Wedding Cakes & Food Forum

Mom wants mashed taters and I don't...

So we are looking at serving fried chicken and dumplings for the reception (please no bashing on my choice of menu :) 

Anyway, I would really like to do a baked potato bar with all kinds of toppings.  My mother says that most people prefer mashed potatoes and gravy and that we should do that. 

What do you think???
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Re: Mom wants mashed taters and I don't...

  • edited December 2011
    I didn't vote because honestly I'd be happy with either. As someone who grew up in a Southern family eating dumplings, I really associate them with mashed potatoes. Whenever my grandmother made them, we always got mashed potatoes too.

    But I think the baked potato would be a lot of fun! Some guests might only want one starch and would prefer the baked potato with yummy toppings.

    Would it be in your budget to make the baked potato bar the focus and offer a smaller portion size of mashed potatoes?
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  • fallbride1109fallbride1109 member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I did a mashed potato martini bar with all kinds of toppings (not gravy though).  It was one of the favorite things at my wedding.  Compromise maybe?
  • McKenna2012McKenna2012 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    With chicken, my preference is mashed!
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  • HippinhipsterHippinhipster member
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    edited December 2011
    I like both! So if you're paying... you have what YOU want... not her
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  • unplainjaneunplainjane member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    i like the idea of a potato bar of some sort. i think your guests would like it too. i'd be happy with either mashed or baked. but it makes more sense to have different toppings on a baked potato. can you serve both types of potatoes? honestly i don't think it's too big of a deal. either would be great.
  • RebeccaB88RebeccaB88 member
    First Anniversary First Comment First Answer 5 Love Its
    edited December 2011
    Mashed potatoes with topping bar. Good compromise.  I think gravy might be kind of messy to serve, and it doesn't hold well over time. 
  • ivyrose13ivyrose13 member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I agree with PP's, I would compromise with a mashed potato bar. Seriously, once the toppings are on top, can you really tell if it was a baked potato or mashed? If guests want gravy they can just have their potato with the chicken and dumplings.


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  • sarabellamsarabellam member
    5 Love Its First Comment First Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_mom-wants-mashed-taters-dont?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:23Discussion:92b703c6-3d26-4bb9-9510-adabcf537c0ePost:27a79ddf-16c8-46ad-9f54-5e9cee4f1d52">Re: Mom wants mashed taters and I don't...</a>:
    [QUOTE]I did a mashed potato martini bar with all kinds of toppings (not gravy though).  It was one of the favorite things at my wedding.  Compromise maybe?
    Posted by stephiehall[/QUOTE]

    I'll bandwagon this.
  • SuMmErKuTiESuMmErKuTiE member
    5 Love Its First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_mom-wants-mashed-taters-dont?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:23Discussion:92b703c6-3d26-4bb9-9510-adabcf537c0ePost:27a79ddf-16c8-46ad-9f54-5e9cee4f1d52">Re: Mom wants mashed taters and I don't...</a>:
    [QUOTE]I did a mashed potato martini bar with all kinds of toppings (not gravy though).  It was one of the favorite things at my wedding.  Compromise maybe?
    Posted by stephiehall[/QUOTE]

    Love this idea! I always prefer mashed potatoes to baked potatoes, but the toppings would be extra yummy on mashed potatoes. I'd skip the gravy because that could be kind of messy, but you could go with cheese, chives, sour cream, bacon bits, etc.. I've seen mashed potato bars where they're served in martini glasses and I love that look!
  • jerseydeviljerseydevil member
    5 Love Its First Anniversary Name Dropper First Comment
    edited December 2011
    With fried chicken, I prefer mashed potatoes and gravy, no contest.
  • edited December 2011
    I'm going to jump on the mashed potato bar band wagon.  That way you can still incorporate fun toppings, but you mom can get her mashed potatoes.
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  • SSaltzman87SSaltzman87 member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I like the option of having different toppings. I love mashed potatoes and gravy as much as the next person, but I like having options too :-)
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  • edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_mom-wants-mashed-taters-dont?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:92b703c6-3d26-4bb9-9510-adabcf537c0ePost:54f91479-6ea0-4a35-bbfb-8b342abf1e0f">Re: Mom wants mashed taters and I don't...</a>:
    [QUOTE]I'm going to jump on the mashed potato bar band wagon.  That way you can still incorporate fun toppings, but you mom can get her mashed potatoes.
    Posted by frogurt814[/QUOTE]


    ditto! Could gravy be one of the toppings? Then you'de have the best of both worlds
  • edited December 2011
    Personally, I prefer baked potato over mashed, because it's way easier to estimate how many calories are in a baked potato and to have it without butter if you want. I can see how a mashed potato bar might be a good compromise in your situation though. 
  • blinkybeerblinkybeer member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    My sister did a mashed potato martini bar and it was a really cool idea.  I think it would go great with your chicken and dumplings. 
  • edited December 2011
    While I love the idea of a baked potato bar with toppings, I think mashed potatoes go with the rest of your menu better. Fried chicken and baked potatoes just doesn't sound right to me. I love the idea of the mashed potato bar! I think that one's a winner!
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  • AbbeyS2011AbbeyS2011 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I am voting for mashed taters also with lots of different toppings, including gravy!

    If you can, have a small plate of baked potatoes available for those who want one.  I really don't see why you cannot have some of both, so everyone is happy. 
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  • doeie04doeie04 member
    Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I voted for potato bar. Since the chicken and dumplings sort of have a gravy filling (I think...) I would think that more gravy would be too much.
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  • edited December 2011
    I feel like I went through a lot of the same ideas, but it was I who wanted the mashed potatoes (my mom actually wanted boring parsley buttered potatoes).

    Anyway, my mom's concern with the mashed potatoes was that people tend to load up their plate with mashed potatoes because they can be piled up so high and then they get full and don't actually eat it all so some goes to waste. If you're doing a buffet... that's something to consider. Doing the martini glasses or some other pre-portioned method fixes that problem, but you need an extra server so the portions are staying warm.

    So basically, my idea of mashed potatoes was shut down but we all happily settled on twice baked potatoes - it's a baked potato, but with mashed inside AND it is pre-portioned so people don't take a ton of extra.

    I was really happy about this compromise. It's just another idea.

    (I'm also doing a kind of comfort food reception with pulled pork sandwiches)
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