An Essex Wedding - September/Ocotber 2020 (Issue 94)

58 For a spring wedding it has to be lamb. Try serving it three ways: loin, shoulder and rack. Serve bowl food for a laid-back festival feel. Ideal options are macaroni cheese, Thai green curry or meatballs arrabiata. Fig & Feast (www.figandfeast.co.uk) offer tablescape grazing. Their exquisite tables let guests casually mingle as they pick on cured meats, artisan cheeses, local fresh bread, honeycomb, heavenly figs and fresh fruit. Not only do they look visually striking, but they can cater for all dietary requirements and offer an excellent ice-breaker for your loved ones. Suggested summery menu from The Teapod (www.theteapod.co.uk) … ❤ Start with a tomato, mozzarella and basil crêpe, followed by a sweet St Clements topping (mandarins in lemon sauce) ❤ Waffles topped with strawberry and chocolate or caramel and cream ❤ Wash down with iced speciality tea featuring lemon and mint, herbal and green teas and smoothies Summer evenings are just made for barbecues. Stack it up with delicious local produce and let guests help themselves to mixed salad and beers from an ice bucket. Match your drinks to your food. Having burgers? Try an ice-cold beer. Offering Italian options? Team it with a crisp pinot grigio. A frozen margarita will always go down beautifully on a summer’s day. https://happyhippiephotography.co.uk Is there a more quintessential summertime treat than afternoon tea? Fluffy scones with strawberry jam and cream couldn’t be more delicious. Spring and summer. LOCAL PICK: Choose world-famous Tiptree Jam to slather on scones, and wash everything down with some of the company’s flavoured gins. Visit www.tiptree.com LOCAL PICK: Love your real ale? Check out Braintree’s Bishop Nick Brewery. Visit https://bishopnick.com