We’re making some changes behind the scenes!

I love butter! As a chef I love having proper butter available for use in the kitchen; however, recent news items about the carbon footprint of dairy herds, and our need to eat less meat have struck a note with me. A kitchen uses lots of butter every day, and I wanted to see if I could make us more sustainable by reducing our use of it.

I did quite a lot of research online into what I could use instead; most of which were not very tasty, or very cost-effective for a small business. I decided to have a chat with our supplier, and they gave me some French margarine to have a play with. It is a professional product for baking applications, and is based on a blend of sustainably produced oils.

From another perspective, when I started the business a box of butter was a shade over £32; now even the most basic of butters has risen to over double that figure - I didn’t feel that I should pass that cost on to our customers, hoping that the price would come back down. This has not happened as yet. You will be pleased to know that the patisserie margarine is much cheaper, and will help me keep this year’s price increase at a sensible level.

Apart from reducing our carbon footprint there are other benefits to changing over to a plant-based source of cooking fat. There are things on our new bakery menus that we have been able to make suitable for vegans, with little or no impact on the original product. In case you are wondering, I’m not about to go all puritanical on you; I am, however going to run our bakery business with margarine now instead of butter. Note -a brownie or blondie will always be made with butter, there are some things that should not be messed with.

Christmas is fast approaching and the invitation to formal dinners have already reached our doors. In order to navigate the most wonderful time of the year with no faux pas – we put together this mini British dining etiquette guide to see your through the formal dos of the festive season.

Are you wondering what to serve on your next corporate event? There is no need to worry, we’ve got you sorted. Be it the casual meeting, a luncheon at your offices or a corporate dinner, we have put together some menu ideas for your catering that are really going to rock your world.

No one can work on an empty stomach, but how do you keep the menu diverse and healthy? Tea and biscuits are obviously always welcome. Often, though, these quick snacks do not provide sufficient nourishment for busy minds that need to be brainstorming. We believe in healthy, seasonal food that will give your co-workers energy and a pleasant break.

What does it really take to make a formal party a success? Hosting a formal party requires a lot of time and effort, especially when there is a large number of guests involved. You are definitely not alone in getting your party planned, there are excellent event planning companies and catering services that you can rely on. Hiring professionals can make a huge difference in the outcome of your event. Their expertise guarantees not only safety and hygiene but a smooth coordinated service that will turn your event into a success. As the saying goes, it’s all in the details. Below we put together 7 rules that will help you plan a formal party that will be remembered for all the right reasons.

Your next business event is coming up, whether it’s a large-scale conference or an intimate business meeting the importance of good quality catering can make or break your event.  Organising and planning any type of event requires a lot of time and effort.  Great venues often offer banquet services or they might have their own executive chef on site, a fact that in itself can take the pressure off of you. But would you consider hiring a catering company? There are many companies that take on catering, each is specialised on different types of events. If you wish to save yourself some trouble and create a truly memorable event, hiring a professional is the way to go.

Organising your event in London can seem daunting. From selecting the venue, to choosing a menu and deciding on the table settings there are many details to consider and a lot of work put into any event. You shouldn’t stress about it; a catering company can take the pressure off of you and help you make any event a success. We put together 5 tips to help you choose the best London event caterer and ensure your event is the success it deserves to be.

Are you contemplating your next company event?  A catering company is exactly what you need, no matter how big or small your event. There are many companies catering London for any type of corporate event. We have prepared a list of tips and questions for you to ask the caterer before hiring them and help you make your event a success.

Let’s have a party, a tea party! You don’t need to restrain yourselves indoors either. London has an abundance of open green spaces, simply get your friends together and hit the outdoors. Where to go? Well central London is always a good idea for meet-ups. We know the best London picnic spots, dust off the blanket and get your tea alfresco.