Food Choices For An Off-Site Wedding Catering

Some wedding reception ideas can be quite complicated especially for wedding caterers. If you plan to have a garden wedding in a different venue where the food is prepared, then you need to pay attention to your menu. There are some food that do not travel well. Some tend to be overcooked if left inside a warmer or any container. There are other recipes that require the food to be served right off the pan or its taste will be compromised. Therefore, you need to choose the food suited to an off-site catering. This will limit your choices, but there are food preparations that are good and yet not too finicky to transport. If you have your heart on a favorite dish, there are preparation alternatives so that you will still have a quality food for your wedding feast.



There are some food that you need to abstain for the meantime for an off-site catering. Pastas, in general, become overcooked if left sitting in a warmer or pan. The same could happen with hot vegetables. They will not be good for travel. However, you can opt to serve macaroni or lasagna casserole, which will do well for an extended period. Another alternative is to pour the sauce on your pasta dishes when you get to the site. You can also have your veggies half-cooked. The warm temperature on transit, will fully cook them in that crispy and crunchy way you like. Seafood is also a poor choice for an off-site catering. Once taken from the grill or pan and left for a few minutes in a warm container, these food tend to acquire a “fishy” smell. This will not be so appetizing to serve because of its not so pleasant odor. You can have fried oysters or crab cakes if you think you have guests just dying to get his mouth on some seafood. Fried oysters is just about the only exception to the rule that fried food get soggy in transit. Have you ever ordered French fries and received it all soggy and mushy? That could happen if you put fried food inside containers, where the heat will condense and soak your food. A good way to get around it is to cool or freeze them and place them in containers with holes. You can just heat them on site in special food warmers with porous lids. Red meats will also lose their quality if not served hot. They could either grow cold and if you cut them beforehand, will dry out, just like your rice. This particular food can be easily cooked on the venue with a portable oven or a bbq grill.



There are also food that will not overcook, dry out or lose its flavor if transported for some time. Obviously, soups and chilis are the first in your off-site menu. Chilled salads and fruits are your best option. Chicken will also taste good even if it is reheated for several times. This will do well wit roasted or mashed potatoes and your breads and rolls. If you like your meats, fillet mignon is a safe and good choice. These are the most tender part of the beef and usually prepared rare. This will not overcook nor toughen. However, extra care must still be exercised in transport for they could still dry out. You can remedy this by wrapping it in bacon or quickly fry it on the venue. Braised foods are also excellent because these are water-rich foods, which will do well in transit. For a taste of international cuisine, Mexican and some Asian dishes like curries are good elements to add to your wedding menu. If you really like your food newly cooked, you can go for spit roast, hog roast or BBQ. Many wedding catering services specialize in this particular food preparation and can cater to an offsite wedding reception.