Green and Graham

And taking centre stage… a Giant Homemade Pork Pie with the Bride & Groom’s initials!

This sumptuous “picnic” themed wedding took place at an equally gorgeous Sussex venue, Hollybank House, a listed country house with a stunning 10 acre garden in the beautiful town of Emsworth – where coast meets countryside. What a feast, what a location!

Wedding guests loved the fact that this was so different to normal wedding fayre – wicker hampers groaning with a variety of our homemade breads and homemade pickles and just look at that pork pie initialed with the name of the bride and groom! Another triumph!!!

Location: Hollybank House, Emsworth
Wedding Catering: Mesdames Green & Graham

Inspired by an Italian Olive Grove…

Inspired by an olive grove owned by the family in Italy, Claire and Peter Langley-Smith’s wedding had an authentic Italian theme, which made for a wonderful wedding in Lavant last weekend.

The food reflected the flavour of Italy with risotto balls, parma ham, carpaccio of beef in evidence together with the smell of barbecued lamb and roasted potatoes cooked with rosemary drifting across the lawn. Sumptuous! The sun shone and guests enjoyed sipping prosecco in the garden before moving into the marquee for the wedding breakfast.

Photography: Lucy Tanner
Wedding Catering: Mesdames Green & Graham

A Night of Charity Fundraising and Burlesque Dancing!

We are delighted to have been a part of the recent Bookmongers Fundraiser at Rebecca Hossack Gallery to raise money for two wonderful charities – The Christina Noble Children’s Foundation and CYPPD (children and young people’s protection and development) – and who will donate a library bus to the National Museum of Mongolia who will run it as the first of its kind in the country.

THE BOOKMONGERS team will be driving from England to Mongolia to raise money for these great causes and yes, that is 12,000km and they are not mechanics nor do they speak Russian!

It was a night of food, drink, live music, burlesque dancing with a raffle, auction and Mongolian photo experience at the wonderful Rebecca Hossack Gallery. Our lovely team were on hand for the evening with food and drinks and amazingly not a single drink was spilled despite all eyes being on the incredible dancers!

Event Catering: Mesdames Green & Graham
Location: Rebecca Hossack Gallery

French themed Reception Party at the Peter Harrington Gallery

It’s not often we get the sheer treat of working in a kitchen adorned in antique maps and cartoons by famous illustrators – and a very welcome change to staring at Topps Tiles finest kitchen tiles it was too!

This exclusive event was for a Private Preview for “The French Impressionists and the School of Paris” exhibition, featuring prints and drawings by Picasso, Renoir, Dali and Matisse (amongst many more), which will be on display at The Gallery at Peter Harrington (formerly Old Church Galleries) in London SW3 from 17 March – 15 April 2011.

Mesdames Green & Graham were asked to create a French themed food offering befitting of the artists being showcased. On the menu; steak et frites, confit of duck with cassoulet, crevettes and fine wines. An enjoyable soiree, not only for the guests but also the workers and such a great atmosphere.

Event Catering: Mesdames Green & Graham
Location: Peter Harrington Gallery

Fiesta Menu – Mojitos & Tortilla Wraps

February seems to have been quite the party month for G&G; from launch parties to art parties to afternoon tea and formal dinners with some of the UK’s celebs and most influential business types but we’re sworn to secrecy so alas cannot name names – sorry. Well, we had another great (work) night out at the Rebecca Hossack Gallery this week that we wanted to share with you…

Mesdames Green & Graham created a pop-up Mexican bar complete with tortilla wraps, mixed bean salads, moreish spiced dips and enough tropical fruit and mojitos to keep the party (or should I say fiesta?) in full swing into the early hours. The bar went down a storm with both curators, artists and guests alike. A lively art event featuring the work of Esther Nienhuis, Peter Clark and Angus McDonald with music by DJ Aaron Fitzgerald.

Event Catering: Mesdames Green & Graham
Location: Rebecca Hossack Gallery
Music: Aaron Fitzgerald

Fuelled by Watermelon Martinis & Bubble n’Squeak Patties!

Mesdames Green & Graham were thrilled to be contracted to cater for the recent party to celebrate the launch of acclaimed jockey, Paul Nicholls’ new book “Lucky Break”, which was held at Thomas Pink in Jermyn Street, London. Guests were fuelled by watermelon martinis from London’s premier cocktail specialists, Bar Eclipse and our legendary bubble n’squeak patties with ham hock and pea puree – a dangerous combo! But the food helped soak up the booze so we hope there weren’t too many hangovers at this fab party!!!

Two odd coincidences made us giggle that night: 1) the venue had a mechanical horse, which seemed rather apt given the event and 2) we managed to grab a few pics of the lovely G&G team and noticed, when looking back at the photos, that the front of house staff are all blonde while the kitchen team are all brunette – an unintentional but highly amusing coincidence that has become a bit of a staff joke. We’re not colourists, honestly!

Event Catering: Mesdames Green & Graham

The Jolliest Wedding of them all!

We’ve just had the honour of being a part of an unbelievably stunning wedding – one of the jolliest we have ever had the pleasure to do. The Tithe Barn in Ditcham was the wedding venue, an awe-inspiring and striking edifice for any occasion but especially for weddings. And this one had a complete Welsh choir and plenty of Welsh guests who were even singing on the dance floor. We’ve never experienced such good ol’ sing-song at a wedding nor such hearty encouragement to join in, which we did.

Driving home, through a crystal clear night bathed in bright winter moon and lighting up deer dashing through the pine trees and humming “there’ll be a welcome in the vaaa-aahl-leeeys”… lovely wedding, lovely people, lovely night. Perfect.

Location: The Tithe Barn
Wedding Catering: Mesdames Green & Graham

‘Tis the Party Season!

December is a month of charity events, mulled wine by the tanker full and more mince pies than a nationwide W.I. convention. After all these years I have become quite accustomed to the “party season” however less so the guilt of coming eye-to-eye with a reindeer having just served up a dish of melt-in-your-mouth venison. Ugh. I felt hideously guilty about serving Foods Place delicious Stansted venison after seeing this beautiful Lapland reindeer trotting through SW1 in my direction. Such is the guilt of the chef but nothing another glass of mulled wine won’t alleviate I don’t doubt but awkward nonetheless.

Anyway, as I’m sure you can all imagine this is one of the busiest times of years to be in private catering so, on behalf of the Mesdames Green & Graham team, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you the very warmest of Season’s Greetings right now before I fall asleep in front of the fire after a long day and many a party night ahead!

Only a few more sleeps and then it’s holiday time – Merry Christmas everyone! See you in 2011.

Pssst! Tea with the Queen?

Well, not quite but we have just returned from a very royal tea in London with a very royal person and another VIP VIP – we kid you not! Our curtsies are definitely improving, which is no mean feat in catering clogs that’s for sure! Enough scribbling now or I may just let the secret out. While we are often deemed to be running around like headless chickens in this industry, I certainly don’t fancy being separated from mine just yet. Off with her head – umm, no, thank you ma’am!