Traditional Southern Garden Party Menu

[mubichubelle]

I am getting married in September and my fiance is Southern. We live in Utah but I'd like to have a kind of genteel southern garden party for our reception. Any suggestions for traditional southern outdoor party food and drinks (non-alcoholic)? Thank you.

[scarlettdouble]

What are some of your fiance's favorite dishes? What time of day is the reception to take place?

Shrimp is usually on the menu down here. Pimento cheese is another one of our specialties.

I had to smile at your post. It seems like we are a foreign country with some exotic cuisine. :)

[mubichubelle]

Well every region has different food. It's pretty well known that Southern food is unique. Anyway it's during the afternoon. I like anything so I'm just trying to figure out what is a good traditional party menu for southerners. Thanks.

[LanaSmile]

Mu, I remember reading somewhere about Paula Deen's wedding and all the southern foods she served at their reception. I couldnt find a complete list online for you, but I thought you might get a start by looking thru her cookbooks. Maybe your local library has them? I do remember reading they served shrimp and grits served in martini type glasses.

[scarlettdouble]

Where is your fiance from? You may want to include some dishes from his particular state or region. I am on the coast so we eat a lot of seafood - shrimp, oysters, flounder, catfish, etc.

An afternoon reception is great. You can do lots of light dishes and give your guests a real taste of everything. Here are a few foods that I think of as traditional:

Shrimp
Grits
Cheese Straws
Benne Wafers
Red Velvet Cake
Pimento Cheese
Roast Beef with Henry Bain Sauce
Mint Juleps
Ham Biscuits
Pepper jelly (sometimes served over cream cheese on a cracker)
Crab Cakes


There should be lots of menus on the web now showcasing Kentucky Derby recipes. You may find some very elegant menus that would work for you. Sounds like a lot of fun!

[mubichubelle]

The Kentucky Derby menus are a great idea. I didn't even think about that. He was born in Fort Walton Beach, Florida so the deep swampy south. His mom and grandma are from Hattisburg and his family lives in Texas now so it's a mixed bag. I'm just going for anything southern at this point. Thanks for all your great advice! Anymore is welcome of course.

[DebC]

I got to add Sweet Tea!

[SouthernDesigns]

You can't go wrong with Southern foods! We served sweet tea in our Savannah Beverage Dispenser at my son's wedding and had a little sign that said "Champagne of the South...Sweet Tea". We added raspberries, strawberries and sliced limes and lemons and it was beautiful! Lemonade is also very pretty in the container. I can send you a picture. Just contact me from my website.
If it's a little less formal, or outdoors, a beautiful centerpiece would be filling a large hurricane with limes and lemons, then adding fresh white, yellow and green flowers, like daisies, small sunflowers, Kermit mums, etc. A single gardenia or magnolia would be simple and beautiful in a pretty clear vase with votives all around. Another idea would be to place a pillar candle in a large hurricane, add clear glass marbles and about 2-3 inches of water, and float gardenias around the candle.

Ham on cheese biscuits is a must
Southern potato salad
Deviled eggs
shrimp and grits
Fresh garden vegetables or a colorful green salad
Carrot Cake and Banana Pudding

You're going to have so much fun!
Diana
www.southernlivingathome.com/dianasdesigns