everything's just so much better with a little rum & sunshine...

vacation is such a beautiful thing. sunshine. blue waters. sun kissed kids (who then whine a little sooo...). mount gays & pineapple juice (to lessen the pain inflicted by the whining). little late afternoon golf. repeat.

i have said no less than a dozen times this week to anyone who would listen, why are we not living in florida and doing this every day? i understand the logistics. just built our dream house in hohokus & would have to sell? negative. have four kids enrolled in hohokus school? kind of a downside. flip flops and shorts every single day of the week and an ocean temp of 78 degrees?? totally worth the moving costs. 

everything's just so much better with a little rum and sunshine (except when you clip your toe on a chaise lounge like georgia here on the left...but frankie's reaction and my rum-induced buzz made it all photo-worthy. nothing like a mom who laughs are her kids pain & snaps a picture of it, sorry g). 

back to the rum: i think catchy. needs to find itself a liquor license and we can try and bring a little of this nirvana up north to the jerz. wouldn't that be something?? a baja chicken salad out on the patio with a pina colada & rum floater?? a turkey & brie sandy with a titos cosmo around noon - it's 5 o'clock somewhere, right? nothing would make 3 o'clock pick up better (well, except uber maybe so we wouldn't endanger our kids, but c'mon, go with me a little bit on this one, i'm on vacation). i'm just sayin' this vacation has been just the little mental break this crazy lady needed to slow her roll and gear up for a spring full of first communions, graduations & more. seeing my mom with my kids just filled up my bucket. 

so while it may be president's day, and i may be down in sunny palm beach, catchy. is OPEN. and my hard working gang are in the shop ready to deliver you anything you can think up to order. hot dinners. fresh salads. soul-warming soups & everything you need to feed your family this week if you didn't get to steal away to a far-flung island and want to enjoy a little stay-cation in the bergen county area. just call the shop 201.445.6400 and bring yourself a little food love. 

I could barf. literally, barf.

i could barf. literally, barf. 

i hate the patriots. hate them. and i have so enjoyed the last three plus hours of the atlanta falcons beating the ever-living crap out of them by a 25 point margin at one point. i even left this blog to the last minute because i wanted to gloat that the patriots got the spanking they so deserved...and then tom brady happened. and now we are sitting on the 1 yard line with a minute, 13 seconds and he's about to tie it up. nope. he just tied it up. FOR THE LOVE!!!

so i'm going to make tonight's blog short and sweet because i am working on curbing my poor language this week and watching the pats celebrate their late-in-the-game tie is making the drippy, cheesy burger i ate around 5:30pm start to rise in my throat and the expletives are starting to fly. i mean, WHAT THE FRIG!?!? 

so i'm just going to look forward to this week and pretend right now is not happening. i'm going to set my focus on cleaning up my diet with some mind-blowing fresh salads, some fresh, WHOLE foods for my family like our meaty, cheesy drop dead lasagna and our soul-warming soups (oh lord, chicken tortilla is back and you don't even know how much i yearn for steaming bowl of its goodness right about now to dull the pain - damn you tom!!). 

 so take a gander below to see our PIPING HOT DINNER menu for this tuesday thru friday (sidebar: by popular demand, you can now also pick up the hot dinners cold (i know, confusing right?) in the takeaway case all week long in case you can't wait until 3pm to pick up your hot dinner. we aim to please and welcome your requests and input to make your lives as easy and smooth as we can. peace out girl scout. call the shop at 201.445.6400 for your next meal. word. 

"YOU ASKED, WE ANSWERED"

TUESDAY FEB 7th - FRIDAY FEB 10th

* CHICKEN PICCATA OVER CITRUS SCENTED ORZO with BABY SPINACH

* DROP DEAD LASAGNA BOLOGNESE

* ROASTED VEGETABLE LASAGNA

(our other 4 dinners available every day, every week) 

* rigatoni bolognese 

(with crusty bread)   

$15.75

*cheesy, ricotta-filled raviolis in sunday gravy

(with crusty bread)  

$14.50

* spaghetti marinara with veal & ricotta meatballs

(with crusty bread)

 $15.95

* shrimp scampi over linguine

(with crusty bread)

$18.75

and what do we have to reduce the muffin-topage that we are all experiencing after the gluttony of last night's super bowl eating extravaganza??

