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WHAT’S COOKING AT AURORA CATERING?
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As we return to work in 2023, rested and recharged, we wish that the New Year will bring you happiness, peace and prosperity. We appreciate your support of our small business. Please read on about our reflections of 2022.
-Dawn & Chef Marty D.
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AURORA CATERING
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2022 RECAP
Here’s What’s Been Cooking at Aurora in 2022. Can you spot your event?
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Photography (1st Row Far Left): @allisonandres and Planning: @somethingblueproductions
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Photography (3rd Row Right): @allisonandres
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Aurora started the year by continuing to deliver a record number of boxed meals as folks got more comfortable spending time together at work.
As the year went on, restrictions were slowly lifted and
we were (thankfully) busier than ever in our corporate division.
We continue to host tastings at our kitchen at Dig Deep Farms where
we can create food for events for up to 400 guests.
Every Friday DDF gives bags of groceries through their drive up/pick up service.
We are so proud to be a part of this community that does so much for the county.
We would love to have you visit. Contact us for a tour of this amazing facility.
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In the spring, our clients were more and more comfortable
spending time together and ordered foods that could be shared.
Weddings continued in intimate gatherings like back yards.
Our staff continued to wear face masks throughout the summer
and still do when they or our client prefers.
Charcuterie and cheese boards resumed their popularity, much to our delight.
We catered dozens of Celebrations of Life and
affirmations of life in the way of graduations, birthday parties & bridal showers.
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Top Left: An antipasto board for a holiday party in Noe Valley in December
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Top Right: Debra & Rob’s front yard wedding dinner
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Bottom Left: Leigh transformed her backyard with a clear tent for a buffet wedding dinner for 70
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Bottom Right: Aurora servers with face masks at the WIPA at Wente plated lunch
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We love working at our venue partner locations!
We were lucky to cater at several of them in 2022.
It’s a perfect marriage and our clients really benefit from the partnership.
We know so many of the details of the venue. Able to address our clients’ needs quickly and thoroughly, we make a great team. This allows us all to assist in the process from beginning to end. Pictured just a few of our venue partners.
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Photography (Right): @michellenguyen.photo
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We also catered at many fabulous new and interesting locations.
We used the shoe closet at the Anthropologie Walnut Creek
store as our prep space for a Mother’s Day brunch.
We set up an outdoor kitchen (in 40 degree conditions) in an empty space.
It was to serve a brunch for 200 at the Samuel Merritt University site dedication.
We were hired with just 7 days’ notice to cater for a two-day reception
for 200 guests at Mills College at Northeastern University.
And we love a challenge! We are flexible and can
work in any type of situation, always with a smile.
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In May, we were flown to the Virgin Islands to cater a wedding.
Knowing supplies might be hard to come by, Chef sent ahead spices and his specialty knives. The menu was adjusted after arrival, based on the freshest ingredients.
The fish for the taco bar was caught on Friday and we got it fresh off the boat.
An amazing time was had by all!
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Cranberry Mimosa Mocktail
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Just in time for Dry January
Great for families, brunch or kids at any meal who want to feel fancy!
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Ingredients:
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1 Bottle Chilled Cran-Apple Sparkling Cider
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1 Bottle Chilled Fresh Orange Juice
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Orange Slices for Garnish
**If unable to find cran-apple sparkling juice, do 1/4 of glass cranberry juice, 1/4 orange juice and 1/2 sparkling apple juice.
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Instructions:
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Chill all drinks until very cold before serving
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Add Ice to Cups. Fill 1/4 with orange juice and the remaining with cran-apple juice. Add sliced oranges, or fresh cranberries for garnish.
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Serve Immediately
6 Servings
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Mushroom Empanadas continue to be a fan favorite from our appetizer menu. Chef has been curing salmon in house and elevated our House Cured Salmon on Endive with Crème Fraiche. Chef Marty introduced many new appetizers including Smoked Eggplant on Pita with Pomegranate Molasses. Our Kimchi Pancake with Pork Belly & Bourbon Maple Syrup continues to be a huge hit. What would you like to try from our menu at your next event?
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Some of our Aurora Staff have been with us for more than ten years.
We all like each other! We love getting together socially with our crew throughout the year and love having a meal and drink together, that we don’t make! Haha!
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We donated food and service to the Castro Valley Education Foundation making a fresh beet “walkaway” salad for the guests to enjoy.
We were chosen to cater the Oakland Ballet Company fundraiser gala and have been invited back this spring!
For the silent auctions, we donated plated dinner parties, raising almost $5,000 total for those two organizations.
After a two year pandemic hiatus,
we again work as a sponsor for the Berkeley Rep catering some of their opening night receptions.
Chef has been asked to train new renters coming to the Dig Deep Farms kitchen and we took classes on proper waste disposal. I’ve recycled my whole life. I cannot believe how much I didn’t know. Please ask me –
I’ll share some tips!
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Our roasted beet salad at CVEF
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So many great things happened for Aurora in 2022.
We were featured in the East Bay Times and
Dawn received Business Partner of the Year award
from the Eden ROP. AND we are growing!
We purchased Herb & Spices Catering in July
and hit the ground running! We hired a new bookkeeper
and a virtual assistant – Andrew works with us now.
We met Andrew through the
Eden ROP intern program last summer.
Andrew was an outstanding intern and is an amazing admin.
Welcome Erin and Andrew and thank you!
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.”
—Henry David Thoreau
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our vendor partners . . .
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and just a few of our local clients!
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Berkeley Humane Society
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Castro Valley Educational Foundation
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City of Hayward
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Eric Swalwell
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Kaiser Permanente
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Luna Dance Institute
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Mid-Peninsula Open Space District
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Mills College at Northeastern University
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Oakland Ballet Company
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Save Mt. Diablo
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Second Harvest Food Bank
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UC Berkeley
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UC Elkus Ranch
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Pictured (from top to bottom): The Lighthouse at Glen Cove Marina, The Overlook at Port Workspaces, End of Year Thank You Reception, the second of 3 events we catered for the City of Hayward
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Plan Early!
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We’ll be there to help plan your dream event every step of the way.
Look to us for inspiration, delicious food and
our catering the best event you’ve ever hosted!
Sit back and let us do the work.
Come see why our clients are wowed year after year.
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Wishing you a joyous 2023!
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Some of The Aurora Team at Earl Anthony’s Bowl for our annual Staff Appreciation Party
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