We contributed to the beautiful Coco Wedding Venues blog recently. Curated by founder Emma Hla, this style-focused wedding venue directory and blog is a great first port of call when searching for your perfect wedding venue.

Wedding planner extraordinaire Katrina Otter picked our collective brains on all aspects of planning the catering for your big day. The result? A wealth of wedding planning advice. Find out more including setting your catering budget and our top trend predictions for 2020 here.

Do you want to speak to one of our capable team about any aspect of the catering for your big day? Give us a call on 01483 813360 or email info@kalmkitchen.co.uk

 

Photography: Hannah Duffy {www.hannahduffy.com}

Thinking about holding a barn wedding? Surrey is blessed with many brilliant venues, and Kalm Kitchen is lucky to have links to some of the best. We asked three of our favourites to share their top tips and latest news…

Gate Street Barn

Q// Tell us a bit about your venue

We are a Green Oak Barn that seats up to 150 guests and up to 200 in the evening. The venue is completely exclusive use with luxury onsite accommodation. The countryside setting, flexibility & small family business makes it a very personal service. We have our lovely Pedigree herd of Longhorns in the field adding to the character of the Barn.

Q// What’s the secret to hosting the perfect barn wedding?

Keep it simple and pick suppliers you can trust to do a great job. Don’t be tempted to micro-manage on the day and enjoy it to the full!

Q// What are some of the most effective styling touches you’ve seen that can add maximum impact to a barn wedding?

We love fairy lights at Gate Street Barn – you can never have enough! Dressing the chandeliers in the main Barn always looks wonderful. Rustic props always look great alongside a Kalm Kitchen Patisserie Bar.

Q// What have you got going on at Gate Street Barn at the moment?

We are getting ready for the busy Summer period with freshly painted exterior windows. The gardens are looking beautiful, and we have come into the 21st century finally with our new, high-speed ethernet internet!  We have also recently introduced packages to the venue and lots of offers for remaining 2019 dates.

Find out more at www.gatestreetbarn.com/

Millbridge Court

Q// Tell us a bit about your venue

Millbridge Court is a restored 19th century house in the heart of the Surrey countryside with two purpose built stylish, modern barns available for exclusive hire. With magnificent oak beams, high ceilings and windows, which span the height of the walls, the barns are flooded with natural light and have stunning views across the quintessentially English garden. Celebrations are extended with the use of our eight boutique bedrooms, not forgetting The Hideaway which has been named one of the best UK Bridal suites by You & Your Wedding.

Q// What’s the secret to hosting the perfect barn wedding?

The secret to hosting the perfect barn wedding is to complement the character with your own style. Whether your barn is traditional dark brick or like us a light, airy space, ensure that you inject your personality to make it your own. Think about the heating too. Our ceremony space has both underfloor heating and air-conditioning, which is ideal for all weather. Nothing worse than attending a barn wedding and being chilly. The high ceilings can sometimes make the area hard to control with temperature, so do prepare for this.

Q// What are some of the most effective styling touches you’ve seen that can add maximum impact to a barn wedding?

Barns make for a gorgeous setting for a wedding due to their character. At Millbridge, we have the perfect balance, of style vs character. The barns are neutral with the clean lines, but still encapsulate that hint of traditional charm with the vaulted ceiling and beams. We have the added element of wooden shelves with pegs underneath in both barns. The ways that couples have decorated these are incredible, whether it’s layers of trailing foliage – or, very recently we had a bespoke piece designed for the couple, which was fantastic. The structure was a wooden hanging frame with flowers placed in test tubes dotted throughout in spring colours.

Q// What have you got going on at Millbridge Court at the moment?

We have two Saturdays remaining for 2019: Saturday 14th September and Saturday 21st December. So if you are looking to get married this year get in touch! Also we can finally reveal that we have been busy planning a new addition for Millbridge called The Lodge, which increases our guest bedrooms and comes complete with an upstairs den. The Den is another preparation area for the wedding party to use to get ready and relax before the big moment. This is also a great way to ensure the couple remain separate on the morning leading up to the ceremony, keeping that element of tradition if required.

