We’re proud of our wonderful team at Kalm Kitchen, and without a doubt it’s what brings a truly personal touch to all that we do. Most of our faces have been with us for years, so we thought we’d introduce you! First up, it’s Lara Kellaway – Senior Event Manager (and secret Percy Pig fan!)

Q: Lara, when did you join Kalm Kitchen and what has been your journey since you started?

A: I joined Kalm Kitchen in March 2014 on placement year from Bournemouth University. I stayed for about 8 months before returning back to Uni for my final year. I was offered a full time job on completion and I’ve not left since!

Q: Tell us a little about your role at Kalm Kitchen, and what’s a typical day for you?

A: I’m the Senior Events Manager at Kalm Kitchen and lucky enough to look after an incredible team. There is no typical day in the events world, it’s a diverse job and you have to juggle many tasks, so every day is different – varied, challenging, and fun!

Q: What are the best and worst things about your role?

A: The best is seeing an event through from start to finish, going on a journey with our clients and exceeding their expectations on the day. There really is no worst part for me as I see everything as all part of the job.

Q: What’s the best ever event you’ve ever had the pleasure to work on? What made it so special?

A: I really couldn’t pick a favourite as they’re all special in their own way. I must admit though to a particular love for marquee weddings, you have to think about every aspect and it’s a huge achievement when it all goes well. I also suppose each current event I’m working on become a favourite as you really throw your heart and soul into it for the duration of the planning and execution.

Q: What are the particular skills you think you have that make you good at your job?

A: Well, I’m confident, very approachable, very motivational and – most importantly maybe – I have endless energy!

Q: If you could choose a dream party to plan, what would it be?

A: I suppose I’d have to say it would be my own wedding (one day – it hasn’t happened yet!) Like most girls it’s something I dream about, and with the job I do it would be a chance to pour all my ideas and creativity into this one amazing day.

Q: What are your best tips for hosting the most successful party?

A: Don’t overcomplicate things. Sometimes simple is best.

Q: What’s your favourite food?

A: Anyone who knows me will vouch for the fact that I’m a bit of a fussy eater, although I’m really lucky that I get to taste some incredible dishes here at Kalm Kitchen HQ. In general, give me anything sugary and I’m in heaven. White chocolate, cappuccinos and Percy Pigs are my guilty pleasures. Oh, and I do LOVE Bearnaise sauce.

Q: What do you do in your downtime?

A: I have a house back in Dorset, which is where I spend my days off. My family runs a dairy farm there too so I get involved with that and there is never a dull moment.

Q: Are you going on holiday this year and where are you off to?

A: Yes, I am going on a very special holiday this year – it’s my dear friend and work colleague Cat’s hen party. I can’t disclose where we’re going though. Top secret!

Q: What’s the most useless talent you have?

A: My ability to come out with random words. Coolio, fanjabioli, all kinds of nonsense. Oh, and I describe pretty much everything as ‘delicious’, even when it doesn’t make sense!

Q: What would your autobiography be called?

A: ‘A Life of a Dorset Girl’.

Q: If you had to make a rule for one day and everyone had to follow it, what would it be?

A: Be positive, keep smiling!

Q: What’s your favourite book?

A: Peter Rabbit

Q: Favourite film?

A: Matilda

Q: And finally, favourite song?

A: I love anything upbeat – basically something I can tune into on the radio and sing along!

Photography: Eddie Judd {eddiejuddphotography.com}

Who: Laura and David | When: February 2018 | Where: Millbridge Court

With months of planning and preparation involved, the big day itself can feel overwhelming, but Laura and David’s laidback approach – along with a few quirky surprises – made it a breeze to create a relaxed and interactive vibe throughout their beautiful wedding. After weeks of snow and cold weather, they were blessed with a gloriously bright February day, celebrated in the grounds of Millbridge Court.

Laura and David wanted to make sure that all ages felt included, so they dispensed with too much formality. At the celebrations after the ceremony, guests mingled while elegantly style platters of canapés presented in copper cages were circulated. Later on, the main meal was a chance for everyone to sit and chatter over a three course menu of flavourful red pepper and vine tomato soup, then a deliciously tender pork belly served on creamy mash. And finally, a dish which entirely summed up the mood of the day was unveiled – a Sharing Summer Berry Pavlova. Each table was delivered a generous sharing-sized tiered pavlova, heaped with bright, ripe berries, a berry compote, cream and scattered with edible flowers. To add to the fun, one person from each table was invited to wear a chef’s hat and moustache while serving up this gorgeous, interactive creation.

