22 Clever Ideas to Make Life Easier

With the holidays approaching fast, life can get pretty hectic trying to juggle your days with work, shopping, family and friends.  Here are 22 clever ideas to make life easier.  Many of these we use around the Bill Hansen Catering office to help keep us organized.  

Hull strawberries easily using a straw.

Remove Crayon and other gunk from your TV and computer with WD-40

Stop cut apples from browning by securing the pieces with a rubber band

Overhaul your linen cupboard, store bed linen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match.

Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.

Add this item to your beach bag.  Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily, who knew?!

Attach a Velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys.

Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor.

Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum hose.

Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid.

For those who can’t stand the scrunching and bunching: how to perfectly fold a fitted sheet.

Forever losing your bathroom essentials?  Use magnetic strips to store bobby pins, tweezers and clippers, behind a vanity door.

Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothes.  And you can find them in just about every hotel.

A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy.  Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip resistant.

Bread tags make the perfect cord labels.

Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones, so much more fun and easier for kids to eat.

Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag.  Much healthier and cheaper than the packet stuff.

Install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles.

Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila, you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream.

Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief. 

Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering.

Use egg cartons to separate and store your Christmas decorations. 

Be sure to share these with your friends, they'll be glad you did!

Say Cheese!!

A picture is worth a thousand words, but doesn't need to cost thousands of dollars.  Sherry Cowan has been a long time friend to Bill Hansen.  She's been taking photos at Bill's events for nearly 20 years now.  She's been all over Miami - Vizcaya, Villa Woodbine, The Palms, The Spanish Monastery, The Deering Estate, Fairchild Tropical Gardens…. and she's especially well known around the Key Biscayne community.  

Sherry is a "people person", which makes her very easy to work with and always makes her clients comfortable.  She's just FUN!  She loves to take photos, whether its a wedding, a corporate event, maternity, or a family portrait, Sherry delivers.  Best of all, it won't cost you an arm and a leg.  She'll work with what you have to work with.

We use a lot of her photos in around the Bill Hansen Catering office.  It's always a pleasure knowing not a moment will be missed when Sherry's behind the camera.

Check out some of Sherry's work - www.SherryCowan.com  | Sherry Cowan Photography on Facebook

There Is No "I" in "Team"

As Bill Hansen always says, Bill Hansen Catering is a team.  We have a top notch kitchen staff, professional and courteous servers, but not often do we get to mention some of the vendors we work so close and hand-to-hand with.  It's these people that fully help us enhance your party experience.  From our linen suppliers, to our food and beverage suppliers, even the night's entertainment…we all work together to bring you and your guests a first class experience.  In the next week, we'd like to share with you just some of people that really have helped build Bill Hansen Catering into what you see today.

Winston's Holiday Party Ideas

Sir Winston here, I’ve been on a little bit of a hiatus since Thanksgiving...I had to fly out of town, not only to spend some time with my pea-family, but I always get timid around Thanksgiving being fowl and all.  You can’t be too careful around all that turkey eating if you know what I mean.  Being the party peacock that I am, I have a few fun party ideas to entertain your guests. 

This particular one was a stocking stuffer game I saw at one of Bill and Terry’s parties.  It had everyone guessing.  Terry had stuffed a Christmas stocking then closed off the top so you couldn’t see in. We all then had to feel the stocking and guess what the items were inside.  I felt I was at a disadvantage since my talons were less tactile but I gave it my best shot.  You’d never believe what she was hiding inside….

·         An angel ornament

·         Nail clippers

·         Nail brush

·         A rubber bouncy ball

·         Some silly putty

·         A toothbrush

·         A pastry brush

·         A spatula

·         A toy car

·         A candy cane

·         A roll of Mentos

·         A snow globe

·         A pen

·         A golf ball

·         A slinky

·         A dradle

How she was able to fit all that…I have no idea.  Though I came nowhere close to guessing correctly, once again due to my clumsy peacock claws, it fun watching everyone try.  What creative imaginations some people have…it was quite intriguing!!  I didn’t care to stick around to see what the winning prize was…I was too busy over at the Egg Nog bowl chatting it up with the new peahen in town.  We’ll see how that goes….

