Food Lovers!

Last Saturday we catered for the lovely Ellie & Mel at Creslow Manor, it was a big ask as they wanted something different and are both great ‘foodies’, so this was one for the kitchen to get right! Not that they don’t always!
Arrival drinks and canapes were served in the grounds of Quails Egg Benedict, and Parmesan Shortbread, Roasted Red Pepper Tapenade, and Confit Lamb Shouder Croquette, Sticky red onion jam.

We suggested having twice baked goats cheese souffle, as a starter, this is served with figs, honeyed pecan and pink lady salad, parmesan cream. 115 souffles all cooked to perfection left the kitchen and empty plates returned!
For main course we suggested the different element would be to get a guest from each tabe to come to kitchen complete with apron and chefs hat to collect a sirlion of beef on a wooden board for them to serve. This went down so well, they posed, laughed and even carved well!
This was served with sides of roasted field mushrooms, hand cut chips, roasted butternut, red onions, crumbled feta and roasted courgettes, broccoli, lemon and oregano butter with toasted almonds.

Great fun had by everyone involved. Today we received this lovely email from Ellie & Mal, its great to know we made every vision they had for their day come true! not to mention feeding them a meal that they will never forget! Well Done Team!

We wanted to send you an email to thank you so much for making our wedding reception so wonderful on Saturday. From rescuing the tablecloth situation to your calm under pressure, you and your team were the ultimate professionals, and we are so grateful.

The food was, without exception, spectacular, and every single guest commented on it to us. We love that it was different to the sort of wedding food that people normally experience – soufflé for 120 people really is quite something! The quality of the ingredients that you used was evident, especially in the roast beef which was cooked to perfection.

I don’t know what was in the lamb canapé, but at one point I discovered a black market of trading going on amongst the guests for the remaining ones…..you could trade one for up to a whole glass of champagne! People are still talking about them on Facebook!

As well as this, the team you brought with you really added to our enjoyment of the day. Laura did an utterly magnificent job managing the timings and checking things with us without stressing us out – her calmness, kindness and professional manner were amazing. She even managed to find time to make sure I felt ok and was being looked after.

All the waiting staff, in particular the lovely man who waited on top table, were so friendly and enthusiastic about the food, which really added to the occasion. They really seemed to care and take time over their work, and we can’t praise them enough.

Please pass on our thanks to all concerned. We feel so lucky to have found Kingfisher and will be recommending you to everyone – although your food and service speaks for itself for anyone that was at our wedding.

Thank you, a million times, for making two food-lovers very happy

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Festival Wedding!

So when you get engaged at Glastonbury with your favourite band playing surrounded by all your friends how do you recreate the atmosphere through to your wedding day? Well Ben & Emily certainly managed it in true style on Saturday. From the hired field in the middle of nowhere to the beautiful Tipis decorated with records and bunting; to the stage & live band; to the camper van & their tent to sleep in overnight! Some would say the only thing missing was the mud! But for such a beautiful couple the weather couldn’t of been more perfect.

They arrived in a camper van, Emily stunning in white and Ben looking very dapper in morning suit complete with hat and cane, he grinned from start to finish, what a happy groom! We served arrival drinks of gin & tonic and rum & ginger beer, accompanied by canapés of Ham Hock terrine, apple chutney; bruschetta, vine tomato and rocket pesto; mini Yorkie puds; tempura and sesame tiger prawns; Cumberland sausages glazed with honey & beer mustard; and caramelised onion and applewood cheese tartlets.

Dinner of braised lamb shank, buttered mash, crispy leeks and redcurrant and mint gravy followed by a trio of desserts was served to a lively crowd, they thoroughly enjoyed it, empty plates all round. The cake was cut with a sword followed by the first dance to a very beautiful song by Elbow, obviously lyrics close to Ben & Emilys engagement!

