Let them eat cake... or cheese!

Dani May-McCallum...The Curated Kitchen Co

When did you start in this business and what did you do before?

I started The Curated Kitchen as a natural progression following 5 years building my previous catering business, providing vintage afternoon tea catering

Prior to that I worked full time as personal assistant (I still do some VA work part time)

Would you say you have a particular house style or are you influenced by the client’s desire/theme?

Relaxed, laid-back luxury is the perfect way to describe The Curated Kitchen’s style. We work with our clients to create the perfect offering for their event from beautifully styled, abundant grazing tables, to garden party style dining full of seasonal sharing dishes to pretty dessert tables

What is your favourite dish to design/make?

For me it’s all about celebrating delicious season produce and I love incorporating them into my dishes and tables. I love creating beautiful salads that look as good as the taste (I do love a pretty salad but I think brownies would be my fave! Liz)

Where do you get inspiration for your designs and do you feel there a current trend?

I get a lot of my inspiration from Italy and the Med, where dining is sociable, interactive and plentiful, simple yet luxurious and elegant

What sort of information do you need to know when meeting a prospective client for the first time?

I like to get a sense of what atmosphere they want to create with their food. Perhaps what memories or feelings they are trying to evoke

What sort of lead time do you need for a project and can/would you do more than one wedding per weekend?

I don’t usually need a huge lead time but I tend to take a maximum of two weddings a month. My signature package includes some co-ordination service which takes more time and I like to give each wedding all that I can

What is your favourite flower?

If I was forced to choose just one it would probably be a hellebore, no a peony, no wait…..! (Hah thats my problem too! Liz)

Do you have fixed prices or I guess each event is tailored to the client?

Cost has to be tailored to the client and the job as the service required for each can vary hugely

What is the most fun part of your job?

The beginning and the end! I love the getting to know you part, meeting my couples, getting to hear their vision for their wedding day or party. And then the moment when everybody is tucking into the food and you can see how much they are enjoying it, hearing chatter and laughter over breaking bread, the smiles on the couples’ faces – that is pretty priceless

What's the most important part of your job?

Nailing the brief – creating the perfect menu for the day and styling it perfectly to create a feast for all the senses

What makes you laugh?

My six year old son – he’s bloody hilarious (obviously takes after his Mumma!)

Everything Dani provides is home made with thought, care and love, using the best fresh produce, locally sourced where possible and always responsible sourced... she is even known to raid her own garden for edible flowers on occasion!

Just because it’s THAT time of year, Dani has just opened the doors to The Curated Christmas...

My favourite (and definitely going on my festive shopping list! Liz) has to be a full-size brie base topped with charcuterie, olives, honey, nuts, dried and fresh seasonal fruits, herbs edible flowers and gold leaf. It comes complete with crackers and a unique TCK chutney/pickle or relish ...or maybe I’ll have the Curated Christmas Graze Box!

This baby has everything, festive cheeses, charcuterie, antipasti, homemade TCK chestnut and sausage rolls, pickles and chutneys AND chocolate bark, artisan crackers, fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables, nuts, honeycomb, edible flowers and gold leaf... of course!

Or why not go for The Big Cheese – a Curated Christmas Hamper which is a wooden crate filled with so many goodies... festive cheeses, homemade pickles/relishes/chutneys, a selection of charcuterie, charcoal crackers, fig and almond roll plus homemade TCK chocolate bark, fudge and mince pie puffs

Some items are only for collection of local delivery with a few miles of RH2, but others are suitable for nationwide delivery... best to check with Dani and get your order in fast!

Having seen - and tried - quite a variety of Dani's work, I can absolutely vouch for the excellent tastes and sights, so if a caterer who thinks outside the recipe book is what you need, look no further x

Dani May-McCallum at The Curated Kitchen