Why are the vast majority of catering menus, specifically for a wedding, mainly “exotic, upper class” foods?
Feb 10, 2012 | 15 comments
For lack of a better term.
At least from what I have seen online, I haven’t come across many off-site catering menus that are familiar foods or homecooking types. Instead it may be a familar food with an exotic sauce that no one would pick at any other time if they even thought of eating that combo, to give it an “elegant” spin that it doesn’t have otherwise. In rural areas, I have noticed they tend to be more familiar but still are jazzed up to some degree. But in metro areas, it seems to be much harder since they tend to think that very few if any want foods they are familiar with unless they eat exotic everyday.
How many times in your life do you get married? Its not like a Sunday night dinner after football and you dont want pigs in a blanket, a wedding is a special occasion calling for some of the finest cuisine you can afford on your budget.
well the way i see that is usually the upper class that gets catered too
i got tired of looking for catering for a wedding becuase all the food was stuff I wasn’t sure if anyone would like. I reccomend going to a local BBQ place and having them cater. I served rice, BBQ chicken, Brisket, and seasoned pork chops, with baked potatoes and it was a huge hit!! BBQ doesn’t have to be always casual. we dressed it up very nicely
That’s funny, because every wedding I’ve ever attended has been what I consider everyday foods. This summer I was at 2 weddings that each served chicken and filet mignon. Usually buffets are chicken, pasta, veggies, potato.
i know what you mean mate, who wants to eat crab salad eh, you should try a local bakery,they often do catering,and its more likely to be sensisble grub
I’m sure you can work with a caterer to provide simple fare for your event.
The fact is, people in metro areas are more exposed to elegant, exotic and ethnic food and just as people dress in fine clothes when attending a wedding, they expect fine food (especially since a decent wedding gift costs big bucks).
At your wedding, do what you want.
I had that problem as well. The internet was helpful to a certain extent but eventually I had to just open the phonebook and look. I don’t want highend upper class foods for my wedding either because I have a lot of kids attending. I want something my two year old will want to eat. Just look around ask for recommendations either on here or a wedding site and you will be able to find someone that has exactly what you are looking for. It took me a month and a half to finally find a caterer I liked. Good Luck! :0)
Because you can get away with charging $ 50 a head for “beef in wine sauce with roasted patty pan medallions and mixed vegetables in herbed butter” but not for “roast beef with gravy, squash, and sucotash” is why.
Most catering places have what you call a more “upper class exotic” menu because if you are looking to cater a special occasion such as a wedding, then most want something a little more special. You only get married once and it’s great to live it up a little bit. Go for what you can afford on your budget and talk to the caterers who can alter the menu to your liking and tastes.
I don’t know if it’s the truth that the majority of catering menus contain “exotic, upper class food”. I suppose a lot of places think that’s what even ordinary people want for their weddings.
But I do know that most communities have restaurants and other catering outlets that provide menus that consist of plain roast beef, fried chicken, ham, and other more homey foods.
Go to a neighborhood restaurant that you enjoy and ask if they cater weddings and other events. If they don’t, ask for referrals to institutions with food like theirs that do. After a few referrals and some dead ends, you are sure to find a place that caters the kind of food you’re looking for.
You are right they are. That’s mainly bec people like to put on something fancy for a wedding if they are hiring a caterer and caterers like to show they can do the fancy stuff. Many times if you ask for a more basic menu the caterer will be glad to work with you especially if you can offer some suggestions as to what you want. Other ppl who want a more simple down home reception go with different types of caterers for ex Mrs.Winner’s chicken and Folks both cater in some areas. Ask an eating place you like if they will cater. Many do even when they don’t make a big deal of it. Many grocery delis also offer party trays and premade dinners. Your local college or youth group may have ppl who can be the waietrs and waitresees and many waiters do make extra money working private parties.
The wedding industry is just that: an industry. The caterer is trying to make as much money as possible, and so they charge more by giving food froofy names, and adding sauces. But, there’s nothing that says you have to buy that. We weren’t crazy about the standard menus at our venue (most of our family and friends are the type who like to eat familiar food, with names they understand). So, we simply asked the catering manager if we could change the menu. They were more than happy to customize a menu that reflected the style of food we wanted. My fiance still wanted to simplify some of the names of the dishes, but I convinced him that a little froofy (especially at the price we’re paying) isn’t a bad thing. Guests want to feel special, too.
And, when I think about it, at most of the weddings I’ve been to (upward of two dozen), most of the food was pretty basic. More than half of them were family style baked chicken with either roast beef or roast pork, mashed potatoes, green beans, cream of chicken soup and a basic salad with rolls and butter. The other half were plated, but were still a filet of beef or salmon with nothing fancier than roasted potatoes and a medly of veggies. I don’t know what they called the dishes, but they were pretty mainstream.
I think it’s all about money.
Don’t look for wedding catering! Call places and just say you’re having a party and want to know if they do “home cooking” type stuff.
If you’re o.k. with the idea of a buffet reception, a local deli would probably be able to give you the “normal” stuff -green salad, mac&cheese, Swedish meat balls, dolmas,whatever is normal to you- at a great price. Don’t over look a local grocery store’s deli, either.
Good luck!
Since when is food classified by class? I think that’s a pretty rude and general statement. You don’t have to be upper class to enjoy good quality, well prepared food. Are you telling me you can’t be a foodie and be just a normal middle class person?
With that said, I think you are looking into the wrong type of catering. You are probably going with “typical wedding caterers” and not “everyday caterers” Of course, caterers that specialize in wedding are going to prepare more formal meals. No offense, but in more suburban and urban area, mac and cheese and plain grilled chicken aren’t considered formal food. It’s just in more urban areas, there are a lot more cultures you are being exposed to. Therefore, you have a bigger palate. I grew up in the suburbs and I’m my 20′s. Can I tell you how common it was to have sushi for dinner in college? I’m middle class, not upper. But, Japanese/Sushi is all the rage here. The truth is, I consider mac and cheese to be a lunch food and not a dinner food. In fact, I consider mac and cheese junk food.
But, again, that’s just the difference in our regional culture. You are obvious looking in the wrong place for your food needs.
Maybe you should look into a local restaurant in your area, where you like the food. I’m sure you could get some sort of catering from them.
It’s all regional. I live in a big Italian community. I’m Irish, but I’ve come to find Chicken Marsala, Penne Vodka, Anti Pasta, etc as common wedding food. It’s all where you live.
I completely agree with you. I am a picky eater and want to enjoy the food at my own wedding. If it weren’t too much of a hassle, I would cook all the food myself. I have had to turn down a few venues because they won’t permit off-site catering and I didn’t like any of their food options.
I think other people have provided great ideas. I’m going to call a bunch of restaurants (I’m hoping I can get a steakhouse like the Keg) and see which will cater a wedding with items from their menus.
Look into buffets, since they can include both the basic foods (spaghetti, chicken, etc.) and the more elaborate foodstuffs to meet everyone’s tastebuds.
I hope you find your perfect caterer soon!