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The Importance of Local Sourcing in Catering

At Social Pantry, our mission has always been to create memorable food experiences while making a positive environmental and social impact. We know that the most delicious food starts with great ingredients and sourcing local produce is not only the secret to delivering amazing flavour, it’s also a way to support and champion small businesses, celebrate the seasons, and cut down on unnecessary food miles. So, from boosting local economies, to reducing our carbon footprint, we’re exploring the key reasons why local sourcing is so important in catering.

What Are Locally Sourced Foods?

You’ve read it on countless menus, but what does ‘locally sourced’ actually mean? Just how far does ‘local’ stretch and what really counts as a ‘locally sourced’ ingredient?

Definitions vary from business to business and from ingredient to ingredient, but one of the most widely agreed meanings of the term ‘locally sourced’ refers to food produced within 50 to 100 miles of where it’s consumed.

For us at Social Pantry, local sourcing means working with suppliers and producers who operate within the British Isles. While some of our ingredients might come from further afield depending on seasonality and availability, our goal is always to prioritise products that are local, fresh, and sustainable. 

We work with suppliers such as Shrub, Daily Fish Supplies and Neal’s Yard Dairy who each operate a transparent supply chain and do their utmost to source produce from British farms and producers, only sourcing from further afield when absolutely necessary. In the rare case when local sourcing is not feasible, they each order with their environmental impact in mind, buying in full loads where possible, and using more eco-conscious forms of travel.  

Why Are Locally Sourced Foods Important in Catering?

We’re all increasingly aware of the detrimental effect that our food system has on the environment and at Social Pantry we want to be part of the solution, not the problem. We believe that the hospitality industry has the power to make a real difference by making small changes to the way we source our ingredients and run our kitchens in order to reduce our environmental impact. Sourcing our food locally is a fundamental part of this. 

But the benefits of locally sourced ingredients stretch far beyond the environmental impact…

The Benefits of Locally Sourced Ingredients

The benefits of sourcing food locally are multifold. From reducing food miles and minimising environmental impact to creating memorable dishes that are packed with authenticity, flavour and nutritional value, these are just a few of the benefits of using locally sourced ingredients in catering…

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Results In Fresher, Better and Healthier Food

Food that’s transported over long distances is often harvested early to withstand travel and storage time, leading to a loss in both taste and quality. 

In contrast, when fruit and vegetables are sourced locally, they’re harvested at the peak of their ripeness and then don’t need to travel long distances or spend days in storage. This means that by the time they reach your plate, they’re at their very best – they’re more flavourful, more colourful, and even more nutritionally beneficial (since vitamins and antioxidants decline during prolonged storage and transportation).

Supports the Local Economy

Sourcing ingredients locally has a significant economic impact. By buying directly from local farmers and producers, we can help support small businesses and ensure that local food systems thrive. For many local farmers, supplying caterers and restaurants with fresh produce, meat, and dairy is a vital source of income. When local farmers and producers succeed, it strengthens the entire community, creating a more resilient and diverse economy.

 

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Reduces Environmental Impact 

Food transportation accounts for a significant percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions, so buying local is one of the most significant ways that the hospitality industry can lessen their impact on the environment. By sourcing produce locally, the distance that these ingredients have had to travel from farm to plate is drastically reduced, meaning a much smaller carbon footprint.

Small farmers often also favour agricultural practices that support the environment, like regenerative farming. This sustainable approach to farming focuses on revitalising soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and improving ecosystems, in contrast to conventional farming which often depletes resources. So, by choosing local products, caterers are supporting these sustainable practices and helping to protect the planet for future generations.

Encourages Creative Cooking

Working with locally sourced and seasonal ingredients inspires chefs to get creative. Instead of relying on the same-old dishes, chefs can create bespoke dishes that celebrate the local bounty, whether that means experimenting with heirloom vegetables and new fruit varieties, trying unique pairings, or putting a modern twist on regional classics. 

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It’s More Personal 

Drawing on hyper-local, seasonal ingredients can be a great way to add a personal touch to an event. Hosting an event in London? A menu that highlights the very best food and drink that the city has to offer can not only make guests feel more connected to the food, but to the event, the location and the community. Adding details and stories about suppliers on menus also creates a great talking point for guests.

It’s Good for Your Brand

As sustainability becomes increasingly important to consumers, incorporating locally sourced food into your event catering shows that you’re committed to environmental responsibility. More and more, clients are seeking caterers who share their values and prioritise sustainable sourcing. By choosing locally sourced food, you can align your business with eco-conscious principles that resonate with today’s more conscious consumers, helping not only to strengthen your brand’s reputation, but to contribute to a more sustainable future for everyone.

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How We Incorporate Locally Sourced Food in Our Catering at Social Pantry

At Social Pantry, local sourcing has been embedded in every step of our catering process from the very beginning. From the initial menu planning to the finished event, we are committed to bringing local, seasonal produce to every event we cater. Here’s how…

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Building Relationships with Local Farmers and Producers

The team at Social Pantry, believes in building lasting relationships with local suppliers who share our commitment to tackling both environmental and social issues. By working directly with these producers, we ensure that we’re sourcing the freshest, highest-quality ingredients while also supporting small businesses who are doing good for both people and planet. 

These relationships also allow us to access produce that might not be available through larger suppliers, enabling us to offer unique, seasonal items that reflect the best of the local harvest. This could be anything from an unexpected catch-of-the-day from Daily Fish Supplies; a new blend of coffee from the first prison-based coffee roasters, Redemption Roasters; or the latest Sussex sparkling wine sourced by Liberty Wines.

To further nurture our relationships with suppliers and deepen our understanding of their produce, we organise visits, tastings and training sessions throughout the year. This year, Team Social Pantry learned the secrets of British cheese at one of our most local suppliers, Neal’s Yard Dairy, joined a zero-waste cocktail masterclass with Beyond Cocktails and took a fascinating field trip to one of The Ethical Butcher’s sourcing farms, Europe’s first and only B Corp butcher. 

Menu Planning with Local Sourcing in Mind

Our menus are fully inspired by what’s in season, meaning we adapt and innovate based on what our suppliers have to offer throughout the year. This is a really exciting way to develop menus, both for our chefs who are constantly flexing their creative muscles, and our clients and guests, who are kept excited by ever-evolving menus packed full of high-quality seasonal produce.  We run our kitchen with a zero-food-waste-to-landfill approach, so our talented chefs are constantly coming up with new ways to create something delicious out of every element of an ingredient, maximising flavour and minimising waste.

With sustainability at the heart of what we do, our chefs also draw on preservation techniques like pickling, fermenting, freezing, and making jams, chutneys and oils, so that certain seasonal ingredients can still be used year-round. Think Spent Lemon Vinegar Ice Cream atop a dessert, Preserved Wild Garlic Purée piped onto a canapé and Sweet Elderflower Cordial for mouthwatering mocktails.

Or take beetroots as an example – when they’re at their peak, we showcase them in our menus in a variety of different ways, from raw to roasted, but as their season comes to an end, we’ll turn them into chutneys, pickles and gels. As for the leaves, they’re never thrown away – we’ll add them to vegetable stocks for extra earthy flavour, or dry them out and blitz to create an ash, perfect for adding a sweet smoky flavour to vegetables, locally sourced honeys or oils. 

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Using Seasonal Fruit and Vegetables

Seasonality is key when it comes to local sourcing. Fruit and vegetables that are grown and harvested in their natural season are more flavourful, more colourful and more abundant. From the first vibrant pink forced rhubarb of the year, to the juicy strawberries of early summer and the hearty root vegetables of autumn and winter, we make the most of in-season fruit and vegetables in our menus.

Communicating The Value Of Local Sourcing To Clients And Guests 

We want our clients and guests to feel good about the choices they’re making. So, whether it’s highlighting local suppliers on our menus, training our events staff to share details about ingredients with guests, or keeping supplier bios updated on our websites, our aim is to communicate that, by choosing Social Pantry as a caterer for your event, you’re minimising your environmental impact and supporting local, sustainable farmers and suppliers.

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Locally-Sourced Catering in London & Beyond

Looking to hire a caterer who champions local sourcing? Get in touch with our events team today!