Pink Petals Ball

Sir Winston here... As you know, my bird keeper Bill teaches Catering Management at FIU, and each semester he teaches he and his class produce a fundraiser so that his students can experience producing an actual catering event.   

Here are the details for the Pink Petals Ball, this year’s event…and I, Sir Winston would appreciate your support of my bird keeper Bill and his students.

On Thursday, December 1, 2011, Bill Hansen’s Catering Management Class is producing a gala fundraising Cocktail Reception for “Pink Petals”, a subsidiary of The Helping Hands Foundation.  The reception will be held at the Kovens Conference Center at the Biscayne Bay Campus in North Miami from 6 to 9 pm on December 1, 2011.  Pink Petals was founded by Dr. Jaime Flores to provide breast reconstruction for underinsured and indigent women in Miami-Dade County.  This event, produced exclusively by FIU students, not only will provide valuable industry experience for Bill Hansen’s students, but will raise support and awareness for this very worthy cause.

We invite you to advertise your business and demonstrate your support of The Healing Hands Foundation’s Pink Petals and FIU’s Hospitality and Tourism Management students in a variety of ways, including:

1. Financial Sponsorship of the Event—Tickets are $20 Each

2. Providing a Food Station to showcase your company’s cuisine

3. Donating prepared food to be served at the event

4. Donating food or beverage items to be prepared by the students

5. Donating the use of equipment, linens, supplies or other items for the event

6. Donating a Live or Silent Auction item

7. Making a donation directly to The Healing Hands Foundation

The Healing Hands Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible in accordance with IRS rules and regulations. Pink Petals is dependent on your support to achieve its goal of providing medical support to breast cancer survivors. If you choose to make a donation through The Healing Hands Foundation website www.thhfoundation.org,  please ensure that you indicate the purpose as FIU-Pink Petals.

You may also write a check payable to Healing Hands Foundation and mail it to:

Bill Hansen

2167 South Bayshore Drive, 

Miami, Florida 33133.

We will be delighted to provide you with a VIP Table if your donation is valued at $1,000 or more.  Sponsorships are available at many levels.  Please call me directly at 305.338.1897 if you choose to be a major sponsor.

For silent auction and other donations other than money call students Sandra Schaeffer at 305.798.9937 or Meris Thomas at 954.495.1961 for more information.

Bill Hansen

Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management

305.338.1897

Hansen@leadingcaterers.com

First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage...Then Comes the Agonizing Process of Changing Your Name…

Greetings from Sir Winston of Villa Woodbine and Bill Hansen Catering. I recently learned that the average newlywed conducts 30 hours of research to locate and complete the forms for a legal name change.  Two attorney’s Josh Gelb and Jake Wolff saw how complicated it was for their new wives to change their surnames….and they decided to do something about it. There was not one complete source that provides support and does the nitty-gritty work that most people find tedious and unpleasant.

Their answer is http://hitchswitch.com/ The cost is only $39.99 with a portion of the proceeds going to breast and ovarian cancer research. So far it’s helped over 1,000 couples and anticipates facilitating 15,000 name changes by next summer.

They prepare the packed of all the forms and all their clients do is sign the forms and mail them in….so easy even a cave girl can do it.

~ Sir Winston

Happy Birthday Terry!!

Sir Winston here…Yesterday was Bill’s wife Terry’s birthday and as a special treat for her on her special day, I flew over to Joe’s to pick up some freshly caught stone crabs for her birthday.  She deserves the best...having helped Bill launch the business in the 1980’s she’s now enjoying life with Bill in Weston, Fl.

Happy Birthday Terry from all of the Grove Peacocks!  We Miss You!!

