What do you remember about the last wedding you attended? Can you name one song performed during the ceremony? A typical wedding guest can’t recall nuptial details, but he will remember those amazing petite tomatoes stuffed with quinoa served at the reception.
While the bride and groom hold the spotlight during the ceremony, cuisine steals the scene after the “I do-s.” This wedding season, I’ve seen some definite trends in how couples express themselves through their celebration food.
Celebrating Culture and Ethnicity
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Wedding receptions have evolved from “by the book” events to personalized reflections of the happy couple. One growing trend is menu items inspired by culture and ethnic background.
Recently, I worked with a couple whose parents were from four different countries- the Philippines, Ethiopia, Italy and Zambia. To pay homage to their heritage, we set up three separate buffet areas featuring food from these regions.
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For the African countries, we served red lentils, basmati rice and injera bread which is an African flatbread made of buckwheat and flour. The Philippine buffet offered lumpia, which is similar to egg rolls, and chicken adobo, which is chicken braised in coconut milk. There was an Italian pasta station with bowtie pasta (good for a tuxedo crowd) and saffron herb pasta.
Table décor echoed the African theme. Place settings featured bamboo plate ware with a pair of wooden giraffes with entwined necks. It was a fitting expression of pride and respect for the couple and their united families. The 220 guests celebrated family history through food.
If you don’t want to devote an entire menu to food from one country or region, feature something significant to you. For example, if you have fond memories of your grandmother’s fruit pies, offer mini-fruit tarts as a dessert. You can even have a printed card on the table sharing this precious memory.
Signature Drinks: make a statement and save cash
A signature drink can be anything the couple wants to create for the event. Sometimes couples have something in mind, but often the caterer will work with them to create something for their special day. Signature drinks do not have to include alcohol. Specialty lemonades or teas are a wonderful option.
In creating a signature drink for a wedding, I work off the theme of love and passion using color most associated with love and passion- pinks and reds. Strawberries, blood oranges and, of course, passion fruit are all perfect bases for signature drinks. They can be used in puree form for a lemonade or tea. They can also be incorporated into a bar drink.
Signature drinks also benefit a couple’s budget. When you have many choices for non-alcoholic beverages, your bill will add up quickly. But if you plan a limited drink menu that includes a signature drink & accompanying cocktail, folks rarely miss the sodas. Replace the soda with a signature drink, accompanied by the usual water, tea and coffee options and you’ll save a great deal.
Revved-up Receptions
Post-wedding celebrations often continue late into the night, or early into the next morning. Since most venues require guests to leave at a specified time, they must travel from the reception location to a club or private residence to continue the party. We saw this trend reflected Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding, with Prince Harry throwing the royal wedding after-party.
I’m not sure how they handled it at Buckingham Palace, but I have received more requests recently for “parting foods.” The idea is to offer something simple and guests can grab and go, such as sliders, grilled cheese or pizza. Few, if any, utensils are needed. Parting foods allow guests to fill up and continue the celebration at their next destination.
Regardless of the menu, drinks or after-party plans, a wedding day is a celebration of love and new beginnings. I advise couples to make it personal and remember it always. Enjoy!
Zachary Pope is an award-winning chef and owner of Roundz Catering. He and his family live in Crofton.