May 2013
7 posts
9 tags
Get Your Hula On! Brooklyn Bridge Park Annual...
Aloha! We’re getting ready to cater Brooklyn Bridge Park’s annual fundraiser coming up on Thursday June 6th and we could not be more excited. This is our 3rd year catering the party, so it’s an event that’s grown very near and dear to us at Benchmarc Events.
Their Annual Sunset party is great for families to get outside, enjoy some tasty food, and of course, savor the...
9 tags
DIY Trail Mix Bar
It finally feels like summer outside, which means beach season is on the brain. Today, we’ve got a healthy and creative idea for your next party that will keep your guests (and your waistline) happy…Make-your-own trail mix bar! This is a delicious and interactive way to get your guests involved and mingling. Since you can customize your trail mix however you like, it’s sure to...
4 tags
Skip Lunch Fight Hunger with City Harvest
It’s that time of year again! Join Benchmarc Events in the fight against hunger in New York City! Our team is raising funds for Skip Lunch Fight Hunger (May 13-17), City Harvest’s annual campaign that asks New Yorkers to donate what they would normally spend on lunch to help feed New York’s hungry children and their families.
During summer months, access to free school meals may become...
8 tags
Plan Your Post-Wedding (Recovery) Brunch
The height of wedding season is upon us! Once you have your wedding planned and your rehearsal dinner booked (which Benchmarc Events also loves to do!), the last piece of the puzzle is usually the day after brunch.
We offer a wide array of options for all budgets, from drop-off catering to in-house private parties in one of our restaurants. Take the stress and effort out of it (and alleviate...
10 tags
Beachside with Benchmarc Events
Ready for summer in the Hamptons, but not quite ready to let go of your favorite NYC restaurants? Benchmarc Events will come to you with delicious and relaxed menus that are perfect for summer. Our lobster bakes are especially festive for summer at the beach.
Contact us today and let us do all the work, while you relax and imbibe beachside!
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Spice Up Your Cinco de Mayo
May is here and the sun is finally shining, which can only mean one thing…Cinco de Mayo time! Today we’ve got some creative ideas to help spice up your Cinco party this year.
Taco Station - set up a make-your-own taco bar with tortillas, various proteins, and all sorts of toppings. Serve it up on the grill for an outdoor twist!
Dip It Good - we love good ol’ guacamole,...
9 tags
Show the Love with Employee Appreciation
Show your employees that their hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed with an office delivery of our impressive charcuterie and cheese platters. Really want to win them over? How about a sweet ending of chocolate covered strawberries? Your employees will be smiling for days and maybe you’ll get more than a coffee mug for Christmas this year.
Yesterday Benchmarc Restaurants and Benchmarc...
April 2013
8 posts
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How to Spoil Mom on Mother’s Day!
There’s nothing like having good food and family around to celebrate that special lady in your life! Treat your mom to a Mother’s Day brunch with your family and friends in one of our private spaces at Landmarc Tribeca or Time Warner Center.
See some of our favorite ideas for brunch in the pictures below. We can even help to arrange flowers from one of our favorite vendors. Contact us today to...
6 tags
Catch Of The Day!
What’s better in the summer than fresh fish and a summery cocktail? Plan your next fish fiesta with Benchmarc Events and we’ll make sure you feel like you’ve set sail!
Our raw bar with lobster tail, oysters, and poached shrimp is a great crowd pleaser. Or a ceviche is always welcome in the warm summer months – try our snapper ceviche with chili lime popcorn as a passed hors d’oeuvre. Cool off...
6 tags
Take It Outside
With spring weather finally catching up to our calendar, we are all loving this sunny weather. After spending the week mostly indoors at our desks, who doesn’t want to spend as much time as possible outside.
Why not have us help you cater an outdoor event with all your friends to celebrate this amazing weather? We can set up full service catered events or can prepare an awesome drop-off spread...
