Looking back to warmer times, we’re remembering a beautifully sunny day in May, when we had the pleasure of catering for our corporate client FatFace. The brand was holding an event for some of its influencer community at Stillwaters House, Avington Park, as they showcased a new fashion range.

We first chatted with the team at FatFace to understand their brief so that we could provide everything they needed.

With ten influencers, experiencing the new product range and enjoying the surroundings at Stillwaters, Avington’s luxury retreat in Hampshire, our role was to provide a grazing lunch, serve drinks and canapés at the pool, produce an evening meal, and a breakfast box the next day.

We loved being part of this event  – ensuring the team had a relaxed and refined day, enjoying food and drink that helped them enjoy their day with the right atmosphere, and capturing content.

If you’re looking to elevate your next event with exceptional catering and a touch of elegance, we’d love to help. Contact us at info@kalmkitchen.co.uk, use our contact form, or call us on 01483 813360 to discuss how we can make your event unforgettable.

Last month, we served a three-course meal at the Hampshire offices and workshop of Gaze Burvill.

Gaze Burvill are designers and makers of some truly outstanding outdoor furniture. They are a B-Corp accredited company and they use the finest sustainably-sourced oak and work with their customers to create bespoke installations such as chairs, benches, tables and outdoor kitchens.

It was a real privilege to see inside their Hampshire workshop where each piece of outdoor furniture is handcrafted. As much as we’d like to, we couldn’t sit around all day, and so our team arrived in the morning to provide a three-course lunch for their guests.

The key to our on-the-day kalm is in the prep. Our cooking started the day before in our Surrey kitchen as we picked and prepared the produce, building in flavour that would be savoured on the day. Our planning started even earlier, when the client got in touch and talked with our planners so we could understand the brief and create a menu and experience that worked for them, their space and their guests.

We were working out of Gaze Burvill’s staff kitchen, so we first met with the team, unpacked our van and began setting up our station.

Starters

• A low-and-slow-cooked chalk stream trout with tartare dressings and scraps

OR

• Sauteed Girolles, puffed spelt and black garlic puree

Mains

• Hampton’s Estate Beef Fillet, Pumpkin Onion Tart with Rocket

OR

• Roasted Baby Kabocha Squash Stuffed with Mixed Grains, Sauteed Brussel Sprouts and Butternut Puree

Dessert

• Spiced Black Moor Orchard Fruits with Meringue and Pear Sorbet.

Our wonderful waiting team provided table service, serving bread, drinks and dishes.

We really enjoyed working with the Gaze Burvill team at their Hampshire HQ and once service was finished we ensured our client and guests were happy, we tidied down the tables and kitchen, packed up and headed back to our base.

Come along with us in this video as we go behind the scenes head to our client to bring the Kalm Kitchen catering magic to their event.

Let us know if we can help with your event.

Find out about Gaze Burvill at www.gazeburvill.com

Planning a Stress-Free Christmas Celebration?

As the festive season approaches, thoughts turn to Christmas parties and gatherings. At Kalm Kitchen, we take the stress out of planning your event, whether a corporate party, conference, or awards evening.

Experience the Kalm Kitchen Difference

Our experienced planners, chefs, event managers, and servers will collaborate with you to create a bespoke menu that reflects your vision and caters to all dietary needs. From delicious canapes to hearty bowl foods and five-course meals, we offer various options, including gluten-free and vegan selections.

Looking for Festive Menu Inspiration?

Last Christmas, we helped Zopa Bank celebrate with a festive menu of canapes and bowl foods perfect for their 450 colleagues at Village Underground.

Village Underground is an amazing venue, with hollowed-out Jubilee line train carriages atop a renovated turn-of-the-century warehouse. It hosts everything from concerts and club nights to exhibitions, theatre, live music, and private hire.

Our menu featured options like honey and thyme glazed pigs in blankets and vegan moussaka pasta crisps, along with satisfying bowl foods like vegan mozzarella and pesto arancini, and gluten-free balsamic glazed beef cheek with creamy mash.

 

Ready to Create a Memorable Event?

Kalm Kitchen is here to make your Christmas event a success. Get in touch with a member of our team at info@kalmkitchen.co.uk or call us on 01483 813360 to discuss your specific needs.

Credits:

Photography: Cheeseboard, canapés and flower tray, breakfast bar – Philippa Sian Photography

What: Breakfast Launch | Where: Owen Isherwood, Guildford | When: September 2023

This September, Owen Isherwood showcased a new workspace at White Lion House in Guildford. Marking the occasion with a breakfast launch, Kalm Kitchen provided a beautiful breakfast spread for businesses to graze on while they toured the new space.

The purpose-built office environment is set right in the heart of the town and the company wanted a clean line grazing station to align with the light and architectural building. We set up a smart 360 bar, centred in the middle of the building. Crittall windows flooded the space with light and made this a sunny-filled setting to host a delicious breakfast display.

