If you’re wondering what Mariah Carey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Adam Sandler, Alec Baldwin, Liam Neeson, Jimmy Fallon, Kevin Costner, and P. Diddy are eating this Memorial Day, it might be something that Andrea Correale, the founder and president of Elegant Affairs, has whipped up. Correale counts such stars as well as corporations like Ralph Lauren, Amazon, American Express, American Heart Association, and Cirque du Soleil among her clients.
She started her own company at 16 after working in a variety of jobs at a local country club. Initially she hoped to earn enough money to buy a car. She not only got the car but also was set on a career path. Correale received her training at the Hotel and Restaurant Management program at New York Institute of Technology and then founded Elegant Affairs, a full service off-premise catering and event planning company in the Hamptons, Long Island and New York City.
Besides the following recipes, Correale also shares some of the latest in food trends which can easily be incorporated into Memorial Day entertaining.
This being the fruit best, it works that cobblers are trending. Correale says you can serve blueberry, apple, peach, cherry, or any type of fruit cobbler you’d like simply à la mode — oversized and baked or deconstructed in a glass or jar.
For condiments, peppers are totally in starting with sriracha and other unique hot sauces. Correale says the hotter the better and also, when they’re available at farmers’ markets—salted shishito peppers.
It’s not really corn on the cob time yet, but if you can find some, Correale suggests a corn on the cob bar where besides roasted or steamed corn, there’s every topping imaginable: flavored butters, spreads, herbs, cheese, bacon, and spices.
Gluten-free and vegan anything and everything.
People want fresh food, it doesn’t need to be fancy.
“It’s much more about the quality of the ingredients, and the freshness,” says Correale, than it is about overabundance.”
Watermelon Pizza
Servings: 8
Prep Time: 5 Minutes
1 large watermelon
5 cups vanilla frozen yogurt
3 cups fresh raspberries
3 cups fresh blueberries
Cut watermelon into 8 thin slices, to create your “crust”.
Spread a layer of vanilla frozen yogurt on top of each watermelon slice.
Add berries as your toppings and serve immediately.
Red Velvet, Berry and Cream Parfaits
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
4 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
3 cups fresh blackberries or raspberries
8 inch red velvet cake
Bake a red velvet cake in an 8-inch pan, using your favorite recipe, and let it cool.
Combine cream cheese, and sugar in a bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat on a medium-high speed until creamy.
Add in the heavy cream and mix on low speed, until the mixture has a pudding-like consistency.
Line the bottom of your glasses or dessert cups with
cake and a layer of cream. Add another layer of cake, followed by another layer of cream, then add in a
layer of berries. Repeat these layers until you fill your glass or desert cup.
Refrigerate for at least one hour, and garnish each serving with a cookie or pastry of your choice.
