vegan chef in Mallorca

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog on Vegan weddings and that here in Mallorca we are really happy to be able to fully help with vegan weddings…. and have top quality cruelty free suppliers ready and raring to go.

 

A lovely woman contacted me from the  UK called Lynn Nicholson from www.veganfoodpimp.com. Lynn is a passionate vegan chef and foodie!  So I asked Lynn to write a guest blog for me on vegan cooking and menu’s for events.  Lynn likes nothing better than to knock the “taste-buds” off of non vegans and notices that on many occasions the food she cooks is so very tasty the guests don’t even think to ask where the animal products are!

As a vegan chef, I am often faced with “I have non-vegans who do not eat vegan food, what do I do? ”Well firstly, everyone eats vegan food, the only difference is the protein on the plate, so my job as a chef is to create food that proves that vegan food is not beige and bland, it is beautiful, delicious and filling.

I do have, and it is the only time I will say this, the advantage of having been a meat eater in the past so, I know what people are expecting. The secret is in the taste and texture. People love the taste and texture of food, if a plain piece of steak was served to anyone, without any seasoning, they would send it back, so this is the first step in creating food that everyone will love. I take great pleasure in watching people clear plates, to the point where they look like they have been washed, to then see their faces as they discover it was all 100% vegan. My goal as a vegan chef is to dispel the myths associated with vegan food.

I also point out to my clients who want a vegan menu at their events to remember that this is their event. To be honest, anyone who kicks up a fuss about eating vegan food for one day, as a guest, really needs to learn some manners. I am quite sure that in a situation where the menu was based around any other situation, religion or allergies, people would respect and understand therefore any vegan event should be treated with the same attitude by non-vegans.

I work with clients to establish food that everyone will love. I want the wow factor every time. I want beauty in the presentation and I want the explosion of tastes. I want everyone to understand that vegan food is not based around tofu and mung beans, or pasta and insipid tomato sauce, it is about freshness, the best ingredients and of course, the ability to combine spices to match the food in a way that enhances the produce. I work with my sense of smell and taste. I have no interest in rules associated with certain herbs and spices, if it feels right I use it. I do not work within boundaries, I work with my senses every time.

As a vegan chef, there is simply nothing off the menu, it is back to taste and texture. The element of surprise when I see people eat smoked salmon and caviar canapes, their taste buds sending signals to their brain to question “is it vegan” means I have succeeded. When I watch someone fold up and eat their kebab wrap, the juices running down their chins, or bite down on a huge burger, I know they are completely unaware that it is 100% plant based.

My only disappointment is people who simply state “I do not eat vegan food” as if it is contagious. I actually, think they are afraid of liking it, so, when I am catering for my clients we do not make a big thing about it being vegan. The host knows, the vegans know, the rest, well, they just see beauty and dig right in and, every time, the plates are cleared by everyone proving that vegan food is more than just chips, salad and bread.

All food should be amazing, for me, cooking is love made visible, if I can bring love to the table, whatever your normal eating habits are, I have succeeded.

Lynn Nicholson

www.veganfoodpimp.com  

 

 

What a Great Post… big thank you to Lynn and if anyone would like to contact her or indeed me please feel free to call/wassap/facetime me on +34 676333065 of drop me an email [email protected] or find me on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/weddingsinmallorca/

 

 

Wedding Ring Vows

Wedding Ring Vows

 

Wedding Ring Vows
Holding your rings in your hands as you say your vows

Following on from last week’s post about Wedding rings and where to get them made in Mallorca! (Diego Nebot) I wanted to return to my original idea which was to write about the words you use to say your wedding ring vows….

 

 

Wedding ceremonies whilst individual to each and every couple do tend to follow are similar format (I have written about this in a previous blog “Your perfect wedding ceremony“) But after the introduction and homily maybe a reading from a guest, the ceremony tends to move on to the actual saying of your vows to each other, Generally it is nice to say your “I do’s” first and this is followed by the giving and receiving of wedding rings.

Wedding rings are worn as an outward illustration to the world that you are married… but to me they are far more than that.

They are a symbol of the love you share, they are a constant reminder that your marriage is a partnership, because although you may only wear one ring, each of the rings essentially belongs to you both. No matter how far apart you may be from each during your marriage, the wedding ring on your finger is a constant reminder that you said vows and made promises to each other on your wedding day…. And that your husband or wife will always have your back!  Over the years you will find that just a touch of your ring will give you strength or comfort when you need it and a smile when you remember the day you first said your vows and put the ring on your finger. It really is a continual reminder of the love you both share.

 

 

So, the vows you say to each other as you exchange your rings are equally as important as the  “I do’s”.

Here are a few examples;

“John, I give you this ring, that you may wear it, as a reminder of my love for you”

“Claire, I give you this ring, as a symbol of my love, affection and respect, now and always”

But one of my preferred ways is for you to hold your rings in your hands as you say your vows to each other at the same time….  It may sound rather strange, but it really gives you both the opportunity to concentrate on the precious rings you are holding and fully concentrate on each other without fumbling with rings!  There is another slightly less romantic reason that is purely logistical too…. that is;  it gives me the opportunity to move out of the way when the time comes for you to actually put your rings on.  So, you get some great photos without me smiling like a Cheshire cat in the back ground.

