The term 'food trucks' no longer conjures visions of tired wagons serving beige fried foodstuffs. Today, stylish vehicles and food stands serving innovative and flavoursome edibles good enough to rival your favourite restaurant are the norm.
One of the many joys of having mobile food or drinks at your wedding is that you can choose whatever you want to devour wherever and whenever you want to devour it. Serving a pre-chosen menu at a scheduled hour and place, you and your guests can tuck into an al fresco feast of the highest calibre while intermingling in beautiful surrounds, be it a cliff-top, countryside or water's edge affair.
They look the show-stealing part, too. Think glossy airstream, retro horsebox, vintage French van or even a bona fide boat bar for an eye-catching and crowd-pleasing feature to your celebrations.
And there's a staggering choice to boot. From cocktails and craft spirits to pizzas, German bundt cakes and Indian thali street food, we've scoured the south-west for the best mobile food and drinks that will guarantee the wow factor alongside an exceedingly top-tasting day.
The Buffalo
Oozing the style factor courtesy of light-up letters atop a sleek and shiny body, The Buffalo makes an eye-catching addition to any wedding day. Offering liquid catering via a full service or customised bar, couples can create their own signature cocktail menu from locally sourced, seasonal ingredients for extra-personalised flavour. With staff, glassware and licensing all included, simply pick your menu and allow them to spread the liquid cheer as a free bar, pay bar or credit-behind-the-bar, according to your budget. From welcome cocktails to wine and water for your wedding breakfast and toast drinks, the team attends to your drink requirements for every moment of the day, from a converted and seriously stylish airstream!
Kernow Forno
Not only does the pizza menu feature the salivating likes of Cornish salami, butternut squash, spicy lamb ragout, meatballs, mackerel fillets and BLT, but Kernow Forno can also serve up other culinary delights such as fresh salads, sharing platters and cakes and puds to finish. Producing up to 70 pizzas an hour ensures fabulous fast food with minimal fuss and maximum flavour. Run by husband-and-wife duo Sarah and Simon Pryce, the travelling kitchen also supports the environment as much as possible, with biodegradable packaging, foraged firewood and solar panels all part of the finely tuned production process.
Atta Food
Presenting 'plant-based south Indian deliciousness', Atta's thali street food takes its exotic inspiration from Kerala, giving guests a gastronomy that's vegan, sustainable and wholesome, all in one moreish hit. Tantalising all the senses with its spicy wafts, colourful platter and scrumptious mix of dishes ' using whole grains, fresh vegetables, spices and herbs ' expect an utterly fabulous feast, whether it's for 50 or 200 guests.
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English Spirit
Stocked with the company's magnificent own range of scratch distilled spirits and liqueurs, English Spirit's mobile horsebox bar is home to a unique assortment of craft spirits guaranteed to get your party in full and flavoursome swing. Stocked as standard with all products from their core range for classics such as gin and tonic, and rum and ginger beer, as well as cocktails, Prosecco, fruit liqueurs and sipping measures, couples can also tailor their tipples to individually suit, at no extra cost. The bar comes with power and water, as well as bartenders, which can be booked as a cash and card, pre-paid or mix of the two, leaving you and your guests to ponder your poison and relish the revelry.
Kern of Kernow
The brainchild of cake-loving twins Kris and Maren, Kern of Kernow celebrates the German-born pair's love of sweet treats while paying culinary homage to their roots. They bought Beyoncé ' a vintage French 1970's Citroen H van and former farm vehicle ' and set about combining their passions of good cake, coffee and Cornwall by sharing their beautifully baked German bundt cakes nomadically. Available in a spectacular variety of mouth-watering flavours that look and taste incredible, Kern's charismatic twin bakers guarantee the most guest-pleasing coffee break any wedding could wish for.
The Little Boat Bar
For a fabulous focal point whatever the theme of your do, The Little Boat Bar's salvaged and lovingly restored vessel makes for a unique and captivating feature at your party. Run by a pair of rum-loving seafarers who source locally and recycle responsibly, the service is as benevolent as it is lip-smacking. Pick from free bar or part-paid packages including everything from your favourite grog to crew hire, welcome drinks, table wine and champagne toast, allowing you to spoil your guests with palate-pleasing pizzazz.
TOP TIPS
Check with your venue. Before you make any bookings, ensure your venue permits food and drinks trucks, that there's space for parking and your guests to queue outside, and an electricity hook-up if needed.
Choose standing-friendly food. Consider dishes that will be easy for your guests to eat while standing ' and most probably holding a glass of fizz in hand!
Think about the weather. Chat with your supplier concerning the logistics of positioning the vehicle should the weather prove wet or windy.
Take some photos. From an airstream to a boat bar, these mobile delights provide a fab backdrop for some fun and candid photographs.
Choose food/drinks you love. Whether it's your favourite cake or cocktail, select dishes or drinks you love to bring an extra personal flavour to your celebrations.
words Hannah May
As cake designers continue to raise the bar with wow-worthy creations, let us whet your appetites with our favourite sweet trends.
Get chalky
The chalkboard cake is currently making waves in cake design. Ideal for adding a fun, quirky and brilliantly personal touch, you might opt for a graffiti style cake, a chalkboard plate and backdrop behind the cake or a painted design on the cake with white edible paint.
