Opinions on menu choices please!

Its made me hungry reading this love it, starters are good cos youve got something a bit different and then soup which evetyone likes and then dessert, id have both lol

Ah that sounds lovely. I want your duck breast starter!! The only thing I would say is that the shank doesn't sound summery (iykwim) having said that that is what i would chose to eat!

My completely honest view would be very little use to you as I would be happy with any of those choices, I think they are all yummy options.

If I had to pick, and I promise it's a really hard choice, I'd go for the duck starter, the pork main and the tarte tatin dessert.

I try to pick things I can't cook myself, or don't cook/eat very often! The only other thing I thought was that a choc brownie dessert might be a bit heavy in summer? But then, knowing my chocoholic friends, I don't think that would stop them nomming the whole lot!

I'll have the duck breast, the lamb shank and the brownie please ?

Nom nom nom

All sounds scrummy, glad my dinner is in the oven now!!

Thanks for the replies so far ?

I can't believe how hard it was to narrow the choices down - we had about 25 options for each course!

I tried to get a mix of something a bit different but something "fussy" eaters would also eat. Had to bear in mind the kids get the same as adults so couldn't have every option really fancy or alcohol laced!!

My main concern was that overall the whole menu might be a bit 'heavy' for summer but as one of you has said it wouldn't stop me eating the lamb and chocolate brownie!!

X

This is so me!

Yum Yum Yum..... I would be VERY happy if I had that menu to choose from at a Wedding. I love everything you have on that menu and you have definitely catered for most tastes there.

Can I get an invite? ?

Nat

Hee hee - I'm glad it's not just me - this is exactly why I make a beeline for duck when it's an option - I've had a go at cooking it myself, but it's never as good as anything I've had in a restaurant!

Mmmmm......Pineapple Tarte Tatin with Coconut & Malibu Ice Cream....my idea of heaven!!! I sooooo want some

OOOO this has made me hungry too... especially the chocolate brownie!!

We are also having an usually large amount of vegetarians at our wedding so the only thing I would say in regards to this is the vegetarian people wont have any choice as there is only one option for them.

This is something we had to think about and have made sure there is atleast two options for vegetarians and ofcourse non vegetarians might even choose this option.

HTH x

Your meal looks lovely. The only thing I would suggest is having a fish main course as well/instead of one of the red meat courses. This gives a bit more choice and opens up another choice to pescetarians (sp?) i.e. veggies who also eat fish. If it was up to me I'd keep the lamb and ditch the pork belly in favour of a fish dish.

Also, my OH is veggie and I'm not sure he would like your main course if I'm honest - butternut squash is a bit of an acquired taste I think. If you have lots of veggies why not have a couple of veggie options for each course?

When we were agreeing our menu with our venue, they pointed out that some of our choices are not massive 'crowd pleasers' and suggested some additional, 'safer' options, which have actually been generally the most popular choices so far in our RSVPs. It might be worth noting as well that we are having a spring wedding and our venue suggested we didn't have soup as it is more of a winter thing - they also said that in their experience people don't generally like to choose soup.

Our menu, for comparison, is as follows:

Starters:

Carpaccio of beef served with rocket, parmesan, truffle oil and croutons

Crispy fried mozzarella, rocket, tomato compote

Crispy crab cakes, pea puree and parsley sauce

Mains:

Fillet of beef, dauphinoise potatoes, sauteed spinach & wild mushroom sauce

Seared sea bass, crushed potatoes, greens & herb butter sauce

Baked mushroom stuffed aubergine, garlic crumb, crushed potatoes and herb sauce

Desserts:

Sticky toffee pudding, toffee sauce & vanilla ice cream

Raspberry clotted creme brulee with chocolate dipped shortbread

?

This is exactly what we are "umming and aahing" about. IMO pork is not generally a popular meat choice but the kentish cider gravy is attracting me to it as we are getting married in kent and I like the whole "local produce" idea. We were/are thinking about changing this to a fish dish.

And very good point about the soup - i wouldn't have had this but couldn't find anything on the menu that was both child friendly and vegetarian friendly. And I'm not changing the duck because I can't wait to try that!! Might have a word with the venue about finding another option....

And your menu is perfect btw - love it.

Really helpful overall - thanks everyone

X

I'd say soup, pork, chocolate brownie!

