Welcome to our catering corner of the Internet. Kick your feet up, grab a glass of chardonnay and stay a while.
Our miniature brownie tower is quite possibly our favorite dessert for holiday parties and events! You can’t go wrong with these mini chocolate brownies smothered in our signature chocolate ganache, topped with mouth-watering candied pecans then dusted with confectioner’s sugar. Yum!
Our signature vegetarian lasagna is just one of the many examples of entrees available for groups with special needs/requests. Many times wedding parties include people who prefer vegetarian or vegan options or have special health-related dietary restrictions such as diabetic, gluten free, or nut allergies that need to be considered during the menu planning process. We’re happy to accommodate special requests and can include these at no additional charge.
Depending on the menu selections, food and food service can be the largest part of a wedding reception budget, so you’ll want to work with a top-notch professional like Happy Chef Catering. Below is a list of questions we’ll be happy to answer—just give us a call.
Below is a list of the top questions you’ll want to ask before the big day.
1. Does Happy Chef Catering specialize in certain types of food or service?
2. Can Happy Chef Catering provide sample menus or tastings to review selections prior to the event?
2. What is the Happy Chef Catering average price range? Are costs itemized depending on the foods you choose, or is there an all-inclusive flat rate? Will the price include items such as linens, tax, servers, bartenders and gratuity?
3. How involved is Happy Chef Catering in a typical reception? Do you work like a wedding coordinator or banquet manager, cueing the band, telling the couple when to cut the cake, adjusting the schedule if guests don’t seem ready to sit down to dinner?
4. Will Happy Chef Catering provide tables, chairs, plates, table linens, silverware, salt-and-pepper shakers, and other necessities? Does Happy Chef Catering handle all table settings and can you put out place cards and favors?
5. Will Phil personally work with us when planning the event and also oversee meal service on the day of the wedding?
6. Does Happy Chef Catering also do wedding cakes? Is there a cake-cutting fee?
7. Will Happy Chef Catering provide wait staff, bartenders and a clean-up crew? What will the wait staff wear?
8. Is Happy Chef Catering willing to include a recipe you provide, like a special family dish, or an appetizer with some sort of sentimental significance?
9. Can Happy Chef Catering prepare vegetarian, kosher, kids, or vegan meals for just a few of the guests and is there an additional fee for this service?
10. Where will the food be prepared? Are there on-site facilities, or do you, the caterer, and the site manager need to make additional arrangements?
11. If Happy Chef Catering brings their own equipment, is there an additional fee?
12. Does Happy Chef Catering work with fresh (not frozen) food? Are any ingredients locally sourced?
13. Does Happy Chef Catering have a health department license and, if needed, a liquor license?
14. Can Happy Chef Catering provide alcohol or can our wedding party handle the bar separately? If I provide alcohol how and when should I get the alcohol to HCC? Is there a corking fee?
15. If Happy Chef Catering provides alcohol and setups, do you have a flexible wine/spirits list, and can you make special requests?
16. If Happy Chef Catering provides alcohol and setups how is this service priced?
17. How will Happy Chef Catering present the food on the buffet table or the individual plates?
18. Can Happy Chef Catering provide references for similar, previous events?
19. How far in advance do I need to book my event?
The era of the shabby chic wedding is over and the age of elegance and luxury has been embraced. Out go jam jars, soft pastels, birdcages and bunting, in comes Gatsby and Downton Abby, Art Deco, and an abundance of silver and glassware dramatically punctuated by pops of rich, royal purple.
Here are some further wedding food and drink related predictions of what will be popular in 2015.
Elegant, casual dining returns, meaning that every plate is served beautifully presented and ready to eat. This is the way forward in 2015, the end of the British gastro pub-esque carve at the table style that we saw a lot of in 2012 and 2013. I think we need to give this type of elegant casual dining a new name. How about “Smart Suppers”?
Weddings are more intimate with smaller numbers (averaging 120) and an emphasis on really looking after each and every one of your guests. Discreet, attentive and efficient service is key. Carson the butler would approve.
I predict menus focusing on the traditional classics, some expected choices that exceed expectations by being done exceptionally well. Light yet filling options, and very pretty in presentation. For example:
Champagne is making a comeback, replacing Prosecco as the fizz of choice for celebrations
Gin, gin, gin. Cocktails and spirits continue to be huge, but especially specialist G&T’s which have become very popular. Serve them in beautiful 1920s-inspired glasses for that added wow factor.
I think we will see far more classic, seasonal, English ingredients such as rhubarb, asparagus, Jersey Royals and peas… all my favourite things!
Summer
No more table buffets or self-carve… hurray! Guests stay seated and the deliciousness comes to them.
Autumn and Winter
The resurgence of game. Rabbit, venison and pheasant are all appearing on my menus this year.
Article by Julie Gray of Bovingdons, shared from
http://www.theweddingcommunity.com/702/Expert-Advice/Article/2014-2015-Wedding-Food-and-Drink-Trend-Predictions
