Every bride and groom hopes for good weather on their wedding day, and for lovebirds Alicia and Ben, who had organised an outdoor ceremony for their big day on Saturday, Mother Nature gratefully came through. At 11 degrees Celsius, the temperature in North London was mild, and with forecasted clear, cloudless skies overhead, the botanical venue the pair had chosen was blanketed in a cool yellow hue from the winter sun, giving the serene space a magical touch.
Still, with it being the middle of winter and knowing how fickle the weather can be here in the UK, the couple had asked us to set up a marquee on the botanic garden grounds, which offered guests plenty of protection from the occasional gust of wind. Once pitched and decorated with blooming floral displays, rustic dining furniture and wedding props, Hog Roast Loughton’s caterers began working on the Alfresco Wedding Menu that Alicia and Ben had chosen for their special day.
Taking care to execute the menu perfectly, the team, led by our catering manager, Alex, spent all morning and part of the early afternoon slow-roasting the full-size hog on a bed of homemade savoury sage and onion stuffing until the pig’s skin was crispy and blackened in all the right spots; and the inside was soft, tender and juicy. They also whipped up a fresh batch of sweet and sharp applesauce to accompany the meat, along with some freshly made salads, a potato dish and charcuterie boards complete with Italian deli meats, cheeses and artisan breads. Suiting the needs of the non-meat-eating guests, Hog Roast Loughton had prepared our delightful grilled vegetable kebabs, which are presented with optional halloumi chunks, tzatziki dip and warm flatbreads.
By the time the bride, groom and guests had finished with the ceremony, Hog Roast Loughton had completed the meal, which had filled the entire space with delicious aromas. Alicia and Ben were the first to receive their plates from our catering team, and after that, the guests queued to get their fill.
Just as we had hoped, the food went down a treat – and speaking of treats, Hog Roast Loughton served handmade cheesecake and profiteroles for pudding, which was the perfect end to such a tasty meal!