Ampersand Events wowed clients and guests with a spectacular menu that launched an exciting, interactive dessert concept, ‘Artist’s Palate’, at an exclusive dinner staged for its Guildhall, London client, confirming its reputation as a creative, innovative event caterer.
The inspiration of Ampersand Event’s executive chef Glyn Wiltshire, the cutting-edge menu was at the heart of the event designed to showcase the commercial potential of the prestigious venue in the City of London. The Ampersand Events team transformed the Guildhall's Crypt into a beguiling and unforgettable ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ experience centred around the menu that pushed culinary boundaries to engage and excite guests’ senses and stimulate lively discussion.
The spectacular ‘Artist’s Palate’ dessert provided an amazing menu finale. It empowered guests to unleash their creative sides as they were served a white artist pallet, apron and paintbrush. On presentation of the dessert table, they enthusiastically decorated their own white glossed desserts with an array of colourful and delectable edible gels in paint pots and paint tubes.
The inspirational menu also featured an amuse bouche of pea and goat’s cheese trifle followed by an innovative starter of beach bass with potato stones. The mist-shrouded iced eucalyptus granita enhanced the magical atmosphere as it cleansed the palate in readiness for the main course of grass fed beef and warm herb buttermilk. Guests were invited to flavour their buttermilk to their own personal taste with herbs of their choice snipped from the fresh herb pots arranged beautifully on the tables.
Working with partner suppliers for the Guildhall, Ampersand Events also transformed the Guildhall's Crypt to transport guests to a magical setting. The imaginative use of stunning lighting by Light Motif, illuminated trees from Twilight Trees UK, beautiful flowers courtesy of Lavender Green and befitting furniture from Great Hire, worked together to create a truly enchanting ambience. The Scarlet Divas added to the atmosphere with spine-tingling opera and ballet dancers from Sophie Adams Dance.
Richard Meyer, group general manager at Ampersand Events, said, “We were honoured to be selected by the Guildhall to put on this very important showcase event and what a fantastic night it was! Our ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ theme was unique and exciting and really set us apart from the other catering partners.
'The menu captured the essence of Shakespeare's famous play, drawing guests into an exciting and enchanting culinary experience that showcased our creativity and the inspirational talent of our executive chef, Glyn Wiltshire, and his team. The ‘Artist's Palate’ dessert was a phenomenal success. Our client and guests embraced the opportunity to design their own desserts and it had people talking long into the night.
“The event successfully showcased what the wonderful venue can offer from a commercial perspective, and it also enabled Ampersand Events to show that we are so much more than just another event caterer. We are creators of exquisite bespoke food, wine and service delivered with passion, imagination and a flair for innovation, befitting of each individual client’s needs.”
Jade Harrison, diary and business development manager at the Guildhall, said, “Ampersand Events team went above and beyond at the #MidsummerintheCity showcase. It was such a slick operation and we could not have done it without the incredible support from Kate Ayre, head of sales, and her team at Ampersand Events. The atmosphere, the food and the feedback has all been outstanding. The Guildhall events team continues to be completely in awe of what was achieved by everyone involved last night!”