Irish Cream

How does the saying go? “Give a man an Irish coffee and you’ve made him happy for a day. Teach him how to make his own Irish cream and he’ll make his own Irish coffees (and a dozen other decadent drinks and desserts) for a lifetime.”

Something like that.

In honor of Saint Paddy’s Day, we thought we’d have a little craic with one of our favorite ingredients from the Emerald Isle, Irish cream.

After looking at a dozen different recipes, we settled on one that—no coddin’ ya—will beat any commercial product on the market.

Simple and quick to make at home, this Irish cream tastes fierce on its own, but if you were to use it to make the best Irish coffee ever, ‘tis only a stepmother would blame you.

Give it a lash!

What is Irish cream?

First of all, let’s not confuse Irish cream with Irish coffee .

Irish coffee, traditionally, is coffee that’s spiked with whiskey, mixed with sugar, and topped with cream.  

Irish cream, on the other hand, is a type of liqueur that can be enjoyed on its own or added to a cup of coffee to make a delicious treat that approximates the taste of Irish coffee. Whether or not you then have actual Irish coffee is a matter of debate.

If we’re being honest, Irish cream is not even an Irish invention. Created in 1973 by an Englishman, the original Irish cream was the Bailey’s brand that is so well known today.

What’s in Irish cream?

The basic ingredients of Irish cream are Irish whiskey, cream, and sugar.

Different brands or recipes may add a few other flavors. Bailey’s, for example, adds cocoa. So does Kerrygold. Another popular brand, Carolans , adds honey and spirits. Different recipes play around with maple syrup or cane sugar for the sweetener. The recipe we’re going to share with you uses brown sugar, chocolate, a little coffee, and a hint of vanilla.

Why should I make my own Irish cream?

Maybe you shouldn’t! If you’re only using Irish cream to spike your coffee, then Bailey’s or some other store-bought brand of Irish cream probably works just fine. You can even make a distinct improvement in your Irish coffee by choosing a brand like Five Farms, which is creamier and does a much better job than Bailey’s of smoothing out the whiskey flavor.

But if you want to elevate your Irish coffee into something phenomenal, then nothing beats using fresh ingredients and making your own Irish cream. In fact, this Irish cream tastes so good that you can just pour it over ice and enjoy an extraordinary dessert drink. Trust us, you’ll taste the difference.

And when you see how quick and easy it is to make, it might just change your life!

What can I make with Irish cream?

Once you start making your own Irish cream, you’ll start finding all kinds of incredible uses for it like Irish cream brownies and Irish cream chocolate chip cookies. If you want to lose a whole afternoon in creamy bliss, visit the Food Network website and find pages of delicious uses for your Irish cream.

WHat whiskey should I use in my Irish cream.

Higher quality whiskey means better Irish cream, but only up to a point.

If you’re using good, fresh ingredients for this recipe, the taste of the whiskey will be smoothed out beautifully, so there’s no reason to use your top-shelf Midleton. A good (not great) whiskey like a middle-grade Jameson is perfect.

How long does Irish cream last?

The alcohol in your Irish cream will help to keep it fresh longer, but you still should keep it refrigerated and use it within a couple of weeks. If you store it sealed in the fridge, it can last up to two months.

Irish Cream

Ingredients

·         1 cup heavy cream (do NOT use half and half)

·         2 Tbsp dark brown sugar

·         2 tsp instant coffee

·         1 Tbsp finely chopped dark chocolate or chocolate syrup

·         1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk

·         1 ⅔ cups Irish whiskey

·         1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1.     Add cream and brown sugar in a pot and bring to a boil.

2.     Remove from heat and add instant coffee and chocolate. Whisk thoroughly.

3.     Continue whisking as you add condensed milk, whiskey, and vanilla.

4.     Garnish with whipped cream if you want, or a sprinkle of chocolate shavings.

Sláinte is táinte! 

Smoke Show at the Tasting Room

Smoke Show

/smōk shō/

noun

1.       a special event hosted at The Tasting Room , showcasing the versatility and aesthetic charm of smoke.

“Did you see those beautiful pictures from The Tasting Room smoke show?”

2.       a very attractive person, especially someone with a fit and toned physique.

“Did you see that waiter with the biceps and the chiseled jaw? Total smoke show!”

This 2023 event was an opportunity to do something we love, invite our chefs and planners to take an idea and go crazy with it!

