Thursday Nights are Ladies Night @ AURA! This week features LIVE performance from recording artist Shawnee Taylor!

ZACHARYS & AURA

East Meadow Shopping Center

www.zacharysandaura.com   (516) 794-9770

Thursday nights are LADIES NIGHT at AURA, Long Island’s #1 Thursday Night! 

This week, world-famous recording artist Shawnee Taylor, a Long Island favorite, will be performing her smash hit “Live Your Life,” “Strong,” and “Where You Are,” LIVE at Aura!

World famous DJ Jus Jack, resident of DJ venues including Provocateur, Juliet & Central will also be spinning for Aura, Thursday, January 12^th. 

That’s not all, ladies get to enjoy open bar from 10-11pm and then FREE wine and champagne until midnight! 

You don’t want to miss this incredible night at AURA! For VIP tables and 2 for 1 bottle service, call 516-204-5633. Arrive early to avoid wasting the night away on long lines! 

Check out the video posted below to capture a glimpse of what to expect from Ladies Night @ Aura!

Big Game Menus For NFL Playoff Gatherings

ZACHARYS & AURA

East Meadow Shopping Center

www.zacharysandaura.com   (516) 794-9770

With Wildcard Weekend over, the playoffs are in full swing for the NFL. With playoff football games comes manly gatherings – and with manly gatherings comes lots and lots of food! 

Prepare for Sunday with these “Big Game Menus” provided by the top chefs at the Foot Network including Bobbly Flay, Guy Fieri and Rachel Ray. 

Chicken Wings with Red Hot Honey Glaze and Blue Cheese-Celery Dipping Sauce

Ingredients

For the wings:

1 cup hot sauce

1/2 cup honey

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

24 chicken wings, tips removed

For the blue cheese-celery dipping sauce:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup Greek yogurt

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup finely diced celery

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (recommended: Cabrales)

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

For the wings:

Heat grill to medium-high.

Combine the hot sauce, honey and butter in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until the butter is melted and the mixture comes together, about 5 minutes. Stir in the vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Pour half of the sauce in a bowl and keep the remaining sauce in the pan, warm over low heat.

Season the wings on both sides with the salt and pepper. Brush the wings with the reserved sauce in the bowl and place on the grill. Grill on each side for 5 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove wings from the grill and toss with the warm hot sauce. Transfer to a platter and serve with the blue cheese sauce on the side for dipping.

For the blue cheese-celery dipping sauce:

Whisk together all ingredients in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Feta Cheese and Green Onion Dip with Olive Oil and Lemon with Grilled Pita

Ingredients

12 green onions, green part only, grilled and chopped, plus additional thinly sliced green onions, for garnish

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus additional for grilling pitas

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons finely chopped lemon zest

Salt and freshly ground pepper

2 cloves garlic

1 pound feta cheese, crumbled

8 pocketless pitas

Directions

Place grilled green onions, oil, lemon juice, and zest in a food processor and process until smooth. Add the feta and garlic and process until combined and smooth. Scrape the mixture into a bowl and garnish with the additional sliced green onions.

Heat grill to high. Brush the pitas with the remaining oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Grill for 1 minute per side or until lightly golden brown. Remove from the grill and cut each pita into eighths. Serve with the feta dip.

For more information on catering tips, venues and nightlife entertainment, LIKE Zacharys & Aura on Facebook. 

Planning a Sweet 16? Consider these tips in your planning to help keep costs low, and enjoyment high!

ZACHARYS & AURA

East Meadow Shopping Center

   (516) 794-9770

Sweet 16 – the best year of a young girls’ life, and one of the most difficult for her parents! This milestone is marked with a birthday bash a girl will never forget. It could get rather pricy, especially with the lavish likes and lifestyles of teenage girls. Consider these catering tips in your planning to help keep costs low, and enjoyment high.

Create a budget before any party planning begins. Figure out a number you are comfortable spending and discuss this with your daughter. If everyone is on the same page from the beginning it will make it a smoother and more enjoyable experience.

Some people choose to host their daughters Sweet 16 in their home- which minimizes some costs but causes a lot of chaos and stress. Depending on your budget, choose a place outside your home so you don’t have to worry about taking care of anything – or cleaning up after! This gives you more time to focus on other things like arranging party favors and the catering menu. Also, most catering companies, like Zacharys and Aura Catering, will work with you to customize the party to fit your budget.

Once you have chosen your venue, it’s now time to pick the food! With a large group of teenagers, buffet style is typically suggested. These guests won’t mind giggling their way through the buffet line. The party will only last a few hours, so let them enjoy themselves! The more time they spend at the table, the less time they have for fun. They like dancing and being around each other, not sitting at a table waiting to order and then waiting again for their food to arrive.

Another great reason to choose buffet style is the variety offered. Typically teenagers are finicky eaters and their eating habits are irregular. Having a variety of food is fun and offers something for everyone. Guests also have the opportunity to eat as much or as little as they want without feeling embarrassed for eating too much, too little, or not liking what’s on their plate. This makes it relaxed and enjoyable for you and your guests.

Lastly, avoid alcohol altogether if possible. If you are having family members or adults, keep the amount of alcohol limited and in specific cups to monitor who is consuming it. You don’t want to be held responsible for underage drinking, or deal with the consequences or dangers that come along with it. Speak with your caterer to accommodate these requests. 

Zacharys and Aura Catering host the sweetest Sweet 16's! Party's feature glow cubes to lighten up the event and create a unique ambiance all the guests will remember! 

For more information on events at Zachary and Aura Catering venues, click HERE. 

Warm Up With A Bowl of Beef Mushroom Barely Soup!

