Where else can you wander from a sushi stall in the Far East to lamb shawama in the Middle East all under the watchful eye of a diplodocus? Well, for this prestigious event held at the Natural History Museum, Central Hall came to life with stunning international food stalls in every alcove. 1,700 guests mingled, enjoying exotic cocktails, tasting plates and a shimmering patisserie boutique in North Hall.

 
Photo - www.anyacampbell.com

A highlight of the year has been the private view and VIP dinner for the opening of the Grace Kelly: Style Icon exhibition. Rocket developed an exquisite menu of French influenced canapés followed by dinner in the magnificent surroundings of the V&A. Royalty and dignified guests were treated to an exceptional night where the life of a legend was celebrated.

On the hottest day of the year, West Wycombe Park provided the setting for an idyllic Summer wedding. 300 guests attended the ceremony beneath the beautiful sandstone colonnade, before moving to a reception on the lawns. A Chinese lion dance then led the guests on a promenade around the lake and the Temple of Music to a giant yurt for dinner. Through a loving process of confiting shoulders of lamb, then braising the neck and shank, a humble shepherd’s pie was elevated to new heights for the bride (a renowned food blogger). Months before the big day, we invited her to our kitchens to work with our pastry chef to perfect her dream dessert - the result was the ultimate Ile Flottante. Dancing went on until the early hours and guests were fortified by cheese from Paddy at Neal’s Yard, and delicious mozzarella, prosciutto and basil crêpes. The whole thing was put together seamlessly by society wedding planners Vanessa and Sophie at Kasimira. www.kasimira.com

Guests were greeted by doormen and escorted to the penthouse to enjoy Champagne and cocktails while taking in the magnificent views over Hyde Park. Canapés circulated to whet guests’ appetites for the foodie treats to follow… A magnificent seafood bar inspired by Scott’s took centre stage and guests eagerly pulled up a stool and tucked into the freshest seafood piled high on glistening ice. Meanwhile Rocket’s newest innovation, mobile food bars circulated - some laden with perfectly conditioned cheeses and others with a selection of charcuterie.

The party continued with music from a white baby grand and Martini’s shaken to order. Before it was time to go, guests enjoyed a gorgeous ‘Bond Street boutique’ of patisserie with rows upon rows of petit fours and miniature desserts, each glistening; an exquisite gem-like taste sensation! Rocket designed the event from conception of food and drinks bars, to the overall styling and entertainment.

Finding the perfect venue is usually the first thing you think of when planning your party, and unless you’re entertaining at home or happen to be a patron of a museum then a little help can often go a long way. This season, we are pleased to announce the launch of our second Rocket Venue Portfolio – a little booklet that includes all the event spaces, museums and galleries throughout London to which Rocket is proud to be accredited. It details important facts about capacities, opening times and any relevant notes. It is in effect the perfect desk companion to have poking out of your index cards, on hand, for any venue question that may come winging your way.

If you haven’t received a copy and are keen to have one, then please email us with your postal address to news@rocketfood.net. Don’t forget that the Venue Portfolio is really just the starting point; our team of dedicated event managers is on hand for expert advice and guidance in hunting down and securing the venue that best suits you.

Rocket Food has been privileged to have become an accredited supplier at St Paul’s Cathedral, one of London’s most iconic buildings. Events can take place in The Crypt, Wren suite, Nelson Chamber and Temple Bar. These extremely flexible event spaces can cater for events of up to 350 for standing receptions and 250 for seated dinners and can be hired in conjunction with private tours of the nave and Dome.

While some of the team have been busy giving birth to the Rocketeers of the future, and others have barely touched down before they’re off to another Grand Prix, the throbbing heart of Rocket HQ has been steadily going from strength to strength. At the beginning of September we launched the Rocket Academy, a new training facility designed to ensure that Rocket’s staff are the finest in the business. This has already proven to be a huge success with educational evenings, inviting wine suppliers,

mixologists, cheese makers and chocolatiers to come and do tastings and demonstrations for our chefs and event staff to learn from (and enjoy!) It’s not in the Rocket nature to be geeky, but we do want to be considered the experts in the industry when it comes to matters gastronomic. A bonus is that our creative team now has a fantastic light-filled space to work in, so they can do photo shoots and full size mock-ups of canapé trays and food stalls to put into pitches and proposals.