Sir Winston Discovers Bill's Secret Plan to Launch A New Web Site

Sir Winston here….and guess that I just discovered! My caretaker, Bill Hansen of Bill Hansen Catering has just purchased the license to launch a local web site called PartySpace.com

PartySpace.com was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where it is now the largest and most widely-used wedding and events site. 20,000 brides, corporate planners and individuals visit the Philadelphia site each month!!!!

Bill’s site for all of South Florida from the Keys to North Palm Beach county will soon be THE GO-TO Site for brides, corporate planners and those who struggle to find that perfect place for their party, rehearsal dinner, celebrations, banquets, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. There is no site in South Florida that will have the complete, comprehensive listing of venues that he will have….each venue will have included in their listing:

A photo of the venue

An interactive calendar showing booked and available dates.

An online inquiry (e-mail) feature

Venue history, information and testimonials.

The site will be launched no later than December 1, 2011…..Interested venues who wish to be listed for free and who want to be first on the site should e-mail Bill at Hansen@leadingcaterers.com

That’s all for today.  Sir Winston here, signing off and heading for cover.  All this rain hampers my love life.

Sir Winston of Villa Woodbine and Bill Hansen Catering

Winston Shares Bill's New Vodka Drink Recipes

Sir Winston here of Villa Woodbine.  I just snuck out of Bill’s office with his new secret vodka drink recipes. Don’t tell anyone (it's OK, you can tell), but Bill is offering special prices on these welcome drinks for his corporate and bridal clients….

 

Vodka Apple Martini Welcome Drink

• 1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger best-quality vodka
• 1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger apple schnapps
• 1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger lemonade
• 1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger chilled lemon-lime soda
• 1 lime wedge

Bills’ Welcome Punch

• 1 1/2 cups orange juice
• 1 (6 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate
• 1 (6 ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate
• 2/3 cup vodka, or to taste
• 1 1/2 (6 ounce) cans water, or more as needed

Villa Woodbine Punch

• 1 fluid ounce lemon juice
• 2 fluid ounces vodka
• 4 fluid ounces cranberry juice
• 3 1/2 fluid ounces ginger ale

Sir Winston’s Special

• 1 (750 milliliter) bottle vodka
• 1 (46 fluid ounce) can grapefruit juice
• 1 (46 fluid ounce) can pineapple juice
• 1 (2 liter) bottle lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage

Key Lime Delight

• 1/2 lime, cut into wedges
• 4 fluid ounces vodka
• 1 1/2 fluid ounces frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 twists lime zest, garnish

~ ENJOY!! ~

Winston Discovers New Flavored Vodkas

Sir Winston here from Villa Woodbine and Bill Hansen Catering.  Absolute introduced the first flavored vodka in 1986, and 25 years later things have gone too far:  I just read in Time magazine about these vodkas.  Can you believe this?....

• Grilled Cheese Vodka
• Whipped Cream Vodka
• Peanut Butter Vodka
• Cake Vodka
• Smoked Salmon Vodka
• Acai Berry Vodka

Go figure…who would drink this stuff?
 

But wait, there’s hope!  My caretaker Bill just told me that he has some new special vodka welcome drinks that he will be offering to Villa Woodbine guests soon….and they are drink-drinks not food-drinks.  If you know Bill, they are fabulous.  Read more in my next blog!

A Portrait of Sir Winston

Good friend and local artist Lisa Remeny has done outdone herself once again. Not only has she donated some of her art to The Woman's Club of Coconut Grove, she was recently commissioned by the most picky and peculiar of clients -- Sir Winston, The Peacock of Villa Woodbine. Because of the Play-Bird lifestyle Sir Winston lives, he's rarely ever seen out of his party attire. Lisa did a wonderful job capturing just that.  

