions for actual-fun games to play at a bridal shower:

  1. Bingo gift game

Download and print our blank bingo cards. Give one to each guest, then have them fill in the blank blocks with the wedding gifts they think the bride will receive. Then when the bride starts to open her gifts, guests mark off their bingo card as gifts are opened. The centre block with a heart is a free space. The first guest to get five in a row wins the game.

Bingo gift game, Laughing Chefs bridal shower games

  1. Romantic movie quotes

Download and print the game worksheet. On it, there are quotes from popular romantic movies. Give each guest a worksheet and have them fill out as many movie titles as they recognize and know. The highest number of correct answers wins. If this is too difficult, you can make 2 columns – one with the quote and in random order, the other one with movie titles. Guests then have to match column 1 with column 2. (On our sheet, the answers are: Love Actually, When Harry Met Sally, Moulin Rouge, Notting Hill, Casablanca, in that order)

Romantic movie quote game, Laughing Chefs bridal shower games

  1. Name that tune

Create a playlist of 12 love songs. Hand out a game page to each guest, then play a snippet of each song. The guests must guess who sang it. To make it even more difficult, they can give the title of the song as well. Guest with the most correct answers wins.

Name that tune game, Laughing Chefs bridal shower games

  1. Bride and groom trivia

Print the trivia page, then give the guests a set amount of time to write down their answers. As easy as that!

Bride and groom trivia game, Laughing Chefs bridal shower games

  1. Hitched or not

Download and print the list of celebrity couples. Give each guest one, and ask them to guess whether the couple is married or not. Guest with the most correct answers wins.

Hithed or not game, Laughing Chefs bridal shower games

  1. Wedding catchphrases

In this Charade-like game, guests must divide into teams, each team getting a pack of catch-phrase cards. The teams take turns to draw a card and then act out the word or catchphrase on the card. The rest of the team must guess. Normal charade rules apply. Download our catch-phrase cards here.

Catch phrase game, Laughing Chefs bridal shower games

  1. Favourite memories

Guests write their favourite memory with the bride on the memory card, which the bride then reads out loud to see if she can guess who wrote the memory.

Favourite memory game, Laughing Chefs bridal shower games

  1. What’s in the bag – pay attention

Take a bag and fill it with items that the bride might need to pack for her honeymoon. You need 15 to 20 items to make it work. Give each guest a piece of paper. In front of the guests, take out each item one at a time and show it to the guests, replacing it bag into the bag once shown. After all the items have been shown, give the guests one minute to write down as many items as they can remember. Most correct answers win. Give the bag to the bride as your gift to her.

  1. Drawing game

This is a twist on Pictionary. Download and print the game board and word cards. You will need whiteboards or poster boards, something to stand them on, markers and dice. Follow the instructions on the game board, and enjoy!

Drawing game, Laughing Chefs bridal shower games

  1. He said/she said

Interview the bride and groom in advance, asking them a series of questions in order to generate the quotes needed for the list. Download and print the game card, writing in your quotes of choice. Copy as many as you need, then hand them out to guests. They must decide whether the bride or groom said the applicable quote. Most correct answers win.

He said she said game, Laughing Chefs bridal shower games

  1. Who did what

Similar to the game above, this time you make a list of random, generic or very specific statements or acts and guests simply decide who did the specific thing. From who said “I love you” first to who is a better cook. Most correct answers wins.

  1. Bridal details

For this fun game, ask the bride to leave the room, then pass out the game sheets. Guests must try to answer the questions to the best of their abilities, most correct answers wins.

Bridal details game, Laughing Chefs bridal shower games

  1. Find the guest

A great icebreaker, this game is sure to get the guests interacting. Basically, you give guests a few prompts and they must find a guest who fits the scenario or description. A few examples:

Find the guest who:

  • Has been married ten years or longer
  • Speaks a foreign language
  • Has won $50 or more in the last 12 months
  • Has more than three kids
  • Is wearing blue shoes
  • Has more than three pets
  • Vacationed within the last three months
  1. Celebrity wives

Make a list of famous celebrity wives, then write each name on a single card. As guests arrive they must pick a card from the pile, then tape that card to their forehead without peeking. Other guests must then describe who she is until she guesses her celeb – and act like that celeb for the rest of the party.

  1. What’s in your cell phone: the wedding edition

For this game, the guests will whip out their phones for a cellular scavenger hunt. The ladies will search their phones and get points for each item that they can find. For example, one to five points for things like:

  • A selfie
  • A video
  • A text from the bride-to-be
  • Having a screen saver of a person
  • A photo of the bride-to-be

Or even more points for:

  • A battery life of more than 50%
  • Having zero unread emails
  • Having the wedding date saved in your calendar
  • A photo of the bridal shower

What’s on your phone game, Laughing Chefs bridal shower games

  1. Pen a poem

Grab a blank sheet of paper and ask a guest to write a single line of a romantic poem dedicated to the couple. Then fold the paper over, hiding the guest’s phrase, and pass the paper to another guest with the same instructions. Make your way through all the guests, then, in your best dramatic stage voice, read the (disjointed) poem the brides’ guests have dedicated to her great love.

