This article is based on an interview with Nigel Kennedy from Appetite Direct.
Appetite Direct in Edinburgh have catered for 100 events at Winton House over the last 8 years: many beautiful weddings, as well as celebratory parties for birthdays and anniversaries, and corporate events. Winton is one of their original clients and a long-standing partner.
Established in 2003 and renowned for leading the way in creative Scottish catering, Appetite Direct brings years of experience and energy to each event. Their passion for food and innovative design allows them to offer a unique hospitality experience. Appetite’s expansion means that they have recently had to move to bigger premises with larger kitchens.
Julie Britee at Winton House adds: “They have also been very obliging recently for an exacting client – weighing all the component parts of a dish and sending photographs of every dish to help our client make their choices.”
1. Can you tell us about your ethos in terms of sourcing ingredients and cooking style.
“Appetite Direct is fortunate to have Scotland’s bountiful larder on its doorstep so we like to provide a culinary journey through Scotland. Our carefully crafted Scottish seasonal menus not only demonstrate the kitchen’s understanding of the heritage of Scottish cuisine, but have been created in response to popular demand for fresh, Scottish produce with clear provenance.
“All of our suppliers are locally based so we source Scottish meat, local free range eggs and dairy products, and work with small local producers of fruit and vegetables. We also use Fairtrade coffees, sugars, teas, cocoa and chocolate.”
2. What events you have catered for at Winton over the last 2 years or so?
“The Duchess of Rothesay recently joined Scotland’s Gardens to celebrate its 85th anniversary at a birthday tea party at Winton House in East Lothian. Appetite Direct produced a wonderful afternoon tea for 220 guests, beautifully presented in a marquee on Winton’s croquet lawn.
“At a garden party themed wedding, we provided a delicious selection of Antipasti served from two stalls: from ‘Bocconcini Mozzarella, Sliced Hard Cheese’, to ‘Selected Involtini with Aubergine, Courgette, Ricotta and Sun-touched Tomatoes with various Dips’.
“The wedding breakfast included a main course of ‘Duo of lamb: roast lamb and a lamb beignet with gremolata and pea shoot salad, potato galette and spring greens’, and, for the finale, a ‘Duo of desserts: Lemon Tart and a Chocolate and Salted Caramel Mousse Cup’. Later in the evening, we served up a supper of ‘Haggis pies topped with mash’ (which went down a storm!) and even humble ‘Fish and chips served in cones’, proving our versatility.
“Another memorable event was an intimate Murder Mystery Christmas dinner for one of Winton’s corporate clients. We offered a lovely menu using locally sourced produce.”
3. How would you describe Winton’s ambience?
“We love working with Winton. The castle always gives a warm welcome to all guests. The events team takes the time to get to know all clients, guests and suppliers. This in turn creates a really relaxed atmosphere despite the prestigious surroundings.
“It’s fair to say that both Winton and Appetite Direct complement each other, which ensures a unique experience for all of Winton’s clients.”
More information from Winton’s website and Appetite Direct’s website.
