FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Food for thought

AWant to wow guests with delicious food and drink on your big day? Our A-Z guide has got you covered

A is for ALLERGIES “When sending out invites there should always be a section for dietary information to send back on a response card,” says Northumberland’s Clara Nicholl Catering. “Ask if your guest is vegetarian, vegan or pescatarian, as well as finding out if they have any allergies or requirements. Even a crumb can cause an issue when you’re intolerant, so I tailor menus for all dietary needs and cook separately for each allergen, dealing with coeliac, gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, sesame and shellfish issues.” www.claranichollcatering.com

www.claranichollcatering.com BB is for BBQ Fancy a pile of BBQ food for your big day? Head over to Sunderland company Wildefeast and check out their wide range of menus available. Their gourmet barbecues consist of the highest-quality beef, chicken, lamb and pork, while the more adventurous can opt for exotic meats including kangaroo, buffalo, ostrich, zebra and wild boar. www.wildefeast.co.uk

www.wildefeast.co.uk

C is for CANAPÉS A wedding breakfast doesn’t have to mean a sit-down affair. “Mini food bowls allow your party to socialise and gives a more relaxed feel to the day,” says The Duck House Pantry’s Jack Lapping. “Then there’s canapé choices, with ours including venison Bolognese croquette with spiced tomato chutney, Lake District lamb belly fritter with sauce paloise, and tempura battered halloumi with nori tartare sauce and minted peas.” www.theduckhousepantry.co.ukwww.theduckhousepantry.co.uk C

www.mrbentleysest2019.co.ukD D is for DRINKS

Why not book a drinks supplier with a difference? Mr Bentley’s bespoke restored horse box bar, based in Redcar, offers an alcoholic and nonalcoholic service with all your current favourites, including flavoured gins, spirits and wines, as well as Champagne and Prosecco. Appreciating that everyone’s tastes and budgets are different, they’re more than happy to put together bespoke menus as well as offering a range of payment methods. www.mrbentleysest2019.co.uk

https://refusedurham.org.uk/catering

EE is for ENVIRONMENT Before you commit to a caterer consider their procedures for minimising their carbon footprint. “Food loss and waste is responsible for around 10% of global carbon emissions, contributing more to climate change than the aviation industry,” explains Tyler Kearney from Durham caterer Conscious Kitchen. “Every day in the UK we waste around 280 tonnes of poultry and 4.4 million potatoes, while about a third of fruit and veg gets rejected for being the wrong size or shape. We work with retailers to intercept perfectly good produce and surplus stock destined for landfill, offering conscious catering for weddings to help tackle climate change and environmental damage.” https://refusedurham.org.uk/catering F is for FINE DINING

You want fine dining? You Fgot it! “Sit-down meals are once again back in fashion,” says Dorothy Foreman of Newcastle’s Dotty in the Kitchen. “Fine dining adds to the opulence of your day and makes it more memorable. At my wedding we served scallops with lemon and caper butter, followed by stuffed saddle and confit leg of rabbit for our main. It made our day to work with a caterer who cared about creating elegant food as much as we did. After all, if you can’t indulge at your wedding, when can you?” www.dottyinthekitchen.co.uk

www.dottyinthekitchen.co.uk

G

G is for GRAZING

Grazing tables are still as popular as ever when it comes to feeding you and your guests – think piles of cheese, fruit and crackers with lots of lovely local chutneys and preserves for your friends and family to tuck into. Nibbles & Graze, a Tyne & Wear catering business, specialises in grazing boxes and platters, as well as afternoon tea spreads and picnic boxes. http://nibblesandgraze.co.uk

II is for ICE CREAM Summer wedding? Consider an ice cream supplier, complete with lots of luscious flavours – and plenty of sprinkles, toppings and sauces – for your guests to enjoy. Darlington’s Ice-Cycles offer standard and alcoholic icecream and sorbet packages to choose from on either their two tricycles, their cream and black bike, or their rustic ice cream bar. https://ice-cycles.co.uk

https://ice-cycles.co.uk HH is for HERITAGE There’s no better way to show off your cultural roots than with an array of delicious food and treats. After an Indian feast to wow your crowd? Bombae Box in Newcastle offer halal Indian and Pakistani bespoke dishes and canapés using fresh ingredients and homemade spices. Try their Gol Gappa shots board – the first in the UK – and really impress your guests! https://bombaebox.co.uk

