From brunches to custom bars, this year’s wedding couples have set a few new trends for wedding cuisine. Here are some of the most commonly requested food trends from our brides and grooms during the past year:
Local Fare: Brides and grooms are asking for their wedding food to come exclusively from local sources. Here in Indiana, we’ve received requests for local meat and cheeses for the appetizers, farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats, and local beer, wine and spirits. Globally-conscious couples are choosing locally grown, sourced or organic food, and choosing sustainable materials for their china, such as our bamboo place settings.
Comfort Food: Perhaps giving a nod to nostalgia, many couples choose to serve comfort food to their guests at their receptions and rehearsal dinners. Some of our most recent Indianapolis wedding catered events have included foods such as pasta, meatloaf with mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and pie for dessert. Couples are also choosing to serve these comfort foods family-style on long farmhouse tables. One couple even chose cookies and milk in lieu of a champagne toast.
Tapas (Small Plates): One modern trend is for brides and grooms to serve bite-sized portions of various entrées in place of one large main course. This allows guests to sample a wide variety of cuisine or keep to a specific wedding theme. We can serve virtually any style of food in this shareable style, so the options are only as small as your imagination.
Visit the Stations: Probably one of the largest trends of the year is serving foods in various stations throughout the room, rather than having a buffet or plated dinner. We’ve seen the traditional charcuterie (meats and cheeses) and crudité (fresh vegetables and dip) but also options such as a baked potato bar, taco bar, a coffee or hot chocolate bar along with various desserts and cocktails.
Whether you’re looking to fit a theme (we’ve seen everything from Mardi Gras to ethnic-inspired themes), color scheme (gold/silver and purple/blush were a hit this year) or cuisine for your wedding catering, we can work with you to accommodate. Simply schedule a session with us to talk about your vision!
What are Sustainable Foods (and why should you Care)?
Sustainable means “conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources” (source: Google.com). In the catering business, this means promoting healthy farming and environmental practices such as the use of fewer resources. Many brides and corporate event planners are looking for sustainable options when planning their Indianapolis wedding or special event. Here at Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering and Finley Creek Vineyards, we have an eye on sustainability. We offer many options when it comes to planning our events, either at Finley Creek or another Indianapolis venue.
Our Outdoor Setting
One of the reasons we decided to open our own venue for catering at Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering was to become more sustainable. At Finley Creek Vineyards, we can host your event outdoors in our garden area to make it green, and the sun can provide all the natural lighting you’ll need. Even our indoor venue, a refurbished Zionsville barn space, boasts plenty of natural lighting. Another way to conserve would be to have your wedding and reception all at one location, to save on fuel emissions. Dining by candlelight and using farm-to-table flowers or potted plants instead of off-season varieties are other ways you can stay sustainable with the setting of your wedding or special event.
Farm-to-Table Food Sources
You should care where your food comes from, especially when planning a special event. Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering has established partnerships with several local farms throughout the Indiana area, where we can source the freshest meats, eggs, cheeses, produce and other food for our clients’ catered meals. Using in-season and local food sources means you’ll be able to serve the freshest food that doesn’t sacrifice flavor. From pasture-raised to organic and non-GMO, we have just about any option you would consider, and we can help you select the best menu to accommodate your needs. Some of our local sustainability partners include Fischer Farms, Gunthrop Farms, This Old Farm, Traders Point Creamery and Goose the Market.
For more information about how to make your Indianapolis wedding, corporate event or fundraiser more sustainable, contact Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering at 317.283.2776.
Our Vision: Finley Creek Vineyards
An update on construction:
For those of you following the build-out of our new, 5-acre banquet facility and barn in Zionsville, Indiana, we wanted to give you a little bit of an update. While we have hit a few snags along the way since our demo date in June 2016, we are still working to obtain the proper permits and follow the guidelines of the city of Zionsville as we renovate the old Country Market space and grounds. Our plans are to announce a launch for 2017, but cannot confirm a date now.
Rustic Sophistication:
To get a better idea of our vision for our Indianapolis area wedding and event venue, picture a quaint yet sophisticated vineyard setting with rolling gardens, grape vines and a pergola. Our outdoor space will be perfect for a wedding ceremony, a nighttime cocktail hour or even outdoor dining. Guests can enter through double barn doors to our 5,000-square foot indoor space, where they will our designer has mixed contemporary elements such as glass, white stone floors and chandeliers with rustic features such as reclaimed wood beams. Our space designer, one of the lead architects at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, is helping make our vision for Finley Creek come to life, and we are excited for the changes to come.
European Style Catering:
As we have mentioned in the past, our philosophy at Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering is to keep things simple, and start with a great foundation. Much like we are doing with the design of our new Finley Creek wedding and event venue in Zionsville, our food is always simple, starting with a few great ingredients, which we build upon for great flavor without hiding the original taste. Our food is always created fresh and on-site for our clients, and we pride ourselves in customizing our menu to suit the overall vision of the event. We will also be offering many, sustainable food options from local farms for our entrees and other dishes.
Stay tuned as we finalize the details on our new event space. For more information about advance bookings of Finley Creek Vineyards venue for weddings, corporate events, or special occasions, please contact Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering office at (317). 283-2776.