2 Menus - Help Me Decide!

[Rock_of_Love]

Here are the menus from my caterer options. One menu is about $1300 more based on 60 people. I''m leaning toward one, but I''m curious what others think.

Help me decide...and feedback please!!

 

[Rock_of_Love]

Menu 1

Passed Appetizers:
- Shrimp Sopecitos
- Vallarta-Style Ceviche on Tostadas (Fresh Fish, lime juice, onion, tomato, carrot, cilantro, chile pepper)
- Mini Tamales (Pork, Chicken, Poblano Peppers & Cheese)
- Mini Quesadillas (Mexican truffle & Mushrooms al Ajillo)

Mexico Station (Salsa Bar) including:
- Fresh Pico de Gallo
- Salsa Martajada
- Salsa de Tomatillo
- Guacamole
- Tortilla Chips

Mini Plated Salads
- Mixed greens with grilled pineapple, braised Tuna, Sesame and Chipotle Dressing
- Mixed Greens with Starfruit, Nopal (Cactus), el Tuito Panela Cheese and Cilantro Dressing

Live Cooking Skewer Station including:
- Beef Fillet/Fresh Mushrooms/Eggplant with Tequila Sauce
- Shrimp in Adobo Sauce served in quesadilla of corn tortilla
- Red Snapper in Garlic and Guajillo Chile Sauce
- Fresh Vegetables with Garlic

End of Night Taco Cart

 

[Rock_of_Love]

Menu 2 - $1300 more

Seven passed apps (below are some choices, but there are too many to list)
- Enfrijoladas Nortenas (Corn Tortilla with Panela Cheese, Chorizo, Crema Fresca, Black Bean Epazote with Chile Morita Salsa)
- Tostaditos (Chicken Tinga fresh Corn Tortillas with Fire Roasted Three Chili Salsa and Roasted Tomatillo with Serrano and Cilantro)
- Tacos Huitlacoche (Roasted Vegetables, Truffle Oil, Crunchy Pickled Vegetables and Avocado)\
- Chipotle Tamale (Steamed Corn Masa wrapped in a Corn Husk stuffed with Shredded Chicken, Sweet Chipotle Sauce, Crema Fresca, Avocado and Cilantro Oil
- Crunchy Corn Masa Cakes with Poblano Peppers and Crema Fresca
- Black Bean Cakes with Mango Salsa
- Mahi Mahi Ceviche with Citrus Juices, Coconut, Serrano Chile & Cilantro in Mini Tortilla Baskets
- Black Bean and Butternut Squash Quesadillas with Mexican Crema (seasonal)
- Enchiladas with Sauteed Wild Mushroom Melange with Goat Cheese Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Empanadas Huitlacoche with Corn Masa Turnovers filled with Mexican Black Truffle, Zucchini” fideos”, Grilled Portobello, Goat Cheese and Chili Paste

Salad Station with choice of three plated mini-salads (choose three)
- Pepita Crusted Goat Cheese Salad (Pumpkin seed crusted goat cheese and Mixed Greens drizzled with Strawberry Honey Vinaigrette)
- Mayan Caesar Salad (Ancho Chile dusted Grilled Red Onions, Manchego Cheese and Creamy Avocado-Chile Serrano Dressing)
- Seasonal Greens (Wood-Grilled onions, Radishes, Panela Cheese and Roasted-Garlic Dressing)
- Chayote Salad (with smoky,pasilla chiles, shreds of oaxacan string cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, cilantro vinaigrette)
- Baby Arugula with Mexican Vanilla Infused Apples (Blue Cheese, Cashews and Vanilla Vinaigrette)
- Mixed Baby Greens (Cilantro Garlic Croutons, Adobera Cheese in Creamy Lime-Serrano Dressing)
- Grilled Pear and Endive Salad (Pickled Jalapeños, Gorgonzola Cheese, Spiced Pumpkin Seeds and Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette)
- Spinach Salad (Caramel Chili Crusted Pecans, Queso Fresco, Roquefort, Apples and Slow Roasted Tomatoes and Sweet and Spicy Vinaigrette)

Taco/Quesadilla Station
- Cheeses: Manchego, Oaxaca, Chihuahua, Cotija
- Assorted Vegetables: ZucchiniBlossoms, Red Onions, Carmalized Onions, Poblano Peppers, Jalapenos, Serrano Chiles, Huitlacoche, Chayote, Epazote, Roasted Beets, Jicama
- Fresh Fruits: Mango, Plantains, Pineapple, Papaya
- Handmade Tortillas

Salsa Station
- Salsa Habanero (Roasted Habanero Salsa with Garlic & Lime)
- Grilled Tomatillo Salsa with Fresh Serrano Chiles
- Oven Roasted Tomato Salsa with Toasted Peanuts
- Borracho "Drunken" Salsa with Roasted Garlic and Jalapeno
- Fire Roasted Red Pepper Guacamole

