Military Brides

XP: Menu Help

I posted on Food & Cakes to get the opinion of people I don't know, but I figured since this board is MUCH more active that I'd ask you ladies!

Please let me know your thoughts on our menu!  Our caterer asked us to tweak it so we know what we want when we go in for a tasting in May.  Any suggestions or input is appreciated.

We have four dinner stations at our wedding, 8 passed appetizers, and a stationary appetizer bar.

I want them to be cohesive yet distinct.  I want it to be a well rounded meal, with lots of options, without being too weird.  I want people who have an adventurous palette to be happy while people who are more "meat and potatoes" are able to find plenty to eat and enjoy.  I want vegetarians & carnivores alike to be raving about the food.

Do I want too much???  Laughing

We were thinking an international theme, with Mid-East, Europe, Asia, and Latin-America being the different tables.  I know that doesn't lend itself to a cohesive menu, but it might be really fun!

We were thinking:


Passed Appetizers:

Ahi Tuna Taco
Scallop ceviche shooters
Shrimp lollipop with cilantro pesto
BBQ Duck & Wild Mushroom Quesadilla
Foie Gras BLT
Emily’s Pizza (gorgonzola, sauteed onions, pear)
Goat cheese popovers with honey and apricot jam
Stuffed mushroom caps

Stationary Appetizers:

Mediterranean "Grazing Table" - marinated olive medley, vine ripened tomato bruchetta laced with fresh roasted garlic, sundried tomato tapenade with goat cheese, hummus, baba ganouj, marinated peppers, and grilled artichoke hearts.  Accompanied by pita crisps and crostini.

Dinner Stations:

Europe – Risotto Milanese “Martini” Station (served to order in martini glasses with a wide variety of toppings including crab meat, chives, bacon, spinach, mushrooms, shaved beef tenderloin, gruyere cheese, and more)

Mid-East – Rock the Casbah (petite lamb loin, rubbed with Moroccan spices and grilled on site and served with tasty cucumber/yogurt sauce, cous cous tossed with fresh and dried apricots, fresh figs and mint along with curry spiked pumpkin puree)

Asia – Petite grilled salmon filets, brushed with sweet and spicy teriyaki glaze and garnished with black and white sesame seeds and candied orange peel (served cold).  Shrimp lo-mein served in little take-out boxes with optional chopsticks.

Latin America – Marinated carne asada steak with grilled vegetables and red onion marmalade, grilled chicken skewers in a chipotle seasoning, grilled sea bass with fresh mango salsa.

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Anniversary

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Re: XP: Menu Help

  • I like everything, so I will be content when I crash your wedding.
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  • I think you have a great idea but could maybe do a more steak and potatoes thing like you said. I'm super picky and not sure what I'd eat if I were going :/ I would probably do the Latin America station but wouldn't like the marmalade. I think your menu sounds really unique though!
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_xp-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:fa962f56-d170-488a-8397-a37fa930c670Post:7ad96c6b-c686-4b85-bdcf-65805fbcf343">Re: XP: Menu Help</a>:
    [QUOTE]I think you have a great idea but could maybe do a more steak and potatoes thing like you said. I'm super picky and not sure what I'd eat if I were going :/ I would probably do the Latin America station but wouldn't like the marmalade. I think your menu sounds really unique though!
    Posted by Zimsgirl26[/QUOTE]

    Yeah, I thought of that with the marmalade - the sauce is added for each person, though, so they can opt to have it or not.  And the risotto station is sort of instead of potatoes (while I LOVE potatoes, it has a particularly bad childhood memory for FI, so I don't want them at our wedding) - risotto is a pasta dish and they can add whatever they want, including steak or bacon or cheese or whatever!

    Does that make it any more appealing?

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    Anniversary

  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_xp-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:fa962f56-d170-488a-8397-a37fa930c670Post:ebadf789-5bbc-49e7-9f11-c43c31854c99">Re: XP: Menu Help</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: XP: Menu Help : Yeah, I thought of that with the marmalade - the sauce is added for each person, though, so they can opt to have it or not.  And the risotto station is sort of instead of potatoes (while I LOVE potatoes, it has a particularly bad childhood memory for FI, so I don't want them at our wedding) - risotto is a pasta dish and they can add whatever they want, including steak or bacon or cheese or whatever! Does that make it any more appealing?
    Posted by calindi[/QUOTE]
    That sounds so good lol. And good choice on the marmalade. :)
  • OOOh, that sounds amaaazing!
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_xp-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:fa962f56-d170-488a-8397-a37fa930c670Post:91c1e83a-d68e-4d78-89b0-2e8354dd7567">Re: XP: Menu Help</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: XP: Menu Help : That sounds so good lol. And good choice on the marmalade. :)
    Posted by Zimsgirl26[/QUOTE]

    Cool, I'm glad you're a picky eater so you could picky-eater-approve my menu!  Haha!

