The True Meaning of the Name Kitchens of Distinction

The True Meaning of the Name Kitchens of Distinction

I am always asked, why did I name my catering company Kitchens of Distinction?

The dictionary defines the word ‘distinction’ as “excellence that sets someone or something apart from others: a novelist of distinction”.

I feel that the kitchen is the heart and the soul of any home, any where in the world, in any culture. We share the preparation of food in the kitchen, we share the flavours of the food we lovingly prepare, we share laughter, we share secrets and stories in our kitchens, we share our family and friend time in the kitchen. We bond with one another in the kitchen, it is an intimate safe haven. When you are at a party, where does everyone eventually end up at one point or another? Yes, you guessed it, the kitchen, the one place where everyone is on neutral ground. We are all equals in the kitchen, human, vulnerable, and so authentically magnificent.

For me, the kitchen has always been warm, welcoming, comforting, safe. My fondest memories are of days gone by as a child, growing up on a large working farm, watching my mother and grandmother cook wonderful comfort meals using the freshest and finest ingredients of the meats and poultry that we raised ourselves, and produce that we planted, nurtured and harvested throughout the seasons. These are heart warming memories of my mother and grandmother, lovingly taking the time, to teach me to cook, to read recipes, to learn measurements. The kitchen was the place that I learned to never give up, if you make a mistake … it can be corrected or adjusted to create something else, to be resourceful. The kitchen was the place that I learned to try new things without fear, to be confident in my abilities. This location and the teachings that took place there, would one day prove to be where all things fundamentally began in my world. No matter what path I took the kitchen was the space that fed my soul, that calmed my world, and that continued to nurture my gifts, allowing me to succeed in other crafts.  The kitchen is today the place that allows me to share my gifts and my passion for food and everything associated with it.

So when I was deciding on a name for my company, knowing the gifts and skills that I wanted to share with others, I couldn’t help but draw from my life experiences. When I think of catering in my client’s homes, I feel that their kitchens are the “Kitchens of Distinction”, excellence that sets them apart from all others, authentic and magnificent.

Ojibwe Bannik

Today’s Featured Recipe from an Aboriginal Community member. Chii Meegwetch!!

Serves 5-10
Cooking Time 1/2 hour

Ingredients:

4 cups flour
4 Tbs. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
4 Tbs. fat (animal lard or shortening)
2 cups water

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a 9×12 (rectangle) cake pan
Stir flour, baking powder, and salt together thoroughly.
Cut in (room temperature) fat to flour mixture until pea sized lumps are formed in flour. Make a “lake” in the flour and pour water in your “lake.” Mix gently with fork until a nice and sticky dough is formed. Place in greased pan. Pat down with hands softly.
bake in oven for about an hour and a half or until cooked in middle. A nice golden brown color should be on top.
Important!! place out of pan on towel, leaned up on its side against a pot to cool. (Kookums instructions!)
Break pieces off with hands and eat with butter, lard, or margarine.

Note: My family loves this bread. My auntie Keesic makes it with raisins or dried blueberries stirred into mixture before baking. A very traditional recipe for northwoods natives who use cook out-of-doors allot. They would use a frypan on the fire and flip the bread to cook both sides. My Father who is 100% Ojibwa loves to eat bannock sandwiches with a slice of lard and sweet onion.

Submitted by Heather Wahweaye

Cold Wild Rice Salad

I love this salad, very light and refreshing.

Ingredients:

3 cup. cooked wild rice
1/4 cup. slivered almonds
1/4 cup. celery, chopped small
1/4 cup canned corn (drained)
1/4 cup of finely chopped red onion
3 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp. olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Mix all ingredients except vinegar.

Toss in vinegar.

Place in fridge for at least 15 min

Submitted by: Heather Wahweaye


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Smoked Salmon & Onion Tart

1 Pre-baked pie shell

2 medium yellow onions, sliced

1 stick unsalted butter

2 Tbsp All Purpose flour

1/2 cup heavy cream

2 eggs

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

10 oz smoked flaked wild salmon

salt & pepper to taste

Melt butter in saute pan, add onions and sweat without browning (medium heat) until soft and translucent. Transfer to medium sized bowl and stir in flour, cream and eggs, gently fold in cheese and salmon. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour in pre-baked pie shell and bake at 350 degrees until golden brown and set (45-60 minutes).

Submitted by Kimberlynn Beauvais

Book Your Romantic Valentine’s Day Dinner

Available dates are filling up fast! Book your Valentine’s Day Sensuous Seductive Cuisine Romantic Aphrodisiac Dinner soon.

Our team of a chef and personal server will cater a 6 to 10 course specifically prepared healthy meal with ingredients that are considered aphrodisiacs to you and your partner in the surroundings of your choosing. Wine pairings are optional. We will decorate the area as well, setting the stage.