"Cheers Lisa!" - Sir Winston

Some Secrets For Cutting The Costs Of Your Wedding Reception

Sir Winston here!!!!! ---tip number one…don’t do it! Just kidding! Even I, Sir Winston is married to Queen Beatrice, the peahen from Kennedy Park, across the street. For our wedding, of course, Bill Hansen Catering did an amazing job.

So much about me…… how about you?  You are the bride who is looking to cut costs….look for unusual, exotic and exciting venues….beach side….many beaches are free! A park during off hours…. church halls work as do club like American Legion. Most of these venues are either free or very inexpensive.

For example, here in Miami, my owner Bill caterers at all types of venues from majestic, like Vizcaya, to the Woman’s Club in Coconut Grove that has amazingly inexpensive rentals fees…

Whatever your budget, there is a venue for you…and if you need some more tips, please e-mail Bill at Hansen@leadingcaterers.com He loves to help others!

Regards,
Sir Winston The Peacock of Villa Woodbine

American Justice

Sir Winston here again…It’s Sunday, September 11, 2011 and after last night’s beautiful wedding at the Villa, and after the 100+ guests had left, I snuck into Bill’s Office to see if there was anything to eat….should have known….he never keeps food in the office…but I did find this poem on Bill’s desk that he wrote ten years ago after 9/11.  I’m sure he would not mind if I share it with you.

American Justice

Written September 2001

The Eleventh of September

We’ll always remember

When our tears and our fears

Swelled in our eyes and our ears.

Planes used as missiles

Hit structures of power

Toppling them down

Death tolls rose by the hour.

The Eagle’s still crying

But our flags are still flying

Our country stands firm

Our resolve is confirmed

United we’re standing

One nation we’re banding

You demons wipe out

With America’s clout

You can run, but cannot hide

Because democracy is on our side

What you’ve done is unthinkable

To a nation—unsinkable

Our country is ready

We’re rock solid steady

You terrorists take note

And there’s no need to vote

Our God and our Country

Are what matters most

Our polls are all closed 

And you terrorists are “toast”

 A WW2 session

Should be a great lesson

June 6, forty-four

America at war

We charged up those beaches

In the very far reaches

And crushed out aggression

We remind you that lesson

But WE will not rest

‘Til YOU’RE laid to rest

So hail to our Chief

In these dark days of grief

May God Bless America

Ten years later we still cannot rest, and we’ll always be on alert…but at least America did something.  We took down the Osama and some of his co-terrorists….but there’s still lots of work to do.

Regards,
Sir Winston of Villa Woodbine

P. S.  Remember to tell at least one person, peahen or peacock today how much they mean to you…..

Winston of Villa Woodbine misses Kim K’s wedding in Santa Barbara and ends up in Yellowstone Park instead!

 Sir Winston here….what a week! A week ago Friday I started my flight out to the left coast for Kim K’s wedding….but then somewhere around Dallas I heard that my owner Bill was in Yellowstone, hiking with his son, Jim. You know what….family is family….and Kim has plenty of family…so rather than go out to Hollywood and star gaze, I headed northwest to Wyoming to gaze at the real stars with Bill and his son. The nighttime sky in Yellowstone is amazing for viewing the heavens….although the food there was not close to as good as home cooking by Bill at Villa Woodbine, or Wolfgang Puck’s, who catered Kim’s bash.

One of the highlights of my trip to Yellowstone, aside from spending quality time with my family, was to meet some of my very distant cousins, the bald eagles who ruled the park from the air. They were all over the place, but they can’t shake a tail feather like I can.

The flight back home, to Villa Woodbine, was much easier than flying out, with the jet stream at my back all the way. When I got home yesterday, I was enthralled by how good Villa Woodbine looks…….I am proud to live here……and perhaps if Kim’s wedding to Kris Humphries doesn’t work out, next time around she can have it with Bill and me in Coconut Grove. (I’ll be the Best Bird!)

Sir Winston of Villa Woodbine

Celebrate National Filet Mignon Day (today) with Bill Hansen Catering's recipe for the best beef you’ve ever eaten!!!!!