Email: enquiries@socialpantry.co.uk

Telephone: 020 8871 1949

Contact Us

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The Future of Plant-Based Foods with JULIENNE BRUNO

London-based food tech start-up JULIENNE BRUNO is working to disrupt the dairy-industry. Their dairy-free, plant-based, fermented fresh cheeses are not vegan versions of dairy-based cheeses. They stand in a category of their own. Social Pantry has always been at the forefront of plant-based innovation. We’ve been creating plant-based menus that use pioneering techniques and simple

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How To Canapé

Canapés are the ultimate culinary signal that this is an occasion to savour. They serve a variety of purposes. From stimulating appetite to satiating hungry guests. Encouraging people to drink more whilst also preventing them getting too tipsy. Giving people an opportunity to roam and around interact with one another to helping guests relax by

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10 ways to keep your employees happy in 2023

Swap Al Desko Dining for a Communal Table In 2014, Oxford Dictionary added the phrase “al desko”. This makes eating at your desk sound rather more fancy than the reality of scarfing down a sandwich whilst responding to emails and attempting to chip away at tasks. Not only is this shown to be unproductive, it

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No and Low Alcohol Alternatives Are Here to Stay

It starts with Dry January Almost nine million people are planning to go alcohol-free for Dry January. Studies show those who do Dry January often drink less in the long run having had a taste of sobriety. Plus drinking in general is on the decline. 26% of 16–25-year-olds are teetotal, setting themselves up for lifelong

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Regenuary: A Growing Movement

You’ve no doubt heard of Veganuary. But have you heard of Regenuary? What is Regenuary? Unlike the self-explanatory rules of Veganuary, Regenuary is a more nuanced approach to thinking about the impact of our food choices. It is a movement that began as a response to Veganuary by Glen Burrows, co-founder of The Ethical Butcher.

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Monogramming: a sustainable style trend for 2023.

Personalisation was one of the biggest trends of 2022, but monogramming takes this up a level. Social Pantry speaks to London-based specialist monogramming business Initially London about all this sentimental and sustainable style trend. Tell us a bit about Initially London… Initially London is a specialist monogramming business. We are experts at creating really beautiful

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Ditching the drinks brands doing us dirty

At Social Pantry, we’ve been busy greening our operations, with the aim of ensuring any third-party products we stock are as thoughtfully chosen as the ingredients found on our fresh, local, seasonal menus. The first thing we’re tackling is our drinks offering. For us, sustainability goes beyond packaging, so as well as prioritising glass and

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A Sustainable Start to 2023

Our sustainability consultant, Nash Gierak, shares her ideas for enjoying a sustainable start to 2023. After a month of festive indulgence, most of us go into hibernation mode in January. It’s a great time to pause and make the most of this traditionally quiet month to reflect on your plans for the year ahead and

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The Ultimate Sustainable Christmas Gift Guide

Whilst the shift in recent years towards aiming for a more sustainable Christmas has typically been something to celebrate, many of us are feeling the pinch this year especially sharply. The cost of living crisis would seem to make sustainability and frugality less of a conscious altruistic choice and more of an economically-dictated necessity. For

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Sustainable Tips for Seasonal Splendour

We love the magic of the festive season here at Social Pantry, and we love it even more when we can protect the planet without compromising on elegance and tradition. Embrace the Christmas spirit and try out some of these charming ways to spread some cheer! The 4-gift Rule “Something they want, something they need,

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How To Build The Perfect Cheeseboard

Amidst the general mayhem and challenging logistics of getting Christmas dinner on the table, a cheeseboard stands out as beacon of no-stress simplicity. It’s the same logic that has seen grazing boards and grazing tables triumph as one of the biggest food trends for occasions ranging from cosy girls-nights in and no-cook dinner parties to

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Luxury Without Excess: Ditch The Bird

Until now, a sense of tradition has kept turkey on the Christmas table, despite it being notoriously a source of stress when it comes to cooking and a major financial output for what’s often thought of as the least exciting part of the Christmas dinner, begrudgingly eaten for days following the main event. The explosion

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Luxury Chocolate with Pump Street Chocolate

Why spend £7 on a bar of chocolate when you could buy a bar for less than half that price in your local supermarket – even one that appears top of the range and promises luxury and indulgence with seductive marketing and deluxe packaging? Not all chocolate is created equal, and it turns out that

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Introducing Luxury Without Excess

This Christmas, Social Pantry will be offering our take on “luxury without excess”. Think zero-waste recipes and sustainability-focused menu concepts, resourceful styling suggestions and upcycling ideas, ethical gift guides, money-saving tips and other resource-saving tricks to help you enhance your Christmas experience. Join Social Pantry in the countdown to Christmas by following the blog and

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Everything You Need to Know about Alex Head’s, Founder of Social Pantry, Wedding Day

After founding Social Pantry over a decade ago and catering hundreds of weddings since then, the day finally came for our founder Alex Head to tie the knot. On 21st October 2022, Alex Head and George Hampson got married, marking one of the most significant moments in Social Pantry history! Having spent her career ensuring

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Q&A with Sarah Turner, Head of Development

We sat down with Sarah Turner, Social Pantry’s Head of Development to talk about her background and how she came to lead the kitchen into a new style of food and menu development. When did you first start cooking? My granny was a chef and I’ve always loved cooking and just love food. When I

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The Food Almanac: Social Pantry in Conversation with Miranda York

The Food Almanac: Volume II is an annual, seasonal collection of recipes and stories celebrating the joy of food specially commissioned by Miranda York, founder and editor of At The Table. This dazzling, diverse mix of memoir, history, short stories and poems alongside recipes, cooking tips, menus and reading lists showcases some of the most

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Going for our Accreditations: Becoming a B Corp Caterer

Social Pantry is no stranger to social issues. Having been a notable ex-offender employer since 2015, it’s in the company’s DNA to go above and beyond and drive change where it is much needed. This is something I considered deeply when I came on board as their dedicated sustainability consultant in 2021. It’s why I

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7 Ways with Pumpkin: Zero Waste Recipes

Nothing says autumn has arrived quite like the abundance of seasonal squash and pumpkins this time of year. Synonymous with Halloween and Thanksgiving, this edible and decorative crop is everywhere –  brimming from PYO patches and greengrocer shelves, lining our streets with glowing carved faces, appearing on menus in sweet and savoury dishes and painting our

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Best Christmas Party Venues of 2022

The Christmas countdown has already begun and it’s time to start planning your Christmas party! Of all the preparations to begin early, booking a venue should take precedence as its common for popular venues and dates to be snapped up weeks, if not months, in advance. Social Pantry is a recommended catering provider for over 38 unique

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How To Create a Planet Friendly Workplace

Turning a new leaf As a hangover from our school days, many of us treat September like the real start of the year. As the leaves turn, so do our thoughts. We set goals and make resolutions with the aim of upping our productivity, taking better care of ourselves, and creating better habits. By now,

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Cooking with Jeremy Lee: Recipe and Conversation

Jeremy Lee, British celebrity chef and chef proprietor of Quo Vadis, is one of Britain’s most loved chefs. The voice of a thespian, the heart of a lion, a warmth that fills the room and generosity that knows no bounds. Famed for his peerless smoked eel sandwiches, golden crusted pies, pitch perfect martinis and exceptional

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Every Last Crumb with James Ramsden: Recipe & Conversation

Every Last Crumb is a collection of thrifty, delicious, resourceful recipes designed to make the most of your bread, minimise food waste and inspire creativity from chef, food writer and cookbook author James Ramsden. James is one half of cult sandwich shop Sons + Daughters and co-founder of innovative Hackney restaurant Pidgin which serves a

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Wilderness Festival 2022 : Celebrating Our Natural Larder

In this blog, Social Pantry Sustainability Consultant Nash Gierak recounts the ideas and take-away messages from ‘Celebrating Our Natural Larder’ – a panel discussion chaired by Clare Finney, featuring Sam Buckley, Harriet Mansell, Will Devlin, and Nash Gierak at Wilderness Festival 2022 on how we can make the most of British and locally grown ingredients.

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Recipe: No Churn Coffee Stracciatella Ice Cream

Coffee and chocolate are two luxury commodities people often cite as not being able to live without. They also represent two of the most lucrative, environmentally and socially impactful industries after crude oil, which means how we source and consume coffee and chocolate can make a huge difference to the planet and the people involved

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12 Sustainable Staycation Summer Activities

The post-pandemic trend of staycations is here to stay and with that brings plenty of summer activities to add to your bucket list. Staycations became a means of escape and survival in the face of travel restrictions, and in doing so, many people discovered the joys and conveniences of holidaying on home turf. Staycations tend

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10 Celebration Cake Makers We Love

They say a party without a cake is just a meeting, and whilst we cater those too, we think things are a lot more fun when cake is involved. We love working alongside ultra talented and creative cake makers to arrange spectacular celebration cakes for our clients. If you love cake as much as we

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Plastic Free July 2022 with Sustainability Consultant Nash Gierak

Plastic Free July is upon us again! It’s a great way to dip your toes into what it means to live a zero waste lifestyle and is an annual refresher for those of us already familiar with planet-friendly living. Founded in 2011 by the team behind the Plastic Free Foundation, the movement has gone on

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Your Contract Catering Questions Answered

At Social Pantry we believe that what we do every day matters more than what we do once in a while, and whilst we are professionals in throwing spectacular once-in-a-lifetime events and celebrations, we are also masters in the art of everyday seasonal, sustainable, delicious dining options. This is where our contract catering options come

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What Are You Bringing To The Picnic?

