Expert: Teri Davis Newman - 1/29/2009

Question
QUESTION: My daughter wedding in late June (very hot in Fl) about 6 pm.with about 250 guests. We would like to set up a buffet of mostly cold "summer" foods.  We will be doing most of the food ourselves, with some friends helping and are hiring "servers" for the day.  I need to come up with a menu that is easy, make ahead, yet appropriate for Victorian garden theme reception.  My SIL owns a sandwich shop, so I can get a good deal on sliced meats and cheeses.  Any idea's??? Thank you

ANSWER: Here's the best one I can give you: Move the reception indoors. You are flirting with food poisoning in the Florida heat, humidity and insect population--and I wouldn't take the risk. Additionally, your daughter will die in the June heat in her wedding dress--they are so heavy and hot that you can wear them in the winter without a coat.  A sandwich buffet with small rolls and assorted meats, cheeses and condiments is always nice. A big display of peel and eat shrimp is also good and there are tons of types of meatballs, chicken wings, egg rolls, veggie platters and other finger foods that will keep the mood festive and ongoing.  Unless you are doing a luau theme with bathing suits and a pool, an outdoor reception is a huge mistake in the June heat of FL and the guests will be leaving ASAP because of it, wouldn't you?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your help.  The reception is INDOORS! Heaven forbid an outside one in the FL heat, the cake would melt.  We are renting a 6500 sq ft revamped Gym. and decorating it with tons of live plants/flowers from a friends nursery. I was trying to stay away from anything that need to be cooked/heated, but the meatballs might be okay.  How much shrimp would I need for 250 with the other buffet food?  Also, to you have any ideas/recipes for cucumbers and grape tomatoes, both of which I will have a good crop of.


ANSWER: LOL OK, I saw the garden theme and went OMG NO!! Meatballs will hold forever in the steam table.  Go to Wal-mart or Publix bakery to get the cake--they have gorgeous cakes for so much less than the 1200 most bakeries want for a cake!! Get those frozen meatballs at Costco or Sam's and buy some sweet and sour sauce from any Chinese joint and mix them in a steam table and people will fight over them!  Chicken wings are always a hit and can also be purchased for wholesale from a grocery deli. Cucumber sandwiches are very elegant and delicious and grape tomatoes would be excellent mixed with Costco's marinated mini mozzarella balls--just empty the cheese and marinade into a serving bowl and add the tomatoes and toss for a tomato mozzarella salad to die for.  I'd plan on 4-5 pieces of shrimp per person and peel and eat will go a lot farther than already peeled and is much cheaper! I can give you a great recipe for spiced peel and eat that is excellent if you'd like to have it. Cookies would be good too--people love to nibble on sweets and savories. Toothpick food is always popular, if I were planning this wedding I'd definitely turn it into a cocktail buffet.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks again, Teri!  The marinated mozzarella balls sound like a great idea! Meatballs are go also. Cucumber sandwiches sound great, but will they hold very long??  Would like the recipe for the shrimp. <<<if I were planning this wedding I'd definitely turn it into a cocktail buffet>>> more info on this idea, please.  I am doing the cake, it's going to be New york style cheesecake served with bowls of assorted toppings i.e. raspberry sauce, chocolate hazelnut, strawberries, etc.  I know, crazy to do so much, but I've done many wedding cakes, and used to work in a bakery.  Also, what do you think of some type of pasta salad?  P.S. I just noticed your signature line, I grew up in E. Alton, Il, before we moved to FL, small world.

Answer
I'm a Florida native--5th generation!  Hubby got BRAC-ked to Scott AFB which is how I got here--but my mother was born in Alton IL and I'm a 4th gen IL on her side!!  I'm a wedding planner by trade, and you should email me directly at LimoBarbie@aol.com and we can talk more about this. Also as an FYI buy the Cheescake Factory plain cheesecake at Costco--it's 4 pounds for $10 each and presliced for 12 servings--you can't buy the INGREDIENTS for that price so save yourself the labor and just do the topping bar--which I regularly recommend.  Cucumber sammies will last quite a while. Pasta salad will make a nice addition. Email me directly and we'll talk more about this! Where are you in FL?