Happy National Filet Mignon Day from Villa Woodbine in Coconut Grove, which of course has been known for its fabulous food and ambience since 1983. Today, we're going to share with you, Bill’s recipe for making the best Beef Tenderloin (the cut of meat that the filet comes from) with you, our loyal readers....

This recipe is so simple, even Winston the peacock can do it! And if you’re someone that thinks the word “vegan” comes from an ancient Navajo Indian word meaning “poor hunter”, then this recipe is for you.

If you want to have a fabulous main course for eight to ten guests do this.

1. Purchase a whole beef tenderloin which will weigh between five and seven pounds. It will cost somewhere around $60 or so.  
2. Bring it home, trim off the fat and silver skin. 
3. Marinate it in your favorite meat marinade for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight. We use crushed garlic, salt, pepper and olive oil as ours. 
4. Brown the whole piece of meat on your grill outside or in a frying pan. This will take about 7 minutes or so. You do not need to cook it all the way through….that comes later. Let the meat rest. If for more than a couple hours, refrigerate. 
5. 30 to 45 minutes before serving time place the whole tenderloin in a preheated oven (375 degrees) and roast for about 25 to 30 minutes. We like it medium rare with an internal temp of 130 degrees or so. I know some folks like it well done, but it’s simply not as good and is very dry! In my opinion, well done is a great way to ruin and excellent piece of meat. 
6. Let the meat rest for 5 to 10 minutes and then slice. The small end will be more well done, the center is the best part and the large end has the most flavor, but it has a firmer texture. 

VOILA! A wonderful way to celebrate National Filet Mignon Day.  Enjoy.

Jail Break!!

I believe that this peacock who escaped from the Central Park Zoo is my cousin, Cedric of Central Park. We grew up together as pea chicks down here in Coconut Grove, at Villa Woodbine. One morning, after a big wedding, Cedric was nowhere to be found. I asked my caretaker, Bill Hansen what happened to Cedric and he said he believed that Cedric was napping in the back of the limo. Next thing he knew he was in the honeymoon suite at the Plaza Hotel in New York!! Bill thinks that the bridal couple thought that having a peacock on their honeymoon was good luck!!!

Soon there after Cedric moved into the Central Park Zoo by the request of New York's finest...The ASPCA. As soon as he could, Cedric escaped. You'd think the zoo would have caught wind of his plan...his favorite movie was The Great Escape starring Steve McQueen.

As much as Cedric loved the Big Apple, his escape means that he wants to return to the sunny South and Villa Woodbine. He never really was much of a Yankees' fan. Safe travels, Cedric! I really miss you! You are my Prodigal Peacock!!


Hope to see you soon,
Your Long Lost Cousin of Villa Woodbine

The New Gardener at Villa Woodbine is Interrupting My Rest

Lately I’ve been losing sleep because Bill’s new staffer who maintains our gardens is blowing the leaves from driveway and front garden party area while I’m trying to sleep. The noise is awful, but I gotta admit that the Villa has never looked better. Leonilla , the gardener, does a great job keeping our Coconut Grove mansion neat, clean, well-groomed and immaculate.

For some reason, last week, the blowing and the noise stopped and I was able to resume my beauty naps without all the racket. It turns out that the blower was broken!!! Wow…great news for me, but bad news for Bill! For five days there was no blowing and lots of beauty naps for me. In the meantime, Leonilla is raking and bagging by hand. Suddenly, last Wednesday, the noise begins again and I’m back to staying up way past my nap times.

Being the nosy bird that I am, I had to find out what happened. Here’s what Bill told me……Firstly, Home Depot would not cover the repair on the blower, even though it was less than a year old.  Leonilla, tried to get it fixed, but no luck there.

