Weddingbee Blog

We knew when starting this wedding planning thing that our biggest expense would be providing the food for 100 people. We looked around at a few catering companies that had wedding “specific” menus but none of them were remotely within our budget, and none of them excited our tastebuds. A potluck, or “punch and cake” reception were options but because so many of our guests are from out of town (or out of country!) we really feel like they deserve a full meal, and we can’t expect them to have to make a dish if they don’t have access to their own kitchen.

We considered self-catering everything, but after looking at all the logistics it all just seemed to overwhelming (especially considering all our other projects!). So we have decided to only partly self-cater. That is, we will be taking care of the beverages ourselves, making some cupcakes and fruit platters, and order in these kick-ass cheesecakes from a local cake shop (Needless to say, deciding on cheesecake flavours in currently Mr E’s favourite part of wedding planning. The deal is that I choose one flavour, he chooses another and we both choose a third together. Good times).

But who will take care of the honest-to-goodness fill-you-up-till-you-burst food?

Enter the funkiest Mexican mobile food cart in town: Las Brisas

Actually it really is the only place that serves Mexican food in Nelson. New Zealand seems to be lacking in that area, much to the horror of Mr. E’s grandfather who can’t imagine a world without tacos.

When we were hunting for catering solutions another bride-to-be told me how she had just attended a wedding where a pizza truck drove up, served everyone, and then Mr. Whippy (NZ’s iconic ice cream man) took care of dessert, and, if that wasn’t enough, a coffee cart arrived to brew up everyone’s favourite lattes and such.

I fell hook line and sinker for this food truck/ cart business. It was perfect—we definitely needed a caterer who was mobile and had all their own gear so they could just arrive at the garden and do their stuff. PLUS, it just sounded so funky and different from “normal” wedding catering. Not to mention, a LOT cheaper.

And so the hunt was on. Sadly we couldn’t find a mobile pizza kitchen in our area, but then one day while craving fajitas I googled “authentic Mexican food, Nelson” and behold there was that cart in all its retro orange glory. I was in love. So of course I gave Brisa (the owner) a call, and talking to her convinced me even further that the cart is the way to go.

A few negotiations later, and the result is: we get all the food (not counting the dessert and stuff we will do ourselves) for $12.50 NZD a person ($8.50 USD). Score!

So what do we get for our money? Allow me to stimulate your taste buds by accompanying the list of drool-worthy dishes with some pics off the web that look pretty much like what we will be having:

Chicken Fajitas with Corn Tortillas

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Red Rice with Carrots & Capsicum

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Refried Beans

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Guacamole & Corn Chips

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Two types of Salsa

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Hungry yet? I know I am. As well as all this, there will be some cheese quesadillas for vegetarians and children who perhaps aren’t fond of fajitas. Brisa also imports all her spices and other flavourings direct from Mexico and all her dishes are gluten-free.

As all our initial conversations were over email, both Mr E and I were eager to meet Brisa the next time we were in Nelson to finalise things and I think it always is a very good thing to talk with your vendors face to face (hard sometimes when you are planning long distance) to get a “feel” for the person you will be working with.

We weren’t disappointed. We arranged to meet at the venue to take a look around and figure out where the cart would go. Brisa arrived with her very Nordic looking partner and baby in tow, and proceeded to talk nineteen to the dozen about her plans for the food and such. Everything she said just made us all the more confident in her abilities and her passion for her food (something very important for us). It was very refreshing to talk to someone as enthusiastic and down to earth as her (I mean, she brought her baby to a meeting. Somehow that appeals to me). We came away from the meeting very satisfied that we have made the right choice and the food at our wedding is going to be Good with a capital G.

Any one else using a “non traditional” catering option for their wedding? Who else is a food cart fan?