PLATED WEDDING DINNERS

Plated dinners for weddings are not as common as you would think but are more appealing to most brides who have the budget to offer it to their guests. In the 12 years that we’ve been catering weddings, it’s been our experience that about 20% of our brides even request to see a plater dinner menu proposal from us. It’s not 100% clear to us whether this is due to their understanding of the potential price difference, or a matter of experiences at weddings they’ve been a guest at. It is true that a plated dinner can be a bit more costly and there is a good reason for that. The biggest reason would be that on site production for a plated meal is labor intensive and so our cost is substantially higher. On the other hand, we can control our food costs by plating specific amounts of any particular part of the dish but the extra labor costs outweigh the small savings in food cost. One way that you can keep the price in check for a plated dinner is to limit variations to the main menu, and consider choosing entrees that are a bit less costly then say the filet mignon or halibut. Our team will come up with a nice plating for almost any dish that we currently offer in buffet service style. Any dish can be plated to look fabulous like the Tuscan chicken rollatini

Tuscan stuffed chicken rollatini with mozzarella, green olive and spinach wrapped in prosciutto and served with roasted cauliflower mash and sautéed asparagus.

And pasta dishes that can be served plated using pastas not commonly used in a buffet like tagliatelle and spaghetti are possible for plated dinners and can be more affordable.

As a chef, I prefer a plated meal because although we focus on the quality of ingredients and the technique in bringing a beautiful dish to your guests, a buffet’s display is more about the decor than the art on the plate. It feels more like a restaurant setting as well which coming from the restaurant industry for many years before starting my catering business, just makes it feel more nostalgic.

For your guests, it’s always nice to be served at the table and see a nice plated presentation. Starting with a salad and bread with butter, it gives them something to enjoy before the main is served. I wouldn’t worry too much about choosing the more affordable buffet since your guests are there to support you and your new family. No body is going to complain about a buffet! especially if the food is great. However, if you can add the budget to go with a plated dinner, we love to do them and encourage it.

Come and schedule a personalized tasting of your ideal wedding dish where you can enjoy a great meal plated the way your guests will see it. We schedule most tastings Tuesdays - Thursdays from 1pm to 5:30 pm and can be flexible to work out a different day and time if needed.

Executive Chef - Arizona Event Catering
(480) 420-4040 Ext#2