Cooking up a Storm with Spook London

Since the ease of lockdown rules on the 21st of May, events have slowly been coming back and our diaries have been filling up with bookings for all kinds of celebrations. Covid has brought with it a mind shift on how we engage not only with people but the spaces we occupy and the food we eat. In light of this, we spoke to Clare at Spook London, who put together a wonderful list of top trends in the catering and events industry for 2021.

Farm to Fork

Over the past few years, there has been a focus on farm-to-fork menu options. “We have seen an increased interest from our clients in bringing more natural and sustainable produce to their plates from events spanning from laidback weddings to large corporate parties,” says Clare. “Spook’s ethos focuses on sourcing locally and seasonally and we have found that more and more clients are coming to us for this reason.” The Farm to Fork trend is taking on a new resurgence as the supply chain has been heavily impacted by the pandemic. This may mean more expertly prepared dishes featuring bright, beautiful fruits and vegetables that celebrate the season – and we’re totally into it!

Foraging

From foraging to fermenting and from eating offal to cooking ancient grains, 2021 sees a return to our heritage as traditional methods and forgotten foods are brought back into the mainstream. “Foraging elements from the wild and including them in dishes is something that we at Spook don’t take lightly. Our chefs head out to pick whatever forage the season has to over and include them in our dishes. Try our Three-cornered Leek Gnocchi picked from Londons very own Dulwich Park.”

Outdoor cooking

Chances are, we’ll be seeing fewer indoor weddings and branded events for 2021. Outdoor activities are becoming more popular and with it, outdoor-inspired menus. Clare says, “One of our favourite trends for this year is outdoor fire feasts. Think wild, locally sourced, foraged food, cooked on an open fire on a golden sandy beach. The alfresco feast offers simple yet flavoursome menus all geared around the seasons. Menus of flame-grilled lobster, coal-roasted veggie sides and indulgent puddings, paired with delicious wines. The mood is relaxed and friendly, with food slow-cooked over a fire and leisurely served throughout the evening. Fire feasts move beyond the typical BBQ and enter a whole new realm of luxury, we can’t wait for more bookings like these.”

Check out our work with Spook at Millie & Consti’s wedding, which was featured in Vogue Magazine.

Photo by Spook London, Words by Spook London