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Original poster

Free From - is is this okay?

103 replies

weddingwaiting · 20/08/2023 08:31

The food for my wedding is going to be a “hot fork buffet” rather than a table service meal. I understand this to mean that we get to choose maybe 4 main dishes + sides for guests to go up and be served by staff.

I have a bunch of guests with various dietary requirements 3x vegan, 4xveggie and at least 3 gluten free that I know of.

Is it okay to have one “catch all” free from meal eg. A vegan and gluten free Thai curry and then maybe one other thing that is veggie (with lots of yummy cheese!) but other people can eat too?

. There are too many of them to make it practical for them all to have individual meals so this is how we have been told we need to do it but I want to food at my wedding to be tasty so I don’t want to waste too many food options on accommodating so many dietary requirements

OP posts:
Nomorecoconutboosts · 20/08/2023 08:35

This sounds fine but might need to politely let any fussy guests know (not in such a way that they think they can make alternative requests!)
plus make sure some of the sides are suitable such as salads or gf bread rolls.
my husband is gf not vegan and thankfully not fussy, in an ideal world he would prefer meat or chicken curry but in this situation he would be thankful for any suitable food.

BramblyHedge · 20/08/2023 08:48

I'm GF and inside I'm always disappointed with the catch all meal as I like meat and cheese and have had mixed experience with vegan options. So if I'd paid, I would be a bit unhappy. But that is just me and other GF people might love vegan food. I'm not at a wedding for the food - I would accept it in a large catered event as I'd understand that it is tricky and also that I'm a guest...and I can eat something else later if I want to...and it is someone else's day...and lifes too short etc.

pastabest · 20/08/2023 08:57

I think you would end up with some very pissed off coeliacs (if that is why they are gluten free) if they ended up with a vegan/dairy free option they wouldn't otherwise have chosen.

It's ridiculously easy to do a hot fork buffet where most of the options are gluten free, and have a vegan dish as well which would cover the dairy free people.

most important thing is to just be a bit clever around not contaminating things that would otherwise be gluten free. E.g croutons, bread rolls and crackers are kept separate so people who want them can get them but the gluten free people can still eat the salads, cheese etc without worrying about gluten crumbs.

so many times the coeliacs in my family go to buffet type events where there is loads of stuff they could have eaten if someone hadn't chucked croutons all over the salad, or presented the cheese with crackers on the same board, or piled the crumbly bread buns next to the cold meats.

equally it's not hard to ask the caterer to use gluten free sausages/meatballs or whatever as standard for everyone (most are gluten free anyway these days) and swap out wheat flour for cornflour as a thickener.

potato wedges, chips, gravy, mash, sausages, stew, chilli, curry etc can all easily be done gluten free (and dairy free in lots of cases too!) with minimal effort.

fair enough pies and pasta / pizza dishes are out

viques · 20/08/2023 09:01

Vegetarian with lots of yummy cheese does not compute! Vegetarian cheese is rank stuff. And most vegetarians would body swerve because they would be suspicious of the cheese anyway.

AnSolas · 20/08/2023 09:10

You can not give a person with a killer allergic reaction buffet food so if the gluten free people are gluten free for medical reasons you need to make sure that their food is not cross contaminated.

I would have concerns about the professionalism of the venue if they did not know the H&S needs of coeliacs as the prep areas need to be gluten free too.

pastabest · 20/08/2023 09:38

AnSolas · 20/08/2023 09:10

You can not give a person with a killer allergic reaction buffet food so if the gluten free people are gluten free for medical reasons you need to make sure that their food is not cross contaminated.

I would have concerns about the professionalism of the venue if they did not know the H&S needs of coeliacs as the prep areas need to be gluten free too.

I think most coeliacs accept that kitchens aren't completly gluten free (even in their own homes), and just expect reasonable precautions to be taken such as separate chopping boards and separate fryers / non contaminated oil.

As a wider family with lots of coeliacs in it we find most places are really accommodating as long as they know in advance. Any chef worth their salt should be able to do a decent hot buffet that is mostly gluten free with very minimal extra effort.

If they can't it suggests they are using a lot of premade/ pre packaged stuff and don't have control of the ingredients.

To use the OPs example of a vegan thai green curry as the type of food that might be served, absolutely no reason a chilli con carne or sweet and sour chicken with rice or potato wedges with sausages or meatballs etc couldn't be offered as gluten and dairy free as well for everyone by default.

otherwayup · 20/08/2023 09:49

AnSolas · 20/08/2023 09:10

You can not give a person with a killer allergic reaction buffet food so if the gluten free people are gluten free for medical reasons you need to make sure that their food is not cross contaminated.

I would have concerns about the professionalism of the venue if they did not know the H&S needs of coeliacs as the prep areas need to be gluten free too.

This!
I have coeliacs and a buffet is really hard for me unless it's clearly labelled with separate serving utensils etc
I've been so poorly after weddings etc
Some people assume being gluten free is a lifestyle choice but for many it really isn't!

Original poster
weddingwaiting · 20/08/2023 10:13

So my theory is if we have one proper “free from” dish then it can easily be kept to one end of the buffet and therefore avoid cross contamination. @otherwayup @AnSolas

OP posts:
AnSolas · 20/08/2023 10:14

pastabest · 20/08/2023 09:38

I think most coeliacs accept that kitchens aren't completly gluten free (even in their own homes), and just expect reasonable precautions to be taken such as separate chopping boards and separate fryers / non contaminated oil.

As a wider family with lots of coeliacs in it we find most places are really accommodating as long as they know in advance. Any chef worth their salt should be able to do a decent hot buffet that is mostly gluten free with very minimal extra effort.