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    Anniversary

  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_xp-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:fa962f56-d170-488a-8397-a37fa930c670Post:c8c1fb6a-903e-4bdf-9b20-46a2f3411f64">Re: XP: Menu Help</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: XP: Menu Help : Cool, I'm glad you're a picky eater so you could picky-eater-approve my menu!  Haha!
    Posted by calindi[/QUOTE]
    Haha yeah makes it difficult to figure dinner out sometimes because FI is not lol
  • Not trying to pick on you, ZIms, but I think the last thing you should do is cater to the picky eaters, Cal. Seriously, There is wayyyy to much food there for them NOT to figure it out. And if they don't like it, too bad. You're shelling out too much money to worry about that. The whole consensus will be that you had amazing food.

    (Zims, for what it's worth, I am a picky eater, too. So really I'm not pickin' on ya! ;))
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_xp-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:fa962f56-d170-488a-8397-a37fa930c670Post:5e5f371d-0a8d-404b-ab41-408c9aa1de26">Re: XP: Menu Help</a>:
    [QUOTE]Not trying to pick on you, ZIms, but I think the last thing you should do is cater to the picky eaters, Cal. Seriously, There is wayyyy to much food there for them NOT to figure it out. And if they don't like it, too bad. You're shelling out too much money to worry about that. The whole consensus will be that you had amazing food. (Zims, for what it's worth, I am a picky eater, too. So really I'm not pickin' on ya! ;))
    Posted by CAB1217[/QUOTE]
    Haha yeah FI's been slowly getting me to try new things lol. Anyone who's ever eaten with me knows my love for carbs haha.
  • calindicalindi member
    5000 Comments Second Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited January 2012
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_xp-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:fa962f56-d170-488a-8397-a37fa930c670Post:5e5f371d-0a8d-404b-ab41-408c9aa1de26">Re: XP: Menu Help</a>:
    [QUOTE]Not trying to pick on you, ZIms, but I think the last thing you should do is cater to the picky eaters, Cal. Seriously, There is wayyyy to much food there for them NOT to figure it out. And if they don't like it, too bad. You're shelling out too much money to worry about that. The whole consensus will be that you had amazing food. (Zims, for what it's worth, I am a picky eater, too. So really I'm not pickin' on ya! ;))
    Posted by CAB1217[/QUOTE]

    FI's whole family are not that experienced with international food, and my Dad's parents and some of his sisters are definitely bland meat & potatoes people.  If it's "weird" or "spicy" (which doesn't necessarily mean hot to these people, it means anything with spices beyond salt and a little pepper) then they don't like it.  So that's probably about 1/3 of our guest list!  I want to make sure they'll have something to eat, even if it's not the burgers, pizza, plain grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, lasagna that they're used to eating!

    image

    Anniversary

  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_xp-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:fa962f56-d170-488a-8397-a37fa930c670Post:698e0676-ec16-4c53-9004-4a56c2e843ab">Re: XP: Menu Help</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: XP: Menu Help : FI's whole family are not that experienced with international food, and my Dad's parents and some of his sisters are definitely bland meat & potatoes people.  If it's "weird" or "spicy" (which doesn't necessarily mean hot to these people, it means anything with spices beyond salt and a little pepper) then they don't like it.  So that's probably about 1/3 of our guest list!  I want to make sure they'll have something to eat, even if it's not the burgers, pizza, plain grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, lasagna that they're used to eating!
    Posted by calindi[/QUOTE]
    Ahh, ok, then I get ya. I still think you're good, though. LOL you know, I just realized that a lot of Cassidy's family and friends are Seventh Day Adventist, which means a lot of them are vegetarian, which means I served a bunch of vegetarians beef ribs or chicken.






