Food Archives | Page 2 of 5

In Advice

Cute ways to serve ice cream at your wedding

October 13, 2020 No Comments

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. On a hot summer’s day, nothing is better than the refreshing coolness of an icy lolly.

With the hot season approaching, it’s best to plan ahead and think of creative ways to keep your guests cool during a summer wedding. Ice cream may seem casual, but it is also fun and nostalgic. A major trend for modern weddings is personalisation, so why not incorporate a childhood favourite into your big day?

Here are some ways to include ice cream into your wedding:

Escort cards:

Use the stick of the ice cream to display your guest’s name, and arrange them in groupings that match with your seating chart. Your guests can simply grab a lolly and head to their table!

Match the colour of the ice cream to your wedding day, and incorporate fruits that are popular in the season like strawberries and watermelon.

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Wedding favours:

Give your guests something to nibble on when they leave your wedding. Simply arrange ice cream lollies on a table, and your guests can help themselves.

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Ice cream carts:

Food trucks are super popular for weddings, so why not have a dessert truck? Load it up with a variety of ice cream flavours and toppings, like fruit, chocolates, nuts and sauces. Your guests can mix and match to create their own unique concoctions.

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Picture: Pexels

In Advice

Top restaurant wedding venues in SA

October 5, 2020 No Comments

Choosing your wedding venues can be a tough task, especially in a country like South Africa that boasts a myriad of beautiful locations, from city to sea.

If you’re wanting to make things a little bit easier, why not pick a restaurant venue? This way, you know the food you’ll be feasting on come wedding day will be at a high standard.

Here are a few of our favourite restaurants in the country with wedding packages of note.

Babylonstoren in Franschhoek, Western Cape

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Babylonstoren is an authentic, versatile venue with one of the country’s best preserved Cape Dutch farmyards, offering a historic yet contemporary farm stay. Couples can pick from an outdoor wedding under the majestic oaks alongside a stream, or at the bottom of the garden in the House of Shadows.

All three of their rustic, chic and stylish venues are available for the reception, and comfortably seats 100 people. In the Old Cellar you can enjoy a family-style feast, with a surprise dessert station in the White Studio. The Wheat Barn is just the place to dance the night away. For smaller weddings, the Studio package is the ideal choice for intimate family-style feasts.

Read more about their wedding package HERE.

Hazendal in Stellenbosch, Western Cape

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Hazendal in the Stellenbosch winelands offers breathtaking settings, catering for both intimate ceremonies and large celebrations. Take your vows in Hazendal’s architecturally designed Pavilion that floats above water, framed by the magnificent views of the Bottelary Hills and Simonsberg.

With the one of the best culinary teams in the Stellenbosch Winelands, your wedding guests will be able to relish in gourmet-style food and award-winning estate wines. Host your wedding for a glamorous and luxurious celebration in fine-dining Avant-Garde or the Grand Hall at the Conference Centre. For couples wanting a more informal outdoor style, Hazendal’s heritage Kraal will be the perfect fit.

Read more about their wedding packages HERE.

Canelands Beach Club in Salt Rock, Durban

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With direct access to the beach for that perfect beach wedding, Canelands on the northern coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal is the ideal venue for a formal or informal style wedding.

The Restaurant can seat up to 50 guests for a private brunch, lunch or dinner and up to 100 guests on the pool deck and grass verge, together with the restaurant for a cocktail style wedding overlooking the beautiful Indian Ocean. The adjacent lounge area makes an ideal venue for your ceremony or cocktails on arrival.

Read more about their wedding packages HERE.

Ferguson’s 5th Floor in Sandton, Johannesburg

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Celebrate your nuptials up above on this rooftop restaurant in the heart of Sandton. Your ceremony and reception can be held in the same space, which comfortably fits 150 people seated and 200 guests cocktail style.

Menu’s are tailored to each guest, and couples can pick between three-course set menus, cocktails and floating dinner options, as well as harvest table buffets.

Read their wedding packages HERE.

