Kerr and Ladbroke Catering...

Willowbrook Park is excited to announce a new partnership with Kerr & Ladbrook, winner of the NZ Wedding Industry's Outstanding Caterer award 2016.

Photo by Christel Yardley

Above: Ryan & Jody Ladbrook and Lisa & David Kerr 

with Head Chef Phillip McClean.

Their reputation for excellence, freshness of ingredients, and the highest quality service is why they took out the country's top title, and makes them a natural pairing for Willowbrook Park.

Here is a taster of their menu options for Willowbrook Park...

Wedding Reception - Plated Option 1

-----Canapés-----

Sweet Corn Fritters

Corn & spring onion fritters w steamed prawns & a mango & avocado salsa

Mushroom Risotto Ball

Truffle oiled mushroom & parmesan risotto balls w pesto aioli

Pork Belly

Slow braised pork belly skewers & toasted peanut jungle salt

-----Breads on Table-----

A selection of warm dinner rolls served with flavoured butter

-----Plated Main Course-----

(Alternately served to guests)

Prime Beef Eye Fillet

Prime Beef Eye fillet w a mushroom & tarragon butter crust, potato Dauphinoise & merlot jus.

Chicken Roulade

Chicken & bacon wrapped roulade w a red kumara rosti & creamy mushroom puree

--Each main is complimented by a selection of fresh vegetables--

-----Centre Salad & Greens-----

Tossed Green Salad

Freshly picked baby spinach leaves, mesculin mixed salad greens, tiny cherry tomatoes and sweet red onions, lightly tossed with balsamic and virgin olive oil dressing

-----Dessert Canapés-----

(on table dessert stands or tray service if mix n mingle time)

Lemoncello, lemon curd & gingernut cheesecake bites

&

Chocolate cups filled with silky chocolate mousse

Platters of family supplied “Wedding cake” with

freshly brewed Willowbrook tea & coffee

Wedding Reception - Plated Option 2

-----Canapés-----

Lamb Bites

Dukkah & Dijon lamb bites w Lebanese yoghurt dip

Mushroom Risotto Balls

Truffle oiled mushroom & parmesan risotto balls w pesto aioli

Chicken Bruschetta

Smoked chicken, olive & semi dried tomato on olive oil brushed bruschetta

-----Set Entrée-----

Summer tomato bruschetta

Ciabatta Bruschetta w slow roasted & fresh tomatoes, beetroot puree, feta whip 

& balsamic olive oil drizzle.

-----Plated Mains-----

(Alternately served to guests)

NZ Lamb Fillet

Tender NZ Lamb fillet wrapped in prosciutto w pressed lamb shoulder, potato fondant, minted cremoulata & balsamic jus.

South Island Salmon

South Island Salmon marinated in Chermoula w a Cannellini & haricot bean mash, roasted tomato chutney & micro salad.

--Each main is complimented by a selection of fresh vegetables--

-----Centre Salad & Greens-----

Tossed Green Salad

Baby spinach & mixed salad greens, tiny cherry tomatoes, sweet red onions, 

balsamic & virgin olive oil dressing

-----Petit Four Dessert Platters-----

Dark chocolate & raspberry torte bites

Mango, lime & vanilla Italian meringue tarts

Baby spiced apple pies w mascarpone & rock sugar pastry crisp

 Platters of family supplied “Wedding cake” with

freshly brewed Willowbrook tea & coffee

Wedding Reception - Plated Option3

-----Canapés-----

Fresh Tuna

Fresh Tuna seared w sesame seeds on a salt crisp & a toasted nori mayonnaise

Chicken & Bacon Pate

Chicken & bacon pate on New York peppered crostini & red currant jelly

Pork Belly

Succulent slices of pork belly on crispy crouton & pear & fig chutney

Scallops

Pacific Rim scallops w a vanilla, cauliflower puree & crispy shallots 

-----Palate Cleanser-----

Fresh pineapple, honey dew melon & mint shot

-----Entrées-----

(Alternately served to guests)

Cold smoked Salmon

Cold smoked salmon w prosciutto, floral tea jelly, courgette ribbons & crispy capers

NZ Lamb Tenderloin

NZ Lamb tenderloin w exotic mushroom marinated w salsa Verde & a chervil Dijon vinaigrette

