Celebrating with Kind Stranger Kitchen

Our wedding anniversary was creeping up on us, and we were at a real loss as to how to celebrate during a pandemic safely but still feel like a special day. Only about a week out did things start to click into place.

First, the day already started off well as Urban Orchid (our wedding florist) delivered a replica of my bouquet. Mr. H gifts this to me each year, and it always earns him big husband points!

Just a few days earlier, I had learned about the new catering business, Kind Stranger Kitchen, that is specializing in curated small party dining experiences. Caroline is no stranger in the food and events world of Cleveland, and she's passionate about creating experiences for people to feel like guests in their own home. This can be curated dinner parties, drop-off dinners, or delivered baked goods. 

A drop-off dinner with reheating and plating instructions sounded perfect for the night we had planned. For $75 per person, it includes a customized 3-course meal with the option to add on courses, wine pairings, or pre-made cocktails. We worked together over a couple of days to create a menu, and she was so responsive and flexible that it was a breeze.

We decided to not do a dessert (because of the other fun activity we had planned that evening), so we settled on a Roasted Cauliflower Soup to start the meal. We both loved it.

We sat down to eat that before jumping on Zoom for a private virtual Cookie Class with Chef Adam Bostwick. We joined our family and friends for a class creating a Mint Oreo Smash cocktail, Kitchen Sink Cookies, and Italian Christmas Cookies. We had a blast, learned some new things, and felt connected during this weird holiday season. 

After the class (and a couple "test" cookies), we were able to reheat and plate the entrée course from Kind Stranger Kitchen, a Citrus Roasted White Fish with Buttered Turmeric Rice. It was so delicious, and ready in just about 15 minutes!

Now, we were a little too full that night to enjoy the Arugula Salad, but we whipped it all together the next day and it was just as fresh and tasty. I highly recommend checking out this new business for your in-home catering needs. 

This is a really difficult year, and it's hard to find ways to celebrate with the health precautions, stress, and limits we're all dealing with. But life is worth celebrating, and we can continue to make the best of it. These local companies helped us do just that. The evening felt special, we felt loved and supported, and of course it included delicious food and drink. A must in this household!

How have you found ways to celebrate those moments that need recognizing this year?