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Alright, I will try to keep this brief! I am serving a vegetarian, plated meal for my wedding reception. I am feeling a lot of pressure to make sure that all of the food is really delicious and really filling, because some of the guests are a big meat and potato crowd. (I don't mean to be rude, but I am NOT looking for comments about whether or not it is appropriate to not serve meat. This is not debatable for me.) I came up with a first draft menu, and I want to know from all those meat eaters out there if it sounds like something you would find filling and tasty. My wedding is going to be fun and classy but casual, so in order to stay with that theme, the main course is going to be their choice of panini from the panini menu, and then there will be six other courses. Thank you so much for your feedback! Is this a wedding meal you would be happy to eat? Please, be honest! Here's what I got so far:
Finger Foods Buffet Style:
Cheeses, Crackers, Breads, Vegetables, Dips
Plated Meal:
1. Stack of fresh mozzarella, heirloom tomato, fresh basil leaves, balsamic reduction
2. Salad of mixed greens, with a raspberry vinaigrette and toasted sesame seeds
3. Tricolor bell peppers and olive oil drizzle over grilled rosemary focaccia bread
4. Roasted seasonal vegetables with Israeli couscous
5. Cucumber gazpacho soup
6. Their choice of panini sandwich with roasted fingerling potatoes
7. Sparkling lemon sorbet
I'm also doing a late night S'mores bar over a campfire.
Also, here is my panini menu that the guests would receive in their invitation, and select in their response card with the RVSP, kind of like what most people do with beef, chicken, or fish options. I came up with some funny names to try and make it whimsical.
PANINI MENU
served with roasted fingerling potatoes
The Pesto Manifesto
Fresh Mozzarella cheese, herb pesto sauce, sun dried tomatoes
The Bad Larry
Spicy brown mustard, swiss cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, dill pickles
The Feisty Grandma
Crisp Granny Smith apples, Brie cheese, peppery arugula
The Fungus Amongus
Gorgonzola cheese, caramelized spanish onions, mixed woodland mushrooms, horseradish mayonnaise
The Mighty Aphrodite
Baby spinach leaves, crumbled feta, provolone cheese, roasted red peppers, salty kalamata olives
The Spicy Muchacho
Sliced jalapenos, pepper jack cheese, fire roasted sweet corn kernels, black beans
FOR THE LITTLE ONES
served with baby carrot sticks
The Squirt
Ooey, gooey, melty orange cheddar cheese
Ok, I'm not a hard sale because I am a vegetarian. But, I'd just like to say that the whole menu sounds DELISH, I'd be soooo thrilled to go to your wedding! I do think meat eaters will be full, for sure. Will they be 'satisfied', maybe not all of them will be, but a lil less meat might be just what those folks need! I do think overall, this will be just fine. Can I come? :)
That sounds ridiculously good to me, but I'm a vegetarian. :) Most people I know would be more than happy with that menu.
Well, my mom is a vegetarian, so I grew up eating veggie and choose it a lot, but boy that menu sounds awesome!
Two thoughts: I would offer a grown-up grilled cheese for the least adventurous in your crowd. I would also consider replacing the couscous with a rissotto, if possible. Rissotto is rather filling, so the picky people may just find that to be their thing.
Honestly, though, I would love your wedding.
I agree that you should replace the cous cous with something more hearty. Although I think everything you listed sounds yummy, I do thing that the meat and potato lovers at your wedding will be disappointed. Try to add a risotto as suggested above, or a pasta.
Can I please come to your wedding! I'm a vegetarian as well and I think the panini menu is 1) super cute 2) super delicious sounding! (I'm also having a vegetarian wedding - booyah!)
One suggestion, that you should feel no particular pressure to take: if you are worried about satisfying meat eaters, an egg-heavy option often works well. We did a souffle; if you are wanting to stick to sandwiches, then one with a fried egg in it might work.
I'm a meat eater, and your menu sounds deliciousssss. I agree on an adult grilled cheese because while some may be willing to try new things, some people like to stick to what they know. Everything sounded so yummy though!
Maybe I'm picky but the only thing that I like the sound of is the panini menu!
I second the pasta. Is there a way to have that too or no?
I'm not a vegetarian and always have meat with lunch/dinners unless I'm eating pasta. I LOVE pasta and will eat any kind. But I've never in my life had a veggie sandwich of any kind. Never had cous cous or gazpacho soup before so not sure about those...I guess I'm a "simple" eater. LOL
So I think I wouldn't be happy with the food selections, BUT (and this is a big but) I wouldn't care all that much because it is your wedding day. I would just stop and get something to eat after I left the reception if I was still hungry. You should have what YOU want! :)
I am a meat eater and your menu sounds really good. Im a picky eater but everything sounds really good. I love the panini option. I have paninis for dinner and usually those alone are enough to fill me up!