SPECIAL SALADS for MONDAY & TUESDAY

monday:

roasted butternut squash & shredded kale quinoa bowl: quinoa. shredded kale. roasted butternut squash. dried cranberries. fuji apples. gorgonzola. pecans. maple orange vinaigrette. 

tuesday:

mediterranean greek chicken salad: romaine. grilled chicken. cucumbers. cherry tomatoes. kalamata olives. crumbled feta. red wine oregano vinaigrette. 

hot soups:

* chicken tortilla soup

* butternut squash puree

salads in the case:

* butternut squash kale quinoa bowl

* baja chicken salad

* catchy. burrito bowl

* skinny chicken caesar salad

* mediterranean greek chicken salad

dinners in the takeout case (cold, but freshly-made monday morning)

* grilled salmon over julienne vegetables

*  spicy thai chicken over vegetable fried rice with broccoli & haricot vert

* lasagna bolognese for two (ready to grab...not hot like above)

seven days and counting until the kickoff, it's time to order up your grub.

drippy pulled pork. cheesy, sausage-laden chili skillet mac. mini cheddar sliders, deep fried mac & cheese bites and candy bacon. oh. MY. we do it all. our super bowl menu is so mind-glowingly ridic i don't know how we didn't win the right to cater that big ole soiree down in houston. i mean seriously, our sh*t is THAT GOOD. 

so call our shop at 201.445.6400 or the catering line at 917.721.9217 and order up your tasty chow for your house, or some appies to bring over to your girlfriends. and feel free to claim it's yours. we don't care as long as your friends and family are enjoying our rocking chow. if you need a menu click www.thecatchycaterer.com and click on the super bowl tab. it's just that easy. BOOM.

now on to this week's hot dinners which, if you happen to be hosting the super bowl at your house this weekend, will save you time and calories as we now have a FABULOUSLY health-conscious version of our tuscan lemon chicken. take a gander and order up!!

"ZOODLES are the new NOODLES"

1) tuscan lemon chicken over citrus lemon pesto zucchini noodles with asparagus, cherry tomatoes & peas (also available over a bed of citrus pesto linguine) 

2) grandie's killer pot roast over mashed potatoes & glazed carrots 

of course, as usual, we are offering the following delicious meals available

every day, every week:

* rigatoni bolognese

*cheesy, ricotta-filled raviolis in sunday gravy

* spaghetti marinara with veal & ricotta meatballs

* shrimp scampi over bed of linguine

so now on the weekly specials because we are nothing if not generous with what's in the case baby!

hot soups:

* beef barley

* sante fe chicken & red bean

BEST salad specials:

MONDAY

sticky thai shrimp salad: romaine. napa cabbage. sticky thai shrimp (oh my god you don't know the love i have for this sticky, sweet sauce). snow peas. carrots. edamame. rice wine vinaigrette.

TUESDAY

harvest chicken salad: romaine. grilled chicken. crumbled goat cheese. dried cranberries. honey glazed pecans. cranberry vinaigrette.

in the case:

harvest chicken salad. (above)

sticky thai shrimp salad. (above) 

baja chicken salad: romaine. grilled chicken. roasted corn. queso fresca. crispy tortilla strips. creamy guacamole. 

"super" quinoa: quinoa. quinoa. baby spinach. crumbled feta. chickpeas. avocado. citrus lime vinaigrette.

dinners in the case:

* grilled salmon over thai chili noodles with veggies

* thai beef & broccoli stir fry over vegetable fried rice

other tasties in the case:

* italian wedding soup

* momma's chicken noodle soup

* assorted salads

* panko crusted chicken fingers

* buffalo panko crusted chicken fingers

superbowl 51 - wahoo!!

there is so much you need to know this week it's like
IMPOSSIBLE to know what to hit on first. but since i'm watching the world's SH*TTIEST football games for like, the sixth hour in a row, let's go with that.
 

SUPERBOWL 51 - wahoo!
are the giants in it? no they are not. 
am i bitter? yes i am. 
will i still cook the BEJESUS out of our unbelievable apps and main courses? yes. yes, i absolutely will. 

the following ridiculously cheesy, bubbly, drippy delicious appetizers are literally what catchy. was built on. if there is a holiday/special event you want to use catchy. for, the superbowl is it. our crispy, crunchy buffalo chicken nuggets & wings, our cheesy chili skillet mac, as well as our drippy, saucy pulled pork sliders & deep fried macaroni & cheese bites have revolutionized the way you folks celebrate this holiday. why would 2017 be any different? judging by the number of parties we have already booked, it won't. scroll down to the bottom of the blog to check out the Super Bowl offerings and call the shop now because like thanksgiving & christmas, we will be closing out orders sooner than you think. 

now on to the next most exciting time of the week: the menu for our NEW HOT DINNERS (they still get me so excited...because judging from your feedback, they get you so excited it just hard not to catch the hot dinner fever!)
"WARM YOUR HEART MENU"
TUESDAY JAN 17th - FRIDAY JAN 21st
  
