Heather's Helpful Hints

Introduction: You'll see what a thorough profile I have here for you--I know there are many pros on here that are really cut and dry and not vested (as much) in personalized service. Know that since I'm a one woman business, I will really give you my all! {Of course it goes without saying; if you have ANY allergies/issues it's always up to you to let a chef know!} *** LOOK FOR upcoming book: Heather's Helpful Hints A Guide to Cooking, Living & Entertaining ~*~Heather's Healthy Cuisine~*~ L.A. native Heather Hancock takes great pride in making fresh, wholesome food. By taking the time to find the freshest ingredients and using quality control (i.e. being a perfectionist) she creates gourmet creations that are delectable. Often doing swap-outs for healthier ingredients she always keeps the flavor and the essence of the cuisines; but brings a California health ethic to the dishes as well. *** Years (decades) of server & catering experience in Los Angeles. Too many to list but included several eateries in Beverly Hills and LA's iconic and long established haute French restaurant L'Orangerie (along with chef Ludo Lefebvre.) After years working as a server graduated into catering and worked extensively both as a server, captain & then onto chef assistant. Becoming a chef has been quite a journey! *** I am a lifelong caterer cook/chef with decades of experience; so much so that I'm writing a book! [I am writing four books] The non-fiction is a cooking/entertaining book plus + a tell all of my time catering in Beverly Hills! It's got hundreds of great tips; recipes and 'How Tos'; a lot of Top Ten lists and topics such as: How to have the BeSt Guest Bathroom! I also have an array of wine reviews and book reviews, which are very thorough, engaging and sometimes clever. [I also write on current topical events and politics as well, and am a champion PROOF READER; if you need a proofreader I charge a flat rate and am very (very) good!] {See my other profile.....Martini Productions.....} ***** ~*~HEATHER'S HELPFUL HINTS~*~ Due to my love of cooking and entertaining, I love to share my delicious food; this led to me accidentally starting a One Woman Catering Business! After catering a friend's party as a favor; I got hired again and again! Here's my Business model: ~*~FIVE {V} aspects: I-~*~Small event catering~*~; for appetizers/quiches etc. I bring amazing appetizers and food and will monitor food and table for presentation etc. What I recommend to clients is that they purchase (the obvious) veggie tray and shrimp tray (don't pay me to cut up veggies) and then I intersperse with the home made yumminess. It's a great model for entertaining. I also am very good at flavored roasted nuts; which I recommend you put near shrimp platter. I have small menu for now, you and I go over what you want; I do the shopping, prep, cooking, come to you and babysit my food; provide other services you need to make your event go just right. I know all aspects of catering and presentation, and can help make sure you're happy and a guest at your own party. My years of experience can help any event go well. II-~*~ Food stuffs drop off; I bring to you one of my Amazing Quiches/dishes. I have an original quiche recipe that is astonishing--just ask my friends and clients already! Whether for busy working families or entertaining or just want something good in the fridge; you get my homemade goodness; the recipe will be in my forthcoming book! I'm currently negotiating with a few local restaurants who want to feature it! III-~*~ Cooking Lessons! We have a great time! We choose what you want to learn/make and get better at and we have a ball! Rate stays the same even with multiple students; great food and know-how all rolled into one. IV-~*~ As I mention the aforementioned quiche [and other foodstuffs ] is being courted by area restaurants! [Get me now while you can--lol] you may see my food featured soon great local hotspots. V--~*~ BARTENDER; Am a Great party bartender/banquet bartender (basic mixed drinks; beer/wine) I have a background in wine (being from California) and wine and food pairings. Have extensive brand ambassador experience with wines .Although I have extensive wine knowledge I have a way of putting the consumer/guest at ease regarding wine choices and guiding them through the process effortlessly. Expert at wine tastings, serving wine at banquet bar and helping guests find what they like. ~*~ So there you have it. I can't emphasize enough that right now my staff is made of up me, myself and I; so I can only take jobs as my schedule permits. I have many more reviews coming and you're more than welcome to interview my clients--they're very happy with my services! I truly love to entertain and help others do so as well; and my food is healthy, lighter and yet with my experience, passion and knowledge; full of flavor! {I can help with recipe planning especially doing swap-outs and making recipes healthy. Having all the flavor but less guilt.