Capesthorne Hall, set in the heart of Cheshire, is a tranquil haven of wildlife, parkland and formal gardens. Here at Vanilla in Allseasons, we love a venue that is steeped in history that also offers glorious panoramic views.

Through the Milanese gates, the estate consists of a chain of lakes merged with colourful perennials and unusual 18th Century plants, maples and cherry trees, which is a breathtaking backdrop for photographs.

The magnificent country house epitomises Jacobean style architecture in a truly romantic and picturesque setting. The grandeur of the Hall with its opulent rooms is an ideal location to celebrate a special day.

The grand entrance hall has beautiful stained glass windows and contains English, French and Dutch antique furniture with historical paintings adorning the walls. The Saloon, for 120 years, has seen many celebrations, whilst the Sculpture Gallery features a collection of Roman marble statues and portraits.

Photo Credit: Chelsea Shoesmith

If you are looking for a Cheshire wedding venue, Capesthorne Hall is an elegant venue to host a wedding reception, civil ceremonies/partnerships, naming ceremonies, vow renewal and celebrations of all religions and faiths.

Catering packages are available with venue booking, for more information you can contact us or Capesthorne Hall.

Sweet, stylish and personal. The perfect combination for a very special wedding.

We are very pleased to say that the sun shone for them over Heaton House farm and a wonderful day was had by all. A huge congratulations to Andrew and Cara from the Vanilla in Allseasons team x

The classic choice for a picnic is a selection of sandwiches and snacks. Today, we take a look at some other suggestions for a lunchtime picnic.

Quiche is the perfect partner to a picnic. You can fill it with your favourite ingredients, it can be eaten hot or cold, with or without cutlery. It’s easily transportable in a lunchbox and won’t easily crumble. A firm favourite is quiche Lorraine, check out this recipe from the BBC Food website.

A salad is a great tasting, light on the waistline picnic treat. It allows for a combination of flavours that seem to taste even better in the sunshine. Be experimental with ingredients and you’ll be surprised at the results. How delicious does the Peach and Roasted Vegetable Salad look?

Nothing beats a homemade pie. They may take some time making but you can store them in the freezer until you decide to go on a picnic. With a wide range of fillings, including bacon and egg, chicken and stuffing and the traditional pork pie, there is no better way to indulge.

And for afters? This decadent chocolate slice brimming with glacé cherries is an ideal snack for a picnic: serve with clotted cream and fresh rasberries.

Why not wash it all down with a refreshing, summery drink? Homemade lemonade is easy to prepare and quenches your thirst on a hot day. Just for adults – why not create your favourite cocktail to enjoy on your afternoon day off? Or if you’re really wanting to treat yourself a bottle of bubbly is just as enjoyable.

Don’t forget to pack a picnic rug. There is nothing worse than grass stains on your bottom. There’s a great range of picnic ware available at John Lewis. As well as this, be considerate of the environment by taking along a rubbish bag so you don’t leave a mess behind.

So what are you waiting for? Gather your family or friends and head out to your local park to enjoy the sunshine.

What could be more quintessentially English than a luxurious afternoon tea? Here at Vanilla in Allseasons, we love to prepare and serve them for parties, weddings and special events.

Why not make this St. George’s Day a special one and try creating your own? Set the table with fresh flowers, bring out the best china, put up some colourful bunting and serve up an elegant English feast!

Afternoon tea essentials include -

*Fresh and crisp cucumber sandwiches served on soft white bread
*Creamy egg and cress served on a rustic wholemeal
*Sweet fruit scones with clotted cream and jam
*A selection of delicate cakes.

Whether you have time to bake the cakes from scratch or buy them in from your local bakery, ensure that each morsel is carefully sliced and neatly presented to give that authentic feeling of luxury. Remove the crusts from the sandwiches and present it all on pretty vintage china or tiered plates.

Serve it all with a pot of fresh tea or perhaps a glass of icy fizz if you’re feeling frivolous. Whether teacup or champagne flute, be sure to raise it high to good old St. George!

If you would like to know more about our afternoon tea service for your own special event, please feel free to get in touch!

Some dessert recipes can leave you feeling too full but these smaller versions of classics are a great way to complete a meal or include in a buffet at events. Ranging from dinky pies to tiny tarts and bite-size cakes, why not bring these mini dessert dishes to the table?

We’ve rounded up five petite plates – including peanut butter and chocolate cheese cake, golden Victoria sponges and pear, vanilla and smoke cakes – that are sure to take your fancy as well satisfy that sweet tooth.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cheesecakes

Chocolate can be quite overwhelming (but very, very enjoyable!) in dessert recipes. This cheesecake recipe – combining roasted peanuts, caramel, peanut butter and chocolate – provides a mouthwatering idea for desserts that just melts in the mouth.

Golden Victoria Sponges

This British favourite looks even more appetising with the cream and jam bursting from the sides. What a great idea to accompany your afternoon tea, don’t you agree?