I am a meat-eater but your menu sounds SO tasty! Yum! Great options and a good variety. It frustrates me (even as a non-vegetarian) that people automatically assume all vegetarians eat is salad and veggies. I mean really - your menu shows how much variety you can have and how delicious non-meat food can be! Great menu!
If the people around you know you and know that you are a vegitarian, I wouldn't worry about it at all. The menu sounds deelish and I'm definately one of the meat and taters girls. ;) mmm paninis.
I really like the sound of your menu and think I would really enjoy it.
My only suggestion is that all the panini's are really cheese heavy and I don't eat melted cheese. Now I know this is weird but there are a few of us out there! Would you consider doing a cheeseless option in the panini menu for us weirdos?
Edit: I am a meat lover by the way!
Okay I am an insanely picky eater and I would LOVE to eat the food at your wedding! I will admit that I eat a 75% vegetarian diet, not for ethical reasons but just because it is healthier, so it wouldn't bother me that there isn't any meat on your menu.
I like the idea of adding an egg dish to the menu, however, for those who are used to a heartier "meat" meal. Other than that I would gobble up every course!
Can I come to your wedding? ;) I'm a vegetarian, so it would be a dream to show up as a guest and have this!
I agree with previous posters who suggested having a grilled cheese option for adults. Beyond just meat eaters, you might have some vegetable-phobic people who would be scared by your veggie heavy menu.
I like to eat meat as rare as can be, but that doesn't mean I would not eat any of the above sandwiches. Probably anyone who has a problem with these would have a problem with anything you would serve. it sounds like you are a foodie (as am I) and you wouldn't just have reagular old meat and potatos anyway even if you ate me. so YUM!
I probably wouldn't just eat an all veggie dinner because I really need meat in my diet (protein deficiency).
Though I wouldn't worry about it at all. I went to two vegetarian wedding last summer and I just made a point to eat a burger before I went and then I munched on the veggie dinner. Whatever you serve people will be happy with it.
I think it sounds delicious, although I agree that a "grown up" grilled cheese would be a great addition.
In case you are thinking about wording for the menu, I thought it might be pertinent to mention that "panini" actually means "sandwiches" so you might not want to say "panini sandwich" which effectively means "sandwiches sandwich" ...I am probably fussier than most about things like that but more information is better, right?
I'm not a vegitarian, and I think your menu sounds tasty! But, I consider myself to be a pretty adventurous eater, and love cous cous and gazpacho and whatnot. I read "meat and potato types" to mean people that are maybe less comfortable with exotic food (i.e. something like sushi or empanadas wouldn't go over well, even though they have meat), and there are a lot of exotic things on your menu. Maybe do a classy pasta salad (like with orzo) instead of cous cous? Or maybe another more familiar panini - like an egg salad or eggplant parm? Maybe some kind of ceaser salad wrap? Again, I think everything you've written sounds tasty, but if you know you have conservative eaters who are already going to be wary of a vegitarian menu, you might want to throw on a few more things that they're likely to have heard of and eaten before.
Ditto @monita - i think risotto would be a good compromise, and a fancy grilled cheese would be a great safety (or a wonderful comfort food for even your foodies!). I am not a frequent meat eater (we usually do poultry, seafood, or just veg) but even I really don't usually order any sandwich that doesn't have meat on it. It feels naked to me! haha
Unique and yummy ideas, though. I was really enjoying your plated list. Tonight we are eating dinner with a veggie couple and i'm excited to see what they're making. Maybe a 1. Stack of fresh mozzarella, heirloom tomato, fresh basil leaves, balsamic reduction ;) MMM
It sounds really fabulous. I'm sure if people are not able to have cheese, they'll mention that on the RSVP card. I'm not vegetarian, but everything sounds sooooo good. And if people aren't thrilled with your wonderful and healthy menu, they can go grab fast food afterward, you know?
Have you thought about perhaps seeing if you can include some of the soy proteins available that are super similar to chicken and beef? There is a product called Chick'N that is completely vegetarian but totally tastes just like chicken (looks like chicken too). If you're getting your event professionally catered, any company should be able to get ahold of it or something similar.
It's just a thought- while your selections sound delicious, I just know from being in the food service industry that there are TONS of vegetarian options out there that aren't an actual vegetable or hunk of cheese :)
Also.. from the bride who thought it would be a nice idea to give her guests 4 entree choices for the plated dinner... hope you have a plan in place for your place cards because even with just 4 different options, that was a big ol PITA indicating meal choice on the card. :)
Wow, thanks girls! This is the first post that I've written, so it was really exciting to get all of your feedback, especially so quickly! I would certainly consider doing a risotto or pasta dish instead of the couscous. I guess that I was thinking that the Israeli couscous was close enough to a pasta (the Israeli kind is much bigger, like a large pearl sized instead of the American kind that is really fine), but maybe I was trying a little too hard to go off the beaten path. yes, flamingred, you are right, I LOVE food. With the exception of meat, I love pretty much everything. Perhaps I need to remember that some people prefer to eat more simply! I think that I wanted to share my love of vegetarian food with my guests, who all know that me and my fiancee are veggieheads through and through. Unfortunately, money is a huge factor, as we are both students. I am paying for the wedding with my savings from waiting tables 55 hours a week, hence the super long engagement. Thank you so much for your posts girls, I really appreciate it!!!
