100 Layer Cake

When searching for a catering company for our wedding we needed someone who would respect our overall philosophy of local and seasonal foods. The company we went with was a restaurant which also had a catering operation, called Prune Restaurant. It helped that my husband had eaten there many times and knew the kind of food they served. Plenty of my friends wedding locations dictated their catering. Some venues have contracts with specific vendors and caterers. They will charge you a fee to use someone else or simply not let you. If you do have a choice make sure you do your research. If you find a company that sounds good, but you have never had their food, ask for referrals.

The girls at 100 Layer Cake and I checked in with some of our favorite foodie friends all over the country to see what the cool more boutique caterer’s were in their cities. Here is our short list by city.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Fork & Spoon Productions
Taste Catering

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Animal Restaurant
Heirloom LA
Love Catering
Pure Joy Catering
Serves You Right Catering
The Food Matters

NEW YORK/BROOKLYN
Cleaver Company
Mamma Duchess
Marcey Brownstein
Roquette Catering
Stuart & Welch
The Red Table

ATLANTA
Avalon Catering

SEATTLE
Mangetout Catering
Herban Feast

BELLINGHAM, WA
Ciao Thyme

MEMPHIS
Another Roadside Attraction Catering

VANCOUVER
Savoury Chef

Who are some of your favorites?

{photo c/o a la mode & Mel Barlow of Clever Co.}

The knitty gritty: venues, tastings and meal options

I was very fortunate to have my wedding at my childhood home. However, before coming to that final decision I did my fair share of research of venues all over New York state. Farms, lofts, vineyards…you name it. All of the venues had different food options. Some had standard catering companies you had to use and others you had to bring in your own. Through the whole process even with our own caterer I went with the old standard saying, “It doesn’t hurt to ask”.

Below is some insight into three major components of choosing, eating and loving your wedding food!

THE VENUE
If there is a standard menu or you feel like your options are limited due to the venue or budget you still can ask some important questions. Remember: It never hurts to ask!! Trust your caterer. Make sure you feel comfortable with them or a member of their team.  Food always taste better when it is in season.  Still stuck? Ask if the caterer can recreate a dish that is meaningful to you and your husband. An appetizer from your favorite local restaurant or a type of cuisine you had in another country. Finally, if there is no room for being creative ask if you can bring in your own cake or some form of dessert.

TASTINGS
There is usually a charge per person attending the tasting. Or a caterer will ask you to have the event contract signed for them to do the tasting. Bring another person with you, fiancé, family member or wedding planner. Talk to your caterer.  Make sure you know exactly what they will be serving you. You have to be able to make compromises for cost and for staying in season. Try to do your tasting closer to your wedding date. If you do a tasting in the winter for a summer wedding you will not have the same ingredients. Questions to ask yourself before the tasting: Do you have to try every one of your passed appetizers? Do you have to taste the salad?

FAMILY STYLE, PLATED AND APPETIZERS ONLY
Like any aspect of a wedding the way you present it can make such a difference. Family style service was a hit at our wedding and does not have to translate into a casual wedding. People were so excited to tell me how nice it was to share food with other guests at the table. Fish, poultry and meat can all be done in this family style atmosphere. A twist on the formal plated meal is duo plates.  Putting smaller portions of two different types of food on the same plate. Think lobster and steak. A new trend for the reception is heavy appetizers with beer, wine and maybe one specialty cocktail. A hit for people doing any size wedding who want it to feel more like a cocktail party then a traditional wedding.

Tomorrow…caterers. The ones you might not know about in your city…Check back in for a food filled Wednesday post.

Do you have any good tasting suggestions or fun ways you have seen food served at a wedding?

chow, Sarah

{photo c/o Scott Clark Photo, a la mode, Davina+Daniel}

Hi Sarah here, I always liked food but when you marry a chef you start to LOVE IT.  Right when we got engaged people asked, “who is catering your wedding??”  We knew the food would be the focal point of our entire event. The way it was presented, served and tasted would set the tone for our party. For me the whole process of designing our menu was memorable. Yes, having a fiancé that knew some insider info was helpful, but I really learned a lot from collaborating and listening to my wedding planner, adhering to the budget and having a clear vision on the taste, feel and look of our wedding. I wanted to share some advice and lessons I learned along the way with the awesome 100 Layer Cake readers.

photo by Davina+Daniel

Here are my thoughtful ways to relax, appreciate and eat your way through your wedding.

Enjoy it! You spent the money to have it there for people to enjoy and help create a memorable event in your life. Make sure you sit down or at least take a private moment to have a bite!

I’ll be back tomorrow to discuss the knitty gritty of tastings, venues and meal options. In the meantime, what wedding food memories are you still salivating over?

chow, Sarah