Rehearsal dinner ideas
By Jenilee, edited by Elizabeth
We are always on the lookout for unusual and special activities in the wedding world. I recently ran into Jenilee Gerodias Slagle, who holds cooking parties as rehearsal dinners. I just fell in love with the idea. She discusses how the wedding party, families and close friends, come together to make good food and share good times together prior to the wedding.
Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb receives no form of compensation from this vendor, though admittedly, I did try some of her desserts, and they were delicious.
Tell us about how you've held some of your cooking parties for rehearsal dinners in the past? How does this work?
I usually hold parties in the clients' homes or rent a kitchen. These cooking parties are usually 3 hours long where I give an introduction to basic kitchen skills and talk about recipes for 30-40 minutes. Then the client and his/her party will hands-on cook by following printed recipes I provide. Lastly, they sample the dishes prepared. There are a few different styles of cooking parties I hold:- Plated-style: I divide the party into 2 teams and cook two different 3-course menus (usually a protein, side and dessert.) Once they have everything cooked, I have a beautiful table arranged and serve everyone a plated and coursed dinner they made themselves. An example French-inspired 4-course Menu:
- Team 1: Potato Gratin, Filet Mignon with Bernaise Sauce, Molten Chocolate Cake
- Team 2: Citrus Fennel Salad, Sole Meuniere (Fish in a Lemon Caper Sauce), Tea Cakes
- Tapas-style: I divide the party into pairs and assign a tapas style/ finger food recipe for each pair to cook. I work with the hosts to find out what wines and cocktails will pair well with the food. Here is a Spanish-inspired example:
- Potato Croquestas, Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp), Bacon-wrapped Figs Stuffed with Blue Cheese, Flat Bread topped with White Anchovies, Preserved Lemon and Fennel, Paella Style Deep Fried Rice Balls.
Who attends/participates/cooks?
The client and his/her party will be cooking. The bride and her family might be on Team 1 and the groom and his family might be on Team 2 or sometimes I even mix families together. I basically guide them through the recipes to make sure they all have something to eat at the end of the cooking party. I would also like to think that I can share a cooking tip or two.
What are some examples of themes you've done in the past at these parties?Working with a theme is always fun -- I once organized a Moroccan theme party wherein everyone was in full Moroccan attire and even the client's home was decorated with beautiful Moroccan style fabrics and rugs. We made lamb tagine with apricots, vegetable couscous and baba au rhum, which is rum cake. Jenilee Gerodias Slagle is an independent chef based in the San Francisco Bay Area, who loves sharing her passion for food with others via her cooking courses, her catering, and her private chef services. She previously worked at a Michelin-starred restaurants Le Chiberta and La Folie in Paris and San Francisco respectively and is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.
