What type of food does Taza Catering & Events make?
- Oct 29, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 18
Since the conception of Taza Catering & Events in 2019, our goal has been to offer healthy, flavorful food, made from scratch, with a chef-curated gourmet menu, that is beautifully presented. Finding the right ingredients, the right seasonings, and the full flavor is what we strive for with every dish.
Most of the Taza Catering & Events dishes are created as a rounded meal: appetizers, salads, protein entree, vegetable and starch sides. That’s because chef Sandra grew up eating this way. And the focus is on creating gluten-free dishes without any additives and fillers like wheat and sugar.
Customers often ask us, what kind of food do you make? I wanted to take this opportunity to really delve into what makes Taza Catering & Events unique in terms of flavors and menu.
How it all began
Since the conception of Taza Catering & Events in 2019, our goal has been to offer healthy, flavorful food, made from scratch, with a chef-curated gourmet menu, that is beautifully presented. Finding the right ingredients, the right seasonings, and the full flavor is what we strive for with every dish.
Most of the Taza Catering & Events dishes are created as a rounded meal: appetizers, salads, protein entree, vegetable and starch sides. That’s because chef Sandra grew up eating this way. And the focus is on creating gluten-free dishes without any additives and fillers like wheat and sugar.
How it originated
As a child, born in Cairo, Egypt, chef Sandra’s (that’s me) mom and grandmother were always cooking. I grew up watching them make delicious food, and time-extensive dishes. Everything was made from scratch. I don’t remember ever having to pop open a can of this, or a frozen that. But there was also time to make everything in a very elaborate way.
As I grew up, got my degree in Marketing, got married and worked full time, the reality of making an elaborate meal became unrealistic. So I started to find ways to make dishes that maintained the nutritional value, the flavor, the freshness, but quicker. I looked up recipes, remembered recipes that my family made, and combined things together to make my own unique flavors.
When my husband and I were dating, one night he said: “the secret ingredient is pears” (for those of you who know the reference to Iron Chef). That night I made chicken with a pear puree over rice and a side of asparagus. I don’t know where the idea came from. It wasn’t a recipe I had ever seen or grew up eating. I know it sounds weird, but the flavor was delicious.
Since then, we would always experiment with ingredients, combine things together and come up with a unique dish that is always delightful. Ok, so not all were delightful. Sometimes I admit I would say: ok, let’s not make that one again.
I liked to experiment. One of my biggest creations is the cranberry crusted salmon. It’s now on our Platters Collection menu. You have to try it to really get how unique it is. I make it for my family during the holidays and at home, just because. And the best part: it's gluten-free!
So what type of food does Taza Catering & Events make already??? Ok, ok. I’ll tell you. It’s basically my own creation. When we started at the farmers market, our theme was “healthy food, big flavor”. The short story is: I used to go to live events and festivals, and the only food options were greasy, processed, deep fried food, and no healthy options, so I wanted to create food for people like me, small-population as it may be, who want to eat good, healthy food.
Ok, back on track from my side note...People were not satisfied with the theme. They kept asking: “but what kind of food is this?” I think people like to put food in a category to decide if they want to eat it or not. So I gave them a category: It’s healthy food, with a twist. Taza Catering & Events dishes are a combination of fresh ingredients, lean and halal meats, fragrant herbs, hearty sauces, colorful ingredients all put together with love for creating new twists on classic dishes. I call it Modern American Coastal European Mediterranean-inspired dishes.
Think about it this way: American dishes that hosts and guests love and want to see on their plates, Coastal European Mediterranean inspired by fresh zesty herbs and olive oil (and don’t forget the garlic!), and add to it chef Sandra’s creative twist for that uniquely Taza flavor.
Our signature dishes like the braised short ribs or the creamy lemon mushroom chicken served with popular sides like the roasted baby potatoes and seared broccoli quickly became popular because of the flavors, the sauces and for us, they were created because they are healthy. They have the protein, the vegetables, starch, and the sauces bring them all together for a euphoric taste in your mouth.
