Wedding Essentials 2 0 1 4 |
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FOOD ALLERGIES
Various sources report food allergies in Canada
are on the rise, affecting about 1 in 25 people,
according to Anaphylaxis Canada. Health Canada
reports that the top ten priority food allergens
are peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, milk, eggs,
seafood, soy, wheat, sulphites and mustard.
For people with severe allergies, the food
does not have to be eaten to be a hazard--it
may only have come in contact with the other
food, even by a trace amount, resulting in cross
contamination.
Heather Fraser, General Manager of
Patterson-Kaye Resort & Spa in Bracebridge
observes that "sometimes the couple doesn't
think of food allergies, unless it's an issue for
them, so we talk with them about that. It's
imperative we know ahead of time to take
precautions, so there is no possibility of cross-
contamination. We code place cards at each
table setting so our servers know exactly what's
required by each guest--our goal is that no-one
at the table is aware of the behind-the-scenes
care we take".
Some venues and caterers, like Oshawa-
based Pelican Catering, are offering entire
gluten-free menus for wedding celebrations, a
welcome initiative for many people.
"More and more people are requiring gluten-
free food. Couples now are often requesting
gluten-free food choices and gluten-free food
stations", says Brandi Greenwood, General
Manager of C2 Catering Couture in Toronto.
TRENDS
...FROM URBAN ELEGANCE
At Château Le Jardin in Woodbridge, Rosemary
Parentela, Social Sales Consultant, is noticing
that cocktail receptions are becoming LA or NYC
"party-chic", featuring lounges and décor that
are classy and upscale. Their food choices mesh
perfectly with that ambiance. Appetizer
stations, oyster stations and sushi bars are
popular, as are live-chef stations, where the
food is prepared in front of the guests.
...TO COUNTRY CASUAL
Rustic Rules! With the ongoing popularity of
rustic weddings, whether outdoors or in rural
venues such as barns, Jodee Seiden, Event
Coordinator at Pelican Catering, notes that
retro is new again. "The less formal settings
lend themselves to stations for barbecue, with
pulled pork, ribs and whole chickens in
demand, along with slider stations with
different meat and topping choices. Poutine
stations always get rave reviews."
...FOOD AS ENTERTAINMENT
Wedding food suppliers recognize that today's
couples often want an element of
entertainment in their food that goes beyond
the Baked Alaska parade their parents may have
had at their wedding. Interactive, fun, varied as
each couple's wedding...here's a sampling.
`I scream for ice cream' could be the theme
song for the liquid nitrogen ice cream bar
offered by The Food Dudes, located in Toronto.
"Guests love this cool, interactive ice cream
bar", enthuses Jaimie Zuckerman, Director of
Sales. "The ice cream is actually liquid when
guests choose their flavours. The chefs use
liquid nitrogen to freeze the ice cream right on
the spot, with the bit of fog created adding a
fun element. Cookie choices are available to
sandwich the ice cream."
Creative cuisine is the name of the wedding
food game. Domenic Chiaromonte, chef at C2
Catering Couture creates bread trees...using
silver metal trees to hold bread in the shape of
leaves. His salad stations feature live baby
lettuce varieties that are cut to the guest's
order, tossed with the dressing of choice,
topped with a selected variety of ingredients
and served in a martini glass.
Think outside the container. What about
pulled-pork and mashed potato parfaits in
glasses? Salted caramel cheesecake shots?
COCKTAIL-STYLE
RECEPTIONS
More couples are choosing cocktail-style
receptions for their weddings. These can be
anywhere on the spectrum from super elegant
to super-casual.
THE WINDERMERE MANOR
PHOTO: SARAH KEYS | STILETTOPHOTOGRAPHY.NET
BENMILLER INN & SPA | PHOTO: SANDRA REGIER | SANDRAREGIER.COM
COURTESY OF C2 CATERING COUTURE | PHOTO: VITO AMATI + DOMINIC CHAN