vegan caterers?

rkem18

Hey All!I'm looking for caterers in Philadelphia who cater to vegans.  We're having the reception at my parents home in central PA so I would need a caterer who will travel there.  Anyone know of any??Thanks a lot!!

veganbunny

My fiance and I are vegan too!  Unfortunately I can't help you much though.  For the venue we found we HAVE to use their catering company (The Greenery Caterers) which is not a vegan company, but we are having a 100% vegan wedding and they are willing to learn to cook the vegan dishes we select.  Have you tried the local Vegan restaurants in center city?  They may be willing to cater and travel.  Honestly I think all great catering companies would have some vegan dishes already you could choose from and would be able to learn new dishes too.

Ms.BriarRose

You may not like my response, but I am pretty sure there are several other girls on here that share my thoughts on this.While you may be vegan, and I (and your guests) respect that, I think you, as the hosting couple, need to respect your guests back even more, and realize that not everyone is vegan, and that your guests deserve to have their thoughts and ways of dining respected as well.While I think it is admirable of you to have chosen that life course for you, please don't impose that on your guests that do not want to go that way.  Offer at least one meat option, and then let your guests know that you will also be offering vegan options as well.  If your guests want it, they will choose the option.Personally, I am a big meat eater, and if I attended a wedding where someone did not respect their guests enough to serve all levels of personal dining choice, I would be slightly offended- don't be surprised if I stop at a McDonald's on the way to the reception.  While your wedding is a celebration of your marriage, it is also a celebration of your guests playing a part in your lives, and their dining choices all need to be respected as well- offer both, and have everyone be happy.I hope this came across reasonable, and please don't take it as mean or hateful towards vegans- I just want you to look at it from the guests POV.

veganbunny

I don't know about rkem18 (if they are vegan) but as a vegan, if you go about serving meat or dairy, then you aren't vegan.  Being vegan is a life style where you do not support the meat or dairy industries at all, or anything that harms animals purposefully as long as it can be avoided.  To PAY a company to purchase dead animals to be served at YOUR wedding is not vegan at all, and any vegan who would do that is not really a vegan.  People who eat meat also eat vegetables and grains, so serving all vegan food would not restrict their diet at all since they COULD eat all of it, much different then a vegan attending a wedding where no vegan food is served.  A lot of "regular" food is vegan "by accident", and that chefs can creat amazing vegan dishes just from vegetables and grains, seasonings, and presentation...and vegan chefs would also know how to make seitan, textured veg protein, and soy products that reflect meat in texture and flavor.  You could research online to find some recipes, pictures, info...or check out vegan books at the bookstore, they have awesome recipes.  I believe most people would love vegan food especially when it is prepared by chefs, and a 100% vegan wedding would probably be exciting and a new tasting experience for anyone.  Sharing this with your guests shows how much you appreciate them coming to your wedding, as you are not serving them un-healthy antibiotic filled dead animals which were tortured, abused, and murdered but instead serving them fresh, usually organic, tasty meals, that are also good for them, the planet, and animals.  If your guests really know you and care about you they would probably respect your vegan-ism and be excited about trying the food at your wedding, and if they aren't I would question why you would invite them anyway.

Ms.BriarRose

Sharing this with your guests shows how much you appreciate them coming to your wedding, as you are not serving them un-healthy antibiotic filled dead animals which were tortured, abused, and murdered but instead serving them fresh, usually organic, tasty meals, that are also good for them, the planet, and animals.No, it's showing how rude it is to impose your views, right or not, on your guests.  Whether you agree or not, I like my medium rare steak- very much, actually, and since I come from a family of butchers, I do know how they are NOT tortured as you claim.  But whatever.  You are still imposing your views on your guests, and that's rude.If your guests really know you and care about you they would probably respect your vegan-ism and be excited about trying the food at your wedding, and if they aren't I would question why you would invite them anyway.Actually, no.  Whether I know about them or care about their views, I also want my views respected, whether they agree with them or not.  Offering all of the choices- vegan, vegetarian, and meat- shows that you, as the hosts of the party, respect your guests more, and that you are not being greedy by imposing views not everyone agrees with.  Whether they love you or not, I can guarantee, from posts that have come up in the past about this, that certain guests are going to comment.  And what are you going to do about it?  Honor your guests, or take away their invite after you have already invited them?I will give you a good example.  My ringbearer is Autistic.  He is on a Gluten Free Casen Free Diet.  At all of his parties -birthday, celebrations or otherwise- his mom has a table of GFCF snacks.  BUT, she also has a table of other "regular" items.  Just because she has chosen that lifestyle for her son and her family does not mean, in any way, that she is imposing that lifestyle on her guests.  She respects them enough to realize that 1) not everyone in the Autism community does GFCF, 2) most people do not eat GFCF on a regular basis, and 3) not everyone agrees with her decision to do this.  It's the same with vegans and vegetarians. And like I said, I know that other Knotties feel the way I do, from previous posts about this.  They just aren't on at 1:45 in the AM to comment on it.But in response to your question, no.  There is not any caterers in this area who do strictly Vegan work, and most don't for the reasons I have listed above.

