Toronto’s top caterers are back with 11 delicious food trends that you can expect to see at this year’s weddings and other catered affairs.
From creative twists on traditional fare to a conscious shift toward healthier options for guests, 2015 is looking as delicious as ever.
With that said, it’s time to dig in and get hungry – here we go!
The Year Of The Chicken Wing
Photo Courtesy of en Ville Catering
en Ville Event Design and Catering predicts 2015 as the year of the chicken wing. “We are seeing it on more and more menus, only slightly transformed from the typical buffalo and blue cheese variety.” enVille’s spin on the on the classic? Chipotle Maple Glazed Smoked Chicken Lollipops with Blue Cheese Dip. Yum!
Upscale BBQ
Photo Courtesy of Kiss The Cook Catering
Moving away from traditional burger and sausage barbeque fare, Kiss the Cook Catering predicts more high quality ingredients and flavours in 2015. Dishes will be influenced by Southern flavours and Cajun seasonings with menus offering items such as deep-fried okra, crab shacks, fried chicken and jambalaya. We’ll also be seeing more BBQ weddings in 2015, with menu items such as slow smoked ribs, spicy jerk chicken, blackened red snapper, truffle mac ‘n cheese and creole salads.
Vegetarian Gourmet
Photo Courtesy of Yorkshire Pudding Inc.
Yorkshire Pudding Inc. predicts we are going to see a push towards plant-based food items that are “satisfying yet sexy”. Their mouth-watering creation above is a roasted heirloom beet with crumbled pistachio, goat cheese, citrus and micro basil. We don’t think you’ll be missing the meat in this delicious bite!
Deliciously Healthy with a View
Photo Courtesy of L-Eat Catering
L-eat Catering‘s Executive Chef Tony Loschiavo sees 2015 food trends leaning towards healthier foods comprised of green vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. “These dishes will be accompanied by sauces made from veggies and herbs, replacing sauces that traditionally were made using butter, cream, and/or animal fats.” Pictured above is one of Tony’s healthy creations; roasted pickerel, on top a bed of toasted fregola with wild leeks and salsa verde with a side salad composed of parsnips, carrots and brussel sprouts.
The Substantial Pass Menu
Photo Courtesy of Treeline Catering
Treeline Catering says that more and more people are drawn to their Substantial Pass menu over a plated or buffet style service. “The incredible variety means that guests are encouraged to choose dishes they adore from the servers as they are brought into the guest area, as opposed to being served pre-selected dinner plates.” Pictured above: a lovely small plate of tortellini in marinara sauce!
Charcuterie Boards
Photo Courtesy of Taste Culinary
Who doesn’t love a a good Charcuterie board? TASTE Culinary Inc predicts big things for our meaty friends in 2015! Featuring gourmet smoked meats and pickled accompaniments these beautiful boards taste as amazing as they look!
Under The Sea
Photo Courtesy of City Gourmet
Chef Kai of City Gourmet tells us that seafood will once again be a hot item in 2015. “Specifically, lobster and shrimp will be popular given the recent affordability and abundance within Canada.” There are so many options when it comes to choosing a seafood option for your event. Gone are the days of shrimp skewers and fried pieces of fish. Today’s caterers are experimenting with new varieties of fish and new ways of presenting them to guests.
This looks like the Vegan-ing of Something Special
Photo Courtesy of Justin Eastman Media
Executive Chef Daniel Holloway of Urban Acorn reminds us that there are so many options available for couples looking for a vegan option to both satisfy guest requests and provide a meal that is truly unique. “In 2015 we will continue to see a rise in refined vegan cuisine with flavours presented that will rival any meat dish!”. With dishes like the Warm Vegan Harvest salad (pictured above) we believe he just might be right about that!
Themed Menus for Themed Events
Photo Courtesy of Food Dudes
Food Dudes tell us that themed menus are going to be big in 2015! “We love to work with our client’s themes and create a menu that works perfectly for each one. We create diverse and dynamic menus pulling from different ethnicities and eras from around the world. Every menu that we create is customized to the taste and style of each client. ” The Vietnamese Spring Roll stand (pictured above) is a perfect example of custom cuisine suited specifically for a Client’s themed event.
Comfort Food With A Twist!
Photo Courtesy of Encore Food With Elegance
Chef Roshan from Encore Catering says “I think classic comfort foods with a twist will become more and more popular in 2015. For example, we created Chilli-Chocolate Nutella Poppers. It’s the comfort of the sweet and savoury combination that transforms this dessert into a comfort food, creating something that is truly unique and memorable. I believe chefs will continue to experiment with different combinations for their own classic comfort food creations, so they can spark excitement and curiosity for their guests.”
Popsicle Pete Ain’t Got Nothing on These!
Photo Courtesy of Daniel et Daniel
Daniel et Daniel Catering & Events says there’s a whole new catalogue of chill ways to enhance your summer (or winter) event – Popsicles! But forget the popsicles mom used to bribe you with to be good – these popsicles take on a whole new level of sophistication: Bellini, Poached Pear and Riesling, and Sangria Boozy are just some of the flavours that are being offered. Other flavours that are super popular are Salted Caramel Apple, Key Lime, Blood Orange Panna Cotta, Watermelon Mint and Pineapple Cilantro to name a few…
Did you miss our article on top hors d’oeuvres trends? Click here to see more delicious offerings from Toronto’s premier catering companies!
