About Tastings - Part 1

What’s a tasting worth? Part 1 – Before you sign the contract.

There are two kinds of tastings: the first one, the one that I will talk about today, is when you have not yet signed a contract, and the tasting is part of the sales effort. In my next post I will talk about the tasting that happens after the contract is signed.

In the book “Garlic and Sapphires”, Ruth Reichl, the ex New York Times Restaurant critic tells about the disguises she used on the job. Although she was incognito, you will not be so at your tasting. They will know you are coming, and they will be prepared to enchant you.

The sales tasting is useful, but it’s not everything. You will want to form an opinion on the food (if it’s bad, that is a very bad sign), and also on the way you are treated. Is it a mechanical experience, or are the staff attentive and thoughtful? Are you made to feel special, or like one of many?

Ask questions. Can you make changes? Do menus change seasonally? Will your dish be as you have seen it, or are the vegetable and starch “chef’s choice”? How do they accommodate special requests, such as vegetarian or Kosher? How long has the chef been with the venue, and will he be on site for your wedding? If not, who will? What are the wine options? If it is “house”, you will want to know what that is. And you should take notes, and recap the note in future correspondence to the venue.

Here are some other indicators:

Reputation. But you want to make sure that the reputation is based on the kinds of experiences that you are looking for (a restaurant that is know of as the best in town does not mean that it can replicate the experience on a banquet scale.)

Search the web and blogs. Try to find other people who have had weddings there (newspaper wedding announcements usually mention where the wedding occurred.) Don’t depend only on references provided by the venue.

Look for clues outside of the “sales cycle.” Visit the venue discretely. Are the rest of the staff eager to assist? Are people smiling? This will tell you a lot about the venue’s culture. Perhaps the sales person is charming and professional, but don’t forget the snooty receptionist.

Is there is a restaurant associated with the venue? Do they manage other food outlets elsewhere? Have dinner there. How’s the service? The food?

Once you have done all of that, trust your instincts, make a decision, and be thrilled with the decision you have made!

Next: Part 2 – After the contract is signed.