All the ingredients that go into the larger-than-life culinary spread at destination weddings

From oyster buckets and salad bars to customised cocktails – we at GQ India sat down with the seasoned chefs from the pioneering Hyatt properties to discover what goes behind sumptuous gourmet spreads that make destination weddings unforgettable

Today, unique epicurean experiences lie at the heart of fairytale nuptials. As couples make the sweet promise of stepping into their fabled forever, they are on the lookout for exotic destinations and also flavoursome menus that leave an indelible impression on the guests’ hearts. Enter Hyatt hotels – sprinkled through the length and breadth of our country, right from its tropical hideaway in Goa and preserving heritage in Jaipur to its waterfront paradise in Kochi’s Bolgatty island, which make for the ideal pick for those seeking an intimate, amorous celebration.

What’s more? These properties aim to satiate your appetite for both sumptuous delights and sophistication. Read along as we chat with the seasoned chefs of the Hyatt Hotels – from the most sensational menus to Instagram-worthy culinary installations, they let us in on the world of delectable destination weddings!

Customisation takes centre stage

Food is the universal love language – so when it comes to raising a toast to a lifetime of togetherness, Hyatt hotels rely on scrumptious delights that resonate with the bride and groom’s love story. “At Hyatt, the bride and groom’s requests are taken into consideration. For instance, if the bride and groom like ‘avocado’ as an ingredient, we propose a dedicated avocado bar serving soup, salad, and more,” said Rakesh Kamble, Chef de Cuisine, Grand Hyatt Mumbai Hotel and Residences.

In a welcome change, guests are now side-stepping sit-down dinners and are opting for live stations offering food which is unique to the couple and their story. Be it a counter serving wood-fired pizzas or an oyster bucket to complement a tropical wedding, food has emerged as the undisputed focal point of every extravaganza. “With most weddings being vegetarian dominant, we provide off-beat options like jackfruit shawarma, green banana pav bhaji, meatless meat mini burgers, vegan chorizo sausages, vegan omelettes and more. Many-a-times, we get the village ladies to make the local breads on a choolah and do sand pit cooked dishes the way it has been done in this region over centuries in the past,” said David Ansted, Executive Chef, Grand Hyatt Goa.

A healthy dose of local

The true magic of a destination wedding comes alive when the regional flavours foray into the festivities. With Hyatt properties sprinkled across the country, every state proffers a unique experience for the guests. Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty relays the guests to a waterfront haven where they’re welcomed with chendamelam (drums) and kathakali (dance-drama). Flavours seep in to make this celebration larger than life with a traditional Kerala Sadhya served in one of the luxury houseboats.

Additionally, the concept of ‘wedding favours’ is gathering momentum as a means to commemorate delightful celebrations. Recently, the celebrations team at Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty organised a ‘make your own hamper’ event where guests could pick from fruit, chips, spices, savouries, coffee, tea, chocolate and Indian sweets. All the items were sourced from local vendors, giving them a chance to showcase the regional flavours. Similarly, Hyatt Regency Jaipur curated marble coasters (reminiscent of the 2,700 marble pillars at the property) as party favours for the guests, so that they could take a little bit of the hotel back with them.

Creative vision meets flavourful food

While the resplendent banquets, ornate ballrooms and palatial Hyatt properties make for the ideal backdrop for a dream wedding, their staff is also upping the ante on culinary display; think immersive live stations, grazing tables, personalised food, and much more.

For instance, Alila Fort Bishangarh recently delighted the guests with a ‘portable green wall’ that was positioned adjacent to their poolside restaurant. It offers scenic views of the organic farms whilst treating the guests to a unique farm-to-table dining experience. This invigorating spread included a range of microgreens, edible flowers, and some magnificent veggies like Chioggia Beets and Golden Beets, among others.

Adding to the creative collision of food and aesthetic, Akshay Pandit, Executive Chef, Hyatt Regency Jaipur said, “We have two experiential installations – Soulful Dining and Culinary Theatre – that were set up on request. Distinct in their own ways, they captured the imagination of the guests and were something that they really liked to share on social media. Soulful dining is an experience that entails our chefs and local artisans working hand in hand to create food that we can call the ‘Soul of Rajasthan’. The local artisans live cook Rajasthani dishes such as Bejad ki roti, Bajre ki roti, Tikri ki dal with tutey matke ka tadka and many more local dishes in earthen stoves and our chefs too create dishes inspired by these rustic cooking techniques.”  

Geography – no bar

Want to recreate an Asian wonderland at your wedding? Or perhaps you want the very same French dessert you had on your first date? At Hyatt, everything is possible. Not only does the hotel harbour premium Indian chefs, but also flies down chefs and exotic ingredients from other countries based on the menu you curate. For a wedding at Hyatt Regency Dehradun, the chefs sourced ingredients from around the globe for guests to relish. White truffles were flown in from Alba, chocolates from Belgium and Switzerland were personalised with the names of the bride and groom, avocados were imported from Belgium to make the best of ceviches, white asparagus from Navarra and much more. “Last year, a couple requested us to feature a pop-up of different restaurants from Goa. So we got some of the state’s most celebrated chefs to curate menus and displays for the wedding celebration. We hosted another wedding that flew chefs from six different countries offering guests a diverse selection of authentic and international flavours. These were individuals who were masters of their craft, local artisans, both food or beverage,” added Ansted.

It’s safe to say that curating a unique menu brimming with flavours and innovative representation remarkably heightens the wedding fervour. If you’re planning to get hitched in 2023, make a note of the surefire gourmet trends and reach out to the skilful experts at Hyatt to craft a glorious celebration.

To know more about throwing a dream destination wedding at Hyatt, click here.