Storm Malik, which was closely followed by Storm Corrie, saw us into February with 90mph gale force winds that tore through the UK and left a trail of power cuts, fallen trees and wayward garden furniture in its path – i.e. not the kind of weather you want when you’ve already planned to hold your wedding outdoors, like Ricky and Eva had!
The pair, who had spent the last 14 months busily preparing for their big day, had opted for a romantic, pastoral setting for their nuptials. But with the rain coming down in icy sheets and the blusterous wind pulling down hundred-year-old trees left, right and centre, they were forced to make some last-minute adjustments to their wedding plans.
Ultimately, this meant taking their ceremony and reception party indoors, where guests could eat, drink and be merry under the safety of a roof. Luckily for them, the venue they had chosen was able to accommodate this unprecedented switch and even luckier still, they had chosen one of Nottinghamshire’s most versatile caterers, Hog Roast Darlton, who can serve inside and outside with the same level of ease.
James, our catering manager, navigated the change in his usual calm and collected manner, which helped to de-stress the couple. He and the team also made sure to leave our HQ much earlier than normal, to avoid any potential delays. Their preparedness paid off, and much to their relief (and that of Ricky and Eva!), they were able to narrowly escape traffic.
Once on-site, Hog Roast Darlton worked quickly to set up the dining furniture and get the pig ready for spit-roasting. This entailed slicing the skin, rubbing the meat with salt and finally, dousing the entire pig in water before skewering it on the rotisserie above a tray of savoury stuffing. As the meat rotated slowly over the flickering flames, the juices dripped into the sage and onion stuffing and the skin crisped and blackened in all the right places.
When the guests entered the hall, Hog Roast Darlton began carving the deliciously tender pork and piling it onto gluten-free and wholemeal rolls with the crackling, stuffing and a drizzle of applesauce with a side of salad and coleslaw. The guests were mesmerised by the results, and while it might not have been the day they had originally envisioned, Ricky and Eva couldn’t have been more thrilled with the quality, impeccable timing and outstanding service that our team delivered!