Chef Bob Walks Away the Winner in Food Challenge

June 3rd marked the Annual Waukesha County Economic Development Corporation Meeting, held in Brookfield at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts. The annual event is used to showcase the Food & Beverage Manufacturing Industry and it's positive impact of growth in the greater Waukesha County area. Matty's Catering was in attendance for the event and also to showcase their own display of samples.

A gorgeous spread of crudite platters that guests got to enjoy.

Shrimp and Avocado on baguette with radishes enjoyed by guests of the meeting.

An exciting addition to this years festivities was a Culinary Challenge that took place.  2 Chefs were asked to compete- one being Matty's own Executive Chef, Chef Bob Nicholson and the other being the Executive Chef of Hom Wood Fired Grill, a restaurant out of Brookfield.  

Getting the stage set before the challenge began.

Both Chefs were unaware of their secret ingredient until the challenge began, which took place in the auditorium of the facility.  There were several mystery elements that needed to be utilized including: chicken, rhubarb and specialty mustard's.....and that's when the fun began! Both gentleman had only 45 minutes to complete their main dishes and a dessert to serve to award-winning chef and restaurateur Sandy D'Amato to be judged. 

Executive Chef Bob Nicholson of Matty's

Although both Chef's are extremely talented, Chef Bob walked away the victor with the winning dish of Southwest Chicken with a Mango Fire Salsa that was accompanied by a twice baked potato with smoked Gouda cheese. Another component was the dessert of Rhubarb Mousse.  We are so proud of his win....but weren't completely surprised because we get to see his talents everyday!  Congratulations to Chef Bob and Thank You for doing such a fantastic job representing Matty's!

10 Tips to make the Wow Work for You

The elusive Wow Factor-always talked about but often times so hard to achieve! Especially when looking for new or inventive ways to impress clients and employees alike. Follow these 10 tips for some sure fire ways to step up your game and feel the rewards for yourself and your business!


1. Breakfast Reward Program

Everyone loves to be rewarded for a job well done-and what better way to do it than with breakfast! If employees achieve a weekly or monthly goal, don't let it go unnoticed....share your excitement with them! You can get creative with a buffet of favorites like bacon and french toast or go all out with onsite omelettes!

2. Form a Company Softball or Volleyball Team

Or any type of team! Building a team environment outside of work can be just as beneficial as building one during work hours! Not to mention when people are able to socialize and get to know each other outside of office walls, it can help to let one another gain perspective and a mutual respect for what each others go through on a day to day basis.

3. Top Idea of the Week

Your employees have valid ideas and should be encouraged to share them! Start a weekly or monthly program where everyone is encouraged to submit their ideas via email or otherwise and then have Management vote on the submissions.  Winner could receive a gift card, a meal with the Boss or maybe a day off!

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4. Friday Fish Fry!

Recognize all that hard work with a true Wisconsin tradition! Matty's Catering has capabilities to take the show on the road and bring the Fish Fry to you or hold it under our gorgeous Tented Terrace at Matty's.

5. Company Golf Outing

Take a Saturday or Sunday to hit the green with your entire team and make a few friendly bets along the way! Keep it simple with 9 Holes and a casual grill out or step it up with 18 Holes and an awards banquet following all of the fun.

6. Tailgate Party

Make it extra fun and choose a weekday game! This is a yearly tradition at Matty's and the entire team closes shop and relaxes at the Brewer's Opening Game.  It's a fantastic stress reliever and makes everyone feel closer as a team and more appreciative of their jobs.

7. Client of the Month

I know most people are used to the idea of an Employee of the Month, but make it fun for your clients and customers too! Make them feel special and show them how much you appreciate their business and loyalty.  It may just incentive other customers to take notice!

8. Gotcha Program

Take the time to notice your employees doing something good and focus on the positive instead of what they may have done wrong.  Employees will be surprised and appreciative of the recognition!

9. Holiday Celebrations

We aren't just talking about the annual Christmas get together! 4th of July, St. Patrick's Day, Retirement Parties and group Birthday parties are all cause for celebration.  Show your appreciation for their work during these holidays with a catered lunch or a bigger offsite gala.

10. An Afternoon out of the Office

Big or small, people love being rewarded! Plan an outing for employees that completed a large project on time or people that haven't been late to work in the past month.  Getting out of the office for an afternoon or an early cocktail hour is a small gesture that can have a huge impact!

  

What are some of your secret weapons for showing employees that you care?  If you have some truly unique appraoches-we want to hear all about it! Email us at christina@mattyscatering.com and tell her all about it!

