Wasn't it over a plate of spaghetti and meatballs that Lady and the Tramp fell into a dewy-eyed reverie? Wasn't it in the setting of one chic Manhattan eaterie after another that Carrie and Big's relationship blossomed in Sex and the City? Perhaps your own romance was nurtured over a series of Sunday roasts and Indian takeaways. The deal may even have been sealed with a proposal over a candlelit dinner.
Suffice to say, the act of eating is intrinsically interwoven in the wonderful web of courtship and romance. Given the rich history shared between food and l'amour, what better place could there possibly be to celebrate your nuptials than in that Elysium of foodie delights: a restaurant?
The foodie scene has exploded here in Cornwall and the county is awash with chic diners. One of the outcomes might be an increased number of Lloyd Grossman types debating the merits of the scallops starter, but it also means - my peckish brides and ravenous grooms - that you have the pick of some supreme restaurant settings to enjoy an intimate and delectable wedding celebration. Here's a taster...
For seafood delights...
INDABA FISH ON THE BEACH
Perched on the edge of a secluded and insanely beautiful corner of Cornwall, Indaba Fish on the Beach is a sensational setting for a waterside wedding reception.
Just a stone's throw from the sands of Swanpool, Indaba's sun terrace is a blissful spot to lap up the views across the water towards Pendennis Castle, while the tide licks the rocks below and ducks take flight from the nearby marshes.
Inside, the vibe is contemporary and comfortable, the light and sunny space boasting views across the terrace and the ocean beyond - a distinctive setting for an utterly bespoke wedding reception. Up to 50 guests can be seated in the main restaurant with an additional 30 in the heated awning; for larger parties, a further marquee can be added for an extra cost.
Wedding receptions at Indaba tend to be informal, casual parties with an emphasis on sumptuous and plentiful food. In the evenings, many couples opt for freshly prepared gourmet pizzas such as crab and crayfish, smoked tomato and goats cheese and Mediterranean vegetable, which are cooked in the log fired pizza oven on the terrace. With the setting lending itself so perfectly to alfresco eating, barbecue receptions are also popular - just imagine a mouthwatering array of fresh tastes and smoky flavours filling your senses.
Feast on a decadent and delicious feast of lobster, crab and squid and wash it all down with a heady fusion of bubbly and fresh sea air. And you don't have to scrimp on food if you're on a tight budget: good rates are available for mid-week and winter weddings.
Indaba Fish on the Beach, Swanpool
(01326) 311886 www.indabafish.co.uk
SAMPLE WEDDING MENUS
Wedding buffet
Anti pasti: platter of Parma ham, salami, olives, foccacia, prawns, oysters and dip
Lemon and dill poached salmon with salsa verde mayonnaise
Wild fennel and new potato salad
Roasted pine nut and basil stuffed pork loin
Beef carpaccio with Parmesan and rocket
Potato, onion and thyme gratin
Hand battered cod goujons with homemade tartare sauce
Butternut, chilli and sage risotto
Lemon and herb roasted chicken
Indaba smoked fish, prawn and bacon pie
Hand cut chips
Chef's green salad
Desserts
Strawberry pavlova
Chocolate trifle
Lemon, vanilla and raspberry cheesecake
Fresh fruit platter
Wedding menu
Starters
Tempura calamari with chilli jam
Smoked haddock chowder
Cornish scallops either pan fried with Parma ham or grilled with a sundried tomato and chilli butter
Tempura vegetables
Main courses
10oz sirloin steak with roasted root vegetables, Portobello mushroom and a red wine and port jus
Duo of sea bass and scallops on a bed of risotto finished with lemon butter
Cornish monkfish pan-fried on sauteed new potatoes with steamed leeks and a crab and champagne sauce
Crab and crayfish linguine tossed in olive oil, lemon, garlic and chilli
Butternut squash, sage and chilli risotto
Desserts
Banoffee pavlova with Cornish banoffee ice cream
Bread and butter pudding with lashings of custard
Chocolate fondant
Crème brûlee
Fish barbecue wedding menu
Goan curried prawn kebabs
Cornish mackerel fillets
Butterflied sardines
Garlic, chilli calamari
Fish goujons
Garlic and parsley prawns
Salmon fillet
Salsa verde mayonnaise
Avocado and pepper salsa
Honey mustard dressing
Steamed vegetable salad
Greek salad
Potato and horseradish salad
Roasted Mediterranean vegetable with chilli and garlic oil
Green beans with almonds and balsamic reduction
Buckets of hand cut chunky chips
Baskets of homemade focaccia bread
Homemade tiramisu
Indaba strawberry cheesecake
Coffee and mini chocolate brownies
For contemporary cuisine...
