{Feast} Wedding Dish Wonders: Create an Economical Menu by Creating Sophisticated Updates of Classics

I was thinking the other day about wedding food – chicken, beef or fish.  While catering menus have come a long way, it seems that we still tend toward the traditional choices of chicken, beef or fish along with a side of veges and a choice of starch.

If you’re one of the many couples who are diy’ing their wedding right now, chances are you’re used to thinking outside the box creating and designing untraditional options in place of expensive traditional ones.  If you’re at the point where you’re thinking about the type of food you’re going to serve or are interviewing caterers, why not think outside of the box for your food too?

Classic comfort foods given a sophisticated update might be a fun option and a welcome change for your guests.  If your wedding truly is a diy affair, then a family feast may fit perfectly into your vision.

Imagine a sophisticated take on lasagna by creating mini lasagnas like the ones pictured above for each of your guests.  Pair this entree with a delicious onion tartlett made with goat cheese, chive, carmelized onion, basil, olives and sundried tomatoes.  Continue the theme of classics by providing a potato, leek and pancetta gratin that your guests can pass around family style; classic cioppino over garlic rubbed bread and a cannelini bean over peppery arugula salad and perhaps a soup served in a pretty bowl or martini glass.

Choosing a classic dish or two and giving it a sophisticated update could mean something as simple as serving it in a single portion ramekin dish or adding a sprig of rosemary.  When speaking with your caterer explain to them what you’d like to do and I’d bet that they would be thrilled to create something exciting within a reasonable budget.  After all, they may be just as sick of making chicken, beef or fish as we are all of having to choose it.

All of the pictures above are from the cooking school www.rusticocooking.com in New York.