12 Sept 2011

Thank you

Dear Julie,
Just to say how absolutely magnificently everything went last night. Maurizio was amazingly supportive to me, and so was everyone else. It was quite clear that each person had been carefully trained, and they all did so much to make the whole evening the success it was. The service was superb, and everyone was full of praise for the food, even one very senior television executive who goes to such things all the time. As someone else with lots of experience of entertainment (ex-head of the Publishers' Association) said to me today, "not only delicious food but stylish as well"... I've been enormously impressed by your grip and attention to detail and willingness to do that bit more ... It's little things like always acknowledging e-mails quickly and giving up time to talk, and coming yourself to check that things would be all right."
All my thanks, Helen

Wedding Menu Inspiration: English Elegance at Fulham Palace







Canapés:
Wasabi seared beef and watermelon with pickled ginger
Smoked haddock soufflé in mini jacket potato
Brick pastry parcels of artichoke hearts, parsley and lemon
Broad bean falafel with pecorino and a fresh mint dipping sauce

Start:
Asparagus trio, asparagus vichyssoise, petit salad
with quails eggs and asparagus torte and homemade herb bread

Main:
Roast fillet of sea bass on a parsley potato cake
with Frascati lemon broth cassoulet of peas and beans

Desert:
Warm molten chocolate fondant served
with poached pears and vanilla bean ice cream

1 Sept 2011

Thank you


Dear Tony,

We really can't thank you enough for all your hard work last Friday. The set up and management of the entire day was exceptional, and all the staff were fantastic - helpful, friendly and smiling all day.  It far exceeded my expectations, it really was fantastic.  Many guests also commented on the fabulous service and staff.  As to how you got away in the evening, I don't know....those remaining guests looked pretty settled!

I can't say how impressed we've been with you, Tony, and Bovingdons generally, you're part of a fantastic organisation, and I won't be able to recommend you enough.... we were made to feel as though it was the most important day for everyone involved. 

Thanks again for all your efforts on our behalf - I can honestly say it was the happiest day.

Hopefully paths will cross again, one day.

Warm regards
Alison

30 Aug 2011

VOWS - Get Your Tickets Now! - 11th October 2011


We are delighted to announce that Bovingdons will be the catering experts at a brand new, very exclusive wedding event called VOWS on 11th October 2011 in London.


VOWS - Visualise Our Wedding Secrets


VOWS
is the brainchild of Chelsea Bidwill of Beyond Weddings, a bespoke gift list service, who has joined forces with wedding planner Sarah Ducker from SJD Events, to bring together the best of the wedding industry with brides-to-be and couples. The objective and vision is to bring together experts for this exclusive wedding event which offers something completely different. There are no obligations, brides-to-be can share in a wealth o
f industry knowledge, ask questions and receive advice in a relaxed environment, all without the sales pitches and overwhelming handfuls of fliers often received at traditional wedding fairs.

"We are bringing together experts for this exclusive wedding event which offers something completely different. Where there are no obligations, brides-to-be can share in a wealth of industry knowledge, ask questions and receive advice in a relaxed environment, all without the sales pitches and overwhelming handfuls of fliers often received at traditional wedding fayres."


VOWS is strictly a non selling event, it's an opportunity for brides and couples to meet some of the country's top wedding experts, chat informally and receive exclusive advice and hints.


Tickets at £15.00 are available online at www.vowsblog.co.uk.


A taster of other suppliers attending the event, to just name a few:

* Caterer ~ Bovingdons Catering
* Photographer David Burgess from Blink Weddings
* Wedding stylist Lynn Crean ~ London Wedding Dress Finder
* Cake Designer ~ Hall of Cakes
* Champagne House ~ French Bubbles
* Calligraphy / Stationery ~ Paul Antonio Scribe
* Pre-Nuptials ~ Fisher Meredith
* Wedding Coordinator ~ Siobhan Craven-Robins
* Photographer Julia Boggio ~ Julia Boggio Photography
* Lighting expert Duncan Owen ~ Effect Event Lighting
* Florists Jaqui and Fiona ~ Lifebloom Floristry 
* Jeweler Patrick Wyatt ~ Patrick Wyatt 

20 Aug 2011

What a team you all make...




What a team you all make...

We had the BEST day ever thanks to you and we’ve included some of the comments below but none of it would have been possible without your support throughout
.