Find out more at www.millbridgecourt.co.uk/

Micklefield Hall

Q// Tell us a bit about your venue

Micklefield Hall’s private elegant Georgian house, designed by Sir John Slone, stands in a fine parkland setting, only 25 miles from central London. The recently renovated Grade-II listed Great Barn is truly unique. Every wedding at Micklefield Hall is tailor-made to suit your requirements, and the venue and grounds are yours for the whole day. Quirky features include a cloistered walkway, garden room with an open log fire and a French fountain. These are what make The Great Barn at Micklefield a genuinely unique venue, and the perfect setting for your wedding.

Q// What’s the secret to hosting the perfect barn wedding?

Be prepared, and attention to detail. We ensure that all staff and suppliers care as much as the Micklefield Hall team do. That ethos dictates who we employ and who is on our approved supplier list.

Q// What are some of the most effective styling touches you’ve seen that can add maximum impact to a barn wedding?

The best thing about the barn is that you don’t have to do too much decoration, so keep it simple! The beauty is in the oak – some of which dates back to 1490. Nice table linen, china and glassware, simple flowers and candles are all you need to enhance the natural beauty of the barn for it to look stunning.

Q// What have you got going on at Micklefield Hall at the moment?

Our team is growing! We have recently employed a fantastic gardener, Jake, who has transformed the gardens. We also have a new event manager starting with us. Lauren, who has been studying Event Management at University will join the Micklefield Team in the middle of May. The addition of six bedrooms and a new breakfast room last summer has proved very popular with our brides and grooms as well this year.

Find out more at www.micklefieldhall.com/

If you’d like to talk to one of our team about planning your marquee wedding, call us on 01483 813360 or drop us a line at info@kalmkitchen.co.uk.

 

Who: Sophie & Oliver | When: December 2017 | Where: Gate Street Barn

Gate Street Barn in Surrey was the setting for Sophie and Oliver’s chic winter wedding with a decidedly 1920s feel. From the bride’s spectacular beaded corset to the wild style bouquets wrapped in burgundy and ivory lace ribbons, the day had an array of intricate touches. And it was all planned and executed in just seven months.

With a close eye on budget, the couple still managed to achieve the stylish look they dreamed of, without cutting corners. By festooning the barn with lights and florals, the couple transformed the space into a stylish but cosy setting – perfect for the time of year. They also injected their own modern, geometric twist with design details and graphics. And one of the couple’s favourite touches was a heartfelt display featuring framed photos of all their relatives on their wedding days.

We worked closely with the couple to imagine a menu which would cater to every taste. First of all, guests feasted on a selection of canapés served up on imaginative vintage platters. For starters, it was an Antipasti sharing board or vegan kale salad. The main course made the most of the winter setting with a comforting crowd pleaser of chicken and leek pie with creamy mash and roasted carrots.

Sophie and Oliver chose to go non-traditional with their cake and served up a four-layered carrot cake with a smooth butter icing created by Digbys at Vauxhall station. Their guests loved it, and the couple made sure they got a slice too!

Party time

The party continued well into the evening, dancing to tunes from Chris Haslam at Chess Disco. The couple’s first dance was made even more memorable as they were showered with a dried petal flower cannon. Just one of many magical moments during a spectacular day.

Read more about Sophie and Oliver’s big day at Whimsical Wonderland Weddings. If you’d like to talk to us about unforgettable food for your wedding or event give us a call on 01483 813360 or email info@kalmkitchen.co.uk.

Credits… Photography: Kat & Ash at The Springles {www.thespringles.com}. Florist: Carrie Macey at Topiary Tree {www.topiary-tree.co.uk/}. Venue: Gate Street Barn {www.gatestreetbarn.com/}. Videographer: Ashleigh at Ash Videography {www.ashvideography.com/}. DJ: Chris Haslam at Chess Disco {www.chessdisco.co.uk/}

Who: Lara and Dan | When: December 2018 | Where: Hackney Town Hall

Most brides are buzzing with excitement when discussing their wedding plans. But from the first moment we spoke to Lara, we were all swept away with her enthusiasm. Lara had lots of ideas and we were delighted she chose to work with us to bring them to life and create the catering for this most amazing occasion.

The couple got married at super cool London location Hackney Town Hall – a space filled with stunning architectural details. We made the most of the dizzying height of the Atria and created a spectacular Bubble Bar. Dressed with dreamy florals by Liz at Blue Sky flowers, we elevated the station and decked it with luxurious golds and an abundance of gorgeous fruits. Guests were able to dive in and create their own bespoke fizz and ‘pimp’ their Prosecco.