* CHICKEN PROSECCO OVER CITRUS RICE PILAF & SPRING VEGETABLES
* SILKY BEEF STEW OVER BUTTERY EGG NOODLES
(our other 5 dinners available every day, every week) 
* rigatoni bolognese
(with crusty bread)   
$15.75
*cheesy, ricotta-filled raviolis in sunday gravy
(with crusty bread)  
$14.50
* spaghetti marinara with veal & ricotta meatballs
(with crusty bread)
 $15.95
* shrimp scampi over linguine
(with crusty bread)
$18.75

and last but certainly not least, the k*ck*ss, mouthwatering menu for this week at the cafe. while your order your hot dinners for the week be sure to order up our crisp, fresh salads & piping hot soups to compliment your dinners with a tasty lunch the next day!
SPECIAL SALADS for MONDAY & TUESDAY
monday:
rainbow power wheatberry salad: wheatberries. crunchy red grapes. blueberries. crumbled feta. crushed almonds. shredded kale. honey fig vinaigrette. 
tuesday:
healthy chicken chop: romaine. grilled chicken. roasted beets. edamame. celery. haricot vert. cherry tomatoes. provolone. lightened up balsamic vinaigrette. 
hot soups:
* parsnip cauliflower (again...bc it's just SOOO
stupid good)
* roasted eggplant & red pepper puree
salads in the case:
* oktoberfest salad
* baja chicken salad
* rainbow power wheatberry salad
* "super" quinoa
* healthy chicken chop
dinners in the takeout case (cold, but freshly-made monday morning)
* thai sticky shrimp over jasmine rice & steamed broccoli
* drunken marinated flank steak over mashed potatoes & haricot vert
other tasties in the case:
* italian wedding soup
* momma's chicken noodle soup
* assorted salads
* panko crusted chicken fingers
* buffalo panko crusted chicken fingers
delicious desserts
(on any given day these change):
* amaretto pudding cake
* dark chocolate pudding cake
* crunchified chocolate chip heath bar potato chip cookies
* white chocolate pretzel bark
* greek sugar cookies
* mini berry cakes
* homemade crumb cakes
* apple cinnamon muffins

SUPERBOWL 51 MENU
*chicken wings
buffalo wings, moose wings, devils wings or
sweet & spicy thai wings
$25/2 dozen
                                                
* mini bleu cheese/mini cheddar burgers with bacon, dijon aioli & sour pickle chip
$78/2 dozen
 
* deep fried macaroni & cheese bites with lemon Dijon aioli
$60/2 dozen
 
* mini buffalo chicken nuggets with ranch dipping sauce or
regular chicken nuggets with homemade honey mustard
$48/2 dozen
 
* spring roll sampler platter
meatball parmesan spring rolls with sunday gravy, 
southwestern spring rolls with tomatillo salsa &
pulled pork spring rolls with smoky bbq sauce: 
$78/2 dozen
 
* vegetable, beef or chicken empanadas
 with cilantro cream dipping sauce
$60/2 dozen
 
* catchy. poppers
pepperoni, sausage, caramelized onions & fontina or
 wild mushroom
$72/2 dozen
 
* candy bacon: simply our best appetizer...ever
$48/2 dozen
 * pigs in a blanket with spicy mustard
$48/2 dozen
 
* spicy crab cakes with red chili aioli
$66/2 dozen
 
* roasted shrimp cocktail with spicy horseradish sauce,
 coconut shrimp with tamarind ginger sauce or
chilled shrimp cocktail
$78/2 dozen
 
*spinach dip in bread bowl:
$37.50
*roasted corn guacamole with tortilla chips
 $2.50 per person
 
    *buffalo chicken dip with tortilla chips
 $2.75 per person
 
* vegetable crudite & our signature "favorite dip" 
$45/small, $65/medium & $85/large
 
superbowl mains:
* smoky, saucy drippy pulled pork & coleslaw with slider rolls
$66/tray
 * cheesy chili skillet mac & tortilla chips, a cross between chili & macaroni & cheese
$52/tray
 
* catchy.'s signature veal & ricotta meatballs with artisanal rolls & sauce
$56/tray
 
* crispy, panko crusted chicken fingers with honey mustard or
buffalo style with homemade ranch dipping sauce
$42/tray
 

#i'mdumb

it's almost too embarrassing to type this. 
but i will, because i'm human, and i do really stupid sh*t sometimes, and as i tell my kids, ya gotta own it when you screw something up. #i'mdumb

so word on the the street was on the VERY FIRST night of rolling out our HOT DINNERS, they were in high demand. 
 YAY!! HOW EXCITING!! GO catchy. GO!! 

