Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Force of Nature

This November marked the opening of the new Utah Museum of Natural History.    An architectural gem perfectly sited (nestled, really)  in the Foothills next to Red Butte Garden, we were eager from the moment we laid eyes on the building to get inside and take a look at it.  The building is modern, daring, and unexpected...needless to say, we were lucky to get our wish and got to see the building firsthand a few weeks before it was scheduled to open. 


We were extremely honored to be selected as one of the primary caterers for the almost week long celebration that marked the Museum's opening. Logistics, menu planning, and many meetings at the Museum helped to prepare us for the  busy weeks ahead for the Blended Table!   We were very grateful to help the community celebrate this new cultural showpiece.





The community Gala was a lovely evening full of wide eyes and admiration.  The museum space and the exhibits themselves provided a beautiful backdrop for serving a selection of local Utah foods. Some of the products that we featured were Beehive Cheese's 'Barely Buzzed' espresso rubbed cheddar accompanied with delicious Amour Strawberry Rhubarb Jam, Shepherds Goat Cheese and Uinta Brewing signature beers.  In addition to the local flavors we provided a varied menu that included pearl couscous and quinoa salads with an array of roasted vegetables and rustic pork and chicken skewers served with flavorful chutneys as well as an assortment of mini pies and sweets. The food choices provided an earthy touch for a space that is dedicated to honoring the land we all have the privilege to live on.   

One of the trickiest parts of the night was preparing for a Museum-wide champagne toast.  All 5 floors had champagne and glasses at the ready on separate bars, but wow, it's a pretty unbeatable sound to hear 2,000 champagne flutes clinking in celebration! 

Congratulations on a successful opening to the Utah Museum of Natural History.  Thank you for letting us be a part of the fun, we are looking forward to working with the museum on future events. 

If you have not yet visited the museum we encourage you to take a peek- it's an afternoon very well spent!