Do non-southerners like southern food?

hoffse

Hi ladies,

So the venue that FI and I have reserved for our wedding has plenty of space and great food - but it's really great southern food.  They do traditional wedding stuff as well (cue the obligatory roast beef) but it's really just average.  Not bad, not great, average.  Their southern food is fantastic, however, and we're getting married in a small town in north georgia.

So we're looking at our budget and trying to price out different options before we come up with a firm guest list - space isn't an issue, but some food options cost more than others.

My question is this: would non-southerners be open to southern food?  We're talking Jack Daniels pork tenderloin, fried chicken, a New Orleans cajun shrimp & grits station, garlic mashed potatos, bacon & bleu cheese green beans, one other veggie, and a salad bar.  Thoughts?  Our southern friends - whom we live around - practically salivated at the idea.  But we may have a lot of guests from California, the midwest, a few from New England, and even Europe.  We're not super close to them, so we feel weird about asking their opinions.

Thoughts?

jessicabessica

I think it sounds great.  I love to have regional food when I travel.  My only problem with southern food is that it's often not vegetarian-friendly, because even if the dish isn't a slab of meat, it has been flavored with or cooked with meat, so just make sure you have a true vegetarian option. 

MyNameIsNot

The options you've listed are not so southern that you're going to turn people off.

Now, if you had said you were going to serve country fried steak, catfish and collard greens, it might be a different story.  

pgcp

The only thing listed I wouldn't enjoy is shrimp and grits.  I truly think that is the nastiest thing ever, and apparently the ones I've had were super good.  Otherwise I'd love the food.

amberr110

As a life-long Chicago-area resident, I think your food sounds awesome!

matcha

I think having regional food at your wedding would be really memorable. After all, it is a part of you as a couple! A new experience is always exciting.  As a Yank, I would love your amazing food! 

I agree, though- if you have a "safe" veggie option (like a veggie penne pasta or something), picky eaters can find their comfort zone there.  Just remember, if you have a lot of guests, you'll have a hard time pleasing everyone! 

juma1111

I personally wouldn't enjoy most of the food you listed. I grew up in NJ and lived in the South while I went to college and honeslty didn't enjoy most of the southern food I tried, but that is just me personally. The biggest turn off for me would be the grits, the cajun shrimp (one because I'm allergic to shrimp and two because I don't like cajun spiced food) and the bleu cheese green beans because I don't eat bleu cheese. I would try to atleast see if those open options could be something a little more generic for your other guests so there is a bit of variety.

HannahK15

Sounds wonderful to me! I would love to dig into those food items!!

Magdala9

I'm a born and bred Yankee and I prefer good food to bland food.   I would add in a true vegetarian option (as other posters have mentioned) and enjoy the regional specialties. 

alithebride

if you add a veggie option it sounds like theres plenty for many different tastes.
id' also be sure to have salads etc... that arean't heavy-like green salads, gtilled veggies (without blue cheese sauce) etc..while it all sounds delicious most are also increadibly heavy.
but now you have me thinking of fried chicken-yummy!!!

Peavy

I'm from California, and it sounds delicious!  I assume you're serving this buffet style.  I think even the pickiest eaters would be happy with fried chicken, mashed potatoes, salad bar and whatever your second vegetable option is.  Throw in a vegetarian pasta dish, and everyone will be able to find something to eat.

nina917

i think it all sounds wonderful! i think there is enough varity and the people who arnt from around where u live will have a great chance to try some local food that they might never get to try otherwise... by the way im from minnesota

Grits8812

Everyone I know likes most of those things.  I would like everything but the shrimp personally.  

Just have a veggie option, like others said.

Elinetrouwt

I'm a very picky eater, but I prefer something local that I couldn't try at home over generic, bland wedding food. I'm from Europe, and I'd be very disappointed if I travelled all the way to your wedding and then didn't get any Southern food. If it's really good, go for it.

I read that a lot of people here don't like the shrimp, you might want to skip those. Many people either don't like seafood or have seafood allergies, and they usually are pretty expensive, although I think cajun shrimp sounds yummy.

rmo57536

My FI is from the Chicago area and I've had him eating cajun food including crawfish, greens and fried okra all of which he loved. I will say my family is from the south and I have yet to find any grits that I enjoy. Maybe as others said switch the grits station for a pasta or other vegetarian option. 

kennazebrowsky

Doesn't sound super southern to me, like I can see people maybe not eating collard greens. But what you listed sounds yummy. But then again I live in Florida. Do the California people expect sushie and organic food?? Lol I say go with what you listed. Roast beef is lame!

hoffse

Thanks ladies for all your input.  We're thinking of switching out the shrimp station for a pasta station because the shrimp IS pretty expensive, and it's one of those things people either really love or really hate.  The pasta could give us a veggie option, as well.  I appreciate your help!

angelab0014

I'm from NY and it sounds good to me I love southern food and would eat everything you mentioned