Golden touch

In fact, the gold theme ran right the way through these proceedings, along with an art deco mood which was inspired by the venue. The wedding was styled with touches of gold from the cutlery to the beaded charger plates and rimmed glassware. We completed the look with clear water goblets, chalk urbane linen and white hemstitch napkins.

After canapés and more refreshments from the Bubble Bar, Lara and Dan offered their guests a choice of two main courses. And they both agreed that the dessert had to be a wow factor. Guests chose from roasted Rump of Hampshire Lamb or Pan fried wild sea bass for their main course, and then came a highlight of the day.

For dessert, Lara and Dan created a real talking point with one of our trademarks – a slice at the table sharing pavlova. They added their own fun element by placing a golden ticket under one person’s chair from each table. The lucky recipient was given a branded apron, a chef’s hat and the task of slicing for the table while ‘Pure Imagination’ by Gene Wilder from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory played. The couple described this moment as absolutely hilarious and one of their favourite moments of the wedding.

Although the couple didn’t have a cake, they opted for a pick ‘n’ mix station in honour of Lara’s sweet tooth. This full size stand had 16 different kinds of sweets and a scoop to help yourself. Later in the evening guests danced to music provided by a DJ and electric violinist Sally Potterton. Meanwhile, we circulated pots of gooey mac and cheese with a personalised sticker – which matched their invitations and stationery – to refuel the exhausted crowd.

‘I can’t recommend them enough’

Afterwards, Lara shared these kind words about her experience with Kalm Kitchen…

‘We used Kalm Kitchen as our caterers. They were AMAZING! They make the most incredible food and presented in the most incredible way. I can’t recommend them enough. They layed the tables and ordered all our crockery etc. We went for gold cutlery, gold beaded charger plates, gold vintage style glasses, the tables all looked as I dreamed them!’

You can read more about Lara and Dan’s beautiful day on www.smashingtheglass.com. If you’d like to talk to us about creating dreamy food memories for your wedding or event give us a call on 01483 813360 or email info@kalmkitchen.co.uk.

Credits… Photography: Rebecca Goddard {rebeccagoddardphotography.com}. Videographer: Wagtail Productions {wagtailproductions.co.uk}. Bar Company: UK Mobile Bars {ukmobilebars.com}. Florist: Liz at Blue Sky Flowers {www.blueskyflowers.co.uk}. Wedding Planner: Katy Cresner {katycresner.com} DJ: Wedding Smashers {weddingsmashers.com}. Venue: Hackney Town Hall {hackneyvenues.com}

Developing new menus is an ever-evolving process at Kalm Kitchen. ‘It never starts and never stops, ‘ says James Middlehurst, Executive Chef at Kalm Kitchen. ‘We’re always bringing new ideas to the table. In the first place, the kitchen team will come up with concepts, and from there we’ll extensively test them. After that, we present them to front of house (very important),  take on their feedback and finesse them with the help of the whole company. In the end, we come up with dishes that we can all stand by, and that everyone believes in.’

From an initial list of anywhere around 50 contenders, the team whittle it down to a shortlist of around 25 dishes. And what makes for a successful menu which becomes a firm favourite at weddings? ‘The art is in finding the balance between taste, appearance and perfect delivery of the product,’ explains James. ‘The food should be fun, make people talk and leave a lasting memory.’ And the ultimate measure of success? ‘I like to hear the sound of wow as it gets delivered,’ he confides.

We asked James which are the plates he’s particularly proud to share from the latest collection…

Salmon 99er with beetroot crisp

‘This canapé is pure fun. Resembling the classic ice cream cone, you get a visual shot of salmon pink. We specifically designed it to give a punch of flavour. Fennel blossom and flowers give it a hit of aniseed, and the beetroot crisp provides a lovely crisp texture.’

Chicken liver parfait choux bun with pistachio

‘Taking a classic dessert concept, we create a superbly rich chicken liver parfait, which is cooked at a low temperature and packed with flavour, which comes from the addition of port, shallots and thyme. It’s all encapsulated in a bite-sized choux bun and finished with a nutty sprinkle of pistachios.’

Charred salmon with cauliflower panna cotta and watercress veloute

‘Well, visually this dish is stunning. We cook the salmon sous vide to keep it tender and almost rare all the way through. Then we char it for a lovely, smoky flavour. It’s served alongside our take on a savoury panna cotta on a watercress velouté which brings a peppery hit to the dish. Lastly, we like to add some Romesco, both charred and pickled, which brings acidity, and of course it looks stunning too.’

