London Caterers – The City that has the Cream of the Catering Crop As London is, generally speaking, the UK’s main hub of business and industry, of arts and media, and of course of events and society, it makes sense that London Caterers are at their very top of their game. Competition within the catering field is fierce in the city – and with such a great deal of event business up for grabs, London caterers have to be creative and forward thinking at all times, in both their product and their service. Whether its waiting staffing in branded and colour coordinated uniforms, the finest vintage wines and the most expensive champagnes, trained mixologists and cocktail barmen, sushi chefs, towering wedding cakes, or even showgirls and circus performers, the best London caterers need to be able to provide it all. Of course there are hundreds of smaller, more budget and more family run catering companies in the city too – companies that are ideal for catering at a small family christening or birthday bash, costing a few hundred pounds – but there is no doubt that it is in the high end business and corporate event market that London caterers really have to up the ante. At a charity and celebrity gala for thousands of people the catering alone can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, so the variety and scope within the industry is enormous. Often with the larger events and bespoke bashes, London caterers work very closely with some of the country’s leading event organisers and party planners too, such as Banana Split or Bentleys Entertainment. These companies excel in providing real wow factor – and work with every supplier going – want to project a picture on to the houses of parliament? Book Beyonce to perform after dinner? Or have your swimming pool turned into a glass dance floor for the evening? These companies have the contacts and address books that can turn every dream into reality. The most well known London caterers, such as Alison Price, “rhubarb” food design, The Admirable Crichton or Urban Caprice work in the top end celebrity market, but even that side of the industry is extensive, with almost 20 high end catering companies in London alone. Some London caterers have relationships with celebrity chefs now too – Gordon Ramsay works closely with Absolute Taste to provide that extra chef presence – but of course the best London catering companies ensure they have the best chefs anyway. Many of the “rhubarb” chefs for example have won awards or have run their own prizewinning restaurants, and all – from canapé right through to pastry – are at the top of their game. It is these chefs and often a team of menu designers too, whose responsibility it is to make sure that menus are changed seasonally and regularly to reflect food trends, and that, overall, the catering industry reflects how important food is to the discerning people of London.
After that comes the style of London caterers – food stylists, decoration and design managers, in house florists, in fact some of the catering companies based in London have made their food an absolute art form. Towering ice laden piles of seafood may greet guests when they enter a room, miniature versions of British classics constructed into tiny mouthfuls are served from petal strewn perspex platters, oriental china bowls of delicately scented curry garnished with glittered orchids, cakes and pastries served with tiny ice cream cones in a rainbow of colours, again, nothing is impossible. Most good catering companies can work in varying venues, and of course London can provide the perfect choice of those too – museums and galleries, courts and castles, parks, palaces and public spaces. A sit down dinner in a marquee in one of London’s oldest squares, a champagne reception on board a super yacht, or a gala for thousands in Waterloo station – London caterers are adept at setting up, cooking and serving in any space, anywhere. Whatever kind of catering you are looking for, there is no doubt that you can find it in the UK somewhere, but if you are looking for the high end luxury caterer, adept at feeding royal families, film stars and the business world’s highest flyers, then London is where you need to be looking… - By Sara Allom View Source: Rhubarb Food Design – London Caterers