“Everything tastes better outdoors” in a saying that resonates with us Brits. The great British picnic is emblematic of so much we are known for as a nation – our optimism at the first signs of a sunny day and stoic dismissal of signs of grey clouds or impending rain; the make do and mend

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Sustainable Coffee: How to Make Each Cup Count

As the saying goes, what you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while, and with over 2.25 billion cups of coffee consumed daily worldwide, it’s important that we make each cup count. Whilst Social Pantry specialises in helping people celebrate once-in-a-life-time events in sustainable style, our journey to becoming

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The Best Gardens to Host a Party In

Nothing says English summertime quite like a quintessential garden party. We are a nation of green-fingered garden lovers, with a fancy for the finer things in life and the quaint traditions associated with British garden parties. When it comes to choosing your perfect outdoor party venue, there is so much choice – from manicured lawns

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How to Host the Perfect Garden Party

With balmy temperatures, glorious sunshine and a summer of post-pandemic fun on the horizon, there has never been a better time to host a garden party. In our previous blog post, we discussed why al fresco dining is here to stay, and how trends in outdoor events reflect people’s renewed appreciation of both food and

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Al Fresco Dining is Here to Stay

Britain’s longstanding love of the great outdoors has taken on a distinct culinary flair over recent years. Many of Britain’s most iconic meals and food scenes typically take place outdoors, with quaint English picnics, fish and chips or Cornish pasties enjoyed on the seafront, afternoon tea served in the garden, cricket match teas and sports

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How to Feel Your Best on your Wedding Day: Interview with certified Intuitive Eating counsellor and registered nutritionist Ela Law

Many people see their wedding day as one of the most important and special days of their life, and at Social Pantry, we go above and beyond to curate and cater the perfect day. However, we are also very aware of the pressure that many women feel to look their best on their wedding day,

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Press: Time Out, Hounslow’s Offender-Run Prison Cafe

We are absolutely delighted to have been featured in Time Out as part of their Love Local campaign highlighting the independent businesses that make London such an exciting, dynamic, progressive and inspiring city. In this article, Social Pantry founder Alex Head spoke about what led her to work with offenders and tackles the stigma surrounding

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Seasonal Eating with William Dee, chef and author of The Food Year

Seasonality is at the heart of what we do at Social Pantry. We take a zero-waste, root-to-leaf approach to cooking, working exclusively with the best seasonal, local and sustainably sourced produce whilst forming long-lasting relationships with growers and makers that practice regenerative agriculture. Social Pantry forms part of a new wave of chefs looking beyond

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How to Host the Ultimate Zero-Waste Event

It can be tricky to be ‘the host with the most’ whilst trying to waste less, but it’s not impossible! Sustainability is at the forefront of everything we do at Social Pantry, and we are well on our way to becoming the first zero-waste catering company. We recently hosted ‘An Evening of Zero Waste’ in

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Bridal Beauty with Florina Indries, Senior Medical Aesthetician at Linnaean

At Social Pantry we specialising in serving seasonal, sustainable and stylish food at beautiful events and weddings that place equal importance on ethics and aesthetics. We work alongside industry-leaders who share our values to deliver the perfect experience for our clients and ensure sustainability is at the forefront of everything we do. Linnaean is a

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St Patrick’s Day: Robin Gill’s Beef, Guinness & Bone Marrow Pie

Dublin-born chef and restauranteur Robin Gill is best known for transforming Clapham into a culinary destination and bringing amazing modern Irish cuisine to London via his award-winning restaurants including Darby’s, Bermondsey Larder, Sorella, Rye By The Water and The Zebra Riding Club, and formerly also The Dairy. Robin has also been a longstanding supporter of

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Design Restaurant by Social Pantry

Design Restaurant, by Social Pantry, an exciting new partnership with Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, is opening in March 2022 and will launch to coincide with London Design Week 2022, 14 –18 March. Design Restaurant by Social Pantry will be located in the Design Avenue, a stunning architectural space at the heart of the world’s premier

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10 things you don’t need on your wedding day

Planning a wedding can be overwhelming. However, for everything you do need to organise, there are things you can do without. Social Pantry has over ten years of experience planning weddings on every scale, so we’ve learnt a thing or two about what matters most, and what you can get away without. Less can be

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Social Pantry chef Amy heads to zero-waste restaurant Silo

Our chef Amy has just returned from a stage at the world’s first zero-waste restaurant, Silo. If you’re not familiar with the term, a stage is an internship that a chef takes to experience different kitchen environments and be exposed to new techniques. We invest in our chef’s long-term growth and development and support them

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Social Pantry asks top chefs about romance in the kitchen

Whether or not you buy into the adage “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”, there’s no denying that food is often at the heart of relationships.  It is a powerful means for bringing people together, both as we gather around the table to eat, and because of what sharing food signifies.

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Recipe: Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Zero Waste Pesto

These hasselback sweet potatoes with ‘whatever’s in the fridge’ zero-waste pesto are the perfect January dinner – super simple to prepare, delicious and satisfying, packed full of nutrients and a very economical way to transform cheap, widely available seasonal ingredients or whatever needs using up, into something special! Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Zero Waste Pesto

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What are meal deals costing the planet?

10.7 billion items of packaging waste Our ‘grab and go’ lunch habits generate 10.7 billion items of packaging waste every year according to research by environmental charity Hubbub. That’s 276 items per person. The average lunch purchase results in upwards of 6 items of packaging. From sandwich and salad containers to crisp packets, dessert pots,

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22 moments to celebrate in 2022

What a year! As 2021 draws to an end, we wanted to welcome in the New Year by looking ahead to 22 moments we’re excited to celebrate in 2022! Next year’s calendar is bursting with highly anticipated events such as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the return of Glastonbury, the football world cup, as well as

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Eco Star Signs: What 2022 Holds for You and The Planet

Not sure what the future holds for you and for the planet? Whilst the stars and the planets may align, they do little to help us in the fight against climate change. It will require conscious, committed intervention on our part if we want 2022 to be a year of positive climate action. Find out

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Seasonal Recipe: Brussel Sprouts Tacos with Smokey Chipotle

This Brussel Sprouts Tacos recipe is perfect for using up any remaining sprouts whilst closing the door on Christmas dinners and heralding in a new season of fresh, flavourful and wholesome cooking! Pan-frying the sprouts gives the outer leaves an addictive crunch, and layering these tacos with smokey chipotle soured cream, tangy quick pink pickles,

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10 ways to use up Christmas leftovers

Some people simply can’t get enough of Christmas leftovers. They seem to look forward to constructing the ultimate Boxing Day sandwich and eating a random assemblage of festive foods for weeks to follow even more than the main event. Lovers of Christmas leftovers might even consciously over-cater to ensure they have sufficient leftovers to make

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The Perfect Christmas Tree with Pines And Needles

The Christmas tree is up and looking magical over in our beautiful cafe and event space, Crane’s Kitchen. This year, our tree has been kindly provided by Pines and Needles – a British brand with Scottish heritage and a leading grower and retailer of real Christmas trees in the UK! Pines and Needles was founded by

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Give Back Christmas Gift Guide 2021

Christmas is the time to enjoy a spot of indulgence. However, it’s also a time to show our appreciation to friends and family and extend kindness and generosity to those who are less fortunate. In recent years, Christmas traditions of gift giving and laying on a feast became caught up in capitalist spirals of over-consumption.

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Introducing our Sustainability Consultant, Nash Gierak

Nash came on board with Social Pantry as our Sustainability Consultant in the summer of 2021 as part of our commitment to being the greenest caterers on the block. Since joining forces with Nash, we’ve been reviewing all parts of our business model, from the sourcing in our supply chain, to working on exciting eco-collaborations,

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Christmas Wreath Making Workshops

We are excited to be hosting a Christmas Wreath Making Workshop with Izzi Hudson, founder of sustainable florist Flower and Press, at Social Pantry Café in December! You will have the chance to create your perfect Christmas wreath out of beautiful British foliage and long-lasting decorations, whilst sipping on mulled wine and tucking into a

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Wedding Trends for 2022

This year’s wedding season saw many couples finally tie the knot after a year of cancellations and disappointments. 2021 weddings were all about intentionality in the face of uncertainty. The focus shifted to celebrating love in its purest form, with smaller, intimate weddings being a reflection of couples’ values as well as circumstances. The pent-up

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Social Pantry becomes latest employer to: Ban The Box

We are delighted to announce that Social Pantry has been recognised as an accredited Ban The Box employer! This means we’re removed the tick box from our job application forms that asks about criminal convictions. We’re the leader in ex-offender employment in hospitality, paving the way for other businesses to make the leap. What is

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International Stress Awareness Week, 1-5 November 2021

So you’re feeling stressed? Stress is something we are all familiar with, and study after study show that work-related stress is on the rise. Any job can contain stressful elements, and short-term stress is not necessarily harmful. In fact, a small amount of stress can actually boost productivity and help us perform in high pressure

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Press: Evening Standard, The Sustainables