 downside? unfortunately, because of a little typo on my last few blogs, the high volume of calls was directed to a poor little old man who owns a printing shop in franklin lakes because i put the wrong phone number on my blog cripes! are you freakin' kidding me?!? how stupid can a person be?  catchy.'s phone number is
201.445.6400 you boob!!
(this was my internal dialogue for the past two hours)

my chef heard from a few of the customers who ended up just driving to the shop (wow, how convenient a service i provide when i make my busy customers DRIVE TO THE SHOP#%*!) that they called the number on the blog and a kind, old man kept answering but had no idea what kind of dinners everyone was asking about. ey! when i called him to apologize, he kindly informed me he had fielded a dozen and a half phone calls all day from people wanting to order hot dinners. hmmm. well, i guess we got the word out!
so just to confirm once more: 
1) HOT DINNERS!! 
2) tuesdays, wednesdays, thursdays & fridays
3) we deliver (if you call the right number)
4) call 201.445.6400 to order!!
"ITALY IN THE HOUSE"
TUESDAY JAN 10th - FRIDAY JAN 14th
* parmesan crusted chicken cutlets over
penne a la vodka   
$15.75
* baked shrimp scampi over a bed of linguine
$18.75
 

HOT DINNERS!! THIS IS SO EXCITING!!!

i'm sorry for the friday morning blog. i know, i know, two blogs in one week is a bit much... 
BUT HOT DINNERS!! 
THIS IS SO EXCITING!!! 

we have been mulling. we have been brainstorming. we have been scheming and conspiring inside catchy.'s doors. AND IT IS SO EXCITING!!! can you tell we are a little over the top about this new development?

we built our reputation years ago on a little something called MOM'S NIGHT OFF! it was a gourmet dinner service and it took off like gangbusters offering mom's a few dinner options once a week. when we opened our doors last december, we transferred that idea to a takeaway case and for the first year in business, it was just swell. but it's getting a little, what's the word, hum drum. well, at least for me it is. three or four dinner options in a cold takeaway case was GREAT for some families who wanted the convenience of our great food and didn't mind heating it up in the microwave. but for others who want a piping hot dinner, we just couldn't accomodate them in our first year. UNTIL NOW.
 
what?? SHUT UP? no, you shut up. 
THIS IS SO EXCITING!!!

HOT HOT HOT DINNERS!!! you heard me right. HOT DINNERS. starting next tuesday we are rolling out MOM'S NIGHT OFF! once more and we will be offering not one, but TWO piping hot dinner specials you can order for pick up or delivery every tuesday, wednesday, thursday AND friday night!! you're kidding me you ask?? no. no i am not. 

along with all our regular salads, soups, chicken fingers and sandwich options that can be ordered off the menu, you now have the opportunity to order blazing hot, bubbly goodness from catchy.'s weekly dinner menu. annnnnddd, in addition to the two hot specials, also always available are:
1) cheesy, ricotta-filled raviolis in our sunday gravy
2) rigatoni bolognese
3) spaghetti and veal & ricotta meatballs

customer: "so what you are really telling me is there are FIVE hot dinner options?

me: "YES!!! YES THERE ARE!!"

so here's how it works: menu is sent out as usual monday morning. you can order by phone (201.445.6400) or email. you can order first thing in the morning. you can order at 6:55pm that night when you realize the game is going into overtime and you have nothing for dinner (have it delivered to your front door and pay by credit card). any time of day from 11am-7pm you can order either of the two specials oran order of any of the three pasta options always available. give your husband our number (201.445.6400) and have him call from the train and have it waiting for him when he gets to his car. we couldn't be making this any simpler for you.

you know our dinners are spectacular, but you know what makes them even better?? being sizzling hot & bubbling - and oh yeah - still delivered to your doorstep. and we have checked with the competition, our portions are better priced, fresher & dare we say it (yes we do), way more delicious (taste tested today and results are in!)!!

NEXT WEEK'S MENU: 
"ITALY IN THE HOUSE"
TUESDAY JAN 10th - FRIDAY JAN 14th
* parmesan crusted chicken cutlets over
penne a la vodka
* baked shrimp scampi over a bed of linguine

(available every day, every week) 
* rigatoni bolognese
*cheesy, ricotta-filled raviolis in sunday gravy
* spaghetti marinara with veal & ricotta meatballs

so get ready for catchy. to, once more, make life just a little bit easier for you all. if you are a salad gal but your husband & oldest always need something hot however you also have a picky toddler, then order up some chicken fingers, a few hot dinners & a baja chicken salad and make EVERYONE happy! just doing what we do best...feeding the masses one delicious, fresh meal at a time.

call 201.445.6400 for more details.
 