                                                                                 

My Heart is in this ring,

My love is in this ring,

I promise you my unconditional love,                                                       

And give you my unwavering trust, 

When you look at this ring, 

Remember that I love you always,

                                                                           

Special thank you to Aimeekphotography for the beautiful photos

If you would like to talk to me about your wedding ceremony or your weding ring vows, Please do contact me Telephone/wassap/facetime +34676333065 , drop me an email [email protected] or you can even chat with me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/weddingsinmallorca/

 

Wedding Rings

Wedding rings

 

The earliest examples of wedding rings are seen in ancient Egypt dating back 6000 years and later also seen in ancient Roman and Greek culture.

The original Egyptian wedding rings were formed out of reeds or hemp and as the circle defines infinity so the ring defined perpetual love and fidelity. It is said that the ring was place on the 4th finger of the left hand as they believed that a vein in this hand leads directly to the heart… Interestingly in Chinese medicine the heart meridian also runs from the 4th finger to the heart! Two very different cultures separated by thousands of miles but with a similar spiritual meaning!

The western concept of the wedding ring first came into being with the ancient Romans and Greeks when originally the wedding ring was given as part of a dowry as it was generally forged from precious metals. Later it was associated with fidelity and was an outward demonstration to the world that you were married and therefore not available!

Up to this day the reason for giving and receiving wedding rings hasn’t really changed too much.  Rings are given and received as a symbol of perpetual love and fidelity.

stunning rings by DIego Nebot

Where do you get your rings?  Some rings are passed down through families as heirlooms, others are bought from specialist shops, others are made especially for the couple. Here in Mallorca we have a very talented jeweller Diego Nebot, who believes in the power of energy and that a couple can transfer all of their good energy and love  along with their hopes and dreams for future  happiness into their rings at the time of melting the metal.  The couple meet with him to decide exactly what their ideas are for their wedding ring and then make an appointment to go to his workshop and together melt the metal to be used in the ring…. It really is a very special moment.

 

 

If you are interested in contacting Diego about bespoke wedding rings please click on the link to his website  www.diegonebot.com and take a look at this video  you can see the happiness on the faces of Claire and James.

In my next blog I will talk about wedding ring vows…….  watch this space!

If you would like to chat to me about wedding rings or would like some ideas about how to say your wedding ring vows….   send me a message via or give me a call +34 676333065 or find me on FACEBOOK always happy to have a chat

Rainy day weddings

www.ceremoniesinmallorca.com

Rainy Day Weddings

This weekend has been has seen lots of rain here in Mallorca and we have all been keeping our fingers crossed that none of our couples have  rainy day weddings. As celebrants this can mean that our ceremonies gets moved to a plan B indoor option very quickly!  although we do always try to wait until the very last moment before making the final decision.   

The last two weekends has had me hooked to the weather report on my phone trying to establish exactly what time the predicted rain may hit… its always good to be prepared…. No good saying to the guests “welcome to sunny Mallorca” in the rain!

I have to say we have been extremely lucky!  and on both occasions we have managed the ceremony just before the rain hit!

There have been years that we weren’t quite so lucky and I have a vivid memory of  one particular couple a few years ago where the storm cloud crept up on us very suddenly and we all got absolutely drenched in a sudden downpour….As the groom said his vows there was an almighty clap of thunder and we were all soaked in seconds (When it rains in Mallorca it is torrential!.)… We decided to stop the ceremony at that point and continue inside…. Fortunately our hair and makeup artist hadn’t left so our bride had the chance to have her hair redone and makeup reapplied  and everyone else managed to dry off and we did ceremony take two!    As you read this you may think what a disaster… but actually we all have some fantastic memories and some amazing photos!   As we started ceremony take two everyone was laughing and suggesting how lucky our couple were to have two for the price of one!!

In Spanish culture it really is lucky to have rain on your wedding day and there are a few sayings one of which is  “novia mojada, dicha asegurada”. which means “a wet bride will have a blissful marriage”  There is also a tradition that to avoid a rainy wedding day either the bride or the bride’s mother has to take a dozen freshly laid eggs to the nuns of the Convent of Saint Clare. The nuns of the Order of Saint Claire (Clare. Chiara, Clara) are contemplatives who spend about eight hours a day in prayer. Many people feel that their prayer is particularly effective. Because the nuns were traditionally vegetarian and until the 1960’s they relied on gifts for their sustenance, people developed the habit of bringing a food gift when they asked a favour of the nuns. To make that special, they would bring eggs so the sisters could have an omelette and in return the nuns would pray for a dry wedding day!

So whilst we all hope for a beautiful sunny wedding day….especially during the months of May and September it can never be 100% guaranteed here in Mallorca…. just 99.9%!  which is pretty good odds!

 

 

 

My last words of positive wet wedding day wisdom….  Have you ever tried to untie a wet knot?  its almost impossible…

 

 

 

If you would like to know more about Getting Married in Mallorca or Ceremonies in Mallorca please feel free to drop me a line at hello@ceremoniesinmallorca or drop me a message on wassap +34676333065 or even call for a chat… you can also find me on facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/weddingsinmallorca/ happy to chat there too.