9 tags
April Showers Bring...Fun Cocktails
Shower season is upon us - bridal and baby showers that is! Tea service is a dainty and traditional shower option, but why not depart from the norm with a fun cocktail reception?
For baby showers, design a signature cocktail that can easily transform into a cocktail to keep everyone happy. Passionfruit tea with fresh mint is a refreshing choice for spring. Easily spruce it up with some rum, if...
10 tags
Out of the (Cake) Box!
Dessert so often gets overlooked at events in lieu of all the other delicious menu offerings. At Benchmarc Events we like to look outside box, the cake box that is, and come up with fun and tasty desserts for our events. Here are some of the things we have done in the past that our guests have loved!
Set up a dessert bar with cotton candy, brownies, lemon tarts, crème brulée and more! There...
9 tags
Venue Spotlight: Harold Pratt House
It’s another beautiful day here in NYC, which makes us all the more grateful of our city’s charm. Speaking of charm, today we want to highlight one of our favorite classic NYC venues, the Harold Pratt House.
Located on the Upper East Side, the Harold Pratt House was built in 1919 as one of New York’s grand Park Avenue mansions. The gorgeous mansion is ideal for wedding...
8 tags
Playing with your Food: Creative Garnishes
Presentation and decor is such a crucial part of event planning. Of course the food itself has to be delicious, but creative touches and details to the presentation really make a party or event stand apart from the rest.
Today we bring you some creative ways to use food as part of the presentation for your next party! Or contact us to help you plan your next event and we’ll be sure to make...
10 tags
Get Tropical with a Pig Roast Dinner
Maybe it’s this awfully long winter we’ve been having, but recently we’ve been receiving several requests for Hawaiian themed parties. While we can’t fly you to the sunny beaches of Maui, we can bring the luau to NYC with our large format pig roast dinner at Ditch Plains UWS, Ditch Plains West Village or even your own home.
Served family style, our pig roast dinner is...
March 2013
9 posts
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Benchmarc Events
The sun is finally shining here in the city and it’s days like these that remind us why we love New York City so much. This past week we catered an event that was a tribute to our beloved city via a themed NYC menu.
On Tuesday, Benchmarc Events partnered with SITE (Society of Incentive Travel Executives) and Thompson Hotels to host a networking event at the penthouse in the Tribeca Smyth...
11 tags
An Eggcellent Recipe: Deviled Eggs!
Just in time for Easter, we bring you one of our favorite recipes: deviled eggs. Deviled eggs have been a staple on the Ditch Plains menu for years and are a much-requested appetizer at our events. You can spice them up with some fried jalapeños (pictured below) or add a seafood twist with fried shrimp or oysters (like at Ditch restaurants).
We hope you enjoy trying out our beloved recipe,...
12 tags
Springtime Eats
It’s officially spring now, and even though it doesn’t feel like it outside, our catering menu just debuted some new offerings that are perfect for spring (whenever it decides to get here). We’ve added some great new lighter hors d’oeuvres like smoked salmon on corn cake with creme fraiche or curried shrimp with cilantro dipping sauce.
Check out these springy dishes and...
11 tags
It's March Madness at Ditch Plains UWS
March is a hard month to get through. It’s a full 31 days with no holidays and the weather is dreadful (just take a look outside today). But the one thing that gets us through is March Madness!
Benchmarc Events is offering a special March Madness package for large parties at Ditch Plains Upper West Side. We’re offering game-time favorites, like wings and nachos, and of course, an...
9 tags
Switch Up St. Patty's with Sparking Wine
It’s finally Friday, which means it is high time for a cocktail, and Benchmarc Events has a great idea for whatever your plans may be this weekend: a sparkling wine station!
We recently catered an event at Oliver Peoples and the sparking wine station was a big hit. Lots of bubbly with different mixers to switch it up: guava puree, orange puree, peach puree, raspberry puree, Angostura...
