Getting to know THE RK GROUP
It’s no secret that the recipe to the perfect wedding celebration includes offering your guests an amazing menu.
Sit down or cocktail, a fresh take on the tired old ‘chicken or beef’?
Tribal catering favourite, THE RK GROUP has got you covered.
Having catered hearty sit-down meals, divine canapés and delectable desserts for over 5000 events, and with over 30-years industry experience, we think they are the perfect addition to your wedding day tribe.
We took some time to chat with the passionate Geelong-based team to find out more about their premium service and how to choose the perfect caterer to keep your family and friends sated and quenched on your special day.
Aside from delicious food, what is included in the catering service THE RK GROUP provides?
Professional and friendly hospitality service and expert management to ensure the success of every event.
How does THE RK GROUP set themselves apart?
THE RK GROUP is a locally owned, renowned catering and service offering. Our management team has over 30-years knowledge and experience and we pride ourselves on being reliable, flexible and professional. In terms of our delicious menus, they feature rustic, substantial food that distinguishes our style. We are passionate about food and wine, travel and recipe books, and continually strive for excellence of quality in everything we do.
How would you describe your current catering menu?
Our current menu features an array of delicious canapés, rustic grazing platters and plentiful sit down meals which will ensure your guests are well looked after. Our current menu is made up of our most popular items, however we can also design a menu to suit our client’s needs. We are in the process of sampling new dishes and produce as we will be redesigning and launching our exciting new menu later this year.
What is the inspiration behind the incredible sit down meals, canapés, platters and desserts you create?
Our menus are inspired by the large variety of beautiful produce we have available locally and in Australia. We also like to keep up-to-date with what’s happening locally and internationally on the food and beverage scene and are constantly keeping up with modern food and product trends so that we can further improve our skills and offerings.
We also draw inspiration from the amazing rustic venues and locations we work at and the diverse clientele we are fortunate to come across.
What advice would you give to couples who are trying to decide between hosting a sit-down dinner or cocktail function on their wedding day?
Each couple is different and has different briefs they wish to fulfil. There are many things to consider when choosing between a sit-down dinner and a cocktail style wedding, such as:
-Venue style, capacity and equipment (chairs and tables available)
-Are you after an informal or formal style wedding?
-Which style best represents you and your tastes?
-Demographic of guests e.g. cocktail style works well with young guests and sit down style suits an older guest. Always make sure that there is ample seating available at a cocktail wedding.
-If you like to keep things simple and have less to organise, then cocktail style is the easier options – no table allocations, no place cards etc.
What are some favourites from your current menu?
-Peking duck rolls with spring onion, cucumber and hoisin sauce
-Middle Eastern spiced lamb rump, baby carrots, cous cous with toasted cumin yoghurt
-Honey pannacotta with rich chocolate brownie and, fresh berries
Do you have any recommendations about how a bride and groom should go about tackling their guest’s dietary requirements?
We always recommend that clients ask their guests for dietary requirements via their wedding invitation. For sit down weddings, we tell our couples not to worry about dietaries when choosing their menu as we cater to all dietaries separately.
When it comes to cocktail style, we recommend that couples choose a range of canapés that covers vegetarian and gluten free requirement, as it can be difficult to locate guests with dietaries when it is stand-up style. For more complex dietaries such as vegan or lactose free requirements we normally prepare something specific and ask that they make themselves known to staff so that we can prepare a plate with suitable canapés.
What advice would you give to couples who are about to search for a caterer?
It’s important to look for an experienced and reputable cater so that you know that your event will be a complete success. Compare their prices and package inclusions to ensure they meet your budget and needs.
Discuss the items on the menu to make sure you understand exactly what each dish comprises of and ask if they are flexible with their menu items and can change them if required. A caterer that uses the freshest ingredients possible and produces their own menu items is also a must!
Ensure you meet with the caterer before you book to ensure that you are comfortable with their level of service and assistance being offered. You can also do some research by looking at photos on their website and online profiles as well as their client testimonials. You will know you have picked a winner if you feel confident after the first consultation that the caterer is committed 100%.
Find out more about THE RK GROUP and get your taste buds dancing here and to see them in action check them out at Sophia and Thomas’ sweet Bellarine celebration.
