We will be at High Elms Manor, Garston, Hertfordshire, on Sunday February 26th, for their wonderful wedding fair.
Visitors to the Fair will be able to see what a wonderful venue and setting High Elms Manor has become. They will see a variety of offers on dresses, honeymoons, photography, and so much more.
And of course if you’re coming along you will meet us and get to taste some of the many samples we have prepared. It will all be delicious.
At Heriot’s we’ve been busy putting together some packages to help our clients. So new menus, wine packages, and some very specific wedding deals are all designed to take the strain off and ease the cost.
Of course we never want to lose sight of the client needs and the fact that some clients want to do their own thing.
This was the case when we did our last Christmas function of 2011 on Sunday December, 18. Naturally with Christmas just one week away the team was high with the festive spirit.
The event was a Christmas “soireé” for close friends and family so about 40 guests. It was a simple spread of a festive finger buffet of turkey
and cranberry sandwiches and warming minces pies.
At this particular event the client wanted to supply the white wine and sprits. However we were asked to supply the soft drinks and beers. This we did. At the function we served the wine – but did not charge “corkage” for this service.
Heriot’s approach is always to make every function specfic to your needs and provide an event where the client can pick and choose.
This way our clients see that they can trust us to make the event they want, and not be tied into something that is set and inflexible.
We can call that our client-friendly approach. Or, how to have a good time at our events.
Tags: event catering, london catering services, private party catering
There’s one thing about time, it stops for no one. And the Big Day may have seen the planning start 12 months before. But now the time is fast approaching.
It may seem a little unusual but as Wedding Caterers we can, and do, become actively involved in the wedding planning. Especially planning for the day itself. As this is not an everyday event there are many points to take account of.
And drilling down again, the order of the reception is something which many do not think about – until late.
One of our “assists” is to give our Wedding clients an Event Planning Schedule for the day. And a separate order for the Reception. What happens when – which speeches come first and so on.
We find most couples who are are first timers do appreciate it. It saves some extra brain ache, and helps the day go smoothly.
Tags: event catering, london catering services, wedding catering
We discovered a few days ago that our international reputation was growing.
As London Caterers our activity is restricted to London and the South East of England. But we did share our recipe on “How To Bake A Cake” on this very blog.
And to our surprise we received an email all the way from Australia, asking for a little clarification on one of the quantities. Naturally we helped out, with Jane contacting the enquirer and providing the necessary information.
It’s nice to think that someone is baking their wedding cake using our recipe.
Link. And we hope the cake turns out well and the Bride and Groom have a wonderful Wedding Day.
Just goes to show how international the web is.
And talking of Wedding Cakes, if you don’t want to go to the trouble of making your own, our own “portfolio of cakes” can be seen on the website. Where you may note that we have provided some “budget friendly” options in a range of new wedding cakes.
In the UK weddings tend to take place in a more traditional setting. The ceremony in the church with the reception, or breakfast, taking place in a solid venue. The venue could be hotel, marquee, converted barn, or local village hall. Perhaps even your own home.
And it’s been our experience and privilege to work with so many fine venues.
However we do find that in the US there are more radical and adventurous ideas about where to stage their wedding. Single venues provide both ceremony and reception area. And the settings can be quite dramatic, especially with some glorious sunshine.
However it has come to our attention that you need to exercise caution when choosing your venue. The place and setting may be wonderful, but the unexpected can occur.
As the little video clip shows below what seems ideal can become a catastrophe. Of course, this does illustrate an unforeseen problem with the “Best Man”. We know of him for: forgetting the ring, making an embarrassing speech; and organising outrageous stag parties.
Usually, the Best Man avoids creating too much havoc on the day. But, if you hold your ceremony beside a swimming pool, you could be asking for trouble.
Thanks to YouTube.com and its contributors for sharing this “very real” moment.
Tags: event catering, london catering services, wedding catering, wedding venues
We are often asked if we will provide the drinks for an event. Our answer is of course. We’ve done it for many years and have customer references which praise the quality of our wines.
We really do have a full list of wines to choose from in our wine cellar.