Call 250-858-7777 or email Chef@kitchensofdistinction.ca

Kitchens of Distinction Private Catering

‘A Diverse Cultural Culinary Experience’

An Aboriginal Catering Service

“Cooking is like love, it should be entered into with passionate abandon or not at all.” Harriet Van Horne, Vogue 10/1956

At Kitchens of Distinction Private Catering in Victoria, BC, we specialize in Aboriginal cuisine with a contemporary flair, providing our clients with A Diverse Cultural Culinary Experience. We use only the finest, freshest, local organic ingredients whenever possible, combined with love, to create a menu that reflects your specific style and highest of standards. We consult extensively with you to design your catered menu to reflect exactly what you want to present to your very important family and guests. We cater events of all sizes, providing outstanding flavorful dishes and superior customer service. Depending on the amount of guests, your theme, your budget, your location and your design needs, we will guide you regarding the option of service staff, table service or buffet service, rentals, entertainment, full catering prices, etc.

Our exceptionally talented staff believe that you and your guests deserve only the best and therefore, we will treat you as such. We have many decades of experience, not only with food preparation and design but also with catered events coordination and management. Our personable, dedicated catering service team is professionally managed, and fun to be with, while ensuring every detail is taken care of. We guarantee our catering service is professional and highly superior. We are one of the best caterers in Victoria, BC.

Our passion for cooking food and different cultural cuisine is expressed in the many diverse flavors that we use while creating a meal. We are constantly thinking of new ways to prepare and present ingredients, always experimenting with flavor combinations. We never limit ourselves to one cuisine or type of dish to offer our valued clients. Unlimited catered possibilities can be expressed through the world of food! Please view our sample menus for an idea of our flavors.

Listed are some of our catering services, however, please feel free to ask us if you do not find what you are looking for. We pride ourselves in being flexible and adaptable. Private Dinner Parties, Couples Romantic Aphrodisiac Dinners, Secret Dinners, Hors d’oeuvre Receptions, Wine & Cheese Receptions, Art Gallery Exhibitions, Dine With me Competitions, Charity & Fundraising Events, Dinner Clubs, Diverse Cultural Celebrations, Full Wedding Catering, Birthday Festivities, Children’s Events, Anniversary Celebrations, Corporate Functions, Personal Chef Services, Catered Lunches, Staff & Client Appreciation Banquets, Mediation/Conflict Resolution Dinners, Themed Festivities, New Year’s Eve Galas, Barbeques & Out Door Events, CD & Movie Release Parties, Publication Launches, Weekly Menu Planning, Cooking Classes, Cooking Demonstrations, Trade Shows, Event Coordination & Management, Freezer Orders and much more.

The cuisine that Kitchens of Distinction Private Catering designs and creates is prepared with love, passion and positive healing energy in order to nourish our bodies and our spirits so that we can live our lives in a good way. It does not matter what nationality we originate from, cooking connects us to our Culture, one another, our Spirit and our Soul.

Traditional Feasting is an important part of Aboriginal cultures. Feasts are held for every occasion; to celebrate a birth or celebrate a life lived and everything in between. A feast creates positive energy within the environment of a gathering in order to connect the spiritual world with the physical world, allowing us to connect at a deeper level with one another.

We look forward to the opportunity to share our passion and enthusiasm for the catered culinary world with you! Let’s explore this diverse world together! Contact us at 250-858-7777

Welcome to Kitchens of Distinction Private Catering!

I am Shirley Lang, a Culinary Explorer and the owner/head chef of Kitchens of Distinction Private Catering. I have been in the catering business since 1999. I won my first 2 cooking awards this summer when a friend entered me into a Fundraising event for Tour de Rock. I won First place for my booth presentation and Third place for the People’s Choice Awards for my Juniper BBQ Ribs. I was so excited and so grateful to have the opportunity to give to our community!

Kitchens of Distinction Private Catering specialize in Aboriginal cuisine with a contemporary flair, providing our clients with A Diverse Cultural Culinary Experience.

My passion for food and different cultural cuisine is expressed in the many diverse flavours that I use while creating a meal. I am constantly thinking of new ways to prepare and present ingredients, always experimenting with flavour combinations. I never limit myself to one cuisine or type of dish to offer my clients. Unlimited possibilities can be expressed through the world of food! Please view my sample menus for an idea of what we offer. I look forward to the opportunity to share my passion and enthusiasm for the culinary world with you! Let’s explore the culinary world together!

What Extraordinary Services Do We Offer?

