Photo (above): Catering: Fruy Catering - Photographer: LUX Visual Storytellers
Some people follow a strict diet for health reasons, or they deliberately avoid eating meat and fish out of conviction. Chances are also that pregnant ladies will prefer cooked vegetables to a salad, and prefer their meat to be fried. How can you ensure that all your guests can still fully enjoy the party dinner?
1. Ask your guests
Make sure you find out well in advance which guests have particular allergies or diets and whether there are any vegetarians. Include in your invitation the question whether your caterer should take certain things into account. That way, you will immediately make your guests aware that they should let you know.
2. Talk to your caterer or the restaurant chef
Knowing the number of guests and the exact nature of their request, consult with your caterer or the restaurant chef. Go over your menu together and see in which ‘course’ an ingredient or preparation method could possibly cause problems. You can replace a particular dish entirely, or you can provide an alternative for guests with specific requests. Ask your caterer about the possibilities. Many of them like Julien Cliquet and KTCHN specialise in delicious alternatives provided for certain ingredients.
3. Inform your guests
Confirm to the guests who notified you of their problem that you have provided an alternative. This way, they are reassured and prepared: in case of any misunderstandings when serving the plates, they can quickly help the serving staff themselves.
4. Table setting
Let the kitchen know in advance which tables the guests with special requests will be sitting at, so they can prepare properly when the plates go from the kitchen to the party room. Make sure the tables are set, preferably two weeks before your wedding. If there are quite a few guests with special requests, discuss with your caterer the option of colour-coding the name tags. This will avoid confusion at the table.
5. Reception and walking dinner
On arrival at the reception or walking dinner, ask your guests to introduce themselves to the ‘usher’ or ‘maître’. He will keep an eye on the reception or walking dinner to make sure everyone is served. He can also subtly let the waiters know which people should avoid certain dishes or snacks
6. Opt for a buffet format
Too many different requirements? Make it easy, and opt for a buffet formula! A buffet is a fun way to serve your guests a wide choice of dishes. Everyone chooses what they want to eat. Place a name tag next to each dish on the buffet table, indicating which ingredients the dish contains. Vegetarians can ignore meat or fish, and people on a diet can serve those dishes that fit in with their diet. The same goes for the dessert buffet. A nice selection of fruit, and desserts without gluten or lactose, that everyone likes - even if you have no gluten or lactose intolerance!
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