  Next time you want a quick pasta recipe, try this one which is filled with bold Southeast Asian flavors.
Ingredients: 8 oz Squid Ink Pasta 1 Can of Thai Coconut Milk 1/4 Cup Instant Tom Yum Paste 1/4 Cup Queso Fresco Cilantro (optional garnish) Fresh Lime Zest (optional garnish) Directions: 1. Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. 2. Combine paste and coconut milk, and bring to a simmer. This is your sauce. 3. Combine pasta and sauce together. 4. Plate pasta, top with fresh lime zest, and queso fresco. This recipe serves up to 4 people.
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 Fish, oysters, lobster, a whole clam bake—seafood is no stranger to a wedding menu, but there are a variety of factors you need to consider before serving these delicious dishes to your big-day guests. Whether you're planning to have a full raw bar during cocktail hour or you'd like to include one or two fish options on your dinner menu, you'll want to be aware of elements such as how the seafood is prepared, the temperature at which it's served, and how it will impact your budget.
Here, we speak with Kimberley Ashlee Haugh of Kimberley Ashlee Catering about everything you need to know when serving seafood at your wedding. More >
INGREDIENTS 2 lbs pork belly, cut into cubes, most of the fat trimmed 8 oz (1 cup) pork blood 2 tablespoons avocado oil 8 oz (1 cup) white vinegar 1 medium yellow onion peeled, diced 1 tablespoon ginger, minced 2 tablespoons (3-4 cloves) garlic, minced 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 stock lemon grass, cut into 4" segments 8 oz (1 cup) water 2 green chili peppers DIRECTIONS: 1. Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to 8 oz pork blood, set aside 2. In oil, saute onion, garlic, ginger, lemon grass, over medium heat 3. Add pork and fish sauce, cook until slightly caramelized 4. Add vinegar, and cook uncovered until halfway reduced 5. Add water, cover for 15-20 minutes until meat is softened 6. Add pork blood, and stir gently to prevent any coagulation 7. Add brown sugar, and stir 8. Add chili peppers and simmer for 5-10 minutes allowing flavor to penetrate 9. Serve with steamed white rice or puto (rice-flour "muffin") Let me know how the recipe went for you!    The journey of Kimberley Ashlee Haugh was beautifully written about by Gretchen McKay for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. McKay attended one of the Kamayan Dinners at Terrene and also wrote about her experience. Read the full article here.
It's so humbling to have been able to talk about our upcoming event. Kamayan: A Hand To Mouth Experience, on Pittsburgh Today Live. What an opportunity to share a little bit more about Chef Kimberley Ashlee's heritage just in time for Asian American Pacific Islanders month. We'd llike to thank KDKA and the producers of Pittsburgh Today Live. A special shout out to host Mikey Hood, for the care that she put in to our segment. We couldn't be more humbled about the overwhelming support of our community!  "What if we could do a collection, similar to the fashion industry? Consider this new venture a culinary capsule collection and I wouldn't want to begin without starting where it all began—the flavors of my childhood, Filipino food!" —Kimberley Ashlee, Owner of Kimberley Ashlee Catering and Terrene Terrene has collaborated with CASA manila, from Toronto, Canada to bring forth a Kamayan experience. We have taken some of CASA manila's signature dishes to create a unique menu at Terrene for you to enjoy. In 2012, CASA manila introduced KAMAYAN to Toronto for the very first time. Since then, they have served thousands of diners who have discovered the allure of KAMAYAN dining done the CASA manila way. Today, hand-to-mouth dining is one of the fastest growing trends in North America.  Photos from our last Kamayan Event:  ...Another big chunk of the budget might go to food. Kimberley Ashlee, owner and chef at Kimberley Ashlee Catering, creates custom, personal menus for weddings. Her clients tend to be couples who are prioritizing food at their event. “I hope that we’ve been a part of changing people’s minds that wedding food can be just as good as when you go to a fine dining restaurant,” she says. “But, in order to set those expectations—to get that level of sophistication—it requires more labor and that translates to higher cost per person.”
