Need Some Help W/ My Wedding Reception Menu

[LaLaLainie]

My grandmother was diagnosed with Celiac maybe a year or so ago, and I knew we'd need to provide her with a gluten-free meal. But now a good friend of ours has just been diagnosed a few days ago, and is just learning how to cope with it now. (Who knows...maybe she's on this forum right now!)

My wedding is in 2 weeks from today, and I want to know exactly what to tell the caterer. The last time I met with him, I mentioned it, and he just sort of mumbled something about us needing to tell them what my grandmother can or can't have.

It is a buffet dinner, and I've listed all the food below, and bolded the things I think they can have...please correct me if I'm wrong. Do you think this is enough food for my grandmother and my friend? I don't want either of them to feel like they're starving. Are there any easy side dishes you'd recommend that I ask the caterer to make for them, assuming they could have the prime rib for their main course?

Cocktail hour: fresh fruit and cheeses, vegetable crudite, shrimp cocktail, chicken sauté, mushroom caps, scallop medallions, spinach filo, and seasonal fried selections (whatever that means!).

Buffet table: sliced prime rib of beef with horseradish sauce (hopefully on the side-I'll have to check), seafood newburg ala sherry in pastry shell, breast of chicken marsala, stuffed shells marinara, rice verdi, pasta salad vinaigrette, relishes, garden greens with dressings (on the side, I assume), rolls, butter.

Dessert table: Italian pastries with seasonal fruits and berries, coffee & tea, wedding cake, ice cream.

Thanks everyone...I appreciate it!

P.S. My wedding favor are Jelly Bellys, which I researched earlier and found that they're safe. I saw that some people said to avoid the buttered toast flavor because it could have a trace of wheat in it...which I am doing.

[CDFAMILY]

Lala,

What a wonderful granddaughter you are! After just being diagnosed last summer, I went to my nephews wedding. When I asked my sister to check on the meal she just stated...if there is something on the plate you can't eat, just don't eat it...she does not get it and she has the DQ2 and DQ8 genes...so some day she might just get it!

I am not an expert but it looks like those items are safe but you do need to check for croutons on salad, spices on meat and was it marinated, what is in the shrimp cocktail sauce, which dressings are safe, certain cheeses that add say jalapeño which may not be safe.

Also, since it is a buffet, it would be nice if you had the waitress prepare a plate ahead of time to prevent cross contamination. I quietly asked about this at a wedding buffet and the head chef told me to go first, I would not do that (I did not want to embarrass myself or the bride and groom and their family) so she prepared a plate and brought it to me.

The problem with most buffets are the salad and rolls are next to each other and of course one forgets the roll and reaches over the salad and that is how the crumbs get into the salad. The same is true with cracker and cheese trays.

Congratulations and Best Wishes

CDMOM

[sparkles]

It would appear that there are a lot of things on your buffet menu that are gluten-free... but there is always the chance of cross contamination. You should be congratulated for caring about your guests. Most of us do not experience that kind of care and concern. Good luck...and have a fun and beautiful day!!!!

[steveindenver]

I went to a friend's wedding two weeks ago and was so nervous I wouldn't be able to eat anything. It was a buffett, just like yours. The head caterer walked me through the buffet pointing out things that would be safe. My recommendation to you is to be strong to your caterer and tell the company that THEY need to tell you what is gluten free. Remind them you are paying them $$$ and you look to them for guidance, as they are the chefs. And remind them that you will give them a good recommendation after to everyone. Be strong with them - they're the food people.

[jkmunchkin]

WOW, I wish everyone where like you!! I mean never mind just wanting to make sure your grandma and guest have a gluten free meal, but you actually signed up on a message board to make sure!! That's incredible!!

Everything you highlighted seems ok, but just double check the roast beef. If it is in any sort of Au Jus sauce, that is often thickened with flour. So just ask the caterer the ingredients on that one.

I would also ask the caterer ingredients on the the scallop medallions. Those sound like they could possibly have potential.

Oh and as long as the ice cream isn't like chocolate chip cookie dough, or brownie, etc... most ice cream is safe.

CONGRATULATIONS!

[tammy]

Congratulations on your soon-to-be wedding! Also, what a wonderful granddaughter you are and your grandmother will be able to completely enjoy your special day with you. But I do agree with the other replies. I think serving the gluten-free guests right after you and your new husband are served may be a safe bet. In addition, make sure that the food is free of sauces, gravies and even some cocktail sauces. Gold's cocktail sauce, I believe, is safe. You can check the ingredients first, also she can bring her own cocktail sauce, salad dressing and cheeses. If you can convey to the caterer that it is so much easier for him to just make the food and put their portions on separate plates first and then he can add whatever sauces and spices that he wants for the other guests. Tip, spices are safe if used separately. For instance, oregano or paprika that comes as a single spice in McCormick spices is safe but when it is a multiple spice, even with McCormick, there is a chance that is has wheat in the spice. Fresh garlic, onions, butter, pepper, cornstarch etc. is always safe!

[Guest Viola]

We went to a wedding last summer. My daughter, also Celiac was Bridesmaid. When the bride & groom went up to the buffet, my daughter and I were invited up with them. Everything was carefully laid out so that things were not easily contaminated.

Just make sure that you are really clear on this with your caterer and all should go well

Congratulations on the big day! You are a super grandaughter and friend!

[natalunia]

I just wanted to point out that I was at a wedding reception that had a buffet about 8 years ago, before I was gluten free, and there was a problem with the wedding party that delayed their arrival to the reception by 2 hours. I have no idea how long the food had been setting out before then, but I ate a deviled egg, some cheese, fruit and vegetables. I woke up a few hours later vomiting and that continued for almost 24 hours. My dad was friends with the bride and talked to her at work the next week, and found out many people got sick from the reception, and it was hypothesized that due to the delay in their arrival some of the food may have spoiled.

If you will be greatly delayed in your arrival, use your cell phone, call someone at the reception and let them know what has happened so that everyone can go ahead and eat, and they won't get food poisoning! I have been to many weddings where they know they may be delayed a while before they can get to the reception and start the buffet, so they instruct the caterers (or whomever) to tell people to go ahead and serve themselves when they arrive. With all the photos after the wedding, etc., and other things that can cause delays, it makes more sense to me. Children who are hungry and tired and elderly who have to eat at certain times for blood sugar will appreciate it.