The Living Room in Maboneng, Johannesburg

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Situated in the vibrant precinct of Maboneng, the Living Room is a unique blend of the natural and the urban. It offers panoramic city views, making the perfect backdrop for your dream rooftop event.

View their wedding package HERE.

Picture: Instagram / Babylonstoren

In Advice

Classic South African desserts to include in a wedding menu

October 5, 2020 No Comments

South Africans love our sweet treats, and luckily we’ve got a host of locally-loved favourites that always feature at functions.

Modern couples are opting for a dessert table laden with a variety of dishes to tuck into instead of the singular wedding cake. This way, your guest have options that tailor to different tastes.

Those wanting a classic South African day should incorporate the iconic desserts our country has become known for. Another bonus is that all of them can be customised to be individual serving sizes, making dishing these treats up even easier.

All of these dishes have been featured in menus at top restaurants like Jonkershuis, Spek en Bone and The Blue Crane. If it’s good enough for our top chefs, it’s good enough for us!

It’s not a South African event without these treats on the dessert table:

Malva Pudding

This dessert screams nostalgia for many South Africans. This sweet pudding had a spongy texture, and is covered in a hot, creamy sauce and served with ice-cream or custard.

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Milktart/Melktert

This milk-based custard treat is one of the most iconic South African desserts. This traditional Afrikaans treat consists of a sweet pastry crust that holds a custard filling made of milk, flour, sugar and eggs. It can be baked or left to set in the fridge, then dusted with cinnamon to finish it off.

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Peppermint Crisp Tart

For a truly indulgent dish, opt for a peppermint crisp tart. This quick and easy dessert is made by layering tennis biscuits, a mixture of whipped cream and caramel and then crumbled peppermint crisp chocolate bars. Warning, it’s dangerously delicious and sweet, so its best served with coffee to cut through the sweetness.

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Koesisters / Koeksusters

There are two types of koeksisters with completely different tastes and histories, so it’s important to know which one you’re serving up.

The koesister is a Cape Malay invention, featuring a light and fluffy dough delicately spiced with cardamom, cinnamon and dried ginger. The dough is fried in a ball shape then dunked in syrup and dusted with desiccated coconut.

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A Koeksuster is the Dutch version, made by frying plaited dough and then dunking it in a sweet syrup.

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Picture: Pexels

In Advice

Snack bar ideas for your guests to enjoy

September 18, 2020 No Comments

If you’ve ever been a guest a wedding, you’ll know there’s a weird waiting period between the wedding ceremony and the reception. While the bride and groom are take photos, the guests make their way to the reception venue and hang around until the bridal party arrives.

To make this period a little more fun, why not have a snack bar for you guests to indulge in? That will take care of that slight rumble in their tummy. It also gives them the opportunity to interact with each other at the same time.

To keep the hunger at bay, delight your guests with a snack bar. Here are some cool ideas.

Movie theatre popcorn

Popcorn is easy to snack on and you can make tons of it at once. You can even offer various flavours, from caramel corn to butter and icing sugar. Make sure to offer your guests tons of toppings and sides, like Astros, mini chocolates and nuts to mix in their bags.

Sophisticated seafood

Oysters are chic and sophisticated. Have them displayed with some lemons and lime, and of course some sauce to pair. If you want to be even more extravagant, have some champagne on hand to pair them with.

Donut wall:

Donut mind if we dig into this station! Donut walls have been trending in the wedding world for years. It doubles up as a snack station and a visual attraction.

Candy station

Get your sweet on with a colourful candy station. Incorporate all your favourite sweets and throw in some sour candies for balance.

Ice cream bar

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. Buy a few of your favourite ice cream lollies in bulk and keep them cold in a cooler box, or have tubs and cones ready for your guests to help themselves. This is perfect for a summer wedding, when your guests will be desperate for something to cool them down.

Feature image: Pexels

In Advice

How to craft the perfect cheese board

September 15, 2020 No Comments

It may seem simple, but nothing pleases a crowd like a cheese board. This perfect plate laden with an assortment of cheeses, fruits, meats and spreads is an easy way to serve guests and look like you put some effort in.

However, making the perfect board requires more than just slapping some cheese on a plate and calling it a day. Here are some tips to craft the perfect cheese board.

