Every year brings new challenges, but 2020 has certainly been extraordinary. Whilst remaining on hand to support our many couples who have been forced to reschedule their weddings, we are holding zoom planning meetings for new bookings, and discussing menus, table settings and all the finer points that go towards each couple's perfect day so that as soon as we get the go ahead we will be ready - knives sharpened, uniforms pressed, and ingredients ordered and prepped!
We have worked hard to evolve our process of diversification during lockdown. We knew that any Tandem offering needed to reflect our high standards and distinctive style, so we came up with the Postponement Dinner. The idea behind this was to find a way a couple could enjoy their wedding menu, just for two, in their own home on or around the date their wedding should have been taking place. We carefully prepare all 3 courses, and pack it ready to go with full instructions for finishing, garnishing and plating. When ordering there is the option to add optional extras to further enhance the experience. These include an expertly matched wine or Champagne to get the evening started in style together with a pack of our New York spiced, mixed nuts, and a small florist-designed table arrangement of flowers. All chosen to replicate, the couple's own style and menu choices - a preview of the happy day still to come!
We have become strangely accustomed to cooking for 2, (at first it felt a bit like cooking for a doll's house as we abandoned our huge catering pans!) as these Postponement dinner boxes become popular, and we really enjoy the thought that we are contributing towards easing the disappointment felt by so many couples as weddings are rearranged for safer, future dates.
With restaurant and weekends away being restricted, we have expanded our Tandem at Home boxes to include dinners, light lunches, teatime cakes, and even breakfast items, so an entire weekend’s food can be taken care of – maybe to celebrate an anniversary, birthday or just the arrival of the weekend after a long week of work. We continue to work alongside our friends at Taurus Wines who happily suggest and supply wines to complement the menus, to make a truly bespoke and complete box of treats. We have also been working with a new supplier of eco-friendly packaging in order to enhance the sustainability of our future boxes.
Recently we delivered a first anniversary dinner for 2, an exact replica of the couple’s wedding meal they so enjoyed when we catered for their wedding in June 2019. We hear they loved their romantic dinner for 2, with the soundtrack of their wedding band in the background, evoking many happy memories, so much so they have asked us if it can become a regular fixture!
So, in summary – diversification can be fun, creative and challenging. So, as we wait patiently to hear when we can resume our normal wedding and party catering why not consider if we can help you celebrate, whatever the reason! We would love to hear from you – and we are good at keeping secrets if your Tandem at Home box is to be a surprise!
