Monday, July 22, 2013

What Is a Wedding Tasting?

At the Hawthorne Hotel we put on four or five "wedding tastings" each year.  These events are for wedding couples to attend so that they can sample many aspects of their upcoming wedding.  (Please note that additional persons may attend at a small cost.  This needs to be arranged when responding to the invitation.)




The foremost reason for the tasting is clearly to taste a lot of the food items that we suggest for their event. We select a number of passed and stationed hors d'oeuvres to start off the evening, and then move on to a served meal with entrees and side dishes offered as a buffet so that more of those items may be sampled. We finish the evening with several served desserts, and slices of five different wedding cakes from Montilio's bakery.  Believe me when I tell you that you will not leave hungry!

Here is the menu from this tasting:

Hors d’oeuvres
Stationed

Mediterranean Station: Assorted Grilled Vegetables, Roasted Peppers, Hummus, Bab Ghanoush, Olives, Marinated Artichokes and Feta, Served with Breads, Focaccia and Pita Chips

Baked Brie en Croute Served with French Bread, Flat Breads and Assorted Crackers, Garnished with Spiced Pecans, Grapes and Seasonal Berries

Passed

Mini Chicken Pot Pie
Manchego and Quince Tart
Crispy Won Ton-Wrapped Shrimp, Plum Sauce
Braised Beef Short Rib Wrapped in Bacon
Arancini with Goat Cheese, Red and 
Yellow Peppers and Onions

 Dinner Selections

Appetizer

Apple and Roasted Pumpkin Bisque, 
Cinnamon Mascarpone

Crispy Butternut Squash Risotto Cake, 
Plum Tomato Sauce 

 Salad

Hawthorne Caesar Salad: Romaine Greens, Focaccia Croutons, Caesar Dressing and Sundried Tomatoes

Nathaniel’s Salad: Goat Cheese, Candied Walnuts, Dried Cherries and Maple Vinaigrette

Entrées On Buffet
The display plates on the Buffet demonstrate how the entrées will be presented at the time of your wedding

Chicken Hawthorne
Chicken Breast Stuffed with Asparagus and 
Forest Mushrooms, Orange Hollandaise

Pepper-and Herb-Crusted Prime 
Rib with a Double Jus

Boneless Chicken Breast with Arugula, Feta Cheese and Pine Nuts, Greek Lemon Basil Sauce

Truffle Oil Roasted Tenderloin of 
Beef with a Merlot Demi Glace  

Roasted Sea Bass, Champagne Chive 
Beurre Blanc, Lobster Risotto

Maple-Sugar Rubbed Pork Loin with 
Cranberry Apple Wine Glaze

Roasted New England Cod, Crispy Corn Bread 
Crust and Lemon Butter

Accompaniments

Maple Glazed Baby Carrots
Green Beans Amandine
Chef’s Seasonal Julienne Vegetable Medley

Potato-Parmesan Gratin
Roasted Eggplant and Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes
Roasted Red Bliss Potatoes with Rosemary

Dessert

Warm Apple Blossom, Caramel Sauce 
and Whipped Cream

Cappuccino Ice Cream Truffle 

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We also serve sparkling wine and mineral water at the reception, along with several wine pours with dinner.

Along with the food samples, we have our two florists provide flower arrangements for the tables, in both their standard "package" arrangements as well as "upgraded" arrangements so that you can see the range of their abilities.  Our current flower vendors are Flowers by Darlene, and Evans Flowers.  

In addition, we set the tables with a variety of linens and different kinds of chairs, both from our standard collection to specialty items that can be selected for an additional cost along with a nice added touch of glamour.  We even show you specialty china, glassware and flatware for your consideration.

















Invitations to our wedding tastings are sent out to couples who have already booked their events with us. These go out approximately two to four months prior to the date of the wedding, generally speaking.  The Hawthorne Hotel will send you an invitation about four weeks prior to the tasting event.   So, for example, if you are booked to have your reception here in the first quarter of 2014, your invitation will go out in the mail on or about October 1, 2013 for our early November "tasting".

If you are still considering one of properties for a wedding reception, and you wish to attend a tasting before you actually book, then there is a small charge for this amazing event, and once you book your wedding reception, the amount that you paid for the tasting will be credited against your actual charges for your wedding.

I hope to see you here.

Juli

Juli Lederhaus
General Manager


Monday, July 15, 2013

Weddings in an Historic Hotel

If you are reading this blog, you are probably already interested in weddings in historic hotels.  So, I thought you might enjoy reading this post from our Daily Diary Blog as well:  1968 Wedding Menus and Related Details


I hope to see you here.

Juli