Wedding Duties: Food Tasting

We’ve been consistently invited to attend the Hizon’s food tasting event since the 2nd quarter of 2012 but never had the chance to go. It was either because it’s going to be in some far off place or we simply can’t fit it in the schedule. 

Last Sunday was the best chance for us since they will be hosting it in Pergola, an events venue just in front of the World Trade Center, which was hosting a bridal fair we planned to attend. I confirmed with Crenz, our sales exec, that we will be able to attend this time and expect us in the afternoon.  

Pergola is a medium sized venue located along the Restaurant Row of the CCP Boom Grounds. When we inquired in the past, we were advised that it can accommodate up to 220 guests.  We didn’t push through with the reservation since our preferred dates were no longer available. Upon seeing the venue, it does have its charm. I would recommend it for weddings; just make sure to plan the seating with your caterer or stylist. When we came in for the food tasting, we were seated at the back (near the Terrace entrance), and we can’t see the front as the mock table for the primary sponsors was in the way. So if you are seated in the couple’s area, we won’t be able to see you even if there was already a platform. The covered terrace can be used for cocktails and you can also have your photo booth set-up there.  It’s best for those with small weddings and intimate parties with a short guest list. 

As soon as we walked in, we were asked to register. Crenz, already reserved slots for us, so we just needed to sign in. 

We had to wait for Crenz, I guess she was still with another client, so we had to stand around in the cocktail area for a good 15 minutes. We entertained ourselves with the photo display and some album portfolio of a photographer.

Oh! and we were also offered cocktails, but for some strange reason, it wasn't served to us... nye?! 

We finally met Crenz, and thanks to some weird coincidence, it turned out she was a neighbor of my lola... small world! She offered us a lot of freebies, and we mean a lot! It really made us think twice about our first choice for catering. She offered for us to taste the food but since it was already late in the afternoon some of the dishes were already gone. We were happy to do a taste test anyways. 

SOUPS

1. Pumpkin soup - it wasn't very tasty, I'm usually a fan of pumpkin soups, but this was bland. I didn't enjoy it. 

2. Truffle Mushroom - not to be mean, but we said it was good, we just need some chicken (get it?) 

SALAD

1. Asian Salad - well, it was very difficult to eat for one, but it tastes like a salad, the tangy asian dressing was faint, but it's there. 

RICE

1. White Rice - well, it's white rice

2. Crisp Beef Rice - I didn't have any, but LJ said it was good

PASTA

Seafood Crème Sauce with choice of spaghetti or penne pasta - This one just didn't cut it. It lacks flavor and character. It's like you are just making an excuse to offer white sauce.

BEEF

Teppanyaki with Sautéed Vegetables - we both liked this, full of flavor and you will even eat the veggies clean off your plate.

SEAFOOD

Fish and Tempura - the baked fish was too salty for me, it was topped with a thick layer of cheese, which contributes to the saltiness, and mind you, I love cheese! I had to peel it away with my fork so I can enjoy the fish.

CARVING STATION

1. Thrice Cooked Pork Belly with Mango Cilantro Salsa/Lime Chili Prawn Sauce

this one tastes like regular pork belly, the salsa makes it different  

2. Baby Back rib with BBQ Sauce

Nothing that will blow your mind, I don't recommend this

3. Slow Roasted US Roast Beed with Classic Mushroom Gravy/Hickory BBQ Sauce

This one is the best among the three, I guess it's best stick to the classic in this case.

DESSERT  

None -- we weren’t offered any, oh well.   

those are just for display :)

What we think: 

The offer was very appealing. To be honest, it will cost more per plate, but with all the things she was throwing in it will actually break-even in the end minus the headache. Also, the fact that it’s the standard for Hizon’s to offer their own event stylist to help us out was very tempting. 

End Result: 

We passed up on the offer. The freebies, again, were VERY attractive (you’ve got to take my word with this one) and it was hard for us to let it go. Crenz was very attentive, Hizon’s has been an established caterer for weddings and we just know that they won’t fail us with the set-up… but at the end of the day, we came in for the food. 

What they served us was likeable, I wouldn’t mind being a guest and saying that it was ‘ok.’ No real complaints, but it was a bit bland, a bit too salty, a bit weird. However, we’ve been blessed to have tasted better, and we just want to make sure that the important people in our lives who will be joining us in this celebration will be served something that even though it will not be the most expensive, it will definitely be more than “ok.”

What we recommend:

Food choices maybe different when you go to their food tasting so you might find your own ‘wow’ viand, or you may have different and more practical priorities compared to us. 

What we can tell you is that what Hizon’s was offering us was a great deal, they are very reliable, I doubt you will be embarrassed about the food (I haven’t heard any horror stories to date) and to be fairly honest, if not for our first choice for catering we would have grabbed their deal. It all depends on what makes you feel one step closer to how you envision your wedding. 

salad toast, anyone?