Seasoned Blog

January is supposed to be the time to relax, detox and recover from the ‘crazy’ December that we always have. I can’t say we have seen much of that but the team is truly out in full swing and are happy worker bees after the Christmas break.

We have thrown open our Oak Room doors for several clients, including some of our lovely Spring bridal couples, to taste and choose their menus…  so the diet definitely starts next month. No matter how many chocolate praline pyramids I’ve tasted, I just can’t resist.   I am still in love with our Spring menus and could eat chilli and fennel seed crusted salmon roulade all day long!

I have officially been crowned the ‘green geek’ of the team since we pledged to reduce our carbon footprint in 2011 by walking to meetings where possible.  I was uber happy to find out that I had walked  the most miles (and for those of you who know my wildly competitive side, you’ll be thrilled!). I am not sure that I can ever make it as far as Syon Park and Kew Bridge Steam Museum from our office but you never know!

The January chill has seen me taking refuge in our venues; exchanging cups of tea for my light-hearted banter (or at least I like to think); and of course sharing our Seasoned plans for 2012. This month I made great friends with the charismatic Yeoman Wardens at the Tower of London who offered to cut off my head - lucky me! I have even stomped across the frosty parklands of Leeds Castle to talk about Summer fun days and catering packages for their outside lawns and parklands.

It has been a great month to catch up with our partnering agents too.  I have lived a glamorous life travelling across the UK on trains armed with an ipad, Vogue and blackberry. I’ve been sharing the Seasoned love; talking about all the venues that we work with; catching up on the hot events that they are putting on; discussing the result of the Australian Open and talking about our FOOD! 

I also have the task of updating regular clients on their VIP attention reward accounts and how many stars they have to redeem against some fab treats. (I am actually out to get myself a name as January Santa, only with blonde hair and a leather jacket. Judging by the many happy faces I have seen, I think I’m doing pretty well.

As always, our team have been doing what we love doing; creating events!! Our kitchen brigade are still in utter bemusement  at some of the illusions at the Magic Circle Headquarters dinners! Some of the poor porters have been acting as guinea pigs for the chefs trying out their new ‘tricks!’ We have served up Harry Potter feasts in the Royal Courts of Justice and truly indulged our guests in ‘The Best of Spring’ at Banqueting House to name but a few.

January has been so fun-filled that it’s only in February that we will be having our team Christmas drinks; better late than never and they are certainly well-earned!! Unfortunately I think it might be our sales team who act as the waitress for the evening to treat our ops department. They’ll soon learn that Debbie Thomas doesn’t have the steadiest of hands!

Bye for now.

Debbie