But superstar that she is, home at night, while on her own time, she researched the blower online and figured out how to fix it on her own. She used her own initiative to fix it, at no charge to Bill. I must admit that although I miss my naps, I’m really glad to living at a place where everyone really cares about what they do…and they go the extra mile to keep our mansion and catering business at the head of the pack.

I tip my feathers to Leonilla….Who Goes the Extra Mile!!!! And I know that Bill has rewarded her too for her great work ethic.

Well, I think she’s done blowing now, so I’ll head to the bushes for my nap…..Sweet Dreams!

Sir Winston of Villa Woodbine

National Milk Chocolate Day

Well, I overdid it again…..Thursday (July 28th) was National Milk Chocolate Day and Bill and the Catering Gang at Villa Woodbine, where I reside, celebrated….and they invited me, and boy, did I overindulge in all the chocolate. There was chocolate all over the place. Bill Hansen, has three main rules about chocolate:

#1 - A balanced diet consists of equal amounts of dark and white chocolate.

#2 - The two basic food groups are fruit and chocolate. And if you insist on eating fruit, it must be dipped in melted chocolate.

#3 - Bill Hansen offers a 12 Step Program for Chocoholics...visitors to Villa Woodbine must never be more than 12 steps away from chocolate!!

So, with all those rules, I Sir Winston of Villa Woodbine confess that I am a Chocoholic! And although I’ve gained a few pounds, there is no way that I am going to give up chocolate.

By the way, here’s a quick quiz question….How many calories are there in a large piece of chocolate?

Answer....WHO CARES!!!!

Well, I’m off to the gym with my two female peahens to try to work off a pound or two before we fly back home to Villa Woodbine and caterer Bill to put those pounds right back on again.

Chocoholically Yours,

Sir Winston of Villa Woodbine

Winston Feels Down On His Luck

Greetings from Sir Winston of Villa Woodbine….Well, it’s that time of year…mating season is over and I am depressed.  All my beautiful tail feathers have fallen off and Bill is using them to decorate Villa Woodbine and is even using them a quill pens……Boy am I feeling down…And to make matters worse, lately, two other peacocks are beginning to move into my territory.  I told Bill that I really wasn’t happy and was considering a move.  Bill told me not to worry…my feathers will grow back and that as a tribute to me, he has engaged world-famous Coconut Grove artist, Lisa Remeny to create a lasting image of me to be used throughout the ages.  She is busy at work now, and I can’t wait to see the outcome.  This is great news, since even after I fly into peacock heaven, my image will live on in Coconut Grove!!!

Bill also has arranged for me to take my two peahen friends whom we have yet to name to the Peacock Garden Café in the Grove for lunch.  This new restaurant is named after Charles Peacock, a famous Grove pioneer and who once owned the property on which Villa Woodbine now sits.  (Court records show the Villa Woodbine property as once being owned by the Charles Peacock Estate).  Anyway, I am going to the Peacock Garden Café today on a date with my two peahen friends….and I hear the Corvina there is amazing…Bill’s friend Lalo is the owner and he does an amazing job with the food….but never quite as good as Bill’s food.

More later……I’m starved!!!!!

Sir Winston of Villa Woodbine

Winston Visits Lake Tahoe

Greetings from South Lake Tahoe….I’m perched right here on the state line between California and Nevada at Harvey’s Hotel on the south shore of one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, Lake Tahoe. I winged up here to catch the American Century Golf Championship. What a week? Chilly mornings, sunny all day, with the temps rising into the low to mid-seventies. And humidity? What humidity? This place is heaven!!!

