Do you lead a busy life with a hectic schedule and not enough time to cook? Are you planning a special dinner party for friends, family or even business colleagues? Do you wish you could enjoy it without the stress of tending to all of those little last minute details? If you were to hire a personal chef who can take care of everything from planning the menu to dealing the dinnerware and decorations you would certainly enjoy your event so much more. Read more »

If you nervous about choosing wine for your party but fortunate enough to be holding your event at a reputable venue it may be as well to simply hand over the responsibility of choice to the sommelier or banqueting manager whose job it is to match the right wine with the food and the occasion. If however you want to have the fun and satisfaction of organising the wine yourself read our brief wine summary.

Classified by regions and type, wines are to be found under recognisable names such as Bordeaux, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Rhone, Loire, Alsace, Rioja, Barolo, Chablis, Chardonnay, Reisling, Muscadet, Sauterne, South African, New World, Australian, Rosé, Champagne, Sparkling Wine and Port Wine. Read more »

Catering for an event at any venue can be a minefield simply because if you, your caterers or your venue get it wrong, your whole event or party is at risk of being ruined. Before handing over the complete catering package a venue do be absolutely sure to check whether your venue has good quality in-house catering with a competent chef and proper suppliers. Check also whether they have plenty of menu choices and are flexible about any suggestions you may want to offer. Read more »

It’s a well-known fact that a beautiful table setting complements almost any style of food.  Never forget that first impressions are nearly always determined by decoration and layout of the table and the that they set tone of a meal . Here are some tried and tested basic rules to help you set the perfect table.

Try to match the style of your table to the type of food you are serving, e.g. a country lunch in the open will look much better served on a pretty gingham tablecloth with plain crockery than on a starched white linen cloth laid with cut glass, bone china and polished silver. Read more »

Once you have settled on a venue for your party you will need to address the issue of providing refreshments for your guests. Many venues will cover the whole thing in-house and the best venues will give you sound advice and offer a range of menus to suit your budget.

However, under certain circumstances, such as a marquee bash or special dietary needs, it may be necessary to bring in outside caterers or even arrange the catering yourself. Food and wine can be a minefield simply because if you or your venue get it wrong, it may spoil your party. Read more »

The success of any party or event can hinge on the style and quality of the food and wine. Whether the menu is simple or grand try to use as many fresh ingredients as possible and you may want to make a point of using local specialities such as salmon, game, venison, beef or even local wine. Follow our menu game plan and you won’t go far wrong.

Always consider your budget. If you are slightly restricted don’t spend a lot of money on too many expensive items such as foie gras or canapés, which are not very filling. Go for a good homemade soup followed by Read more »