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Original poster

Help me choose food!

24 replies

User83456 · 05/06/2023 12:37

We need to finalise menu options for our wedding in September, which of the following do you think would be the best option to go for? We want to choose something that appeals to most people, I know some people are funny about certain meats:

Salted Brisket
Chicken
Leg of lamb
Pork Belly
Pork Loin
Hake
Pheasant

The veggies/vegans are already catered for, chosen by one of my bridesmaids.

OP posts:
flipent · 05/06/2023 12:46

I'd probably go for the Hake and the Lamb - but depends a little on the style of the whole dish.
Anyone who isn't a big meat eater can opt for Fish (and covers any pescatarians).

But ultimately, it's your wedding, make sure you choose a dish that you (and your partner) want to eat! If you want different dishes, then menu sorted!

BloodyCatArgh · 05/06/2023 12:49

Hake and lamb would be my two picks also. Just make sure it's not "suckling lamb" 🤢

I'll have the hake please.

minipie · 05/06/2023 12:51

So you need to choose just one of those to feed everyone? I would go for chicken or lamb.

My own personal preference would be pork belly but suspect quite a few wouldn’t like that.

Fish - too easy to overcook it and too many people don’t like it. Pheasant - strong taste, needs slow cooking to be nice IMO. Pork loin - can be dry. Salted Brisket - quite a marmite dish.

So by process of elimination it’s chicken or lamb… I would avoid chicken breast (always dry at mass caterer things ime) so would choose lamb if the chicken would be breast, but chicken if it’s leg.

OldTinHat · 05/06/2023 12:54

If you have to choose one, I'd go for chicken. It's pretty inoffensive.

Choosing two, I'd go for hake and the lamb.

ChicoryDip · 05/06/2023 12:55

I would reluctantly go for chicken as the safest option but would much prefer the fish or the lamb.

CornishGem1975 · 05/06/2023 12:55

I mean if you're going for mass pleasure then it would be chicken but I do a bit of an internal groan when served it at weddings 😑 I'd go pork belly or lamb.

Original poster
User83456 · 05/06/2023 14:05

Sorry I should have said, yes it's one dish to serve to everyone. We already have a veg/vegan option and the venue adapt dishes for allergies.

Sounds like lamb is popular. I agree chicken is the safest but it is so boring!

The venue's food is amazing, so whatever we pick we know it will be good. It's luxury gastro pub style- hearty but substantial (future husband wouldn't have it any other way!)

OP posts:
lankyhanky · 05/06/2023 16:52

Lamb

I would avoid any foods that some people can be allergic to (fish). As even if they don't choose the food they could come into contact with somebody that has at the wedding. Not everyone likes fish, I would swerve that. Chicken or lamb are your most popular options probably. As a meat eater and non-fish eater I would be disappointed to have to opt for a veggie meal and the smell of fish would have me heaving. It's not the nicest smell to have wafting at a wedding breakfast.

Sarvanga38 · 05/06/2023 16:59

There’s a reason so much mass catering is chicken … as you say, chicken is a bit boring, but far fewer fussy gits people are likely to object to it. You have confidence in your venue to cook it well, so I’m afraid I’d vote that, even though it’s not what I’d choose for myself. I’d think the pork loin would be the next safest option, obvious exceptions aside?

I am amazed by knowing quite a few people who don’t like lamb, so many fussy with fish, etc. etc.

Of course, anyone who can’t cope with whichever meat you choose could always just go for the vegan option, but plenty will moan about that too. 🤣 Feeding the masses is a ball-ache.

IDontLikePinaColadas · 09/06/2023 16:58

As PP have said, chicken is boring as hell, but it does appeal to the masses, and I do know a fair few people who don’t like lamb, but it’s much more interesting.

The real issue with lamb is how pink/well done people like it. The venue will likely serve it pink, but I have often seen people send it back to be cooked more as they are funny about it (I work in the wedding industry) and then they are served their plate once their table has finished eating as it’s had to go back to be cooked more.

I would ask the venue to make sure they have some lamb that is more cooked on standby so that it’s easy to quickly swap it out rather than having to cook each piece slightly more for those philistines who like their meat well done.

MikeWozniaksMohawk · 09/06/2023 17:02

We had a similar list to choose from and went for the lamb. People still talk about there food at our wedding 10+ years on so it must have gone down ok!

BHRK · 09/06/2023 17:06

Lamb… as long as the vegetarian option is good as well

cptartapp · 09/06/2023 17:11

We had lamb in September. With the reception overlooking open fields full of ....sheep.

MrDarcysBroodingGlare · 09/06/2023 17:11

chicken and hake so thats land and sea option, perfect.

It's the fairly blandness of chicken that makes it more popular, most of whats on your list is quiet gamey and strong.

definitely no pork.

Hedonism · 09/06/2023 17:13

Not pheasant in September, cos the season doesn't start until October so it would be last year's.

UsingChangeofName · 24/06/2023 00:38

Agree with others.

Lamb is my favourite meat - but it does have to be a really nice cut, or it can be fatty.
If I were catering to dozens of people, then I'd go for chicken as it is probably a meat that most people like.

Again, I like fish, but a lot of people don't, or are worried about bones, or could potentially have an allergy to fish.

Tetchypants · 24/06/2023 00:44

Agree that chicken is safe, lamb is lovely and no to the fish. Salted brisket might be good as beef is usually a popular choice. Can you taste test all the options?!

MaydinEssex · 17/07/2023 23:48

I'd go for chicken.

Verite1 · 18/07/2023 00:21

Chicken or lamb.

atemple492 · 10/10/2023 10:06

Tetchypants · 24/06/2023 00:44

Agree that chicken is safe, lamb is lovely and no to the fish. Salted brisket might be good as beef is usually a popular choice. Can you taste test all the options?!

Agree completely on this comment! Can you do a taster? sometimes chicken can be quite dry so probably vest to try all and then ease your mind.

Wanttobeok · 10/10/2023 23:30

Honestly we had chicken and I was worried about it being the boring choice but it was in quite a strong sauce and we've not had one negative comment about it.

...had a few negative comments about 9ther things (actually a TripAdvisor review but that's a whole other thread)

iamenougheveryday · 10/10/2023 23:34

At a wedding there should be:

  • meat option
  • fish option
  • vegetarian option, that can easily be made vegan.
VineRipened · 10/10/2023 23:37

The OP will be back from her honeymoon by now 🙄

Limpba · 10/10/2023 23:38

i work in this industry and i have the stats from daily weddings year round, beef brisket/short rib/roast is chosen at least 75% of the time. chicken is 20%
we have our own game and it’s never chosen, neither is fish or lamb (farmers won’t eat it, it smells the same when cooked as it does being born)

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