Secret underground dinner parties

It's been far to long, I know. So much time has passed, how could I possible fill in all the gaps in one blog? I couldn't!! So let's just say it's been a busy few months and business, for Edesia Caterers still needs a good boost but as the age old saying goes, no pain, no gain.

So let me explain the title of today's blog. I'm finding that when you are offering, primarily, a service it's more difficult to get your message across to people. Though it still has it's challenges, granted, when you have a product it is easier to get people to notice you. You have something to give them, sell them, something they can hold in their hands, put in their mouths, taste with their taste buds. Though I have a product, that product is only accessible via a service, that service being catering. So I said to myself as I sipped my coffee one morning (it's the most inspirational time of the day for me) "Ciaran", I said, "you have to bring the people to your product to experience your service". And so with that the idea of holding secret underground dinner parties was born.

Now this is no new thing, in London it has been growing steadily over the past few years and ultimately reverts back to the day when "restaurants" actually began. The oldest running is arguably the Sobrino de Botin, Madrid, Spain Though the main difference today is that women and men can participate. Thank goodness for those women who rallied up for the first wave of women's liberation at the beginning of the 18th century. The idea is simple, a cross between a dinner party and a restaurant.

Obviously these are not your everyday run of the mill events and therefore have to be promoted in an altogether different way. "Ciaran's Kitchen" facebook page is my main way of getting the word to spread and the more underground dinner parties I do the more the word will spread - well that's the theory anyway :) so if you have a facebook account please feel free to "like" the page and keep updated with future dinner parties and general food stuff from my test kitchen. Click on the title of this blog and it will take you directly to the page.

Speaking of dinner parties, I recently got acquainted with a very intriguing young man by the name of Alan Rosenthal. He founded and runs a company call "Stewed!", which are one pot stews which are available for sale in some major supermarkets. If that wasn't impressive his first cook book, by the same name, is out in October and already on sale through Amazon. What intigued me most about Alan is, despite his success, he is an extremely modest man.  I've had the pleasure of a sneak preview of his book and must say it's a must for any kitchen, even the Irish Stew recipe was spot on. If you wish to purchase the book copy and paste this link http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stewed-Alan-Rosenthal/dp/0091938023/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274372524&sr=1-1
Anyway, so back to the story, Alan invited me over for dinner for some food talk. Now when you get two food lovers together there is a common wish to share, so I offered to take over dessert with me. Great idea until I was faced with the dilemma of what to make!! Well, to be honest, it didn't take me that long to decide. I had recently persuade my mother to part with her recipe for "Tarte de pommes a la Normande" (Normandy apple tart) with frangipane and a touch of mothers little secret. I loved this tart as a child, both for it's visual effect and sumptuous flavour. Here's a picture I took. It seemed to work a treat on Mr Rosethals taste buds and I'm sure it was the reason behind the bonding of a good friendship :) 

So that's my update for now, got to dash but will be back sooner than later for more :)