Of course, there are challenges to catering whatever the season or venue. What happens when you drop part of a dish, or the souffle does not rise, the cake sinks in the middle or certain ingredients are inadequate? However, over and above these year-round hiccups which caterers learn to navigate around, there are also specific [...]
Author Archive: Gastro
Create
31 King Street, Leeds (0113 242 0628). Meal for two, including drinks and service, £75. On the wall above the semi-open kitchen at this week’s restaurant is the slogan: “Create – where good food and people matter.” Anybody with a healthy disdain for mission statements, sloganeering and the unintentional kitsch of Hallmark greeting cards will immediately [...]
The curry crisis
Chicken tikka masala is now an integral part of British culture, but can our curry houses survive the recession – and the government’s immigration policy? It’s a cold, rainy day in Bradford and the balti restaurants and fast food outlets offering “desi” [Asian] milkshakes, have yet to fill up. But close by, the industrial kitchen [...]
The Do’s and Don’ts of hiring a caterer
Is it your first time hiring a caterer? Or have you done so before and the event didn’t quite go according to plan? Whatever your reasons there are a few things you should consider when choosing your caterer. After all, they all specialise in different areas. So whether it is a corporate function, a Party [...]
34 Grosvenor Square
Perfect steaks, incredible desserts and a scattering of phone-hackerati… Everything about 34 adds up 34 Grosvenor Square, London W1 (020 3350 2424). Meal for two, including drinks and service, £130 Sitting in a corner by the bar at 34, the new restaurant from the group behind the Ivy and Le Caprice among others, is a [...]
Partridge with chorizo recipe
A beautiful, simple Christmassy recipe from Spain 2 tbps olive oil4 partridgeSalt & black pepper2 medium carrots, diced1 medium onion, diced1 tsp pimentón4 gloves garlic, sliced200g chorizo, sliced2 sprigs thyme2 sprigs rosemary2 bay leaves150g manzanilla olives1½ bottles decent wine white3 sticks of celery, sliced, plus the leaves separately In a pot heat the oil on [...]
Paul’s basil pancakes with cherry tomato ragu recipe
A vegetarian starter recipe lovingly borrowed from Paul, a chef at Rubicon in San Francisco in the 1990s Paul was my Europhile sous-chef at Rubicon, a restaurant owned by Robin Williams, among others. I was working there the morning after he won his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in Good Will Hunting – he came [...]
Smoked lamb patties recipe
This tasty home-smoked dish originates in Uttar Pradesh, where it is called galavat ke kebab Serves 4 500g / 1lb 2 oz boneless lamb from the leg, diced100g / 4oz lamb fat (ask your butcher)1 onion, sliced50g / 2 oz cashew nuts4 green chillies1 tablespoon ginger and garlic paste2 tablespoons papaya paste½ teaspoon garam masala1 [...]
Wines of the week: David Williams
Two Europeans and one from the other side of the world to test your tastebuds Jean-Luc Colombo “Les Vignes Rousses”, Côtes du Rhône, France 2009 (£5.99 reduced from £7.99, Majestic) Something in the spicy pepper and blackberry flavours of classic Côtes du Rhône fits just perfectly with the chill evenings, fallen leaves and bonfire smoke [...]
Ginger Jar
Established and run by qualified chef Jenny McNeill, Ginger Jar is a boutique London caterer offering a range of services, all focusing on food. Ginger Jar is well placed to deliver corporate catering services to events to large or small, creating innovative food to impress your employees or guests. We don’t follow the field in [...]
The Social Pantry
With over 10 years experience in the catering industry between them, Alex Head and Lily Simpson, have joined forces to launch The Social Pantry. Previously the founders of their own catering companies Heads & Quails and Lily’s Lovely Bites, the duo have decided to pool their expertise within the industry. With Alex’s background [...]