Turning 80 is a big deal. Not “nice round number” big. Genuinely, properly BIG. Eight decades of life, a lifetime of stories and memories… that’s something worth celebrating, don’t you think? Our latest client did, which prompted a huge get-together of family, friends and a Hog Roast Putney Heath hog roast earlier this month.
Our team was brought in to cater this legendary birthday party with 80 guests – and catering manager Shaun had been working with the client ahead of time to build a menu that would genuinely work for everyone in the room. Not just most people. Everyone.
The centrepiece was the hog roast, and it did what it always does – stopped people in their tracks, made mouths water and even had a few guests snapping pictures before the carving process was complete. Slow-cooked until the meat was falling apart, then served on soft buns with sage and onion stuffing, crunchy crackling and a spoonful of applesauce, it was exactly the kind of crowd-pleaser the client had been picturing. And honestly, if there’s a more satisfying combination of flavours and textures, we haven’t found it yet.
Alongside the hog, the sides were doing serious work too: tomato and mozzarella salad, mixed salad, coleslaw and a hearty potato dish that had people piling their plates high with zero guilt. Meanwhile, for guests who weren’t eating pork – or meat at all – Shaun had something special up his sleeve. Tender marinated chicken thighs, veggie kebabs and BBQ-pulled jackfruit rolls packed with hickory flavour meant every single guest had something genuinely worth eating.
Then came pudding, because no birthday worth its candles ends without something sweet. Guests got to choose from our homemade rich chocolate torte or delicate vacherins of strawberries with passion fruit cream – and judging by how quickly both disappeared, the answer for most people was apparently both.
The whole event went without a hitch. Plates were cleared, compliments were generous and the birthday guest of honour had the kind of celebration that eighty years of life absolutely deserves.
Shaun and the rest of the Hog Roast Putney Heath team were brilliant – and moments like this are exactly why we do what we do.
Got a milestone birthday coming up? Get in touch with Hog Roast Putney Heath for catering as the occasion 