Recipe of the Month

Is your garden overflowing? Are you wondering what do with all those tomatoes and cucumbers that decided to ripen at the exact same time? Well then, Main Course California Executive Chef, Nadia Licea, has just the recipe for you:

Heirloom Tomato & English Cucumber Salad

1 english cucumber

1 1/2 pounds heirloom tomatoes

1/4 red onion, thinly shaved

4 oz. roasted mini sweet peppers

1/3 cup kalamata olives

1/2 cup crumbled feta

1/2 bunch chopped fresh oregano

zest of 1 lemon

Combine the following in a medium sized bowl:

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

2 Tablespoon sugar

3 Tablespoons olive oil

salt & pepper to taste

You will also need:

Your favorite lemon vinaigrette

Quarter the heirloom tomatoes and lay down on a platter in a single layer. Next, cut the cucumber in 1/2 lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and then julienne into 1/4" batons at an angle.

Toss the cucumber and the red onion in the vinegar mix and let sit for abot 5 minutes.

Then place the cucumbers on top of the tomatoes and sprinkle the rest of the ingredients over the cucumbers. Drizzle with lemon vinaigrette. This salad is great with grilled hanger steak. Happy gardening and happy eating!

Put a little South in your mouth

Main Course co-owner, Rachel Main, was raised in southern Louisiana, so you can probably imagine just how much fun she has when given the opportunity to create a catering menu for a Southern themed event. Recently, she had one of these opportunities, and boy did she have fun with it.

The wedding took place at Twin Peaks Ranch in the beautiful Ojai valley. Guests were greeted with Lavender Iced Tea, Lemon Water, and Sparkling Peach Spritzers before the ceremony.

During cocktail hour, guests enjoyed Fried Green Tomatoes with black eyed pea salsa & ranch dressing (see photo above) and Feta, Mint & Local Honey served in ice-cold water melon cups.

Dinner was served family style, and included Buttermilk Biscuits & Sweet Cream Butter, Grilled Peaches with basil & honey, Slow-Braised Boneless Chili Shortribs, and Stewed Southern Greens with sweet & sour raisins. And then there was the dessert buffet...s’mores next to the Fire, Chocolate Fudge Wedding Cakes, Buttermilk Pie & Strawberries, and more. If you want to read more, here is the full menu.

What makes us different?

We're pretty confident that we're not your average caterer. There's no average food, no average service, no average presentation at Main Course California. Our goal is to make your event, party, wedding, and even your sandwich platter make you look like a rockstar host.

If the food isn't fresh, we don't put it on the plate. If a server doesn't have the gift of customer service, we don't hire them. If our schedule is crazy and we've got too many events going on on a single day, we won't take on another event just to make an extra buck. We're a catering company with a conscience, a sharp eye for the details, and a team of killer chefs.

You also won't ever hear us say, "That's not my job." Sure, its not really our job to make your flowers look pretty if you've hired a florist to do so. Sure, its not really our job to make sure the parking goes smoothly at your wedding when you've hired a valet. But when we cater your event, what's most important is that the whole thing goes smoothly, that you don't have to worry about a thing, and that your guests first and last impressions are nothing but spectacular. So, if we have to pitch in and help with the flowers, track down the valet, or share supplies with your bartender to make your event a success, you betcha, we'll do it.