J is for JUDGEMENT

Google ‘North East Wedding Caterers’ and you’ll be hit with over 25 MILLION results – so where do you start in your quest to find the perfect supplier? “I married my husband last year and finding suppliers that were right for us meant looking at previous work and recommendations from brides and grooms,” says Demi Moore from Normanby caterer and restaurant The Coffee Shed. “Interacting with someone who was friendly and knowledgeable about the services they offered was also important – and checking out their food photos on social media is a good idea, too!” www.facebook.com/TheCoffeeShedNormanby

www.facebook.com/TheCoffeeShedNormanby J

K is for KIDS

No matter how much a parent will try to tell you that their little one will ‘eat anything’, there’s bound to be some fussy K eaters amongst the younger guests within your wedding party. Wilson’s Traditional, based in Hartlepool, has a vintage 1977 Peugeot J7 fish and chip van where you can order delicious meals for your guests – including a kids’ menu that includes sausage and beans and chicken nuggets and chips. www.instagram.com/wilsonstraditional

www.instagram.com/wilsonstraditional L is for LOCAL

We’ve an abundance of incredible produce available on our doorstep – so take advantage of it! “Buying local benefits the community,” says Sue Hooper from Tynemouth’s The Deli Around The Corner. “The wedding food we provide is more about social celebrations – think local cheeses, cooked meats and charcuterie with crisp, flavoursome salads. When it comes to supporting businesses in our area, I suggest Doddington Cheeses of Wooler, PureKnead bakery in Whitley Bay, Newcastle’s North Chocolates and a good sparkling mead from the L Northumberland Honey Co.” www.thedeliaroundthecorner.co.uk

www.thedeliaroundthecorner.co.uk

M

M is for MUNCHIES

Munchies come night-time are very much in order to help your guests soak up any excess booze and ensure their heads aren’t too sore the morning after. Step forward Scream for Pizza, a Tyne and Wear mobile caterer that offers a host of delicious dishes including their Shuffle Truffle pizza – black truffle cream sauce, fior di latte mozzarella, scamorza, basil, chestnut mushrooms and garlic oil. www.screamforpizza.com/about

PP is for PUDDING Want to feed your guests something sweet later on in the evening? Book Candy Floss Events for their popcorn and candy floss stalls, or try Stockton’s I-Candy Karen for their delicious chocolate fountains. www.candyflossevents.com www.facebook.com/ICandyKaren

www.wmhqualitycatering.com www.screamforpizza.com/about N is for NUMBERS

Catering per head for your daytime guests comes as standard, but you might find some of your evening party are still full enough to not want to pick at your evening buffet. Many companies therefore suggest you cater for around 75% of your nighttime numbers, preventing food waste while saving you a bit of extra cash in the process. Try Gateshead’s Jacob & Tori Caterers, who offer a high-quality bespoke service specifically tailored to your big day. www.jacobtoricaterers.co.uk

OO is for OUTSIDE Planning on an alfresco summer wedding? You’ll need a caterer for that. Pig out (like what we did there?) with WMH Quality Catering, a Hexham business that offers tasty hog roasts, crunchy crackling and more. “Many weddings and events have been catered for throughout the 14 years since our business began,” says WMH’s Sue Bell. “Increasingly many couples are choosing a less formal wedding and the high quality of our local pork, sourced from the Tyne valley, makes for an excellent celebration meal.” www.wmhqualitycatering.com

QQ is for QUESTIONS Remember to have a list of questions to ask any caterer before you sign on the dotted line… “Some of the questions I get asked include if I have a range of crockery and cutlery to choose from,” says Emily Owen from Newcastle’s Emily Botham Catering. “Couples also enquire whether they can have a wedding tasting; as well as catering for dietary requirements, children’s menus, evening food and more. You can even ask what our waiting staff will wear – no questions are off limits!” www.instagram.com/emilybothamltd