I think it sounds delicious and I would eat it, but I have a meat and potatoes type of family who would probably only eat half of the things on that menu. I agree with having an adult grilled cheese option (most would eat that), and maybe something with eggs. In the end though, it is your wedding and I think as long as people know ahead of time what the menu will be they can make arrangements beforehand. A pasta option with marinara sauce is also a pretty inexpensive but satisfying solution for most people.
I think everything seperate sounds amazing, but honestly I think with everythign your serving some people might feel like theyre overdosing on vegetables. This probably sounds horrible but I'd be afraid of how gassy all that roughage would make me. since you're already having vegetables, cheeses, and breads for finger foods I dont think you need to have even more for each course. I think people would fill up on the paninis and potatoes alone (YUM). Instead of having each one of the top 3, I would choose just one.
oh, and yes, thank you, panini does mean sandwich, so panini sandwich is quite redundant, haha. like when people say ATM machine. thanks for pointing that out bunnybride, i will remember that when i create my actual menu
i'm another vegetarian who thinks your menu sounds aaaaaamazing!!
one thing though, and i noticed some other commenters mentioned protein too--maybe adding some chickpeas or white beans to one of the appetizers would help "hearty"-it up for the meat eaters? there's a lot of cheese, which also is a good protein, but beans sometimes feel more filling. i tend to eat them with almost eveything! :)
as someone who will eat just about anything, that sounds delicious! and i think that panini menu thing is super cute! :) and now i am hungry :P
im a huuuge meat and potatoes person - its practically 90% of my diet with a sprinkling of veggies in there here and there - so thats my caveat.
your menu sounds tasty - however i think i would walk away hungry.
My suggestion: like some other bees mentioned have a pasta course - or replace the couscous with pasta - it will fill you up. even if its something like pasta primavera (just pasta with roasted veggies) which will leave meat eaters feeling full. Or something with a tomato based marinara like sauce.
Of the paninis while they sound tasty, the only one i might eat would be the spicy one - minus the beans. most of the paninis i would look at and go "wheres the meat???"
A grilled cheese will go a LONG way for the less adventurous in the crowd so definately have that as one of the adult panini choices (whats orange cheddar cheese? - does that mean the color?).
all and all not bad though.
i don't like most veggies... so the only thing i'd eat is the panini. but i know i'm a minority.
I'm a super picky eater, so to be entirely honest I wouldn't eat a lot of that (though the Feisty Grandma panini sounds amazing). But also as a picky eater I know going into a lot of situations that I have to make due, and maybe (just maybe) try new things! I would never go to a wedding or any other plated event and be upset at all that they didn't have my favorite foods.
I do agree with the suggestions about a fancier grilled cheese and adding pasta if possible to the menu. But in regards to you worry about it not being filling enough, I don't think that is a problem at all. There is more than enough there to keep even me (truly the pickiest eater you will meet, and a huge meat and potatoes girl) full and satisfied. I would also be extremely excited for the s'mores dessert, and would use that to fill me up afterwards if necessary.
That menu sounds awesome! I am a vegan so I am also biased. I do agree with the idea for bean dips and a grain more dense than the cous cous such as risotto (though that is hard to do for a wedding). You could do polenta instead of cous cous as well. I am surrounded by meat eaters and they love stuff like polenta, whole grain pasta, hummus and bean dips. Do you mind if I borrow some of your food ideas for my wedding? The paninis sound great!
I'm a meat eater, just like Spaganya, from a real meat and potatoes family. And this menu would NOT fly. At All. My cousin's wife is a vegetarian for religious reasons and they bitch and complain at every single one of her functions. Looking at the menu, it sounds tasty but nothing that I would personally want to eat and I'm not a picky eater. It just isn't my taste. It's bread, cheese and vegetables pretty much. I don't like gazpacho. I probably wouldn't leave satisfied, honestly. But since offering meat is not an option, I mean, what can you do? It's just one night, I could deal with it, but would be a bit crabby on my empty stomach. Or, maybe someone will pick up food elsewhere and bring it (yes, I have seen that done before). I think you've done well for what you are willing to provide.
Yeah, I'm a little overwhelmed by the amount of dairy on this list. I can't eat a lot of dairy (mild lactose intolerance). I'm also surprised by the lack of beans/tofu/protein anywhere on the list. Besides cheese which I know some people call a protien at times.
It looks good, but I'm afraid I wouldn't make it through your reception if I ate all that dairy. I second a cheese-less or a soy-cheese panini option.
I'm a meat and potatoe lover and I seriously <3 your menu!!!!! I wanna come!!!! Pleeezzzeeee!!!!
Seriously, I would love to attend a wedding where something different (for me) like your menu would be served!!!
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