NINETEEN BISTRO AND BAR
Located amidst the stylish interiors of Lanhydrock Hotel and Golf Club, The Nineteen Bistro is a minimalist and coolly contemporary space for a small and lavish wedding party.
A fusion of rich toned leathers, dark polished woods and sumptuous fabrics gives the intimate setting a luxurious ambience, while a dramatic wall of glass beckons in views across the golf course and rolling countryside. Should the sun shine, celebrations might spill out into the alfresco dining area and lush rural surrounds.
Nineteen has a glowing reputation for its fine brand of contemporary English cuisine, utilising quality local produce and fresh ingredients. Tuck into the likes of Westcountry sirloin steak, pan fried St Mawes scallops and Cornish crab cooked to succulent perfection, together with a range of unique Lanhydrock signature dishes created by the chef.
Lanhydrock Hotel prides itself on an ethos of 'affordable luxury'; your guests may retire to a stylish and comfortable room, many with views across the countryside. What's more, the hotel's St Hydroc Suite is licensed for civil ceremonies, allowing you to do the deed and get down to some serious dining - and celebrating - in one glorious spot.
Lanhydrock Hotel and Golf Club, Bodmin
01208 262570 www.lanhydrockhotel.com
SAMPLE WEDDING MENU
Starters
Homemade watercress and potato soup with herb croutons
Spiced chicken and vegetable spring roll with a sweet and sour cucumber salsa
Pan-fried St Mawes scallops with a cauliflower puree and crispy prosciutto
Smoked salmon, Cornish crab and cream cheese gateaux on a bed of crisp salad and sun blushed tomatoes
Citrus fruit cocktail salad dressed with a light chilli syrup
Main courses
10oz Westcountry sirloin steak with hand cut chips, flat field mushroom, roasted vine tomato and onion rings peppercorn, mushroom and brandy sauce,
Stilton butter sauce
Green pepper and goats cheese pasta garnished with pine nuts
Westcountry breast of chicken roasted with sweet peppers and pancetta, served with milonnaise potatoes
Pan-fried Cornish pork fillet with winterberry sauce, served with nutmeg, almond roasted cauliflower and crushed new potatoes
Baked fillet of salmon with black olive dressing, lemon mashed potato and rocket salad
Mushroom and spinach risotto served with caramelised shallots
Desserts
Lanhydrock rich toffee fudge pudding served with a toffee sauce and Cornish clotted cream
Southern pecan pie with Kelly's Cornish honeycomb ice cream
Rich chocolate torte served with fresh red berries
Lemon and amaretti Cheesecake served with a clementine compote
Homemade 'rocky road' bread and butter pudding served with triple chocolate Kelly's Cornish ice cream
Chef's individual pavlova with Cornish clotted cream and fresh strawberries
Selection of Kelly's Cornish ice cream
Lanhydrock cheese board: a selection of cheeses served with homemade chutney, fresh grapes and a selection of biscuits
For eclectic flavours...
SILKS BISTRO, Atlantic Hotel
Crowning a cliff top with panoramic views across the rugged scenery and rolling seas of the north coast, the location of the Atlantic Hotel is nothing short of spectacular. Although nestled amidst the Victorian splendour of the hotel, Silks Bistro exudes a wholly more contemporary appeal.
Flooded with natural light, which pours in from the large windows framed by lavish drapes, the decor is a modern fusion of monochrome fabrics, sleek polished floors, waxy greenery and swirly metallic furnishings, while a grand piano adds a touch of splendour.
Then there's the food. Prepare for a medley of Continental tastes inspired by the sun-baked tastes of the Mediterranean. Perfect for seafood lovers, fresh fish caught in local waters is a speciality. From tapas rich in chorizo sausage and stuffed aubergine to more traditional dishes such as sirloin steak and lamb shank, the wedding menu will be designed around your requirements, using as much local produce as possible.
Also a renowned Champagne bar, Silks is an ideal setting to kick back and sup on some of the finest bubbly around - all before those awe-inspiring views. The hotel offers a choice of accommodation so your party won't need to go far to crash out in style.
Silks Bistro can cater for a party of up to 80 guests. The bistro can be booked out exclusively for a hire charge; otherwise, it will be open to the public, although the hotel will endeavour to make your celebration area as private as possible.
