Lona’s Lil Eats is a professional wedding catering company based in St. Louis, MO, that specializes in creating a distinctive blend of Asian-inspired cuisine, such as handmade giant rice paper wraps, glass noodle salads, and classic soul food with a Silk Road twist. Lona’s Lil Eats is a James Beard award-winning restaurant, and its sophisticated and approachable catering menu caters to a variety of dietary needs, so that your wedding celebration will have memorable and delicious food that is fresh with plenty of flavor.

In Gateway City, weddings are a blend of tradition and individuality, with the food being a key element of the guest experience. Many couples are looking for something that is more exciting and colorful than a traditional dinner of beef medallions and mashed potatoes, and, in fact, something that offers a taste of the wide variety of cuisine in St. Louis. 

The local wedding scene is elevated to a whole new level with Lona’s Lil Eats, providing a catering solution that’s as beautiful as it is tasteful, with the taste of the Yunnan Province and the Thai-Lao border. Whether you’re looking for a small backyard wedding or a large ballroom reception, our staff will make sure that every bite is as delicious as our restaurant is famous for at Fox Park. 

Why choose Asian fusion for your St. Louis wedding catering?

With Asian fusion St. Louis wedding catering, you can serve a menu with natural lightness, tremendous taste, and plenty of options for those with special dietary needs. Asian cuisine is frequently made with well-seasoned herbs, lively citrus, and aromatic spices, instead of rich creams and fats, giving guests a boost for a night of dancing. Located in St. Louis, MO, Lona’s Lil Eats is a restaurant that serves a unique “Silk Road” cuisine, combining the spicy, sour and savory tastes of Asian dishes with the comfort food-like textures of soul food, into a unique dining adventure.

Moreover, the Asian fusion cuisine is a highly adaptable variation. From a simple “wrap bar” that allows visitors to have their own giant rice paper wrap prepared to a formal plated meal with smoked meat and spicy tofu, the range of cuisine options can offer something for every wedding theme. At Lona’s Lil Eats, we know that St. Louis couples look for something special on the menu, and we will leave a lasting impression you’ll enjoy for years after the wedding. 

What makes Lona’s Lil Eats unique for wedding events?

Our dedication to handmade, from-scratch cooking and our James Beard-nominated culinary heritage is what makes Lona’s Lil Eats special for wedding events. The founder of our company, Lona Powers, integrates authentic flavors from her birthplace in a village in the Yunnan province of China with local St. Louis influences. This yields a menu that you just can’t find anywhere else in the Midwest! You’re not just ordering a meal when you order a wedding meal from Lona’s Lil Eats; you’re ordering a piece of national culinary artistry.

Another thing that makes us different is that we love “clean” eating and we don’t compromise on flavour. Avoiding heavy oils and processed additives, it is the natural taste of the ingredients that we seek. In the case of a wedding, it implies that your guests are pleased, but not tired. Our signature giant rice paper wraps are a fun alternative to the heavy bread-based appetizers or entree ideas, for instance. Any St. Louis wedding celebration will include this level of freshness and authenticity from Lona’s Lil Eats.

How does Lona’s Lil Eats handle dietary restrictions and allergies?

Lona’s Lil Eats places the utmost importance on dietary requirements and allergies, ensuring a menu that is naturally vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free. Since all our food is based on fresh vegetables, rice, and glass noodles, we can tweak it to suit the needs of the special guests while not neglecting them. With a wide range of nutritional needs among St. Louis, MO, wedding guests, Lona’s Lil Eats is the perfect solution for safely and tastefully feeding everyone.

Our catering team collaborates with couples to ensure that all dishes are well labelled, including particulars of any possible allergens (e.g. peanuts or soya). Our smoked brisket, turkey, and protein variety, such as our spicy tofu and vegan-friendly glass noodles. If you’re selecting Lona’s Lil Eats for your St. Louis wedding, your guests can be confident that if they are vegan, they will have a full and delicious plate, and if they have a gluten allergy, that won’t affect them either. 

What are the most popular Asian-inspired wedding menu items?

Other popular Asian-inspired wedding menu items at Lona’s Lil Eats are our glass noodle salads, which won a coveted top spot in the Mid-Atlantic region’s best glass noodle salad competition, our lemongrass ginger stir-fry, and our giant rice paper wraps. One of the favorite items for St. Louis weddings is the rice paper wraps, which can be stuffed with a multitude of proteins and fresh vegetables while socializing. They make an ideal “signature dish” to set your wedding apart from the usual chicken and fish.

Another crowd pleaser is our line of handmade sauces, from the mild and zesty to the bold and spicy. The sauces give guests the option to add some spice to their meal and/or adjust the level of heat. The smoked meat is a unique blend of Asian spices and tastes great for the traditional BBQ connoisseur and also has an exotic flavour. At Lona’s Lil Eats, we’ll make sure your St. Louis wedding menu is a combination of tastes and textures, ranging from the crunchiness of fresh cabbage to the softness of our noodles.