Laura and David contacted us immediately afterwards to pass on their thanks for such a special day…

‘Oh wow, what an incredible wedding day we had yesterday! I honestly can’t thank you enough making everything run so smoothly and making our day just everything we’ve been dreaming of. We will of course be in touch when we are back from honeymoon with a proper thank you but wanted to make sure you know how grateful we are before jetting off.’

If you’d like to talk to us about how we can create a menu which is perfect for your special day, do get in touch at info@kalmkitchen.co.uk or call us on 01483 813360.

Credits… Photography: Philippa Sian {www.philippa-sian.co.uk} Flowers: Longacres  {www.longacres.co.uk} Venue: Millbridge Court {www.millbridgecourt.co.uk}

We’re lucky enough to work with some of Surrey’s most fabulous venues, and one of our most long-standing and successful partnerships is with Millbridge Court. With a shared passion for the little details, our teams have worked together to create lasting memories with so many stunning couples! Here’s just a little on why we love it so much…

Where… Just outside Farnham, on the borders of Hampshire and Surrey.

What… A totally unique wedding and events venue with a spectacular seven-bedroom boutique hotel and on-site restaurant kitchen where we create bespoke menus using the freshest ingredients. This summer Millbridge Court has also added a Hideaway Secret Garden – this tranquil botanical sanctuary just beyond Millbridge’s beautiful flower meadow is the perfect place to create extra magical moments during your celebrations.

We love… We’ve hosted many amazing weddings here, and can safely say that for any couples this is a dream venue. The balance of contemporary design and country home works perfectly and instantly makes you feel special when you walk through the front door.

For more information on Millbridge Court, visit their website here

Credits: Images courtesy of Millbridge Court

Who: Thily & Wain | When: July 2016 | Where: Fetcham Park

You might as well aim high when planning a once-in-a-lifetime celebration, and Thily and Wain came up with an emphatic brief for their day: ‘Create that luxurious wow factor!’ Set in the magnificent grounds of Fetcham Park, guests gathered to start the day with an ancient Chinese wedding tradition, which sees the groom compete in a series of tests and games (known as door games) before he can claim his bride! This was shortly followed by a beautifully styled brunch in the garden, consisting of pastries, fruit skewers, smoked salmon blinis, fresh juice and mini granola pots, all presented on vintage-style ladder shelving.

With the guests well fed and entertained by the door games, the nuptials commenced, followed by a tea ceremony, and then a selection of canapés was circulated on the terrace and in the stunning grounds. As dusk fell, guests took their seats for a sumptuous meal, and then afterwards a night of dancing.

Our brief was to create a menu which was elegant, beautifully presented and delicious, so we focused on exquisite ingredients, accented with a few exotic flavours. We really allowed our imaginations to take over for dessert, with a patisserie boutique laden with sweet treats and adorned with the prettiest pastel-toned flowers courtesy of Fairy Nuff. Situated in the grand Shell Room at Fetcham Park, it definitely achieved the luxurious wow factor that Thily and Wain had dreamed of. They wrote to us shortly afterwards with the following kind words…

‘Just wanted to say a massive thanks to you and your lovely team. You did such a fantastic job of making it all come together – the presentation and flavours were spot on. And such great service throughout the day, you really are all a bunch of super-trooper ninjas. The banquet was delicious as was all the finger food and dessert. We got a lot of compliments for the food and thanks for making all our guests feel so welcome. We will be sure (not that you need it) to spread word of your services far and wide.’

If you’d like to talk to us about creating the wow factor for your special day, do get in touch at info@kalmkitchen.co.uk or call us on 01483 813360.

Credits… Flowers: Steph Turpin: {www.fairynuff-flowers.co.uk} Venue: Fetcham Park {www.fetchampark.co.uk} Photography: Cecellina {cecelinaphotography.com} DJ: Matt Maurice {www.mattmaurice.co.uk} Cake: Karen Anna {www.karenanna.co.uk} Light up Letters: Vowed and Amazed {www.vowedandamazed.co.uk}

Who: Charlotte & Matthew | When: August 2017 | Where: Millbridge Court

Most couples view their wedding day as an excuse to throw the party of their lives, and in Charlotte and Matthew’s case, they fully poured their hearts and souls into creating a fun-packed day, which their family and friends would remember forever. The ceremony was in the beautiful arbour gardens of Kalm Kitchen’s much-loved venue, Millbridge Court. Local florists Lavender Hill dressed the arch with a beautiful display, and to add the finishing touches Charlotte decorated the arch herself with homemade pastel ribbons.

