When
the vows have been said and the photographs have been taken,
celebrate your union with a memorable feast that marries exciting
flavours and texture
When it comes to weddings, the one thing that will linger
in everyone else’s memory long after the big day is
the reception, except for the bride and the groom who are
usually too excited to eat. And when the guests are satisfied,
you’ll get to know about it. “The food was delicious!”
“Out of this world cocktails!” If you start hearing
negative comments or nothing at all, that’s when you
start wondering.
You only get one chance to get it right, so it’s important
to find the right caterer who will create not only fresh,
delicious food, but will also provide an excellent service
for the right price. Families and guests may have driven long
distances or even flown miles to attend your big day, so they
deserve more than just the usual pineapple and cheese on a
stick or plates of cold sausage rolls. Fortunately, there
are now several innovative caterers who are giving their clients
better quality instead of just quantity, and creative menus
and ideas to give your wedding reception that extra bit of
‘wow’ factor.
CULTURAL COMBINATIONS
The British palate has become more and more adventurous over
the past decade or so, enticed by an influx of restaurants
and chefs serving dishes inspired by exotic flavours from
around the world. This culinary revolution has caught the
imagination of many caterers and clients alike, and weddings
are catching up on the trend.
So it’s not surprising to find a spitroast taking pride
of place in the dining hall, happily cooking away while guests
sip their champagne. It’s unusual and fun, and sets
the mood for a more friendly, casual gathering. Many caterers
now offer this service but why not go the whole hog and serve
your famished guests a ‘braai’, South Africa’s
version of the Spitroast, from Nyama Catering, Ltd. When asked
what makes their spitroast different from the rest, George
Zaayman, co-owner, confides that they use ‘a special
South African basting sauce.’ A Spitbraai is perfect
for outdoor summer wedding receptions but also works indoors
because they use a specially designed gas-driven unit that
allows them to roast with ‘no smoke and no mess’.
It takes two hours to cook lamb and about three hours for
pork, and they arrive well ahead of time to make sure the
roast is ready when the guests are. The braai meister will
carve the meat and let it baste and simmer in their secret
BBQ sauce for another 10-15 minutes. Guests come around to
the Spit where they are served the roast and other side dishes.
Second and third helpings are encouraged and if you’re
lucky, you might even get to take some home.
Nyama’s menu offers a range of dishes to complement
the braai. Bobotie is a traditional Cape Malay dish made from
minced beef and spices, covered in a savoury egg yolk, baked
in the oven and served with yellow rice. For dessert there’s
the Malva Pudding, a sweet pudding of Dutch origin served
with custard or ice cream.
FEAST
OF FLAVOURS
Presentation is just as important as the wedding breakfast
and buffet. Beautifully arranged floral centrepieces and elegant
settings that add a personal touch make a world of difference.
When hiring caterers, it’s important to discuss your
style and particular preferences for table settings –
tablecloths, cutlery, candles, etc. Create your own favours
which can be edible ones or keepsakes.
The choice is yours. Deciding the wedding breakfast menu is
quite straightforward whereas the evening reception requires
some thought. A themed buffet with myriad textures, tastes
and aromas provide guests with a unique and unforgettable
culinary experience. Ambassador Catering of Henley on Thames
offers interesting ideas like a Seafood Bar with Ice Sculptures
and Carvings. Children will
love an Ice Cream Kart using an old-fashioned bicycle or van.
A Creperie with sweet and savoury fillings will go well with
a Chocolate Fountain. Add a taste of the Orient with a Japanese
and noodle stand.
A sample of their hot buffet menu includes Thai Green Chicken
Curry, Salmon Fillets with
Herb & Citrus Crust, Stir-fried Vegetables with Ginger
Noodles and Aubergine Moussaka with
Ricotta topping. An accompaniment of Saffron Rice, New Potatoes,
Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables, Spicy Couscous or Tossed
Green Salad / Mixed Salad creates balance.
Hot and Cold Canapes can include Avocado Drop-Scones topped
with Caramelised Balsamic Shallots & Crème Fraiche,
Shots of spicy Gazpacho and Cherry tomato, pesto & mozzarella
Kebabs. And if we may suggest some of our favourites, how
about vegetarian sushi, shrimp and vegetable tempura, crispy
Peking Duck with pancakes and mini roast chicken buns.
