Multicultural Wedding Menus
Embracing Culinary Diversity: Creating a Multicultural Wedding Menu that reflects YOU
In the realm of wedding planning, one aspect that has undergone a remarkable evolution in recent years is wedding food. Couples today are increasingly seeking to reflect their diverse backgrounds, cultural heritages, and individual tastes through their menu. We have entered the era where couples wish to express themselves in every element of their wedding. We recently came across Chef Kieron, browsing cookbooks in the library, and asked him to talk about creating multicultural menus.
“I love this! Multicultural or fusion wedding menus offer a way to break down barriers and foster inclusivity. In a world that often feels divided, food has the power to bring people together, transcending differences and creating connections. By celebrating diversity on their wedding day, couples send a powerful message of unity and acceptance, inviting their guests to join them in embracing the beauty of cultural exchange. Sharing one’s roots with the menu makes for a magical moment where conversations and connections are made across the dinner table.
The growing demand for multicultural fusion wedding menus represents a culinary evolution that reflects the changing landscape of our society. As the chef, I am honored and excited to be a part of this, creating unforgettable dining experiences that celebrate love, diversity, and the universal joy of good food. From blending flavors to bridging cultures, multicultural fusion wedding menus are a testament to the power of food to unite hearts and create lasting memories. And personally, I also love that this has been a wonderful way to get my hands on well-loved, well-kept family recipes I would never have had access to in other ways!”
When you’re asked to create a multicultural/fusion menu for two very different cultures, how do you go about doing that?
“When tasked with creating a multicultural menu for two very different cultures, my approach is rooted in a deep respect for each culture’s culinary traditions while embracing the opportunity for creative innovation. Here’s how I typically go about it:
Input from the couple: The first step in menu planning at Cornman Farms is to have a wonderful conversation with our couple about their preferences and desires. We ask them about shared food memories as well as basic things like dietary restrictions and preferred protein(s).
Research and Understanding: I then delve deep into my 8500 cookbook collection that covers the many countries I have cooked in and many more I have studied over the years. This begins with looking at traditions of both cultures, traditional ingredients, cooking techniques, flavor profiles, and cultural significance of dishes. Understanding the essence of each cuisine allows me to identify commonalities and potential points of fusion.
Consultation and Collaboration: Depending on the complexity of the fusion, I may consult with friends, chefs, and writers from my past. This is usually a way to ensure authenticity and make sure I have not missed a cultural nuance.
Experimentation and Testing: With a solid foundation of knowledge, I begin making things! This often takes place at home with my family which is fun for all of us.
Menu Development: At this stage I focus on the hows and practicalities of a dish and how it operates with the others and how we plan to execute it.
The check: Now this is where all my pride and emotion must be removed. I share the draft menu with my partner and make sure from their perspective the menu makes sense and matches the feeling the couple tells us they want us to evoke, which could be “comforting” or “adventurous”. We then usually have a good back and forth with the couple for anything we may have missed.
Presentation and Execution: Finally, I focus on the presentation and execution. I have a plan document on timing for the menu. Some dishes require ingredients that take a long time to procure or it may require a lot of pre-work such as dry aging or marinating. At this stage, I will also make a plan for plating garnishing. Every detail is thoughtfully considered to enhance the dining experience.
Overall, creating a multicultural fusion menu for two very different cultures requires a delicate balance of reverence for tradition and bold creativity. By embracing the diversity of flavors and celebrating the shared love for good food, I work hard to craft a menu that honors the couple’s heritage while creating something uniquely memorable and delicious.”
Why do you think food plays such an important role in traditions?
“For me personally, not just as a chef but as a son, husband, and father, food is a link to the past and a road to the future. Food is deeply intertwined with our cultural identity. Traditions from our past are nearly always connected with food. These dishes serve as a tangible link to one’s heritage, history, values, and often help explain our customs.
So many of our traditions involve communal meals or gatherings centered around food. These shared culinary experiences create opportunities for people to come together, strengthen bonds, and foster a sense of unity and share our stories. Whether it’s a family gathering, a religious celebration, or a cultural festival, food serves as a common thread that brings people closer.
Within my journey, the recipes passed down through generations or those we have met are repositories of familial and cultural heritage. When we have the opportunity to cook dishes with others or our family members and elders, we are preserving culinary traditions and ensuring that important cultural knowledge is passed down to future generations with the stories of how and why.
Food has always had the power to evoke powerful emotions and memories in the same way music does. Certain dishes can transport me back in time to be with loved ones long since gone and trigger fond memories of childhood, family gatherings. For myself as someone who spends so much of my time in cookbooks and recipes, I get to see the integrity woven web of how recipes and food connect to one another and the many cultures of the world, and so many times it helps to share the history of why this blend and traditions of recipes have happened.
In essence, food transcends mere sustenance; it is a cornerstone of human culture and civilization and is our verbal history for many generations ago. By honoring and preserving culinary traditions, we not only celebrate our shared humanity but also enrich our lives with the richness of cultural diversity.”