We were delighted to be featured by Evening Standard as one of the sustainable business pioneers powering a greener future. ‘The Sustainables’ series shone the spotlight on businesses at the forefront of environmental and social sustainability. We were honoured to be featured alongside pioneers of the food and beverage scene. Take Gosnells of London which runs a

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Why You Should Consider A Minimalist Wedding

Here at Social Pantry we like to think of ourselves as quite the wedding experts! Modern minimalist wedding themes are a trend we are increasingly asked about. Minimalism can be a brilliant way to strip away the excess of more fussy traditional weddings to really focus on the elements that are important to you. We

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Social Pantry is awarded the Key4Life YOUNITED Flag

We’re incredibly proud and humbled to be one of the first 15 UK companies who employ ex-offenders to be given the prestigious YOUNITED Flag award from Key4Life. The YOUNITED FLAG award – launched in September 2019 by music legend Nile Rodgers together with crime prevention charity, Key4Life – encourages companies to employ ex-offenders and give

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Five ways office catering can incentivise employees back

Read on to hear how office catering can bring the workforce back together and add something extra special to post-covid office life. Over the last 18 months, a lot has changed in the way we work and the rush back to office life is proving tricky for some companies to promote, after what feels like

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Simon + Emma | A Botanical Micro Wedding

A wedding reception within the ethereal walled gardens at West Green House in Hampshire, for newlyweds, Simon and Emma. Cocktails and canapés in the garden, followed by a 3-course dinner inside the greenhouse and Limoncello cocktails to finish! “I knew as soon as Simon and I got engaged, I wanted to work with Social Pantry

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Toby + Joycelyn | An Autumnal Feast

An autumnal feast to celebrate the marriage of Toby + Joycelyn. The menu Canapes Jerusalem Artichoke Fritter, Chestnut Puree, Crispy Sage (vg, gf) Truffle Mushroom Croquette, Kataffi Pastry, Mushroom Ketchup (v) Cauliflower Puree, Scallop, Hazelnut & Sage Butter (gf) Smoked Salmon, Blini, Horseradish and Garlic Chives ‘Pigs in Blankets’ Sausage Roll Smoked Duck, Toasted Brioche,

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Rupa + Yang | An Intimate Wedding Reception

We helped foodies, Rupa + Yang host an intimate wedding reception for close friends and family in East London. This five course menu was certainly a memorable one – fresh, seasonal and delicious! The menu Canapes Bang Bang Chicken and Puffed Rice Wild Garlic Pesto, Black Sesame Croquette (vg) Flat Taco Corn and Chipotle Chilli

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Remi + Nikki | An Urban Warehouse Wedding

We helped Remi + Nikki host an incredible urban warehouse wedding in the heart of London. The attention to detail was spot on from Nikki’s contemporary dress to the flower cloud decs to the touches of neon that were spotted throughout. Colourful and fun! “On the day, the whole Social Pantry team and Eliza completely

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Our favourite zero waste wedding food ideas

From large formal events to small intimate dinner parties, here at Social Pantry our aim is to always work in the most sustainable, planet friendly way possible, that’s why zero waste weddings are a big focus for us as a London catering service. There’s a lot to think about when considering your wedding reception foods

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How to plan your wedding alcohol allocation

No matter if you’re planning your wedding alcohol for 100 guests or catering for a more intimate reception, planning how much drink to buy for a free bar wedding or even just the toasts can be a bit of a minefield! Running out of wine for your celebration would be disastrous but you also don’t

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Meet Justicia from the new Woolwich Works venue

 Social Pantry x Woolwich Works    Social Pantry work with a number of the finest London venues creating incredible events for all occasions. One of our new venues is Woolwich Works, a newly refurbished venue in Woolwich, Arsenal. If you missed our latest blog on the incredible venue you can check it out here. Not

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How to plan a sustainable wedding

The team here at Social Pantry are quite the experts when it comes to catering for weddings. For the past ten years we have worked on every theme and trend you can think of, but one wedding movement we’re very proud to have championed from the start is the desire for a more sustainable wedding.

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The Covid wedding trends we’d like to last

We can’t say there’s much about the last twelve months of wedding reception trends that we’d like to remember. The uncertainty of ever-changing restrictions on wedding ceremonies and the disappointments that have come with planning a marriage in a pandemic have been something we’d rather forget. But covid weddings have surprisingly also taught us a

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Alex Head x Molly Mahon

Alex Head x Molly Mahon Alex teamed up with Molly Mahon for the launch of her gorgeous new fabric, the hand blocked Lani. It comes with matching napkins or works well with rambling strawberries creating the perfect summer table set up. Alex created a table of seasonal salads for the photoshoot, here is one of

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Supplier Visit: Harrow & Hope Vineyard

Harrow & Hope Vineyard Visit  In May some of our team headed down to the Harrow & Hope vineyard to meet the growers behind one of our favourite British sparkling wines. Holly our Operations Director has reported back on her visit: A hop skip and jump from central London we made our way with the

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Find us at Wilderness Festival: The Wilderness Kitchen!

We’re delighted to announce that Alex, Rich and the Social Pantry team will be cooking at The Wilderness Kitchen as part of Wilderness Festival this year! We’re partnering with Robin Gill, Lee Westcott, NATIVE and Bubala on the first fully vegetarian and vegan feasting restaurant. Wilderness is a four-day boutique festival with Music, The Arts, Food and

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Woolwich Works, Arsenal – new venue listing!

NEW VENUE LISTING AT WOOLWICH WORKS  We are so proud to be one of the caterers listed at the incredible new Woolwich Works venue in Arsenal which opens in September 2020. Woolwich Works is a brand new cultural hub housed in the historic Royal Arsenal buildings, right next to the Thames. The old fireworks factory is

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Seasonal Recipe: Bavette Steak with Parmesan

 Bavette Steak with Parmesan, Pesto and Pine Nuts This Bavette Steak recipe is a dinner party winner if you are entertaining meat eaters who will appreciate this gorgeous cut of meat. This is a cut of meat which used to be called ‘The Butchers Steak’ because it was a cut that butchers would often keep

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Seasonal Recipe: Stuffed Courgette Flowers

Ricotta and Lemon Stuffed Courgette Flowers As we say goodbye to the asparagus season, we are excited to welcome back one of our favourites, the courgette flower. Although we love use different stuffings and flavours for this recipe we’ve kept it pretty damn simple and it works. Enjoyed best with a glass of crips white

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Seasonal Recipe: Affogato

Affogato with Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream We are ready, and waiting, for the summer months and weather to roll on in! This Affogato recipe is simple, a fun crowd pleaser and the perfect after BBQ treat. We’d obviously recommend serving it with Redemption Roasters coffee! The ice cream can be kept in the freezer for

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Hush x Social Pantry

HUSH HOMEWARE x SOCIAL PANTRY  Alex and the Social Pantry team have teamed up with Hush to collaborate on the ultimate giveaway this summer. To win an outfit and home delivered feast for four visit the Social Pantry or Hush instagram. Social Pantry also shared it’s top three alfresco recipes with Hush for their recent

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Rich’s Top Tips for BBQ Season

Rich’s Top Tips for this BBQ Season With the sun starting to shine through, the BBQ season is almost here! We couldn’t wait to start planning some BBQ’s for the summer ahead so we chatted to our Executive Chef, Rich, to find out his top tips on BBQ’ing. Getting prepared in advance will mean you

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Seasonal Recipe: Goats’ Cheese Bruschetta

Goat’s Cheese & Heritage Tomato Bruschetta With summer just around the corner and the world coming back to life, this recipe is perfect as a quick weekend brunch dish or light lunch. We love using heritage tomatoes not only for the colour but so that they dish is bursting with flavour too.   Ingredients (to

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Wedding Drink Trends with The Cocktail Service

Wedding Drink Trends We’v been working with our friends over at The Cocktail Service over the last few years and have loved every minute of it! They not only create incredible cocktails to pair with our menu but also provide us with stylish bars and of course, fantastic mixologists. We caught up with The Cocktail

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Seasonal Recipe: Smoked Mackerel Panzanella

Smoked Mackerel Panzanella Perfect to make a park picnic or weekend lunch that extra bit special. (serves 6)   15 Heritage Tomatoes, difference shapes, colours and sizes 2 Red Onions 2 tbsp Belazu Riesling Vinegar 2 tbsp Lilliput mini capers, drained and rinsed 1 Pack Basil 1 Small Tin Piquillo Peppers, drained and sliced 3

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2021 Wedding Trends, What’s New

2021 Wedding Trends    Last year was, of course, a year like no other for everyone, including all our wedding clients. To say we felt all the emotions over the year is an understatement! We are however very excited about the Summer ahead and enjoying the new 2021 wedding trends. The Social Pantry wedding team is

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Food Trend: Heritage Cooking Recipe

Heritage Cooking At Social Pantry we are hot on food trends and what the best next thing in food is. One trend we are loving is Heritage Cooking, embracing and highlighting culture through food by using historic family recipes that have been passed down through the generations. We often associate memories with food, where you

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Supplier Series: Redemption Roasters

Redemption Roasters – Coffee Roasted Behind Bars    Over the last 5 years Social Pantry has worked closely with a number of companies that share the same values. You might have been lucky enough to have visited one of our coffee shops! If so the coffee would have been roasted behind bars with redemption roasters.