    I'm a jerk.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_xp-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:fa962f56-d170-488a-8397-a37fa930c670Post:698e0676-ec16-4c53-9004-4a56c2e843ab">Re: XP: Menu Help</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: XP: Menu Help : FI's whole family are not that experienced with international food, and my Dad's parents and some of his sisters are definitely bland meat & potatoes people.  If it's <strong>"weird" or "spicy" </strong>(which doesn't necessarily mean hot to these people, it means anything with spices beyond salt and a little pepper) then they don't like it.  So that's probably about 1/3 of our guest list!  I want to make sure they'll have something to eat, even if it's not the burgers, pizza, plain grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, lasagna that they're used to eating!
    Posted by calindi[/QUOTE]
    Seriously, this is my ILs.
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  • Although I don't like to admit it, I am a really picky eater and not that adventerous with food. I also really dislike seafood.... That being said and based on your current menu I would eat a couple of your entrees but wouldn't like any of your appertizers (except the bruchetta).

  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_xp-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:fa962f56-d170-488a-8397-a37fa930c670Post:55112e14-a7df-40e4-971d-c74a82cba914">Re: XP: Menu Help</a>:
    [QUOTE]Although I don't like to admit it, I am a really picky eater and not that adventerous with food. I also really dislike seafood.... That being said and based on your current menu I would eat a couple of your entrees but wouldn't like any of your appertizers (except the bruchetta).
    Posted by shan87[/QUOTE]
    The <em>only</em> constructive comment I was going to make was the plethora of seafood stuff in the apps, but the only reason I noticed is my dad can't do shellfish so we kept it to just one choice. And I LOVE seafood so they all look amazing to me. Can't wait to be crashing this one....
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  • calindicalindi member
    5000 Comments Second Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited January 2012
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_xp-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:fa962f56-d170-488a-8397-a37fa930c670Post:e461eebd-bef5-4331-85c1-3006936c6321">Re: XP: Menu Help</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: XP: Menu Help : The only constructive comment I was going to make was the plethora of seafood stuff in the apps, but the only reason I noticed is my dad can't do shellfish so we kept it to just one choice. And I LOVE seafood so they all look amazing to me. Can't wait to be crashing this one....
    Posted by Irishcurls[/QUOTE]

    Yeah, I definitely know there's a lot of seafood (and two raw options).  We LOVE seafood, and our wedding is by the ocean, so we wanted it.  Both of our families tend to love it, since it's easily accessible where we grew up (and FI's brother-in-law actually owns a fish store, interestingly enough). 

    We opted for 3 seafood appetizers, 3 vegetarian appetizers, and 2 meat appetizers.  Since we can have 8 different passed appetizers, I thought that was a pretty good way to break it down, and I have my heart set on all 3 of those seafood appetizers!  Haha!

    The stationary display is all vegetarian, so perhaps we could take one of those vegetarian appetizers and make it something else?

    The mushroom caps are the ones I'm least sold on - what if we did a mini beef wellington (pastry filled with beef and beef broth)?  Or a caprese salad skewer - fresh tomato, basil, and mozzarella?

    Thanks!!!

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    Anniversary

  • Well.....to be honest, if you know at the minimum both familes like it, then you're safer than just you and FI liking them, kwim? Family is a large portion of the guests generally. But, I think either the Caprese skewer or the mini wellies sound amazing; I wanted the mini Wellingtons but they didn't offer in my package. I'm less sold on stuffed mushrooms in general though. Perhaps a pickier eater should chime in, I'd just stuff my face on the ahi, the foie and the duck....
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_xp-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:fa962f56-d170-488a-8397-a37fa930c670Post:b70befee-dd75-4e63-a571-bcac2f5d6f82">Re: XP: Menu Help</a>:
    [QUOTE]Well.....to be honest, if you know at the minimum both familes like it, then you're safer than just you and FI liking them, kwim? Family is a large portion of the guests generally. But, I think either the Caprese skewer or the mini wellies sound amazing; I wanted the mini Wellingtons but they didn't offer in my package. I'm less sold on stuffed mushrooms in general though. Perhaps a pickier eater should chime in, I'd just stuff my face on the ahi, the foie and the duck....
    Posted by Irishcurls[/QUOTE]

    Yeah, basically - I love the ceviche shooters most of all, but I know it's not for everyone.  I do know that a huge portion of the guests love sushi, though, so I'm sure they won't go to waste!

    The foie gras was the one I kind of went "eh" on, but FI really wants that one, and I know most of my Mom's side of the family and my friends will love that one.

