From Bakewells to brûlées, nothing can evoke culinary happiness, and even a touch of nostalgia, like the sweet taste of a favourite dessert. Often the pièce de résistance to any menu, wedding day desserts are also a wonderful pick-me up for guests planning to dance the night away.
With endless possibilities available, our Executive Chef (and pudding connoisseur), Dan, gives his advice on what to consider when choosing your dessert options.
With a 30 year career in the industry, starting out in restaurants and country houses all across Europe, Dan is an expert in all things sweet!
Have you seen much of a change in the approach to wedding day desserts?
Absolutely! Couples have so much more choice now than they used to. Classic sit down desserts will always have an important place in a wedding breakfast menu, but now couples are bringing sweet treats into other areas of their wedding day. From macaroon towers, to ice cream trucks, donut walls, s’mores and more. The possibilities are endless for creating a wedding day full to the brim of much loved treats.
Do you think it is important to tailor your wedding day dessert to your style of wedding?
Whilst – in my opinion – the most important thing when it comes to your wedding breakfast is choosing food that you LOVE. Our Roots team can help you fit your choice of wedding day food to the style of your big day.
When it comes to desserts we have some beautiful options for all levels of formality. If high dining is the style of your dream wedding day menu then our luxury profiterole is pure indulgence. This large light and crispy choux bun topped with croquant crumble is available in a range of different flavours. My personal favourite is our chocolate and Amarena cherry. Filled with a fragrant cherry and vanilla cream with a chocolate crémeux on top, scattered with Amarena cherries, homemade honeycomb and a chocolate crisp. This decadent treat is then served with a locally made cherry and chocolate ice cream.
If you are planning a more laid back kind of vibe for your wedding then our new dessert bar is perfect! Serving a collection of mini desserts including passionfruit posset with mango, pineapple & coconut; Tonka bean crème brûlée with rhubarb; raspberry & white chocolate cheesecake with raspberry jelly & white chocolate honeycomb and chocolate & salted caramel crémeux with toffee popcorn!
The dessert bar is part of our new outside kitchen and is a more interactive style of dining where you and your guests can come up, graze and chat with our Roots chefs.
For those looking, is there an alternative to the classic wedding cake which is just as show-stopping?
Indeed there is – a croque-en-bouche! A French take on a wedding cake, this impressive tower consists of Choux buns filled with vanilla cream, then dipped in hot caramel. The tower is finished with spun sugar and decorated. Traditionally in France, it is customary for the cake to be smashed with a sword by the married couple, before being served to guests…
What are your favourite wedding day desserts?
Our Roots menu features a couple of real classics that have really stood the test of time and also demonstrate the incredible skill of our pastry chefs.
One of my favourites is our Sticky Toffee Pudding, served with salted toffee sauce, marmalade and honeycomb ice cream and an unexpected hint of passionfruit sauce – trust me, it is incredible.
Another firm favourite of mine – and many of our guests – is our classic Bakewell Tart. This carefully honed dish oozes skill and perfection in terms of the finest of pastry, lots of delicious raspberry homemade jam and a filling of light frangipane that is laced with amaretto. This is all topped with flaked almonds and brushed with an apricot and amaretto glaze. Served warm with classic vanilla custard and cherry ice cream, this stand out dish is pure indulgence.
Have you got anything new on the menu?
Our team at Roots live and breathe exquisite flavours so we’re always creating new seasonal menu options for our couples to choose from. New to the kitchen this summer is our tonka bean crème brûlée. This wonderful new flavour puts a fresh spin on a classic and much loved dessert. The dish is served with poached strawberries and strawberry ice cream – truly a match made in heaven!
We also recently introduced a new dessert. Channelling childhood memories, this nostalgic favourite has been given a luxe, fine dining update. Our very own vanilla and cherry “Viennetta”! Served with the divine combination of chocolate goo and cherry gel, this new in dessert is already proving popular with our couples.
What is your advice on where to start when choosing your wedding day breakfast?
Relax, our Roots team are here to guide you through the whole process and ensure that you and your partner get the wedding day menu of your dreams.
Don’t fret about the time of year your wedding is taking place – unless you are wanting berries as these are prime between May to September. But if you both live for sticky toffee pudding or want a Bakewell tart on a hot day in July then why not! It is your wedding!
My top tip is to just choose what you like and if you really can’t decide then our dessert bar is a great option, or why not try a couples’ dessert – the perfect way to both enjoy your favourite pud on your big day!
Click here to see the latest Roots menus and please contact the Roots team if you have any questions on 01243 641247.
