Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

As we grow very close to the end of the working week and Christmas is almost upon we would like to wish you all a wonderful festive season and New Year.  From all the team here at Creative - EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY and we look forward to seeing you in 2013!!

Partytime

A very merry time was had by all at the Creative staff party last week.  Kicking off with drinks, ice skating and tummy turning rides with the team working at Winter Wonderland, the party really got started out on the town in our glad rags but we will save you from those pictures! Here's a few early ones while we're looking at our best!

Christmas at Brooklands

Brooklands Museum are all ready for a busy Christmas party season with a wonderful 8ft Christmas tree and upgrade entertainment packages including virtual racers and giant scaletrix!  If that's not enough to get the party started the menu will excite any festive palate! With all the traditional favourites, including Norfolk Roast Turkey Crown and Classic Christmas Pudding with Brandy Cream as well as Loin of Venison served with Spiced, Braised Cabbage and a Thyme Jus or for the sweeter tooth a Clementine Bavarois with Dark Chocolate Sauce and White Chocolate Ice Cream the guests are in for a treat!

http://www.brooklandsmuseumhospitality.com/christmas_parties.htm

Creative Partner Profiles - Aspall

Aspall Cyder has been made at Aspall Hall by the Chevallier family since 1728.  Today the business is run by the 8th generation of the family and also produces apple juice, cyder vinegar and apple balsamic vinegar... but that's not all... perfect for the days like today Aspall produce a wonderful mulled cyder too.  A great twist on the classic winter warmer, made from Draught Suffolk Cyder and blended with rich mulling spices to create a delicious flavour reminiscent of bittersweet toffee apples.  Perfect with some crackling or a hog roast and we will be serving it everyday over the chilly, festive period.  JOY!

www.aspall.co.uk

Winter Wonderland

It's nearly that time... the time to don your woolly wardrobe in preparation for Hyde Parks' fabulous Winter Wonderland! Once again, Creativevents are operating the Traditional English Food Village and the Star Tavern, offering delightful festive fayre including Hog Roasts, Roasted Chestnuts, Mulled Wine and Hot Chocolate.  The team are working hard in the chilly conditions to get our huge timbered food village built and ready to go for the opening next week.  Watch this space for some more news on this years event but in the meantime here are some pictures from previous years to get you in the spirit!  

A 'Pop Up' Christmas

Today sees the opening of Earls Courts 'Ideal Home Show at Christmas'.  Our team are busy running 12 catering offerings with a number of 'pop ups' including a Roast Carvery concept, Festive Pub 'The Dukes Head', a number of on floor coffee pods and our Timothy Knowles Coffee and Bakehouse.  

'Sunday Dinner for a Soldier'

Ceremonies will be held all over the UK this Sunday to commemorate the contribution of servicemen and women during the two World Wars and more recent conflicts.  A very special occasion and we have been supporting the Poppy Appeal in all our outlets.  Don't forget to pay your respects in the 2 minutes silence and why not enjoy a hearty lunch with all the family afterwards?  Named after the 1944 motion picture 'Sunday Dinner for a Soldier' we think our slow roasted rib of dry aged Speyside beef and Yorkshire pudding (to be served with all the trimmings and a horseradish cream of course!) is very fitting for the occasion.

Busy Baking

Nicola, who looks after our CPU has been busy... the smell of these fabulous scones fresh out of the oven was far too tempting!  By now they will be in pride of place on the National Army Museum bakery table.

We've Got The Spirit!

It couldn't be a better day to visit Olympia for the Spirit of Christmas Fair.  Crisp and cold outside with the sunshine pooring through into the Grand Hall and this morning has been all about the coffees and mince pies!  Our baristas made over 3,500 speciality coffees yesterday and today looks set to be just as busy.  See you at the Champagne Bar for lunch?



The beautiful Grand Hall

Light flooding into The Orchard

The first festive displays of the year



Our baristas hard at work



'Trick or Treat?'.... Definitely Treat!

Whether you're preparing for a long night of 'trick or treating' or just fancy a treat of your own, how about a delicious welsh rarebit made with Tremains Organic Cheddar from the award winning High Wield Dairy in Sussex, washed down with a glass of Wells and Young's Bambardier.  Happy Halloween!

No Beef for the Baby Show!

Its big bumps galore at the Earls Court Baby Show today, and retail therapy works up a substantial appetite!  Unfortunately for the bumps, rare beef is off the menu during pregnancy so you won't find this delicious Highfields Farm roast beef sandwich with horseradish and celeriac rémoulade and rocket in our fridges.  If you're as keen as us to get your hands on one there is another chance... come and visit us at Spirit of Christmas at Olympia next week where you will find plenty to treat your taste buds!

Posh Pizza...

With pizza now a $30 Billion industry in the USA it's not surprising they have their own 'National Pizza Month'!  To celebrate with our American friends this October we have created the perfect seasonal British tribute to the classic.... A flat bread with slow roasted shoulder of pork, Russet apple, Cropwell Bishop stilton, cracklings and watercress.  Delicious!

The Perfect Cure

A 'proper' bloody mary

There might be a few delicate heads for those enjoying themselves at the final George Michael concert at Earls Court last night...  What better way to cure it than with a 'proper' bloody mary, a favourite in the Member's Bar at Brooklands Museum!

Brooklands Museum Press Launch

 

Following a recent 5 year contract extension with Brooklands Museum, Creativevents held a Showcase Launch at the venue last week to showcase the fantastic results of a £200,000 hospitality refurbishment programme in the 105 year old Clubhouse. 

Guests were invited to see the beautifully transformed rooms and facilities, take guided tours on board Concorde, enjoy trips in vintage cars and even attempt the quickest lap on the scaletrix!

The 1920's themed cocktails were flowing and guests were served canapés and bowl food from platters themed with miniture cars and planes.  The sticky toffee was our favourite and of course the wonderful goodie bags to take home!

http://www.eventmagazine.co.uk/Events/article/1154598/photo-gallery-brooklands-museum-clubhouse-launch/

Special guest Tiff Needall opened the new facilities

The Iconic Concorde

Miniture chocolate marquise with chantilly cream and a biscotti crumb

Guests enjoying some Brooklands Gold Star from the Hogsback Brewery

Dont worry about the rain... We'll drop you off to Concorde on the bus!

Scaletrix.. ready steady go!

Mini apple and blackberry crumble tarts

Preparing for George...

Some snaps from the canapé tasting at Earls Court

Its all go for Creative Taste at Earls Court Exhibition Centre today in preparation for the George Michael Symphonica Concerts over the weekend.  All 18 bars and food outlets are built and stocked, the staff are ready to go and our chefs are busy preparing for 16,000 hungry fans per night...not to mention the VIP canapé reception!  Here are a few sneaky shots from our tasting session...

.. And we're off!

Creative Taste is our way of keeping in touch with the growing band of food lovers who are keen to experience our world!  Like most of our friends, we get incredibly excited about tasty food, interesting and quirky event concepts and memorable social experiences, and in our line of work we certainly get our fair share of these!  Creative Taste is a snapshot of our world – it won’t be too wordy because none of us have enough time, in fact you should be able to digest our ramblings between tube stops..... So we hope you enjoy some of the unforgettable moments in the world of Creative Taste.