Mexican Entrée Station (chose three)
- Chile Relleno (Panko crusted Roasted Pasilla Chile, Jack, Cotija and Goat Cheeses, Red Chile and Black Bean Puree)
- Enmoladas (Enchiladas with Homemade Tortillas, Melted Chihuahua Cheese, Black Beans and Poblano Mole)
- Torta Elote (Savory Sweet Corn Torta filled with Mexican Greens, Pasilla Chiles and Olives with a Pasilla-Huitlacoche sauce and Queso Anejo)
- Chiles en Nogada (Roasted Poblano Pepper Stuffed Marinated Beef, Onions, Garlic, Pecans, Appples, Pears, Apricots and Pomegranate with Walnut Sauce
- Grilled Mahi Mahi (Habanero Pineapple Mojo)
- Spicy Grilled Chicken with Creamy Pumpkin Mole
- Canela dusted Arrachera - Mexican Flank Steak

Late-Night Tacos al Pastor & Churros

 

[Smurfysmiles]

I picked number 2 but only because I''m picky when it comes to mexican type food and I figure other people might be as well? Either way they do both sound good though

 

[sunnyd]

It seems like you get a lot more food for $1300! It might be worth it, or maybe talk them down to an inbetween number? They both sound delicious though!

 

[TooPatient]

I love the salads on menu two. Also the entree options sound yummy. The stuffed beef would be very good and elegant.

Menu one isn''t bad. A bit too fishy for me. Less elegant feeling. More of the Mexican food you see everywhere.

I voted for menu 2 because it sounds much more elegant, more special.
Menu 2 could be very good also. If the caterer does a high quality product with good presentation, this could be very elegant too.

 

[princessplease]

Menu 2 sounds delectable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dani2142]

Menu 2 for me also... just because for menu one for the main entree I really wouldn''t want any of the options.. there should be a chicken type option

however... they both sound yummy as i''m sitting at my desk eating sour skittles!!!

 

[rhbgirl24]

I soooooooooooooooo pick number 2. It looks AWESOME. OMG my stomach is rumbling right now! Its so much more food for 1300 extra!

 

[tropiqalkiwi]

I voted for Menu 1 because I really like the idea of live cooking stations, and I am a seafood person. I also don''t think you need all the extra food from Menu 2.

 

[Rock_of_Love]

Date: 9/24/2009 4:44:53 PM
Author: tropiqalkiwi
I voted for Menu 1 because I really like the idea of live cooking stations, and I am a seafood person. I also don''t think you need all the extra food from Menu 2.

Yeah - it seems like a lot of food, I think, because there are so many options. But, really - it is 7 passed apps, a mini-salad plate, salsa bar, quesadilla bar (no meat), and entrees. But, yeah, more food than #1. I asked if we could reduce the price by doing 4 or 5 passed apps, but nope! I think I could possibly eliminate the salad station/mini-plated salads - what do you think? There seems to be lots of veggies and fruit at the taco/quesadilla station.

I thought the live cooking skewer station sounded cool, too. I am a seafood person as well.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

#1 is totally fine!!!! Honestly, there's no way it would be worth adding $1300 extra for 60 people. There's plenty of food in menu #1! (Oh, and YUM...I love all the food on #1!!!!)

 

[LadyBlue]

I would definitely get number 2. The number one does not have any mexican entries

, As a mexican I would feel disapointed with that menu. But, if your friends don''t really know about real mexican food, then number 1 would good

.

 

[TooPatient]

Date: 9/24/2009 5:41:27 PM
Author: Rock_of_Love

Date: 9/24/2009 4:44:53 PM
Author: tropiqalkiwi
I voted for Menu 1 because I really like the idea of live cooking stations, and I am a seafood person. I also don''t think you need all the extra food from Menu 2.

Yeah - it seems like a lot of food, I think, because there are so many options. But, really - it is 7 passed apps, a mini-salad plate, salsa bar, quesadilla bar (no meat), and entrees. But, yeah, more food than #1. I asked if we could reduce the price by doing 4 or 5 passed apps, but nope! I think I could possibly eliminate the salad station/mini-plated salads - what do you think? There seems to be lots of veggies and fruit at the taco/quesadilla station.

I thought the live cooking skewer station sounded cool, too. I am a seafood person as well.

Depends on your guests. If you have vegetarians or people on a diet, a salad would be great for them.

There are families that eat lots of salad (my mother''s side) and families who may serve a salad but no one actually touches it (my father''s side).

 

[Camille]

Vote for Menu 1 made me drooooool big time I adore sopecitos

LIVE cooking stations ar the bomb, it loos great and people love to mingle around them.

On menu 2 tinga is calling my name, yummers!
Enmolada can be messy, and the stains [from poblanos] are basicly permanent. Chiles Nogada fall in the same boat [pomegranade] Quesadillas are fun.....most likely to be in menu 1 at the end of the night. Salad options, 1-2 might be enough, at least 4 bean based items and 2 moles, imho.