-----Plated Main course-----

(Alternately served to guests)

18 Hour Slow Roasted Scotch Fillet

18 hour Beef scotch fillet served medium rear w parmesan polenta chips, a green peppercorn Béarnaise sauce & hydro watercress

Fresh Market Fish

Fresh Market Fish w crushed lemon & herb potatoes, seasonal greens, tomato & olive cheek concasse & saffron Beurre blanc

--Each main is complimented by a selection of fresh vegetables--

-----Centre Salad & Greens-----

Tossed Green Salad

Baby spinach leaves, mesculin greens, tiny cherry tomatoes and sweet red onions, 

lightly tossed with balsamic and virgin olive oil dressing

-----Dessert-----

Chocolate Decadence

Decadent dark chocolate torte w forest berries & vanilla crème fraiche

Platters of family supplied “Wedding cake” with

freshly brewed Willowbrook tea & coffee  

Wedding Reception - Buffet Option 1

-----Canapés-----

Baby tartlets

Roast red pepper, caramelized onion & feta tartlet

Lamb Palmiers

Sweet onion puff pastry Palmier w NZ lamb tenderloin & a mint & walnut pesto

Prawn on a Blini

Citrus steamed prawns w ginger, micro cilantro crème & mini blini

-----Buffet Mains-----

Meats

Roasted Chicken Thighs

Grilled chicken thigh with Thai coconut & coriander curry & topped with golden toasted almonds

Prime Beef sirloin

Prime beef sirloin w a Dijon, thyme crust & red onion jus

South Island Salmon

South Island salmon w a roasted tomato & lime chutney

-----Salads & Vegetables-----

Rosemary & Garlic Roasted Potatoes

Rubbed with sea salt, fresh rosemary and garlic and roasted in virgin olive oil until golden crisp

Greek Salad

Greek styled salad of cucumber, red tomato & capsicum, black olives, feta & basil leaves

Kumara, Avocado & Green bean Salad

Roast Kumara, avocado & green bean salad w honey & mustard dressing

Seasonal Greens

Wok tossed seasonal greens w a hoisin, sesame & ginger sauce

Hand-picked Green Leaf Salad

Baby beet, rocquette & mizuna leaf salad finished with pickled red onion and chardonnay vinaigrette

-----Breads-----

A local selection of freshly baked breads served with flavoured butter

-----Dessert Platters-----

Lemon & lime mini tarts w mascarpone

Orange poppy cakes w chocolate ganache & pistachio crumb

Petit Pavlovas topped w cream & seasonal berry compote

Wedding Reception - Buffet Option 2

-----Canapés-----

Herbed potato cake, cold smoked salmon, dill crème fraiche & Sango sprouts

Fresh cherry tomato, basil pesto, feta cream on a poppy seed tortilla crisp

Korma spiced prawn tails w a refreshing yoghurt dip

Chicken & bacon pate on New York peppered crostini & red currant jelly

-----Palate Cleanser-----

Fresh pineapple, honey dew melon & mint shot

-----Buffet Mains-----

Meats

Oven Roasted Salmon

South Island Salmon, boned & roasted in our kitchen, glazed with bush honey, soy & sweet chilli

Char Roast Eye Fillet

Eye fillet of beef marinated, char-roast cooked to medium rare served beautifully tender with our own tomato chilli jam

Roasted Chicken Thighs

Oven roasted crispy skinned chicken thighs, lightly drizzled with a spiced cream sauce

& topped with golden toasted almonds

-----Salads & Vegetables-----

Potatoes w Garlic Aioli

Gourmet baby potatoes roasted with garlic aioli

Roasted Pumpkin

Roasted pumpkin w crunchy pumpkin seeds, rocket, & creamy feta drizzle

Orzo Pasta

Orzo pasta w semi dried tomato, parsley & almond pesto

Cauliflower Salad

Char grilled cauliflower, toasted cashews, baby spinach & creamy feta mayo

Greek Salad

Moroccan pearl barley w honeyed baby carrots, pine nuts, currents & a Caper Verde dressing

Hand-picked Green Leaf Salad

Baby beet, rocquette & mizuna leaf salad finished with pickled red onion and a chardonnay vinaigrette

-----Breads-----

A local selection of freshly baked breads served with flavoured butter

-----Dessert Platters-----

Petit Pavlova w vanilla cream & raspberry compote

Chocolate brownie bites w white chocolate ganache & walnuts

Lemoncello, lemon curd & gingernut cheesecake

Mmmm, Yum Yum!

