Category: Venue

events, Venue, weddings

Venue Spotlight: Priam Vineyards

VENUE SPOTLIGHT • PRIAM VINEYARDS

Priam Vineyards has been a Gourmet Galley exclusive venue since the spring of 2017! We’ve had the privilege of working at their beautiful countryside event space and are truly excited to shine a light on them for those who’ve always dreamed of a Connecticut vineyard wedding.

They are:

… A 40-acre farm

… Completely solar powered

… Certified vegan

… Insecticide Free

… Sustainably grown

… 100% estate

Venue highlights:

Brand New tasting room, 2019

Tented Weddings – floored with grey rug and wood dance floor

Bistro Lights, included

Private – one event per day

75 guests, inside the Winemakers Room

150 – 300 guests, tented

300 + guests, supplemental tents required – space for up to 500

Rustic Vineyard

Country setting

Quiet/private

11pm curfew

5-hour block

Includes 3 parking attendants, restrooms, tables, and white garden chairs

2 ceremony locations

Pet friendly

Words from a past Priam groom, “the most memorable thing is the view from the top of the hill. You can see half the state; it’s so peaceful and beautiful. It’s truly a unique space that can be transformed to whatever you want. The vineyard layout is really special as well. Rolling hills that wrap around the estate and the tented event space feels like the summit of a mountain.”

Gloria Priam began planting her vineyard back in 1998 with dreams of being a grower for CT Vineyards after a long career in NYC. All of that changed once she realized the quality of product being produced from her land and Priam Vineyards was born.  After dedicating every available hour to procuring federal and state liquor licensing, the winery officially opened its doors in 2003. Today, she and co-owner, Jim Meilo continue to direct the growth of the winery business, weddings, events, and wine sales.

Located in Colchester, CT, Priam Vineyards is just 25 minutes from Hartford, Norwich, or Mohegan Sun. Looking to split your time between the quiet country and the bustling historic shoreline? Head to Mystic, just 45 minutes away where friends and family can enjoy more of the Connecticut Wine Trail, craft breweries, James Beard award winning restaurants and activities for the entire family.

 

events, Venue, weddings

Venue Spotlight: The Guilford Yacht Club

VENUE SPOTLIGHT • THE GUILFORD YACHT CLUB

This stunning property is located along the Connecticut shoreline at the mouth of the West River with views of the Guilford Harbor. It is a private (and gated) picturesque venue available for private and social gatherings, corporate events, weddings, and the best part, no membership or sponsor is required (although you may want to join once you see this gorgeous club)!

Venue highlights:

Private – One event per day

Includes a bridal suite with en suite restroom

160 guests, inside

Up to 300, tented

10:00pm curfew for amplified outdoor music

No curfew in the building

Dog friendly

Second story balcony

Venue includes tables and chairs

Boutique personalized menus

Colors ceremony

Complimentary pool passes

Views of Long Island Sound

Arrive or depart by boat

No additional restrooms necessary for large parties

As a Bride, plan to relax in the bridal suite while you and your bridal party sips something bubbly, it even has its own en suite bathroom! You can relax, knowing that all of your friends and family will be greeted upon their arrival both at the gate and again at the front entrance. The Gourmet Galley team will take care of every detail, from set up to break down. If you are a Spring, Summer, or Fall couple, you’ll especially love the Great Lawn where so many seasonal ceremonies take place. It dips off into beautiful salt marshes of wind-swept cord grasses and cattails, which you’ll find, are scenic year round.

After a memorable ceremony, our team will invite guests to enjoy cocktail hour on the bluestone patio featuring your favorite small bites! This is the perfect time for some competitive lawn games or just catching up with friends and family over some of our delicious cocktails. Once cocktail hour has concluded, guests will transition to the reception area, either inside for dinner and dancing or under a tent depending on your guest count (160 inside or up to 300 outside under the tent). One thing is certain; no one will want to miss the sunset. Don’t be surprised if your photographer scoops you up during dinner for an unforgettable photo-op! They are so vivid over Long Island Sound.

