Cajuns are fond of their spice and rich foods, and since they live so close to the Gulf of Mexico, seafood is a big item in their dishes. Some favorites are crawfish, catfish, crabs, and oysters. Cajun spices always consist of three vegetables.  The most desired vegetables that add flavor to Cajun cuisine are bell peppers, onions and celery. A couple of other favorites are cayenne pepper and garlic.

Many Cajun foods are made from a roux, which consist of a base made from flour, fat and water. It is used to make things like gravy, stews, and of course Gumbo. An authentic Cajun meal usually consists of a three-pot affair. One pot is dedicated to the main dish, the other to steamed rice, special made sausages, or some other seafood dish, and the third containing whatever vegetable is plentiful or available.

Some primary Cajun food favorites include Boudin, Gumbo, and Jambalaya. Boudin is a type of sausage made from pork, pork liver, rice, garlic, green onions, and other spices. Boudin balls are commonly served in southern Louisiana. Gumbo is a type of stew that has sausage, shrimp, crab, oysters, and can also have chicken or pork. It also contains tomatoes, okra, and many other spices and seasonings.  Jambalaya contains rice, chicken or beef, and/or seafood such as shrimp or crawfish, and almost anything else.

Cajun food hasn’t changed much over the years, but the love of Cajun food is stronger than ever!

Researching the type of food each company provides will ensure you select the right one for your unique event.  The quality of the company’s services can be of concern.  You want to make sure your catering company serves your guests high-quality foods.  This can be done by selecting a caterer that specializes in crafting the trendiest meals and hors d’oeuvres in the industry.  By reading the company’s menu you can get a sense of their specialties.  You can also review what other customers are saying about their services.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions, some caterers adjust their menus to meet the needs of their customers.

Keep in mind there are many hot trends in the catering business today that may factor in on your selection.  Many customers prefer to have special dishes served at their events, while others simply want their dishes served in a unique manner.

Once you have selected the right company for your event ask for recommendations of what you should serve and how to better the menu based on the season.  A successful event from start to finish is based on the right questions and proper preparation.

Comfort foods like burgers, pot pie and risotto are popular during this time of year. Caterers have also been putting a bit of a twist on the traditional American classics. For example, Kobe beef burgers or short-ribs braised in wine—adding a little oomph to ordinary dishes that people know provides guests with a little change of pace from what they are used to. Brides and grooms have the option to make the changes they like because chefs have the ability to create meals that truly resemble the uniqueness of each bride and groom (making their wedding reception truly special.)

The traditional first course dinner salad is still used, but the option to select hot appetizers is becoming more popular for fall weddings. Couples are choosing to provide their guest with hearty soups and chowders, like butternut squash soup, pumpkin soup, and seafood based soups to warm their guest. Other popular foods include toasted appetizers, such as a bruschetta with pear and gorgonzola, or crostini topped with bleu cheese and wild mushrooms.  For the fall entrée, many caterers are offering duck, lamb, and even quail paired with seasonal veggies like leeks, onions, carrot and celery. For the wedding cake consider choosing a flavor that compliments the fall season—dark chocolate or a pound cake laced with amaretto compliments a fall wedding. Couples are also offering additional desserts aside from the cake like apple tarts and pies.

For a unique and unforgettable fall wedding remember to be venturesome but choose flavors that will appeal to the majority of your guests. When you do that, your wedding will not only be remembered for its uniqueness, but for the use of seasonal flavors!

April Newsletter

Since becoming one of the corporate caterers in the Philadelphia area, I have learned many things about how things should be done to make your special event a great event that will long be well remembered. Marketing and advertising are key components in finding out how well a Philadelphia caterer is known. Have you ever seen or tasted their work before. Are they established and, again, do they have a good reputation.

If you would like further advice on how to pick a Philadelphia caterer such as myself, please give me a call: David Simms, 215-236-3900 or visit me online at www.eatibledelights.com

I didn’t get a chance to catch up with you last night but I wanted to let you know that our event was great! Your staff was very professional and polite and made everything look and taste wonderful. We had a lot of compliments on the food and the ice tea was very unique and tasty!

Carolyn Wright
Assistant Marketing Manager