Long gone are the days where pubs were simply a place to get a beer. Most pubs are now also known for their food, and many are also known as gastropubs that specialise in food. If you are going to work in a pub as a caterer, choose one that is known for its food already or, alternatively, choose one that is up and coming where you will have the chance to make your mark.

Look for chef and catering work that is being advertised in pubs. Make sure you have a thorough conversation with the owner so you know what to expect and will be able to work out what you need to get from the position. If you will need any training to work in this kind of environment, let them know but emphasise your enthusiasm for the role. This will really help you to stand out for your passion for food.

A chef can be a great asset to your business. If you work in catering and hospitality, there are some standards that only a chef will be able to meet. If this is the case for you, then getting a chef may be the only answer.

As someone who values your customers, you need to give them the quality they will expect in your establishment. If you are serving food, a chef or a caterer will be required. Make sure the person you take on is qualified and knows their way around a kitchen. You can’t serve your guests anything that isn’t up to scratch, or they just aren’t going to be willing to pay for it.

Hire a chef by choosing someone who is going to be able to help your business grow. Choose someone who is going to be able to support you by working the hours you need and who can manage a kitchen.

As a professional caterer, the bigger the job the better. This means more money and business for you, and it will further your reputation as a caterer who can serve quality food to their clients. If you need some help getting to grips with larger parties, here is some general advice:

• Practice makes perfect. Don’t go in cold. Make sure you have cooked the dishes numerous times and know them inside out.
• Plan. You could even go so far as to make a cooking timetable. Know exactly what you need to do, and by what time.
• Have a variety of dishes to hand. Give your clients a choice of what they would like to eat and make sure all your dishes are good quality.
• Don’t make it too complicated. A souffle may be a great showpiece but it’s not ideal to feed 300 hungry people at a large event. Cook appropriate food.

Professional catering is a great career for people who love food, cooking and entertaining. It can be incredibly different to hosting a dinner party though, so how do you know if it is the right career move for you? Here are some of the key points to consider:

• You will need to study at college. There are various food preparation, hygiene and cooking courses on offer. You can specialise in different areas but should be able to do this once you have some experience and know which parts of cooking you enjoy.
• It will require long, hard hours. You will be working weekends and evenings in the kitchen. Be prepared for this.
• You have to be passionate. You will need to be able to demonstrate a genuine love for food in order to get onto a course.
• Practice. Cook whenever you can and go into it with new food combinations and ideas.

Professional cooking is very different to simply cooking a meal at home. If you want to become a professional caterer of chef, there are some things you will need to know about the industry. Here are some pointers for you:

• Hygiene is so important. You will always wash your hands before cooking of course. When you work in a professional food environment though, everything needs to be completely hygienic.
• Food types will need to be kept separately. This will ensure that nothing is contaminated and people with allergies can safely eat the food you prepare.
• You will probably not cook an entire meal. Different people in the kitchen will have different responsibilities, so you might be preparing vegetables or making sure the finalised dish is presented properly, rather than cooking it from start to finish.
• Teamwork is essential. You will need to consult with your fellow chefs and waiting staff to make sure food is exactly as it should be.

If you are holding a mobile party or any other event in any part of the UK, you should consider having mobile bar equipment. With such equipment, you can be assured that your event will be a success regardless of the venue where you will be holding it. Depending on the requirements or needs of your event, there are different types of equipment you can decide to have. You can have simple to the complex ones depending on your budget and other factors. Below are some of the most common equipment you need to have in your event or party.  (more…)

Dealers of firewood for sale online offer larch wood in different conditions. If you want seasoned larch that you can use immediately, you can buy it. Or if you want semi-seasoned larch that you want to store for use next year you can buy it too. And you don’t need to hunt for another dealer for kindling and briquette. You get all of it from the same online dealer. And imagine that you can shop for all of this sitting at home. Whatever you buy online will be delivered to your doorstep. And depending on the amount of firewood that you buy you can save on delivery charges too. (more…)

Lots of people are now choosing a vegetarian diet, both for health and sustainability reasons. Luckily, it is very simple to cook for them as there are so many different textures and flavours that you can use.

There is a great variety of meat-replacement products that you can use to replicate meat in your cooking. Many of these are made from different kinds of proteins and can give a very satisfying flavour and texture. Just check with your vegetarian friends or clients first, as some may not like the taste of meat.

Vegetarian cooking relies on herbs, spices and other ingredients to create flavours so it can be a good way to experiment and learn about what works well together. You will be able to use foods like cheese, cream and stock if you want to achieve depth of flavour and a satisfyingly rich dish. There are so many options and combinations to try.

Whether you’re holding a dinner party for some friends or you’re a professional caterer, the presentation will be an essential part of giving your guests the perfect culinary experience. If the presentation is right, they are far more likely to enjoy what they are eating.

The kind of presentation you choose will, of course, depend on the types of food being served. However, even if it is a casual buffet, there is still a lot that can be done with your presentation. Consider serving food on wooden boards rather than the usual disposable platters – they will be easy to clean and they are practical, but they will look elegant as well.

It’s often the case that simplicity is key. Don’t go overboard with your presentation and just make sure your food looks delicious! A presentation that is too fussy will end up distracting people and they won’t get the most out of what they are eating.