Then we have the salads. I can’t remember a day when I didn’t eat salad. My dad is a big fan of salads, and growing up, he would make salad out of any vegetables we had in the fridge, and he would make his own dressing. So naturally, all Taza Catering & Events salads are made with fresh vegetables and our own house dressings. You have GOT to try the lemon-mint dressing (just saying)! The Greek salad is by far our most popular salad, made with cucumber, tomato, kalamata olives, feta, and romaine lettuce, tossed with our house lemon-mint vinaigrette, you will be converted. A runner-up that is rapidly gaining popularity in our salads menu is the Pear & Pistachio Chopped Salad. When you try it, you will know why this is becoming a favorite among regulars.
Buffet Favorites
The Mediterranean Grill is a uniquely attractive package because it comes with all the crowd favorites: Grilled herbed chicken skewers, grilled marinated New York Steak skewers, grilled veggie skewers, Greek salad with lemon-mint vinaigrette, seasoned rice, and no meal is ever complete without our Hummus (traditional with garbanzo beans and lots and lots of garlic). I dare you not to lick the plate! My husband Nick does!
Passed Hors D’Oeuvres Favorites
Our caprese crostini - a vegetarian hit- made with Italian crostini slices of sourdough (yes the same one I mentioned above), fresh sliced tomatoes, fresh sliced mozzarella, fresh basil, pesto and balsamic reduction drizzle.
The stuffed mushrooms with Italian sausage is a crowd pleaser and one of our most popular appetizers. Every party needs our bacon-wrapped dates to make it complete.
If you’re having a cocktail party, ask us about our Social Mingle package.
You must try our charcuterie platters and grazing stations. It’s a lush assortment of cured meats, artisanal cheeses, crackers and baked bread, olives, fresh fruit, dried fruit and nuts. It’s a beautiful arrangement of edible delights. The Mezza Board, is a variation of the charcuterie if you want a vegan-forward option with house pickled torshi (a Mediterranean way of saying pickled veggies), feta cheese, hummus, baba gannouj, olives, cucumber, and pita slices.
They are perfect for a cocktail party, wedding reception, and corporate social gathering.
The Creamy Lemon Mushroom Chicken is one of those dishes that just happened. Customers always ask where the inspiration came from, and honestly... I couldn't tell you! I just knew chicken, lemon, mushrooms, and a creamy sauce belonged together. The first time I made it, I knew I had something special. It's rich, comforting, and one of those meals that might tempt you to lick your plate clean. (Don't worry, my husband Nick still does—and no, I'm not judging.)
Then there's the dish I saved for last: our herbed baked Salmon with garlic and wine reduction. It's one of the recipes I'm most proud of. For years I stopped ordering salmon when dining out because it was almost always overcooked, under-seasoned, or disappointingly dry. I found myself reaching for extra lemon just to bring it back to life. Not this salmon. It's tender, flavorful, and prepared the way salmon should be. If you're a salmon lover, this one's for you.
We've also introduced several new chef-crafted favorites over the years. One of them is our Spanish Baked Chicken with cannellini bean, olives, onion, bell pepper and tomato for a hearty yet healthy flavorful dish that is sure to please everyone on the guest list.
Another is the grilled marinated lamb pops, that is so delicious you will be gnawing on the bone practically. It’s so tender and juicy, even guests who shy away from lamb will be impressed.
Beef is what’s for dinner as they say, and we have a variety of beef options from mouth-watering seared ribeye steak, to melt-in-your-mouth braised short ribs, to beef Bourguignon, your options are endless!
I hope this explains what Taza Catering & Events serves and the kind of food we make. We customize to your preferences, dietary needs and crowd pleasing favorites. Taza Catering & Events is unique, just like the experience you will have when you book us for your next event.
So what are you waiting for? Book your event with Taza Catering & Events.