Does Lona’s Lil Eats cater for big and small weddings?

Lona’s Lil Eats can provide lunch and dinner service for large ballroom weddings and small Micro-Weddings in the St. Louis area. We plan our catering to be scalable – the more people that come to eat, the more food we provide, but food quality won’t change. In smaller group settings, pick up/delivery is available to make it more of a family dining experience. If you have a large St. Louis wedding party, our full-service catering will make sure that everything is set up and done professionally as well as cleaned up after the event. We know that there are weddings with different budgets and different ambiances. We can arrange a service for you, whether it be a buffet to encourage guests to interact with each other or a more formal service. Lona’s Lil Eats is a St. Louis, MO, catering company that keeps things simple, so you can relax and have a wonderful day.

What should couples consider when planning an Asian fusion wedding menu?

When creating an Asian fusion wedding menu, couples should take into account the combination of flavours and the “eatability” of the food. Be sure to have a variety of spice levels available to please everyone’s appetite, from hot to mild. Lona’s Lil Eats serves a combination of savory, sweet, and tangy options to keep the mind ticking. Here in St. Louis, we frequently recommend having one famous protein alongside the more daring food choices such as smoked brisket, spicy tofu or dishes with lemongrass.

Also, take into account the structure of your venue. For busy St. Louis weddings with lots of standing around and chatting, the wraps and glass noodle cups (small bites) are great options. For a sit-down dinner, a buffet with our stir-fries and rice-based dishes is great. With Lona’s Lil Eats, couples can navigate through these decisions, ensuring that the food perfectly complements the wedding and makes their guests feel at ease.

How to reserve Lona’s Lil Eats for my St. Louis marriage?

The most important thing to do when inquiring about catering for Lona’s Lil Eats for your St. Louis wedding is to verify the date, venue, and approximate number of guests on the catering inquiry form found on our website. As a well-known catering company for weddings in St. Louis, MO, we recommend contacting us as early as 6 to 12 months before your date. We will then contact our catering coordinator, who will discuss with you the menu, pricing, and any special requirements that you may have.

After the initial menu is created, we can make arrangements for a tasting so you can taste it for yourself. We pride ourselves on our transparency with pricing and we can work with a wide range of wedding budgets. Lona’s Lil Eats guarantees a professional and quality catering experience that will match the flavor of your St. Louis wedding, so your first meal as a married couple will indeed be a memorable one.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Does Lona’s Lil Eats offer employees for wedding catering?

Ans: Absolutely, if you choose a certain level of service, Lona’s Lil Eats can offer you a professional staff for your St Louis wedding. From basic drop-off delivery, to full service catering with our team taking care of the buffet and ensuring fresh and abundant food throughout.

Q2. What kind of food does Lona’s Lil Eats serve?

Ans: We’re all about strong tastes, but not all of our food is spicy. We have a variety of spices available, and many of our items are available with our homemade sauces served with them. This will give your wedding guests in St. Louis the option to adjust the temperature of their food.

Q3. Do you have gluten-free options for the wedding?

Ans: Absolutely. Many of Lona’s Lil Eats are naturally gluten-free. We prepare all of our rice paper wraps, glass noodles, and many of our proteins gluten-free, and we’re a great provider for gluten-free food catering for weddings in St. Louis.

Q4. Will you be able to provide a vegan wedding menu?

Ans:  Yes, indeed, we are extremely experienced in providing vegan catering! The vegan community in St. Louis loves our spicy tofu, stir-fried vegetables, and glass noodles. We can provide a 100% vegetarian menu, or there will be plenty of vegetarian options as well as meat options.

Q5. What are some meals that you cater?

Ans:  Lona’s Lil Eats offers St. Louis wedding catering all over the St. Louis metro area, from downtown St. Louis, Fox Park, Tower Grove, Clayton, and the suburbs. We can also be scheduled in surrounding Illinois communities.

Q6. Does your company offer beverages or dessert for catering?

Ans: A variety of our house-made teas and drinks are served, which complement our Asian fusion menu. The dessert can be discussed, or options can be considered and discussed with the bakery to ensure that the meal and cake blend together nicely.

Sign up for Your Unforgettable Wedding Feast with Lona’s Lil Eats!

After all, your big day deserves a wedding menu as distinctive and colorful as your love story! Known for its James Beard-nominated Asian fusion cuisine, Lona’s Lil Eats serves up authentic Yunnan cuisine to the heart of St. Louis with the Midwest soul in tow. From a relaxed wrap bar to a chic buffet, we are committed to offering innovative, handcrafted, and diet-friendly options that will please all who attend. Call Lona’s Lil Eats today to get a taste of the impact our “Lil Eats” have on your St. Louis wedding catering experience.