 

[ckrickett]

I choose number 2

 

[SapphireLover]

Both look delish. I voted that they were both fine, as both are great and I would be happy to be served either. I don''t know what your budget is, and therefore don''t know what % of your budget the upgrade is, so I can''t tell if you should upgrade. If you have a big budget, then upgrade.

On the other hand, that extra $1300 could go on some great wine and beer!

 

[Rock_of_Love]

Yeah - I really like #2...and I can tell most of you do, too!! It really does have that "wow" factor that I''m looking for. And, it is really more "gourmet mexican" which is what I was going for in the first place!

Anyway, I''ve gone back to my WC to try one last time to see if they can bring the price down just a bit, but possibly eliminating the salads...or getting another vendor to provide the "Late-Night Tacos al Pastor & Churros" - this was just supposed to be a taco cart, but they are charging $10pp for this. But, I tell ya, I''ve NEVER paid $10pp for a couple of street tacos and a churro at a taco cart!

What do you guys think about eliminating the salads from Menu #2?? (thanks if you already chimed in about this...)

 

[katamari]

I fully subscribe to the less-is-more philosophy with food, so I actually prefer Menu 1. Plus, it seems that once you pick your options from Menu 2, it doesn''t include much more than the salads (beyond a couple different options). What I would recommend, instead, is selecting the dishes you want from Menu 2 and trying to negotiate them into Menu 1. Is that a possibility?

I also think cutting the late night tacos would be an option, too. How late night are we talking? At our reception, we had late night food arrive at 1 a.m. (dinner was served at 6:30 p.m.) and there weren''t really many takers. I thought it was going to be a huge hit, but it really was unnecessarily spent money. Especially if there is another street vendor closeby, I would have someone you could trust to make a taco run versus locking in something guaranteed.

 

[Camille]

Oh yah, SIL couldn't stand eggplant, huitlacoche and mushrooms, [married in Xel Ha 5 years ago] I believe she got a chicken dish for those 3. Traditionally people party until 5-6am down there, so it's actually a pick me up must LOL. It's included, you may not get credit for that I'm affraid, something yummy different even If gests leave at 2am.

 

[Rock_of_Love]

Date: 9/25/2009 2:52:21 PM
Author: katamari
I fully subscribe to the less-is-more philosophy with food, so I actually prefer Menu 1. Plus, it seems that once you pick your options from Menu 2, it doesn''t include much more than the salads (beyond a couple different options). What I would recommend, instead, is selecting the dishes you want from Menu 2 and trying to negotiate them into Menu 1. Is that a possibility?

I also think cutting the late night tacos would be an option, too. How late night are we talking? At our reception, we had late night food arrive at 1 a.m. (dinner was served at 6:30 p.m.) and there weren''t really many takers. I thought it was going to be a huge hit, but it really was unnecessarily spent money. Especially if there is another street vendor closeby, I would have someone you could trust to make a taco run versus locking in something guaranteed.

Actually that is what I did to bring Menu 1 to where it is at right now. I asked them to change some apps and expand the salsa bar and this is what they came back with.

Soooo...I''m really into the late night snacks. To me, that is a definite keeper. BUT I just found out that for Menu 2, it is just a late night setup/serving of the tacos and churros. While, the other menu is an actual taco cart - which I do love! I imagined putting a sign on the cart to show it is from us...kinda kitschy, ya know?

I don''t know why this is so difficult for me to make a decision!

 

[tropiqalkiwi]

Date: 9/24/2009 5:41:27 PM
Author: Rock_of_Love

Date: 9/24/2009 4:44:53 PM

Author: tropiqalkiwi

I voted for Menu 1 because I really like the idea of live cooking stations, and I am a seafood person. I also don't think you need all the extra food from Menu 2.

Yeah - it seems like a lot of food, I think, because there are so many options. But, really - it is 7 passed apps, a mini-salad plate, salsa bar, quesadilla bar (no meat), and entrees. But, yeah, more food than #1. I asked if we could reduce the price by doing 4 or 5 passed apps, but nope! I think I could possibly eliminate the salad station/mini-plated salads - what do you think? There seems to be lots of veggies and fruit at the taco/quesadilla station.


I thought the live cooking skewer station sounded cool, too. I am a seafood person as well.

Well I am the wrong one to ask about taking the salad out of the menu, I love salads and have at least one a day, and the ones you have in your menus sound great

That being said, I would just focus on the individual dishes you want people to have. You mentioned that the 2nd menu felt more elegant to you...was the presentation better or was the food of higher quality or was it simply that there was more food? If there are certain dishes from menu 2 you really like/want to serve ask if you can add them or sub them into menu 1.

The end of night taco stand does sound a bit expensive....could you see if they would just leave one of the food stations open (like the quesadilas, or one of the live stations) for the whole night? That way people could just continue to eat at their leisure.

EDIT: I just read that you like the cart part of the late night snack... I would say go for it since it sounds like you are really excited about it being a part of the wedding you get to personalize and such.

 

[tyty333]

I didnt read all the post but number 2 seemed like overkill for 60 guest. Is there nothing inbetween 1 and 2?