2017...she is here.

2017...she is here

man, december was bananas but it was a banner month! the shop celebrated its one year anniversary. the cafe was bustling with sit down lunches, takeout & more online orders from seamless & grubhub than ever before. there were 62 parties, banquets & balls and catchy. did more catering than any other month in our history by 28%! all that anddd I still managed to find time to move that freaking elf every night (okay, every other night) and celebrate our first christmas in our new house. we got some serious sh*t done in december.

but now january is upon us. the kids are back at school.  resolutions have been made (by some) and it's time to devote the next month to your taking some time for yourself to get your body (and maybe your mind) to where you want it after devoting everything you had to everyone else in the house. that said, catchy. wants to get in on the change process. personally speaking, after a year of giving everything i've got to this shop, i'm putting myself on the calendar too. i got myself a ten pack of personal training sessions with the legendary ozzy (www.ozfit.com) who's killer workouts are located right in the arena on route 17 south, and i had my very first one-on-one this morning at 5am. le-GIT!! i can't really type much longer as i have no feeling in my arms but i'll give it my best. it's time to prioritize ourselves people and there is no time like the present. 

what we have in store for you in the new year is going to blow your mind. think: MORE TIME.  AMPLE FOOD CHOICES. HOT HOT HOT. that's all i'm going to give you but suffice is to say if you know how to pick up the phone and call 201.445.6400 when you are stuck at your basketball carpool at around 4:38pm and need delicious, possibly hot (oops, you didn't hear it here) dinner asap for your hungry troops, our new cadre of delivery kids and our chefs will combine to make your dinner time one of the easiest, happiest parts of your day. and that will give you some time to zone into your headspace app (rather than stress about how to feed your family )and meditate or maybe find a way to sneak in 20 minutes upstairs on the treadmill when you get home. 

catchy. aims to make this year one of the best for each and every mom & dad who works their tail to the bone. we have been brainstorming to figure our new and innovative ways to give you more time to yourselves or with those kids of yours, rather than having you chained to the stove making dinner. stay tuned. you won't want to miss what we have in store for you. 
 

my head is about to implode people and it's only DECEMBER 18th....

omg. my brain doesn't work anymore.

it's like this every year. december 18th rolls around, and i literally can't string together a coherent sentence. too. much. tooooo much. 

i'm not sure how veteran caterers do this. i mean like, this is only year two of catchy. on the holiday scene. we've only been up and rockin' this catering/cafe gig for thirteen months and i already see myself in a forced retirement on a beach in jamaica in a few years by orders of the manor over here or collecting dust in a corner somewhere at a looney bin up in braindead, new york because i just couldn't handle the details. my head is about to implode people and it's only DECEMBER 18th....

i think it was the sickness that got me. i had it alllll covered. thought i had all the answers. four major party weekends, 78 events. presents for my kids on a spreadsheet (created by my first born, like it, like it. self-starter) and hosting christmas day (jackpot - so much easier than christmas eve). until BOOM. out went the legs, flat on my back. DOWN GOES FRAZER. ouch. 

i figured nothing could do a soul better than a pomegranate margarita with my girlfriend on monday night to get me through the holidays doldrums. i needed a night off from life to bitch, laugh and fill up my dangerously empty bucket. what i got was a hot seat right into a respiratory infection. ugh. and straight out the window went my perfectly crafted plan to pick off every single one of my kids christmas lists while simultaneously feeding the greater bergen county area. suck it. 

well, welcome to humilityland sister. where who i think i am and who i wish i could be collided like a newly licensed teenager on her maiden voyage. bottomline line? can't do it all. not even close. and trying to has just made me sick, cranky and seriously not a lot of fun to be within fifty yards of if you have the last name cacciabaudo. so here's to being a slow learner, owning my part and trying to make a little change . 

i got six more days until christmas and i plan to make the best of it. can't undo the 29 parties we have coming down the shoot before next sunday but i can try and pencil in a little F-U-N in the form of laugher, relaxation and lightness. i  just started by putting my computer on sleep mode and tucking in my 12-year who asked me to (to which i replied: "you're 12." and then felt like a *sshole. because that's exactly what i am). after all, it's christmas for pete's sake, what is the point of all of this if i'm gonna at like a miserable human being?? #startingnow #ownitchangeit #lightenuplucy #hitoverthehead

take a look at what's special this week...and call for the food that is going to save your life this week. we deliver. 201.445.6400.