Go Continental and add some Latin passion to your wedding
celebration with Spanish Tapas, Paella and Sangria. Round
this off with a fiery Flamenco dance show. For dessert, Portuguese
Custard Tarts (Pasteis de Natas) are to die for. Each nata
is a crisp puff pastry shell with a custard crème brulee
filling. Another dessert repertoire that goes well with brewed
coffee or tea is the French Macaroon – light almondbased
egg white cookies with a light creamy filling infused with
a choice of pistacchio, vanilla, raspberry, coffee, chocolate
and lemon flavours. They are usually imported from France,
but are now available in the UK. Harrods Food Hall supplies
Laduree Macaroons.
SMASHING
COCKTAILS
Some say that drinks are more important than the food. We
believe you shouldn’t compromise on either one, and
satisfying everyone is the biggest challenge, and almost impossible,
when you have a budget. Having said that, you can still get
creative with your drinks without necessarily breaking the
bank. Ditch the usual Buck’s Fizz and treat everyone
to more exotic drinks. Cocktailmaker has a range of concoctions
for merrier celebrations.
They’ll mix a Fraise Royale or Absolutely Fabulous for
arriving guests, and a Caribbean Champagne or Bellini for
the soon-to-be blushing bride. We say, a wee dram of single-malt
whiskey always works for the nervous Groom. Cocktailmaker’s
arsenal of alcoholic and non-alcoholic tipples can be made
to complement your theme, colour and style, and they’ll
even create a “signature” cocktail especially
for the occasion. You can hire a bar complete with drinks,
glasses and bartender, or supply your own drinks and just
hire the bartender. Whichever way you arrange it, they have
a fantastic menu of cocktails to make you giddy.
If you decide you want something out of the ordinary but don’t
want to spend a fortune, it might help to:
-
Decide what types of wines and cocktails you want served
at the reception.
- How
many of your guests are boozers and how many are teetotal.
- Stock
up on booze and wine. Start early and get them during the
sales and from dutyfree shops when you travel. Find a safe
place to stash them away from temptation.
- Set
aside a bit more than your actual drinks
budget.
CHOCOLATE
FOUNTAINS
Chocolate fountains are now de rigueur at wedding receptions
and parties, and if there isn’t one, be prepared for
an uprising from your guests. In response to escalating demands
for chocolate
fountains, caterers like the Big Chocolate Fountain Company
have come up with different flavours and more tempting dips.
Choose from milk, dark or white chocolate or indulge your
favourite from a selection of caramel, milk with hazelnut,
strawberry, orange, lemon/lime and
cappuccino. We recommend you stick to the tried and tested
dark chocolate option which
tastes better and is also healthier than the sickly sweet
milk or white option.
Talking about dips, The Big Chocolate Fountain Company does
not set a limit on how many you can have. Others charge for
a bigger choice. Apart from the usual fruits, their scrumptious
dips include marshmallows, profiteroles, mini donuts, sweet
bananas, Biscotti, pretzels, fudge and dried apricots. A uniformed
staff will assist guests and keep the supply fresh.
THE
PERFECT MATCH
Whether you choose your own caterer or go with the venue’s
in-house caterers, keep in mind that some guests may have
dietary requirements (Gluten Free, diabetic, vegetarian, peanut
allergies). It’s always best to check well in advance.
As a rule-of-thumb, a well-balanced breakfast menu and buffet
that combines a selection of salads, meats, fish, vegetables
(fresh and cooked) and a combination of fresh fruits and devilish
desserts are always appreciated by guests.
Try to avoid a spread with too many spicy foods and wheat
products like stodgy breads, pizzas, processed food and meat
pies. Delicious food does not necessarily mean spending a
fortune. You just need a bit of creativity and imagination
– and there’s a host of brilliant caterers out
there who can help make your special day one to remember for
many, many years to come.
Further
information
Cocktailmaker
Tel: 01494 786 969
www.cocktailmaker.co.uk
Nyama Catering Ltd.
Tel: 07745 558 854
www.nyama-catering.co.uk
Ambassador Catering Co. (Henley) Ltd.
Tel: 01235 519 222
www.ambassadorcatering.com
Big Chocolate Fountain Company
Tel: 01753 860 563
www.bigchocolatefountain.com
Catering Options
Tel: 01344 411 288
www.catering-options.co.uk
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