We will be hosting a wedding dinner for 20 in Dordogne this summer (around Sarlat).

We've had contact with a local chef and are trying to decide between preparing some food ourselves (informal, family style presentation) or hiring the chef.

Do you know if any of the restaurants do "take out" where we could buy some more complicated specialties to combine with salads, cheeses, breads and desserts? I don't know if they do this sort of thing in France or not.

We would like to serve a great meal to our guests and enjoy cooking and are good in the kitchen. It will however be our wedding day so we would like to do much of the preparation in advance - or hire a chef.


Thank you very much!
Jen

Dear J,

>We would like to serve a great meal to our guests and enjoy cooking and are good in the kitchen. It will however be our wedding day ....<

This is why caterers were invented.

I doubt that you will need to hire a chef.

I'd trust any recommendation from St Cirq - do a search in this forum for her name + restaurants and I bet you find some great suggestions

Ira,

Can you recommend how to find a caterer...it has been very difficult to find someone in the area - or that will drive to the area.

Thanks

Here are three organizations you should contact: I'm betting one or more of them will be able to help you out or will know exactly whom to recommend to you:

http://www.guidecadhi.fr/public/four...-gras-443.html

http://www.guidecadhi.fr/public/four...tique-446.html

http://www.perigord-produits.com/foi...ete.php?pro=ce

If none of them works, let me know and I can make a call to soem neighbors in the Dordogne I think would know...

And yes, there are lots of places where you can buy prepared dishes to take out and serve.

Thanks for the backup, St Cirq.

Are the house martens gone?

Maybe you can hire St Cirq, she cooks.

Hi, ira:

I don't know if the house martens are gone or not..I hope so. Will be arriving in St-Cirq march 11 to find out for sure.

Cigale - too funny. I do cook..and cook and cook and cook. I'd be up for catering something if I were going to be there when jen was there, but I think I'm going to find myself in Umbria at that time -- too far to cater, je pense...

Thank you all for your advice. St. Cirq I will investigate those options you've provided.

Thanks so much!

See - I just knew StCirq would come through! That's why she's one of my Fodor's heroines.

Jen: Congratulations! For your wedding tower (croquembouche, or Pièce Montée) you should really contact Patisserie Lucco near Beynac. He is absolutely the best in the area for that specialty...and any other high quality, beautiful pastry creations. He can probably also recommend a good local "traiteur" (caterer). Phone: 05 53 29 25 33. Also, we'll be hosting a wedding group at our B&B near Castelnaud in May, and I'll be in contact with the bride soon...I can ask her who she's using as a chef/caterer, if you're interested.