Tent and festival specialists ‘The Little Top’ were on the scene with their quirky tepee to keep little guests amused, and the team scattered the lawn with giant games and hula hoops for all the guests to get involved with. Charlotte and Matthew loved seeing all their loved ones mingle, and it meant they got to spend time with everyone, so the garden party vibe worked wonders.

Strolling acoustic trio, Wandering Hands, added to the party atmosphere, performing on the move and giving all the guests a taste of their amazing tunes while everyone tucked into a selection of canapés featuring crowd-pleasing takes on family favourites such as Bite-sized Fish & Chips and Mini Burgers. The main meal was a fantastically indulgent buffet, presented beneath a copper arch, showcasing plenty of Mediterranean flavours for everyone to enjoy.

Afterwards, a rustic Patisserie bar took centre stage, bursting with decadent displays of yummy elements for guests to create their own takes on Chocolate and Eton Mess, plus Banoffee Pots, Macaroons on Sticks and Chocolate Lollipops. As the day drew to a close, beautiful displays of cheese, chutney, fresh honey, fruit, bread and wafers were brought out on stunning blackboard backdrops. There was also a vibrant wall of flavoured doughnuts, creating a stylish, eye-catching and mouthwatering sweet treat, perfect for guests to have on the go, or to take away as a parting gift.

The couple contacted us afterwards with these lovely words:

‘We had the most magical day, and it’s huge thanks to you and the invisible teams behind you that made it happen. We have been inundated with messages of how amazing the venue, food, displays and waiting service were – our guests have been absolutely blown away by the care and attention they were shown. Extra special thanks to Pete and Sarah (…) for your patience, accommodating all our crazy requests and making it honestly the day of our dreams. And a special thanks to you personally for always having a smile on your face and taking such good care of me and Matt ensuring we always had a drink and plate of food. You are an absolute superstar!’

If you’d like to talk to us about creating a menu for your special day, do get in touch at info@kalmkitchen.co.uk or call us on 01483 813360.

Credits… Flowers: Lavender Hill @lavenderhillcompany {www.lavenderhillflowers.co.uk} Photography: Sarah Legge @sarahleggephotography {www.sarahleggephotography.co.uk} Childcare: The Little Top @thelittletop {www.thelittletop.co.uk} Venue: Millbridge Court @millbridgecourt {www.millbridgecourt.co.uk} Acoustic Trio: Wandering Hands @wanderinghands {www.wandering-hands.co.uk}

At Kalm Kitchen, we’ve always been committed to producing the best food on the planet, but more recently we’ve been taking steps to make our eco credentials just as impressive. We caught up with Kalm Kitchen’s very own ‘green champion’ Holly Spooner to find out how.

Q: Holly, why is being environmentally conscious so important to Kalm Kitchen?

A: I think it’s a given that we should all be taking responsibility for our environment at home and at work, and we realised that as a business there were some very effective ways we could go greener without sacrificing the quality of what we produce.

Q: So, how did you go about implementing greener ways of working?

A: The first – possibly biggest – initiative for us is that none of our food waste is ‘wasted’. All the by-products from our kitchen – scraps, peelings and leftovers are collected and turned into renewable resources such as electricity, heat and organic fertiliser. In addition, all excess cooking oil is also recycled into renewable energy. The result is that hardly anything from our kitchen goes to landfill.

Q: What other measures have you taken to make the kitchen greener?

A: We’re looking into ways of reducing our use of plastics and non-sustainable packaging as much as we possibly can. It can be a challenge as obviously we have hygiene and food safety standards to maintain too, but we are committed to finding alternatives, which are sustainable, fit for purpose and hard-wearing. Reducing our use of clingfilm, for instance, has been a big priority, and also replacing anything disposable with re-usable containers. It goes without saying, but also we’re obviously huge champions of sourcing the most local, freshest ingredients, which has its own positive impact on our carbon footprint.

Q: How do you make sure your events are as green as possible?

A: We’ve never been a company to use any kind of disposable tableware. We prefer beautifully sourced (often vintage) items from our stocks. Even if we’re catering a kids party, for example, we would always shy away from plastics – if anything, we would use wooden cutlery as a greener alternative. And of course, any glass gets recycled – we see a LOT of Champagne bottles being sent off to recycling!

