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Cloves, like many herbs and spices have a historical presence that dates to centuries before the birth of Jesus Christ. A ceramic vase containing cloves was found by archeologists in Syria and dates to approximately 1700 B.C. It has been written in ancient Chinese literature that during the third century B.C. that cloves were used to freshen the breath of visitors to the emperor of the Han Dynasty. Muslim sailors traded this spice during the Middle Ages. The trading of cloves is even mentioned in literature such as The Arabian Nights. Characters like Sinbad the Sailor bought and sold cloves from India.

Until modern times cloves only grew in the Spice Islands. The oldest known clove tree is o...

Your Wedding Reception should be a Blast. Invited guests will anticipate having fun. This is a time to celebrate one of the most sacred events, in which you will ever be involved. So . . . have a blast! Sing and dance, laugh and cry, eat and drink, and enjoy every second of this wonderful occasion. It will be over far too quickly. Take lots of pictures! Your memory may fade, however, the pictures will help remind you of what a great time you shared with family and friends.

Buffet PictureBuffet style dining makes entertaining easy. Utilizing Coastal Catering’s elegant Buffet service provides a greater selection for your guests to enjoy and appreciate. Entertaining can be stressful when considering the food service and selection. A Buffet can assist you in both of these important areas. Ever been to a banquet and noticed how much food was left on the plates. Folks were either served too much food, or something they didn’t like. You don’t want that to happen at your event do you? Coastal Catering has the answer for this situation. Offer your guests a delicious, and stylish Buffet. Each and every one is customized to fit your needs, desires, eve...

Brunch is the combination of breakfast and lunch and originated in England during the 1800’s. America took notice of this elegant treat and began serving it buffet style in the 1930’s. Brunch is most often served late morning, however, it can run as late as 2:30 PM on Sundays. Champaign and Bloody Mary cocktails are not strangers at these delightful events. Over the years, “The Brunch” has grown into a festive and delectable feast. Many hotels and resorts throughout The United States boast of an unequalled Sunday Brunch.

These spectacular displays of food are clearly not limited to traditional breakfast and lunch menu items. Supper items and entrées are now rou...

For those of you that have allergies to shellfish, you have my sincere condolences. Almost everyone else that I know enjoys a good old fashioned shrimp boil. The beautiful thing about a shrimp boil is that it’s about so much more than just the shrimp. The sides, the people, the event, and yes even the location play an important role in this traditional coastal delight.

shrimp boil imageCoastal Catering and Chef Marshall will only serve large gulf shrimp for a shrimp boil. We don’t think small shrimp belong at a shrimp boil. We think they belong in a salad, or on top of a beautiful medium-rare rib eye steak. Cooked and served with your large gulf shrimp are the sides which include...

Fennel is a flavorful herb. It is indigenous to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Fennel has been introduced all over the world into dry soils along river banks and shore lines. Some animals, such as insects and birds use fennel as a food source. It is a perennial herb and grows to heights of eight feet. Yellow flowers with dried seeds as the fruit are typical for fennel plants. These aromatic plants are often used as decorative garden plants.

fennel bulb and seedsThe bulb, seeds, and foliage of the fennel plant are used in many culinary traditions throughout the world. Dried fennel seed is an aromatic anise-flavored spice. Green seeds are preferred for use in cooking. The leaves are deli...

Sesame seeds come from a flowering plant and is very drought tolerant. It will grow where many plants cannot survive. It is widely found throughout the Middle East and most Tropical regions. Sesame is grown and harvested for its seeds which grow in pods. The Sesame seeds contain oil which has made it a long standing staple in the Middle East for over 3,000 years. It is the oldest known oil producing seed in the world. Ancient presses for Sesame oil have been discovered in Egypt that are thousands of years old. Sesame seeds have one of the highest oil contents of any seed. It has a savory nutty flavor and is used in cuisine throughout the world.

The Sesame seeds are very small and usually fla...

Cilantro is also known as Coriander and/or Chinese Parsley. Cilantro is found naturally in Southwest Asia, North Africa, and South Europe. It grows in plant form and at maturity can be two feet tall. Cilantro is the Spanish word for coriander. It is the term of choice in North America for coriander leaves, and used extensively in Mexican Cuisine.

The entirety of the Cilantro plant is edible, but the fresh leaves and the dried seeds are the parts most traditionally used in cooking. They contain phytochemicals which delays or may prevent the spoilage of food seasoned with this spice. The leaves have a different taste than the seeds, with citrus overtones. Many people experience a soapy taste o...

The spice that Americans call Cayenne Pepper has several other names that are used throughout the world. It can also be found as Guinea Spice, Bird Pepper, Cow-Horn Pepper, Red Pepper, & Guiana Pepper. Regardless of the name used to identify this spice, the impact on the food and recipes that it is applied to is unmistakable. Cayenne is named for the city of Cayenne in French Guiana. The individual fruits or peppers are dried and ground into powder. This flavorful spice can also be placed whole or in thin slices into vinegar and used in liquid form. This liquid form is very popular in Asian cuisine.

Most varieties of the Cayenne plant are grown in warm tropical climates. The plants grow bet...