We do appreciate that there are many places to source the wines for your event. A trip to France or a visit to several websites could suffice.
And if you do decide to bring your own wines to your wedding reception or other catered event we will serve these for you during the main dinner. We have had for several years now a “No Corkage Charge”.
However what we find that is that many clients ask for our wines, because they are good quality, nicely priced, and the sheer convenience of it.
When we are serving wines and champagnes we ensure they are served at the right temperatures. As our clients appreciate, champagne and white wine are so much better when nicely chilled.
At the same time we had a think about how we could make it even easier for our clients. And the conclusion we reached was: discounted packages for main events.
We probably had wedding receptions in mind, given the protocol most brides and grooms prefer to follow. Welcome drinks, wine with the meal, (and some mineral water for the tables), and the final glass for the speeches and toasts.
But where this would apply to any event which is formal or you want a little bit extra.
These new packages can be found under our Wine Cellar on the main website.
Our only word of caution: there’s a lot of alcohol involved, so please ensure your guests are ready and able to drink it all!
Tags: catering for banquets, event catering, london catering services, private party catering, supply of wines, wedding catering, wines
As the New Year starts we have brought some our ideas into reality. We are often asked for special menus and we’re always happy to oblige. Now we’ve made some of those themes standards with some classic “Mediterranean” menus. Our themes are: Spanish; Italian; and Greek.
These are 4 course menus and we feel are very appropriate for Wedding Banquets, and events of such a size that a special theme helps the organiser.
We reproduce them here for your convenience and to peruse at your leisure.
SPANISH BANQUET
Tapas
Choose 4 dishes for an exciting authentic Spanish appetiser.
All served on sharing plates with rustic breads & olives
Followed by a choice of:
Traditional Spanish Paella
Vegetarian: Mushroom and Cashew Nut Paella
or
Chicken Basquaise
(A hearty combination. Slow cooked with Rioja, chorizo sausage
Spanish oranges, tomatoes, & olives. An old “Pays Basque” Recipe)
with: Patatas Fritas; Wilted Spinach; with Raisins and Pine nuts.
For Dessert:
Caramelized Catalan Cream Tart
or
Oranges poached in White Rioja, Cinnamon and Muscovado
Coffee Heriot Chocolate Mint Crisps
GREEK BANQUET
Traditional Meze
Houmous, Tzatzaki, Taramousalata, Feta, Olives, Cucumber, Carrots,
Stuffed Vine Leaves, Olives and Artichoke Hearts.
(All served on sharing plates with warm pita breads and olive oil)
The Main:
Lamb Kleftico
(Slow cooked shank of lamb, with red wine, garlic, cinnamon,
root vegetables and oregano.)
With: Olive Baked Potatoes; Roasted Baby Aubergines
Baskets of Continental Breads.
And the Dessert:
Greek Lemon Cake with Lime Yoghurt
Baklava
Coffee & Teas and Heriot Chocolate Mint Crisps.
ITALIAN BANQUET
Antipasto Misto
Parma Ham, Salami. Char grilled Vegetables, Tomatoes, Basil, Mozzarella, Provolone, Sun-dried Tomatoes and Olives
(All served on sharing plates with Ciabatta & Foccacia Breads, Olive Oil & Balsamic)
Then a choice for the main course between:
Chicken Cacciatore
(Italian classic, cooked in a creamy sauce with cherry tomatoes,
garlic and pinot grigio)
or
Braciole
(Thinly sliced beef, stuffed with flat leaf parsley, garlic and mushrooms, slow simmered with tomato concasse)
With: Tuscan Rosemary Roasted Potatoes with Parmegano; Quick sauté Italian Green Beans
A Selection of Various Freshly Baked Breads
For the Dessert choose between:
Amaretto Cheesecake
or
Tiramisu in a Champagne Flute
Coffee & Heriot Chocolate Mint Crisps
You can get in touch right away if this serves a future or immediate need!
Tags: catering for banquets, catering for societies, event catering, london catering services, private party catering, wedding catering
We’ve just come to the end of a busy week and the festive season goes on.
