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What are some vegetarian options available for a catered event?
Though many people seem to have adopted a vegetarian or a vegan lifestyle, events have not entirely followed suit. Carving stations offering beef, chicken, fish, and pork are popular, but what do you serve people who eat none of the above? Go beyond the grilled veggies and fruit platter with these upscale dishes. "I will typically provide five vegan dishes per 100 non-vegan meals," says Elizabeth D. Kennedy of Elizabeth Kennedy Catering in Vero Beach, Florida. She suggests passing guacamole-stuffed cherry tomatoes, followed by an entrée of nutty rice (made with pecans, brown and wild rice, cilantro, and raisins) with layers of baked eggplant topped with a chunky salsa of tomatoes, onions, and black olives. Dessert can be a simple yet elegant serving of Key lime, .phpberry, and pineapple sorbets in one pilsner glass with some blueberry coulis. At the Peabody Orlando Hotel, banquet chef Darren Molnar recently prepared a multicourse vegan menu for a 25-person dinner party. "There are so many options today for creating gourmet vegan dishes that everyone can enjoy an upscale dining experience no matter their food preference," Molnar says. He started the meal with a carrot risotto (made with carrot juice instead of chicken broth) with gingered yellow turnips and followed with a non-dairy mushroom bisque. He also serves a vegan variation of beef Wellington in which a seared cube of tofu is folded in a wanton wrapper and drizzled with sesame vinaigrette.
Happy planning!
Vanessa
Posted 05.25.06