R is for REGIONAL

One word. Parmo. RThat’s right – this Teesside delicacy, consisting of a tenderised chicken breast, crumbed, fried and covered with bechamel sauce and melted cheese, can now be served on your big day. Step forward Parmogeddon, a Newcastle company www.parmogeddon.co.uk who offer a variety of parmos – including veggie options – served with chips and garlic sauce. www.parmogeddon.co.uk

Shttps://gutsygirl.co

S is for SEASONAL

Why not ask your caterer to include seasonal produce in your menu? “Wild garlic in spring; elderflower in summer; root vegetables in autumn and clementines in winter… catering with the seasons gives your guests’ tastebuds an experience like no other,” says Amy Jowers from Middlesbrough caterer Gutsy Girl & Co. “Choosing ingredients at their peak ensures maximum flavour, nutritional value and often the best price, with produce coming straight from suppliers soon after harvest. If good food is important to you and your partner, choosing a business who can cater to the seasons should be an important factor to consider.” https://gutsygirl.co

TT is for TAPAS While you can’t bring the Spanish sun to your wedding day it’s good to know you can bring the country’s food to your celebration! A selection of tapas is a great alternative from a more traditional three-course affair, so why not consider booking Darlington’s Sol Tapas restaurant for your reception? Their patatas bravas and King prawns with chorizo had us at ‘hola!’ www.soltapas.co.uk

www.instagram.com/sunofseitan Want something a bit different? “What could be more decadent than a sumptuous afternoon tea for your wedding breakfast?” suggests Nicola Kinloch from Gateshead’s Olivia’s Kitchen. “Imagine delicate sandwiches packed with an array of tasty fillings, fresh fruit scones served with berry jam and clotted cream, super-soft sponge cakes and tantalising tray bakes. And, to make your wedding go with a pop, a glass or two of Prosecco!” https://olivias-kitchen.co.uk

https://olivias-kitchen.co.uk https://suetoddphotography.co.uk

V

V is for VEGAN

Vegans are catered for in style thanks to Tyne and Wear’s Sun of Seitan. “People are now more compassionate about what’s on their plate, so why not showcase this on one of the biggest days of your life?” says owner Ingrid Korsan. “Get your guests sampling vegan food, from our quack free duck and sticky ribs to buffano wings and kofta kebabs. Served in flatbread wraps with salad, pickles, vegan mayo and sauces, our food is so tasty even the most ardent meat-eater will be delighted!” www.instagram.com/sunofseitan

http://cherryblossomcakes.co.uk

YY is for YORKSHIRE PUDDING Yorkshire puddings are awesome. Fact. We make them better than anyone else. Fact. So why not have them as part of your spectacular day? Taylors of Darlington can provide you and your guests with a giant Yorkshire pudding filled with either beef, pork or turkey and roast potatoes. Heaven. www.taylorsbutchers.com/catering W is for WEATHER

Don’t forget to feed your party with food they’ll want to feast on depending on the time of year. “Spring and summer generally feature lighter bites such as salads, lean kebabs or seasonal couscous dishes, whereas autumn and winter has indulgence in mind, with stuffed baked potatoes and tantalising traybakes,” says Adam Jordan from Gateshead health food chain and caterer Nu To Go. www.nutogo.com X is for X-TRAS

Why not show friends and family how much you care by gifting them edible favours? “We offer a huge variety of sweet treats, from iced biscuits and macarons to cupcakes and brownies,” says Janine Sanderson from Jarrow’s Cherry Blossom Cakes. “I love anything personalised when it comes to weddings, and we often stamp the name of every guest onto individual iced biscuits. It also makes a lovely place name!” http://cherryblossomcakes.co.uk

Z is for ZZZZZ

Worried heavy food may make guests nod off in a chair when they should be bopping away to ABBA at your evening disco? Cheese could be the answer! According to a Benenden Health survey, stronger cheeses contain high levels of the amino acid tyramine, which increases alertness. With this in mind head over to Blagdon’s Northumberland Cheese Company who offer cheese-based wedding cakes and more. www.northumberlandcheese.co.uk