Lamb Nicoise and pickled walnuts with a caramelised onion puree

‘Nicoise is such a classic, but we’ve given it a modern spin. We take a fillet of lamb and wrap it in Nori, the umami flavour of this edible seaweed gives the dish a real complexity. The expected elements of a Nicoise are there – quail’s egg, Violetta potatoes, and a potato glass. But we also add some pickled walnuts. The end result is mature and complex.’

Seared venison with black pudding salsify, potato fondant and blackberry jus

‘We’ve balanced this rich, gamey meat with a sweet jus, and delicate salsify. The result is a lighter version of what you might consider a traditional game dish. It looks exceptionally stunning too.’

Bread and butter pudding with pineapple salsa, rum custard and coconut ice cream

‘A taste of pure nostalgia, we get lots of requests for bread and butter pudding. We’ve created a lighter version though using brioche and tropical flavours of coconut, pineapple and rum. A pineapple salsa adds a welcome sharpness to the dish.’

What: Planning Redefined workshop | When: November 2018 | Where: Millbridge Court

There’s more than meets the eye to planning the perfect wedding. So where do wedding planners go to get their ideas? The answer is, Planning Redefined. Run by Katrina Otter and Louise, of Louise Perry Weddings, this three-day workshop is an extravaganza of training and mentoring for aspiring, new and experienced wedding planners. Jam-packed with guest speakers, hands-on demonstrations and non-stop inspiration, it’s a go-to event for wedding insiders.

Kalm Kitchen was delighted to be at Millbridge Court – the setting for this inspiration-fest – sharing our ideas for the treats and feasts that are making waves in the wedding world. Our very own Event & Styling Manager, Pete was in charge of pulling out all the stops to create a visual and taste spectacular to set the gathered audience alight.

Foodie highlights

We began proceedings by serving up Organic wild flower bark  as a sweet treat along with fresh juice shots to kick start the day. Then, as attendees got to know each other, we served a gorgeous lunch of Middle Eastern Slow braised spiced lamb shoulder paired with a fatttoush salad and Lebanese breads. An interactive edible ‘garden’ was a show stopper on day three. This was filled with delicious fresh produce, dips and crostinis which proved a wow moment for everyone gathered. Kalm Kitchen’s signature Patisserie Bar was styled with stunning clean lines in cool tones of whites and coppers, hosting gorgeous potted botanical desserts. Finally, as an extra special treat, a delectable S’mores station got everyone talking – and eating!

Pete says, ‘This was an amazing opportunity to showcase some of the more imaginative eating experiences that Kalm Kitchen is renowned for creating. We relished the chance to put together some of our signature sharing stations, and push the boundaries of people’s taste and visual expectations. We believe that when it comes to creating a memorable wedding menu, anything is possible. Why not?’

As well as a non-stop supply of food stimulation, there was a whole range of workshops too. For example, emergency Buttonholes by Liz at Blue Sky Flowers, plus a masterclass in tablescaping. And then, a chance for everyone to create their own place settings using linen, glassware and crockery from Just 4 Linen and Classic Crockery.

Inspiration all day long

Attendees made the most of the beautiful grounds of Millbridge Court by staying overnight for the full immersive experience. And we made sure inspiration lasted all day long by waking guests up to a bouji breakfast. Homemade banana bread, organic Greek yoghurt, New Zealand honey and fresh fruits was the ideal spread to set things off on the right track.

Pete says, ‘This event was such an amazing experience to be a part of. It was lovely to meet with new talent in the industry and I’m so excited to have the opportunity to work with them again in 2019.’

Feeling inspired and want to come along to the next Planning Redefined event? Find out more details on their website planningredefined.co.uk/

Credits… Hosted by: Katrina Otter {www.katrinaotterweddings.co.uk} and Louise Perry {www.louiseperrywedding.com}. Photography: Hannah at Hannah Duffy {www.hannahduffy.com/}. Flowers: Liz at Blue Sky Flowers {www.blueskyflowers.co.uk/}.  Crockery: Classic Crockery {www.classiccrockery.co.uk}. Venue: Millbridge Court {www.millbridgecourt.co.uk/}. Furniture by Wedhead {www.wedhead.co.uk/}.