insideKENT Magazine Issue 95 - February 2020 | Page 50

WEDDINGS
WEDDING MENU CONT.
Step 3. Tastings
Probably the most important and most enjoyable
part of choosing your menu will be the tastings! How
this happens will of course vary, for instance, we
love our couples to attend a group tasting day to
choose their menu. We invite 8 couples to each one
and they all choose two dishes from each course,
this allows everyone to see all the dishes plated and
garnished, and to try everyone of them. We also add
in a large selection of canapes, as well as a few new
dishes that aren’t on our menus yet.
otherwise a few weeks later you may not be able to
recall as easily which were your favourite canapes,
amendments you wanted to make, or ingredients
you wanted to tweak. We always give our couples a
printed menu and a pen to score as they go, but
couples have still called me months later to ask if
they preferred the noodle wrapped prawns or the
gin-cured salmon canape (I had no idea either but
they went prawns!)
the day, leading to disappointment (and chaos!). We
do however believe that if the bride and groom have
different favourites from the tasting they should have
both for the top table on the day (Rule No 1 - The
top table can have anything they want!) And if
grandad doesn’t eat lamb then by all means we will
serve him a lovely alternative. But to make life simple,
but still delicious, opt for a set menu; we can always
send a vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and dairy free
alternative (and something for Grandad).
Step 4. Checking Dietary Requirements
And Enjoy!
When trying the dishes at your tastings, make sure
you consider the season in which you are getting
married. With winter weddings you will want a little
more of the comfort factor in your menu, with
seasonal ingredients; such as a lovely autumnal dish
of pork fillet stuffed with roasted plums, pears and
dates with a Baharat spiced crust, served with a plum
and port sauce on a creamy mash. Whereas for
summer, a lovely fresh dish of honey roast saddle of
lamb stuffed with spinach, basil and pine nuts, new
potatoes with lemon and mint oil, and bowls of
salads, is a great light choice.
What we love about the tastings is how couples
go out with a completely different idea of their
menu, last year after we created a Keralan spiced
lamb dish for a fusion wedding, another couple
actually chose the spiced chickpea stuffing for the
honey roast saddle of lamb and we tweaked all the
vegetables to make a stunning spiced summery
wedding breakfast with a twist.
However your caterer does your tasting, make
decisions on your menu as soon as possible. It is so
much easier whilst it’s all fresh in your mind,
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Now the menu is chosen, make sure to request dietary
needs when you send out the invitations. This is very
important, we take all allergies and intolerances very
seriously and not just the 14 allergens we need to
declare. Whilst you shouldn’t feel obliged to cater
for every fussy whim, you do need to consider actual
allergies. And if someone tells you they are allergic
to an ingredient please find out how serious it is.
Generally, you shouldn’t need to take allergies into
account when you choose your menu but if it is a
serious allergy it is definitely best to avoid blue lights
turning up half way through the wedding breakfast.
Just make sure you tell the caterer and then leave it
with them, that’s the whole point of the caterer, it’s
now all down to them.
Enjoy finding your perfect caterer, tasting options,
designing your perfect menu, and most importantly,
ensure you enjoy your wedding food on the day!
Chives Catering Ltd. is a multi-award winning, Kent-
based, catering company; available for weddings, parties and
private dining (as well as feeding HM The Queen!)
For more information on planning your wedding
(or other party) menu contact wedding guru Debra
& the Team.
www.chivescaterers.co.uk
Step 5. To Choose or Not to Choose? -
That is the Menu Question!
So do you let your guests have a choice of menu?
Personally for us it is always a no, getting your guests
to simply confirm is never as straightforward as it
should be, and that’s without having to collate all
the choices which of course they will all forget on
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