On its surface, today’s catering sounds like something few families even consider hiring a private chef for: a 2-year-old’s birthday party. Grill up some hot dogs, open a few bag of chips, grab a layer cake from the grocery store and you’ve got a party, right?

In fact, today’s catering was a unique challenge: my client wanted an afternoon birthday party catered for both the handful of children present and for the significantly larger number of adults — a menu that was fun and kid-friendly, but also elegantly displayed and presented with handmade, sophisticated sides for more adventurous palates.

With the client’s input, we settled on a Seasonal Picnic theme:

Caprese Skewers Drizzled in Balsamic Reduction

Grilled Hearts of Romaine With Crostini Drizzled with Garlic-Lemon Dressing and Served with Local Smelt

Fried Mini Chicken Legs Served with Fiery Hot Sauce

Shoestring Fries Served with Crab Catsup and White Truffle Mayonnaise

Grilled Tarte Flambee Served with a Side of Anchovies, Tarte Flambee-Inspired Vegetarian Pizza

As a final fun addition to the picnic theme, I filled old-fashioned red-and-white striped popcorn bags with kettle corn for the guests to nibble on for a sweet snack until the cake came out for the birthday girl.

All in all, a great reminder that even a toddler’s birthday party can be a great opportunity to please a range of guests with the help of an artisanal caterer.