A blustery cooking lesson on the Thames
Two nights ago we taught 75 people how to make pasta and dessert on board a Mississippi paddle steamer whilst going down the Thames. It was a challenge and our third attempt at a cooking lesson on board ship. It took a lot of organisation to get everything ready to cook a whole meal in a kitchen without so much as a wooden spoon. Six of us went from La Cucina Caldesi to Butler’s Wharf where we unpacked our car and carried everything on board. This wouldn’t have been so bad had it not been for the driving rain and wind and the fact that the car was a five minute walk to the boat.
Once on board we settled in and awaited our guests. It was pretty choppy on board and the swell made the bubbling pots of ragu and stock slide about on the gas rings. Our chef Gregorio swore (luckily in Italian) on several occasions and vowed never to cook on a boat again! Two of the staff felt sea-sick and the fumes from the engine blew into the kitchen area. All in all it was tough and I began to think I had done the wrong thing accepting the challenge. We then had one hour rather than the previously arranged two hours to teach the guests who were in a hurry to disembark and get back to their hotels.
The large party divided into six teams and we made fresh pasta, pesto, lasagna, chocolate torte, roasted fruits and Sicilian almond biscuits. It was great, such fun and great bonding for the company that had organised it. The guests then retreated to the upper deck to watch the view.
We then laid up for dinner and everyone ate well. Gregorio managed to keep all the pots on the gas, work the ovens and find the plates. Calls for more lasagna and tagliatelle meant the guests had cooked themselves a good supper. They got off at Embankment and we got to stand on deck for the journey back to Butlers Wharf enjoying a well deserved glass of wine.
London by night is beautiful and we had all forgotten that. To see the illuminated Houses of Parliament, the wheel, the South Bank from the river side was magical. We finally relaxed before the unloading began from boat to car. On the way home everyone opted to do the next boat trip, it was really good fun despite the hard work and we are looking forward to our fourth cooking lesson on the Thames on 2nd February.
I’m the Sales Director of Topsail Events & Charters who organised this event with Katie and her team. It’s great to hear this report of the day actually because I heard it was pretty challenging but with the professionalism (and tenacity!) of Katie’s team I know this event was a big success. Our clients were really happy and it proved to be a different and exciting event - with absolutely delicious food of course! Thanks to the Caldesi team and we look forward to running many more excellent cooking parties on the Thames with you.
Comment by Guy Wimpory — Monday, 2 April, 2007 @ 2:37 pm
I am so glad they enjoyed it, they seemed really happy as they got off but its great to hear feedback. We’ve done two more with you since then and although I wasn’t involved I hear they went well too. I am on the next one in May however as its another big one and we are all looking forward to it.
Comment by Katie Caldesi — Saturday, 28 April, 2007 @ 7:34 am