GOURMET TREE REVIEWS & ACCOLADES
"Kevin and I wanted to let you know how pleased we were with the wedding overall and specifically with the meal and your involvement. You and your staff were responsible for making our wedding such a great success and every single person there commented on how fabulous the food was. We also had many comments on how wonderful your staff were. I have been to many (too many) weddings and your staff were the nicest I have seen yet. They were professional and efficient but also warm and friendly and I think everyone noticed this. I made a point of telling them myself that night but you can pass on to them that I was not the only one who commented on that. Everyone who was there said they had a fabulous time and most of them said that was the nicest wedding they have ever been to. You can feel free to take the credit for that.
I wish I could do it all over again and not have to be the bride so that I could sit back and really enjoy and savour that meal instead of making sure all the details and timing were in place as well as trying to talk to everyone. Considering this, it really couldn't have worked out better for us and we are really happy overall. The wedding was really a perfect reflection of how I hoped it would be (and planned it) - low key but organized, non-traditional, beautifully presented, high quality food, and a warm glowing atmosphere - it is really of reflection of so many other aspects of our lives, especially the design aspects.
Anyway, thank you again for all your hard work, attention to detail, creative energy, high standards, beautiful presentation, and especially for being such a pleasure to deal with. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you to anyone!"
Kevin and Heather Dubbeldam, July 2002"Thank you so much for making Noah & Rachel's wedding so special. Not only did they have a good time planning the event with you, they actually got to bask in the compliments they recieved over the delicious food. Everything was so perfect that I still feel high from it. Thanks so much for keeping us cool, collected, and well fed."
Liz Morantz, Mother of the Groom, June 2002“How do we ever find the right words to thank you for the most wonderful event of our lives. Andrew and I keep running the day over in our minds and there is not one single solitary thing that we would change. There are not enough adjectives in the world to describe the event that you created...beautiful, exquisite, awe-inspiring...see, they just don't capture the wonder that you brought to our wedding.
Andrew and I have been singing your praises to all that would listen long before the wedding and when people actually saw what we had been talking about, they were blown out of the water. The caring, the artistry, the attention to detail; nothing was overlooked.
Christine, from the moment Andrew and I met you, we knew that we were in good hands. You were on our wavelength and we knew that come the wedding day everything would be perfect. The logistics, the set-up, the staff, the food...oh my God, the food. We have been to many, many events in our business careers and we have never had such amazing food. It looked beautiful and it tasted even better. People kept coming up to us all evening saying "have you had the mini Yorkshire puddings, have you had the crepe purses, have you had"....well you get the idea. And you didn't stop with the appetizers, the buffet was even more spectacular and Mr. Ridley is still raving about the special diabetic desserts you created for him. He is incredibly touched.
Elizabeth, throughout the entire planning stage, you have been phenomenal. You were always willing to meet us at Chair-man Mills or at our home, or at Doug's, you even took us ribbon and paper shopping! And what you did with the ribbon and paper! The backyard looked so beautiful on Saturday. The table-settings with the peacock feathers and menus and candles were breath-taking and the head-table was exquisite. How you were able to create in the middle of all that frenzy is beyond us. We can't find the words that properly express our thanks to you.
Doug...Doug...Doug, where do we start. I remember saying in an email that I wanted you to create something amazing and unique, and that is precisely what you did. The flower arrangements that you designed and created are beyond description. The urns that were used at the alter were stunning. The use of the sunflowers and limes along with the hydrangeas and multi-coloured roses were inspired...and the peacock feathers...WOW! The table and pew arrangements were visually beautiful and artistically beyond compare. I will never look at a lime the same way again! My bridal bouquet was, as you promised, amazing and unique as were those of the bridesmaids and the one that I tossed. My girlfriend Anne, who was one of my bridemaids, is a tough critic. She has been in many, many weddings and is incredibly creative in her own right. Let me just say, she has not stopped oohing and aahing over the flowers (and everything else) since Saturday.
Let us say a word about your team as well. What an incredibly polite, caring, solicitous, fun, group of people you have working for you. Throughout the wedding, they went out of their way to ensure that everyone had what they wanted or needed. They weren't working at the event, they became part of it. They left our home in better shape than when they got here and we are really grateful that they were a part of the day.
Thank you again for turning our wedding day into a perfect memory! We hope that we will have a chance to see and work with all of you very, very soon.”
Janet and Andrew Ridley, July 2001“The food was fabulous, they were extra accommodating and always made sure that Steve and I were being looked after. They set up our (décor) display for us and lots of other little details. Elizabeth took care of me from the get go and she is just wonderful. Frank was the supervisor during the reception and he was also super. I highly recommend them.”