ZACHARYS & AURA

East Meadow Shopping Center
www.zacharyspartys.com (516) 794-9770

With the cold weather sending chills through every bone in our bodies, it’s time to whip out the soup recipes and warm up! 

The following recipe is for a delicious Beef Mushroom Barley Soup shared by BrownEyedBaker.com. 

“I couldn’t believe how fabulous this soup turned out. The flavor was amazing, the meat perfectly tender and it was amazingly easy to put together. This rivals homemade wedding soup as my current favorite – it was THAT good!” (BrownEyedBaker.com). 

Beef Mushroom Barley Soup

Ingredients:
1 lb. beef (I used stew meat)
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt & pepper
1 cup water
1 cup red wine (I substituted 1 cup beef broth + 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar)

2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 cup carrots, sliced (about 3 carrots)
1 cup celery, sliced (about 3 ribs)
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups beef broth
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 bay leaf
Salt & pepper

1/2 cup barley
8 oz. mushrooms, sliced

Preparation:
1. Season beef with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large stockpot. Add meat and brown. Pour in water and red wine (or broth/vinegar mixture) and simmer for approximately 1 hour.

2. Remove beef and cut into bite-size pieces. Skim fat and reserve 1/2 cup of cooking liquid; discard remaining liquid.

3. Melt butter in the stockpot. Add onion, carrots and celery and saute until tender. Stir in garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in beef broth and add thyme, basil, bay leaf, beef and reserved cooking liquid. Simmer for 20-30 minutes; season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Add barley and mushrooms and simmer for approximately 40 minutes.

New Year's Eve is Right Around the Corner!

ZACHARYS & AURA

East Meadow Shopping Center
www.zacharyspartys.com (516) 794-9770

We hope everyone is having a great Holiday Season so far! New Year’s Eve is coming up fast! If you haven’t already RSVP’d to one of our events, please do so now!

For VIP Packages for Aura please call Richie at 516-204-5633

For Zacharys please call 516-794-9770

$50 advance Ticket Purchase/ $60 at the door (No Refunds)

21 & Over- Proper Attire

Zachary’s or Aura with Top Shelf Open Bar starting at 8 pm- Midnight and buffet dinner!

Zacharys lounge will have special guest Kim Zozzi! She will be performing her new smash hit “Crystalized” along with her other top 10 hits! We’re also having Video DJ Rio Live!

Aura will be having DJ Sizzahandz and DJ Dimitri for entertainment! We will be providing hats, noisemakers & party favors to add to the festivities!

What Will You Be Wearing?

ZACHARYS & AURA

East Meadow Shopping Center
www.zacharyspartys.com (516) 794-9770

Year’s Eve is coming up fast! Don’t forget to RSVP and celebrate the New Year with either Zachary’s or Aura with Top Shelf Open Bar starting at 8 pm- Midnight and buffet dinner!

Aura will have DJ Sizzahandz and DJ Dimitri for entertainment

Zacharys Lounge will have Special Guest: Kim Zozzi performing live!

For VIP Packages for Aura please call Richie at 516-204-5633

For Zacharys please call 516-794-9770

$50 advance Ticket Purchase/ $60 at the door (No Refunds)

What will you be wearing? It’s important to stand out and ring in 2012 in style, so wear something bold and maybe something with some shimmer and sparkle! A bold and colorful tie for men, and women's heels that stand out from your overall attire are great ways to accessorize. “People tend to gravitate towards people who stand out or look interesting,” says Jacqueline Whitmore, an etiquette expert and author of Poised For Success.

Are you going with a simple look? Jazz it up with small accessories that transform even the simplest dress or separates into something more fashionable according to The Bahamas Weekly.

Earrings are always a great way to accessorize an outfit and draw the eye to the face. The hoop is one of the classic earring styles that never go out of style. Youthful and feminine, it’s a great accessory to add interest to an otherwise simple look. Take the hoop to the next step by wearing oversized versions with crystal or rhinestones!

Adding some sparkle to your fingers is another great way to spice up your look! Look for an oversized cocktail ring to draw attention as you reach for your glass to ring in the New Year! Jewel tones are all the rage for the fall and the holiday season.

If you are going to wear a bag or carry around a clutch, go for one with beads or sparkle.

 It’s okay to dress a little over the top for New Year’s Eve. Ring in the New Year in style with one or two of your favorite statement accessories!

New Year's Eve Party

ZACHARYS & AURA
East Meadow Shopping Center
www.zacharyspartys.com (516) 794-9770

Zacharys and Aura each have exciting New Year’s Eve Party’s planned to ring in 2012!

Aura will be hosting the New Year with Top Shelf Open Bar starting at 8 pm- Midnight, a dinner buffet till 10 pm and concluding the evening with a Midnight Champagne Toast! We are going to have DJ Sizzahandz and DJ Dimitri  for our entertainment! We will be providing hats, noisemakers & party favors to add to the festivities!

For VIP Packages please call Richie at 516-204-5633, Doors open at 8 pm! 21 & Over Trendy and Neat Attire

Are you looking for live performances and music all night this New Year’s Eve? Well Zacharys will be hosting a New Year’s Eve Party alongside special guest Kim Zozzi, who will be performing her new smash hit “Crystalized” along with her other top 10 hits! We’re also having Video DJ Rio Live!

Zacharys will be providing Top Shelf Open Bar until Midnight, white glove buffet dinner, Midnight Champagne Toast, and concluding with a late night breakfast buffet. We will also be providing valet parking along with hats, noisemakers, & party favors to celebrate the New Year!

$50 advance Ticket Purchase/ $60 at the door (No Refunds)

21 & Over- Proper Attire.

Doors open at 8 pm for both events! Call Today to reserve! 516-794-9770