Community Magazine November 2003

HESHVAN 5764 NOVEMBER 2003 67 s ” xc I was skeptical. I wanted the Bar Mitzvah to be traditionally elegant— yet uniquely memorable. I wanted my guests to enjoy a tasty full course meal—but also to celebrate by dancing with us. I wanted a hearty variety of entrees—but I wanted each one to be a masterpiece in itself. I wanted to make the event in a venue that was convenient for my guests—yet chic and stylishly appointed. In short I wanted it all—to have my cake (and of course a full complement of smartly designed dessert pastries and fruit) and to eat it too. I was skeptical because I didn’t expect Touna’s catering to be able to deliver on all counts and I didn’t believe it could be executed to my standards in the catering hall of Ahi Ezer Synagogue. But this was to be the first of my preconceived notions that was shattered. Attending the wedding of a friend at Ahi Ezer, I was surprised to see that the party hall looked quite new. It had obviously been significantly redesigned with attractive curtains, updated with new wallpaper and was now much brighter than I remembered. Although I couldn’t stay for very long, the affair seemed to be a big hit and so, while still somewhat doubtful, I added Ahi Ezer to my list of possible venues for my son’s Bar Mitzvah. Several months before the Bar Mitzvah, still undecided about where to make it, I met with Touna. Sweet and demure, she made me feel completely at ease. Without even a tinge of pressure, I was able to confidently express my vision for the affair. Contributing many clever ideas, and expressing considerable flexibility, she reassured me that she would personally supervise each detail of the affair. I came to realize that Touna immerses herself so thoroughly into each affair that she often ends up assuming the role of party planner to ensure that every element is attended to. For the first time, I began to feel that this was really a viable alternative and I wasn’t merely going through the motions to eliminate it as a possibility. We planned a menu, she explained how the room would be arranged and we went through a checklist of optional services. Another pleasant surprise was the bottom line—we were actually slightly under budget, which provided some much welcomed breathing room. Realizing that I was still not completely convinced, Touna offered customer references who would share their party experience and help put to rest any of my remaining reservations. The first reference I called raved so much about how pleased she was with the Bar Mitzvah she catered with Touna, that I didn’t even bother calling the second. I booked my date for the hall, approved the menu and turned my attention to the other myriad tasks I would need to complete before the Bar Mizvah. Between a traumatic crisis with my gown, finding a photographer at the last minute and preparing for the Sebbet which would be just days later, I left the affair entirely in Touna’s hands. Brimming with anticipation as I walked into the hall the evening of the Bar Mitzvah, my jaw dropped. I was flabbergasted by the stunning overall appearance of the room—it was more graceful, striking and elegant than I imagined it would be. Tables were smartly set in a navy satin jacquard cloth with a sophisticated white