Menus

Next to the Bride, the catering is the most important aspect on a wedding day, and your guests are sure to comment on two things.... how beautiful the Bride looks and what they thought of the food.

We know that wedding couples are under a considerable amount of stress and by using lemongrass Catering as your caterer you can rest assure that your day will run like clock work.

During the time of us designing the perfect meal for you, we will discuss your time line, the key people involved, what your vision is,  and how you want your day to run.  We also understand that  as the main planner of your wedding it is hard to let go on the day sometimes and put your faith into the hands of others.   This is were we come into our own.  With our experience Lemongrass Catering has in  executing events, we will ensure your special day will run faultlessly.

A bold statement you might say. But the best events are those that  are well organized from the start.  We liaise with the MC during the day to make sure that all is running to time.

The menus on line, can they be altered?
Yes.  Think of them as a good starting point to work from.  I will design a menu with you if you cant find something on the web site that fits with your day.  As a chef, I am constantly testing recipes and ideas and like to incorporate these new foodie ideas in menus.

What are the special conditions on some menus during Wedding season?
During peak catering times  from December through to April.  Minimum price per head  starts at $50.00 with a mimimum of 50 guests.  Catering options that do not include canapes and dessert as part of the menus have a minimum number of guests  of 100 guests and  are subject to availability during this time. Please refer to styled wedding menus for more options. Please contact us  to discuss your requirements.

Can lemongrass Cater for dietary requirements?
Tell us what requirements you need to cater to and will will adapt the main menu to suit those guests.

Can we provide our own dessert?
Yes, but we will put a small sign up to say "Dessert provided by Bride and Groom"

Can we provide our own meats?
Due to health regulations, we do not allow clients to provide any of the food for the catering.

Where do you travel to?
Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Western bay of Plenty, Matamata,  Thames, Coromandle

What time do you arrive?
Depending on your menu, the number of guests, and any special requirements that need to be meet. We arrive approximately 1-1 1/2 hours prior to the ceremony.

What happens when you arrive? 
Generally we are  in places/venues that we have never been before, so  it's 'a quick lay of the land', and we get down to setting up what is required.  In most cases, tables, bar and buffets are set prior to us arriving. 
Our time line,provides us with time to set up and for our clients to feel comfortable that we are there and taking over and not crashing and banging during the ceremony.

We are flexible with all time lines and menus that if you only require a basic service of just the main meal cooked and cleared away we can accommodate all requests.

How many staff are involved? 
Average wedding 8+ hours (Excluding travel time)
30 -50 guests – 1 x chef, 2 x waitress (1 x Bar)
50-100 guests - 2 x chef, 2 Waitresses, (1 x Bar) (1 x Kitchen porter – 70 + guests)
100 + - 2 x chef, 3 x waitresses, 1 x Kitchen Porter (1 x Bar)
Staff - $18.00 per hour Plus GST - $20.70 - (Minimum 4 hours)

What do the staff do?
Chefs are cooking on site to provide, hot fresh food. They are wearing chefs Whites. Front of house staff, take care of service, clearing of crockery, topping up wine and water on tables, generally attend to guests needs.  Front of House wear black shirts with Lemongrass Catering Logo, black aprons and black skirts/trousers. All staff are trained.

What services do you provide?
We take great pride in ourselves that we take stock of the little details as well as the big details.  We can provide two styles of service depending on your menu.

All inclusive: We are hands on, providing a full service from serving drinks after the ceremony , catering to all food requirements, clean up of crockery , cutlery and glassware. Restocking the bar/drinks area during the reception and prior to departure. Mass clean up of all tables, leaving minimal clean up for clients the following day before departure.

Standard: Depending on your menu, we provide a food service only.  Cooking and serving food, clean up of crockery and cutlery. Tidy up of tables before departure. We do not attend to glassware or re stocking the bar.   This type of service will  provide a cost effective budget option, when clients only require a basic service. We arrive 1- 1 1/2 hours prior to service/eating, set up, cook, serve, clean up and depart. This means we may arrive during or after the ceremony depending on your time line.

Do I need bar staff?
If you are wanting continual service of drinks, you will require a staff member to attend to drinks.  It is advisable to have a Bar person, as the rest of the team  will be busy looking after the food side of things. We can provide the services of a bar person.

What do you need?
We bring any cooking equipment, like BBQ's, but we do need the use of kitchen, if your menu requires  the use of an oven.  Domestic kitchen is suitable. We also need a water supply.  In some cases large ovens or other specified catering equipment  may need to be hired at clients expense.

What works best with speeches and the cutting of the cake?
Weddings work at their best when they are working to a time line.  The best person for keeping to this is the MC (or another member of the wedding, not the Bride and Groom) for the event.  With our wedding experience we have found that the cutting of cake is best down before the main meal, especially if you are using it as part of the dessert. 
We ask that speeches are done after the main meal, once the waitresses have cleared the floor as we have much to do at this point.  Dessert will be ready to eat after the speeches.  It is also allows a bit of breathing space!
 

Ive never organized a wedding before, what a great time line?
Glad you asked.  This is what we have found to work beautifully 
3.00pm   - Wedding, allowing for the Bride to be 5 minutes fashionably late
3.30-3.45  – Signing of registrar, meet and greet with guests, and photos
4.00-5.30  – Bride and Groom, photographs
5.30    – Bride and groom return
5.55  -MC to ask guests to take seats
6.10 -   -MC to announce the new Mr and Mrs Bridal couple
6.15   -Cutting of the cake
6.30  -Top table is served, MC to move guests to buffet, table by table
7.15  -Waitresses clear floor of crockery and cutlery
7.20  -Speeches
8.15  -Dessert ready for guest to help themselves
8.30  First Dance and swooning on the dance floor!
8.32  Bride and Groom relax and enjoy the best day of their lives!!

Of course this is a guideline, and if you have specific ideas that need to be incorporated into your day we can adapt to suit.

What about Crockery, cutlery ,glassware, water jugs, ice buckets?
Please organize this with your local hire company.  I can recommend Tauranga party Hire - Tauranga,  Andy's party hire - Rotors

Do you clean up?
Absolutely, part of our service is that if you have hired crockery and cutlery, we will wash and put back in the hire boxes, ready for return the following day.  Prior to us leaving front of house staff will "sweep" the floor or glasses and rubbish. Glasses will be washed and re set up at the bar area,  ready for guests.   As we are generally using a kitchen area, this will be left as we found it.

What about the rubbish and recyclable material?
There is going to be a considerable amount of rubbish and empties.  Please remember to organize an area where this can be stacked.  We are unable to provide a rubbish removal service.

Do you have travel expenses?
Local weddings and events  within the Tauranga area - no travel expense. Outside of this  a charge of $1.60 per km one way is charged. Depending on your wedding two vehicles may be required.

What makes us different from any other catering company? 
We provide a full serviced event. We arrive prior to the Wedding ceremony, giving you piece of mind that we are ready to start on time. Staff are trained.... and can  hold a conversation with guests!  We are highly organized and professional, and able to adapt to a situation should something arise out of our control.  W carry a sewing kit and first aid kit for those minor emergency's!   And possibly the most important thing about us , is  our catering is very generous,  your guests will not need to go to  a fast food joint on the way home! We pride ourselves that all food is prepared fresh , and we don't use pre made frozen products.

Ive got a question?
Email  belinda@lemongrasscatering.co.nz