Catering for Christmas and New Years Eve parties 2013

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Christmas canape party in Broadway, Worcestershire 18th December 

It never feels like Christmas till I have done this canape party. They really go to town on their decorations -I love it!

Christmas canapes in Broadway. This couple live a few doors down from where I started my business 8 years ago - I have been catering for their Christmas canape party every year since. They like the more traditional style - stick with what you know!
On this day we had already done a Christmas lunch buffet, then after setting this up it was off to cook another dinner party - busy day!
Beef and caramelised onion roulade with horseradish on parmesan shortbread
Smoked salmon blinis - classic!
Blue cheese cheesecakes - new improved recipe much better!
Spinach, cream cheese and smoked trout roulade

..and pastrami, gruyere and gherkin on rye bread.
Staff Christmas Party near Stow-on-the-Wold 19th December 

Staff party for a well known fashion designer based nearby.
Mohito's by The Bartender
Homemade Sausage Rolls with Sage 
Yorkshire Pudding with Roast Beef and Horseradish 
Cranberry and Brie Filo Tarts 
Homemade Mini Beef Burgers 
Potato Wedges with Chive and Onion Dip 
Vegetable Sushi Rolls with Wasabi and Soy Sauce 
Tomato and Mozzarella Mini Pizzas 
All made fresh on the day from 5am. 
Boom boom shake the room!
40th Anniversary Christmas dinner family get together nr Stratford-on-Avon, 21st December 
Three generations of the family got together near Stratford on Avon and as it was 4 days before Christmas we cooked up a traditional Christmas dinner - so they could all enjoy the occasion together. 
Pre-Christmas lazy Sunday lunch 22nd December

Loved this house near Malvern!
 I had cooked for this group in Bourton-on-the-Water earlier in the year.
It's called Brook House for a reason. So peaceful - great place to spend Christmas
They went for a fish sharing platter as a starter...
Saffron poached sea bream with cauliflower. 
Poached salmon fillet with coriander puree, beetroot and quail eggs. One of the guests didn't like fish. Or so she thought before that day - she loved this.... simple is often best.
Crab and mango salad
Prawns in cocktail sauce
Potato salad
There were also rollmops as another dish

Then just as I was plating this up the heaviest hail ever fell outside. Nice.
60th Birthday dinner in Brockhampton, Cheltenham Monday 23rd December

Clever people at this event! We had cooked at this house on Christmas Day 2010. This time the family we had cooked for then had swapped houses for the Christmas holidays with a family in Australia! Christmas down under. This birthday was for the incoming family which brought together family from 3 different countries. I was cooking and serving that one on my own - no time for food pics.....
The owners have a great sense of humour.
Love the aga there. Looks like we might be back there in a few weeks. 
Christmas lunch deliveries, Christmas Eve, Tuesday 24th December

Among all the Christmas lunch deliveries to Burford, Stow on the Wold and Chipping Campden areas was this.....
Gluten free Christmas pudding.
The gluten free Christmas pudding request had come in quite late - so it went on when I got back from the Sunday lunch party. Used this recipe with a few variations. 8 hours steaming - so it was done by 4am.......

Christmas Day Wednesday 25th December 

4:15 am and it's go go go in the kitchen! Events to organise and some step by step instructions to email to the host of one of the Christmas lunch deliveries the night before. Then it was off to Southrop Manor.
Had the entire run of the cookery school kitchen to myself. Only problem - the more space you have the more space you have to clean! Fell in love with their Wolf oven ranges - the best I've used in years..... maybe ever! 
Such a stunning venue! Airy and spacious.
Kitchen with a view! You look out on to the courtyard knot garden full of fresh herbs which I cut to use in the Christmas lunch for 32 guests.  
Pan Asian Menu, Boxing Day Thursday 26th December

"I thought we'd got for something completely different after a traditional Christmas Day" said the the hosts son. The host himself was en route to hospital in Banbury when we arrived after slipping on the wet decking outside. What a way to spend a birthday. Gave us a bit more time to get ready, and everyone was sure ready to eat once they got back.
Served family style on large platters for guests to share. These pan asian events are my favourite to cook - it's the flavours!

Homemade Asian Milk Bread Rolls

XXX

Crispy Spring Rolls

Selection of Satay;
chicken, pork and duck
Salt and pepper stir fried squid - simple and tasty; it all disappeared

Asian Crab Cakes


XXX

Roast duck with Pomegranate and Chilli Sauce
Marinaded overnight and roasted on the bone, then carved into portions 
Malaysian Lamb Rendang
Blackened Cod

served with;
Tom Yum Fried Rice
Yaki Soba Vegetable Stir Fried Noodles
Mixed Bean Salad

XXX

Apple Wontons
Mango Sorbet
Lychee and Pomegranate Panna Cotta


Friday 27th December.

Phew - after all that it was time for a morning off. Then back to the kitchen for the clear up operation and to get ready for the next event the following day.
The Sunday it was time to get moving on New Year's Eve preparations.
Monday - a wedding meeting and a delivery dinner party to someone testing out our food before booking our services for his birthday party which we did a couple of weeks afterwards.


New Year's Eve  Tuesday 31st December

After a couple of delivery menus and setting up another event near Tetbury it was off to Winchester.
We had cooked 3 events over the last few years for the host of this event - at her friends' hen parties and her own in the Cotswolds. Now she and her husband were hosting their friends at their house with a ski theme going on - as they were organising a ski trip the next year - the year which was just about be welcomed in.
Complete with ski hats/ ear muffs
'Gone skiing' plaque in the background
Skis on the table - the finishing touch......

"Woosh!"
That was the sound of Christmas and New Year rushing past.....

No comments