Castle celebration!

Wow. Just wow. I’ve lived in Kings Lynn all my life and never did I know that there was a castle hidden away in the village of Middleton. An actual castle! With a moat! And you can hire it for the weekend! What’s it called? Middleton Castle!

We were asked to cater for C’s 30th birthday celebration. The group of 30 came mostly from London with a couple flying in from around Europe. While pinging emails back and forth Ryan suggested a menu that included local produce and C was all for it.

We arrived with everything we needed to lay the enormous table, including napkins, cutlery, salt and peppers and menus. Glassware was used from the huge array available in the castle kitchen.

Guests had arranged to meet before dinner for drinks and some complimentary canapés. The theme was 1994 and the room was filled with Flintstones, the vicar of dibley, the mask, some spice girls, the cast of four weddings and a funeral and more. Everyone seemed to be having a great time!

We started with some canapés, these were honey mustard sausages and watermelon with whipped feta, parsley and mint dressing, topped with a walnut. We also offered a homemade blackcurrant shot and a truffle from a local chocolatier.

Once everyone was seated (to the sound of bagpipes!) we were ready to serve our two course meal. The starter for most was spiced buttered Kings Lynn brown shrimp on toast, with rocket, pickled cucumber and a beetroot and garlic mayonnaise. For the vegetarians it was a sundried tomato, onion, basil and parmesan bruschetta with balsamic glaze.

For the main course C opted for Norfolk fillet of beef from our friends at Priors of West Lynn, cooked rare with truffle mash, tender stem broccoli, roasted vine tomatoes and a pot of creamy mushroom sauce, finished with a parmesan crisp. Vegetarians were served a vegetable wellington with the same sides, and a separate mushroom sauce minus the beef stock!

It seemed that the food went down really well and we had lots of positive feedback. Especially for the brown shrimp which, if you have never tried but are a fan of prawns, try them! They’re amazing, so meaty!

C’s mum then served birthday cake for dessert and we cleared away, tidied up and left the group to party the night away.

We always love having the chance to go to new places for work and this one certainly didn’t disappoint. A really lovely gang of people in one of the most stunning settings around, making memories and eating great food! What more could you ask for. Happy 30th C.

Soph x