GO AGGIES!!!!

We were very honored to be invited to the annual UC Davis Caterer and Vendor Showcase. This is a great event that allows area businesses to "strut their stuff", food wise.

Our gals that went really knew what they were doing. They created a booth that captivated the attention of everyone who walked by. With layers of linens and silk flowers, the Hannibal's Catering booth was a true show-stopper.

We are a catering business afterall, so you can imagine that the food we brought was just as impressive. We feel that it truly captured the "green" feel of this community.

Our chef's prepared a few finger foods that we the talk of the event. The first option was a Caprese Romano skewer with Roma Tomatoes and Jack Cheese rolled in a pesto sauce. This were then held on a Green Apple stand that was truly light and inventive. The comment we heard ovr and over again was that "it's just too pretty to eat!" That is quite a compliment for us.

The second option was a wonderful and tasty mini hummus bread bowl with roasted red peppers and finely chopped green onions. This item was quite unusual because it is one of our Vegan options. Not many caterers can do Vegan and keep it tasty. We take pride in keeping flavor along with appearance.

Attendees of the event were asked to leave a business card. In doing so, each card is able to win a $100 gift card to Hannibal's Catering. Let's hope it's you!

What our clients have to say....

We here at Hannibal's Catering are very proud of the job we do for you Sacramento. However, you shouldn't take our word for it. You should let your fellow Sacramentans tell you how they feel.

The following are comments we have received from a select few of our many many clients. Please take a moment to read each and every one. Maybe this will help you decide that Hannibal's should be your preferred caterer for any of your upcoming event.

Last week was the first time I have used your catering services for management lunches. The two lunches so far have been excellent and the value is exceptional. The orders have arrived in time and were set up very attractively. It's nice to be able to order a package that includes sandwiches, salad, drinks, and desert rather than having to pay for each addition. Thank you for two very pleasant experiences. A. W.

Everything was wonderful, the customer service in all areas is absolutely great and we will be using you guys alot more in the future. I will pass your name to other business I know for catering events. Thanks again for all your help and greatness. J. G.

Thank you for a job well done. This was our first experience ordering catering online. Actually, it was quite easy. If we ever need to use a caterer in Sacramento again we would definately use your company. Thank you! B. G.

I absolutely love the online ordering. It is well maintained, easy to use and one of the many reasons why I continue to use Hannibal's. Thank you! A. F.

I am only going to complete one of these surveys due to having a total of 16 each. I have spoken with many of the staff that you delivered to on January 5th, 2009 and they all say the same thing. Everything was great! The meals were delicious, delivered on time, no shortages, and your staff were also very pleasant. Thank you so much for making my life easier. J. B.

You made such a hit with our family that we will be booking again with you next year. Thanks guys. D. H.

Dealing with Hannibal's for our holiday lunch was very enjoyable. The delivery staff was extremely nice and professional and the food was great! We look forward to using your services for future events! J. B.

We received many compliments on the food. I will use your company again in the future. Your staff was excellent and very kind and helpful. Thank you so much for such wonderful service! S. S.

THIS WAS YOUR BEST EVER! THANK YOU PHIL AND STAFF FOR WORKING WITH THE CITY TO WELCOME OUR NEW MAYOR IN A POSITIVE LIGHT! WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN NO. 1 WITH US! You have my permission to use these words however you wish. K. O.

Hannibal’s catered our Homeowners Association Party on December 14th, and it was absolutely perfect. The two men who set up where prompt, efficient, and so nice. Your staff was most helpful and professional in arranging the entire menu. I really appreciate Hannibal’s making good on the misunderstanding on the menu choices. I will definitely recommend your company as not only fair, but understanding cooks! A. C.
On January 31st, Hannibal’s catered a memorial luncheon after my wife’s memorial services. This was held at a private residence in Sacramento. I wanted to send you this note of thank and appreciation for the outstanding job that was done. The presentation of the food was excellent, as was all the food. Plus, your server handled the event in a very efficient and professional manner. All the people attending were impressed with the overall result. Again, thank for an excellent job. I appreciate it. D. Z.