And, she says, price fluctuations throughout the pandemic have made budgeting for the menu even more challenging. She has seen clients who moved their wedding dates and now, because of inflation, their original menu is double the price. She says she has been able to work with clients to come up with solutions like substituting proteins and having a shorter cocktail hour so you don’t have to have as many hors d'oeuvres. Full article on Brides.com  Merak is a Serbian word, meaning the feeling of bliss and the sense of oneness with the universe from the simplest of pleasures. Estetiq International, Guided Awakenings, Style By Christina, and Kimberley Ashlee Catering, have come together to put forth an event that hones in beauty, sex, fashion, and food. Four women, all making in roads in their industry, will provide guests expert advice in intimate setting.  DATE: Sunday, November 28
TIME: 1:00 - 5:00 pm COST: $25 per person, all proceeds go to the Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation Kimberley Ashlee Catering Exclusively Features Trefethen Family Vineyards At Their Upcoming Food and Wine Event [Pittsburgh, PA]: On Saturday, August 21, 2021 Kimberley Ashlee Catering will be hosting a wine dinner exclusively featuring Trefethen Family Vineyards wines paired with a menu inspired by the vineyards’ Napa Valley terroir. The event will feature four of Trefethen’s wines their Cabernet Sauvignon and Dragon’s Tooth, a Red Blend (49% Malbec, 27% Petit Verdot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon) from 2018, and their Reisling and Chardonnay from 2019. “Being able to serve such gorgeous wines is a true privilege for us,” says Kimberley Haugh, owner of Kimberley Ashlee Catering. “Trefethen truly makes a wine that is made to pair with food. So, it makes it a wine that is meant to gather with and that is what we’re looking to honor.” The evening will run from 6:30 until 8:30 pm. The guest count will be limited to 40 people. During which time guests will have the opportunity to drink all four varieties of wine and the designed menu in its entirety while mingling with the chefs and sommelier of Kimberley Ashlee Catering. “The menu will be sensational and perfectly paired,” says Haugh. “ We’ve chosen to feature as many Pennsylvania products as possible from cheeses, to fruits and vegetables, and even honey! Trefethen is a pillar for sustainability and they have been since the beginning and so have we! The menu is as follows: Halibut and Kiwi Ceviche in Yarnick’s Farm Bibb Lettuce Wrap 2019 Riesling Spicy Yarnick’s Peach Gazpacho with Burrata // Creamy Crab Risotto with Tarragon-Infused Crème 2019 Chardonnay Halpern’s Beef Filet Carpaccio with Wild Mushroom Salad 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Pistachio Crusted Jamison Lamb Lollipop with Whipped Goat Rodeo More Cowbell and Lemongrass-Beet Purée 2018 Dragon’s Tooth Cheese Plate Fromage Blanc Orange Cranberry/ Bleu Lancaster/ Goat Rodeo Bamboozle Local Honey/ Candied Walnuts/ Blackberry/ Raspberry/ Fig Jam Bleu Lancaster sourced from Misty Creek Goat Dairy: Leola, PA Fromage Blanc Orange Cranberry sourced from Emerald Valley Artisan, LLC: Scenery Hill, PA Goat Rodeo Bamboozle Sourced from Goat Rodeo Farm and Dairy: Allis Local Honey sourced from Lone Oak Farm: Indiana, PA Berries Sourced from Triple B Farm and Forage: Smithfield, PA Tickets are $90 a person and are now on sale on kimberleyashleecatering.com About Kimberley Ashlee Catering: Founded in 2013 by Kimberley and Joshua Haugh, Kimberley Ashlee Catering continues to set the standard for culinary excellence bringing forth innovative cuisine and refined service to each client. KAC currently provides special event, restaurant and workplace dining services in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland. About Trefethen Family Vineyards: Founded in 1968 by Eugene and Catherine Trefethen, is located in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley. Trefethen has been producing award-winning, estate grown wines for over fifty years. Our legacy includes producing “The World’s Best Chardonnay” back in 1979 and more recently our Cabernet Sauvignon being named “Best in Show” at the 2020 Decanter World Wine Awards. ### For those of you finalizing your wedding menu, Kimberley Ashlee Catering's expertise was featured on Brides. This Mid-Atlantic state offers a rich variety of wedding options.  PHOTO BY MADELINE BRODERICK PHOTOGRAPHY The beauty of a Pennsylvania wedding is that it can be, well, pretty much whatever you want it to be. “There are incredible regions of the state with tons of history and natural beauty such as Valley Forge, New Hope, and Lancaster, in addition to more metropolitan areas like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, or more rustic locations such as the Poconos,” says Philadephia-based event planner Susan Norcross. Another pro of a Pennsylvania wedding? An abundance of seasoned professionals who can help you personalize your big day. “Creativity abounds in Pennsylvania. We have incredible vendors who live and work here,” adds Norcross. “It's a special spot!” You don’t have to be from Pennsylvania in order to have your wedding there—the state will play a suitable host for couples with a homegrown connection and those looking for a unique destination. Ready to start planning your celebration? Read on for our complete guide to how to get married in Pennsylvania, including the average cost, legal requirements, food and drink ideas, our favorite venues, and more. Pennsylvania Wedding Cost Per wedding research company The Wedding Report, the average