Archive for September, 2009

Whoops! two weeks have slipped past since my last blog up-date, really must try harder, reminiscent of my school reports!

What a great weekend, just passed.  We catered for two lovely weddings in the sunshine, Catherine and Stuart at Avington Park  and Georgina and Peter at Upper Nately.  I have to tell you all about the most fantastic band at Peter and Georgie’s wedding, they have to be seen to be believed!  Spencer Kennedy the lead singer is sooooo cool and the best hairstyle ever! pink suit, the lot the band is called Earthlights Boogie Band and do check them out if you want a band that will get everyone dancing.

Bar in dance area of the marquee

Georgina and Peter’s wedding reception

On Sunday the team was split for a post wedding lunchtime drinks party and we also hosted a Hampshire Fare food stall at The Vyne, a beautiful National Trust property in Sherbourne St. John near Basingstoke.

Attending the first ISES network meeting tonight, which is being held at the Saatchi gallery in London, really looking forward to this, as not only have I never visited this venue but also the ISES events are always good value and it’s great to meet new people within our industry. 

I am delighted to announce that we have been asked to cater for the British Comedy Awards, in London again this year and I am really looking forward to working with the TV production company on this project.

Looking forward to a busy weekend of shooting parties, a Golden wedding anniversary , a corporate 25th anniversary and a 40th birthday party with an 80’s theme.  The last party we catered for this client was really fab, so looking forward to re-living the 80’s this weekend!

I feel I have made a feeble start at updating our blog site on a weekly basis and will certainly ‘try harder’ from now on.  To be honest, I had to have a re-fresher from the ever patient Matt at dotlabel on how to go about it!

The summer has been busy and thankfully the weather has been kind on the weekends for weddings.  We have catered for some stunning weddings this summer, although not over yet, as September as always, is a very popular month for weddings.

This was a lovely wedding blessing, held under one of our oriental marquees in a pretty garden in Otterbourne.  The bride and groom, who both live in New York had returned to the bride’s home for the occasion and the day was perfect.  A gloriously hot day, which turned into one of those special English balmy evenings.

Canapes were served as a starter, followed by confit of lamb shoulder, roasted in the woodburning oven over branches of fresh rosemary, Yum!  Our butcher’s best ever Cumberland sausages (Robert Owtons, at West End) cooked over charcoal, along with hot smoked salmon fillets and some wonderful juicy steaks.  The bride’s grandmother supplied some lovely Hampshire strawberries along with her chocolate brownies.  The New York contingency were great fun and the evening continued with dancing to a live band.

Oriental marquee which was used initially for the blessing and later for dancing.

I have joined the membership team  of ISES   (International Special Events Society) as a volunteer to help out with recruiting new members, so if there is anyone reading this who is connected with the Event/Hospitality business and would like to know more about the wide range of  benefits of belonging to ISES, then give me a call.

The next meeting is on 29th September at the Saatchi gallery in London and will not doubt be a great evening of not only quality networking but also great food and entertainment.  It’s a great way to meet other people in the industry and for me it’s useful to chat to other caterers, to get ideas or hear what they are up to.  Emily Gillan who runs purple grape catering and is also on the membership committee is always great to talk to.

I am on overload with networking groups at the moment, having joined the Winchester Capital chapter of BNI apart from the early mornings! I am enjoying the honeymoon period, although somehow I find I have agreed to be a Visitor Host! Great bunch of people in the group ranging from a printer and web designer to a great lady (Tracy Blick) who runs Martin & Co. letting agency in Winchester.  I’m looking forward to not only gaining business from the group but also adding to referrals for other members of the group.

Fancy starting a French Conversation group with some friends?  Through BNI I have met a lovely lady called Marilyn Morris who speaks so many languages, that I have lost count!  Mariyln not only runs one to one lessons but will come along and teach a  group of friends on a regular basis, who want to brush up their foreign language, for their next holiday.

The shooting season has begun, so bring on the roast lunches and wicked comfort puddings! Today our shoot lunch consisted of a huge leg of organic, Tamworth pork which was melt in the mouth and had the most delicious flavour.   The pig was reared by the lady of the house and we are all looking forward to more later in the season.

That’s all for this week and I have been asked for some more recipes as the Courgette, pea and mint soup was quite a hit with some followers, I believe?

P.S.

Need to get your ducks in a row?

Before I go I must give a link to Colleen Skinner’s new company Splash , Lifestyle Management. I wish her every success , with what I know will be a fantastic business.  Colleen is offering  to free up your time and we all need more of that in our daily lives!  Colleen will step in and take care of all those time consuming things which you have to do, but think, hey, “I wish I could hand this over to someone else to take care of “!  I know I shall definately be using her services.

Best wishes, Kaye.