We thank you all for your kind words and support. We hope to see you all again very soon.

Since 1988, HANNIBAL'S has been known and appreciated for an outstanding and affordable dining experience. Why are we so successful? We establish relationships with our clients and focus on our menu and our professional catering staff. The result is that HANNIBAL’S clients benefit from happy and dedicated employees, our non-stop attention to detail, and our commitment to hands-on management.

HANNIBAL'S cuisine is based on fresh locally grown produce, delicious, healthy, and attractive California-style dishes, prepared in both traditional and non-traditional variations. Our extensive menu offers unique and creative selections for every taste. We offer “House Specialties” that entice our clients to return time after time.

If you have not already experienced Hannibal's Catering, we invite you to discover a wonderful presentation with exceptional cuisine and service. Explore our menu online, and then impress your business associates, family and friends with a catered Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner presented by Hannibal's Catering.

Consider us for your corporate and personal dining pleasure. We can accommodate any size event . . .Casual to Elegant … Business to Family. You will be satisfied!

VALUE and QUALITY . . . Our catering service is second-to-none

Corporate – Private – Reunions – Graduations – Birthdays – Weddings – Anniversaries Memorials – Communions – Bar Mitzvahs – Christenings
Holidays: Halloween – Thanksgiving – Christmas – Fourth of July

From Breakfast Specialties to Box Lunches to Hot and Cold Buffets to Theme Buffets
Hannibal’s will work hard to create the “perfect” dining experience for you.


Hannibal's Catering is a premier Sacramento caterer and consistently voted the Best Catering company in Sacramento by local Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento News & Review as well as KCRA3- A list. We have built our reputation by establishing relationships with our clients. Providing great value with quality food along with reliable and professional service has assured our client loyalty and repetitive business.

HANNIBAL'S has earned the appreciation of clients, including Kaiser Permanente, Sacramento County Office of Education, Wachovia, Wells Fargo, UC Davis, EDS, Folsom Unified School District, San Juan Unified School District, Allstate Insurance, State Farm Insurance, the California State Automobile Association, Raley Field, Maximus, the City of Rancho Cordova (Regional Transit), Webex, The University of Phoenix, and the City of West Sacramento

Wedding Catering: 10 Ways to Make Your Menu Memorable

"There is no sincerer love than the love of food," said George Bernard Shaw. While you and your sweetie may disagree, your wedding guests will most likely be eager to fill their bellies with tasty treats. A little menu planning can easily woo the crowd. Here are ten tantalizing tips to make your wedding meal memorable -- and have your guests licking their lips:

1. Dream Up a Theme: One of the most fun (and often easiest) parts of developing a theme wedding is deciding the menu. From a traditional New England clambake to a spicy Southern barbecue, theme-wedding menus create a fun, exciting, and memorable event. It might even be the way you eat the food that stays in your guests' minds -- cracking crabs at a Maryland riverside wedding, nibbling satay at a Thai-inspired city garden reception, or roasting marshmallows over the flaming bonfire at a wedding "campsite."

2. Go Regional: There are many people who take culinary vacations, traveling through countries in search of the local fare. Turn your wedding reception into its own culinary vacation by creating a menu featuring regional specialties. It may be foie gras from the Hudson Valley, spicy chicken wings in Buffalo, or even the largest cheese spread ever seen in Wisconsin.

3. That's Entertainment: Who said that food only pleases the palate? You can devise a wedding menu where the food preparation is as flavorful as the food itself. Consider a sushi bar complete with professional sushi chef -- the performance of slicing and rolling turns simple ingredients into works of art right before your guests' eyes. Or perhaps French chefs donned in aprons and hats will create flaming crepes tableside.

4. All in the Family: Something in between a sit-down meal and a buffet, family style offers a natural way to get tables of guests talking while creating a very festive and homey atmosphere. Each dish is delivered to the center of the table and guests pass them politely (or grab and hoard, depending on your family). Italian food might be an obvious choice, but Asian, Mexican, and Indian cuisines work well here too.