Atlantic Hotel, Newquay
01637 872244 www.atlantichotelnewquay.co.uk
SAMPLE WEDDING MENU
Starters
Duck liver parfait with toasted brioche and red onion marmalade
Newlyn brown crab fish cakes with homemade tartar sauce and endive salad
Deep-fried goats cheese and beetroot salad with mixed leaves and walnut oil
Char grilled chicken Caesar salad with gem lettuce, Parmesan and ciabatta croutons
Pan-fried wild mushrooms in a garlic herb butter served on char grilled tiger bread
Main courses
Whole plaice simply grilled with Cornish sea salt caramelised lemon and new potatoes
Pan-fried cod accompanied with a fricassee of crustaceans (clams, scallops, king prawns and mussels)
Fillet of Westcountry beef with a sun blushed tomato, rocket salad and skinny fries and a choice of pepper, Diane or bearnaise sauce
Botathan rack of lamb with sauteed Lyonnaise potatoes, and pear and mint sauce
Stuffed aubergine with Mediterranean vegetables, couscous and tomato sauce
Desserts
Chocolate fondant with clotted cream
Classic crème brûlee with homemade biscotti
Croissant and brioche bread and butter pudding with fresh raspberries and double cream
Selection of sorbets and ice cream
Selection of Westcountry cheeses with red onion chutney and biscuits
For cuisine with a Cornish flavour...
The Bay RESTAURANT, Hotel Penzance
Nestled in the heart of Penzance, this Edwardian townhouse hotel is a stylish fusion of glorious views, luxury accommodation and fabulous food.
The Bay Restaurant is a light and contemporary setting, designed to revel in its beautiful location high above the Penzance rooftops. A wall of glass offers sublime views across the lush Mediterranean style garden, the harbour and, beyond, the majestic expanse of Mounts Bay.
White walls, chic, comfortable furnishings and local artwork make for a contemporary backdrop - the perfect setting to enjoy a fabulous menu of inventive and delicious cuisine, which utilises the high quality produce on the doorstep in west Cornwall.
The menu changes according to the season and availability of produce; fresh fish comes from nearby Newlyn, meat and dairy produce from local farms and the vegetables and herbs are grown specifically for the restaurant. From delectable prime cuts and fresh shellfish to luscious desserts, you can look forward to sumptuous flavour and fine attention to detail. Then there's the extensive cellar of wines from around the world - including Cornwall - that is sure to delight the most discerning wine critic.
The hotel specialises in small, intimate weddings, serving lavish wedding breakfasts for a select group of guests. It also makes a stirring venue for a pre-wedding dinner.
In good weather, you might sup champagne on the outdoor deck and drink in the romantic views across the harbour, St Michael's Mount and Lizard Point. The hotel is particularly suited to winter weddings: tuck into a sumptuous candlelit feast, relax in the cosy lounge and enjoy the drama of the restless seascape. After the feasting and frolicking, retire to one of the individually styled bedrooms, many of which boast views across the sea.
Hotel Penzance, Penzance
01736 350970 www.hotelpenzance.com
SAMPLE WEDDING MENU
Starters
Soup of the day
Steamed River Exe mussels in a shallot, garlic, and Cornish cider cream sauce
Sesame seared tuna, sauce vierge and mizuna leaves
Pan-fried breast of wood pigeon, pea puree, black pudding with rosemary and juniper oil
Oxtail terrine with duck rillettes, root vegetable dressing
Pan-fried wild mushrooms tossed in fresh cobnut, lemon and thyme with beetroot compote and apple and calvados jelly
Main courses
Pan-fried free-range West Country duck, chicory with prosciutto ham, pickled plum and red wine jus
Slow roasted primrose herd belly pork with monkfish, roast cauliflower, apple and cumin
Roast cod fillet with wild mushrooms, truffle oil and a confit of tomato and lemon
Grilled halibut, white radish, cucumber and ginger salad, oriental reduction
Roast loin of wild rabbit, orange caramelised fennel with figs and Cornish hogs pudding
Vegetarian assiette, tempura mushrooms, fine bean chutney, cheese wontons, spring onion and poppy seed dumpling with smoked tofu
Desserts
Pistachio and olive cake, honey-roasted blackberries
Plate of chocolate, dark chocolate tart, Ricard chocolate mousse, sorbet
Selection of homemade ice cream with Florentine
Coffee mousse with bitter chocolate fudge, raisin puree and cumin shortbread
Lemon and pine nut iced parfait with orange and pink grapefruit in a black peppercorn syrup
Origin triple certified fresh ground coffee or Tregothnan tea, with fudge
Words Rebecca Matthews
Copyright WED Magazine 2010
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