This was followed by The Copies playing live to an excitable crowd, the atmosphere was awesome. They partied hard into the night, the drinks flowed and everyone had a great day! Even we managed to get dressed up in the photo booth!

Marquee on Stlits!!

Another great wedding reception on Saturday for Nerissa & Phil in Narissa’s parents garden. On visiting the site I did wonder how they would site a marquee as the garden sloped away at quite a steep angle! I have never seen this before, what a great sight the marquee had been set in stilts!

From inside you would have never known, unless like me vertigo set in as you looked down at the end of the marquee!

Narissa & Phil were greeted by family and friends in the garden with champagne, Pimms and Bucks Fizz accompanied by a selection of canapés and finger foods made by John and MJ. The Thai style fish cakes with sweet chilli dipping sauce and the Lamb Kofte with saffron yogurt were a big hit amongst the guests.

After photographs they came into the marquee for a buffet style feast of Beef Bourgiugnon, Thai red vegetable curry and coconut rice and smoked haddock, salmon and prawn pie with Gruyere and spring onion mash, accompanied by bowls of lemon and garlic green beans, buttered carrots, roasted courgettes, peppers and red onions, and baby new potatoes. Delicious. They finished with a selection of mini desserts and coffee.

After the speeches Narissa’s & Phil surprised their guests with the most awesome first dance, starting off as a traditional waltz the music tempo changed and they went into a medley of disco dance moves including Michael Jackson’s Thriller!! They must have been practising for months, no one expected that!

The evening entertainment got under way led by the fantastic buzz lightweight band. They had everyone dancing the night away and the marquee rocked! Quite literally! But the stilts held and everyone had a great evening! We left as the Irish songs started to be sung,I’m sure they kept on going until the early hours!

A very special thank you!

It’s always great to hear from our lovely couples after their wedding, here is a very special thankyou from Lisa & Andy who got married on the 9th August

Hi Dan and Ian

We just wanted to say a big thank you for making our big day so special!!
Everyone commented on the amazing food as well as how lovely all the staff were on the day.
Ian thank you for going above and beyond to make everything run smoothly!

We will definitely call you for our next big party!!
Many thanks
Andy and Lisa
Xxxx

Outside blessings!

Another busy weekend for us all at KIngfisher, with 2 weddings to cater for. Saturday we were at Gemma & Rupert’s reception at the Holly Bush in St Albans. Gemma arrived on an old 50’s style bus with her nine bridesmaids all dressed in colours of the rainbow.

The 50’s eara set the scene of the day, with vinyl records as cake stands and bunting decorating the marquee, it was very colourful. The garden was turned into a chapel with a beautiful arch under which an old family friend performed a blessing.

Guests then moved to the marquee for traditional afternoon tea complete with egg mayonnaise sandwiches, Victoria sponge and scones with clotted cream and jam, all washed down with tea and served on vintage crockery. Hog roast in the evening completed the feast and they danced into the small hours. Lovely day.

Sunday we made our way to Capel Manor Gardens in Enfield for Laura & Lee’s celebrations. Lee and his ushers all arrived in a limo style converted Ferrari! It was a magnificent sight, closely followed by Laura a her bridesmaids aboard a fire engine!

They had their blessing in the beautiful chapel ruins of Capel Manor, there really is nowhere else like it! Arrival drinks of Pimms and a selection of finger foods treated the guests as they made their way back to the Manor House. The room was decorated in a chocolate theme, Laura love of chocolate shone through with a Cadbury purple carpet and bridesmaids to match! Stunning! even their dog had a purple collar!

Main course of Blade of beef braised in red wine, root vegetables, Parmentier potatoes, green beans and crispy leeks was served followed by a huge Pavalova wedding cake that John had made. They cut through it and we chopped it up into bowls and served it as Eton mess dessert.

Big band and a great disco rocked them through the evening with a bar flowing it ended up being the perfect day.

Both our couples were very happy, it was a pleasure for us to be part of their special days!