5. That's So You!: The wedding day is all about the bride and the groom, so why not plan a menu that has special meaning to the two of you? Perhaps your first date was at a baseball game -- why not serve hot dogs? Or maybe the two of you love to fly fish -- highlight freshwater fish on the menu. Or he proposed over a romantic picnic lunch -- recreate the magic by recreating the meal. When your guests think about what they ate, they will automatically think about the couple of honor.

6. Presenting...The eyes have it: -- when it comes to remembering things, that is. Your guests will very likely recall a fabulous-looking buffet table before they remember what foods it featured. Be creative -- instead of serving soup in a bowl, have it ladled into a hollowed-out acorn squash. Or have asparagus tied up like a present with leek leaves. You could even serve coconut shrimp inside a coconut and garnish with a tropical flower.

7. Less is More: Sometimes the simplest foods presented in an elegant, bountiful manner have a more memorable effect than a wide variety of offerings. Colin Cowie offers this advice in his book For The Bride: "You can make a statement of style with one or two spectacular dishes. For example, instead of having ten different tray-passed appetizers during the cocktail hour, serve mountains of jumbo shrimp or sliced smoked salmon." Remember, KISS -- keep it simple, sweetie.

8. Ride with a Trend: Trends come and go and if you can jump on one before it's passé, all the more power to you. Ask your caterer what's up and coming. Perhaps she's got some unusual idea that will make the kind of memorable statement you're looking for. It might be something as homey/funky as a mashed potato bar, complete with your choice of spuds and toppings, presented in a martini glass. Or maybe a true Belgian treat -- pomme frittes served with the traditional mayonnaise in paper cones. Just remember -- they're trends, so plan accordingly if you're setting up your wedding menu a year in advance.

9. A Honeymoon Preview: Don't worry-we're not suggesting anything X-rated here! Just that you consider planning a menu based on your honeymoon spot. If you're off to Venice, serve a spread one could imagine eating in a gondola. Or if Hawaii's your destination, feature luau fare (without the flame-eaters) -- perhaps even the spit-roasted pig. Maybe it's Japan where you'll be spending the week -- how about a Tepanyaki station (Japanese barbecue), where guests choose raw meats, shrimp, veggies, noodles, and sauces and watch it get stir-fried.

10. Five-Star Elegance: If dining out in the fanciest of restaurants is your idea of luxury and you happen to have a lot of dough, treat you and your guests to gourmet, white-glove-service dinner. Plan a multi-course meal, complete with a refreshing intermezzo (with hot lemon-scented towels after the fish course, of course). You can choose from French or Russian service: With French, the waiters prepare food on stands set up next to the table and then serve individual plates; Russian service features white-gloved waiters who carry each course on a large tray and serve guests directly from it. For that added touch, offer a different complementary wine with each course.

-- Amy Gordon, TheKnot.Com

This article, found on TheKnot.com is an excellent read on how to start up your wedding catering needs. We here at Hannibal's can help with any or all of these ideas. Our professional and organzied event coordinators are here to create menus and offer prices that fit both your style and your budget. We offer full service catering for weddings, rehearsal dinners, showers, or even your engagement party. Please give us a call and chat with one of our event coordinators today!

Hannibal's "Got Their Game On"

Last Thursday, we attended the Annual Installation Dinner for the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce. This was a fabulous event at the New and Spectacular, Sunrise Event Center located on Trade Center Drive off of Sunrise Blvd., in Rancho Cordova. This was a wonderful event full of fun games, great music and event better food.

We pulled out all the stops for this event. We love the Rancho Cordova Chamber and will always do anything to make them shine. The theme of this event was "Sports" and "Games". We made our booth feel have a outdoor park vibe. With some tall wheat grass and glass pieces, our booth came alive with color and pizzazz.

