St Giles House, Dorset - Pop Up Dining
Weddings are a seasonal affair, running from mid-April through to the end of September. Our season is usually booked up 12 months in advance, so 2023 is sold out and we’re halfway through selling 2024. Which means, by the beginning of April this year, we know exactly what canapes, starters, mezzes, main courses, and puddings we’re cooking every week for the next 25 weeks. So spontaneous, it isn’t, meticulously planned, it is.
The Pop Ups however are a completely different kettle of ball games. They are an opportunity for us to cook what’s inspiring us right now and pass on that excitement to our loyal diners. Plus they happen out of season, so they keep us occupied and inspired. It’s also a great opportunity to put some lovely fish dishes in front of customers, who we know are going to love them. Fish is a really difficult sell at a wedding, which as an avid pescatarian, I find hugely disappointing.
We’ve been talking about hosting one at St Giles House in Dorset for quite a few years now. The original plan was to bring in Gill Meller as the guest chef and have Andy Weatherall as the guest DJ, downstairs in the nightclub to entertain guests after the meal. But that was about five years ago and Andy has sadly passed away since, whilst Gill is massively busy ploughing his own furrow. Plus we’re not sure if raving until 4am in a hot, confined space would be the best way to follow an epic four course supper.
We like to try out new dishes at the Pop Ups, it’s a good way to test them out. Obviously we test them out before putting them on the menu, but cooking them for 100 guests means we can check we have all the details right for when they go on sale to clients at future weddings. The ingredient quantities, the cost, the prep and cook times. Where most cookbooks say the recipe feeds 4, it usually feeds 5 comfortably and often 6.
The other great thing about the Pop-Ups is they give me an opportunity to get out front and say hello to the enthusiastic throng that comes along, expectant as always. The dishes people will savour at St Giles House, will go on sale for events during 2024, so we won’t be cooking them again for at least 15 months. But we’ll be back in front of our lovely punters in November this year when, who knows what we’ll be cooking, but hopefully it will be something you remember for years to come.
If you would like details about any of our Pop Ups, or our St Giles House Pop Up, or wish to discuss food at your event please contact us