Do You Need a Kids’ Menu for Your Wedding?

Having kids at your wedding can be a great way to make it a family friendly event. While some couples choose to invite children for the ceremony only, others will also want to include little ones at their reception. As you choose your perfect wedding menu, though, should you also plan a second menu for the kids?

In many cases, this decision comes down to the type of food you want to serve and the age of the children attending, and how many kids will be at your wedding. In general, teenagers can be expected to eat the same menu as the rest of your guests. Younger children might be better with a simpler menu, or foods they are more familiar with. You can consult with the parents to find out what their kids will or won’t eat.

When you work with your San Diego wedding caterer, you can discuss menu options that are suited to children and how to include them. You might find that the delicious sliders you’re planning for your cocktail hour are also the perfect main course for your younger guests!

If you’re still looking for the right caterer for your San Diego wedding, give us a call today!

How to Choose a Wedding Cake

The cake is more than just a dessert for your wedding -- it’s the centerpiece of your reception. Along with the bride’s dress, it’s probably the part that your guests are most looking forward to seeing. Anyone with a sweet tooth with all be dying to get a taste of what you have chosen. This is why choosing the right wedding cake can be so important.

While you might want to focus on flavor, it’s also important to consider size. If you’re not using the cake as your dessert, your guests will want smaller slices, which will mean a smaller cake. If you’re planning on keeping the top tier, you won’t want to include it in the number of slices available to serve to guests.

The size of your cake will also have an impact on the style of cake you choose, but in most cases you’ll be able to choose between the most popular tiered and non-tiered styles. Any cake can be decorate to fit your wedding theme.

Of course, this isn’t to say that flavor isn’t a big concern! You’ll want something delicious and truly special for such a big day. We can create a variety of special flavors that aren’t your ordinary vanilla, but can also make your classic favorites. To find out more about the perfect cake for your San Diego wedding, give us a call today!

Great Events With Authentic Flavors

Authentic Flavors recently catered some great events that we wanted to share with you.

The Not Wedding

Imagine going to a bridal show where you get to see all of the greatest wedding vendors showcasing their best work, rather than only getting to see their talent you get to experience it as you would at an actual wedding!

This is the concept of The Not Wedding where brides to be get to be guests at a fake wedding.  The Not Wedding made its premiere here in San Diego this month at the incredible event venue The New Children's Museum and was headed up by the talented Couture Events team.  

Authentic Flavors Fine Catering & Events was thrilled to be one of the caterers asked to participate and showcase our fine cuisine at this fun and innovative show!

Hotel Del Coronado Wedding Show

Spring has just arrived and that means wedding season is kicking off and we couldn't be more excited! 

With the many great weddings we have coming up this year, Authentic Flavors Fine Catering & Events wanted to give those newly engaged the opportunity to taste what we're all about at the recent Hotel Del Coronado Wedding Show.  

Being a full service caterer with an in house bakery we thought we'd show off a few of our gourmet desserts. Partnering with Kathy Wright & Co. as well as The Invitation Factory, Bouffant Hair, APR Fine Linens, Hire Elegance and Classic Party Rentals in the "high tea" area we invited guests in to have tea with the queen and her friends and enjoy desserts such as our mini white chocolate crusted fruit tartlets, bite sized caramel dipped and sugar coated apples and  crème brulee cheesecake bites.  

The show was a great success and co-owner, Justin Fitzgerald, had the delight of meeting luxury wedding extraordinaire Grace Ormonde and discussing exquisite weddings with her.   

Maserati

Authentic Flavors Fine Catering & Events had the privilege to partner with Maserati for their launch event, unveiling the luxurious, newly re-designed Quattroporte.  

VIP Guests sipped champagne & wine as they enjoyed savory hors d'oueuvre, such as petite seared filet mignon on truffled polenta and duck confit risotto bites.

To find out what we can do for your next event, give us a call today!

Oscar-worthy Party Food

We love awards season, and the Oscars are an unbeatable show. If you're throwing an Oscar party, you'll want your menu to be award-winning, too.

There are plenty of ways to make your Oscar party food really stand out. You can have a nine-course meal with each course themed to each of the year's Best Picture nominees.

In most cases, the best bet is to go with a menu full of food your guests are bound to love. Even if the menu items have nothing to do with your party's theme, your guests will appreciate the top quality food. Good food goes with any type of party.

If you aren't sure about what to serve at your Oscar party, or any event you have coming up in the San Diego area, get in touch today. We're happy to discuss how we can help you have the perfect menu for any party!

Louis Vuitton VIP Event at Neiman Marcus

Authentic Fine Catering & Events was selected to cater the Louis Vuitton VIP event at Neiman Marcus on November 8th.  Guests enjoyed savory treats including:

• Smoked Salmon Rosette on artisan brioche with Lemon Crème fraîche
• Caviar
• Sesame seared Ahi on top of a Wonton Crisp with Soy Aioli, Ginger, Cucumber, Diakon Sprouts and Orange Zest

Authentic Flavors Fine Catering & Events provided all of the food...

Neiman Marcus also recently launched their new CUSP department on October 25th at Fashion Valley Mall.  As shoppers browsed through the new fashion, they were treated to delicious bites from Authentic Flavors Fine Catering & Events such as:

• Cherry Tomato 'Globes' with Basil and Mozzarella Brunoise
• Key Lime Cheesecake bites.

What fantastic events these were!  We are so honored to have been a part of them.  Do you have a special event coming up?  Every event is better with great food.  Please let us know if we can cater an event for you. 

