Menu for a Wedding in Italy

When we think about a wedding reception in Ireland, the UK and many other countries where food is not the pivotal point of daily life, we think about a 4 course meal, sometimes we come away delighted
at the food, most of the time we find it just ok and we rave more about the entertainment or flowers.

 In Italy they take food very seriously and the wedding feast is an opportunity to celebrate with gastronomic delights!

Italian chefs take enormous pride in their work and whereas in other countries the chef will prepare dishes for the pallet of the diner, in Italy they prepare dishes as they should be eaten! I have in the past braved the thunder reaction of a chef by daring to enter in to his kitchen with umm bisto.... The couple had requested gravy for the auld fellas attending the wedding from Ireland and sooo in I went with the red tub of gravy granules.

The reaction of this chef is best left between he and I, however I did get  gravy on to the table... although I had to make it outside of his kitchen!

Today I am thinking of menu options for a simple but elegant wedding in Tuscany this summer and trust me it is harder than you would think with all the different options! I am looking for inspiration in past wedding menus and worry that there might still be too much food even after I have cut the menu in half!

APERITIF BUFFET

Welcome cocktail

(Prosecco and Rose’ Prosecco with a raspberry in the bottom of the glass

   Orange,  Pineapple & Grapefruit Juice

Pastry Rissoles

 Mixed Olives

Feta cheese

Fried vegetables (to be served by circulated waiters)

Fried Sage

 THE CORNER OF TUSCAN COUNTRYSIDE

Pratomagno ham

Colonnata lard

Tuscan salami &  Finocchiona

Bresaola carpaccio with red radicchio and pine nuts

Giant  buffalo  mozzarella with olive oil flavoured with basil

Crostini with chicken liver paté, mushrooms

Bruschetta

THE CORNER OF TUSCAN CHEESE

Variety of Tuscan Pecorino cheeses

with a variety of  marmalades and mustards

THE CORNER TUSCAN BREAD

A variety of traditional Arno Valley’s bread

 Tables service

FIRST COURSES

Rose with nettle and crescenza cheese with leeks sauce and asparagus

Papadella with wild boar

MAIN COURSE

Valdarno chicken medallions with black cabbage, cocco nano beans, crispy “tarese” bacon

Chianina Beef Steak with pink pepper, potatoes with rosemary and grilled vegetables.

DESSERT

Traditional Italian wedding cake

Now lets hope the Bride and Groom like the menu I am putting forward to them and that the catering company also agree that it will work!