I think your menu sounds delicious! It's so nice to have a change from the usual pate or soup and chicken. Don't get me wrong, I'll eat anything and would quite happily scoff a plate of pate but with 8 weddings this summer that all had variations on the same thing, I would be delighted to be presented with your menu!

As a vege i think your menu is beaut! Alot of places just stick some mushroom on the menu and thats it, but it sounds really inventive and delish! The meaty stuff sounds good too

I'll have the lot on 2 plates plese!

Great choices

Duck, lamb and chocolate brownie for me please!!?

I'd second that a fish dish is a good idea, both the pork and lamb sound quite heavy and a nice fish dish would be a lighter option...

We haven't done this bit yet and I'm really looking forward to it! I'm going to have a goats cheese and caramalised onion tart as my vege main so I can have it because it's my favourite!!

You are making me hungrey with that menu, I would quite happily eat any of it, and I like your veggy option, its nice to see soething that is doesnt have mushrooms or goats cheese in it!!!! and your duck starter sounds fab!! I understand what someone else was saying about people not wanting soup and I probs wouldnt mainly for fear of spilling it on my posh frock but it is a safe option as pretty much everyone like tomato soup!

As a pescetrian I'd agree with Annah and others that a fish dish would be nice to see. Also, your two veggis options are quite "herb-heavy" which can be overpowering.

I'd definitely go for chocolate brownies, and TBH, would be happy to eat what you have suggested (veggie options).

I'm only being a bit picky!

The menu sounds lush but to choose I would have the duck to start, then the lamb shank and then the pinapple tart

Really sorry if I've misunderstood, but a 'normal' serving of pork and pork belly can be very different things - just in case you hadn't realised! Very fatty and I would say an acquired taste. ?

This is similar to how i've seen pork belly served most often:

Getting hitched at cooling castle barn??

I don't presonnally agree that dishes are "too heavy" for summer. Yes in summer when I'm cooking at home we do eat more salads but I've never been to a restaurant in Spring/Summer, looked at the menu and thought "ooh, don't want the "x" as it's a bit heavy" ?

We got married in May on probably the hottest day of the year and had lamb shanks!! So I of course will say you can have lamb shanks!! ?

yep! have you chosen your menu yet?

X

OH YES!!!

Starter:

Prawn Cocktail - Norwegian Prawns Bound in Marie Rose Sauce, Served with Gem Lettuce, Confit Plum Tomato & Wholemeal Bread

OR

(v) Carpaccio of Vine Plum Tomatoes with an Avocado, Shallot & Tarragon Salad

Main:

Roast Saddle of Salt Marsh Lamb with Tomato & Tarragon Gravy

OR

Bangers & Mash - Cumberland Sausage with Buttered Mash & Rich Onion, Smoked Ham & Lentil Gravy

OR

(v) Steamed Herb Crepes with Roasted Butternut Squash, Garlic & Rosemary. Served with Plum Tomato & Smoked Paprika Coulis SAME AS YOU!!!

Desert:This keeps changing because they are all scrummy!!!!

Iced Coconut Parfait with a Mango & Pineapple Salsa with Lemongrass Syrup

OR

Lemon Meringue Pie with Mango Coulis & Passionfruit

Very good choices! The fact that we only have one the same just shows how many options there are!

We spent AGES picking the desserts - our 'shortlist' had about 10 dishes on it!!

X

I can't believe you get to sort your menus out already! We don;t even get an appointment to meet our caterers until 12 weeks before don't know how i'm going to make the choices and get the invites out on time when they are leaving it that late!

I'm veggie and like the sound of the veggie options

Another veggie here who likes the sound of the veggie options. The main course in particular. As a veggie I am used to having limited choice a lot of the time so I wouldn't worry about having only one option for veggies.

I am really looking forward to choosing the menu at our venue, mainly as it is one area of the wedding where me and the OH will naturally split a decision equally. Ill choose the veggie options and he will choose the meat/fish options. I am not sure how it works at our venue (i.e. whether we get to choose a few options for each course to allow our guests to choose, or whether we just pick a menu and be done with it?).

Mmmmm YUMMY can I come???

I'd go for duck, then lamb, then tarte tatin.

Hi VickyJay - we have just had our menu choices released too - so now having to go though the lists and try to please everyone. I'm going to read all the posts on your thread and see what everyone recommends :-) x

Hi your planning is good congratulations lady