Taste of Love: Custom Menu Ideas from Austin’s Premiere Caterers
April 21
Ready to tantalize your taste buds? We’re showcasing top Austin catering companies today and exploring a few of their custom menu options for the modern bride and groom who don’t want just any run-of-the-mill wedding food. These caterers brought their A game to Pecan Grove, whipping up decadent dishes photographed beautifully by Cory Ryan.
Creating your catering menu may seem low on the priority list when it comes to wedding prep, but many couples don’t realize the opportunities for FUN to be had and memories to be made. Menu options like these make for incredible guest experiences that speak to their senses – which means they’ll be talking about it long after you say “I do!”
Photos // Cory Ryan Photography
Ultimate menu: Texas to Table
Fried Oyster Nachos | Smoked Duck and Andouille Sausage Gumbo | Texas Trail Mix Salad | Marinated and Grilled Filets Served with Bleu Cheese Compound Butter and Sherried Wild Mushrooms | Rustic Strawberry Rhubarb Tart with Butter Pecan Chantilly Cream
Tasty tip: “A well-balanced wedding menu would offer variety in the types of proteins, and then three to four vegetables and/or salads and starch options. The menu should have enough vegetarian items that a vegetarian could easily make a meal from the menu and not include too many heavy items so that the wedding guests can still enjoy the dance party. We always suggest keeping the menus seasonal and also for couples to personalize their menu by making it a reflection of their style and personality or possibly a blending of both the bride and the groom’s family background or heritage.”
Ultimate menu: Coastal Countryside
Pâté Toast | Seasonal Galette | Country Fried Duck | Seared Whitefish | Rhubarb Custard Pie
Tasty tip: “This menu is for a couple that wants to highlight seasonality and fresh flavors; a feast for the eyes! A couple who wants to engage with the chefs and create a dialogue around their wedding menu.”
Ultimate menu: Spring Sensations
Caviar | Puréed Carrot Soup | Soft Egg Yolk Ravioli | Duck Crepe | Panko- and Mustard-Crusted Lamb Chops
Tasty Tip: “A well-balanced wedding menu is a balance of sweet, savory, texture, acid, spice, color and interesting plating married with the interests of the wedding couple, then blended with the uniqueness of the guests and where they are coming from and what might make for an enjoyable meal for everyone. We believe the meal is a celebration of the union as well as a thank you to their guests. We hope to elevate the experience of the wedding reception with an inspired menu which evolves through collaboration with the wedding couple and the experience of our culinary design team.”
Ultimate menu: Beyond BBQ
Bibb Lettuce with Shaved Radish and Fennel | Rainbow Tomato Bruschetta | Summer Squash Soup | Grilled Lamb and Sausage | Chocolate and Espresso Torte
Tasty tip: “What a couple can expect when coming to Salt Lick for a tasting is from day one of setting the date of the tasting to the actual tasting itself is the effort and attention our staff gives from beginning to end. We strive for perfection every time and will not settle for less!”
Ultimate menu: Flavorful & Hearty
Seasonal Bruschetta | Braised Short Ribs + Red Pepper Chicken | Vegetable Bulgur Salad | Honey Glazed Carrots + Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Tasty Tip: “The type of couple that gravitates towards this menu wants to make their wedding guests feel right at home.”
Ultimate Menu: Market to Sea
Heirloom Tomato Tartar | Compressed Raspberry-Infused Watermelon | Farmers Beet, Melon and Tomato Salad with Butter Poached Lobster | Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass | Pineapple and Ginger “Lasagna”
Tasty Tip: “What sets a Whim tasting apart from others is the focus we put on creating ‘personalized experiences.’ Whim specializes in offering custom catering menus for every taste, dietary restriction or wedding theme. This starts with our tastings, where our sales team and Executive Chef, Jesse Genovese, work collaboratively with our couples to create a deliciously tailored tasting experience.”
Ultimate Menu: The Twisted Southern Charm
Roasted Poblano and Sweet Corn Chowder | Blackened Brie Cream with Apricot and Cranberry Chutney | Twisted Waldorf | Smoked Brisket over Jalapeño Potato Cake | Tres Leches “Boozy” Bread Pudding
Tasty Tip: “Our tastings are a time to get to meet the creative minds behind what gives us our Twist. We chat for a while about all the fun details, then the Chefs come out to showcase and talk about the chosen tasting menu. We have a video going of our work and music to set the mood, then we allow you to sit and enjoy. Our motto in our CWAT home is “in this house we do fun”, so our guests are treated like friends and family.”
Ultimate Menu: Snapper and Steak by South Congress Café
Grilled Oyster | Loaded Potato Croquette | Honey Pear Baby Arugula Salad | Blackened Red Snapper De La Mer | Tropical Trifle
Tasty Tip: “Couples that would like to give their guests a taste of Austin and Texas with unique flavors would gravitate toward this type of menu.”
Ultimate Menu: Southern Comfort
Potato Stuffed Oyster | Charred Okra Salad | Sausage and Shrimp Gumbo | Grilled Redfish on the Half Shell | Bourbon Pecan Bread Pudding
Tasty Tip: “This is very accessible food and would appeal to anyone wanting to treat their guests to upscale southern comfort food.”
Ultimate Menu: Lavishly Latin
Puffed Rice Chicharones | Mini Street Corn | Barbacoa Tostada | Chilled Potato and Leek Soup | Roasted Beet Salad | Oak Smoked Tenderloin | Strawberry Cake
Tasty Tip: “When attending a Kurant tasting, couples can expect to have a personalized experience put together by their event planner while tasting items from their customized menu. At the tasting, they will also have face-to-face time with their personal chef that will be attending their wedding and discuss further details to ensure the menu fits their vision for their wedding day.”
Special thanks to the talented Austin caterers who shared their heart and soul with us in the form of these amazing dishes. For more on their ultimate menus and customizable menu options, be sure to check out the catering editorial in our newest issue on page 79!
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Other Local Vendors: Salt Lick BBQ, Pecan Grove, Austin Catering, Royal Fig Catering, Pink Avocado Catering, Catering with a Twist, Nourished by Kurant, Crave Catering, Cory Ryan Photography, Whim Hospitality, Trudy's, Noble Catering
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