Menu tasting tonight - what to expect

I think it varies from place to place - ours was like a big event with about 40 people there. It was set up like a wedding so you sat with a load of other people and you got canapes and welcome drinks, then a 3 course meal which you'd pre-booked. You also got to try all the different wines too. It was fab as you could see what everyone else was trying and hear their views but we came away more confused than we'd started!

Hiya, we have an outside caterer and our venue is supplying the alcohol. We went to the caterers venue what seems like eons ago now.. sat in a room and tried two starters, two mains and a trio of mini desserts.

Generally we just ate, "mmmmed" and said what we liked/ didn't like about the dishes. Our caterers are changing the trio of desserts so that we can have sticky toffee pudding included as OH and Mum insisted on it. Was also an opportunity to discuss timings, glassware, napkins etc.

Can I come to your tasting too Sara?!

Hi Sara! ?

We had our food tasting on Saturday and it was so much fun! I'm not entirely sure what your will be like but I can share my experience if that helps?

We arrived to a glass of champagne each to try (we had already chosen it but I asked if we could try it at the tasting just in case, lol), then sat down at a table. Our wedding coordinator came and chatted to us, explaining what would happen then gave us a print out of our choices with space to make 'tasting notes'. She then said she would return after each course to hear our thoughts. The wine waiter poured us 2 reds and 2 whites to try, then each course came out. We had chosen two options for each course to try and as there were 6 of us, 3 of each choice were given so we had half, then passed it to our partner. Only good if you don't mind sharing! ?

After all the courses and chats with the wedding coordinator, the chef came out to chat to us. I was weirdly nervous at this point and a little intimidated, think it was his chef's hat that made him look 7 feet tall! ? We just gave him our opinions, asked if things could be tweaked a little, and outlined the final menu we wanted.

It was such a lovely day and the venue had really gone all out to impress us, down to putting chair covers and ties on the chairs just like at our wedding. It made me even more excited for the big day!

If it's anything like ours, you will have an amazing night!

WOW jen, that sounds so fab - I hope mine is as good as that!

The more the merrier Spangles!!

Thanks HS, that sounds like a fun night out!

Woop woop! Shall be there with bells on. Hmmm can you tell by my enthusiasm that I'm a fatty?!! ?

We went and tried 2 of each starter, main, pudding and got loads of wine.

then the chef came over to us and we told him the bits we did and didnt like

have fun

I never had a tasting for ours (but then we've eaten there lots of times before). It may be that they just bring out small taster portions of each dish and they'll recommend the wine to go with it perhaps?

Make mine a prawn ring!!

Thanks everyone, this is really helpful advice

how did it all go then!??

It was amazing.

We got to the venue for 7pm and were met with a glass of champagne each and a bowl of vegetable crisps (our favourite!)

We then had some cananpes which were yummy

My parents then arrived and we went through to the restaurant where our table was laid out in a private corner

We had already selected to have:

Me OH

Ham hock Potato & Chive Veloute

Salmon Salad Mushroom Risotto

Chicken & Mushrooms Pork in Prune Gravy

White choc parfait Apple Tart tatin

We drank sooo much wine, my head was spinning!

We have decided to go for this:

Amuse Bouche - Potato & Chive Veloute

Starter - Mushroom Risotto with Parmesan and Rocket salad

Main - Roast PorK with a prune gravy, Fondant Potato, Green Beans, Parsnip Puree

Pudding - Apple Tart Tatin with Cinnamon and Butterscotch Ice cream

Instead of canapes we are having dipped strawberries with Champange - much more summery!

Sooooo exciting

All sounds very delish!

I love pork, it's such an underused meet for special occasions (unlike chicken wrapped in parma ham!).

? @ Strawberries

Crap - you weren't meant to see this - ooops now I have ruined the surprise!

Mmmm that all sounds lovely!! We don't get a taster session at our venue ☹️