Kitchens of Distinction Private Catering uses only the finest, freshest, local organic ingredients whenever possible, combined with love, to create a menu that reflects your specific style and highest of standards. We consult extensively with you to design your menu to reflect exactly what you want to present. We cater events of all sizes, providing outstanding flavorful dishes and exceptional customer service. Depending on the amount of guests, your theme, your budget, your location and your design needs, we will guide you regarding the option of service staff, table service or buffet service, rentals, entertainment, etc. Our exceptionally talented staff believe that you and your guests deserve only the best and therefore, we will treat you as such. We have many decades of experience, not only with food preparation and design but also with event coordination and management.

Listed are some of our services, however, please feel free to ask us if you do not find what you are looking for. We pride ourselves in being flexible and adaptable.

Private Dinner Parties: We will consult with you to determine the amount of courses and the type of meal you desire, along with the appropriate wine pairing.

Couples Romantic Aphrodisiac Dinners: Our team of a chef and personal server will cater a 6 to 10 course specifically prepared healthy meal with ingredients that are considered aphrodisiacs to you and your partner in the surroundings of your choosing. Wine pairings are optional. We will decorate the area as well, setting the stage.

Secret Dinners: Our catering team creates theme dinners in matching venues, where the meal is designed with seasonal ingredients. Size of the venue will determine the amount of guests invited. Guests will not know the location of the event until 4 hours prior to service, nor will they know what is on the menu until they arrive. Invitations will have all other particulars; cost, theme, dress, etc. Sign up to be on our Exclusive Invitation list by emailing kitchens-of-distinction@shaw.ca or calling 250-858-7777.

Hors d’oeuvre Receptions: Small bite receptions are a perfect place to highlight our creativity for you.

Wine & Cheese Receptions: Matching the Hors d’oeuvre, the cheese and the wine with our exceptionally talented staff is our specialty.

Dine With me Competitions: We will choose 4 singles or 4 couples (at one specific time) who will host and create meals for the others, one event a night for 4 nights, while voting on one another’s performance for a grand prize. If you are interested in participating email kitchens-of-distinction@shaw.ca or call 250-858-7777.

Charity & Fundraising Events: Please ask us how we can contribute to your next event. We are committed to donate our time and services for 4 Charities a year.

Diverse Cultural Celebrations: Our passion for diverse cultural cuisines allows us the flexibility and knowledge to provide you with the specific meal you are wanting prepared.

Weddings: Our experience and dedication to ensure every detail is looked after will leave you relaxed and able to enjoy every moment without worry.

Anniversary Celebrations: Your loved one and your guests will know how important they are to you as we will treat them as such.

Birthday Festivities: No matter what age we will ensure a very memorable entertaining event.

New Year’s Eve Galas: We will take care of all the details from beginning to end so that you and your guests can have a truly festive, memorable, and safe time.

Themed Festivities: Our staff are very experienced in creating all that is necessary to implement a specific theme. Positive long-lasting memories and great fun is guaranteed for all in attendance.

Corporate Functions: Our team are very professional, conducting themselves appropriately in all settings, ensuring all details are taken care of leaving you the time to socialize with your guests.

BBQ & Out Door Events: We have catered BBQ’s up to over 1000 guests, with great success and fun had by all.

Children’s Events: Our team have the connections and know how to make your child’s party the best ever!

Dinner Clubs: What fun it is to share our love of food from other cultures with old friends and new friends! We can assist in setting up a Dinner Club or you can invite yourself to attend ours.

Trade Shows: When you are in business for yourself, it is a gift to be able to spend time with other self employed people and trade shows are perfect to meet new people and share our commonalities, as well as market our wonderful services to the public.

Cooking Demonstrations: Sharing our passion for cooking and food and sharing skills and lessons learned throughout the years is always a great time!

Chef’s Competitions: It’s vital for self growth and development for our staff to compete and challenge one another to become better and better at our craft, sharing our passions and talents with others.

Event Coordination & Management: We have decades of experience within our team to coordinate any size of event and manage it completely so that you don’t have to worry about a thing.

Personal Chef Service: When the need arises whether it is on a permanent basis or occasional basis, we have extensive experience being Personal Chefs, which includes: menu planning, shopping, preparing and serving meals, freezer orders, hiring and managing the cleaning and service staff.

Mediation/Conflict Resolution: Shirley is a fully trained Family Mediator and believes that while sharing a healthy delicious meal together and discussing important issues, openly and honestly, most conflicts can be resolved.

We cater any event that you can possibly think of, including but not limited to:Luncheons, Staff & Client Appreciation Events, Art Gallery Exhibitions, CD & Movie Release Parties, Publication Launches, Valentine’s Day Specials, Christmas Dinners, Thanksgiving Feasts, Dinner for One, etc. Please just ask and we can consult on menu, location, design or themed decoration needs, budget, staffing requirements, rentals, etc.