Finley Creek Vineyards is bee-friendly

Jacquie Bols, owner of Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering and Finley Creek Vineyards, is all about organic and sustainably produced foods. She is also a lover – and protector – of everything natural and organic. And in addition to the food she prepares, that includes bees.

Finley Creek Vineyards has two thriving beehives filled with active working honeybees. These bees not only work hard to fertilize the flowers, vegetables and grape vineyards on the property, but also help nearby farmers fertilize their corn, soybeans, strawberries, and other crops.

Because we care about all bees in decline across the country, we hope you’ll join us in helping bees stay healthy and sustainable. Bees are needed to keep our food production safe and healthy, too.

Here are some ways you can help:

Bee safe – Use only organically produced, non-chemical soils in your garden and lawn.
Bee vigilant – Buy and plant only untreated natural organic seeds to produce safe flowers and foods in your garden.
Bee sustainable – Landscape with bee-friendly plants, bushes, grasses and flowers that attract beneficial insects like bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators. Compost yard and kitchen waste.
Bee farmer friendly – Support local farmers and producers at farm stands and farmers markets.
Bee Aware – Use only eco-friendly products. Steer clear of “neonic” (bee-killing) chemicals that hide in products in you may use inside and outside your home, including Acetamiprid, Clothianidin, Dinotefuran, Imidacloprid, and Thiamethoxam.

All these products linger on the flowers bees pollinate and can sicken or kill an entire colony.

Bee passionate! Spread the word about organic farming and produce. And keeping bee colonies healthy and thriving, as well as the earth green, healthy and sustainable!

Just making a few thoughtful changes in the products you buy and consume and the practices you employ at home can make a real difference to the natural world we depend on.

Sustainably yours,

Jacquie Bols

Finley Creek is buzzing with excitement!

Russian hybrid bees are the newest fans of Finley Creek Vineyards, the lovely destination for Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering parties.

Located in Zionsville at 795 S. US 421, Finley Creek is charming, romantic, rustic, and the perfect place to host a wedding reception, family reunion, company picnic or corporate retreat.

It’s also the perfect place to start a colony of Russian hybrid bees, and we’re all a-buzz about our new residents!

Our Russian honeybees (Apis mellifera) originated from the Primorshky Krai region of Russia. The strain was imported into the United States in 1997 in response to severe declines in bee populations caused by infestations of parasitic mites. Russian honeybees are resistant to mites, so the bees have hybridized with American honeybees and improved American bee colonies, resulting in healthier bees, and producing more honey.

When you visit Finley Creek’s grounds, you’ll notice we have added three vertical stackable-framed hives.

These lovely handmade wooden hives are a sort of honeybee brood nest, where our Russian hybrids will congregate, take care of their families, and produce honey. This type of framed hive simplifies honey collection since a “box” of honey can be removed from the stack without upsetting the bees in the entire hive.

Will our bees bother our guests? Absolutely not. They are way too busy working to pollinate the flowers and vegetable plants nearby – (and hopefully very soon, our vineyard flowers.)

It takes a lot of bee energy to produce honey, too. You’ll see we have placed our hives in the back of our extensive property. Our bee keepers will be able to access the honey our bees produce later this season. We’ll be using the honey in our farm-to-table organic baking. We can’t wait for you to taste the results!

Our hope is that as our bee colony succeeds and grows, we will be able to sell our all-natural, locally produced Finley Creek honey and honey-made desserts to the public.

Bee on the lookout for interesting bee updates from Finley Creek Vineyards!

2018 food trends to watch

Finley Creek Vineyard stays on top of catering trends and new ways of preparing and presenting various types of food.

As Jacquie Bols, owner of Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering and Finley Creek Vineyard is quick to point out, “Food trends don't suddenly happen. They're expansions of ideas from one end of the country to the other. It’s fun to see where these ideas come from, and where they go.”

Here’s what we expect to see more of, in the coming year:

· Locally-sourced menus continue to gain in popularity. Our customers are looking for high-end locally produced meat and organic greens. It’s part environmental awareness, and equally a celebration of local Indiana cuisine -- which Jacquie's Gourmet Catering is all about.
· Artisanal cheeses, breads, wines, beers -- even artisanal olives and pickles -- are very popular. Our discerning customers want to have handcrafted, specialty foods made with top tier ingredients. Having a selection of artisanal foods on hand is enticing, popular, and is a good way to get guests talking about the great food they are eating.
· High-tech, low-glitz décor is also a trend that is on the rise in Indy. A steadily increasing number of high-end clients are asking for ultra modern events done at venues like urban warehouses and commercial settings.
· Shabby chic is continuing to be on trend. Having an event in a barn like ours at Finley Creek! done up with high-end lighting and chandeliers, candelabras, white tablecloths, and gorgeous arrangements of food is always fun and interesting.
· We’re seeing fewer sit-down, plated dinners. We still do a lot of these, but alternatives are becoming more popular, such as small plate meals, food stations, and dessert-only or hors d'oeuvre-only events.
· Small plates events are as popular as ever.
· Sweet is savory and savory themed meals are big. Offerings like Ice cream or sweet pies with bacon, savory pancakes, or sliders with fruit – that kind of thing. The ideas are endless.
· Specialty drinks are huge right now. So are food and drink pairings. Offering drinks that complement the food — even mini beverages with hors d'oeuvres — is having its moment.

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Don’t see a trend you like here? Talk to us about what you’d like to see us do. At Finley Creek, we are always open to your ideas!

What’s special about Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering?

The best way to answer this question is by asking those we have served.

Here are a few testimonials from our customers (and one from our team):

“I have used other caterers who, despite what I requested, did things their way. When I host a special event, I want a gorgeous assortment of foods laid out in beautiful way, in keeping with my theme. Jacquie’s team listened to my specific requests, checked back with me every step of the way, and provided a stunning event that tasted every bit as good as it looked.”

DH, Carmel

Entree station - Indianapolis wedding caterer

“I work for Jacquie, and see how her meals and parties are prepared from the ‘ground, up.’ She uses local sources for vegetables, herbs and meats. The food she prepares is as natural, sustainable and organic as possible. For instance, meats come from Smoking Goose, This Old Farm, or Gunthorp Farms. Even the coffee is organic. Our preparation is impeccable. I see it close up, every day.”

- Anonymous, Catering Staff

“It was important to me to have a gluten free menu that didn’t taste like cardboard. I was thrilled with the breads and pastries on my menu. They were every bit as delicious as they looked.”

Natalie, Fishers

“I wanted to throw an engagement party for my daughter that was elegant and different. Jacquie’s Catering was up to the task. Her presentation was lovely, from the crystal bowls to the silver trays of appetizers, linen, flowers and candles. The food was amazing -- the hors d’ouevres were delicious, the shrimp was fresh, the sauces were divine, and the pastries just melted in your mouth.”

- Janet, Zionsville

“The service was as impeccable as the food. My guests were treated very politely and my home was in perfect condition when Jacquie’s team left.”

- Carrie, Indianapolis