Once again the hog roast Ilmington team was asked to provide the catering for another large celebration, in the village. This time, it was a family party to celebrate a 75th birthday, and a 40th wedding anniversary, that brought us back to this lovely Cotswold village.
Despite the fact that the village is home to under a thousand people, it is still an active place, with a strong sense of community.
The main event, a seated meal for 80 people was held at the village hall, which was fully renovated just a few years ago. This renovation was mainly paid for using funds raised by the residents of Ilmington, just one example of the way this small community pulls together to get things done.
The modern kitchen gave us plenty of preparation space to plate up the food that our experienced team of chefs and catering staff prepared. It also meant that we were able to leave some of our heavier catering equipment back at base, which was a big plus for our catering team.
We were asked to provide a sit down meal for 70 guests, so recommended Menu 4. A few of the guests had special dietary needs that needed to be accommodated, so we adapted the menu slightly to make sure there was more choice for these guests. Given the fact that some guests were visiting from Asia we were particularly pleased to be complemented on the Thai elements of the meal, and the courteousness of our staff.
For some, it was the first time they had been served a traditional British style hog roast. They clearly enjoyed the theatre of seeing a whole hog being cooked, sliced and served at an indoor event, as well as the taste of the succulent meat.
Full silver service was provided, for the party that was held at lunchtime. Later in the day, another party was held at the home of the host, which was attended by around 100 guests all together.
We were not asked to provide a waiting staff for this evening party. Instead, we provided a full buffet, and cooked a second hog. This time the meat was served traditionally in soft rolls with stuffing and applesauce. Again, the efforts of the hog roast Ilmington team seemed to be appreciated, with many guest complementing the selection of food, and the way it was presented.