Page 27 - Digital Version For Web SDW Bridal 2015 (2)

Something Borrowed, Something Blue From Farm to Wedding

Café Merlot Makes it Fresh

There are few people in San Diego who do not know her name,
particularly those in the Rancho Bernardo area. Toni Kraft,
owner of Café Merlot at the Bernardo Winery, has been a
staple in this community for many years. Toni has done much
for the community and is always willing to step up to help those
in need. As the owner of Café Merlot, she is one of the
preferred caterers for all weddings that occur at the Bernardo
Winery, in addition to catering events throughout San Diego.
What makes the food at Café Merlot so incredible is that you
cannot get fresher food anywhere. Just about everything
served there is made from scratch, with a good part of it
coming from their micro farm on the grounds of the Bernardo
Winery, where their restaurant is located.
When a bride and groom select Café Merlot as their wedding
caterer, they know that they are going to get an individualized
menu that fits their every need. I even asked what would
happen if the bride and groom had specialty food require-
ments, perhaps they were vegetarian or vegan or even paleo.
Toni explained the following, “We always design a menu in three
different ways. Seasonality, your vision, and your budget. And
if you design a menu that you love and that speaks to you, and
we can push that out to 150 of your guests they may not even San Diego
realize that you have planned it with a special diet in mind. Woman
They may not even know that they are eating a plant based
menu, nothing with a face and no dairy, they will love the food
because it is you. You don’t have to have P.E.T.A protesting in 27
front of your wedding reception to get the point across that
you are vegan or vegetarian. What it comes down to is that as
long as you have 6 main tastes from sweet to bitter, and you
add in a pungent flavor by including a glass of wine or beer,
your guests will be very happy with your wedding menu. Keep in
mind also that the art of food presentation is most important
at a wedding, so you can make a healthy dish appear as beauti-
ful as an unhealthy one. Colors and plating are important, so
even on a lower budget your food can look beautiful. Toni also
uses seasonal fruits and vegetables to enhance the colors and
presentation of the wedding entrees.
If you speak to anyone who had their wedding catered by Café
Merlot they will each have a totally different menu to share,
but the common denominator will always be the wonderful
fresh and healthy food that they served at their wedding.
Toni closely adheres to the mission statement she touts, “Come
for the food…Stay for the friendship.” The other commonal-
ity is the fact that once you have eaten at Café Merlot you
cannot keep yourself from going back, over and over again.
Yes, it is the food that gets you there, but it is the warm wel-
come, friendly faces, and staff who remember your name and
treat you as if you are a welcome guest in their home, because
to Toni Kraft that is exactly what you are.

For more information on catering for your wedding or
planning a rehearsal dinner or shower at Café Merlot call
858 592 7785