Work BBQ with a view

Back in the city for another work gig, and summer has definitely kicked off for our clients and me now. It was our first bbq gig of the season and this one came with a view! The lawyers we cater for have their own lovely roof terrace complete with BBQ, table tennis table and a great view of the Shard.

On the menu for this one was Moroccan spiced chicken thighs, marinated for 24 hours or Similarly spiced falafel served with all the likely suspects of the take away kebab but home-made and healthy tasty good. Along with this was the obligatory british bbq staple of the humble sausage but served with lovingly  caramelised  ( lovingly because I prepped nearly 10kg of onions the day before and i was very emotional!)

BBQ season is officially open, bring on the summer grilling!

Canapés

Most of my work at the moment is with my aunt who as well as working at the Billingsgate seafood training school runs her own catering company. She has a main core of clients and provides canapé receptions, dinners and bbqs ( more on bbqs later this week).

Last night was for one of her main clients, Lawyers in the city of london. They hold various receptions and sponsor different launches. We set up in their kitchenette and churn out the canpés. Last night menu was; Confit duck with asian salad, pork terrine with pickled baby vegetables, tuna maki, parmesan shortbread with goats cheese and red pepper chutney, butternut squash aranchini, salt fish sweet potato fritters with a tomato salsa and mini cheese burger in brioche buns. All for 100 people. Phew busy night then!

Cake for dinner, Because no reason with Chambord

Cake for dinner… Because no reason

Stepping into the surreal world of Chambord Pr events

Wow what a job! I got drafted in as a day chef to work with Peta O’brien ( http://www.petaobrien.com) legendary food stylist, to help create a surreal event of cake for dinner.
Not as easy as it sounds, everything had to look like a savoury item from a banquet dinner as well as being ; believable,realistic, edible (harder than it sounds!) and delicious.
The event was based at N&C showrooms on shordtich high street, a labyrinth of warehouse space that was converted into kitchens and sets for the event. For an actual write-up of the event have a look at this…. http://www.eventmagazine.co.uk/chambord-host-sweet-fuelled-dining-experience/brands/article/1346250

In the kitchen, which was set up specialy for this event . A crew had been put together to make the food to, ” marvel Peoples eyes and taste buds” … so no pressure there then!

It was crazy hours but a lot of fun I think the shortest day I did on the job was around 15 hours, but I wouldn’t change a thing about it.From recipe testing to get the perfect pink coloured , chocolate flavoured pannacotta rabbits with rosemary jelly flavoured bases to marshmallow scallops ,hand rolling thousands of fondant peas and an inappropriate amount of hilarity around making chocolate leaves. It was a bizarre few days full of phrases I never thought I would hear and sleep deprived entirely serious discussions about how realistic fondant olives looked.

Up until going in to plate up the first sitting I hadn’t seen the set, all I knew of it was the frantic sounds of sawing, hammering and spray painting in the street, and wow it looked amazing. It was a dreamlikeset with bubble blowing trumpets an enormous Mondrian painting style table, a leafy archway covered in tropical flowers whose centres where realistic edible eyes. The food looked great in there.

The event went off brilliantly and seemed like they got the reaction and interest they wanted, there was certainly a lot of people stopping to look in through the windows and taking photos. All in all I still cant quite believe it happened and I was part of such a bonkers and brilliant event!