Small Wedding Picnic
Does anyone have any ideas for a picnic lunch following a wedding? I will have eight people attending, want something I can make a day or more ahead of time (I will have guests beginning the day before the wedding), can be served cold or room temperature, and will be nice enough to follow my best friend's wedding. Wine, cheese and fruit are obvious choices, but I would like something a bit "dressier" for such a special occasion. It should be a compete (filling) meal. Thank you!
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12 Comments:
Along with the wine, cheese and fruit, add a champagne punch, tea sandwiches (cucumber and cream cheese, asparagus and proscuitto, salmon mousse or shrimp, etc.), a small chafing dish of swedish meatballs, stuffed mushrooms or some other savory item, an asssortment of small cookies, pastries or petit fours (bite sized sweets), tiny scones and curd, and of course, a lovely little wedding cake. (Decorate it with edible flowers for a festive touch).
Add some tapas.
Gazpacho "shooters" with shrimp garnish.
Sushi for sushi lovers.
CJ McD at 6:47PM on 07/14/09
How about a goat cheese (or whatever cheese you like) and caramelized onion tarts. Can have it warm and at room temp. Also A big hit that I have made on nice parties is this smoked salmon cream cheese torte type thingy it has leeks and swiss cheese and red peppers, in it very rich, very beautiful and very very good. Serve it at room temp or warm, have some savory baquettes or crackers to serve it on. If you want to have this recipe let me know because I have dig it out lol.
pjracz10 at 7:37PM on 07/14/09
Do a seafood display with smoked salmon, shrimp cocktail, lobster salad.
Roast a turkey breast and/or a beef tenderloin that the day before. Set the sliced up roasts on platters with a selection of colorful accompaniments and some lovely breads, an orzo salad and caprese salad.
A small simple cake with flowers is a nice idea.
potroast at 7:45PM on 07/14/09
a quiche or frittata might be nice, and easily transportable. cold roast chicken has gone over well at picnics. i like to have an assortment of side salads and finger foods and then people can just nibble and it's easy to throw together but feels fancy. and using fancy ingredients and laying it out pretty takes everything a step up.
billyburgwife at 10:10PM on 07/14/09
What's on the wedding menu? It's nice not to repeat some of what was served the day before. I have lots of ideas, but would like to narrow them down to fit your particular venue.
dhorst at 10:18PM on 07/14/09
I don't know if this is at your home or if transporting things is an issue, so some of my suggestions might not work for you.
Chicken or seafood salad stuffed into Belgian endive leaves.
Shrimp cooked with garlic & chili, marinated in citrus juice, then placed on cucumber slices with a slather of cream cheese mixed with ground almonds and roasted poblano chilies (that is as short as I will ever write a recipe).
To make the fruit more festive layer it (I'm thinking citrus segments, grapes, and berries, and melon balls if you like) in a large glass bowl or champagne bucket. Make a simple syrup infused with mint, citrus or fresh ginger and pour that over an hour ahead. When you serve it, pour in some sparkling wine.
With only eight guests, a plated dessert might be nice. Panna cotta can be made ahead and if you add a sauce and a few cookies (amaretti possibly) on the side, it always looks special occasion-y.
As far as that goes, you could do two desserts, something that would be served immediately after the main meal, and then a more traditional wedding cake later.
PS. Have fun! I would love to do a small-scale wedding, but everyone I know invites too many people and has a catered $20 a plate overcooked chicken affair.
CatBoy at 12:58AM on 07/15/09
The idea of a wedding picnic sounds so bizarre to me... But then again, weddings in our family tend to be huge affairs. It sounds like it'd be really fun though!
Go for things that arent too messy! Nothing ruins a day like spilled tomato or grease on a dress/shirt/suit. Foods that come in their own 'packaging' are nice. No need to worry about utensils and such.
have fun!
engmcmuffin at 9:45AM on 07/15/09
I make a great roasted shrimp and orzo salad with sun dried tomatoes, mozzarella, roasted asparagas and onions. It is even better the next day. It is a complete meal in itself. You could get some Chinese style takeout containers to serve it in, tie them with a bow and add a flower.
DELICIOUS at 10:47AM on 07/15/09
Thanks for all the ideas! I love serious eats but have rarely posted. This is wonderful! Many of the ideas are similar to what I was toying with but you've helped me envision the menu even more.
@dhorst: This will be the wedding menu. It'll be right after the ceremony with just close friends and family. So anything transportable, make-ahead, and not hot can be on the menu!
@CatBoy: The ceremony will be in our town's courthouse but we'll be eating at a beach about a 20 minute drive from my home and the courthouse, so transportation is an issue. I LOVE the fruit bowl with wine. And yes, this isn't conventional but it will be lovely and much better than dried out chicken or beef.
curlycook at 11:22AM on 07/15/09
Remember to pack PLENTY of ice packs for cold foods and chafers/sternos for anything hot. Nothing should be kept out for longer than 4 hours, and only if it is the proper temp. I would be hesitant to serve anything with seafood if it will be sitting out for a long time. The last thing you want on such a special day is someone coming down with a food born illness!
nosillak at 5:42PM on 07/15/09
@curlycook--okay, I get it now. I so would have loved to have done something like that for my wedding. Ina Garten has a Roasted Shrimp Salad recipe that is so good! Keep in mind that she added the citrus dressing to the shrimp and vegetables so as not to overdress it. It would be lovely in lettuce cups lined ramekins or tea cups. This Oven-Dried Toma Tart with Goat Cheese and Black Olives would be a nice side along with green salad and rolls or baguettes and also fit right in with your wine, cheese and fruit.
dhorst at 7:58PM on 07/15/09
That should be Tomato Tart, not Toma Tart. Grr. Sorry.
dhorst at 8:01PM on 07/15/09