Post # 1
Member
1746 posts
Bumble bee
Hi girls,
We had our food tasting this Saturday and I’m almost set on a menu, but needed your opinions.
I went with my venue because they have a beautiful ballroom and a good friend of mine hosted his daughter’s wedding there and said it was great wedding food all the way around.
To keep costs down, the venue offered to serve a duet entree instead of their usual style entree, which is a choice of two options at the table (which would make the price go up $30 dollars a person).
The invitations have been sent out so putting a choice on the cards is not an option either (the venue for some reason said it would be the same price as the choice at the table too, so we stuck with the duet option).
The duet option we are almost decided on is: Center Cut Beef Filet (port wine sauce) and Herb/bread Crusted Grouper (perhaps with a citrus or tomato coulis as a accompaniment, still undecided) over spinach risotto with vegetables.
My mom who is not a fish person normally really loved the fish, as did I (and my dad). And we are hosting a crowd of mostly Russian people who do like fish and beef. My problem is my fear that some might not like fish the night of as my mom keeps saying. I thought it was a LOVELY balance of beef and fish and both tasted great with their sauces and the risotto and vegatables. Plus it was a huge portion. The hotel will have some beef+beef dishes prepared if someone mentions not liking fish.
Should I go with chicken and beef filet instead? The chicken entree would probably have some kind of mushroom element to it.
How would you feel being served a beef/fish duet with risotto?
Post # 3
Member
2413 posts
Buzzing bee
I think that sounds like a great duet! I think it works out well, and if people don’t like it they can ask for extra beef or not eat the fish portion…I think either is fine!
Post # 4
Member
3457 posts
Sugar bee
I would likely not eat more than a bite of the fish. I don’t care for most fish. That said, I would eat your appetizers, the bread, the beef, the dessert and I would not go hungry or complain to you(!). I would just quietly wish to myself that I had a choice not to have the fish.
ETA:
@Miss Orchard: It would never occur to me to ever ask for more of the main course and if someone not the bride suggested it to me, I’d worry that was rude. So if this is the plan, make sure it’s clearly communicated to guests!
Post # 5
Member
532 posts
Busy bee
Personally, I would love it, but I am not a picky eater. I would stick with the beef/fish duet if I were you. If someone doesn’t eat one or the other, like you said , they could get double beef, or double fish.
Post # 6
Member
627 posts
Busy bee
I think it sounds like a great meal! I personally don’t like beef and don’t eat seafood, but if I was a guest I’d make do and not complain. I would probably taste everything and then just eat whatever I could.
Post # 7
Member
3942 posts
Honey bee
I don’t eat beef but I would be happy with the fish. The spinach rissotto sounds good too 🙂
Post # 8
Member
9024 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
I dont eat beef, and currently due to pregnancy can’t eat large fish, I normally dont eat Grouper anyway. so I wouldnt eat either of those. Is there a veggie option or chicken?
Post # 9
Member
5493 posts
Bee Keeper
If people don’t like one of the entrees, they can trade with their spouse.
I wouldn’t eat the beef but would give it to my DH and take his fish. Just make sure the two entrees don’t touch each other. I would be kind of grossed out if the beef and it’s sauce and taste got on my fish.
Post # 10
Member
1746 posts
Bumble bee
@bells: Yes, ther will be a veg. option , and it would be a Vegetarian Napoleon with Pasta & Tomato Couli.
Post # 11
Member
2701 posts
Sugar bee
I don’t really like fish or beef so I would much prefer to have a chicken option. I will eat beef is that is the only thing available, and maybe the fish (it can be hit or miss with me). I flat out don’t like it probably 80% of the time but every once and a while I find a fish that I really like (mmmm halibut….). However, I do think I’m in the minority in this and the beef-fish should probably be fine. But having a beef-beef or fish-fish option is a really good idea too.
Post # 12
Member
1746 posts
Bumble bee
@Meowkers: That is a good point. At the tasting they were completely separate and the sauces did not intermingle. As I remember, the sauce was served by request by the waiter for each piece of meat/fish. But I should double check. Thank you for pointing that out.
Post # 13
Member
3175 posts
Sugar bee
@Meowkers: This is what I was going to say. I’d eat both of those options, but if there were an option I didn’t like, I’d just trade with my fiance or a really close friend (yes, I would eat food off a close girlfriend’s plate lol). I think they sound like the kind of things that would appease the vast majority, though.
Post # 14
Member
3216 posts
Sugar bee
this sounds so delicious!!
I agree with making sure the sauces don’t mix too much, but I’d be delighted to get served this.
Post # 15
Member
1746 posts
Bumble bee
@RunsWithBears: I am normally not a fish person myself. As in, if I go out to a restaurant, I won’t even order it. But this was good, and actually my mom, who is uber sensitive and blase about fish, thought it was chicken and loved it, which told me it was probably a good choice for those who do like fish, but not the more distinctly fishy kinds.
The one thing that keeps me thinking we should have fish is all the parties I have been to with this type of crowd in my past. We’re talking gelfite fish, carpaccio, fish that’s pretty much still scaled and raw laid out on the table family style.
So I feel like it’s something this crowd will like in theory.
Post # 16
Member
1746 posts
Bumble bee
@bookworm88: That makes me feel happy! Bookworm, I emailed you a week or so ago about those CL’s. Did you get the email?