Variety is the spice of life:

You’ll want a wide variety of cheeses to cater to different taste palettes. Give your guests options by incorporating about 3-5 difference cheeses of varying firmness and texture. A soft cheese like brie, a hard one like parmesan and a crumbly blue cheese cater to different tastes.

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Complementary bites:

It can’t all be about cheese! You need some extra treats to snack on to provide more depth and flavour. Items like meats, crackers, nuts and fruits work wonders in adding both colour and flavour to your board. You want to hit various flavour profiles, so make sure to have something sweet, salty, and crunchy on your board. Red grapes, figs and jam are perfect for some added sweetness, while cured meats give a smoky finish. Add sides of crackers and bread to act as the perfect base for your snacks.

Use condiments like mustard, chutneys, honey and pesto as binding agents and to provide some moisture.

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Pile it on:

There really is no rhyme or reason when it comes to putting your cheese board together, as placement depends on your specific items and the size of your board. In general, it helps to place the cheeses first, spreading them out evenly across the board. Next, pile on your salty snacks and then fill in the gaps with your sweet treats. Use your crackers and breads as a perimeter, and slot in jars of condiments wherever you still have space. Garnish with springs of rosemary.

It depends on you whether you want to pre-slice your cheeses. Slicing them is easier for your guests to dish, but keeping them whole preserves them for longer and looks nicer. If you are keeping them whole, remember to provide individual knifes for each cheese.

Here are some setups to inspire your own:

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Feature image: Unsplash

In Advice

Seat and eat: Food-inspired escort cards

September 1, 2020 No Comments

Food, glorious food. Everybody loves a little snack to tide them over during the day. While you will likely have a yummy spread set out for your guests during cocktail hour, you can also use food for another function.

Escort cards are small personalised items to guide your guests to their seat. Unlike a seating chart, they can take the card with them. This card can really be made of anything, from seashells and marble slabs to pot plants and mini booze bottles.

Food-lovers can extend this theme and give their guests something to nibble on by using bite-size snacks as escort cards. Any treat will work, as long as its small and individual-sized. You can go fruity with lemons and berries, use blocks of your favourite cheese on skewers or label chocolates.

Here are some delicious bites you should think of adding to your big day:

Seat and eat: Food-inspired escort cards — Credit: Pinterest

Feature image: Pinterest

In Advice

Let your wedding food determine the theme for your big day

July 17, 2020 No Comments

Weddings may be about romance, love and celebration, but a big part of that is food! Often times the catering can be expensive, and it’s easier to pick a 3-course meal where guests only need to select chicken or beef, but where’s the fun in that?

You can save on your budget while still treating your guests to a magnificent feast with fun food themes catered to your big day. Here are a few of our favourite ideas.

1. ITALIAN PARTY

Everyone loves pizza and pasta, plus they’re no-fuss meals with so many delicious variations to choose from. With Italian-themed cuisine you can offer your guests everything from meaty to vegetarian and gluten-free.

2. CARNIVAL FRENZY

Think dessert tables, a cotton candy machine, popcorn stand and slushies to add to the festive magic of your wedding day. And don’t forget about your hot foods with cheesy burgers, fries in a cone, hotdogs, pizza slices and all your carnival favourites that will make your guests feel like they’re kids again.

3. A TRADITIONAL TAKE

You can never go wrong with food celebrating you and your family’s traditional heritage. In South Africa, curries, bobotie, fish and chips, samp and beans and potjies are all firm favourites that show the cultural diversity we have. Treat your guests to some close-to-home meals to celebrate the coming together of families and tradition.

4. COMFORT DELIGHTS

Celebrating a rustic wedding in autumn or winter means you’ll want all the comfort foods on the table. Think homemade soups, cottage pie, lasagne, chicken enchiladas, mac ‘n cheese and malva pudding to give your guests a warm and homey experience that will leave them drooling.