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Seasonal Recipe: Half Roasted Cauliflower

Half Roasted Cauliflower and Rose Harissa Butter This recipe was developed as part of a Falcon Enamelware collaboration we did. It is a very easy and delicious mid week dinner or great for feeding a crowd on a budget. 2 half roasted cauliflower will serve 4 Vegetarian Ingredients: 1 small Celeriac, peeled and finely sliced

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Going Green: Fermenting

  Next up in our Going Green series: Fermenting!  Social Pantry’s  2021 challenge is to lead the way to Zero Waste and getting to grips with the fermentation process will definitely help us! Fermenting is a straightforward and very affordable process to substantially reduce environmental impact as it reduces our costs of controlling resources and discards,

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Going Green: Bee Keeping

Beekeeping!    As a company we are on a journey to learn how to reduce our foot print and increase our sustainability. We’ve been researching to see how we can help. Our latest project is Beekeeping! We are proud members of the British Beekeepers Association and this is only the beginning!   Save bees is

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Supplier Series: Grant Harrington, Ampersand Dairy

Ampersand Dairy Eliza had a wonderful call with the brilliant Grant from Ampersand Dairy earlier this year, we are yet to find anyone who loves their cows just as much as Grant does! We feel privileged to be on his long and distinguished customer list, the butter is truly wonderful. One of life’s great treats.

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Seasonal Recipe: Roast Celeriac Steaks, Artichoke Puree, Pistachio Pesto & Crispy Sprouts (v)

Roast Celeriac Steaks, Artichoke Puree, Pistachio Pesto & Crispy Sprouts (v) Serves 4   We love to serve this alongside roast lamb or chicken as an alternative side to a roast dinner or as part of a veggie feast. I used the leftover outer leaves of the Brussels sprouts we used in a recipe for

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Seasonal Recipe: Freekeh & Roasted Leeks with Cashew (vg)

Freekeh, Roasted Leeks, Crispy Leek Tops, Toasted Walnuts, Dill, Cashew and Tahini Dressing (vg) Serves 4 Freekeh is a delicious grain made from durum wheat. It is widely available in large supermarkets, but this recipe would still work well with other grains or Puy lentils. Just cook them according to the packet instructions. We suggest

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A Day In The Life Of: Sarah, Development Chef

Day In The Life Of: Sarah, Development Chef Silvia, our HR and Culture Manager sat down with Sarah in January and chatted about her role at Social Pantry. Since joining Social Pantry in 2018, Sarah has been a rock within the kitchen and wider company team. She has opened sites with Social Pantry, headed up

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Seasonal Recipe: Forced Rhubarb

Burrata, Yorkshire Rhubarb and Hazelnuts on Toasted Sourdough We are big fans, BIG fans, of forced rhubarb, we love the vibrant pink colour, the taste and how versatile it is. We’ve gone for a savoury rhubarb recipe for our recipe of the month. Serves 2 for lunch or 4 as a starter Ingredients: 2 x

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Richard’s Pasta Recipe

Simple, Easy, Homemade Pasta  Pasta is a staple of ours, at work and in our home kitchens. We’ve asked our Executive Chef Richard Gynn to share his simple pasta recipe with us all so we can do the dinner this valentines! Rich’s Pasta Recipe Serves 4 You will need a pasta machine to roll out

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Social Pantry x Falcon Enamel – January Recipe Series Part 2

This January, Social Pantry collaborated with Falcon Enamel to create five recipes, using seasonal ingredients and minimising food waste. This series of immunity boosting recipes was shared with Falcon Enamel shoppers and subscribers.   We suggest you enjoy this taco as a starter, or add a delicious side salad to enjoy for a seasonal healthy

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Social Yoga & Mindfulness

SOCIAL YOGA  At Social Pantry there is a keen focus on mindfulness and staying physically and, mentally fit during lockdown, so to keep our teams and the wider hospitality industry from feeling blue this winter we opened up our weekly Social Pantry Yoga so anyone can join.  For all of January and February, if you

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Quick and Easy Lunch Recipe

AVOCADO, QUINOA &  CHICK PEA SALAD This recipe is a great lunch staple of mine.  One tip is to make double the batch and keep the grain in the fridge for a couple of days so you can enjoy it over a few days. Feel free to add in any testy bits you have in

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Going Green; Growing your own veggies

Grow your own vegetables Growing your own vegetables is ever so satisfying and a great cost saving if you can do it.  We fully understand that it can be overwhelming knowing how and where to start. We have discovered the brilliant Leyla who is behind the Cutlery Chronicles blog, and we are now feeling inspired and

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A Day in the Life of Holly, Operations Director

A Day in the Life: Operations Director Silvia, our HR and Culture Manager sat down, socially distanced of course, and chatted to Holly our brilliant Operations Director to find out what makes her love her job! Over to Holly:   Here goes… Fuelled by Social Pantry’s awesome coffee (flat white all day, every day) I

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Next Level Pancake Day Recipes by Social Pantry

Let’s Get Excited for Pancake Day 16th February 2021  With little else to do during this lockdown it seems only right that this year we make a real fuss of pancake day! Social Pantry’s Development Chef Sarah has created some of the best recipes for you to cook at home this February. She has written up

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Social Pantry x Falcon Enamel – January Recipe Series

This January, Social Pantry collaborated with Falcon Enamel to create five recipes, using seasonal ingredients and minimising food waste. This series of immunity boosting recipes was shared with Falcon Enamel shoppers and subscribers. We loved this blood orange cake, the perfect seasonal lockdown bake and more fun to make than banana bread! Social Pantry’s Blood

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Recipe: Chicken and Udon Noodle Miso Broth

Chicken and Udon Noodle Miso Broth with Mushrooms, Greens and Crispy Garlic   January is the time for that healthy seasonal refresh. We are loving this winter warmer broth, this has been keeping the Social Pantry team fuelled throughout the winter!   Serves 2 This is a perfect recipe for a working from home lunch,

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Spicing Up the Pantry for Lockdown 3.0

Hot Sauces are not a new invention, that’s right, they have actually been made around the world for centuries. Give our hot honey recipe a go.
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Recipe: 50/50 Mushroom and Beef Burger

Our 50/50 mushroom and beef burger is a delicious way to minimise your meat intake without forgoing it entirely, check out our recipe…
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Toby and Joycelyn Wedding

What was this? We hosted an intimate wedding at a private home in Notting Hill. The space was a blank canvas for the Social Pantry team to style and design the perfect autumnal wedding, adhering to the government rule of 15 guests. We hosted a canapé reception, followed by a 4 course plated dinner. Our

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Going Green: An Interview with Growing Underground

Silvia, our HR & Culture Manager, helped Social Pantry to lay the ground for a zero waste, fully sustainable production kitchen.With the help and experience from Growing Underground, Silvia has been educating the team about becoming more sustainable. Growing Underground sustainably grow fresh micro greens and salad leaves 33 metres below the busy streets of

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Recipe: Jackfruit Tacos

For those doing Veganuary, these jackfruit tacos are a delicious meat free alternative and a great way to showcase how yummy vegan dishes can be. This is a Social Pantry party favourite from our banging taco station menu and goes perfectly with a Margarita!   Serves 4 Ingredients: For the tacos: 1 can, green jackfruit

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Recipe: Turmeric and Blueberry Porridge

    A great breakfast sets you up for a great day. This turmeric and blueberry porridge recipe is full of antioxidants, and is a lovely, cosy recipe to warm you up these chilly winter mornings. Perfect with a cuppa, or if you’re being really healthy some hot water and fresh lemon. Delicious.   Makes

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Press: Your London Wedding
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A Day in the Life of a Social Pantry Wedding Planner

As you can imagine, quite rightly, there is a lot of pressure to making someone’s wedding day perfect which means it can be a job that takes a lot of planning and nerves of steel.   In short, there is never a dull moment, and every day is different. From the venue, styling, themes and

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Press: The Times Top 25 Chef Tips for Christmas

Alex Head has been featured on The Times online, alongside chefs like Nigella Lawson, Delia Smith, Rick Stein and more, discussing all their Christmas Day tips to ensure the big day goes smoothly. From kitchen storage, cooking tips, festive tipples and more, these tips are a must read ahead of the festivities! “Make it one

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Recipe: Blood Orange and Sprout Salad

Christmas may be over, but brussel sprouts are still in season. Our blood orange and brussel sprout salad is a fresh take on eating leftovers, and slightly healthier! It is the perfect side to enjoy with the last of your Christmas chicken, but we highly recommend with some bavette steak.   Serves 4-6 (as a

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Press: WOTC Magazine x Alex Head