rkem18

Thank you for your concern MsBriarRose.  Fortunately my friends and family are very loving and supporting.  And they won't be offended by eating healthy grains, veggies, fruits and other yummy vegan food for one meal of their entire life. I don't want to be rude either, but your post is really silly.  I don't get offended when I go to weddings and they put chicken on my plate.  I simply push it to the side and tell them how good the chicken was!  It's their day!  I'm happy to support whatever they chose to feed me -  because they spent a lot of time and effort on what they thought their guests would love.  And by serving veggies, I'm certainly not imposing any views.  I'm not giving subtle hints or telling anyone that they MUST be vegan - in fact most of them probably won't know the menu will be entirely vegan.  I'm saying - this is my favorite food, and I think you'll love it too!   But will I support the consumption of meat on my special day?  I just coulnd't.  Animals are treated very cruelly and factory farms are one of the leading causes of pollution.  And don't get me started with cancer.  I'm sure your family of butchers was an exception to the animal cruelty - because there are exceptions, but most meat does come from factory farms.  Just youtube factory farms and see what comes up.    I really think you're getting too defensive about the whole meat thing.  If someone there has a specific diet and will die without meat for one meal, then by all means bring meat.  Or go to McDonalds after.  I really won't be offended.  Offending my guests by serving vegetables is the silliest thing I've heard.  And if you're worried they're going to be hungry, don't.  We vegans know how to eat - we're not all anemic and anorexic looking.  We know how to fry, we know fat tastes good, and we're not afraid of sugar.  I'm not usually one to reply to a post like that, but I couldn't help myself this time.  Please have more of an open mind - healthy food can be really yummy and veggies are the least offensive thing on this planet - well and babies.  And let's keep things in perspective here - it's ONE meal of their entire life.

jessicah628

This post made me giggle.For the record, I generally agree with Briar on the whole veggies-only wedding thing. I also count on meat on my plate at a wedding and would be annoyed and hungry if I got a plate full of vegetables and tofu, no matter was the presentation.However, if someone is as hard core vegan as these ladies, I'm guessing they preach all the time, and have probably surrounded themselves with friends and family who are the same way, or at least understand the lifestyle. So the chances of guests showing up at the wedding expecting delicious steaks and instead being served tofu are likely not high.

samanthas8882

I want to eat a steak now after eating this... thanks!

samanthas8882

Is it wrong that that I want to go to this chicks wedding and hold and eat hot dogs while getting down on the dance floor?!? Too much?!?!

Ms.BriarRose

Ooooo me too, me too, Sam!

DLLadybug

I too agree with BriarRose, and also Jessicah. I really could not have said it any better. I had a friend that is vegan, so I do understand the whole concept of the specific beliefs and diet.  If she were invited to my wedding, I probably would ask if the caterer could whip something up specific for her needs, or I'm guess she would assume that they wouldn't be serving any vegan food and bring her own since the majority of the people there are not vegan.I know it's only one meal, but due to allergies, caterers have to mention what the food is. So the guests will find out what it is.

jewels2730

I myself love Vegan food. In fact, I love all food. I do not discriminate. But I've got to agree with Briar and the other posters here. When I go to a wedding and I'm giving a gift, I expect a decent meal in return. It's not different then our arguments about a dessert reception. If I got a plate of a dish that I didn't care for, I would be upset. Who doesn't like veggies? A LOT of people. The only other way I can explain this is I went to a hindu wedding a few years ago. The B&G offered mostly Indian food but then had a separate American food buffet as well. Guess what, a lot of people did NOT like the Indian food. But this was their culture and they had a lot of people from India visiting, so this is what they served. They did not expect everyone to eat it, so they offered an alternative. What would those people have done if there was no alternative? Starve?

HeatherWain

Just tell me when and were to set up my hot dog cart!

Ms.BriarRose

Oh, and for the record, I would know.  Trust me, when it's time to serve coffee and I love coffee with my cream, I would know.  And I would be NOT HAPPY.  I want my cream!

Amfontaine

I, too, would generally not respond to a post like this, but I have to speak out as a matter of solidarity. My partner and I are vegan and are planning an all vegan commitment celebration. We have absolutely no qualms doing so. We will go to pain-staking lengths to make sure the food is incredible (more than can be said for some of the omni-weddings I have been to) and that there are plenty of options for people with different tastes. To take it one step further, we have many guests who are intolerant to wheat, so we are making the whole deal wheat-free (this does not exclude spelt and other delicious ancient grains) out of respect to our guests. I think it's highly unfair to say that we are being disrespectful to our guests by serving them our favorite foods. In fact, I would be seriously offended if one of my guests told me I should just buy meat. It is a matter of ethics and morals. Comparing it to autism and a related diet is not at all appropriate. You have to compare it to religion. I highly doubt any of the meat-eating respondents here would go to a religious wedding (a religion to which they do not belong) and be upset that their own religion is not being respected or used. Most vegans are vegan for ethical reasons, in the same way that most religious people believe in their church and god. You cannot expect for the couple to drop their beliefs and pay to support something that, to them, is ethically unacceptable. Would you expect communion at a Hindu wedding? Rkem- As for caterers that are vegan-friendly: We are - I think - going to work with Ken from Diverse Catering. He has catered multiple vegan weddings, understands vegan food, and isn't at all scared off by it. He also said that he would be happy to cook our recipes if there are any that we would like to see at our party. I hope that is useful for you.

tlc828

You cant advertise your business here