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"Patricia Catenne from Quintessencia has worked for our family for four years, planning menus and preparing weekly dinners for our busy household with an emphasis on healthy, organic cooking. Her well-balanced menus are aesthetically pleasing to both the eye and the palate."

– Judy Perl, New York, NY

MENUS

Personalized Creations Especially for You

From informal to haute cuisine, Quintessencia can create a menu to fulfill your unique needs. Through our personal chef services, private event services, and health and nutrition counseling, we can develop personalized menus especially for you.

Here are some examples of menus we have recently developed for our clients.

Birthday Menu

This menu was created for a birthday celebration for eight people.

• Foie gras on Kugelhopf toasts with Madeira and cranberry Port gelée served on a bed of mache and endives
• Asparagus and chives cappuccino
• Quail confit with clementines and lavender salt, cipollini onions, chestnuts, and butternut squash purée
• Pear tatin with star anise on caramel coulis and turron de Jijona

Weight Loss Menu

This menu is one of many was developed to help a client lose weight. Portion sizes are not included because they depend on the individual. Through our personal chef services, Quintessencia can prepare the dishes indicated in one three-hour cooking session.

Monday	Breakfast: 1 cup low fat/no sugar cereal with low fat milk, fruit salad or 1/2 a grapefruit or one fresh orange juice. No regular juice. Lunch: Grilled chicken breast and sautéed zucchinis with fresh herbs, brown rice. Green salad. Dinner: Shrimp ceviche on a bed of lettuce with cherry tomatoes and quinoa.
Tuesday	Breakfast: Scrambled eggs on whole-wheat toast, fruit salad or one fruit or fresh orange juice. Lunch: Veal scaloppini cooked with lemon and fresh herbs, sweet potatoes casserole. Spinach and mushroom salad. Dinner: Sautéed broccolinis with a little low fat chicken sausage for taste served over whole wheat couscous.
Wednesday	Breakfast: 1 cup oatmeal cooked with fresh blueberries and pecan nuts. A little honey or rice syrup. Lunch: Grilled salmon over fresh green asparagus with brown rice. Mesclun salad with cherry tomatoes and cucumber. Dinner: Minestrone soup.

Menu for Family of Five

This menu provides an example of the many selections for a typical family of five. Each week, the family chooses from the various salads, main courses, and side dishes available, so that they receive an ever-changing array of flavors and tastes. Through our personal chef services, Quintessencia can prepare the dishes indicated in one three-hour cooking session.

Appetizers and Salads (Select two)	Main Courses (Select two)	Side Dishes (Select three)
Butternut squash soup Minestrone Cremini mushrooms soup Pad Thai noodles with meat, shrimp or tofu Fresh hummus with cut up vegetables Homemade mini-pizza Endive, cherry tomatoes, and Manchego cheese Spinach and sautéed cremini mushrooms with Parmesan cheese Classic Caesar salad Penne pasta salad with ratatouille and fresh basil Fresh tuna salad with Granny Smith apples Beet salad with fresh oranges and goat cheese	Fresh poached salmon on lentil salad Marinated shrimp in orange, five spices, and basil Spicy tilapia with warm tortillas, guacamole, and black beans Roasted chicken with onions, orange-lemon zest, and fresh herbs Chicken breast cacciatore Patricia’s meatloaf Beef or veal osso bucco Veal scalopini, lemon sauce, and capers Lamb chops marinated in fresh parsley, mint, and garlic Lamb tagine Tofu and rice stuffed peppers Vegan lasagna Winter vegetable hash Tofu and vegetable stir-fry Tempeh kabobs with Moroccan couscous	Green beans with roasted almonds Roasted asparagus with olive oil and Parmesan cheese Ratatouille Steamed vegetables Squash gratin with fresh herbs, garlic, and olive oil Kugels, potatoes, or pasta Rices and risottos in all kind of ways Mashed two color potatoes

An array of desserts such as fruit tarts, pies, and salads, simple cakes, and puddings can be prepared upon request.