…For anyone who works in the restaurant/hotel/food business – you know that the Easter holiday is a huge money draw. Most full service restaurants expect to be at or near full capacity for a few solid hours, starting around noon and through to about 3pm. This depends on your business style and set up, obviously.

As an example, my current place of employment is hosting an “all-you-can-eat” buffet on Easter Sunday. (Note: We have a buffet EVERY Sunday; but this week’s is going to have much more variety – and thus increased price.)  We will be opening our doors at 10am – and won’t stop serving until 3pm. (Location: La Bella Vita, 39738 Winchester Road, Temecula, CA 92591)

This is going to be a hectic day indeed – as well as the day or two prior with all of the preparation needed for such an extravagant display. I just finished speaking with one of my food vendor reps, getting pricing and inventory information. I need to place my food orders in time to ensure a timely delivery.

The menu is already planned out (thankfully!). We will be offering to following:

Omelet Station: Omelets cooked to order with desired toppings.

Carving Station (at the omelet station): Beef prime rib with au jus and horseradish cream, baked honey ham, and apple cinnamon sausage.

Pasta Station: Chef-attended station with rigatoni pasta. Choice of homemade Alfredo sauce, marinara, or Vodka. Add diced grilled chicken or sliced sausage, if so desired.

Seafood Display: Snow crab legs, fresh oysters on the half shell, and homemade ceviche, with lemon wedges and cocktail sauce.

Salad Display: Homemade macaroni salad, homemade red potato salad, classic cesare salad, and our signature house salad (Vineyard). Also featured will be bacon deviled eggs, smoked salmon atop sliced cucumber with piped  spiced marscapone cheese.

Bread Display: Assortment of breads, including dinner rolls, mini muffins (strawberry rhubarb, chocolate cola bourbon streusel), mini bagels, banana bread.

Hot Buffet Line (10am-1pm): Applewood smoked bacon, breakfast sausage links, O’Brien potatoes, English muffins (Florentina: sauteed spinach; Benedict: Canadian bacon) with fried eggs, provolone cheese, and Hollandaise sauce, warm cinnamon rolls with icing, homemade fried chicken and waffles, and baked salmon pesto.

Hot Buffet Line (1pm-3pm): Pollo Parmiginia, gourmet sausage and sauteed peppers/onions, salmon pesto, garlic mashed potatoes, seasonal mixed vegetables, and green bean fries/jalapeno poppers/mac & cheese wedges.

Grand Dessert Display: Assorted mini cheesecakes, mini eclairs, cake pops, mini tiramisu, vanilla Greek yogurt fruit parfaits, fresh fruit skewers, and huge chocolate fountain with fresh fruit, marshmallows, and graham crackers, etc.

Seriously, this is going to be a LOT of food! For only $32/person – it’s a great value! Add Bottomless Champagne for an additional $6/person and you’ve got a great way to celebrate Easter Sunday with your family and friends. Kids’ price is only $16 (3 years old and younger are free!).

Reservations are HIGHLY recommended. Just call the restaurant (951.699.5999) to make yours today!

Even if you choose to dine elsewhere, just be aware of the large amount of preparation and man-hours it required to host such an exquisite event. Most restaurants will be packed and busy – so if you experience a bit of a wait – please remember the hard working cooks in the back, the dishwasher, the bussers, and the servers/bartenders. They are all working hard and tirelessly to provide you with the best food, drinks, and experience.

Until next time…#FORKTHISPLATE