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Onion & potato soup, charred spring onion, truffle — Onion & potato soup, charred spring onion, truffle

When networking is five star fun

I’ve just had a really fun Saturday evening at Pennyhill Park. Dressed up as toe-curling ‘networking’ evening it was actually a really delicious dinner with a group of like-minded, passionate people in the food industry.

The brainchild of Duncan Garland at Rhubarb Food the evening was a real treat hosted in the private dining room, known as The Chefs Table of the Latymer restaurant during Etch Food’s residency pop up.

The attendees were a wonderful group of people from all walks of foodie life… Daniel Galmiche - former Head Chef at the Michelin starred Vineyard at Stockcross, now consultant and author of Revolutionary French Cooking and French Brasserie Cookbook; Lavinia Davolio, founder and owner of the delicious and beautiful Lavolio Confectionery; Francesca Booth of Dandylion Teas; the bombastic and funny Alison Trerotoli from The Pop-Up Deli sourcing authentic products from Italian nonnas; Lucy Trice, events manager at the magnificent Hedsor House; and Duncan Garland, General Managerfor the Royal Ascot Racing Club for rhubarb Food Designand very talented food photographer. Duncan brought us altogether and is an expert in his field. What he doesn’t know about the little details which make an event special, isn’t worth knowing. He managed to expertly match us all. Perfection.

The menu was a tasting menu by Steven Edwards and Josh Stanzl, the talented duo who have created Etch Food. The food was to die for, from start to finish. We started with a potato soup with charred spring onion and truffle with marmite bread and seaweed butter. Steven and Josh are both Sussex lads and enthuse about the produce from the South Downs and coast. Cured and flamed sea trout, picked beetroot, horseradish followed and then a lovely dish of Sussex lamb showing off both rump and shoulder with a beautiful lamb and rosemary sauce. Two puddings arrived, the first a light honey parfait and poached rhubarb, followed by a rich chocolate ganache and Guinness icecream which paired beautifully with the Coffee Frangipane tea from Dandylion Group.

It was such a fun evening and everyone hit it off so well – I know there will be future collaborations from this group!

What do women and water have in common?

I was so pleased to be invited to an event hosted by water charity FRANK, at Carousel, one of London’s hottest event spaces for chef residencies and pop ups.

On the eve of International Women’s Day 2016, FRANK Water joined forces with Carousel to host some of the UK’s best-known women chefs, speakers, writers and broadcasters to raise and much-needed funds for FRANK Water’s safe water and sanitation programme in India where it is women and girls who are responsible for collecting enough water for their families to drink, cook and wash with. This daily chore is all-consuming. Women often walk up to 5km to collect water, several times a day. They are sometimes at risk from attack and are put under intense pressure in the summer months when the springs dry to a trickle and they MUST find water elsewhere to keep their families from going thirsty. It stops girls from attending school and women from earning a living.