Colette Murphy October 2001“Elizabeth Smart at the Gourmet Tree was almost too good to be true. I felt extremely comfortable with her right from the beginning and she didn't let one single detail escape her or my attention. Dinner was delicious (or so I heard) and the service was absolutely exceptional. I felt as if the wait staff were at my beck and call all night long, starting with greeting us after the ceremony with the special drinks we had discussed 2 days earlier, to always checking to see if there was anything they could get for me all through the night. I'll describe a couple of incidents to illustrate their attentiveness and exceptional service. Corey, the groomsmen and ring bearer arrived at the Manor before the ceremony in plenty of time, but unfortunately forgot the ring pillow in Oshawa. Upon hearing this, Elizabeth asked if she could whip up a replacement pillow, and proceeded to grab a pillow from upstairs, wrap it in a white cloth napkin, and decorate it with a fresh gerbera daisy (which were in the bridal bouquets). It was such a thoughtful thing to do. Then, I was so nervous throughout dinner that I couldn't eat a bite of the wonderful meal. After I gave my speech I made an off-the-cuff comment about finally being able to eat something and not more than 5 minutes later one of the staff was at the table bringing me a small plate of the dinner I had missed! Everything was set up for the ceremony and reception exactly as I had indicated and I didn't notice one detail that was forgotten. All in all, I cannot say enough wonderful things about Elizabeth and the staff from the Gourmet Tree.”
Karen Snelson August 2001“How can I begin to express my gratitude on your performance at Tsege and Claude’s Wedding. You were an absolute delight! You went beyond the call of duty and took care of the finest details and certainly took care of the things I absolutely forgot!! You were so attentive to so many things as though you were part of the family, concerned that everyone was taken care of and nothing overlooked.”
Pina Lagrotteria, Maid of Honour, August 2001“Just a short note to thank you for all the effort you put into making Jane and Jeff’s wedding day a huge success. The presentation was just exquisite from the silver, to the setting, to the fabulous food. There were many compliments on how the food was displayed and how delicious it was. I cannot say enough on how elegant the whole affair turned out. Your artistic input and expertise helped to make their wedding day just perfect. I could not have been more pleased.”
Eleanor MacPherson, Mother of the Bride, April 2001“That was the best wedding that I have EVER been to – and I am so glad I can say it was mine. The entire day was perfect. When I hired you and your company I thought that your help would end at the catering, but you and your staff did so much more – from making last minute flower arrangements, hooking up the CD player, supplying TV and VCR for the younger guests (and spOiling her rotten I must add – Thank you) suggesting a minister ( who was great) and cake maker and just being there to keep everything under control from start to finish. I can’t think of one thing I would have changed. The food was fabulous. The presentation was elegant and the service was impeccable. Throughout the wedding itself I just remember everything happening and not having to lift a finger – I just enjoyed the occasion instead of worrying. The evening was romantic and elegant and I didn’t want to see it end …. Thank you again.”
Kenda Blum, Bride 2000“Marie and I want to tell you how altogether pleased we were with everything you and your staff did for us on our 50th Anniversary Evening. The meal was fabulous and the service was perfect. Our guest are day by day telling us so. Elizabeth’s presence, her quite efficiency and her gentle ways made the evening a wonderful experience. She was very patient with us choosing flowers and ensuring that everything went perfectly. Thank you with all our hearts for a superb job and for memories which we will cherish.”
Robin and Marie Smith, September 2001“This place is absolutely beautiful. Our Guests loved the fact that they could roam around and explore. We had food stations in different rooms that was very conducive to a casual yet elegant setting. Quaint, cozy and romantic” –
Colette Murphy October 2001“When we first started planning our wedding, Corey and I really didn't know what kind of wedding we wanted. As soon as I saw the Manor, my vision had a focus and everything fell into place from there. We were able to have the ceremony and reception at the same location, and since it is a private facility, we had exclusive use of the entire house and grounds for almost the whole day, and of course the evening. It has a wonderful atmosphere and the house and surrounding grounds are just breathtaking. So many people commented on how lovely it was. Guests were free to explore the house and wander the grounds. Our ceremony was in the backyard in front of the gazebo, and since it was such an amazing day, dinner was also outside on the patio . Our DJ was set up on the patio, so dancing was also outside. Diane Huff and Linda Tansfield from the Manor are very accommodating, although sometimes hard to get a hold of. It's also nice that a portion of the fees is considered a charitable donation and goes the Bob Rumball Associations for the Deaf.”
Karen Snelson August 2001
“I would like to highly recommend the Bob Rumball Manor as a reception hall. The staff at Bob Rumball were extremely helpful and the catering staff from The Gourmet Tree were incredible. They worked within our budget, gave us colourful and unique ideas and made our guests feel pampered... Everything was beautiful and well-organized. We had an afternoon tea which was very cost-efficient and easy to book last minute.”
Jane Macpherson April 2001“One word to describe it – lovely. The Manor is a very charming and warm house with a great ambience. Inside it can seat up to 60 for a sit down dinner and 100 for a cocktail reception. During the nice months they can do a tented reception outside in the back for up to 120. The grounds are beautiful and quite frankly this location would be great for someone who is looking to have everything in one location. The Manor works with two different caterers. The one working last night was The Gourmet Tree and Christine the hostess was really great and very helpful. As for the food, well I ate everything on my plate!! The Frugal Bride gives this location two thumbs up and would definitely think that anyone looking for something in this size range should definitely check it out.”
J. Cormier, “The Frugal Bride Website” August 2000