We had so much fun seeing the delicious and stunning ways they used the theme of “smoke.” Here are some of our favorites!

mini pork bao buns, micro greens, and veggies served over a dry ice bath

cotton candy siphon coffee

What made this drink so fun was that the heat of the coffee melted the cotton candy cloud, making the sweetest “rain” you ever tasted!

panna cotta, caramel zabaglione, mini pumpkin spice macaron, pumpkin spice buttercream, caramelized apples, salted pecans, and edible red flower with aromatized cinnamon

seared foie gras on shortbread, stewed cherries, and candied marcona almonds on top of Mount Superior Red wine glass

pastrami, cured salmon, spicy brown mustard, and rye crostini on top of Towers Rosé wine glass

Moroccan meatball with pomegranate glaze in mini bamboo cone clipped to blonde negroni

squash burrata salad

Shout out to our amazing vendors who helped make this vision take shape!

Photos by Logan Walker

Balloons by Snap Pop Party!                            

Flatware, glassware, and chinaware by Wild Event Studio

Florals by The Potted Pansy

Tables and linens by Diamond Event & Tent

Published by Utah Valley Bride 

Wardrobe by Just Girl Stuff

Ideas for an Unforgettable Holiday Party

If it seems like the holidays sneak up on you every year and you find yourself scrambling to organize yet another holiday party, we feel ya! The holidays are a crazy-busy time, and sometimes it seems like all you can do just to keep up the same old holiday traditions that you’ve always done. Maybe that’s why holiday parties tend to be so routine, formulaic and—dare we say?—boring.

Well, good news! That time and energy you put into doing the same-old-same-old every year could just as well be put into planning an event that’s innovative, exciting, and fun! Whether you’ll be organizing the company party or welcoming friends and family into your home this year, why not treat your guests to something truly unforgettable?

Of course, the time to start planning is now. So, to help you kick your creativity into high gear, we’ve gathered a few of our favorite winter holiday events that we’ve hosted over the years.

It’s All About Making Memories

One simple way to elevate your holiday party into something special is to put some thought into the photos. A professional photographer can be great, but even if you just take the time to create a beautiful backdrop and let people use their cellphone cameras, they’ll walk away with treasured memories.

A Dickens of a Time 

Want to give your guests a Christmas party to remember? Take them back to Victorian England for a day of sumptuous feasts, parlor games, and perhaps a ghost story or two.

It might not surprise you to learn that Charles Dickens, author of A Christmas Carol, absolutely loved Christmas and enjoyed hosting holiday dinners in his home. He and his wife Catherine were fond of inviting guests for Christmas feasts of toasted cheese, turkey, pork pie, and mutton stuffed with oysters. Although he was never part of the rich class of Victorian England, Dickens was known for going all out on Christmas, and his parties went on throughout the following “twelve days of Christmas.”

It’s not a coincidence that Dickens’ most famous Christmas tale is a ghost story. The tradition of telling ghost stories in the long, dark, gloomy nights of winter—huddled together in rooms lit by nothing more than a fireplace and candles—goes back many centuries. Authors like Dickens and Arthur Conan Doyle wrote Christmas ghost stories that were wildly popular at the time. Instead of swapping gifts, maybe it’s time to resurrect the tradition of swapping spooky tales!  

Take a Gamble

Whether it’s “High Rollers” or “Treasure Hunt” or “A Night in the Museum,” giving your party a fun theme can make it stand out from every other holiday party your guests have ever experienced. Weave in a few interactive elements so your guests aren’t just passive observers. Throw in an element of competition and your guests will be talking about the party for decades to come.

Cowgirls Versus Cowboys

You don’t have to rent a mechanical bull to make your event unbelievably fun.

But you can.

And since you can…maybe you should.

Just saying.

A Winter Tablescape

If your party is going to involve formal dining, remember that you can make any winter meal feel sophisticated and elegant if you embrace the stark colors of the season. Simple, subdued, and stunning, these snowball centerpieces were an explosion of inexpensive white carnations.   

Rock Out

Whether your groove is top 40s, jazz, reggae, classical, country, or anything in between, Utah has the musicians you’re looking for. Through a company like Utah Live Bands, you can treat your guests to an atmosphere and excitement that only live music can provide. If you can’t find exactly the band you want, they’ll even produce a custom cover band to fit your tastes! From karaoke to cowboy poetry to a jazz quartet to the cantina band from Star Wars, hiring the right performers will make your holiday party unforgettable.

Summon the Great Pumpkin

Certain flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves are automatically associated with the holidays. We’re always on the lookout for ways to use those amazing flavors in fun, new ways, so at the event pictured here, we decided to pull out all the stops to create the ultimate pumpkin spice drink.

We used two traditional slow drip towers (one with coffee and the other with apple cider) to make the best cup of pumpkin spice goodness you ever tasted. Incredible! What better way to make your winter party extraordinary than to let your guests curl up with a steaming mug of holiday yum?

Paint It Red

It sounds simple, but you’d be amazed how much difference it can make when a party has a thoughtfully chosen color scheme. We eat with our eyes first, so when we walk into a party with a gorgeous color palette, we can’t help but think, “This is going to be special!”