If they can't it suggests they are using a lot of premade/ pre packaged stuff and don't have control of the ingredients.

To use the OPs example of a vegan thai green curry as the type of food that might be served, absolutely no reason a chilli con carne or sweet and sour chicken with rice or potato wedges with sausages or meatballs etc couldn't be offered as gluten and dairy free as well for everyone by default.

Show quote history

The "mostly" is the killer. If it was a nut allergy where the guest would go into anaphylaxis before being (hopefully only) carted off to hospital the venue would be much stricter.
But if it a buffet with possible gluten cross contamination the guest is going to be pulling out their emergency supply of rice rusks.

My concern would be that the venue did not highlight the risks of managing medical condition when a stray spoon is a problem that they may not take care with the prep.
Having to cook gluten and dairy free can be as you point out knowing the ingredients. We have found that even venues who claim to be gluten (and/or dairy free) can have contamination in a gravy or other dressing.

Original poster
weddingwaiting · 20/08/2023 10:15

@pastabest i haven’t actually had this conversation with the caterers yet so I don’t know that they can’t do this I’m just thinking about what I want to ask them for

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 20/08/2023 10:22

What's the other food you have planned?

I agree with others that's it's very easy to make most meals gluten free.

I would have one option for the vegans and vegetarians, but if it's something normally served with cheese (e.g. pasta) I'd have some on the side so the cheese-eating vegetarians can add their own.

I think the easiest way to cater for all these needs is to have things as sperate as possible. So salad with croutons/ dressing/cheese on the side for example. Then everyone can eat the salad those that want croutons/dressing/cheese can have it, but it's suitable for everyone.

Original poster
weddingwaiting · 20/08/2023 10:27

@NuffSaidSam we haven’t sorted it out with the caterers yet. I’m just thinking of what I want to ask them for.

OP posts:
pastabest · 20/08/2023 10:29

weddingwaiting · 20/08/2023 10:15

@pastabest i haven’t actually had this conversation with the caterers yet so I don’t know that they can’t do this I’m just thinking about what I want to ask them for

So what kind of things are you wanting?

SootspriteSearcher · 20/08/2023 10:32

As someone who has to be dairy and wheat free I always bring snacks in my bag to weddings as I never know what I'm going to be served. I think your idea sounds fantastic and would make me feel more confident eating knowing its separate from all the food I cant eat.

I would just say if its curry etc, make sure you have some separate rice/salad with the free from as people can be clumsy in a buffet setting. It would be a shame if someone contaminated all the rice/salad.

Also make sure its clearly labelled as just for them, nothing worse than loads of others fancying that food getting there first and then none left for those who can't eat anything else!

AnSolas · 20/08/2023 10:36

weddingwaiting · 20/08/2023 10:13

So my theory is if we have one proper “free from” dish then it can easily be kept to one end of the buffet and therefore avoid cross contamination. @otherwayup @AnSolas

Hi

For coeliacs at minimum it needs a different table but IRL someone standing supervising it as a stray spoon will happen.
Plus if it is at the front of the line and looks good all of the nonGF guest will have cleared the dish before the ones who need it get there 🤷
Not saying that a buffet is not possible just that it can end up being expensive (half the GF food for extra cost)
If it is only 3 GF for medical reasons 3 pre-order plates may be the safest and cheapest option and then a general free from dish

Original poster
weddingwaiting · 20/08/2023 10:37

@SootspriteSearcher thank you! Yes that was partly my theory of grouping them all together it is enough to have one full dish and then minimises the chances of other people helping themselves so it is just the free from area for those 10 or so people. I will definitely have some gluten free sides because that’s not a big deal as well.

OP posts:
Original poster
weddingwaiting · 20/08/2023 10:37

@AnSolas there will be someone supervising it. It is a staffed buffet

OP posts:
LunaLoveFood · 20/08/2023 10:37

At a friend's wedding buffet the catering team put the free from buffet in a different part of the room to avoid accidental cross contamination and to avoid non gluten free/vegan people etc eating all of the free from stuff and leaving nothing for the people it was supposed to be for. It worked really well.

Original poster
weddingwaiting · 20/08/2023 10:38

@LunaLoveFood that makes sense!

OP posts:
Original poster
weddingwaiting · 20/08/2023 10:42

@pastabest this is the sample menu I have been sent from the venue. There is also pudding to think about but I’m less worried about that

Free From - is is this okay?
OP posts:
CorporaINobbyNobbs · 20/08/2023 10:48

Vegetarian cheese is rank stuff.

what? No it isn’t.

NuffSaidSam · 20/08/2023 10:48

weddingwaiting · 20/08/2023 10:42

@pastabest this is the sample menu I have been sent from the venue. There is also pudding to think about but I’m less worried about that

All of those apart from the pasta could be very easily gf (and probably already are). There's no need to confine the gf people to the vegan curry. Both potatoes and rice are gf. So is chicken, beef, salmon, pork etc. It would just be the sauces you'd need to check with the venue and they're very easy to make gf without compromising on flavour.

Original poster
weddingwaiting · 20/08/2023 10:51

@CorporaINobbyNobbs i think she’s thinking of vegan cheese…which absolutely is rank 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
weddingwaiting · 20/08/2023 10:52

@NuffSaidSam i need to check with them I think. My cousin (one of the gluten free people) had an entirely gluten free buffet for her wedding (obviously) but ended up getting charged a lot more for the catering which is what I want to avoid

OP posts:
CorporaINobbyNobbs · 20/08/2023 10:52

weddingwaiting · 20/08/2023 10:51

@CorporaINobbyNobbs i think she’s thinking of vegan cheese…which absolutely is rank 😂

That makes more sense OP 😂