Q: How about at the Kalm Kitchen Café?

A: Yes, being environmentally conscious is a huge priority at the café. For starters, everything is either handmade by Kalm Kitchen, or by carefully selected suppliers who we know share our same eco credentials. We’ve phased out plastic straws, and all our cups, food boxes and containers are bio-degradable or recyclable.

Q: And finally, being surrounded by the beautiful Surrey countryside at your headquarters must make you extra aware of protecting the planet. What kind of measures have you taken in the offices?

A: We’re all conscious of the basics – switching off lights, reducing our energy output with the electricals we use, and we also only use rechargeable batteries. We’ll never stop looking at ways we can go greener and make a difference to the legacy we leave behind.

Get in touch if you’d like to find out how we could cater for your special occasion. info@kalmkitchen.co.uk 01483 813360

Who: Josy & John | When: October 2017 | Where: Plush Tents, Chichester, West Sussex

Josy and John’s unique, colourful wedding was inspired by the eclectic and Bohemian vibes of Woodstock, featuring an array of influences from the 1960s and 70s. Married at Camden Registery Office, they celebrated a few days later with a casual, outdoor ceremony featuring a Shamanic blessing under a beautiful, handmade floral arch strewn with an abundance of richly toned autumnal flowers and foliage. The main ceremony and drinks reception were both held outside in a leafy, woodland setting surrounded by friends, family and their son Jasper, who played an unnforgettable part in their day.

Keen to keep the mood casual, and come up with a menu which reflected the imaginative character of the day, there was no formal, seated meal. Instead guests were treated to a range of bite-sized canapes celebrating some of the most distinct flavours of the season, followed by a range of four dishes served up in bowls ready to be tucked into. Dessert was one of Kalm Kitchen’s iconic Donut Walls, much to the delight of everyone attending. Later on, after a night of dancing in a large yurt, guests were invited to create their own midnight snacks at the Bagel Bar, and indulge in some totally crowd-pleasing servings of Chips and Gravy before heading off to glamp in the nearby surroundings.

This magical wedding was all about fun, love and close friends and family. Josy and John’s original and individual approach to every detail captured exactly who they are as people, and left everyone with ever-lasting memories to take away from the day.

If you’d like to talk to us about creating a menu for your special day, do get in touch at info@kalmkitchen.co.uk or call us on 01483 813360.

Credits… Food: Kalm Kitchen {www.kalmkitchen.co.uk} Flowers: Hana Moss Music: Mighty Ingaiz / Faith and Branko {www.faithibranko.com}Photography: Matt Wretford {www.mattwreford.net} Videographer: Stephen John Cook {www.stephenjohncook.com}

It’s fair to say we know a thing or two about parties. But recently, Kalm Kitchen had its own cause for celebrations as we marked our 10th birthday! There was an incredible canapé-themed cake, provided by Odiham Cake Company, plus a glass {or two} of fizz, and a photo shoot with Eddie Judd to capture the team who have made our story so far very special. With a fair amount of nostalgia on our minds, we caught up with co-founder Jen Middlehurst to take a look back and reflect on where it all began…

Q: Jen, tell us, how and where did the Kalm Kitchen journey begin?

A: My husband James was already involved in event catering, and meanwhile I was working as a private maternity nurse. Although we had quite different skill sets, we knew we wanted to do something together and felt we had enough vision between us to make it happen. In some ways it was all quite a leap of faith – we had no formal business plan, and we took the fairly bold move to relocate from London to Guildford to set up our first kitchen. At first we were dealing with mainly corporate clients, and then we did our first wedding and things really took off from there. I guess what has worked so well is that our skill sets are a perfect blend. James’s strengths are exceptional food delivery and attention to detail, I’m all about passion, people and creativity. In essence though, we both love exceeding people’s dreams and expectations.

Q: How has the business evolved, and what are the key things which have brought you to where you are today?

A: One thing which hasn’t changed at all is our passion, and the desire to create exciting visual, food displays. Our philosophy right from the start has been to make food accessible, while capturing people’s imaginations – giving generous servings, breaking boundaries in terms of presentation. We quickly established a reputation for inventive food stations and trailblazing new food trends. Once word started to spread, we outgrew the premises in Guildford and moved to a new property in nearby Compton, which could accommodate a separate commercial kitchen. We also welcomed our first child (the first of three) shortly after setting up the business, so it’s fair to say we had our hands full!

