Tasty, Trendy Tidbits: Small bites by Peter Callahan

You’ve heard it said that bigger is better…. well, we here at The Bridal Circle beg to differ.  Let us introduce you to the man who has given us a taste for something infinitely better than super-sized snacks: Peter Callahan of Peter Callahan Catering and Events.  Armed with tiny burgers and miniature fries, this is the man who has transformed the catering industry, making ‘tiny’ the new ‘trendy.’

With summer 2014 in full swing, we thought it was high time to pull together a grouping of the year’s tastiest trends in passed hors d’oeuvres and small bites.  Peter suggests pairing small shots of drinks with mini foods.  For instance, serve margaritas in mini patron bottles to make a statement that is anything but small.  Another unexpected technique that is gaining popularity this year is customizing graphic containers for hors d’oeuvres.  Peter’s team used small, open classic children’s books on which to serve hors d’oeuvres for Savannah Guthrie’s baby shower.

Peter Callahan

Elegance with a subtle twist, like foi gras pheasant canapés under glass domes, and hors d’oeuvres with a thematic twist are all the rage.  For J Lo’s album release party, Peter crafted soft mini-pretzels in the shape of musical notes.  For a wedding, incorporating the heritage of the bride and groom into the canapés makes for stellar culinary selections.  The team at Peter Callahan Catering created grit cakes topped with bacon and spicy shrimp for a southern bride from Alabama.

If you’re planning a summer soirée, Peter suggests utilizing tomatoes.  After all, he describes tomatoes as ‘the essence of summer.’  Mini caprese pita tea sandwiches with micro basil are a lovely way to pack a lot of flavor and create an hors d’oeuvre that’s as sun-kissed as it tastes.  For a little something sweet, Peter believes that warm weather affairs call for frozen treats such as basil margarita popsicles or mini ice cream sandwiches.  Even a strawberry rhubarb pop-tart popsicle will do!

Take a peek below at some scrumptious concoctions from Peter Callahan’s kitchen, and I’m sure you will agree that the smallest bites are in fact, the best bites.

Peter Callahan_ Mel Barlow
Peter Callahan