NEW YORK – Great Performances, New York’s largest catering and events company, elevates the good old-fashioned “All American” picnic with themed menus, stylish entertainment, and remarkable outdoor locations. Writing a story on Outdoor Events or the modern Picnic and need an expert opinion? Workhouse Publicity is now scheduling appointments with Great Performances’ CEO, Liz Neumark. Interested media should contact Anna De Souza by telephone 212. 645. 8006 or via email at anna@workhousepr.com.

Think and eat outside the boardroom this season at iconic sites such as the Central Park Zoo, Camp Kiwi, campgrounds located in Mahopac, NYand Hudson Hotel at Columbus Circle offering 14,000 square feet of incredible indoor and outdoor spaces. Revel in the sun while enjoying hamburgers and hot dogs right off the grill, freshly picked sweet corn, potato salad, homemade lemonade and sun-drenched watermelon. Leave the picnic basket at home and board the celebrated catamaran Zephyr for a tour of Manhattan while indulging in an al-fresco feast. Indulge on a treasure of Mango and Shiso Marinated BBQ Ribs, Orange and Rosemary Grilled Chicken, Watermelon and Goat Cheese Salad and Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp. Enjoy boardwalk-inspired treats such as popcorn, cotton candy, saltwater taffy and Italian ices with carnival themed fun and games of face painting, balloon art and merry-go-rounds.

Ever since Liz Neumark launched the company in 1979, Great Performances has provided the recipe for stylish summer events. Its stock-in-trade goes far beyond outdoor affairs or picnics, of course. To name just a very few of the high-profile events it has pulled off to delicious acclaim, Great Performances has catered Michael J Fox's star-studded fund-raisers for Parkinson's research, the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations, Mayor Bloomberg's inaugural celebration, and the Warner Music Grammy Party; it also runs the stylish new restaurant at the Asia Society, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Café Opaline at the Dahesh Museum, the Mae Mae Café enoteca di vino, and a number of other fabulous venues around town. Wherever the event, “this exceptionally creative caterer/event-planner specializing in classic American fare garners raves for everything.” Zagat wrote.

Great Performances regularly caters distinctive events for thousands, and is an authority on feeding elegant meals to the rich and famous. Food Arts credited much of Neumark's success to “the wisdom to bring equal enthusiasm and attentiveness to both huge and small bookings.” For more information please visit www.greatperformances.com.

Themed Picnic Menus
The Premiere Grill: Not your run of the mill grill. Land and sea share the fire with these distinguished combinations.
• Black Angus Burgers
• Grilled Seafood Sausage
• Nieman Ranch Organic Hot Dog
• Grilled Tuna Burgers
• Orange and Rosemary Grilled Chicken over Braised Swiss Chard
• Watermelon and Goat Cheese Salad with Mache
• Fennel and Cauliflower Salad with Mustard Dressing
• Red Bliss Potato Salad with Lemon and Oregano
• Assorted Cherry, Peach, Nectarine, Plum and Pineapple Pies
• Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal-Raisin and Butter Cookies

Al Fresco Buffet: Drizzled to sizzle and baked to a berry crisp!
• Buttermilk Marinated Chicken Breast over Sauteed Dandelions
• Mango and Shiso Marinated BBQ Ribs over Glazed Cipollini Onions
• Whole Wheat Pasta with Broccoli Raab, Roasted Tomatoes and Parmesan Cheese
• Summer Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Red Wine Vinegar and Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
• Platters of Green and White Asparagus with Lemon Oil
• Ruby Red Fingerling Potato Salad
• Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp and Blueberry Cobbler with Fresh Sweetened Whipped Cream
• Brownies and Blondies

Great Performances
Established by Liz Neumark in 1979 as a staffing organization, Great Performances provided women in the visual and performing arts the ability to work in the catering industry while pursuing other career goals. Great Performances has been featured in New York Magazine, People, InStyle, Country Living, Bride’s and Martha Stewart Weddings andis the approved caterer at many of New York’s leading cultural institutions. As a result of more than a decade’s worth of work, Great Performances is acknowledged as a leader in high-profile events including the New York wedding of former Mayor Rudolph Giulliani and Judith Nathan. In addition to catering off premise events, Great Performances manages several cafés for leading New York cultural institutions including the Garden Court Café at the Asia Society, BAMCafé at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Café Opaline at the Dahesh Museum, and a café at Wave Hill.  Great Performances operates a 17,000 square foot facility located at 287 Spring Street, which includes a state-of-the-art kitchen facility, offices, tasting rooms, and Mae Mae Café, its own forty seat enoteca di vino. Now scheduling interviews with Great Performances, CEO Liz Neumark. To schedule an appointment interested media should contact Anna De Souza at Workhouse Publicity by telephone 212. 645. 8006 or via email at anna@workhousepr.com For more information please visit www.greatperformances.com