  1. Bridal scattergories

With cute wedding-related prompts like “honeymoon locations” and “something blue,” it’s a clever way to entertain guests during party gaps. There are four lettered rounds (“L,” “O,” “V,” and “E”) with points awarded for creativity, originality and length — the winner has to earn the most points!

  1. Cake decorating contest

Give each guest a mini cake or a cupcake, with all the needed supplies, and ask them to decorate it in the style and colour that they think the wedding will be. The bride judges who win.

Any fun games that you would like to add?

Money saving tips for weddings, www.laughingchefs.co.za
Laughing Chefs August 20, 2018

Money saving tips for weddings and other special functions

Money saving tips for weddings, www.laughingchefs.co.za

  1. Have a weekday wedding, or at least a Friday instead of a Saturday
  2. Get married in the winter months instead of the summer
  3. Go digital with your save the dates
  4. Go digital with your invitations, doing printed invites only for your parents, grandparents and yourself as a keepsake
  5. Use a printable invite
  6. For your printed invitations, stay with one colour design
  7. Go for a buffet meal to cut down on the cost of waiting staff
  8. Cut down on your guest list
  9. Favours are unnecessary. Want to give something? Give something edible
  10. Opt for more candles instead of more flowers
  11. Go for fairy lights to help create mood and effect
  12. Choosing rectangular tables means you can have smaller centrepieces
  13. Don’t skimp on your food or the photographer
  14. Have a wine table instead of wine on each table
  15. Don’t have an open bar – rather buy a number of drinks that guests can help themselves to
  16. Rent a house in an exotic location, use it as the venue and double it as accommodation as well as your honeymoon!
  17. Use a venue that does not force you to make use of their suppliers or vendors
  18. Have your reception in a restaurant
  19. Do your own flowers
  20. Use paper or cloth flower alternatives
  21. Instead of posies have bridesmaids carry something different e.g. a lantern or small handbag
  22. Have the maid of honour carry a small handbag instead of a flower posie; she can then carry all the items needed in your emergency kit
  23. Buy your decor instead of hiring, then sell it afterwards
  24. Go for wooden tables so that no tablecloths are needed
  25. If you have to cover your tables, only use a tablecloth and skip a runner or overlay
  26. Don’t do printed programs
  27. Skip the wedding car
  28. Don’t spend too much on your chapel flowers and decor
  29. Food served family style means you cut down on centrepieces and table decor
  30. Weigh up hiring a wedding planner versus doing it yourself
  31. Have a budget and stick to it!
  32. Choose a venue that already includes some things e.g. the tables
  33. Do a menu board instead of individually printed menus
  34. Have more guests per table, meaning fewer tables in total
  35. Go for a morning or brunch wedding
  36. Use what the venue already have
  37. Make it personal so you can use things you already have
  38. Reduce the “plus ones”
  39. DIY as much as you can, from the table numbers to the signs
  40. Use seasonal flowers
  41. Go green! Foilage instead of flowers
  42. Borrow your jewellery
  43. Let bridesmaids pick (and pay) for their own dresses
  44. Maybe skip the champagne for a toast – guests will already have a drink to toast with
  45. Don’t pay for something that most guests won’t even notice
  46. Skip the 2nd bouquet for the tossing, rather use the bridesmaid’s posy or a single flower
  47. Skip the carpet down the aisle, rather go for flower petals
  48. Combine the post-ceremony snacks and starters, or choose one and make it great
  49. Don’t do destination or out of town
  50. Outside ceremony can mean more money – keep it inside
  51. Don’t invite kids
  52. Make sure kids are charged differently
  53. Don’t go over time – most venues charge per hour after 00h
  54. Make your own cake or order a dummy cake and make the rest yourself
  55. Skip dessert and just serve cake
  56. Skip cake and do a dessert bar
  57. Make your own photobooth
  58. Skip the crazy lights and smoke machine
  59. Skip signature cocktails
  60. Don’t do pairings
  61. Go with 1 white and 1 red wine, that is enough choice
Laughing Chefs

Pretoria East


Esrida 0725114946
Maggie 0828237846

info@laughingchefs.co.za

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Category Posts

  • Cool Groomsmen Gifts for a Hot Summer Wedding August 27, 2020
  • Why booking a private chef is the new going out, Laughing Chefs private chefs
    Why booking a private chef is the new going out July 30, 2020
  • How to plan a backyard wedding, Laughing Chefs caterers Pretoria East
    How to Plan a Backyard Wedding July 23, 2020
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    Vouchers and gift cards April 29, 2020

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Pretoria East
Gauteng


Maggie 0828237846
Esrida 0725114946

info@laughingchefs.co.za


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