Use transitional cool weather dishes like risottos or hash and put a twist on the ingredients!
Harvest-style catering bounties and comfort foods are the go-to for family get-togethers, weddings, and other celebrations. When celebrating, it’s not enough to just plop down a gourd and an apple pie and call it a day. Today, sophisticated couples are looking for tables and menus that reflect their sense of style, while also embracing the time of year and their surroundings. If you don’t know where to start when planning for your event, here’s some creative inspo implementing harvest-style catering and how to pull it off for your affair.
TABLES REFLECT THE SEASONS
Christie Altendorf, Senior Event Planner & Marketing Manager of D’Amico Catering, reminds us what a great time of year this is to embrace Minnesota and everything it has to offer, from the food you serve to the tablescapes you serve it on, “When it comes to décor, taking the traditional elements of fall and elevating them with upscale options can be a great way to celebrate the season and achieve a luxe look. For example, heirloom varietals of pumpkins can range in a variety of different muted tones, and various different grasses can offer differing rich shades and textures. Mixing in honed metallics or depression glass can create lovely settings and dusty hued hand dried cheesecloth as a table runner finishes off any look.”
La Vie Photography
HARVEST-STYLE CATERING TRENDS
We know as temps drop we all crave warm foods. And some say the richer, the better. Altendorf has some amazing options if soup is the way you want to start your meal, “with delicious bowls like curried apple parsnip, butternut squash with sage, and wild mushroom with thyme and sherry,” clearly, caterers have sophisticated options beyond split pea and ham.
La Vie Photography
“Beyond soup, we’re really excited to use things that are currently being harvested. For example, we’ve been cooking a lot lately with different apples from one of our venues, Ashery Lane Farm. From sausage and apple dressing stuffed acorn squash to tart tartin, our team has been having fun with hyper-local ingredients,” explains Altendorf.
La Vie Photography
“Another wonderful way to embrace the savory part of the season is by using transitional cool weather dishes like risottos or hash and putting a twist on the ingredients – for example, adding pumpkin and thyme to a classic risotto recipe and topping with crumbles of goat cheese and pomegranate seeds can elevate a classic to something new and uniquely seasonal.” Leave it to experts to take your everyday edibles and kick them up a notch! Guests won’t soon forget your meal when you modernize expected options with subtle extras.
HARVEST STYLE SWEET ENDINGS
Altenforf reminds us why you must have room for dessert. “D’Amico Catering’s Executive Pastry Chef Leah Henderson has been creating beautiful desserts inspired by fall. One of her favorite creations this last month was to design a pie table for a wedding couple. From apple brown butter streusel to strawberry rhubarb, wild blueberry to blackberry key lime pie, this sweet display satisfied the eyes of guests first before satisfying their taste buds.”
Kate Becker Photography
Want more delectable options? Check out Must-Have Desserts for Fall Weddings for inspirational cakes and more.