Alex Head was invited by Editor in Chief at WOTC Magazine, Phadria Prendergast, to be a contributing editor to their Christmas Special issue. Alex shares her tips on how to keep Christmas special this year with all the most recent government updates, as well as our delicious festive pavlova recipe, which is also perfect for New

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Panettone Four Ways

At Social Pantry we love a Panettone, this 15th Century tradition is having a come back. It is a perfect alternative to heavier cakes and puddings. The Italians eat Panettone at any time of the day with an espresso.   How best to enjoy, our top tips: Toasted and slathered in butter and cinnamon sugar

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Press: Evening Standard, Waste Not Want Not

Alex Head, interviewed by the Evening Standard on Social Pantry’s top tips to reduce food waste this Christmas. Click here to read the full article.
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Press: Foodism Christmas Issue

Alex has been featured in Foodism’s Christmas issue, chatting all things styling and how to have the perfect Christmas at home this year! ‘When creating your table, my top tip is to decide on your base colours and then use candles or flowers to add in some fun pops of colour’ – Alex Head, Social

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Top 10 tips on how to minimise waste for your Christmas Dinner

Top 10 tips on how to minimise waste for your Christmas Dinner Let’s face it, we are all guilty of a little bit of over indulging during the festive period. However, there a simple steps we can take to reduce waste and our impact on the environment which go one step further than enjoying a

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Recipe: Pumpkin Soup, Seeded Crumb and Zero Waste Herb Stalk Oil

This velvety pumpkin soup is super easy to make, and is the delicious way to use those seasonal pumpkins! We serve ours up with a crunchy nut and seed crumb, and a drizzle of herb stalk infused oil.   For the soup 4 shallots, diced 1kg Pumpkin (or there abouts), peeled, deseeded and chopped into

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Recipe: Beetroot Salmon Gravlax with Caper and Dill

Beetroot Salmon Gravlax with Caper and Dill   Nothing says Christmas like a delicious side of wild salmon. Gravlax is similar to smoked salmon, but is cured in sea salt, sugar and dill, rather than smoked. It’s a traditional scandi delicacy; usually served with a side of dill and mustard sauce and crispy rye bread. Try

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Recipe: Social Pantry Christmas Pavlova

Christmas Pavlova   Even though we may not be able to spend time this Christmas with all the people we love this year, there is no reason that we can’t still enjoy a special festive and fun filled Christmas day. Our Social Pantry Christmas pavlova is the showstopper you need to indulge in after a

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Christmas at Home with Social Pantry

Festive Feasting Social Pantry have designed the perfect menu for a stress-free Christmas at Home this year. After the year we’ve had, we want you to make the most of this time with family and friends, so we’ve done the hard work for you. The menu is the ultimate festive feast; think deliciously spiced pumpkin

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Press: Town and Country x Social Pantry Hampers

Our Social Pantry Hampers are featured on Town and Country’s Lockdown 2.0 favourites! Are you planning a household-only party, or a virtual event with friends? Treat yo’ self to our Social Pantry Party Box, and enjoy a night of snacking and drinking among friends and loved ones. Click Here to read the full article. “Planning a

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How to Host a COVID Friendly Christmas Party

The Christmas party is looking quite different in this ‘new normal’ era and just like everything else, we now need to adapt to current guidelines and continue to plan COVID friendly parties. But no matter what may be announced next, we’ve pulled together a few of our favourite unique Christmas party ideas we’ve picked up in

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Press: YOU Magazine x Social Pantry Hampers

YOU Magazine have featured the Social Pantry Festive Gifting Hamper in their top 19 Christmas Hampers. We are honoured to be featured amongst some incredible companies and suppliers. Shop Social Pantry hampers on our website, or get in touch with a member of the team for more bespoke options. Click Here to read the full article.
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Press: Crane’s Kitchen, London’s Best Bottomless Brunch

Social Pantry’s cafe Crane’s Kitchen, has been named as one of the BEST spots in London by Country and Town House magazine for bottomless brunch. “Crane’s Kitchen holds the same core principles as Alex’s other ventures: zero waste, seasonal and socially conscious – 10 per cent of her workforce are ex-offenders, for instance. Brunch highlights include

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Press: VANITY FAIR x Social Pantry Hampers

Our Social Pantry Hamper is featured in Vanity Fair’s newsletter this November, a must have item this festive season. Our hamper showcases some of our incredible sustainable and socially aware suppliers, from Redemption Roasters to Rubie in the Rubble.   Click here to shop yours!  
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Social Pantry Hampers…as seen in Tatler

Get in touch to place your order via email or phone: 0208 871 1949  Give the Very Best of Britain for Christmas this year with a Social Pantry Christmas Hamper…. Brand new for this year, we have created a limited-edition Christmas Hamper celebrating the Very Best of Britain: a seasonal gift for food and drink connoisseurs

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Holding a Private Party While Social Distancing: A Guide

The country has never been in more need of a knees up than we are right now, but private party planning is certainly not what it used to be. Local lockdowns, the rule of six and social distancing, the guidelines are constantly changing and with that so are the ways in which we are legally

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A Guide to Holding a Low-Key Christmas Party

Party ideas for the 2020 festive season are certainly looking a bit different this year. Restrictions on numbers, social distancing measures, and legal time limits are now all a part of the planning but that doesn’t mean that celebrations are off-limits. As with everything over the last turbulent twelve months, we’re now required to adapt

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Press: Alex Head x The Menu, Monocle Radio

This month Alex was interviewed by Markus Hippi on The Menu. Chatting about incredible food, local suppliers and Social Pantry’s work employing ex-offenders.   Listen to the interview here
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Press: Stylist Magazine, Making The Host of Autumn

At Social Pantry HQ, the team have been coming up with all the tips and tricks for hosting dinners at home this Autumn. Stylist magazine wanted to know how their readers can elevate their parties, and Alex has the answers!  
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Press: Sheerluxe – How To Get Your Catering Right

“When it comes to making your wedding day memorable, the food and drink can be make or break. But narrowing down the choice – and balancing what you like with everyone else’s preferences – can be fraught with difficulty. To help, we asked some of the industry’s top caterers for their advice” – Sheerluxe, September

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Press: Hello Waitrose! Alex Head x Waitrose

Waitrose Magazine, Autumn 2020  You might have seen our founder Alex Head in the Waitrose Magazine this Autumn. We are very proud and cannot wait to cook the brilliant recipes that Alex developed with Sarah, our Development Chef. After a tough few months this was definitely some much needed tonic! Bring on Autumn.
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Emma and Simon Wedding

What was this? We hosted the perfect summer wedding at West Green House in Hampshire. Social Pantry catered the canapé reception, followed by a 2 course sharing feast. We developed two incredible cocktails, using the groom’s family Blackford’s Limoncello. The canapé menu was made bespoke, with a nod to the couple’s British heritage. We worked hand

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Recipe: The Perfect Choux

Handmade choux pastry, is the real deal! Crisp on the outside and airy on the inside, choux pastry can be accompanied with sweet or savoury fillings and toppings. Keep reading to hear our favourites!   Ingredients 220ml water, measured into a saucepan 85g butter, cut into small cubes 105g plain flour, sifted onto a sheet

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Themes and Ideas for Parties of Six

So it’s safe to say 2020 is not a year many will look back on fondly, and with celebrations and social activities being strictly forbidden for the majority of it, gatherings of any kind are still uncertain as we all try and navigate the ever-changing rules and regulations of the pandemic. But as we make

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Recipe: Potato Cake, Poached Eggs, Rainbow Chard, Black Garlic Aioli and Pecorino

The potato cake is best made the day before, so plan a day ahead, but does make making brunch for friends that much easier in the morning!   Serves 4 Ingredients 1 kg Desire Potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced 250g Unsalted Butter, melted 130g Finely Grated Parmesan 100g Mayonnaise 2 black garlic cloves 100g Pecorino as

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Recipe: Loaded Flatbreads

Flatbreads are one of the most popular items on our brunch menu! Our favourite weekend activity is indulging in the bacon, feta, rocket, poached egg and chilli oil flatbread at Crane’s Kitchen.  Eat this in the garden with a freshly brewed coffee and your Sunday morning is off the perfect start.   Serves 4 Ingredients

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A Guide to Wedding Fusion Menus

After more than nine years of providing wedding catering services for receptions all over the country, our experienced team of wedding caterers certainly like to think we know a thing or two about how to tie the knot in style! Every ceremony is special in its own right, and working with a fusion wedding menu

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Recipe: Summer Galette

Perfect for Late Summer Lunch in the garden with a salad or as part of a BBQ. You could use wholemeal flour instead of plain to change the texture, taste and look of the galette dough.   Ingredients: 250g Plain Flour ½ tsp Salt 150g Unsalted Butter, cut into small chunks and frozen 50 ml

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What Will The Office Party Look Like in 2020?