Wedding Cheese Boards

California is one of the best cheese producers in the country, so why not celebrate about it in your wedding menu? A cheese board is a great addition to, or even alternative to, your dessert course.

Here are some tips for a great cheese board:

• Choose a variety: The best cheese boards have a wide selection of cheese types. Include strong and mild, soft and hard.

• Include other foods: While a traditional cheese board might only have cheese, your guests might appreciate having crackers and fruit to go with the cheeses.

• Include descriptions: If you’re having waiter service, make sure they know some details about everything. If you’re having one per table, have the boards labeled with some basic information about where the cheese was produced and what the flavor is like.

• Make sure there are vegetarian options: Many types of cheese aren’t suitable for vegetarians. You don’t need to have soy cheese, but do make sure there is one or two cheese types that your vegetarian guests can enjoy.

However you want to put together your cheese boards, we’re happy to help with great presentation and top quality ingredients for this and all your wedding foods.

Ideas for Providing Sweet Wedding Treats

If you have a sweet tooth, we think you should be able to indulge it on your wedding day! 

Some clever ideas and fantastic presentation will make the hearts of your guests truly melt. 

Why not use some of these options at your San Diego reception venue?

• For a really pretty look, place delicate cake stands on each table.  It’s easy to offer a selection of cakes that have soft pink or blue icing and butterfly, bow or flower decorations.
  
• To give your guests an energy boost during the dancing, chocolate lollipops presented on silver platters are a fun option.  If they’re large enough, you could even have them personalized with your initials.
  
• If you really want to go for it, set up a ‘sweet table’ and put trays of cakes, jars of candy and iced biscuits on a table decorated with bright jazzy colors.
  
• Treats shaped in the letters that make up ‘I love you’ or hearts are a lovely little thought for favors or throughout the day.
  
• There are few things more decadent than a rich chocolate mousse with extra cream and bite-size pieces of fruit.
  
• You could even sweeten up the cocktails you offer by choosing strawberry mojitos or a fruity summer punch.

We can provide the ideal sweet treats for your San Diego wedding menu.  Please give us a call to chat things through.

La Jolla Spotlight Dinner with Duncan Sheik

We recently had the privilege of catering a La Jolla Spotlight Dinner, which was featured in Riviera Magazine.

The event was filled with fun, laughter, and the amazing Duncan Sheik performed.

The menu we served: 

FIRST COURSE DUAL

PALM HEARTS AND ORANGE SALAD

With Avocado Vinaigrette, Shaved Radishes,

Sliced Red Onion, and Crispy Homemade Croutons

CREAM OF SWEET CORN BIQUE

With Tiger Prawns and Coriander Butter

*Option without prawns

QUICK BREAD

With Spanish Olive Oil

MAIN COURSE

TRADITIONAL SPANISH PAELLA

A mixture of Red and Green Peppers in Saffron Rice with Red Onion, Chorizo

Prawns, Mussels, Clams, Halibut, and Chicken

With a Micro Green and Cilantro Garnish

GRILLED VEGETABLE PAELLA

For Vegetarians

*The Sweet Ending*

COCONUT CASHEW FLAN

Sprinkled with Chocolate Shavings

Gourmet Coffee

Freshly Brewed Decaffeinated and Regular Coffee

Half & Half               Sugars            

What a magical night.  

If you'd like us to cater your next La Jolla event, please give us a call at 858.404.0606.

Who will cater Brangelina's wedding?

With the engagement announcement of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie we all wonder where their wedding will be held? what wedding dress designer will Angelina wear? how will they involve their children? and our #1 question is what will their menu be?

Brangelina wedding details at ABC.com

We'd like to think that they'll serve something like this:

HORS D’ OEUVRE

Shrimp on the Rocks

Grilled Tequila and Lime marinated Shrimp with a Chili- Lime Aioli on a short Bamboo skewer

Served in a shot glass over black hot rocks

Chicken Saltimboca Bites

Roasted Chicken, Sage, Mozzarella, Wrapped in Prosciutto

White Wine Reduction Drizzle

Petite Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Shooters

Smoked Gouda with Caramelized Onions on Marble Rye

ENTREES

Filet of beef

Seared and roasted to perfection then drizzled with a Red Wine reduction

ARTICHOKE POTATO GRATIN

Layers of sliced Potatoes and Artichoke Hearts in a classic Mornay Sauce with

Gruyere Cheese

MARINATED GRILLED VEGETABLES

Red Pepper, Portobello and Asparagus in White Truffle Oil and Sea Salt

TUSCAN CHICKEN

Boneless breast of Chicken filled with Goat Cheese, Feta, Basil and Sun dried Tomatoes

Served with a Lemon and White Wine Cream Sauce

Garnished with Diced Tomatoes and fresh Basil

SAFFRON RISOTTO

Arborio Rice, Garlic, Peas, Asparagus Tips, Thyme and Shaved Asiago

MIXED VEGETABLES

Asparagus, Carrot, Blue Lake Green Bean, and Red Bell Pepper sautéed in Extra Virgin Olive Oil

MACADAMIA NUT CRUSTED HALIBUT

Halibut crusted in crushed Macadamia Nuts

Mango Salsa-Citrus Zests-Red Pepper Confetti

COCONUT RICE

GRILLED ASPARAGUS

Fresh spears of Asparagus drizzled with Hazelnut Oil

What do you think?  Does the menu above look good to you?  It's our most popular wedding menu but comes without the celebrity wedding price tag.  Interested?  Give us a call at (858) 404.0606 to discuss your San Diego wedding catering needs.