Staying Seasonal for Your San Diego Wedding

While the temperatures might not have dropped just yet, we are approaching fall. If you’re planning an autumn wedding, it’s a good idea to consider a seasonal menu for your food.

While the southland provides year-round fruit and vegetables, there are some seasonal variations that you can take advantage of. Some of the fall produce, such as apples, can be a great way to bring an autumnal feel to your menu, even if the weather’s warm. Other foods, like artichokes, are at their best this time of year and offer excellent flavors for your menu.

Much of creating a seasonal menu is in knowing the perfect ways to combine the flavors of the produce. Of course, you’ll also want something that looks beautiful on the plate! When you have fresh food, great recipes, and beautiful presentation, you’re sure to have the perfect wedding menu. Top this off with the right drink pairing and you can be guaranteed you and your guests will love every bite.

To find out what we can offer for your San Diego wedding, whatever season it’s in, give us a call today!

How Much Food Should You Have at Your Wedding?

You want your San Diego wedding to be something to remember, but you don’t want guests’ memories to be of how hungry they were. However, you also don’t want to end the day with loads of wasted food. When you work with an experienced wedding caterer, you won’t need to worry about either extreme!

One of the big mistakes people make in trying to cater their own event is under- or overestimating how much their guests will eat. It’s not as simple as figuring out a meal for four guests, or even a dozen guests. When you have a larger guest list, you need to take all sorts of things into consideration.

A professional caterer will also be prepared for the inevitable problems that arise at any event. If you’ve asked guests to choose their meal in advance, some will insist on changing their mind on the day. If you have a buffet, a few items will be unexpectedly popular. A caterer knows that this is bound to happen, and can prepare for it.

Of course, the biggest advantage of working with an experienced wedding caterer is that you don’t need to worry about the food on your big day. You can focus on enjoying your wedding and celebrating with friends while enjoying some fabulous food! To find out what we can do for your San Diego wedding, get in touch today!

How to Prepare Your Wedding Bar

Along with great food, your guests will be looking for great drinks at your wedding reception. This means planning the perfect wedding bar.

• Full open bar: This is the most expensive type of bar, and means that your guests will have pretty much any drink, with any brand, and not need to pay anything (though guests are always encouraged to tip the bartender). Your guests will love the free choice, but it could cost you around a third of your overall budget.
• Limited open bar: Whether you limit the available drinks to beer and wine, house brand cocktails, or a signature drink, this can help you save money while not costing your guests on a per-drink basis. The key is to offer some choice, but not every choice. This is often paired with offering wine during the meal and a glass of champagne for the cocktail hour and toasts.
• Cash bar: While your guests might not be thrilled with a cash bar, it will certainly help your budget. Consider offering wine during the meal, and a glass of champagne or cocktail during the cocktail hour or toasts. Your guests will still be able to drink whatever they choose, they’ll just need to be prepared to pay for it.

Your choice of bar type is really down to you, your budget, and any potential concerns you have about guest behavior. To find out more about creating the perfect bar for your San Diego wedding, get in touch today!

Tasty Spring Food Trends

Spring is a great season for food. Even though we don't suffer too much from cold here in San Diego, it's still great when the weather warms up a bit more and everything starts growing. This is reflected in the best spring dishes, too.

Lamb is at its best in spring, and now's a great time for this meat. With a texture similar to beef, it can be used in beef's place in lots of recipes. Lamb is also perfect with mint, and a salad with thinly sliced lamb and a drizzle of mint dressing is a beautiful starter.

Speaking of salads, spring is a great time for transition salads. For these, think about the salads that don't rely on a big pile of iceberg lettuce, though! Marinated vegetables, flavorful cheeses, and grains like quinoa are perfect in spring salads.

Spring is also a time to think ahead towards summer. Don't be afraid to add a bit of spice into your spring menus, and a bit of heat can be a nice reminder that summer is only a few months away.

To find out more about perfect spring menus, get in touch with us! We're happy to discuss how we can help with your next San Diego event!

Get Inspired by Oscar Winners

Looking back at last night's Oscar winners, we can't help but think of the food. Two of the year's best films, Best Picture winner Argo and Best Director Ang Lee's Life of Pi, both bring to mind some great menu choices.

With Argo's Iranian setting, we think of all the great foods the Middle East has to offer. Wonderful dips like hummus are great for weddings and can be served at a cocktail hour, or as a family style starter. For a main, consider the richly spiced lamb dishes from the region or a vegetarian option of falafel. The delicious tastes of figs, nuts, and honey are perfect for light dessert options.

From Life of Pi we can put together an Indian feast. The subcontinent has plenty of regional variety, so there's something for everyone. Whether you prefer the spicy curries of Madras or the creamy coconut-infused flavors of Northern Indian kormas. With a variety of breads, rice, and condiments, there is a lot of choice for any guest.

Whatever your flavor preferences, you can find something exotic and exciting for your wedding. Get in touch with us for more great menu inspiration for your San Diego wedding or event.