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Kid (and Adult) Friendly Parties at Landmarc
This weekend Benchmarc Events hosted two children’s parties at Landmarc Time Warner Center. As we’ve said before, Landmarc TWC really is the ideal location for kids’ parties (or any party for that matter). With our private events space, there’s plenty of room for the kids to enjoy themselves and parents to unwind on the sidelines.
The birthday parties this weekend were...
13 tags
Harlem RBI 5th Annual A League of our Own
Last night we had the pleasure of returning to cater Harlem RBI’s 5th Annual A League of our Own event at Radio City Music Hall. Harlem RBI is an organization that provides inner-city youth with opportunities to play, learn and grow. They use the power of teams to coach, teach and inspire youth to recognize their potential and realize their dreams. The purpose of last night’s event was...
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Benchmarc Events Knows How To (Host a) Party
Last week Benchmarc Events hosted an open house and showcase for event planners at Landmarc Tribeca. We had such a successful turnout and had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful event planners that we can’t wait to work with in the future!
Overall it was an amazing night with DJ Rob Goodmonson pumping the tunes and beautiful florals by Laura Remmert Events to set the scene. Luckily we...
10 tags
Wet 'n Wild Gets (and Gives) a Makeover
Remember in middle school when you had every crazy color of Wet ‘n Wild’s nail polish and lipgloss? Well, Benchmarc Events just catered an awesome event for them, and let’s just say, this is not the Wet ‘n Wild we remember!
Last night we catered Wet ‘n Wild’s 2013 new line launch with Fergie at the penthouse of the stylish Smyth Hotel. The party was full of...
February 2013
8 posts
12 tags
A Birthday Party to Remember
Creative birthday parties were always the best birthday parties growing up as a kid. Whether it was a special theme, outing or activity, everyone could have fun, not just the birthday boy or girl.
We were reminded of this last weekend when a family hosted a scavenger hunt birthday party for their child at the Time Warner Center. The creative (and awesome!) mom planned a scavenger hunt throughout...
6 tags
Pining for Pinterest
As we’ve mentioned before, we’re in love with Pinterest. Sure, we love fawning over endless pictures of salted caramel brownies or homemade funfetti cake pops, but it’s also a great resource for finding and organizing ideas for events.
From weddings to birthdays to menu ideas, you really can find it all. Be sure to check out our Benchmarc Events Pinterest page by clicking here,...
9 tags
On the Pulse: Wedding Trends
Benchmarc Events was recently contacted by a media outlet asking for our opinion on recent wedding trends. While we wait for their article, we decided we should share these with all of you!
Plated Desserts: a thing of the past. More and more couples are opting for stationery desserts, instead of plated, which means more time to heat up the dance floor! This is great news for Uncle Bob’s...
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Stone Rose Lounge Menu Revamp
Spring is in the air right now in NYC, and even though we have a while until it’s officially here, that doesn’t mean we can’t start a little spring cleaning now. Cue Benchmarc Events’ new menu at Stone Rose Lounge. We recently revamped the menu with new dishes, such as chips + dip (chorizo cheese fondue, pico de gallo, guacamole), truffled chicken meatballs, and a roasted...
10 tags
Nice Try, Nemo: A Very Wintery Wedding
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we have a true love story for you. Benchmarc Events had the pleasure of catering the wedding of Chris and Marie this past weekend. Thanks to Hurricane Sandy, their original wedding date had to be postponed to Saturday, February 9th - just in time for winter storm Nemo! But a little hail and snow was not going to stop them this time around! Luckily the snow...
11 tags
And the Oscar Goes To...
Ditch Plains UWS! Join us on Oscar night at Ditch Plains Upper West Side for a night full of A-list dishes and winning cocktails. For $55 you’ll enjoy a whole slew of themed dishes, from Honest Abe’s Oyster Stew to Silver Linings Playbook “Crabby Snacks”. We couldn’t leave out a champagne cocktail as a nod to Amore and White Cake from Django for dessert! Check out the...