Love them or loathe them, the Christmas office party is looking quite different in this ‘new normal’ era, but here at Social Pantry we’re ready to see out the last turbulent few months in style and we think we could all do with a proper office party! We’ve pulled together a few of our favourite

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Recipe: Buratta and Fig Salad

  Buratta and Fig Salad This is a great seasonal and fresh salad, the perfect starter for an alfresco dinner with friends. Pair with a cold glass of Pinot Grigio, the creamy buratta sits beautifully with the naturally sweet figs (in season for September and a superfood as well!), plus the chicory adds a bit

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Social Pantry now in Tatler address book

Thats right we are extremely excited to be featured in the Tatler Address Book and to be featured alongside some of the top wedding planners and suppliers.
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We chatted to Ronnie, Our Soane’s Kitchen Manager

    Ronnie Chats all things Soane’s Kitchen After saying farewell to Soane’s Kitchen in Ealing we chatted to Ronnie who opened, and closed, Soane’s Kitchen. Starting as a Bar Manager and leaving as the General Manager Ronnie is to thank for all the locals loving Soane’s. From fireworks and sea bream to busy brunches

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Soane’s Kitchen: Local Ealing Feedback

Some lovely Soane’s Kitchen Testimonials  After we announced that we are not returning to our lovely Ealing site, Soane’s Kitchen we received some wonderful feedback from the locals. As Alex thanked the locals for all their support we were overwhelmed with brilliant feedback from our W5 locals. Alex thanked everyone who worked for at Soane’s

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Wedding Themes for 2021

Wedding season 2020 may have not quite gone to plan, but we’re sure next year will be one to remember for many eager couples desperate to tie the knot. Although there has been a lack of marriages over the last few months, our wedding inspiration board is continuously growing and we’ve already started to notice

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Everything You Need to Know About Wedding Catering

Catering for weddings is one of the main parts of our jobs here at Social Pantry, from the initial planning to the final execution and everything in between, so we like to think of ourselves as quite the experts when it comes to giving wedding reception tips! There’s a lot to think about when considering your wedding

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15 Wedding Food Ideas Your Guests Will Love

Food trends come and go, and we’ve certainly served a few since we began catering for weddings more than nine years ago! You may want to go for the latest food craze or perhaps you’re considering more tradition over trend, whatever your preference there are so many different choices when it comes to your wedding

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Saying Goodbye to Soane’s Kitchen & Pitzhanger Pantry

Soane’s Kitchen & Pitzhanger Pantry After months of discussions and negotiations it is with great sadness that we have come to the decision to not re-open Soane’s Kitchen in Ealing. We have loved every moment of our two years in Ealing and leave knowing that we delivered a brilliant restaurant in partnership with Pitzhanger Manor

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Our Cafes Are Open!

We are back and it feels great!  We are thrilled to be back and open at two of our sites. Both Social Pantry Cafe in Battersea and Crane’s Kitchen in Peckham have now opened. With a new menu at both sites you can expect Loaded Flat Breads, Smoothie Bowls and Plenty of sweet treats. The

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PRESS: Best Private Chef Services in London

It is always such an honour to be featured and we are proud to be mentioned alongside some other great caterers. Article by Country & Townhouse Gigi Hadid, David Attenborough and Hilary Clinton are all among the clientele of London caterer Social Pantry, founded in 2011 by Alex Head. Seasonal, fresh food is the core

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How to Choose Your Wedding Venue

Here at Social Pantry, we cater to plenty of marriages each year so we certainly know a thing or two when it comes to finding the ideal location for a wedding reception to remember. We’ve highlighted a few of our top tips for when it comes to picking your perfect wedding venue to give a helping

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Wedding Planning 101: A Caterer’s Guide

From summer BBQ’s to formal functions, we’ve been providing catering services for weddings small and large up and down the country since we started back in 2011. It’s safe to say the team here at Social Pantry know a thing or two when it comes to providing the perfect wedding food ideas for our client’s

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How To Plan for Dietary Requirements at Your Wedding

Here at Social Pantry, there isn’t an allergy or diet we haven’t come across since we began catering for weddings more than nine years ago. We’ve put together a few of our expert tips picked up along the way to help you know what to consider when planning for every palate on your big day.

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How to Plan a Wedding

Social Pantry’s Wedding Planning Guide Congratulations! The question has been popped and the ring is on the finger, now for the fun part! Wedding planning can be daunting and there will be all sorts of ideas to be discussed and decisions to be made but try not to feel overwhelmed. Here at Social Pantry we

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Soane’s Kitchen Launch

A wilderness in West London #escapethecity
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Press: Sainsbury’s X Alex Head, Zero Hero!

Alex was challenged by Sainsbury’s to come up with some zero waste recipes you can impress your guests with. From roasted fruit meringue to hake with celeriac puree, these are delicious recipes for you to create at home, with a clear conscience!
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We Are Back: Delivered Lunches

Does your next meeting need a menu, your team need motivating or you just fancy a tasty lunch?  Do you need a well fed and motivated workforce? Well, we have the perfect solution for you. We’ve recently launched a new and improved lunch service; our Delivered Lunch Boxes, all £7.50, are the perfect solution for a corporate

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We Are Back: Hello Events

Our Delivered Summer Menu We are back and it feels good! Just to note that we are working to adhere to all the government guidelines. We are so excited to be chilling fizz, polishing glasses, topping canapés, ironing napkins and getting busy in the kitchen. Our planners are back in action and helping clients plan

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Recipe: Nectarine Clafoutis

Nectarine Clafoutis This is a great desert and perfect to enjoy after a Sunday roast.  It is great with a dollop of creme fraiche or pouring cream, its comforting, fruity and sweet a lovely end for every meal. Serves 6-8 Ingredients 125ml milk 125ml double cream ¼ tsp vanilla extract 4 free-range eggs 170g caster

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Recipe: Salted Honey and Apple Tart

Salted Honey and Apple Tart There is something so satisfying about making your own pastry so if you have time, this recipe is a great one. This recipe originally developed from a wedding client’s Mum who gave shared her secret recipe for an incredible honey tart. We’ve added in the apple and pistachio to give

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Alex Talks to STYLIST: Hosting a Virtual Dinner Party

VIRTUAL DINNER PARTY    Alex chatted to Hannah from stylist about how best to host a virtual dinner party. A few of the extracts below include top tips on making your night one to remember for all the right reasons!   Published in Stylist 01.08.20 Written by Hannah Keegan  For the average home dweller, the

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A Rhyme for London’s Restaurants

A Rhyme for London’s Restaurants More than 60 icons of London’s restaurant and food world have come together to pay homage and share their love for the city’s restaurant scene with a poetic ode to the industry – A Rhyme for London’s Restaurants   It fell quiet in town when our restaurants shut down and we

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Recipe: Seared Tuna & Sesame Salad

Seared Tuna and Sesame Salad We first fell in love with this salad when we were developing contract catering menus. It is such a brilliant lunch as it is so tasty, filling and far more exciting than just a bean salad. The dressing gives it a real zing which is totally refreshing in the heat

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Recipe: Keep cool with our Pineapple Granita

Keep cool this weekend with our Pineapple Granita It is that time of year that you are trying to dig out your ice lolly moulds and wishing you had brought the ice cream maker in the January sale, well don’t worry as we have you covered! Our Pineapple Granita is mouthwateringly refreshing, perfect as a palate

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Press: Hush

Our Cafe Recipes made at Home Thats right, Social Pantry recipes were featured on Hush We loved sharing a few of our best cafe recipes that are great to make at home. The Goats’ Cheese and Tomato Bruschetta is a real favourite at SP and at home.  It is  quick, simple and seasonal making it the

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Sarah’s Ricotta Stuffed Courgette Flowers

You know it is the start of the summer when courgette flowers start piling onto your instagram feed. Well, we bloody love it! Courgette flowers are the perfect start to any meal, whether you are dining alfresco for date night as just th two of you or feeding a family with a feast they are

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Event Highlight: Being Rihanna’s Caterer

Last month Rihanna’s highly anticipated FENTY…
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Lockdown cooking: Raspberry & Lemon Tart

Social Pantry Lemon and Raspberry Tart If you are planning your first post lockdown picnic then this tart is a real must have. It also perfectly doubles up as a great socially distanced dinner party pudding? It is simple, quick and easy to make at home and will definitely add some brightness elegance to your

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Hello Asparagus

At Social Pantry we love asparagus season and never fail to get very excited about all the wonderful recipes you can cook. And, Supporting the British farmers is essential, now more than ever. The beauty of asparagus is that is so versatile. My top tips:   Sometimes simple wins: In a pan, add a dash

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Alex chats to Stylist – Socially Distanced Dinner Party

Hosting a lockdown dinner party can be a fun way to get your household together and connect (virtually) with pals; I love the planning part as much as the dinner! Planning your lockdown dinner party ahead of time with my simple steps will ensure your evening is as smooth and stress-free as possible. We’ve all

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Events case study – Kings College London

  Kings College London Graduation Ceremonies 2020 Graduation day is a hugely important day for thousands of university students, and this January we were lucky enough to cater for Kings College London 2020 Graduates at London’s Southbank Centre. Ten Graduation Ceremonies ran over Five days with over 14,000 Graduates, Friends & Family. That’s a lot

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Event Case study – NBC Christmas Party 2019

Our clients at NBC sure know how to throw a party like no other! For their 2019 Bond themed Christmas party we were asked to provide ‘Around the world’ themed food stations and canapes for 800 employees at a luxury London location. We decided on Three popular cuisines to reflect the bond theme: Jamaican, Italian

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Mental wellness; Vida’s isolation tips

Lockdown Tips On Mental Wellness At Social Pantry we are keeping in touch with the team and working hard to ensure everyone feels connected throughout the pandemic. We’re using all the tools, connecting over quizzes, bake offs, zoom catch ups, birthday love and weekly group sessions. But, In addition to all the activities we had a brilliant session

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Lockdown Staple: move over sourdough, hello pasta!

