Your Kent Wedding - May/June 2020 (Issue 90)

CATERING 93 No meat, no problem Orange marmalade cake Coconut and berry panacotta Apple tarts Summer puddings Chocolate mudballs. Something sweet We provided a fabulous 100 per cent vegan dessert buffet as the final part of a three-course vegan wedding breakfast for a summer wedding in 2019, and the guests were bowled over by how good everything tasted. We served: Clare Smith of Touchays Event Caterers says: There was a time when the only choice for guests with dietary requirements attending a wedding was fish, chicken, pasta or a vegetable stack, but those days are gone. Speciality and dietary restrictions frequently come up when we meet couples at their food tasting: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy- free, nut free, egg free and onion-free are just some examples and some couples are conscious of offering healthy options too. We collaborate with couples to find alternative tailored seasonal dishes, ensuring everyone’s taste buds are tickled! Debbie of Chives the Caterers says: Taking dietary requests seriously is very important. Firstly, we always want every guest to feel looked after, so we’ll ask them to let us know about any requirements. We specialise in vegan, vegetarian and gluten- free food, and have catered for weddings that have purely featured these options. Many dishes can be adapted to become vegan and gluten free, and while this may involve some research and development, we believe it’s worth it to produce an entire platter of vegan or gluten-free canapes, which not only look amazing, but taste great too. This never fails to bring huge smiles to our couples’ faces at their tasting. James Crank, head chef at The Old Kent Barn says: One way to ease the process of catering for those with dietary requirements is to offer an attractive inclusive menu, with options to suit everyone. This way no one is excluded or feels like an afterthought, and your guests will feel like you’ve gone the extra mile for them. Offer dishes that can be interchangeable to meet various needs. For example, you could factor in gluten- and dairy-free choices lending even more flexibility during the planning stage, and leaving you with one less thing to worry about, safe in the knowledge everyone will be catered for. Contact our experts Chives the Caterers , www.chivescaterers.co.uk The Old Kent Barn, www.theoldkentbarn.co.uk Touchays Event Caterers , www.touchays.com www.olegssamsonovsphotography.com Chives the Caterers