To choose your colors, start with the elements you know you want to include and work backwards from there.

Never Enough Cooks in the Kitchen

Cooking or baking for a crowd can be one of the most demanding duties of holiday hosting, but with a little forethought and planning, you can turn that chore into part of the party! Get your people together to form an assembly line, and you can churn out all the desserts you’ll need in a couple of hours. Even better than the brownies and pies will be the sweet memories you’ll make. Just don’t be surprised if your guests want to do it again next year.

Ice, Ice Baby!

At times, ice sculptures have been a wildly popular centerpiece to draw partygoers’ attention. Of course, trends come and go, and ice artwork fell out of favor for a while. But something so stunning is due for a revival! Not only is an expertly crafted work of ice art breathtaking, but it can also be practical. An ice luge, for example, is a sculpture designed to dispense cold drinks throughout the evening. What a cool (forgive the pun) idea!

True, an ice sculpture is doomed to melt sooner or later, but that’s part of its charm. Your guests will get to snap a few pictures and marvel about it throughout the evening, and then it will disappear…except that it won’t! I mean, when are your guests ever going to forget something so magical as a statute made of ice?

Do a Good Deed

The most memorable holiday party you ever throw may not seem like a party at all; it may be when you and your guests work together to make someone else’s holiday brighter. 

Deliver Christmas gifts that your group has donated. Serve a meal at a food bank. Bring some cheer to a hospital. Volunteer at one of the many local charities like Sub for Santa, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, Candy Cane Corner, or the Forgotten Patient Christmas Project. The United Way is a fantastic resource to point you towards some good you and your guests can do in the community.  

 However you decide to make your holiday party uniquely wonderful this year, we wish you the best. We’d love to help you develop your vision and bring it to life. For more ideas, or to discuss how we can help bring your party vision to life, give one of our amazing planners a call at (801) 225-6575.

Happy Holiday Planning!

Launch Party at the Tasting Room

Recently, we were honored to host the launch party for a new autobiography written by the amazing woman we call Mom.

Many of Utah’s movers and shakers were here at the Tasting Room to help celebrate this latest of Mary Homer-Crafts’ many achievements.

The book, Unbounded: From Sorrow to Summit, tells the story of Mary’s 2019 ascent of Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro. But it’s also about the long, difficult trail Mary walked in battling obesity, abuse, hopelessness, and self-doubt. Starting with just $150 in the bank, she built Culinary Crafts from a literal mom-and-pop operation into Utah’s premier catering business. You don’t complete a journey like that without learning some lessons along the way! 

Today, Mary helps head up numerous non-profit organizations and serves on several boards, but to us she is always Mom and Grandma.

What a pleasure to host this evening of tears and triumphs, laughter and love, and—of course—phenomenal food with the beautiful Tasting Room touch!

The Tasting Room Featured in Utah Valley Bride

The Tasting Room has a long history as a contributor and featured Salt Lake City wedding venue for Utah Valley Bride magazine. The most recent edition of that gorgeous publication features “Smoke Show,” a smoke-themed inspirational shoot we did at the Tasting Room to showcase a few beautiful new wedding trends.  

Wedding catering is trending toward “experiential dining” which means treating your guests to an unforgettable experience. By putting creative thought into your planning, you can do much more than just place delicious food in front of them. You can entice and enchant all their senses, creating a fun and engaging event that they (and you) will always remember.

The use of smoke is just one of countless ways to heighten the dining experience. You can let your guests start savoring their food with their eyes and noses before it ever reaches their palates.

As always, we were delighted to work with Utah Valley Bride and the excellent vendors who helped us put together this unique shoot. A special thank-you goes to Potted Pansy for the florals, Pop Culture by Snap Happy for the balloons, Just Girl Stuff for the dresses and jewelry, Diamond Event and Tent and Wild Event Studio for the rentals, and the inimitable Logan Walker for his amazing photos. We love you all!

 Eat well!

The Tasting Room Hosts NBA All-Stars

This week, the Tasting Room is delighted to be hosting NBA players, coaches, owners, and fans as part of the 2023 All-Star Weekend.

Utah Jazz fans may remember the embarrassing incident in 2019 when a Jazz fan directed racial insults toward a visiting NBA player, Russell Westbrook, at Vivent Arena. Following that event, Culinary Crafts’ co-owner Ryan Crafts issued a public statement regretting the incident and offering an invitation to Westbrook, his teammates, and all teams of the NBA to come back to Utah and let us show them the best of what Utah hospitality has to offer.

This weekend, Ryan and our Tasting Room team will have a chance to do exactly that!

8 Tips for Inviting Kids to Your Wedding

photo courtesy of Brianna White

Children can be a delightful addition to your wedding party, but they can also present challenges. If you’re thinking about inviting kids to your wedding, here are some ways to make sure it will be a good experience for everyone.