Julie, you were totally my rock from start to finish...  I loved your honesty! Tony, you were a tremendous support on the day and you seemed completely calm from the start and it was a great relief to know that Laura and Benita were always at the end of a phone line.

from Mr and Mrs Baldwin


5 Aug 2011

Political Event at Leighton House

Dear Julie,
I just wanted to write to say a BIG THANK YOU for last night. Everything went perfectly – and your whole team was exceptionally friendly and efficient.
I also really appreciated your complete flexibility right up until the last minute – it made everything so much easier.
Thanks again, and best wishes,
Head of Events, Policy Exchange
Menu
* Ricotta cakes with slow roasted vine tomatoes and basil wafers
* Fresh pea tarts with minted crème fraiche and pea shoots
* Cucumber boxes filled with a feta, mint with purple shiso cress
* Mini bagels of smoked salmon and cream cheese
* Quails egg Royale – brioche, smoked salmon and hollandaise
* Baby new potatoes with smoked haddock soufflé
* Rare roast beef served on watermelon cubes with pickled ginger
* Bowls of hot Cumberland sausages with honey and mustard
* Wraps of spring chicken with fresh mango and spinach
* Waffles cones of lemon and raspberry mousse

14 Jul 2011

Fabulous London Marquee Wedding Part 2: The Menu



Amuse Bouche: Bloody Mary shots
Start: Vodka cured salmon tian with avocado, mascarpone and micro shoots
Homemade herb, lemon and wholemeal bread 
Carved at the TableRoast Loin of Pork, stuffed with apricots and sage, rich cider jus, apple sauce, mustard and crackling 
Shared: Dauphinoise, Roasted beets, carrots, fennel, red onion and zucchini, Fine French beans, shallots and garlic
Desert for the Girls: Sicilian lemon Cheesecake, shots of passion fruit jelly
Passion fruit marshmallows and chocolate dipped strawberries
Desert for the Boys: Molten chocolate fondan, Harrow mess
Chocolate dipped strawberries


13 Jul 2011

London Marquee Wedding Part 1: The Style

This wedding was an absolute delight to cater for. Essential to its success was an incredibly fun, relaxed couple, their lovely (seriously lovely) guests, a fabulous marquee in a London square and a very well behaved Jack Russell.

To get a sense of how wonderful it was, you really should watch this video: (by DreamCatchers) http://vimeo.com/25966691


Let me set the scene: the couple were owners of the most adorable Jack Russell and in his honour, each of the tables was named after a breed of dog (Labrador, Spaniel, Dalmatian) and decorated with a canine topiary master piece – I have never seen anything like it, it shouldn’t have worked but it really did.

The couple wanted a “interactive and fun but still formal” menu so we opted to create stuffed pork loins that could be carved at each table by a specially chosen guest. This was kept a surprise from the “chief carvers” until they found a personalised chefs hat, apron and a knife at their place setting. The couple also wanted an element of tongue-in-cheek (lots of vodka) and to finish with a separate desert for girls and boys: dark and masculine vs light and fruity.

Venue: a Marquee in St Peters Square, London
Photographer: Capture It http://www.captureit.co.uk/
Videographer: Dream Catchers http://www.thedreamcatchers.co.uk/

7 Jul 2011

The Pantry - Nonsuch Mansion Cafe

Some photos of our latest venture, The Pantry, a little cafe besides Nonsuch Mansion. Fresh food, good company and delicious coffee.




Our famous Millionaires Shortbread.





2 Jul 2011

July Big Picture

The recent wet weather had a dramatic and rather beautiful impact on the marquee of one of our favourite venues Fulham Palace

16 Jun 2011

Your ideas made a huge difference...



The marquee at Fulham Palace full of people fundraising for the F.R.O.D.O. children's charity event.


Dear Julie,

Your team did the most wonderful job last night for our event.  Tony was terrific.  All the staff looked great and were so professional. The food was (as I already knew!) delicious. 

I cannot begin to thank you enough, however, for your creativity, wise advice and generosity.  All of your ideas made a huge difference - the room looked amazing with the bowls of fruit (scavenged  by guests as they left!) and the coloured napkins, the different flavoured champagne cocktails went down a treat, the games all worked really well and everything contributed to the guests having a hugely enjoyable.  

We shall be singing the praises of Bovingdons for a long time.  And I can't wait for another opportunity to work with you.

Thank you so much.
Vanessa Cummings
Chief Executive


(Photo by Lloyd Dobbie)

15 Jun 2011

F.R.O.D.O. Spring Ball Menu


Start
Individual ravioli of new season asparagus with herb emulsion and micro shoots
Served with home made herb breads and butter

Main
 Slow cooked belly of pork with crisp crackling carved at the table
Served with green beans, baby leaf salad and Boulangere potatoes
with apple sauce and a rich cider jus

To Finish
Passion fruit jelly and chocolate mousse with home made passion fruit marshmallow
Carpaccio of fresh pineapple with mint
Coconut pannacotta with a coconut tuille