Culinary's "Concepts"

We had SOO much fun sponsoring this event! Couples (and friends) converged on Balboa park to participate in a scavenger hunt that would lead them to a $10,000 diamond ring, and they satisfied their hunger at an after party at the San Diego Natural History Museum sponsored by US! Check out Culinary Concepts’ Team members Mallory Woods and Laura Seery at the 0:47 and 3:40 marks.

Culinary Concept was honored to cater the "Honoring Freedom in America" event aboard the USS Midway this past April!  The event marked the 35 year anniversary of the April 30, 1975 fall of Saigon.  The USS Midway played a key role in rescuing thousands of refugees in less than two days, enabling them to come to America.  It became known as Operation Frequent Wind.  We were proud to participate, and we featured fun Vietnamese food on the menu to help commemorate--lettuce wraps, fresh spring rolls and Sweet Red Rice dessert.  It was a great success!

Check out this handy tip from the people over at San Diego Wedding Insider- instead of handing your guests a fan for a warm summer ceremony AND a program-- combine the 2!  The site offers step by step guide to make your own cute and colorful programs that double as fans.   Save on supplies ($$), use recycled/recyclable paper (Green)=WIN

Many thanks the dedicated wedding planners that peeled themselves away from the TV to attend the Wedding Planner's Tea Party on the scenic Rooftop high above the San Diego Natural History Museum during the Charger's playoff game (in retrospect, anyone who watched the game knows they were probably better off not watching!!)

Thrown by Kate Capshaw of Resolusean Photography and Events, elegantly decorated by Dawn Stone with Embellishmint Floral and Event Design, and deliciously catered by our chefs here at Culinary Concepts, the event was a great success!    Photos courtesy of Sean Capshaw at Resolusean.

San Diego Museum Month is coming up!   During the entire month of February 2010, individuals can pick up a free Museum Month Pass at Macy’s to receive half-off admission at 39 San Diego County museums all month long. Guests with a pass may bring up to three people with them to any participating museum to receive half-off, too.

Museum Month was created in 1989 to promote awareness of the region’s museums, historical sites, educational institutions and cultural offerings. Since that time the promotion has grown to become a cultural tradition on a level witnessed by very few cities in the country. Last year more than 19,000 visitors used the Museum Month Pass to visit museums at half-price. This year the Council will be celebrating 21 years of museum going!  
 
Participating museums and historical sites are some of San Diego’s most important institutions including:

• Adobe Chapel Museum
• Barona Cultural Center and Museum
• Birch Aquarium at Scripps
• Bonita Museum & Cultural Center
• California Center for the Arts, Museum (Feb. 13-28)
• Coronado Museum of History & Art
• Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum
• Heritage of the Americas Museum
• La Jolla Historical Society
• LUX Art Institute 
• Maritime Museum of San Diego
• Marston House
• MCRD Command Museum
• Mingei International Museum
• Mingei International Museum North County
• Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego - Downtown
• Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego - La Jolla (Feb. 21-28)
• Museum of Making Music
• Museum of Photographic Arts
• Oceanside Museum of Art
• Old Town San Diego Historic Park
• Quail Botanical Gardens
• Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
• San Diego Air & Space Museum
• San Diego Archaeological Center
• San Diego Automotive Museum
• San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum
• San Diego Historical Society Museum
• San Diego Model Railroad Museum
• San Diego Museum of Art
• San Diego Museum of Man
• San Diego Natural History Museum
• Tijuana Estuary Visitors Center
• Timken Museum of Art 
• USS Midway Museum
• Veteran’s Museum & Memorial Center
• Water Conservation Garden
• Whaley House
• Women’s History Museum & Education Center

...from some people who know what they're talking about!  The Professional Convention Management Association declared the following in their December 2009 issue:

"Offering delegates a thrilling experience at a unique venue...what better way is there to take private events to a whole new level? San Diego offers that with the USS Midway Museum, one of the longest-serving, most accomplished aircraft carriers in U.S. Navy history.

• For nearly 95 percent of all event guests coming aboard the USS Midway, this will be their first and only chance to set foot on an aircraft carrier.
• The largest ship in the world for a decade, the USS Midway dazzles visitors with its expansive space and distinctive setting alongside downtown's Navy Pier in San Diego Bay.
  
• Poised about 50 feet above San Diego Bay, the 4.02-acre flight deck - useable almost year-round - spans approximately 50,000 square feet and offers breathtaking 360-degree views of sunsets over the Pacific Ocean, the Coronado Bridge, and the sparkling city skyline. 
• Group space in the center of the flight deck is bordered by Midway's air wing of 25 restored helicopters, reconnaissance, and attack aircraft, and is ideal for tented (up to 100' x 140') and outdoor events.
• The hangar deck offers more than 30,000 square feet of indoor space in two separate hangar bays.
• Customized activities include tours led by docents (some of whom have served aboard the ship), skydiver shows, flight simulators, and fireworks displays.
  
• Planners also can work with the USS Midway to book a riveting speaker/author who brings its fascinating history to life."