Wedding Cuisine

But let’s face it, your guests aren’t there just to bask in the glow of your love for an entire day; you have to feed them too. Preparing a meal for a large group of people with different tastes is no easy task.

Gloria Edwin, owner and head chef of Talk of the Town Caterers, part of L Edwin Group of Companies has an impressive 35 years of experience in the catering business and shares with WMN what to look for in a wedding caterer.

Gloria explains that couples looks for “creativity, great taste, and versatility.” And since everyone has their desired tastes, as a caterer you have to be able to offer a wide range of options, not just to the liking of the bride and groom. “We specialise in all dishes,” she says confidently. “Creole, Chinese, authentic East Indian, Mexican. It doesn’t matter what the request is, our chefs can accommodate the client”.

A great menu always stands out at a wedding, and as a proper host you would want your guests to leave satisfied, especially those who go for seconds. “One can never forget when a couple caters for a guest list of 200 and you cater for 225, and all the plates are out and persons are still lining up for food,’ she says with a laugh. “It pays to cook extra.”

For clients on a smaller budget, Edwin’s company provides set menus, or they can make one from scratch to accommodate the client. Food preparation is very delicate and it is always advisable that for large scale events, a couple hire someone with the proper experience. A photographer can always delete a bad photo, but a bad caterer can literally leave a bad taste in your mouth, not to mention endanger the health of the guests.

“I have seen it all,” says Gloria. “A lot of people believe that because they can cook, they can be a caterer but it goes deeper than that. Food preparation is a very strict practice.” She warns that different foods need to be kept at certain temperatures and a trained caterer would know how to store and keep food fresh for the guests. “A professional caterer can assist you in making sensible decisions and give great advice,” she says.

It all boils down to passion (no pun intended). “We love what we do, and concentrate on professionalism and a service with excellence,” says Gloria. Ensure that every part of your ceremony is filled with love, including the hands that prepare your food, so that after all the sentiment, your guests leave at the end of their nights their hearts and their bellies are full.