Photography by Tiny Human Photography 

Venue

Amaro Bar

“Amaro isn’t exactly new. In fact, Italians have been producing proprietary blends of the bitter liqueur for centuries. It wasn’t until the past decade, however, that American bargoers developed an obsession with the spirit. Its varied, complex flavors insure a supporting role in cocktail composition. On its own, supposed medicinal benefits have long positioned the drink at dinner’s end; a digestive aid. But it turns out that amaro can work just as well before a meal. And a growing number of contemporary connoisseurs are learning to unlock its pre-dinner potential.” – Brad Japhe, Forbes

So many of you say to us that you want your wedding day to be unique. We hear you when you say that you are after “something different.” You might not know exactly what that looks like yet, but we have a few thoughts on the topic to share. If your wedding is all about the party vibe, we’re talking the band and the bar, well let’s chat about the bar! Bourbon bars have had their day in the sun, and truly, we see no end in sight. They’re pretty fun but they are certainly not different! Once you go down the bourbon-bunny-hole, it’s hard to stop yourself. If we may, let’s try.

“Every amaro is different, and there are hundreds. Many are local and artisanal, though there are large brands, like Ramazzotti and Fernet Branca. Amaro is traditionally made by infusing grape brandy with a (usually secret) mix of herbs, flowers, aromatic bark, citrus peel and spices—a blend that can include anything from cardamom to elderberry flowers. Then it’s sweetened with sugar syrup and aged, sometimes for years. It’s silky, like a liqueur; bitter and sweet in varying degrees; aromatically complex; and, as far as I’m concerned, both delicious and fascinating.” – Ray Isle, Food & Wine

Amari (Amaro, plural) as a featured Bitter Bar can create an immersive experience for you and your guests that transitions seamlessly from cocktail hour through dinner and dancing. Let’s have a little real talk, Aunt Pam can set aside her Chardonnay (with a single ice cube) for one evening, she will be ok. Your cousin Tiffany won’t miss her vodka/soda, and Uncle Bri could use a change in scenery from his usual Jack and ginger, trust us. They won’t be annoyed when they try what we are serving up and they’ll have you to thank.

True or False – a craft cocktail should be both beautiful and festive. Absolutely true! As an apertivo, we recommend riffing on pretty drinks like the Aperol Spritz, the Americano, Negroni, or classic Campari and soda to stimulate the palate. In general, all are lower in ABV and perfect for hot summer weddings, though still just enoughto get the party started.

Once all of the dinner plates have been picked up, along with the music, we’ll be showing off behind the bar with digestifs, like Montenegro, Averna, Rammazotti and the rest of the gang. Ever tried a Black Manhattan? Order one up on your next date night out, we’re pretty sure you’ll want one at the wedding too.

To get down with your own Amaro Bar, just ask your Wedding Specialist!  Loving this idea and want to elevate the experience? Request a Master Bartender.  We maintain a short list of professional students of mixology who have a deep knowledge of spirits. They enjoy sharing the history and backstory of your selections. He or she will connect with your guests to navigate flavor profiles and ultimately create  an extraordinary evening unlike any other.

Click here to view the Amaro Bar menu

Venue, weddings

Gourmet Galley Partners with the Preservation Society of Newport County

Gourmet Galley Catering is elated to be named a Caterer of Choice with the Preservation Society of Newport County for 2018 bookings and beyond! It’s an exciting time for our GG family, as we simultaneously celebrate 20 incredible years in business. For those planning an event {of any kind} at one of the Preservation Society’s distinguished properties, the experienced Gourmet Galley team is prepared to turn your Newport Mansion dreams into cherished memories. If you’re new here and just so happen to be in the very beginning stages of your search for the perfect venue, well, you’re in for a treat.

From humble beginnings, operating out of a small commercial kitchen in her family home located in Quaker Hill, CT, our owner, Anna Lathrop, was a young entrepreneur with big ambitions. She has nourished the company into the facility we call home today, designed to service venues and clients across the great State of Connecticut and, now, evermore into Rhode Island! Our address may have changed over the years but one thing holds constant, our mission to serve great food from the freshest ingredients possible. Gourmet Galley is proud to be a Green Business Bureau certified caterer and we provide a fun, boutique experience with a warm, and down-to-earth approach. You can expect sophisticated, yet approachable offerings from our kitchen that your guests will rave about for years to come.

Our team is excited to bring fresh eyes and creative energy into the beautiful spaces that make up the Newport Mansions. To learn more about the Preservation Society of Newport County properties, visit Newport Mansion Weddings.

Rosecliff | Weddings, Private, and Corporate Events

Marble House Terrace | Private and Corporate Events

Chinese Tea House | Private and Corporate Events

The Elms | Private and Corporate Events

To chat with an Event Specialist, get in touch with us by emailing info@gourmet-galley.com, give us a ring at 860-415-9589 or complete the form below. Tell us your unique story and then allow us create a direct expression {of it} through your menu and event design!

Cheers,

the Gourmet Galley Family