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    Anniversary

  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_xp-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:fa962f56-d170-488a-8397-a37fa930c670Post:920befd0-de2f-4d14-9972-eb9e520fae67">Re: XP: Menu Help</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: XP: Menu Help : Yeah, basically - I love the ceviche shooters most of all, but I know it's not for everyone.  I do know that a huge portion of the guests love sushi, though, so I'm sure they won't go to waste! The foie gras was the one I kind of went "eh" on, but FI really wants that one, and I know most of my Mom's side of the family and my friends will love that one.
    Posted by calindi[/QUOTE]
    I'm with FI on this one! <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-wink.gif" border="0" alt="Wink" title="Wink" />
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  • I didn't eat one appetizer at my wedding except the seated app.
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  • Not knocking your menu but I'm a picky eater as well. I don't eat seafood, mushrooms, oilves, and most meat. (I eat chicken and some beef) I wouldn't know if I would eat anything off of your menu like Zims. The only things that look "safe" to me are:
    Emily’s Pizza (gorgonzola, sauteed onions, pear)
    Goat cheese popovers with honey and apricot jam

    Those actually sound super yummy! Thanks for sharing. :)
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  • I am not a picky eater. I have no food allergies. The only things I don't really like are certain cooked veggies (don't like the mushiness), and the only way I typically eat pork is bacon. I am a pretty adventurous eater. So it's hard for me to be constructive/critique. The only thing that made me turn up my nose was the salmon, but that's only because I had eaten salmon right before I got appendicitis (aka very very sick). Everything else sounds frickin awesome and I would not be able to restrain myself from over-eating. I think I will thoroughly enjoy myself when I crash your wedding :)
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  • edited January 2012
    GTG at Cal's wedding!!!!! WITH THE LIMITED (NOT J CREW) WEDDING DRESSES. Spread the word.
  • AmandaSC1988AmandaSC1988 member
    1000 Comments Second Anniversary
    edited January 2012

    I love food, I eat just about anything (except ham...but that is because my body has a weird reaction to it) So I would probably eat EVERYTHING, because I'm a piggy. I love Olives and would probably eat all of them myself.

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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_xp-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:fa962f56-d170-488a-8397-a37fa930c670Post:cd3f6083-c95b-4b4f-ba5e-7218ec03b78f">Re: XP: Menu Help</a>:
    [QUOTE]GTG at Cal's wedding!!!!! WITH J CREW WEDDING DRESSES. Spread the word.
    Posted by CAB1217[/QUOTE]

    J Crew? Psh! Come on! Don't you know it is the Limited.
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  • Yum! I am hungry now :)
    As a hispanic myself, I am loving your Latin America station!
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_xp-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:fa962f56-d170-488a-8397-a37fa930c670Post:7bd59cca-b2f4-4b02-bfff-e293b033fd47">Re: XP: Menu Help</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: XP: Menu Help : J Crew? Psh! Come on! Don't you know it is the Limited.
    Posted by AmandaSC1988[/QUOTE]

    OH YEAH. THE LIMITED!!! I shall go correct myself now.
  • Wow your menu sounds amazing! FI and I always like to try new foods, but like PP said, don't worry about trying to cater to every single person....With that vast of a menu, even the pickiest person is bound to find something!!
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
    image 92 Ready to party!
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_xp-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:fa962f56-d170-488a-8397-a37fa930c670Post:947dc3f5-703a-41e6-91e6-e17ae0a70d0b">Re: XP: Menu Help</a>:
    [QUOTE]I didn't eat one appetizer at my wedding except the seated app.
    Posted by ggirl2001[/QUOTE]
    Fucking <em>housed</em> the platter they brought up to our suite before we were announced. Best thing ever. 
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_xp-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:fa962f56-d170-488a-8397-a37fa930c670Post:45682a66-70b7-4f8c-81ac-e42855f342fb">Re: XP: Menu Help</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: XP: Menu Help : Fucking housed  the platter they brought up to our suite before we were announced. Best thing ever. 
    Posted by Irishcurls[/QUOTE]

    Hahaha you crack me up.  CAB, you too!  I'm seriously giggling to myself here at the image of a bunch of Knotties running around in bridal dresses, stealing things off platters, and hiding in the corner while cracking on everyone's outfits and trying to guess who is who from my stories. 

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