Once things started expanding rapidly, we realised we needed premises which could serve as a wash-up/storage for all our tableware. That’s when we first came to Puttenham – and now we have a large, fully-equipped commercial kitchen, offices, meeting rooms and storage facility all in one place. Quite a journey!

Q: Which is the part of the business which excites you the most?

I suppose it is, and always has been, creating food and visual displays which truly push boundaries. We’re just not willing to settle for ‘standard’ in anything we do. Every aspect has to always be of a consistently high quality – and that doesn’t mean stuffy and formal, it’s about re-establishing people’s expectations of event catering, and giving them something that isn’t just exceptional quality, but also generous, delicious and abundant. Food that captures people’s imaginations and creates magical, lasting memories.

Q: What is the most memorable event you’ve been involved in and what made it so special?

A: In fact, it was very recent – a fabulous wedding we had been asked to cater for industry colleagues and friends on the Isle of Wight. They trusted us to do our thing and allowed us to do what we’re best at. The result was just beautiful, and as I was a guest I was able to step back and appreciate what the team had pulled together. I must say, I felt extremely proud.

Q: What would you say has been your biggest achievement?

A: For me, it would be the fact that we’ve created a positive environment for people to work in. Our aim is to nurture a team and see it flourish. Many of our staff have been with us since the very start, and it’s such an honour that they have even chosen us to cater their own weddings. So yes, people are at the heart of what we do, and we are very grateful to have such an amazing crew around us.

Q: What is your favourite ever dish on the Kalm Kitchen menu?

A: One that totally sums us up is our Sharing Millefeuille – an elegant, but gloriously messy, generous, utterly delicious dessert, which encourages everyone to get together and get stuck in!

Q: Who in the food world inspires you?

A: It would be Ottolenghi – his principles of abundance and creating food to be shared and celebrated is very much what we aspire to. I remember years ago wandering past his Notting Hill store almost daily and swooning over the magnificent visual displays in the window. He is such an inspiration.

Q: What’s next for Kalm Kitchen?

A: We’ll continue to work alongside the incredible venues we’re already lucky enough to have links with, and hopefully establish some new, exciting partnerships too. And whether we’ll have our own venue one day? Well, you’ll have to watch this space…

Stay tuned on the blog as we’ll be going behind the scenes and finding out a little more about the faces behind Kalm Kitchen over the coming months. In the meantime, click here to Meet the Team.

Photography: Eddie Judd {eddiejuddphotography.com}

Who: Camilla & Robert | When: Saturday 3rd June 2017 | Where: Private Marquee Wedding in Chiddingstone, Kent

Camilla and Robert’s stunning wedding aimed to capture every beauty of the British countryside, and it truly did! A self-sown wild flower meadow of Ox-eye daisies, cornflowers and poppies in Camilla’s parent’s garden set the scene for guests to walk through to the magnificent marquee. Guests were greeted with a selection of bite-sized canapés presented in vintage, flower-decked cages, while the tables were adorned with beautiful floral table arrangements in a palette of pastels with delicate ferns and foliage, set against a simple white backdrop.

We were tasked with creating a menu, which would celebrate every aspect of the summertime, using seasonal flavours and the most iconic ingredients. Asparagus, peas, Jersey Royals and an abundance of strawberries were the obvious choices to make starring appearances alongside the centrepieces of tender beef or delicate sea bass for our main course.

The day had style, warmth and a real sense of family – with even the couple’s dog and the bride’s horse featuring in the proceedings, and of course the perfect weather conditions helped! What a spectacular summer’s day it was.

The father of the bride contacted us afterwards with these lovely words:

‘Thank you for catering for the wedding on Saturday so brilliantly. Your serving staff were perfect with just the right level of interaction! Needless to say the food was fantastic – everyone said so, but more significantly, four friends in my age group i.e. people who must have been to a lot of weddings including some extremely sumptuous ones, all said that it was the best wedding food they had ever had. If asked, we will definitely recommend you – although if your standards are always that high, I doubt you have many gaps in your diary for years ahead.’

If you’d like to talk to us about creating a menu for your special day, do get in touch at info@kalmkitchen.co.uk or call us on 01483 813360.

Credits… Food: Kalm Kitchen {www.kalmkitchen.co.uk} Flowers: Katherine Craft @ Florist in the Forest flowers {www.floristintheforest.co.uk} String Quartet: Estilo {www.estilostringquartet.com} Photography: Wild Weddings {www.wildweddings.co.uk} Marquee: Camelot Marquees {www.camelotmarquees.co.uk}