Breakfast highlights included granola pots, mini pastries and honey bundt cake, plus a selection of avocado, smoked salmon or soft-boiled eggs in mini brioche rolls. We topped off this tasty display with green smoothies, juice and plenty of coffee.

The morning was a great success and our client Owen Isherwood shared these kind words:

“Kalm Kitchen were extremely professional throughout, especially as the booking was on relatively short notice. The event ran smoothly, and the service/food was impeccable. Highly recommend it for any corporate events where you are looking to impress.”

Credits:
Photography: Fi Digby-Jones @fi.digbyjones.photography

What: Nocturne Music Festival | Where: Blenheim Palace | When: June 2023

Kalm Kitchen were delighted to cater for VIP guests at the Nocturne Music Festival this summer. Held at Blenheim Palace, Nocturne is a unique music and dining experience that immerses guests in the world-famous surroundings of Sir Winston Churchill’s birthplace.

Attendees of the four evening spectaculars were treated to a drinks reception, delicious food and a prime seat at performances. Artists including Lionel Richie, Gregory Porter and Emeli Sandé headed the line-up.

The evening began with guests gathering in the Great Court, where we served up arrival drinks of Prosecco, Pear Collins, bottled beer and sparkling elderflower. Proceedings then moved onto the magnificent Long Library, which was the ideal place to set the scene for such a special evening. We dressed the tables with Chalk Urbane tablecloths alongside vintage green hemstitch napkins. A modern and stylish way to showcase the iconic surroundings.

Music & dining

Pre-laid starters paved the way for a choice of either a meat or plant-based menu, which we rotated between the evenings for anyone lucky enough to attend more than once. Highlights of the menu were treacle and soy cured salmon with a celeriac remoulade and a balsamic glazed beef short rib. The plant-based menu included a cauliflower panna cotta and summer squash arancini. For dessert, a crowd-pleasing toffee apple cheesecake likewise went down a treat!

After the show, guests enjoyed post-concert drinks in the Saloon – a fine setting to wrap up a spectacular evening. All-in-all this was an unforgettable dining experience in exceptionally grand surroundings. We can’t wait to do it all again next year!

Credits:
Festival Organisers – U-Live @weareulive
Festival – Nocturne @nocturnelive
Venue – Blenheim Palace @blenheimpalace
Catering – Kalm Kitchen @kalmkitchen

Seated desserts are making way for spectacular dessert tables and we are increasingly being asked to create stunning Patisserie Boutiques. All our stunning displays include a choice of three beautifully styled, delicious desserts, which can include macarons and chocolate lollipops.

This wonderful spread of sweet treats gives guests the opportunity to graze long into the night. And they look amazing too! Whether you’re catering for 30 or 300 people, a Patisserie Boutique is a fantastic, interactive feasting experience for your wedding or event. This relaxed approach to dining is a great way of bringing people together to eat, chat and mingle.

Kalm Kitchen has developed endless options to provide plenty of tasty flavours and create the ultimate showpiece that makes a real statement. Here is a selection of our Top Five most popular Patisserie Boutique displays:

Classic

A clean and contemporary collection of tiered acrylic shelves. Let the food and flowers do the talking with this simple and elegant option.

Flowers: Hannah Berry Flowers

Photography: Marianne Taylor 

Rustic

Rustic props including a selection of vintage crates and scales, for a beautiful summery, relaxed vibe.

Flowers: Carrie Macy-The Topiary Tree

Photography: VLA Photography

Gold

Gold and mirrored elements conjure up a luxurious and elegant visual display

Photography (image 1): Anneli Marinovich

Flowers (image 1): Kate Avery Flowers 

Photography (image 2): VLA photography

Flowers (image 2): Hannah Berry Flowers

Botanical

Three layers of acrylic, circular shelves creates a jaw dropping 360 degree grazing display

Flowers: Hannah Berry Flowers

Photography: Philippa Sian Photography 

Colonial

Colonial styling presented on an industrial structure with hanging rattan baskets and neutral toned foliage

Photography: Hayley Bray

Find more Patisserie Boutique inspiration, head over to the Kalm Kitchen pinterest feed. Also, follow us on Instagram for the latest inspirational ideas.

For further wedding menu inspiration, talk to one of our team at Kalm Kitchen. Get in touch at info@kalmkitchen.co.uk or call us on 01483 813360.

Main image:

Photography: VLA photography

Flowers: Hannah Berry Flowers

Who: Holly & Will | When: September 2020 | Where: Chelsea Town Hall

 

>> Tell us more about your wedding planning:

This wasn’t the original plan. Like so many couples, we had our big two part wedding all planned for May 2020; a small legal ceremony with just family, followed by a big celebration a few days later with all our friends. When the lockdown was announced in March, no one could have predicted what the future held so. Like so many others, we didn’t know whether to hold out, cancel or postpone the wedding.  Initially, with optimism in our hearts, we postponed both parts of the wedding to September 2020. But as the months rolled on, it became clear that we weren’t going to be able to get hundreds of people into a room anytime soon.