Edible Essence Cake Art (Keith Riley)
Mrs M's Cakes (Keith Riley)
Time to shine
From opulent gold to shimmery silver, metallics are everywhere in wedding world right now - and you can't beat a cake adorned with gold leaf, a dusting of glitter or metallic icing for a deliciously decadent sweet statement.
Peboryan
Edible Essence Cake Art (Keith Riley)
Edible Essence Cake Art
Poshcakes (Keith Riley)
Paint me a cake
Hand painted cakes are just the ticket for couples seeking a painterly and endlessly pretty centrepiece. Wow your guests with a sweet work of art (almost) too good to eat.
Emily Hankins Cakes (Andrea Pennington)
Emily Hankins Cakes (Venetia Norrington)
Emily Hankins Cakes (Griffin Photography)
French fancy
Couples are increasingly looking across the Channel for sweet inspiration in the form of French-style desserts; think towering croquembouche, macaroon towers and mountains of doughnuts.
Frandie Macaron
Edible Essence Cake Art (Keith Riley)
Touch-me texture
Whether it's decadent ruffles, ornate lace design, buttercream frosting or contemporary geometric design, experiment with texture for a head-turning sweet centrepiece.
Mrs M's Cakes (Keith Riley)
Mrs M's Cakes (Keith Riley)
RAISE THE BAR
Go themed for your bar. Whether it's gin, rum, cider, a selection of local favourites, a cocktail bar serving your signature concoctions or even tipples reminiscent of your favourite holidays, it's all about serving delicious drinks which say something about your personal tastes.
SNACK ATTACK
Set up foodie stations brimming with delectable flavours; think ice cream sundaes, marshmallows, popcorn, doughnuts, posh dogs and midnight snacks such as bacon baps, warm cookies and milkshakes.
LET'S GET FIZZ(ICAL)
Going for glamour? Champagne towers make a deliciously en vogue centrepiece for a sophisticated reception. Add a colourful twist by mixing in fruit purees echoing your colour scheme for a coolly coordinated tipple. Or take the fountain route and dazzle your guests with a fountain spilling with champagne, Pimm's, wine, Bailey's or your favourite cocktail. Absolute Chocolate offers a range of must-have options.
www.absolutechocolatefountains.co.uk
SWEET SENSATIONS
Delight guests young and old with a vintage sweet table. Decorated to tie in with your theme or colour scheme, Mr Sweet creates a fabulous focal point brimming with old-fashioned sweets in kilner jars. A tasty selection of toffee bonbons, rhubarb and custard, pear drops, Love Hearts, marshmallows and a whole lot more will be sure to see guests flocking.
https://www.facebook.com/mrsweetvintage/
HIP EATS
Serve up some seriously fashionable food at your wedding. The new 'Street Food Experience' from catering company Posh Nosh guarantees to leave your guests' taste buds singing thanks to a diverse and delectable series of mini festival stands. Choose from their flavoursome 'Hot Wok' and 'Taste of India' delights, a scrumptious selection of 'Posh Dogs' and hearty 'Fun Buns' brimming with tasty fillings. For a coolly British vibe, there's 'The Rustic Table' and a palate-pleasing 'Pies' menu, which present a feast of culinary classics served with scrummy sides. There's even a 'Fun at the Fair' option, which includes doughnuts and dips, jelly shots and homemade ice cream, for a sweet and playful treat. And, if your favourite cuisine is missing, Posh Nosh will tailor a bespoke menu to your tastes. A belly-filling spectacular awaits!
www.posh-nosh.co.uk
FABULOUS FAVOURS!
Forget the sugared almonds. These irresistibly edible wedding favours are guaranteed to spoil your guests.
Cloud Nine Marshmallows' little puffs of sweet perfection are melt-in-the-mouth moreish. Handcrafted in St Germans, choose from a delectable range of flavours for a delight your guests will devour.
www.cloudninemarshmallows.co.uk
Cookies or fudge? Whichever you choose, your guests will thank you for it.
Handmade by Cherry Blossom Cakes, these sweet treats taste as divine as they look.
www.cherryblossom-cakes.co.uk
Created in Willie Harcourt-Cooze's Devon chocolate factory, the palate-pleasing delights from Willie's Cacao blend the most exquisite cacao beans from across the globe with luscious flavours such as sea flakes, ginger and lime and smooth sophisticated coffee.
www.williescacao.com
SAY CHEESE!
Fancy a wedding cake with a deliciously cheesy twist? Based in Bovey Tracey, The Cheese Shed creates mouth-watering towers of tiered artisan cheeses, which combine the visual wow factor with a lip-smacking balance of flavours. Use their online cheese cake builder to design the tower of your cheese-loving fantasies and give your melt-in-the-mouth centrepiece an extra personalised twist by decorating it with accessories such as silk flowers, mirrored tiles and pearls to complement your colour scheme.
www.thecheeseshed.com
LIFE OF PIE
Whether it's a hearty option for your wedding breakfast or a belly-filler for your evening reception, Tom's Pies are fast becoming a staple ingredient of the quintessential Devon wedding. Made using the finest and freshest produce, the multi-award winning gourmet pies are a crowd-pleasing and utterly scrumptious choice. Think thin and buttery short-crust pastry spilling with the luscious likes of steak and ale, chicken, ham hock and leek, and butternut squash, mixed bean and cheese - making for fabulously flavoursome party food.
www.toms-pies.co.uk
words Rebecca Matthews
Copyright Wed magazine 2015
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