Payne + Gunter has delivered a culinary showcase, catering for the ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ gala to mark the 60th anniversary of The Duke of Edinburgh's (DofE) Award and raise money for the Charity.
The event drew a stellar list of actors and actresses associated with the Bond movies, including Dame Judi Dench, Sir Roger Moore and Joanna Lumley, who were treated to a menu inspired by ‘an event that Bond himself would have attended’
Guests enjoyed lobster mousse, lobster jelly, smoked trout gravadlax, saffron dressing, quails egg, caviar, fennel crisp for starter and wellington of slow cooked rib wrapped in brioche dough, roast fillet of West Country beef, summer vegetable pearls, wilted cabbage and celeriac puree for main.
Dessert consisted of wild strawberry pannacotta, heirloom strawberries, lychee and champagne sorbet, camomile essence, vanilla seed tuille and champagne pearls, with coffee and diamond truffles to round off the dining experience.
Payne + Gunter also catered for ‘Trinity Tide’, an annual two-day event which saw HRH Princess Royal re-elected as Master of Trinity House. Trinity House is a charity dedicated to safeguarding shipping and seafarers, providing education, support and welfare to the seafaring community.
‘Trinity Tide’ began with a dinner for 86 guests, followed by a formal lunch for 135 the next day after the re-election of the Master of Trinity House and a service at St. Olave Hart Street Church.
Lunch consisted of carpaccio of seared fillet of Herefordshire beef with baby plum tomato, bocconcini balls, basil dressing and balsamic pearls to start, followed by herb crusted Scottish salmon, tenderstem broccoli, seasonal beans, confit grilots and roast new potatoes. Dessert took a different twist with iced gooseberry parfait, strawberry gel, sugar coated almonds and toasted marshmallows.
Bethan James, head of operations at Payne + Gunter, commented, “Events such as ‘Trinity Tide’ and the ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ gala dinner give us the perfect opportunity to showcase what Payne + Gunter is renowned for: the ‘Best of British’. They are occasions we massively look forward to, full of prestige and history, and one where our teams always rise to the occasion to deliver show-stopping food.”