cost of a wedding in Pennsylvania in 2020 was $23,025. Pre-pandemic, in 2019, it was significantly higher—around $27,100. Of course, costs will vary significantly based on guest count, décor decisions, catering choices, and location. Average wedding costs do vary throughout the state, too. In the Philadelphia area, The Wedding Report indicates that couples spent an average of $31,895 in 2020. In 2019, it was closer to $38,100. In Pittsburgh, the average wedding spend in 2020 was $25,427, while, pre-pandemic, that number was around $30,300. In Lancaster, couples spent an average of $28,444 in 2020, and closer to $33,600 in 2019. How Much Does a Wedding Planner Cost?When to Get Married in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania is truly a four-season destination when it comes to weddings, with the settings to match. In the spring, summer, and well into fall, there are numerous gardens, farms, vineyards, and even summer camps with beautiful outdoor spaces for your celebration. As one of the oldest states in the country—Pennsylvania was first settled in 1682 and was the second state to enter the Union— there are also plenty of historic estates and buildings to choose from. Come colder months, you can opt for a rustic lodge in a woodsy destination (think: the Laurel Highlands or the Pocono Mountains), or choose a city ballroom or museum. “One of my favorite weddings to date was for a couple who got married just before the holidays at the Philadelphia Museum of Art,” says Norcross. “We added plenty of greenery, lights, and candles. The end result was celebratory and stunning.” How to Get Married in Pennsylvania To legally get hitched in PA, you and your partner will need to apply for a marriage license—together and in person, pending COVID guidelines—at a local Register of Wills, marriage license bureau, or county clerk’s office. Pennsylvania does not permit proxy marriages. You are not required to marry in the county where you apply for your license, but the license is only valid for the state of Pennsylvania. At your marriage license appointment, you’ll each need to provide the following: one to two forms of identification; information about your parents—likely full birth names, birth dates, birth cities and states, and, if applicable, dates of death—and, if you’ve been married before, a certificate of divorce or the death certificate of your former spouse. You’ll also need to pay for the license, so be sure to check with your county office in advance for accepted payment types. The cost of a marriage license varies county to county in Pennsylvania, with it running as low as $35 in Wayne County and as high as $100 in Philadelphia county. One unique aspect of marrying in Pennsylvania is that it is one of the few states that permits self-uniting marriage ceremonies. In a self-uniting wedding (sometimes called a Quaker wedding), a couple can declare themselves married, or otherwise marry without an ordained officiant presiding over the ceremony. “This opens the door for celebrants and even friends and family to guide couples through welcome messages, readings, reciting their vows, and pronouncing them married,” says Norcross. Just note: If you go this route for an elopement, you’ll need two people over the age of 18 to witness your ceremony and sign your marriage license. Home to 121 state parks, Pennsylvania is also a great option for those who wish to marry surrounded by nature. In fact, everywhere in Pennsylvania is within 20 miles of a state park! Wedding ceremonies are permitted in state parks—and many have pavilions or other structures available for rent—but do require pre-approval from the park office and a small fee. Pennsylvania Wedding Venues From modern museums to rustic lodges to historic buildings, there’s no shortage of variety when it comes to Pennsylvania wedding venues. Here, a few of our favorites: Southeastern Pennsylvania
At each end of the state, you also have Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, two very culturally diverse cities. “Polish and Italian cuisine are very prevalent, along with Russian cuisine,” says Kimberley Haugh, owner of Pittsburgh’s Kimberley Ashlee Catering. “Because of the growing Hispanic community, we find that there are more of these flavors that people want incorporated in their menus as well. Lately, I have had more from the Asian/Pacific Islander community reach out to me." In Philadelphia, one of the most exciting food cities on the East Coast, restaurant weddings are also on the rise. There are many other unique Pennsylvania food traditions to include in your wedding. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you’ll want to incorporate the cookie table, a Pittsburgh tradition that sees friends and family bake dozens of desserts to display at the reception. “As a non-native Pittsburgher, I have learned that the cookie table is really a couples' nod to 'something old,' as it is an old tradition,” says Haugh. Kennett Square, Pennsylvania is also known as the mushroom capital of the world, and for that reason, Haugh often incorporates mushrooms into her menus, especially as a vegan option. Pierogies, another beloved dish in the state, are great in miniature form as a passed appetizer during cocktail hour. “I get ours made locally, and finish them with crème fraîche and chives instead of the traditional onions and sour cream,” says Haugh. Finally, if you’re looking for a great late-night snack, you can’t go wrong with soft pretzels, cheesesteaks, or Primanti Bros. sandwiches. Link to article on Brides. |
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