Mini Guinness Desserts

A healthy twist on the Italian Tiramisu, this delectable coffee and chocolate dessert is accompanied with a fresh, creamy yoghurt top.

Pear, Vanilla and Smoke Cakes

Another small indulgence, that will tantalise those tastebuds: “The smokiness is balanced by the aromatic freshness of the pear, and the nutty dark chocolate pulls these contrasting flavours together”.

Trio of Desserts

Why not indulge in more than one dessert? Here, at Vanilla in Allseasons, we offer three miniature versions of your favourite dishes, including lemon tart, meringue with fruit and chocolate brownie.

If these don’t tickle those tastebuds, we can tailor make to match your preferences. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any queries.

This week we received two lovely thank you notes from two very different events. We were touched by both and wanted to share them with you all.

“I would like to thank you and your staff for your help in arranging this event at short notice. Everything about the ‘do’ last week was excellent and just what I wanted. The guests commented on how nicely everything was presented, and the taste matched the presentation. Particularly successful were the chicken sandwiches, chocolate cake and the coffee! Both your staff were pleasant, helpful and efficient – used crockery just disappeared and the coffee & tea pots constantly topped up – please pass my thanks on to them.

Once again, thanks for all your help.

Regards
Penny”

“Hi Adam

I just wanted to to thank you and all your staff for making the wedding such a wonderful occasion.

We got so many compliments on the catering and service, so thank you very much!

Kind regards
Sharon”

Many thanks to these clients for getting in touch to tell us how we did. We always appreciate feedback and these positive comments help to reassure us that we are on the right path.

Heritage Chicken

With a rise in the cost of beef, pork and lamb, it seems we are favouring that humble bird, the chicken. Taking more consideration into the farming of chickens is making all the difference. Reared on small farms, heritage chickens are even tastier.

Chicken kievs are even finding their way back on to restaurant menus. We love this recipe from Channel 4′s Simon Rimmer.

Gilded Burgers

This year is all about quality fast food. The classic burger is undergoing a makeover with artisan buns, delectable sauces and new flavour combinations. Burger flavours being introduced include pork sage and onion, sweetcorn and turkey and cheddar cheese.

Aperitivo

The Mediterranean is having a strong influence on our cuisine. It now seems we are following in the footsteps of the Italian in how they do evening drinks. Bars are offering complimentary Italian canapes, such as sweet tarts, beef carpaccio and crostini, to tuck into whilst you enjoy a bottle of wine.

Aperitivos make great appetisers at a party. Here at Vanilla in Allseasons we have our own selection of Italian delicacies, if you’re planning an event feel free to contact us and we can discuss any requirements.

Donuts

This year’s cupcake. Doughnuts, either homemade or bought from a specialist, are a great partner to coffee. With a wide array of fillings to satisfy your tastebuds, they are fast becoming the indulgent treat of the year.

We’d love to hear your ideas for this summer on our Facebook page

Dinner
Starter – Creamy Curried Carrot and Butter Bean Soup

With the weather not exactly being Spring-like, this spicy soup is sure to warm up your guests. The recipe is perfect for feeding a crowd, or you could save the leftovers for Bank Holiday lunch.

Main Course – Garlic and Herb Roast Lamb on Boulangère Potatoes with Green Beans, Pine Nuts and Shallots

Lamb is the traditional meat to eat at Easter. This garlic and herb roast gives a flavoursome twist to the traditional Easter Sunday dinner and the boulangère potatoes soak up all those delectable juices. Sprucing up those crisp green beans makes for an excellent complementary side dish.

Dessert – Simnel Cakes

Another Easter tradition is the simnel cake. Packed full of delicious flavours including mixed spices, cinnamon and dried fruit.

So what are you waiting for? Celebrate Easter with an array of flavours that will leave your guest’s mouths watering!

With March and April providing delicious seasonal ingredients, from lamb to leeks and new potatoes, your only challenge is choosing what to serve!

Today, we offer our choice of recipe ideas to help you narrow down the menu.

Breakfast – Hot Cross Buns

There’s no better way to start the day than with this Easter classic. This sticky version of the hot cross bun is much tastier than those you can buy in the shops. Why don’t you give it a go?

Lunch – Chicken, Spinach and Pesto Puff Pastry Tart

This great light choice provides a quick and easy lunch that can served with a salad or a selection of vegetables. You don’t have to stick to the toppings suggested in this recipe either. You can mix together any combination of ingredients depending on what tickles your tastebuds.

Check back later in the week for our Easter dinner ideas.

Lucky guests were treated to a selection of fruits including sweet dates, melon and fresh strawberries. We also served a selection of Baklava, a rich, sweet pastry made of layers of filo pastry filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with honey.

Moroccan teas and coffee were served and everyone enjoyed the delicious and unusual food. We rather enjoyed preparing it too!

If you are planning a special party, celebration or corporate event and would like to serve some special food, we can help! Just give us a call.