Watching the likes of Michael Jordan, Tony Romo, Emmitt Smith, Aaron Rodgers, Ray Romano, Former VEEP Dan Quale and scores of other celebs golfing has been how I’ve filled my days for the past week. At night, the dining experience at Friday’s Station at the top of Harrah’s Hotel was a throwback to the good old days of my youth when I’d fly up here with my parents, Sir Winston III who used to live at Monty’s in the Grove, and my mom, Winnie. They still have the same waiters when I was here 25 years ago…and the food…amazing…..traditional, but consistent and served impeccably, just as Bill likes to do it at Bill Hansen Catering. I’ve eaten there twice already this week, and tonight will be my last visit before soaring back to the Grove on the jet stream. Too bad I don’t drink….(it’s bad for my feathers and I have to fly tomorrow) , but the wine list there is amazing. Aside from the fabulous 360 degree view, they specialize in a wide variety of Certified Angus and USDA Choice beef and ocean-fresh seafood specials. Tonight I’m ordering the seafood platter with diver scallops, prawns, oysters, mussels and king crab legs….yummy.

That’s all for now…almost dinner time.

All my best…Sir Winston of Villa Woodbine

Winston is Relieved -- Bill Returns!!

Greetings from Sir Winston of Villa Woodbine…Whew, I can now sleep at night. I had no idea where Bill Hansen was….he didn’t leave me a note or send a message by carrier pigeon that he was ok.  I spent three sleepless nights, tossing, turning, rolling over on my tail feathers and even rumpling them up (and that’s hard to do).   Bill left without a word, or even a wayward glance in my direction that he’d be leaving...boy was I worried.

But guess what good readers of my blog...?  Bill is back!!! Not one for keeping things status quo, Bill visited four catering firms in three days to see how other catering firms in other cities operate.  Philly on Monday, Tampa on Tuesday and a double-headers visit to the two top firms in Orlando on Wednesday.  Bill knows that you’re never too old and it’s never too late to learn new ways of doing things. I’m sure that his clients will appreciate some new twists that he plans on unveiling this upcoming catering season.

Bill, in the future though, I beg you to let me know when you’re leaving me…I do not like to be taken for granted.

Your Picky Peacock,
Sir Winston of Villa Woodbine

Where Has Bill Gone This Time???

Sir Winston of Villa Woodbine here with the latest on caterer Bill Hansen…..I’m really worried…I have not seen my owner, Bill Hansen for three days….He usually scribbles me a note in the gravel next to the driveway to let me know he’ll be traveling. But I have not seen him now for three days…..This is really unlike Bill to disappear like that. I even flew up and over his home in Weston and his car was not there. If anyone has seen Bill, please send a carrier pigeon down here to Villa Woodbine and give me an update…..

Missing you Bill,
Winston

Winston's Ego: Bigger Than His Tailfeathers

Sir Winston of Villa Woodbine was featured in last Sunday’s Miami Herald as the Peacock with plenty of pals who crashes parties at Villa Woodbine in Coconut Grove…

Here is the article:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/06/16/2271505/this-party-crasher-has-plenty.html

There’s only one error in the article…Krystal Caron is not “Hansen’s landlord’s client”, she is Bill’s client.

Follow us on Twitter (@BillHansenCater) and Facebook (Bill Hansen Catering) to find out the latest happenings with Sir Winston of Villa Woodbine…

What's Bill Been Up To Lately??

Greetings from Winston, atop the oak tree at Villa Woodbine in Coconut Grove. Lately I’ve been very concerned about Bill and his long hours. My gosh, the guy is nearly 66 years old and he’s working harder than men half his age. He says business is great, and I believe him from all the traffic in and out of here. But that doesn’t account for his late nights and very early mornings when I peer in the office window and see him working at his laptop. What is going on? This guy needs to slow down. Why is he working so hard? I need to find out!

Well, as luck would have it, I snuck into Bill’s office when he wasn’t there. He must have gone out to one of his networking meetings and forgot to lock the door. Strewn all over his desk were notes dealing with managing a catering business. Why would Bill need notes to do that? He knows how to do that very well….for over 31 years he’s been at the helm of Bill Hansen Catering. Well, lo and behold, I peered at the computer screen and realized that he’s starting another book on catering, called the Perfect Fit to Go.

