CATERING AND DRINKS 49 LOVE AT FIRST BITE Catering and drink ideas for your big day Deciding on the food and drink for your big day can be a difficult task, between finding a cuisine that everyone will like, catering for dietary requirements and looking for seasonal produce, it can be overwhelming! To help you decide on a showstopping menu, we’ve asked local suppliers to share their seasonal suggestions and top tips… “Fire-roasted root vegetables are the perfect cosy winter dish. Try slow-roasting carrots and beetroot together, baste with balsamic vinegar then serve with smoked salt for an aromatic finish. These would go perfectly with pigs in blankets!” – Eloise from Smoke and Steel. “One of our most popular dishes at this time of year is braised shin of beef, cottage pie and roast celeriac and red wine. These cuts of meat also tend to be cheaper, so the price of your food should reflect this.” – Darren from Carringtons Catering Ltd. “When winter is here, what’s better than a menu consisting of warming and wholesome food, starting with a mug of hot mulled wine? A slow-roasted free-range turkey with traditional pigs in blankets, a selection of winter vegetables, not forgetting cauliflower cheese and roast potatoes, all finished with a classic homemade mince pie with brandy sauce is sure to keep everyone happy.” – Ash from Spitting Pig. “Most of us relish the thought of warm evenings in front of the fire with a glass of red wine and a rather contented stomach. Braised dishes or what is now termed as slow-cooked foods, are symbolic of winter. Think slow-braised beef, or perhaps a classical French dish of ‘pot au feu’ where a whole chicken is gently cooked with root vegetables and maybe some belly pork and lentils all together in one big pot infusing their flavours into each other.” – Darren from Carringtons Catering Ltd. “One of our popular winter wedding drinks is homemade eggnog. This is a seasonal favourite and can be served hot or cold.” – Tom from Kindred Spirit Cocktails. “Sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream and hazelnuts will make those cold months a lot more bearable.” – Jess from Tender Cow. www.carringtons-catering.co.uk and www.facebook.com/mickryanphotography “Why not add leek to cauliflower cheese to add an extra dimension to your dish? Trust me, it tastes amazing.” – Ash from Spitting Pig. “For a winter wedding, go for a toffee apple hot toddy. It’s a big seller in the winter months and a drink that everyone seems to enjoy. Toffee sauce is used to line a glass filled with a double shot of whiskey, spiced rum, fireball, amaretto, and tequila (your choice of spirit) topped off with a hot winter spiced mulled cider.” – Tom from Kindred Spirit Cocktails. Winter “Bleak and harsh as it may be, winter is nature’s invitation for us all to slow down, nourish ourselves and rest our weary bones. We recommend leaning into the more lackadaisical pace of life and indulging in slow-cooked, nourishing dishes to stave off the winter blues. Think venison ragu served with buttery cauliflower puree and cavolo nero; slow braised feather blade with rich mashed potato and greens; buttered sprouts with chestnut puree and pancetta; chestnut mushrooms with spelt and pecorino or smoked creamed leeks with white fish and broccoli served with almonds and romesco.” – Jess from Tender Cow. www.bridgetteibbotsonphotography.com and www.smokeandsteel.co.uk www.claireharrison.com and www.tendercow.uk www.kindredspiritcocktails.com www.spittingpig.co.uk
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=