5. SUMMER PICNIC

If you’re planning a summer day, take advantage of the season’s produce with fresh fruit, juice, snacks and picnic-style treats like finger sandwiches, fresh croissants, cheeses, jams and spreads. Set up blankets and pillows with baskets and bottles of bubbly for your wedding reception to let your guests indulge in the summertime magic of your day.

Feature image: Unsplash

In Advice

The sweet life: Wedding dessert bars to treat your guests

July 15, 2020 No Comments

The quintessential wedding dessert is, of course, the big cake. Everyone loves the moment newlyweds slice into the cake, their first action carried out as a married couple.

Unfortunately, not everyone likes cake. Many modern couples have opted for alternative cakes like cheesecakes, pancake stacks and even watermelon cakes. While these are great, they can also be polarising.

A good option would be to have a dessert bar where a number of individual-sized desserts are available. This way, you can appeal to different taste palates and get creative with your bars to offer another unique wedding feature.

Here are some treats to make your wedding day even sweeter:

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Feature image: Pexels

In Advice

Ways to bring your love of breakfast into your wedding

July 1, 2020 No Comments

Is breakfast your favourite meal of the day? Bring in your love for the important morning meal into your wedding!

There are a number of ways you can honour breakfast on your big day. Here are some ideas to try.

Have a breakfast wedding:

We’re all familiar with dreamy afternoon weddings that celebrate late into the evening. While this can be a beautiful and more traditional approach, there’s something simply magical about a breakfast wedding. They’re more budget-friendly, offer more flexible timing, and provide a wide variety of foods to serve.

If you’re having a breakfast wedding, it makes sense to offer bars tailored to specific foods. From a coffee or juice bar to a hot breakfast buffet, the options are endless (and delicious!).

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Get punny:

There are so many egg-cellent food puns you can use in your big day. Here are a few of our favourites.

Fruity fancies:

Fruits work as amazing breakfast sides and decor. Use aromatic delights like oranges, lemons and grapefruit to add a pop of colour to your big day and get the room smelling like a tropical vacation.

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Sweet treats:

For your wedding cake, you have two options. You could go literal by using popular breakfast foods like pancakes and waffles as alternative cakes, or infuse flavours you commonly associate with breakfast into the cake. You could do a coffee cake or a cinnamon cake or even incorporate your favourite fruits like oranges, blueberries and banana into the decor.

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Feature image: Unsplash

In Advice

Ways to add childlike wonder to your big day

June 25, 2020 No Comments

If you still feel like a child at heart, a stuffy wedding just won’t do. There are so many fun ways to bring the excitement of childhood into your big day, without it seeming like a massive playground.

Here are some fun ideas to bring childhood nostalgia into your wedding in a (mostly) mature way.

Get married in a treehouse:

Remember the childhood excitement of playing in a treehouse? The adventures and possibilities were endless. If you’re a nature-lover, a treehouse might just be the perfect wedding venue for you. This brings together the beauty of the outdoors and the whimsical nostalgia of yesteryear.

Also read:Treehouse wedding venues from around the world

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Simplify your wedding menu:

Take a trip down memory lane by incorporating childhood favourites into your wedding menu. Rather than stuffy hors d’oeuvres your guests can barely identify, serve what you love. Today’s couples are creating unique twists on old faithfuls like grilled cheese, sliders and fries. You could even rent a food truck to serve up some delicious foods all night long for that carnival feel.

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Bring the playground to you:

Just because you’re a grown-up, does not mean you can’t have some silly fun! Get inspired by childhood birthday parties and hire a jumping castle, a blow up slide or even a mechanical bull for your big day. We promise this will put a massive smile on your guests’ faces.

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Play lawn games:

Wedding games are slowly growing in popularity, and understandably so. There is no better way to get the giggles going than with some simple games that will bring out the child in everyone. The key is to offer quick-round games that will have many involved and captivated at once. Think Jenga, Limbo, Noughts and Crosses and Ring Toss.

Also read:Outdoor wedding games

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Get creative with your photo station:

One of the best ways to commemorate your wedding day is through capturing tons of photos. Many couples have taken to setting up photo stations to allow guests to make some fun memories. Add some fun decor and quirky props to take your images to the next level.

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Feature image: Pexels