We decided to cancel the big event and stick with the plans for the legal wedding. We kept everything crossed that we’d be able to go ahead when the time came and salvage at least some of our 2020 plans. It was actually a huge relief once a decision was made and all the pressure was taken away. A micro wedding wasn’t what we ever thought we’d have, but in hindsight I’m so glad we did.

 

>> How did you choose your venues:

Both sets of our parents got married at Chelsea and Kensington Registry Office, a month apart from each other back in 1979. So there was a sentimental aspect to the decision, meaning we never really discussed other options. We originally planned to go to a local restaurant for a meal following the ceremony. But because we were no longer able to have Kalm Kitchen cater at the big celebration and we were desperate to still have their incredible food, we decided to hold the reception at Holly’s father’s home. It worked perfectly for the guest numbers. We had drinks and canapés on the roof terrace and set up a banquet style dining table in the living room for the meal. The kitchen was turned into a dance floor later in the evening.

 

 

>> How did you choose the menu:

We wanted an Italian theme running through the meal, as our very initial plans after getting engaged was to hold the wedding in Italy (Thank god we didn’t!). We also felt that, because it was a small event, a sharing meal would work best. It encourages interaction and connects people, and Italian food lends itself perfectly to the sharing concept. Kalm Kitchen took our ideas and created a completely bespoke vegetarian menu for us. It was perfect! We felt so comfortable in the hands of the team so really let them run with it.

 

>> What was on the menu:

 

>> What was your favourite part of the meal:

We had a bespoke Kalm Kitchen sharing pavlova for dessert, which doubled up as our wedding cake. It was just incredible.

 

>> What did you have to drink:

We kept it simple with a bespoke Kalm Kitchen drinks package. For the canapé reception we had Prosecco with optional Aperol or Creme de Cassis upgrades, and some bottles of Corona (very fitting). We had red and white wine for the meal and the Kalm Kitchen team made delicious Espresso Martinis and Margaritas for an after dinner “Cocktail Hour”

>> How did you choose the styling:

We followed Kalm Kitchen’s advice with the table styling. Being a living room, the table surroundings were quite ‘busy’, so we kept the table decor simple and neutral, with potted Italian herbs rather than flowers for decoration. The styling worked perfectly in the surroundings and was complemented by fairy lights galore.

 

>> Are you going to have a bigger celebration:

For sure, at some point. We can’t wait to eat Kalm Kitchen’s food again.

 

>> Would you recommend a micro wedding to other couples:

Absolutely. We are so glad we went ahead with the wedding and had the opportunity to get together with our closest loved ones at a time when we’ve seen so little of them this past year. A small wedding means you get to spend quality time with all our guests on the most important day of your life and that is pretty invaluable at the moment. There was no stress and the pressure has been taken off now, so when we do have the big wedding, we’ll be so much more relaxed and be able to fully enjoy the day.

Credits: Sarah Legge photographed the ceremony for us and we can’t recommend her enough. She made us feel so at ease and captured so many beautiful photos. (https://www.sarahleggephotography.co.uk)

The days of a cake being the only sweet centrepiece at a wedding celebration have long gone. Instead, we’re increasingly being asked to create spectacular dessert tables. This wonderful spread of sweet treats gives guests the opportunity to graze long into the night. And they look amazing too. Brides magazine has picked up on this trend, and features some of our creations on their website. Have a look here to see a couple of the spectaculars we created.

Gold Luxe

Some of our other highlights include this beautiful Autumnal-themed Gold Luxe Patisserie Bar for Kat and Angus’s wedding. The line-up included Banana Mess, Chocolate Mess and Blackberry and Blueberry Cheesecake. These mini marvels were decorated with gold leaf for a luxurious feel, while vivid purple hydrangeas and golden stands completed the opulent display.

Boutique Chic

Thily and Wain opted for an exotic-flavoured Patisserie Boutique at their celebrations at Fetcham Park. Laden with sweet treats and adorned with the prettiest pastel-toned flowers courtesy of Fairy Nuff, it achieved the luxurious wow factor that Thily and Wain had dreamed of. The display included Sparkling Elderflower Jelly, Mango & Raspberry Panna Cotta, and Coconut Tapioca and Papaya Tart.

Summer sensation

A dessert table is also a great opportunity to find new ways to present traditional concepts. What could sum up the British Summer more than our interactive Eton Mess stand featuring an array of meringues, ripe, scarlet-coloured fruits, cream, wildflower & elderflower jelly, pink rhubarb compote and honeycomb. A help-yourself display invites everyone to get up from the table, graze, get involved, and lose any sense of formality.

Do get in touch if you’d like to talk about how any of our dessert tables could be a beautiful part of your big day. Info@kalmkitchen.co.uk 01483 813360