Ultimate Burger Toppings

Being the proud inventors of the original Smokehouse Burger, we like to think we know a thing or two about the perfect burger.  Everyday we feature a new original creation for customers to enjoy at Matty's Bar & Grille.  We figured it was time to let people in on our Top 10 picks for ultimate burger toppings....Let's get started!

1. Bacon

Obviously, this topping is number one for a reason.  It really needs to go without saying that ALL burgers need to contain bacon in some form.  Whether you go classic with 3-4 strips, get inventive with bacon smoked ketchup or sauteed some onions in bacon fat to inject in the flavor.  One point I can't stress enough though: DO NOT SKIMP ON QUALITY.  Buy good cuts of quality bacon, preferably smoke it in the cooking process too. Bonus points for cutting your own from a nice pork belly!

2. Mac & Cheese

Mac & Cheese will forever have a soft spot in our hearts because it reminds you of being a kid.  It also has a quality to it that makes it possible to eat it by the pound and not feel full!  Mac & Cheese adds a great texture to a burger while also contributing to the all important cheese factor that is paramount to a great burger.  Again-go for quality on this one people! Put some extra effort into this topping and make it from scratch and get creative with the cheese like a smoked cheddar or a good dill Havarti! 

3. Fried Egg

This one is a personal favorite and a featured topping that we like to do at Matty's....A LOT. The main reason is it's just so delicious! It adds a different savory element, especially if you like your yolk more on the runny side.  There is something magical that happens when the egg yolk and a good slathering of mayo combine on a burger. Even tastier, combine the fried egg with bacon like we have pictured above on our Great BLT Smokehouse Burger.....like a BLT on steroids!

4. More Meat Please!

This topping is not for the faint of heart but is a must for true meat lovers.  Take for example The Mr. Cool pictured above that tops our Smokehouse Burger with sliced Prime Rib.....drool.  Another great combination is the shredded pork and smoked ham that's used in The Miami, pictured below.  One way to keep these meaty monstrosities manageable is to slice the meat toppings thin or work with it in the shredded form.

5. Shrimp 

I know it may sound a little weird, but especially when fried-shrimp adds such an unexpectedly delicious addition to a good burger.  It goes without saying that quality fresh shrimp is a necessity for this combination to work.  Also finding the right sauce to top this off is key-my suggestion to compliment the seafood is a nice remoulade mayo!

6. Caramelized Onions

Not everyone is an onion lover but even those that are opposed to the semi-sweet taste of a good onion can be persuaded once the onion has sat and been beautifully caramelized for a good 30-40 minutes.  Classic with a good dousing of oil and butter is always a safe bet, a beer bath is never a bad option or live a little and finish them off in the pan with balsamic vinaigrette...unexpected sweetness that is out of this world.

7. Cheese

This is a no-brainer and is pretty essential for any burger.  Finding the right cheese with the perfect taste and texture to blend with your other toppings is what can start to separate the men from the boys though.  Classics like cheddar, Monterrey and Jack cheeses are great go to's with fantastic melting points to achieve the necessary gooeyness. Experiment with boursin or feta for a creamier texture or different varieties of gouda can always be a nice surprise.

8. Love Those Veggies!

Vegetable toppings can sometimes be the most often over looked part of any good burger.  Don't leave them out in cold with flavor profiles! Try out an olive oil infused with pesto and let those tomatoes take a bath in it. Beer make a delicious addition to any type of saute bath of mushrooms and onions.

9. Peppers

Whether your a fan of Jalapenos, Habaneros or Banana peppers-good heat can add a whole different element to a burger. A refreshing and light sauce though can help to balance out the truly overwhelming heat like a cucumber ranch or a few slices of avocado to cool things down.  For the true thrill seeker, pick up a few Ghost Peppers and pop a few of those onto your next burger.....but be prepared to down an ice cold beverage immediately following!

10. The Bun

The glue that holds it all together-the bun.  Quality bread that's got a good crust on the outside but is soft and slightly chewy when you bite into it.  A true professional always takes that bun and ever so lightly toasts it on the grill right before the construction of the burger begins.  Nothing makes me sadder than being at a cookout and seeing someone take a sad looking bun straight out of the package and put it directly onto their plate! At Matty's we prefer a Brioche bun for our little beauties but on occasion we've been known to mix it up with a good dense Pretzel bun.

What's in your Top 10 list? We are always working in the kitchen trying out new recipes and flavor combinations so we can bring you the best burger every time! If you have a killer recipe that you think would be a home run here at Matty's....we want to know! Heck-maybe you'll end up with a Smokehouse named in your honor.

Email christina@mattyscatering.com and tell her all about it!