With the big game around the corner, we thought it would be nice to have hearty finger foods and a yummy cold salad. Not just any salad, our Famous Broccoli Salad. By the way, how did your recipe turn out? With the salad we had scrumptious Mini Pulled Pork Hoagies. We feel these were the most popular item at the entire event. Maybe even more popular than the Guitar Hero booth. Maybe. The most fun aspect of our booth was the Andouille Sausage Daffodill. These were thick pieces of Andouille Sausage wrapped in a thin pastry. They were then cooked to a golden brown and placed on a wooden stick. The eye catching aspect of these, were that they were stuck into the wheatgrass and resembled flowers blooming from the ground. A true crowd pleaser. So many people were taking pictures of them and asking how to accomplish this look for their Super Bowl party.

There is still time to hire Hannibal's Catering for you Super Bowl party this Sunday. We can make your home like our booth at the Chamber event. Give us a call at 916-638-4363 or place your order online at http://www.hannibalscatering.com/.

Chinese New Year

(year begins on 1/26/2009)
(First Day of the Year of the Ox falls on 1/26/2009)

Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the New Year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. Each year is represented by one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. 2009 is the year of the Ox.


The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In order to "catch up" with the solar calendar the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years (seven years out of a 19-year cycle). This is the same as adding an extra day on leap year. This is why, according to the solar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year.


New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. A Chinese proverb states that all creations are reborn on New Year’s day. The Chinese New Year is a celebration of change ... out with the old and in with the new!.

In the Far East, this is also the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Farmers take this opportunity to welcome spring as they plant for the new harvest. Thus, the Lunar New Year is also called the Spring Festival.


Traditionally, family will visit each other which is a practice commonly known as New Year visiting. Friends and families will welcome the guests by serving them Circular candy tray (candy for sweet and circular for togetherness which are usually filled with dried fruits, nuts and sweets of all kind. Family and relatives give “Ang Pow” (red packets) containing newly printed money to the young ones.

Symbols of Fortune

Fruits and flowers are also an important part of the New Year Celebration and carry a symbolic meaning. Oranges and tangerines (good health & long life); tangerines with leaves intact (long lasting relationships; fruitful and multiply as in having children); persimmons (happiness and wealth).

Colors: Bright red (happiness); gold/orange (wealth & happiness).

Flowers that bloom on New Year’s Day will represent a prosperous year. Plum blossom stand for courage and hope, peach blossoms stand for luck, Narcissus and Kumquats represent prosperity, Chrysanthemums longevity and sunflowers represent the coming of a good year. They are well display in all Chinese homes and businesses.

Chinese New Year Cuisine

The celebration actually starts on New Year's Eve with the reunion dinner. Dishes consisting of Fish and chicken represent prosperity. Always present the fish and chicken as a whole. Do not cut them in pieces. The head, tail and feet (for chicken) must be presented to symbolize completeness. Long life noodles (rice noodle) represent longevity. Jai - a combination of food that represents good fortune. “Happy family” comprises of baby corn, carrots, Bok Choy, black moss, dried bean curd, mushroom, bamboo shoots, and scallion. Desserts include oranges, Chinese New Year cake (ni gao) and prosperous cakes (they look like golden nuggets). All of these foods are meant to symbolize abundance and wealth for the family.

The fifteenth day marks the end of the Chinese New Year with the Lantern festival. The festival takes place with a parade of bright and colorful lantern of all shapes and sizes. The highlight of festival is the dragon dance which symbolizes the bringing of luck and success to the coming year.

The Staff of Hannibal’s Catering join in on the celebration and wish everyone
Gong Xi Fa Cai... A Happy & Prosperous Chinese New Year!

Simple and easy Broccoli Salad Recipe

Many of you've emailed or phoned in requesting for our broccoli salad recipe. Hannibal's Catering is happy to share this recipe with many that have requested them. We are proud to announce that in 2008 The Sacramento and Modesto Bee published our recipe in the food edition. It was also published in numberous local magazine as well. One of many of our popular recipes for you to take home. Enjoy! Please give us your feedback and let us know how your Broccoli Salad turned out. Have a great weekend!

Ingredients

Salad:
3 bunches of broccoli (florets only)
½ cup sweetened dried cranberries
½ cup toasted walnuts
½ cup chopped real bacon
1 cup diced red onion

Dressing:
1 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
2 teaspoons of sugar

Instructions: Combine salad ingredients. Toss salad with dressing. Chill and serve.