What have been some of the most unique food cultures/traditions that you have brought together?
“I would say these are some of the most fun and interesting cultures/traditions I have had the honor to blend:
Italian and Indian: Italy and India, two countries with rich culinary histories, provided a fascinating challenge. I created a dish that combined the comforting, creamy textures of Italian with the aromatic spices of Indian cuisine, such as turmeric, cardamom, and cumin. By cooking a risotto with a blend of vegetable broth and coconut milk and finishing it with a masala spice mix, the dish bridged the gap between these two culinary worlds beautifully. This was a true blend of a culture in a single dish.
French and Moroccan: French cuisine is known for its technique, while Moroccan cuisine is celebrated for its vibrant spices and flavors. I brought these two together by preparing a classic French duck confit with a Moroccan twist. The duck was seasoned with ras el hanout, a Moroccan spice blend, and served with a side of couscous that incorporated dried fruits and nuts, embodying the essence of both cuisines, finished with a velvety smooth veloute sauce.”
How do you balance traditions and requests with what you are actually able to do?
“For some time now I have leaned hard into “Yes”. It is not only my job to make it work and figure out the process but it is also fun for me. That being said, sometimes some dishes or traditions are just not possible, either because of very specialized ingredients that cannot be obtained or equipment or cooking techniques that we don’t have/can’t do within the farm. In these occasions it becomes my job to help delve deeper into what a request or dish really means and see where we can bring this to the table in another way or at another time during the meal, be it cocktail hour, amuse, intermezzo or sometimes as well a shared recipe card as a wedding favor.”
How do you think multicultural wedding menus have evolved?
“Multicultural wedding menus have significantly evolved over recent years, reflecting broader societal shifts towards inclusivity, globalization, and a deeper appreciation for diverse culinary traditions. For me, the biggest evolution has been the “GAP”. For many couples over the last few years, there has been a gap in the sharing of food stories and traditions from the previous generations. We have also seen a lot less cooking stories. This “GAP” has been somewhat filled with a new set of stories from travel. A lot of couples often share their favorite food traditions not from families but from travel. This has had the effect of bringing a greater mix of food and cultures to the table when it comes to their menu. Another evolution I have noticed is the desire for the deep and more meaningful understanding of the food; this has been expressed with the desire for the chef to talk about the menu and spaces for the guest to interact with the chef getting to know the story behind the food.”
How do you go about developing menus if the type of cuisine is something outside of what you typically do?
“I have been incredibly lucky as a chef and have spent time working in 27 countries and yet even with this, we get requests for dishes that I have never heard of, even from countries and cities I have worked. As with a lot of my work, it starts with understanding and research with a lot of reading of cookbooks and food writings. With cuisines I am very unfamiliar with, I will reach out to chefs and friends for help and insights. At this stage of my career, I have a good background in many techniques that have allowed me to cook a dish even if I have never had it before.”
Can you discuss how multicultural menus can play into DEI?
“Multicultural menus play a significant role in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and are more than just a means to offer diverse and delicious food options. They are a vital component of DEI, being capable of educating, bridging cultural divides, promoting inclusivity, and celebrating diversity. Food transcends language and geography, communicating the heritage and traditions of culture through flavors, aromas, and textures. By thoughtfully curating multicultural menus, we can take significant steps towards creating more inclusive communities.”
What are some of the challenges of creating multicultural menus?
“While we write menus for the couples or guests of honor we still always have to make sure menus are accessible for all the guests. For dishes and foods the whole group will understand you always need to have some simple crowd-pleasing options. This can be as simple as adding a more simple dish or sometimes it can be how we present a dish. Sometimes we will adjust the presentation and deconstruct some aspects of a dish to make it more approachable and simpler to understand. Again, this is why we serve our meals family style, as well: it gives guests the opportunity to take as much or as little of things they want to try without committing to one entire dish.”
What do you enjoy about developing multicultural menus?
“We love the same things the guests love about it. It allows us to travel through our past and experiences and relive them and share this love and excitement for foods and dishes with our guests and friends. We also love that it gives us an excuse to connect with our cookbook collection, old chef friends, and sometimes new ones as we find some old lost recipes and foods for us to help our guests share with their families.”
Gone are the days when a wedding menu consisted solely of traditional dishes specific to one culture or region. Now, couples are embracing the richness of culinary diversity, seeking to celebrate their love with a feast that resonates with both their heritage and their personal preferences. This growing demand for multicultural fusion wedding menus presents an exciting opportunity for chefs to showcase their creativity and expertise in blending and complimenting the many different food traditions. At Zingerman’s Cornman Farms, we’re excited to create a menu that represents the two of you and your families. Contact our team to schedule a tour of our beautiful Ann Arbor property and begin your culinary journey towards a more inclusive and culturally rich celebration of love.