} ~*~HH Chef Skills_Cooking Lessons_HowTo's_Etc. *** Basic, essential tools for kitchen/cooking [i.e. good/great knives; scissors, tongs, dishtowels a plenty, cutting boards, decent grater, zester, disposables etc.] Which gadgets are worth it? You see the infomercial and in store; is it worth it? [i.e. magic bullet; various cutting devices etc.] Skill sets; knives and knife work Making appetizers; step by step process Making from scratch soups, chilis Made from scratch salad dressings! Never buy bottled! Cooking with coconut oil! Using best ingredients; cage free eggs; extra virgin olive oil etc. Lessons on cooking from scratch and very healthfully; little to no processed foods how to reduce calories and fat without sacrificing flavor and tastes. Doing gourmet pan sauce for any fish; deglazing techniques, aromatics etc. Put that on a bed of anything; mashed potatoes, mashed cauliflower, mashed turnips even etc. Roasting vegetables; easiest way to love veggies and impress; i.e. Brussel sprouts or a tray of root vegetables The Best most delicious healthful salads! Serving a four course meal; salad course, soup course, entrée and dessert... Eggs! Do you know how to scramble perfectly? Make them gourmet (with crème fraiche) and herbs? Can you make an omelet? A nice, thin crisp one? Make aheads! Make aheads will save your life HH apps: ~*~DEVILED EGG CUPS all the goodness of a deviled egg but lighter; these are wildly popular and go fast; deviled egg filling in light MINI PHYLLO SHELLS—they’re beautiful and yummy/tasty. ~*~Pimento Cheese Spread- On Pretzel bread/sourdough or crackers this would be the Nod to the South Homemade and doesn't matter what you put it on but German pretzel bread is outstanding small bites... ~*~Caprese Bites my signature; basically a Caprese salad on a toothpick marinated mozzarella balls with fresh basil and cherry tomatoes; drizzled with olive oil and sea salt and lemon pepper; one bite, divine... ~*~Mushroom Duxelles in Puff Pastry~*~ Duxelles --pronounced lemme see here: Dukes-Elle Say it right and you'll sound all Frenchy-french fancy! [The secret is the uniform cut of mushrooms] ~*~Crispy Baby Potato Bites with Sour Cream (with or without sausage) ~*~Cucumber Sandwiches or Fancy ones: Herbed Goat Cheese Sandwiches with Cucumber Roasted cashews [nuts]; (alongside shrimp) Possibles: • Chorizo Sloppy Joe Empanadas • Grilled Cheese Bites with Pepper Jelly My quiche is quickly gaining fame --For warm thing: QUICHE you warm and slice into bite size and put on toothpick; quiche bites! -- Savory Artichoke Heart, Crispy Sage, Caramelized Onion and Italian Cheese Quiche HH recipe; very, (very) good! ~*~HEATHER'S HOLLYWOOD CATERING~*~ I can teach you one or two dishes; or a couple great appetizers. Also one GREAT soup recipe and salad recipes (a recipe for salad? You bet!) these are winners that I entertain with again and again! Due to personal love of entertaining, cooking and knowledge of food and wine I enjoy making events go seamlessly for others and doing research for my book. I think that life is short and you must take the time to entertain, relax and do things right. I take great pride in helping others do just that. Warmest regards, Heather Hancock "One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating." ~Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story "Those who forget the pasta are condemned to reheat it." ~Author Unknown Add: I also make a: Savory Caramelized Vidalia Onion Cheesecake_Spread This baked dip is decadent and impressive...completely worth the effort if you choose to make or order; can serve as wedge or better as spread on high quality cracker/thins. Incredible flavor and richness; really worth it try it once and will be your go-to to impress... Must be served with Good quality crackers (recommended Anna's Orange Thins; any high quality cracker/ thin will do; but recommend one with a hint [a hint!] of sweetness as from orange or ginger etc.; it offsets the richness of the cheesecake with a delectable taste in the mouth.) You have to love what you do; and I Love cooking (and entertaining) and helping others!