14 tags
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner
The weekly fried chicken night at Ditch Plains UWS has been quite the success. From chicken & waffles to 15-spiced chicken with skillet cornbread, we look forward to each Wednesday just to see what our chef Steve Eakins will come up with next!
But if you can’t make it out to Ditch Plains for a Hump Day celebratory meal, Benchmarc Events is now adding fried chicken dinners to our list of...
15 tags
De Gustibus Cooking School
We’re all for expanding our horizons and learning new things, especially when it comes to cooking! Benchmarc Events just did a private event at De Gustibus Cooking School in Manhattan for EDI Institute, Recommind and Glenmont Group, and it was a great success!
Founded in 1980 by Arlene Feltman Sailhac, De Gustibus is now owned and run by Salvatore Rizzo, former Director of House Operations...
January 2013
7 posts
15 tags
Book Club!
While we tend to focus on food, events, and more food on this blog, we wanted to shake it up today with a book recommendation : The Good House by Ann Leary. A thrilling read of secrets and lies, The Good House is the perfect book for a snowy day or a winter escape to the beach.
Benchmarc Events was lucky to host the book launch party for Ann Leary at Ditch Plains UWS a couple weeks ago....
13 tags
The Big Picture: Vendor Shout-out!
The new year is always a good time to clean up shop and get re-organized, so Benchmarc Events just recently revamped its preferred vendor list to get us in gear for 2013. We rely on our vendors - from DJs to lighting and photographers - for all sorts of events. We’re so happy to have a group of colleagues that we’ve come to trust and help us put on the best possible event for...
7 tags
Spread the Love this Valentine's Day
Whether you’ll be celebrating Valentine’s Day with someone special or solo this year, it’s the perfect excuse to get together with those that you love. We know how crazy restaurants can be on V-Day in the city - overpriced special menus, booked up reservations, cheesy decorations - which is why Benchmarc Events has some great ideas to help you celebrate this Valentine’s Day...
9 tags
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
It may be freezing outside, but it’s about to heat up in NYC - the fashion scene that is. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is almost upon us. Held at Lincoln Center from February 7th to the 14th, it’s always an exciting and thriving time for the many fashionistas here in the city.
While we at Benchmarc Events won’t be strutting the runway, we are available for all of your Fashion...
10 tags
Sixth Annual Village Voice Choice Eats
We can’t believe it’s already here, but it’s time for the 6th Annual Village Voice Choice Eats tasting event! This is Benchmarc Events’ third year catering the big event, and we couldn’t be more excited. With over 50 local restaurants participating and plenty of booze, it’s a foodie heaven. Tickets go on sale tomorrow and they go fast, so be sure to snag yours...
8 tags
Score Big with Benchmarc Events
The Super Bowl is still a couple weeks away, but our team at Benchmarc Events is already excited, if not for the football and halftime show, then certainly for the food! If you’re looking for a place to go out this year, look no further than our private dining room at Ditch Plains UWS! For $45 a person you’ll get a choice of three family-style plates such as nachos, mini Ditch Dogs, or...
6 tags
One Last Hoorah
Hopefully you’ve recovered from your New Year’s party by now. Our team at Benchmarc Events is ready to take on the new year with a slew of exciting events, parties and opportunities! But as one last tribute to 2012, we wanted to give a shout out to the awesome buy-out at Ditch Plains UWS for a New Year’s Eve party.
Our chefs did a fantastic job of plating everything, making the...
December 2012
5 posts
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Nochevieja!
The holidays are the time of celebrating traditions - old and new. We were recently introduced to a fun New Years tradition, Nochevieja, by a private event that we’ll be hosting at Ditch Plains UWS on New Year’s Eve. An old Spanish tradition, 12 grapes are eaten at the strike of the new year to symbolize happiness, hope and good wishes. Dating back to the 20th century, Nochevieja has...
