Celebrations are about coming together and spending time with the ones we love. And at the heart of every special occasion is the chance to indulge in some fantastic food and drink. Susie Kelly has a few ideas to get you started.
Cheesy does it
With cupcakes, sweetie jars and doughnuts filling our dessert tables at weddings throughout 2016, it's no surprise that this year, we're craving something a little more savoury.
Cheese makes a wonderful and more-ish addition to a lot of dishes and with so many local varieties to choose from, it's easy to find new and interesting flavours to tempt your guests with. Halloumi fries, cheddar and lobster biscuits, gruyère and poppy seed pastry puffs, baked camembert oozing with flavour – there are endless recipes for you to make cheese a starter, main and dessert. And speaking of dessert, if you're tying the knot, why not swap your wedding cake for a wedding cheese tower? Stack truckles of cheese decorated with figs and wildflowers to create stunning centrepieces for your guests to enjoy.
Wedding cheese towers can be ordered through The Norfolk Deli. Visit www.norfolk-deli.co.uk/cheese-wedding-cake or call 01485 535540 for more information.
Bitesize delights
Special occasions are for everyone and if you have little ones in your family, it can sometimes be hard to find things they like. With a little preparation however, there can be lots of ways to keep them happy and munching merrily without too much trouble.
How old the children you're catering for will influence what you provide but getting them involved so they can be creative and help themselves will keep them engaged and encourage them to eat well.
Wraps with a choice of plain fillings so they can make their own is a great start. Anything mini is also a sure fire way of keeping them happy from mini pizzas, to cheese straws, sausage rolls, fairy cakes, sandwiches and more. And don't forget to play around with colours and make things fun, after all, it's a celebration! Try watermelon wands, rainbow fruit kebabs, mini jellies, chocolate crispies and jam tarts.
World cuisine
Give your celebration an international flavour with dishes from around the world. Mexican and Portuguese dishes will be big in 2017 with fresh lime, chilli, spicy chicken and succulent fish all taking centre stage.
Indian and Chinese style cooking is also great for parties as it's easy for people to pick and choose as well as share. Bhajis, koftas, paneer balls and samosas make great nibbles as well as dim sum favourites such as satay skewers, spring rolls, pot stickers and prawn toasts.
Get the experts in
When you have an important celebration coming up, sometimes it's nice to let the experts take care of the food. Luckily, Norfolk is home to an abundance of hotels and restaurants ready to look after your every need. Brasted's is a multi award-winning catering and events company, with over 30 years' experience serving royalty, dignitaries, celebrities and guests. If you're looking for something a bit more relaxed, The Wood Kitchen does freshly baked pizzas or why not try The Duck Truck for even more tempting delights? Christophe's Crêpes is also a popular choice and offers both savoury and sweet crêpes.
www.brasteds.co.uk
www.thewoodkitchen.co.uk
www.theducktruck.co.uk
www.christophes.co.uk
Get creative
Getting creative with food and drink is a great way of coming together and simply having fun. Whether it's drinks, cocktails, nibbles, sweets or ice cream sundaes, put on a mix of flavours and types, and let people choose their favourites. And why not try something new? Pick from a variety of cordials, fresh fruit, spirits, tonics and herbs.
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