 Do I have to invite children?

The first question to ask yourself is whether you need to invite kids at all, and the short answer is “no.” It’s your wedding, and you can invite (or not invite) anyone you want.  You can choose to invite all the kids, no kids, or only certain kids. It’s up to you.

While it’s perfectly acceptable to exclude kids from your festivities (especially if your wedding will be a formal affair, run long, or go late into the evening), the question isn’t always that simple. It’s possible that some parents will feel offended if they’re not allowed to bring their kids, especially if your event will be short and casual, and if it’s held during the day. To prevent hurt feelings, communication is key!

That brings us to our first tip:

1.      Communicate Your Expectations

Once you’ve decided whether or not to invite kids, you’ll need to communicate your decision to your guests clearly and early so they can plan accordingly.

If children will be invited, let parents know what childcare or other accommodations you’ll be making for the kids (see tips below). On the other hand, if you’re not allowing their kids to come, politely let parents know why. A friendly phone call—preferably before their invitation arrives—can let you explain the situation and answer parents’ questions. Assure them that as much as you would love to see their kids, the limitations of your guest list meant that you couldn’t invite minors, or you had to set a certain age cut-off. Whatever your choice is, let them know that you value their presence and that your decision was nothing personal.

photo courtesy of Ashlee Brooke

2.      Organize Childcare If Possible

One of the most helpful things you can do for your guests with young children is to provide childcare, at least during certain portions of the event. Childcare can be pricy, of course, and it might not fit in your budget, but if you can afford to give parents a break and let them enjoy celebrating your day with you, they will be eternally grateful.

photo courtesy of Nicki G Photography

3.      Create a Kid-Friendly Zone

For most kids, sitting quietly for hours on a hard chair is not their idea of a celebration.  You can make the experience more pleasant for everyone if you provide a space specifically designed with the children in mind.

A safe, inviting kid zone can be a great place for arts and crafts as well as a kids’ table when it’s time to eat. (A separate kids’ table can make dinner more enjoyable for kids and adults alike, but bear in mind that children under age 6 or 7 probably won’t be comfortable being separated from their parents for long.)

You can fill the Kid Zone with any number of fun activities like crayons, picture books, games, mask-making, or sidewalk chalks. One memorable activity is helping kids record their own marriage advise for the new couple. An age-appropriate movie is always an easy way to keep the wee ones entertained, but we’ve also seen cool weddings with face painting, balloon twisting, puppeteers, and scavenger hunts. A gift bag for each child can provide the supplies to keep themselves entertained as well as making each kid feel personally recognized and welcomed.

photo courtesy of Kayla Bertagnolli

4. Keep Kids Moving

Some kids will happily sit still for hours on end, but others will self-combust if they aren’t allowed to get up and move. You can give them plenty of opportunities to work out their wiggles with lawn games like a ring toss, bean bag corn hole, giant Jenga, an obstacle course or bouncy house, lawn bowling, frisbee, body bumpers, or toss-and-catch games.

If your schedule includes dancing (and if that part of the event doesn’t come after kids’ bedtime), it’s a great chance for children to take part in the fun. Having kids on the dance floor can help everyone loosen up and enjoy seeing the little ones at their cutest! You may even want to have your band include some specific tunes in their set that will get their little feet moving. But be careful: When it comes to dancing, kids have been known to steal the show. 

photo courtesy of Kayla Betragnolli

5.      Make Sure the Kids Are in the Photos

Wedding photos featuring kids can be some of the most precious and memorable, but they take some planning. Let your photographer and/or videographer know in advance if you’ll be inviting kids to your wedding.

photo courtesy of Pepper Nix

6.      Give Kids Responsibilities

For some kids, the best way to keep them entertained and out of trouble is to give them a job matched to their abilities. Besides the traditional responsibilities like flower girls or ring bearers, kids who are old enough can help take coats, hand out programs or wedding favors, usher guests to their seats, or be in charge of the guest book. Some children may even be able to help keep younger ones entertained. Giving a disposable camera to a child to take candid photos can yield delightful results! A child’s favorite part of the day may be feeling like they have an important contribution to make.

photo courtesy of Pepper Nix

7.      Provide a Kids’ Menu

No matter how excited you are about the delicious menu you’ve planned, the kids may be a lot happier with chicken nuggets, grilled cheese sandwiches, or PBJs. Why not give them what they want? It’s cheaper, less wasteful, and way more likely to keep kids happy.

photo courtesy of Logan Walker

8.       Talk To Your Planner

Finally, if you’re thinking about inviting kids to your wedding, you should definitely discuss it with your planner. Besides helping you coordinate your kid-accommodations with your vendors and venue, a planner may have fabulous ideas for how to make sure your special day is one that everyone—including your smallest guests—will love.