16 tags
Happy Holidays from Benchmarc Events!
2012 was an extraordinarily busy and thriving year for us! Benchmarc Events hosted many exciting events in each of our restaurants, including the celebration of the 100th performance of Broadway’s smash hit Book of Mormon; an amazing Fall showcase with Wines of Chile; and the New York Wine and Food Festival’s sold out CHOPPED party. We also continued to expand our drop-off and...
9 tags
Add Some Spice To Your Holiday Party
We all love a traditional holiday party - Christmas carols, eggnog, gingerbread cookies - but why not throw a party that’s especially memorable this year by switching up the usual party protocol?
Benchmarc Events was excited to cater the holiday party for Oprah Magazine this year, which was a fun Mexican theme! Empanadas, fish tacos, and guacamole really spiced up the menu and were a...
8 tags
Benchmarc Events' Magical Reindeer
Much like Santa couldn’t make it round the world without his reindeer, Benchmarc Events wouldn’t be what it is without our fleet of trusty trucks and drivers. For those of you who live in NYC, you know what a hassle it is to schlep around the busy city streets and subways, so there’s no way we could put on the scale of events that we do without our trucks to transport...
7 tags
Playing Favorites: The Green Building
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, Benchmarc Events just loves The Green Building in Carroll Gardens. What used to be a brass foundry is now our favorite events space, with its brick walls, soaring exposed beam ceilings and gorgeous chandeliers. Tonight we’re headed to The Green Building again to cater our second Benchmarc family wedding!
Below are some pictures from...
November 2012
5 posts
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Benchmarc Events Joins the Rockettes Kick Line!
Whether you’ve been or not, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular is undeniably one of the most quintessential holiday shows of all time. This year marks the 85th anniversary of the production, and Benchmarc Events is thrilled to be catering all events for the show this season! With 32 pre-show receptions to cater, we’re looking forward to spending some quality time with Santa and...
12 tags
Sweet Inspiration
Thanksgiving is over, which means the holiday season is now in full gear and Benchmarc Events is moving full steam ahead! And according to Guest of a Guest, we know a thing or two about holiday parties, as they just listed Benchmarc Events as one of “The Best Caterers In The City For Your Next Holiday Party”!
Whether you’re baking from scratch this season, or looking for...
12 tags
Still No Thanksgiving Plans? Benchmarc Events to...
Sticking around NYC for this Thanksgiving, but don’t feel like cooking? Fear not, Ditch Plains UWS is serving up our family-style Thanksgiving menu and we still have some open reservations available! The Turkey Day menu includes beloved classics like brined whole turkey, caramelized shallot mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and also some traditional sides with a Ditch Plains twist such as corn...
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Benchmarc Events' Kid-Friendly Faves
One of the greatest features about our restaurants Landmarc and Ditch Plains is our extensive kids menus. Of course, we offer kids’ favorites like mac and cheese and hamburgers, but we also offer several healthy and more sophisticated options for the advanced eater, such as Lemon & Herb Roasted Chicken Legs or Sliced Skirt Steak.
Not only we do we offer a great kids menu at our...
10 tags
Warm Up with Brooklyn Roasting Company
Hey New Yorkers, it’s cold outside and now there’s no denying that iced coffee season is beyond over. So warm up with a cup of Brooklyn Roasting Company coffee! BRC offers New Yorkers the best quality Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, and Organic certified and sustainable coffees. They’ve got quite the cult following here in the city, so we are proud to serve Brooklyn Roasting...
October 2012
6 posts
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More Spooky Tips from Benchmarc Events
As we all continue to gear up for Halloween, Benchmarc Events is bringing you more of our handy and haunting tips for a festive celebration!
For a foggy effect, fill jars with dry ice and place on serving trays or as a centerpiece on tables for an extra ominous feel.
Squid ink pasta is sure to make your guests do a double take. Serve it up with cherry tomatoes and cheese for a spooky spin on...