Intaglia...

Previously I have blogged about Intaglia and The Grand Tour. Now I have the chance to share some pictures of our intaglia collection. Last weekend we found our collection, still being in the process of unpacking some items, and decided that we would display them in the vitrines in the foyer, as they complement the classical decor with the Piranese etchings and bronze urns...

Above: The plaster cast medallions, or intaglia, that would have been collected by men during their grand tour through Italy.

Below: The vitrines with the Piranese etchings and bronze and ormolu urns.

A close up of some of the intalgia.

The foyer...

Some readers have requested photos of the China room. I hope to be able to share some of those with you early next month. We also have some exciting news to share with you in our next post about catering at Willowbrook.

The Clocks of Willowbrook Series, Post 3...

The next clock we are sharing is a grandfather clock upstairs, which dates back to Ca. 1840. It belonged to Connie Sinclair, a friend of Peter's in Folkestone, and passed to Peter when he was a curate there.

It is not as old as the clock downstairs, but appears older because of all the heavily carved dark oak exterior...

The dark oak and pine cone carving almost reminds me of a Black Forest clock.

It was made by Sam Taylor of Framlingham, Suffolk, UK, and has a lovely chinoiserie painted face...

Unlike the country clock downstairs, which only has an hour hand, this clock has hours, minutes and seconds...

Below: Detail of a painted spandrel.

Below: The brass pendulum and 2 large lead weights...

Chiming 12...

I shall try to post with more frequency in the weeks ahead, but we have [delightfully] been rushed off our feet with enquiries about Willowbrook, and I have had a lot to do at work as well. Do stop by next weekend, I'm sure we will have come up with something inspirational for you by then. D&P.

The Stairs and Galleries Unveiled...

This little post was missed out of the March unveiling. So for completeness here are some photos of the finished staircase and galleries...

I am so glad we had solid slabs of marble laid for the steps, as the join lines in tiles would have done my head in. I am also fond of the non-slip tread which was laser-cut into the top of each of the risers.

The hand rail is not as obtrusive as I had imagined it, which is good.

Now we just need to wait for the art to arrive. In the meantime the upstairs landing and long gallery are rather spartan...

Above: The reflection of the light in the polished marble.

Below: A quiet corner to sit awhile, with flowers and our guest book.

Above: The long gallery, with 2 bronze busts and a large Italian painting. I would like to place a long line of busts down it like this...

And in time swap the painting for a mirror...

The Clocks of Willowbrook Series, No.2...

Our Spiegelhalter clock hangs in the kitchen. The handsome face is about 16" across. The generous size of the clock face hides the pendulum box behind it, making it look like a station clock almost.

The name Spiegelhalter comes from Spiegel-Halde, meaning "looking-glass slope". It is supposed that the Spiegelhalter family came from a farm located in the Black forest region, which was on the side of a mountain over looking a lake, hence, looking-glass slope. George Spiegelhalter and his family ran a jewelers and watchmakers business in the East End of London from about 1828. The shop was originally located in Whitechapel...

 

but later relocated to 81 Mile End Rd...

We are guessing our clock dates from the time the shop was at 6 Mount Place Whitechapel (164 Whitechapel Rd), given the markings. This would place it prior to 1890. It was purchased for the Chapel of the old Royal London Hospital in the Whitechapel Road. The chapel was above the main entrance on the first floor. When Peter arrived as chaplain in 1990 the C of E chapel had been decommissioned in favour of an ecumenical chapel on the ground floor of the hospital, and he was asked by the matron to sell and dispose of what remained of the chapel furniture and fittings. He found the clock, not in working order, at the back of a dusty cupboard and bought it and had it restored by Colin Bent of Albion Clocks in East London. It requires winding every 14 days.

The Spiegelhalter family is probably more famous for their store in the mild end road, which they refused to sell to Wickhams department store despite all attempts to persuade them. Thus, the new department store was built around them, much in the same way as today's Chinese nail houses. This meant that the store's grand neoclassical facade is interrupted, and the tower above the facade had to be built off centre, something I would have found so distressing that I would have picked up sticks and built my department store elsewhere...