Small luncheon reception meal ideas?

Question

We're getting married in August of this year, and I just found out that the place we're eating in isn't air conditioned. This is changing what we were thinking of having for a light lunch. It was going to be a hot meal, but now we're thinking more on the lines of cold lunches but all we can think of is a cold cuts buffet. Any other ideas that would be nice for a wedding? Or additions onto a cold cuts buffet that would make it a little classier?

This is also an semi-formal wedding, and the lower price the better!

Thanks!

Answer 1

There are lots of yummy healthy gourmet luncheon items you can serve chilled, and make for fairly low cost. For example:

1. Appetizers - Shrimp with a tangy cocktail sauce, chilled cucumber slices topped with smoked salmon and garnish, good quality cheese with fruit and baguette slices.

2. Chilled Soups - Fresh homemade gazpacho always works on a hot day. Serve topped with a slice of tomato or avocado and a dollop of creme fraiche. Or how about a chilled fruit soup - mango or strawberry work well, and serve up very nicely topped with creme fraiche, a mint sprig and/or a berry or two.

3. Salad Entree -- Good fresh Caesar with broiled sliced chicken - or mixed field greens with thinly sliced beef, red pepper strips and green onions in a citrus vinagrette - or spicy prawns on arugala with sliced nectarines, toasted hazelnuts and bleu cheese in a champagne vinagrette. You can make a really impressive presentation by serving individual portions in a baked puff pastry shell.

4. Sandwiches - Instead of your cold cuts buffet, how about some trays of classy club sandwiches, served in quarters with plenty of pretty carved veggie garnishes. A side salad of sliced heirloom tomatoes and/or cold marinated asparagus would make this very elegant too.

5. Dessert - Serve a gelato and sorbet bar with fresh fruit toppings to complement your wedding cake. Or a chilled chocolate mousse usually goes down well in hot weather too.

Be sure to have plenty of ice water and iced tea on hand, so guests don't go overboard on alcohol and ruin the reception (and your budget) just because it's hot outside and they are thirsty. Enjoy!

Answer 2

Shrimp pasta salad with water chest nuts, black olives and bean sprouts with a small amount of olive oil, Parmesan cheese and garlic powder. Also fresh fruit salad, along with fancy finger sandwiches or croissant sandwiches.
Cole slaw made with normal ingredients but add ramen noodles not cooked into it for a nice crunch.
You could also just do a dessert buffet, I've been to a reception with all kinds of desserts only. They had all types of fresh fruit with a chocolate fountain and several types of fruit dips. Good luck

Answer 3

What about a some of the following, it will be gourmet but delicious. Congrats on your wedding.

Chilled Zucchini Soup with Basil and Walnuts
4 medium zucchini, peeled, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
4 cups chicken broth
1 bunch fresh basil, stems removed
1/2 cup cottage cheese, low-fat
1/4 walnuts, chopped fine
salt and pepper, to taste
PREPARATION:
Makes 6 servings.
Add the chicken broth to a medium pot and bring to a boil. Add the zucchini slices and cook until soft (about 10 minutes). Strain the liquid into another container and set aside.

Into a food processor or blender add the zucchini, basil, cottage cheese, walnuts, and about half of the reserved chicken broth.

Gourmet Chicken Salad
2 (10 ounce) cans chicken chunks, drained
1 cup seedless green grapes, halved
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 (8 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
3/4 cup creamy cucumber salad dressing
DIRECTIONS
Mix together chicken, grapes, nuts, celery, oranges, and dressing. Chill.

Raspberry Lettuce Salad
1 head red leaf lettuce
1/2-1 head bibb lettuce or boston lettuce
1 1/2 ounces arugula
1/3 cup toasted pine nuts
3/4 cup grated swiss cheese
4-5 pieces bacon, cooked and crumbled
3/4 cup fresh raspberries
Raspberry Vinaigrette
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup raspberry vinegar
1/4 cup sugar

Salad: Wash, dry, and gently tear all lettuces into pieces and divide among 4 salad plates. Evenly divide the pine nuts, cheese, bacon, and raspberries between the four plates. Top with raspberry vinaigrette to taste.
Vinaigrette: Combine all ingredients in a jar and shake well to combine.

Answer 4

Do a mediterranean spread - they're used to the heat and eat heavy lunches.

Get a good sized wheel of parm cheese and let the guests pull pieces off to eat.
Serve EXCELLENT bread, pre-sliced, with a variety of cold spreads (olive tapenade, baba ghanoush, hummus, sun dried tomato tapenade, etc.).
Serve a variety of olives, a beautiful platter of italian meats (proscuitto, salami, mortadella, etc.) and other cheeses. Serve lots of fruit - grapes, melon, berries, orange supremes and pineapple.
Make marinated vegetables - giardinera - spicy veggies. Hot peppers, cauliflower, carrots, celery, onions.
Serve small cups of marinated pasta salad (the small clear drink cups work well - put 2 asparagus spears on top).
Reduce balsamic vinegar and serve with a cold pork roast (or tenderloin). Delish.

