Italian + Cajun Wedding Menu = Italjun?

The majority of our wedding guests will be from Italian or Cajun backgrounds, so when we started talking about the dinner menu, we wanted it to be something really special that pulled from both of those heritages in our families, plus from the local specialties in Galveston.

Italian + Cajun = Italjun?

I looked through the regular wedding catering choices that our hotel gave us, but I wasn't really struck by much. A lot of the entrees seemed like they were trying to be overly fancy or showy for what they really were. Are my relatives really going to appreciate filet mignon? No - my grandfather gets his steak cooked well done. Will it be really great filet mignon if it's made to serve 100+ at the same time? No - they're going to sit in warming trays for hours.

So I told our catering manager to think about:

• Italian + Cajun
• Fresh ingredients: no swordfish flown in from Japan. Take whatever is fresh off the boat in Galveston that morning.
• Simple preparations: let's not get too fancy here.
  

I was SO pleased with what the executive chef came up with!

Saltimbocca Chicken with Sage Butter
Romano Crusted Chicken with Garlic Cream
Blackened Red Fish with Andouille Cream
Traditional Cannelloni or Cannelloni with Creole Tomato Sauce

We went to the hotel in Galveston for our first tasting this week. Yum yum!

I was really glad we took the time to do the tasting - some of the items I thought would be delicious were not well prepared, we didn't like the taste, or our guests wouldn't like it. I think our final menu has something for everyone!

Wedding Reception Menu:
Petite Crab Cakes with Tomato Remoulade Sauce
Mini Quiche Bites Lorraine and Florentine
Chilled Champagne Poached Gulf Shrimp with Traditional Cocktail Sauce
Hazelnut Crusted Goat Cheese Lollipops

Mixed Greens Salad with Assorted Dressings
Greek Style Salad

Blackened Red Fish with Andouille Cream
Traditional Cheese Cannelloni with Tomato Sauce
Carved Prime Rib of Beef with Horseradish Cream and Au Jus

Sides determined by Chef

Dinner Rolls and Butter