One of our end of week Christmas parties was for 225 guests of Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania. Just before you think what a nice trip, a journey to the US, we were actually providing our catering services right here in London.
And this is no newbie school but is the world’s first collegiate business school established in 1881. With 5000 global MBA students, 88000 “alumni” , 11 research faculties, it’s all pretty impressive. But you got to eat to feed the brain.
The party was held in an associate’s penthouse suite overlooking London. It was pretty impressive. Each corner has a different panoramic view of the city so the guests enjoyed a wonderful setting and vista.
They enjoyed just as much our hot fork buffet specially created for the event.
It was a creamy macabeo and thyme reduction over a succulent breast of chicken with wild porcini & shitaki mushrooms.
The night was an all round success.
Of course our work is 100% service oriented which is often why people choose Heriot.
We know our catering is enjoyed because we see the clean plates. And for this event we performed those extra services which literally “made” the party. For 250 guests we hired and transported all the tables and coat rails to and from the venue in our own Heriot Catering vehicles. We then removed them that same evening.
So one moment you have a fitting party venue for 250 people. Once done, you give the owner back their lovely penthouse suite without a trace of the party.
Result – contentment all round.
It’s a little crazy at Heriot Catering HQ this week, what with 9 functions to prepare for, everyone is just a little busy!
We have the European School of Business (ECSP-EAP) 3 days this week. And as it’s Christmas time we are trying out some of our new menus on them.
These clients are the crème de la crème of future business leaders, hailing from all corners of Europe.
On day one they have a Spanish spectacular with a traditional Spanish paella, Rustic chicken Basquaise and patatas fritas. For Dessert: Spanish oranges poached with white Rioja, cinnamon and Muscovado.
I don’t think you can get more Spanish than that – unless you’re Antonio Banderas.
Day two we have gone Greek. Gourmet style food with slow cooked Lamb Kleftico, olive baked potatoes, roasted baby aubergines. The Dessert: Greek lemon cake with lime yoghurt – and – traditional Baklava oozing with honey and nuts. It’s food good enough for the Greek gods.
Day three is all about intense “Italian” with two classic main courses.
Course one: Chicken Cacciatore where it’s all about the creamy sauce, the Pinot Grigio and the cherry tomatoes.
Course two: Braciole, with its thinly sliced beef and tomato concasse. Appropriately we served the traditional Heriot Tiramisu for dessert.
All racey Italian flavours – bold and exciting!
Did Masterchef influence this choice of words? Probably.
Tags: catering for societies, event catering, london catering services, private party catering
Christmas is getting closer (only 4 weeks) and Heriot Catering was
out doing what it does best. Making a Christmas party magical.
We are back at one of our annual events. We’re providing our services to a private client who has a substantial penthouse suite in London. As always he is holding a large Christmas party and we are catering for some 250 guests.
Heriot Catering’s motto (or one of them) is: “we always arrive ahead of time”. In fact we arrive a few hours before the guests to set up. We always make sure that everything is set so the function can run smoothly and efficiently.
The guests were scheduled to arrive for 7:30. They do all arrive at once because the host throws this Christmas Party for students at Cambridge university. So we were all ready and waiting with the buffet and drinks all laid out. But no guests.
Where were they? Running late as the coach driver informed the host. So we made sure that everything stayed just as fresh and warm as needed.
Fortunately everyone arrived at 8:15 and the party got under
way.
For openers the guests were offered an alcoholic punch. Here we would like to point out that this was the host’s own recipe. So we can’t fully identify all the ingredients. And of course each guest took some – enthusiastically.
Just as enthusiastically each guest tore into our traditional Grand Fork Buffet.
This had a variety of meats including seasonal slices of roast turkey and cinnamon ham, combined with a selection of pasta and tuna salads, and breads.
With Heriots at the helm they enjoyed a night of succulent food and a bar full of different beverages. What more could they ask for ? (Don’t answer that.)
If you’d like to take a peek at our Grand Fork Buffet then just hit the link for: the Heriot Catering website. And you’ll go straight there.
Tags: christmas parties, london catering services, private party catering