HOMEMADE PASTA If your instagram is anything like ours it will be full of ticktocks and bread making well it is now time to turn your hand to pasta making. Richard, our Executive Chef, created this pasta recipe when cooking out in Italy a few years ago and it has been an event staple ever

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Lockdown Staple: Pea, Parmesan & Pancetta Risotto

Quick, Simple & Tasty Risotto  Back in 2018 I was asked to create a three course Easter meal for Sainsbury’s magazine and since then, this risotto recipe has been my go-to ever since. It is a go-to as I always have peas and spinach in the freezer so if it is friends crashing for dinner, a lockdown

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Easter Table Style

With our Easter delivery service in full swing we have focused our attention on laying the table and making Easter that little but special this year Below are our simple, quick and easy top tips for setting the table. As much as we want the table to look wonderful we don’t want to be spending

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Social Pantry’s Chocolate Babka

With Summer soon approaching why not indulge in one last little guilty pleasure and try out our perfect bake twisty chocolate Babka! Ingredients   FOR THE DOUGH 100ml milk 120 g butter, softened and chopped into small pieces, plus extra to grease 350 g strong white bread flour 40 g caster sugar 7 g sachet fast-action dried

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Alex chats isolation tips with our ex-offenders

‘When you find yourself in these difficult moments the key is acceptance’ Sylv Social Pantry is well known for employing ex-offenders and it is now that we are turning to these colleagues for tips on how best to survive isolation. As we all get used to ‘lock down’ I chatted with some brilliant men who are

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Three Simple Bread Recipes for Lock Down

SODA BREAD TO SWEAR BY: I first learnt to make soda bread in Ireland at cooking school and it has been a staple of mine ever since. It is really quick and easy so perfect for times when you have run out of bread and need a quick fix. It literally takes 2-3minutes to make

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Working From Home – Top Tips

  Working from home is a novelty for the Social Pantry office team, and, now that it is the norm for over a million people we need to know how to be just as efficient. I am sure everyone can admit to having had a whole clear day ahead and, despite the best intentions, it’s

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Homemade Gnocchi for Mother’s Day

Homemade Gnocchi, Zero Waste Kale Stem Pesto, Crushed Pumpkin Seeds and Pea Shoots This Mother’s Day, you might of found your plans have changed and you’re at home! This homemade gnocchi recipe is sure to be a favourite with everyone. Whether you’re celebrating with your Mum, or a Mum your self, why not spend time

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With Love to all Brides

Eliza’s Story As an event planner at Social Pantry and bride to be in 60 days, I cannot sympathise enough with all those who were planning on getting married in the coming months and may have to postpone. Having worked closely with a number of brides and grooms over the last year, I feel your

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Sarah’s Stage at Silo, the worlds first zero waste restaurant

Sustainability has been the forefront of discussion in recent years due to the growing use of single use plastics, food waste, and high levels of carbon emissions. One third of all food produced globally is wasted, and an annual value of food waste to cost up to $1 trillion leaving a lot of questions asked

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International Women’s Day

“Here’s to strong women: May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.” – Unknown Our CEO and founder Alex is often interviewed or, sitting on a panel, being asked what it is like being a women within the hospitality industry. Well this week, the tables turned and Alex spent time with

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The Best Flipping Pancake Recipe

Pumpkin Buttermilk Pancakes with Orange and Pistachio    Nothing says lazy Sunday morning like a stack of fresh pancakes, slippers on and fresh coffee at the ready. You cannot go wrong. Have a look at what you have in the cupboard and feel free to add to the list of toppings. You’ve made the pancakes

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Light & Fluffy Tiramisu Pancake Recipe

We don’t know about you but Pancake Day is one of our favourite days of the year; sweet, savoury, simple, decadent – we’re not fussy. As much as we love the classics (sugar and lemon, here’s looking at you) why not get creative in the kitchen this year and give our light and fluffy tiramisu

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Stylist Magazine: Charcoal Pancakes

As featured in Stylist Magazine, our Charcoal Pancake recipe has been hitting the headlines.  If you’re looking to jazz up your standard lemon & sugar flavour combo this Pancake Day, this is the recipe for you… Makes 10 Medium Pancakes Pancake Ingredients 50g Unsalted Butter 200g Plain Flour 8g Baking Powder A pinch of Sea

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Waste Less Wednesdays, 50/50 Sustainable Beef & Mushroom Burger

Sustainability is in the forefront of discussion due to the rising levels of waste within the food sector; we are starting to notice that a change needs to be made with the way we think about food and the change needs to happen now. The rise of Vegansim has undoubtably been a positive factor in

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Sweet Potato Pancake Recipe

Savoury Desserts We’re following Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on his brilliant mission to reduce the nations sugar intake whilst still managing to make a stunning impact with look and taste. Desserts made with vegetables, such as my sweet potato and hazelnut pancakes, are beautiful inside and out. This recipe is the perfect weekend brunch dish, who doesn’t

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Social Pantry Employee Wellbeing Summit

A culture of employee wellbeing is no longer a ‘nice to have’ but a ‘must have’. 70% of the City’s workforce report they feel stressed at work and staff turnover rates are at all time high. With increasing awareness of mental health, stress and anxiety it has forced employee wellbeing to rise to the top of

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Valentine’s Day Competition and Recipe with Richard Brendon

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so to celebrate we’ve got a Valentine’s Day Competition! Plus, it’s a great excuse to enjoy a delicious meal and bottle of wine with someone special, so scroll down for our delicious steak recipe!  To celebrate, we’ve teamed up with our friends at swanky tableware designers Richard Brendon

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Fashion Event Catering: Let us Fuel Your Fashion Week

Last month Rihanna’s highly anticipated FENTY…
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Zero Waste Brussel Sprout & Blood Orange Salad

Sprouts are the hero at Christmas, these little green gems have been traditional at the festive dinner table for as long as we can say turkey. However, year on year they are forgotten about and as soon as boxing day arrives they’re helpless, lonely and still need eating. We absolutely LOVE sprouts, and our Zero

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Employee Wellbeing Summit: Upcoming event details

We are now fully subscribed for this event, but please feel free to fill in your details below and you’ll get the low-down post event.  Location: Carousel, London, W1U 8AB Date: 6th February 2020 Time: 17.00 – 19.30 In London, 70% of employees feel stressed at work, and the average staff turnover in 2019 was

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Employee Wellbeing

Why a well-fed work force is a happy (and productive) one In London 70% of employees admit to feeling stressed at work, and in 2019 the average turnover rate rose to 15%. As a result, employee wellness has risen to the top of the corporate agenda. We’ve been helping clients create happy, healthy, and productive

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Social Pantry Contract Catering: Keeping workforces happy around London

We all love a good old work perk and nothing keeps a person happier than a happy tummy. Social Pantry’s contract catering is just the solution for this; we’re are here to keep your employees satisfied with our freshly made, seasonal, and stylish lunches delivered right to your offices. What’s hot on the office scene?

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Social Pantry Vegan French Toast Recipe

Eggy bread without the eggs?! we hear you say… This Veganuary, we’ve come up with a special plant based Vegan French Toast Recipe. So, whether or not you’re trying Veganuary this vegan version of brunch favourite is not to be missed. Pop into one of our cafe-restaurant’s Soane’s Kitchen in Ealing, Crane’s Kitchen in Peckham,

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Social Pantry Winter Pavlova Recipe

This winter pavlova recipe is one of our secret showstoppers – ideal for whipping up (literally) when you want to indulge in the winter months. Ingredients: (for 6-8 guests) For the meringue 210g Egg Whites (approx 7 eggs) 350g Caster Sugar 1 tbsp Cornflower 1 tbsp White Wine Vinegar 1tsp cocoa powder For the filling

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Zero Waste Christmas with Social Pantry

Simple, leftover Christmas dinner recipes, perfect for feeding a crowd that will make sure you get the most from your Christmas feast. There is no better time to start reducing food waste, get your household on board this Christmas. To help you embrace your leftovers I’ve created these two simple, easy and fun recipes to