Introducing our new TK Artisan Bakery at Olympia!

Why not stop by at our new TK Artisan Bakery located within the charming Pillar Hall of
Olympia Exhibition Centre. We’ve made it personal by joining our TK brand with
the Artisan Bakery which has a lot of history behind it. We have some great stories to tell……

Timothy Knowles, a Creative ancestor, had four bakeries in Yorkshire and Manchester back in the 1880s. The joke at the time was that TK used to make the best ‘TKakes’ – we have his original hand-written recipe books so we’ll be recreating these and many more treats for our new bakery.

We’re also having a lot of fun hunting down props and adding the finishing touches that, with the food displays, will bring the bakery alive.

Piled high with just-baked morning pastries, lunchtime tarts, crisp wholesome salads and
handmade sandwiches – plus delicious cakes and treats for the all-important afternoon tea,
it’s a lovely spot to meet throughout the day in a relaxed and comfortable environment.
Our homemade lemonade is a must! See you there!

A Butchery Masterclass with Executive Chef, Bruce Wilson

There's nothing like a hands on butchery masterclass with a group of chefs to bring added inspiration to autumn menu planning. And that's exactly what Bruce Wilson, our Executive Chef and Alex Hall, Group Head Chef had in mind when they brought together their band of chefs from each of our sites last week.

 

Bruce shared his in-depth knowledge about different cuts of meat, talked about all the different cuts of pork and also how to fillet different types of fish. It was also a great opportunity for all our chefs to integrate, share their ideas and discuss how we can make the most of the wealth of local suppliers available to us.

The chefs finished their day with a trip to Brixton Market to check out new street food offers which are becoming increasingly popular and to enjoy a tasty lunch together.

 

 

Creative New Food Concepts

We’ve spent the past few months creating a whole host of exciting new food concepts to enhance eating and drinking for visitors to the exhibitions and outdoor events at which we cater. Inspired by the popularity of street food (we ate our way across every London street food market in the name of research!) we devised a small number of dishes for each concept using the very best ingredients from small producers across the south of England. We let our imaginations run wild with the naming, the dressing and presentation of our vans. Our staff love their new uniforms and their new working environments and the feedback we’ve had from our customers has been fantastic – they love the flavours, the freshness and the theatre.

Sticky Fingers with a menu of braised Hereford short rib and brisket, braised onions and blue cheese served in a toasted brioche bun. Or buttermilk-marinated chicken, deep fried in smoked paprika flour and servedwith a freshly made waffle and maple syrup.

Delicious Vietnamese Banh Mi, Udon Noodle Soup with marinated tofu or Vietnamese Cod, spiced with chilli, lemongrass and corainder, steamed in a banana leaf and served with tam tom salad and vegetable crackers.



Perfect pairings of wine and food. Pork, smoked ham and parsely rillettes, hot roastedand smoked salmon rillettes with dill and chestnut mushroom, garlic and parsley duxelle. All served with cornichons, baby onions, pickles and ficelle.



Spirit of Christmas at Olympia

It's been another fantastic year at one of our favourite shows - Spirit of Christmas and the Luxury Travel Show at Olympia Exhibition Centre.  With lots of new Christmas inspired products on the menu, visitors enjoyed chocolate and orange mochas, gingerbread lattes, savoury breakfast muffins and individually wrapped homemade Christmas cakes.  The champagne bar didn't miss out either, with everyone in the celebratory spirit the bubbles were flowing along with the delicious seafood platters and canapés!

Meet Team Creative - Lindsay Atkinson

Name...  Lindsay Atkinson

Job Title... Venue Manager

Venue... Olympia

Favourite Drink... Amaretto and coke, with a splash of lime

Favourite Meal... It varies, but generally anything with cheese in it or on it

I started working for Creative...  in 2005 whilst studying for my degree. I started out at the NEC in Birmingham working as bar staff, and loved how easily I could save money whilst having fun with my friends. I worked my way up the Creative ladder working in almost every role available!

In a nutshell my role is...  managing and maintaining our catering operation, and maximising opportunities whilst ensuring clients, the Venue and customers are all happy.

On an average day... there is always something to learn and take on board. No two events and organisers are the same and each one requires a different approach to make it successful.

My most rewarding moment...  is this moment right now. I have been given a great opportunity in my new role and I am proud of myself and what I have achieved over the years to come this far.

My most challenging moment... It’s hard to pinpoint one moment as each event provides its own challenges, whether it be developing the right food offering for the crowds at Chelsea Flower Show, ensuring that stock is planned accordingly for an Example concert or maintaining a high level of customer service on the shop floor during a busy run of exhibition events. As we all do in event catering I relish the challenges- it ensures the job never gets boring!

I can't be doing with... people that have no passion and don’t try.

I couldn’t cope without...  a latte every morning!

Best piece of advice... Never let your standards slip.

Meet Team Creative - Luke Barlow

Luke Barlow - affectionately known as 'tt' and therefore the 't' in our creative shoot last year is Creative's Group Beverage Procurement Manager.  He is renowned for his perplexing spreadsheets and of course very popular when the wine tastings come around!

Name...  Luke Barlow

Job Title... Group Beverage Procurement Manager

Venue... Central

Favourite Drink... Good red wine

Favourite Meal... Argentinian asado

I started working for Creative... 
Well my first ever shift was as a bartender in November 2000 at the Newbury Gold Cup.  I worked on a casual basis all through university. Then in 2005, after a year out following my degree, I joined the company full time just as we were beginning our contracts at Earls Court and Olympia Exhibition Centres. 

In a nutshell my role is... 
Deciding what drinks we stock across the business, where we buy them from, how much we pay for them and what we sell them for.  During the summer months a large amount of my time is spent planning the stock logistics of our outdoor festivals and events and managing the relationships between drinks sponsors, Creativevents and the event organisers. 

On an average day...  
It depends what time of year it is.  In the summer it could involve sourcing an ale supplier local to the boutique festival we are working at, or booking eight tankers full of lager for a heavy metal concert.  In the winter it could involve meeting a potential new drink sponsor, reconciling monthly accounts or developing the company wine list.

My most rewarding moment...  
Successfully managing the liquor planning and operation of the Big Chill festival.  The event had 17 different bars most of which were offering completely bespoke drinks menus which meant it was far more challenging than any other festival we had worked at.

My most challenging moment...  
The summer of 2012.  Making sure my areas of responsibility for our regular business continued to run smoothly whilst basing myself at the Olympics to control the drink stock levels of two London venues.

I can't be doing with... 
People who moan and complain without doing anything to change what they have a problem with.

I couldn’t cope without... 
My ipod when I am concentrating on figures.

Best piece of advice...  
It is not the mistakes you make but what you do to put them right.  Always have a contingency plan.

Savoury Delights

Our chefs have been busy bees this week in the central production unit baking delicious savoury muffins ready for a development tasting.  Now we just have to choose which will be served as part of the latest breakfast offering at Olympia.  The parmesan and chive was our favourite!  Try one for yourself at the Pure London Fashion Show opening on Sunday.

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



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!