Have 2-3 hot appetizers (finger foods - one bite each). Spanikopita or tiropitas are great.

Serve chilled shrimp with traditional cocktail sauce.

Cake and have a delicious variety of cookies out.

Be sure you have LOTS AND LOTS of cold drinks - non alcoholic - available. If it's hot, it will be important to keep your guests hydrated!

Answer 5

Salads like: potato salad, pasta salad, 3 bean salad, tomato and cucumber salad, regular lettuce salad, green bean salad.
Fruit, smoked salmon and capers w/ different types of rolls/bread, finger sandwiches.
Don't forget to have some portable fans at the place set up all around to help circulate the hot air. Also a nice gift for the guests are wedding fans that have the ceremony schedule or menu on it would be nice, so the guests can fan themselves.

Answer 6

A cold cut buffet would be very nice. You should also have a variety of salads ( veggie, potato, pasta ) to go with the buffet. Fresh fruits would be refreshing. You could serve lemonade ( regular and diet ). Have a variety of rolls for everyone to choose to make their sandwiches with.

Congrats on the wedding!!!

Answer 7

Congratulations on your wedding! There are plenty of things you can add to a cold lunch to class if up a bit. Michael Chiarello is a Food Network chef on the show "Easy Entertaining", and I love so many of the recipes I've seen him prepare. I've made quite a few for parties and family events. Here are some recipes that you can either have someone make for you, or just use as a base to get ideas from.

Roasted Asparagus Bundles wrapped in Prosciutto with Seasoned Bread Crumbs
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_27185,00.html

"Antipasti Cocktails for a Crowd
When you're having a crowd over after an event or cocktails for 50, the antipasto party is perfect. Everything is served cold, except our show stopping mozzarella. With some chef's shortcuts, you do all the cooking a day ahead of time. "
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_mo/episode/0,1976,FOOD_14518_28212,00.html
This link will bring you to all of the recipes from that episode. It's basically all cold food, but not boring at all :)

Grilled Lemon Chicken Skewers with Satay Dip
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_29796,00.html?rsrc=search
These chicken skewers are great finger food, and they don't have to be served warm. You can also modify this recipe to make a more simple chicken skewer and serve it with a different dip. I like this idea because it's something a little more filling than just cold cuts or appetizers.

Late Summer Tomato Bruschetta
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_27543,00.html
Simple and not too expensive. There's only 5 ingredients, but its fabulous finger food that tastes great.

Don't shy away from warm foods just yet. Since it is going to be hot, people are most likely going to go for cold food like you said, but one hot/warm item won't hurt. It's up to you...if you find an easy, inexpensive warm dish for lunch that you really like, then why not go for it?

For dessert, what do you think of having a chocolate fountain?.
Some ideas for things to dip include...
strawberry sections (delicious and elegant)
orange slices
pineapple chunks
banana slices
pound cake
cookies (biscotti pieces, chocolate wafer cookies, oreos, shortbread, etc.)
pretzels
frozen cheesecake cut into cubes (one of my favorites!)
You can get very creative here :)

Or for other "classy" desserts...

Tiramisu Bon Bons
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_24674,00.html
Very simple recipe.

Strawberry Bisque
http://njmorriscountyonline.com/html/20020716_strawberry_bisque.html
I love this dish :) It's elegant and sooo delicious. Serve chilled.

Good luck with all of your plans...I hope everything goes extremely well. :)

Answer 8

smoked salmon or poached salmon. salmon isn't that expensive.

roasted chicken salad with tarragon, pine nuts, and spinach.

cold new potato salad with a vinaigrette dressing.

green beans marinated with lemon, garlic, sundried tomatoes, salt and pepper.

Crusty bread basket with a variety of tapenades, pestos, spreads, etc.

antipasto stuff, marinated veggies, oviles, cheeses, etc.

cold gaspasho soup or cold cauliflower or vicisoise soup.

rice or cous cous salad with herbs and veggies.

look for summer recipes on the food network website for more inspiration.

good luck!

the key is to avoid dairy, have variety, and include your favorites. If you love the food, chances are your guests will enjoy it too!

Answer 9

Gazpacho, vichyssoise, cold terrine for starters. Main course - chicken salad, Thai beef salads, and keep cool drinks coming

Answer 10

One word - Caviar.
Two words - Chilled soup.
Three Words - Lots of salad.
Four words - Congratulations on your marraige!