Weddings in India are about all
family, food and fanfare. With destination and themed weddings soaring high the
good old days where a "Halwai" and his team would whip up meals are now a distant
memory. Exotic food, off beat cuisines, fusion food and some lip smacking
delicacies from regions of India are now on menus curated by professional Chefs
and caterers.
We’ve jotted a few tips to help
you through the process of crafting menus and ensure your guests leave with
happy stomachs and satiated taste buds!
Understand Your Guest List
Before you go about selecting
the cuisine you definitely ought to ponder over guest preferences, nationality,
locality, religious beliefs etc. However do not try and please every single
guest, because that is practically unachievable.
Look to please the majority and you'll be much better off. Having said that,
also bear in mind that your menu is catering to varied taste buds. Do not load
the menu with all of your favorite foods. Even though this is your special
day, not everyone likes the same things you do. As much as you want your menus
to be unique, leave scope for some mainstream preparations. Not every guest
likes experimenting with food and may seek some common food to keep them
satiated. Try to hit all the bases with
your spread: beef, seafood, poultry and vegetables. If you're having a pasta
bar and always order spicy arrabiata sauce, make sure there's also a milder
option for those who aren't big on heat.
Take Time to Sit and Discuss Preferences with the Chef
Arrange a meeting with the Chef/Caterer to share your preference s. If
you have special requests for Jain meals, gluten free meals, meals without egg
or nuts etc. Be sure to communicate in advance. Most hotels make provision to
accommodate these requests. If you seek exotic food such as sushi, lobsters etc
confirm the supplement cost applicable to avoid any last minute surprises. You could either personally take up all menu
related discussion personally with the Chef or have your event planner
coordinate the same. Have your Chef arrange a food tasting to check on the flavors and presentation of the food that will be served to your guests. While
you might want perfection, do not be too imposing, check on the strengths of
the culinary team you have roped in and use them. It’s wiser to let the Chefs
showcase their expertise instead of trying to crack your grandma’s recipes.
Although you’re dealing with culinary experts the end result is most likely
going to differ from what your grandma made.
If you are really keen on including a traditional dish and want to
nail the authenticity, then bringing a "Maharaj" who is an expert with the dish
is the best thing to do. Check with your hotel on their policy for letting in
external Chefs.
Go Local and Fresh
With tremendous progress in transportation, raw material can be
sourced by the caterer/hotel quite easily. However nothing beats fresh and
seasonal produce from the local markets. Consult your chef to check on the
ingredients that will be available in the season that you plan your wedding and
then craft your menu around those. Using fresh, seasonal ingredients also
enhances the flavor while helping you contain catering costs. Adding some flavorful touches native to your wedding destination is also a good idea.
Consider The Season,Time and Venue
Serving spicy food in hot summer weather is not the best idea! You’d
rather have food which has a cooling effect and helps your guests beat the
heat. Popsicle's, watermelon based drinks, fresh salads and finger food works
best for day events by the pools or outdoors. Some warm soups, live grills, and
warm desserts will help your guest’s battle events in the open against cold
winter nights.
Interactive Food Counters
Live food counters; wherein your guests can interact with the Chefs
preparing their meals is great way to have your guests flavor preferences
included in the food they eat. Live
stations also send out wafting aroma around your wedding venues that is bound to make your guests drag themselves to the food stations to find out whats cooking.
Watch The Serving Size
Meals at weddings mean your guests have a plethora of options to
choose from. Most guests would love to try and taste everything on the menus.
Having small portion sizes helps guests try out all the options without having
to worry about wasting food.
Do Not Eliminate Indian Food
While international flavors are loved by most, having some Indian
options on the buffet is a safe bet for those to prefer familiar flavors. The
situation works the other way round as well, if you have international guests,
do not go overly Indian. Balance is the key.
Add Personal Touches
Share the story of your relationship through your menu by serving
dishes inspired by special moments, memories or things you love to do together.
Right from Chaat Dates, to the food you enjoy the most as a couple. You could
even rename some dishes to add a fun element or have mini easel stands
explaining the concept behind choosing a particular dish or food. Some Pastry
Chefs can also curate desserts with your initials or caricatures.
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