Wedding reception food can be pretty ordinary: shrimp cocktail, cocktail weenies, and the obligatory spinach dip in a bread bowl. These are all fine foods that are enjoyed by the masses—but that’s the problem: they could be served at the weekly football game. Your wedding reception should be extraordinary and that means not just what food you serve, but how you serve it.
When serving appetizers, make each one memorable by the way you serve it. Serve a wonton or Chinese dumpling in a Chinese spoon with a drizzle of duck sauce. Instead of ordinary boiled shrimp with cocktail sauce, try roasted bacon wrapped tail-on shrimp with a sweet and sour glaze. The tail provides the perfect “handle” and is a one-bite wonder. A sweet, fruit slaw is great served in a butter lettuce “cup” or an endive leaf—no fork, no plate, no mess. A chilled avocado or gazpacho soup can be served in a shot glass. An Italian breadstick wrapped in prosciutto is a simple presentation that guests will find easy to eat. Each is the perfect bite and gives the guest room to sample and appreciate each appetizer. Don’t serve too many different appetizers; just make the ones you do serve really exceptional in taste and presentation.
You can find new and creative ways to serve your reception food if you give it a little thought. Whether your reception is catered or not, think in small bites and small containers for big impact.
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