His first book is used in universities all over the country and is in its second edition. But why another book? Seems that Bill’s Perfect Fit program at the Catersource conference in Las Vegas this past March was such a hit, that he, and his co-speaker Chef Bill Pannoff have been asked to produce a series of books for caterers around the country who wish to build their businesses to the same level as Bill’s in Miami..

Good for you Bill. In the meantime, I think I’ll take a nap…writing this article has worn me out.

Best,

Winston

Villa Woodbine Featured in Weddings Illustrated

Not too long ago, our very own Villa Woodbine, located across from Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove, was in a featured article in Weddings Illustrated magazine.  Titled Enchanted Evening, it describes the details of the night of Kristal and Ben's wedding ceremony, reception and dinner.  After the couple exchanged vows by the Villa's fountain, guests enjoyed cocktails and hors o'deuvres by sounds of violin while the five course dinner was being prepared in the kitchen.  The Villa's courtyard was lined with candles of Kristal's favor scent.  "I think my favorite moment was walking towards my husband, smelling the amazing flow of yumminess," says Kristal.  A truly enchanting evening it was.  Thank you Kristal and Ben!

 

Kristal, as you may already know, was the lucky bride that gave Winston The Peacock his name, as she loved jewelry by Harry Winston, and came to love our resident peacock just as much! 

We'd also like to thank Ambiance Studio for sharing their link with us.  http://ambiancestudioinc.com/blog/2010/10/26/published-weddings-illustrated-magazine/

The Desperate Peacocks of Coconut Grove

Winston the Villa Woodbine Peacock here!  Please help me.   I need love and affection and there are no peahens in sight, and I have no clue why!!  It could be all the parties and weddings at Villa Woodbine that scare them away.   It’s not me…I shower every day and keep my tail feathers shaking like the leaves on Bill’s oak trees in the breeze. 

I have decided to take matters into my own wings and launch my new show, The Desperate Peacocks of Coconut Grove. Who says desperation is a female thing. It’s time that we males get our own show and get the attention that we deserve. With Father’s Day just around the corner, I want to be sure that I have a chance to become a Pea Dad before it’s too late. And for that, I need an attractive pea hen. She and I will make the feathers fly and make Pea Chicks that will be the envy of South Florida. 

My new show will air on NBC... You don’t think I’d go on ABC or CBS when NBC already uses my image in their logo. 

The first episode of The Desperate Peacocks of Coconut Grove will begin with a catered event at Villa Woodbine. I will of course be the center of attention, since that party will be held in my honor. All will be going along fine, with Bill serving his great food with amazing service when the party is abruptly crashed of jealous peacocks from the neighborhood. Feathers will fly…. stay tuned to see what happens next.

Winston

The Desperate Peacock of Coconut Grove at Villa Woodbine

National Rocky Road Ice Cream Day

Greetings from Winston…..the Plump Peacock of Villa Woodbine.  Boy am I unhappy!!!  Yesterday (Thursday) Bill reminded me it was National Rocky Road Ice Cream Day.  He told me when interested brides stopped by the Villa to tell them that planning a wedding here would not be a rocky road, but a magic carpet ride….and I did…However, the thought of that delicious frozen treat would not leave my mind, so I spoke to my fellow peacock Phil who lives nearby, across the street from Fresh Market down the street….and he said he’d pick me up one gallon of Rocky Road Ice Cream.  Phil’s a good peacock…..Well, I had to eat the whole darn container, since Bill doesn’t let me in the kitchen or anywhere near the freezer….so only eating part of it was not an option.  You’re bad, Bill!

Well, I woke up this morning with a terrible tummy ache…I felt so bad even my tail feathers ached…..and to make matters worse, I hopped on the receiving scale behind Bill’s kitchen and I gained two pounds……What a bummer…..Anyway, I’ve got to run now…literally run ( and fly) for the rest of the day to lose this blubber…and what would be even better would be if one of my pea hens would stop by later on and I could burn some extra calories with her…..if you know what I mean!!!!!!