Winning the wedding

Winning the wedding
Published on Catersource (http://www.catersource.com)
Winning the wedding [1]
Love the food, love the work—the rest will follow
Friday, May 8, 2015 - 12:29
By: Keith Lord [2]
It seems that as soon as we finish up the rush of our busy holiday season the phone starts ringing
with
brides,
newly
thethem
holidays.
We
allour
know
what
happens
next:
tasting
season.
The
first
few
months
ofengaged
our year
are
devoted
to
assisting
these
new
and
grooms
withultimately
their
catering
needs;
wanting
withover
all
our
hearts
to
be
given
the
opportunity
to service.
be
their
partner
on their
special
day
and
to
completely
blow
away
with
level
of brides
food
and
This
gives way to referrals and helps us to form the lasting relationships we want, need, and live for.
How do we do this year after year, couple after couple? Well, that’s actually the easy part. We
accomplish this each year by offering new and exciting products. We accomplish it by staying ahead
of trends—and creating trends; by spending time with each couple and tailoring all of the event
offerings to their palates. Most of all, we do it because we love it. We love more than anything else
when the bride calls us after her honeymoon and says, “My dress was perfect, my hair looked
incredible, and all I keep hearing about is how amazing the food was. Thank you.” That’s where the
love of what we do comes pouring in.
How are we going to keep it fresh this year?
At The Wild Thyme Company in sunny San Diego, we are afforded a very long wedding calendar.
Because of this, we’ve been working on 2015 weddings since last October. Some of the highlights
from last year and proposals for this year include:
Family-style wedding picnics
Public parks, lakes, and other non-traditional, outdoor settings are perfect for this type of wedding.
Picture low tables and gingham, then expand on that and think of all the possibilities with food and
beverage. Sure there’s the grill or barbecue approach, but we think more like roasted red pepper
and eggplant sandwiches with goat cheese, balsamic onions, and field greens wrapped in kraft paper
and tied with twine. Shaved brussels sprout salad with apples and pomegranate. Purple and heirloom
carrot and shaved radish salad with goat cheese. These are all fresh, colorful dishes, sure to wow.
Simple cheese and honeycomb plates. Small lattice-topped berry pies. Plus, Mason jars for ice water
and kumquat lemonade add detail to any table. You can picture it now, right? The feeling is easy to
sell to any couple wanting a whimsical outdoor reception.
Page 1 of 5
Winning the wedding
Published on Catersource (http://www.catersource.com)
Strolling receptions
We’ve seen and experienced a few really amazing restaurants nationally that have taken the dim
sum cart idea and ran with it in a new and upscale, yet approachable way and we like it a lot! At
TWTC we’ve taken this idea to weddings, presenting it as Asian snack foods with a twist for strolling
receptions. The items we use on these menus are also perfect for late night snack or street food
stations. Build some carts and move through the guests offering up items such as gua bao buns,
hoisin braised pork rib with pickled mustard greens, peanuts, spring onions, and five-spice sticky
glaze. Our pan griddled edamame fritters get rim fire sweet chili shrimp and a little hit of buerre
blanc. Our take on dandan noodles includes fresh Chinese egg noodles, ground chicken, scallions,
peanuts, cool cucumbers, and a savory, fiery sauce. Combine Japanese and Korean foods, like kimchi
pancakes with skewers of chicken yakitori for a one-bite flavor explosion. Another fresh option is to
create tiny versions of favorites, such as banh “mini” mi with marinated, glazed chicken, pickled
carrots, daikon, cucumber, cilantro, and spicy aioli. Of course, no strolling reception would be
complete without a showstopper like uni ciabatta, grilled on one side and brushed with melted garlic
sea urchin butter.
Page 2 of 5
Winning the wedding
Published on Catersource (http://www.catersource.com)
Drink up
Page 3 of 5
Winning the wedding
Published on Catersource (http://www.catersource.com)
You have to wash this all down somehow right? Higher-end cocktail mixology is a very hot topic. This
spring and summer we are highlighting our amazing local produce in champagne cocktails, served
with fresh fruit purées and beautiful cocktails garnished with egg white froth and English pea
tendrils. Bourbon cocktails are being mixed with fresh watermelon purée, melted down watermelon
Jolly Ranchers, and a touch of orange to make for a super refreshing summer sipper on hot days.
Use small batch or craft soda bars for DIY ice cream floats. It’s fun to create your own or use
combinations like: orange, jasmine, and nutmeg soda with vanilla bean ice cream; ginger, apricot,
and allspice soda with lime sorbet; pineapple, coconut and nutmeg with lychee ice cream; or
blackberry and pomegranate soda with ginger ice cream.
For an adult version, try using craft or local beer for floats. In San Diego County there are well over
100 craft breweries, and beer-centric menus have become high demand. Our palates countrywide
have become far more educated and demanding as to the way food and beer really pair together.
Beer floats are a cool way to incorporate those flavors in a non-traditional way. Our top selling, and
also our favorite beer for dessert pairings are: Mother Earth Brewing’s Cali’ Creamin’ with housemade vanilla bean ice cream; South Park Brewing’s Oyster Stout with salted caramel ice cream; and
Belching Beaver Brewery’s Peanut Butter Stout with crème fraîche gelato.
Lastly, there’s catering for brunch the morning after! At brunch, skip the juice bar and try “body
shots” instead. Move over wheatgrass! Serve up miniature liquid “cure-alls” such as shots of ginger,
lemon, cayenne, and turmeric for immune boosts. Or try spirulina coconut water to rid the body of
toxins. These shots are super colorful, rehydrating, and replenishing.
Ready, set, impress!
Keith Lord is Director of Operatons and Culinary for The Wild Thyme Company [3], Los Angeles, CA.
TOPICS
Magazine [4] Event Solutions [5] Special Occasions [6] Weddings [7] Food & Beverage [8] Trends &
Page 4 of 5
Winning the wedding
Published on Catersource (http://www.catersource.com)
Style [9]
Source URL: http://www.catersource.com/magazine/winning-wedding
Links
[1] http://www.catersource.com/magazine/winning-wedding
[2] http://www.catersource.com/author/keith-lord-0
[3] http://thewildthymecompany.com
[4] http://www.catersource.com/topics/magazine
[5] http://www.catersource.com/topics/event-solutions
[6] http://www.catersource.com/topics/special-occasions
[7] http://www.catersource.com/topics/weddings
[8] http://www.catersource.com/topics/food-beverage
[9] http://www.catersource.com/topics/trends-style
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