I work freelance for a business that’s located walking distance from where I live. A few weeks ago I invited the director of the company and his partner to dinner. We had a lovely night as the director’s partner and I discovered we had a lot in common with both of us having a nursing background and both raising teenagers and both having daughters graduating from school in just a few days and much more besides.
Scallops with Caviar
Over the dinner table we were able to talk about formals and formal dresses and graduation ceremonies and getting your driver’s licence and that dreaded event called ‘schoolies’ and tears and tantrums and the stress of exams and it was like sitting across from someone walking exactly the same path. It was a wonderful evening that couldn’t have gone any better.
Out of focus pork wontons
Last week that couple became engaged and announced it to us on Monday morning. Everyone who knows them is super-excited for them. One of the partners in the business, a bachelor, wanted to express his congratulations by having some drinks on Friday night for all staff (plus the freelancer!) and he, the bachelor, would provide all the catering. (This is not a food-related business!)
Pan-fried haloumi
The drinks were held in the office and the director/bachelor doing the catering had his challenges as the kitchen is tiny and not fully equipped as there’s no oven. But with a large non-stick electric frying pan he managed to create a great range of canapes.
Japanese Gyoza
I managed to attend the party in between dropping Alfie at Sea Scouts and then having to leave early to collect him from Sea Scouts so wasn’t there to witness all of the food but I just wanted to show you how this small office celebrated the exciting news of a well-suited couple announcing their engagement.
Lobster with seafood sauce
I have to apologise for the shoddy images. The bachelor/director is a generous and warm soul but he turns into Gordon Ramsay in the kitchen. I had to steer well clear of his special space so could only photograph the canapes as they were on the move from the kitchen to the boardroom.
Drinks on ice
Lamb and mint sausages with tzatziki
Every bride-to-be needs beautiful bouquet of flowers
The detail around the flowers
The flowers came from floral craftsman, Matt Bisaro. Stunning!
And that was a lovely start to my weekend.
He really gave it a good shot with the presentations in spoons but kind of fell down on the haloumi platter. 🙂 And the differing cuisines covered were a nice treat. Loved the flowers.
http://a-boleyn.livejournal.com/
Congratulations to them! I would’ve said yes with those scallops!
How exciting. A great event, with food to match,
It looks like a lovely start indeed. I love the idea of serving on the spoons, clever and convenient…
http://www.picnicatmarina.com
Isn’t it funny when normal people turn crazy in the kitchen? We met a guy like that-lovely, except if you were cooking with him! 😛 We steered clear and waited in the dining room for the food 🙂
I d love the lobster and the sauce, looks very very attractive to me. What I love of your country is openness towards multi cultural food. I wish folks where so open here around.
I think so I am bit like that guy in the kitchen. not like gorden, but more like a dangerous person. I can not cook when somebody is around, I tend to make mistakes… Thats a confession, dont tell anyone! 😉
For a minute there I thought you were going to say that you catered the meal. That lobster looks delish. So fun to share in other’s happiness via this feel-good story.
Wow … Look at all that food 🙂
What a lovely array of food. I never would have thought to have served the lamb and tzatziki in an Asian spoon, but it works perfectly. And the flowers! Nice!
What a lovely party, I live the Asian spoons, do elegant to serve bite sized morsels in. Sorry but I’m having to contend with shoddy Internet service in Budapest and its very frustrating. Sometimes it takes 6 minutes to post and then it times out! Argh!
I meant LOVE not live!
Haha I love that he is so sweet until you meet him in the kitchen – reminds me of… Me 😉
Lovely canapés though and sounds like an awesome evening!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
http://gobakeyourself.wordpress.com/
Oh Charlie, I thought this was going to be another event you’d have to cater for! The canapés look great on the Asian spoons. I might have to try that. Glad you had fun, between Sea Scouts! GG
This is much more festive than my office would be! How fun. Congratulations to the newly engaged couple. 🙂
I was wondering if you meant Archie or Arabella when I saw the post title! So glad it wasn’t, and that it was the two people who were obviously meant to be.
Nice looking food, and so lovely to have someone cook for you for a change 🙂
Love the food presentation in the Chinese soup spoons. I have that color lentil rose (last photo) in my garden. Will try making an arrangement like that when it is in bloom next spring.
Norma Chang, http://gardentowok.com/
I love the appetizer-style presentation. Everything looks so delicious.
Looks like a fun get together!
Looks like a fantastic variety of food to prepare in a tiny kitchen with no oven. Halloumi, lobster, scallops–I would have been a very happy guest!
I know. It’s amazing what he was able to turn out from such a small space.
Love those spoon treats. Not too much, just enough
That must have been quite a party. The food look delicious even when you had to capture them on the fly. I am sure you wouldn’t like to get in the way of Gordon Ramsay. The life of a freelancer isn’t all that bad, is it?
The life of a freelancer is pretty good really. I love being able to work from home yet pop into the office when they have something on like a drink’s party!
Ooh, what decadent little taste explosions – scrumity!
🙂 Mandy
I’m eyeing that plate of pan-fried haloumi!
Yes, the haloumi was delicious. It has to be one of my favourite cheeses.
There are alot of spoons going on at this party! Was someone constantly washing dishes or did he have plenty to go around? I love the idea of the spoons and do have some but only use them for very small gatherings. After seeing all these great ideas, I’m going to have to get me more spoons!!
Yes, Linda, lots of spoons and the bachelor/caterer was also washing up all the spoons then re-filling them with some new appetiser. It did keep things neat and tidy. I need some of these spoons too!
What an immense amount of work to get all that out without an oven. All of it looks delicious.
I’m glad your friends have decided on a forever together. I love weddings.
I love weddings too. Such happy occasions.
Thank you for your kind comments and I would add two things:
1. I am the bachelor, cook, and washer up and I find it much easier to have the kitchen too myself.
2. When doing so many dishes on the – run it (plus washing spoons at the same time) it is much easier to think alone and yes, I’m a male with extraordinary multitasking skills.
As they say – if its not broken don’t try and fix it!
Why, is it that women hate cooking yet when someone else is happily doing it they insist on getting in the way?
Hard to believe you’re still a bachelor with such extraordinary skills! And boss of the company too! PS. I don’t hate cooking. 😉
I was very happy for you to do the all cooking and all the washing up; that left me plenty of time for drinking. And women don’t hate cooking, they just hate men interfering in the kitchen.
How exciting I love an engagement! I’ve never thought to present something like the lamb meatball/kofta on a spoon or little ramekin. Very clever indeed and no dipping!
Oh how sweet of the co worker to put on the drinks and nibbles 🙂
LOL!! At the co worker defending himself below 🙂
Insert – the words The Boss! 🙂
Yes Robert, I’ll be sure to correct Julie next time I see. You’re not the ‘co-worker’, you’re the ‘boss’. How silly that we all forget xx
I’m kind of into engagement type news at the moment so this post title grabbed my attention and I am very, very happy for them 🙂
This is fun to see! I love the idea of the little spoons with just a taste in each one, and although it was probably somewhat practical for the amount of space provided, that must have been quite a bit of work just setting up! But lovely. And isn’t it nice to be excited for others as they launch into a whole new phase of life!
What a gorgeous spread 🙂
Wonderful food and wonderful flowers.