Hello and welcome to our Halloween Blog !!!!

Yes it’s the 31st of October the spookiest day of the year has finally arrived!!

We are heading out on the road in a couple of hours now that the van is loaded and ready to go so we will be making our way to an event in the south west of England, we have a magnificent 155 hungry guests to feed including children and with everyone dressing up in Halloween costumes for this event it should be great fun.

Catering for different occasions throughout the year like Halloween, Christmas and Bonfire night is one of my favourite things about being a hog roast caterer all over the UK and being able to travel just about anywhere to do events such as these we never know what to expect from any of our events we have been told to attend. Spooky games are to be expected tonight with the serve time being 9pm we can’t wait to see what the host has in store as entertainment for her guests because we know that the food is going to be outstanding with one of our favourite hog roast menus being served we know everyone is sure to have a great night.

Do not worry as the summer season is coming to an end, the Spitting Pig team work all year round providing you with an excellent catering experience using our own professional chefs, and even though the weather may not be on our side we provide weather proof gazebo’s or can simply cook the meat indoors using our state of the art hog roast machines that we manufacture ourselves.

This weekend just gone myself and another Spitting Pig chef catered for a large wedding in a converted barn just outside of Ripon. Even though the job was in a remote part of town we managed to show up 7 hours early to cook a spit roasted pig and a spit roasted lamb with canapés including handmade gourmet sausages, wild mushroom bouchees, satin chicken skewers, haloumi kebabs and a delightful smoked salmon on fresh brown bread. We served the spit roasted pig with fresh apple sauce and a sage and onion stuffing which we prepared ourselves not forgetting our perfect crispy crackling, and the lamb with fresh rosemary and mint sauce , we also served warm new potatoes in a herb butter, cauliflower cheese and a range of freshly prepared salads .  After the canapés and main meal we served a chocolate torte dessert with fresh raspberry’s and blueberry’s followed by tea and coffee. After a long day cooking everybody at the event commented on how good our service was and we even received a couple of bookings from the guests, the bride and groom said we did absolutely brilliant and it made there special day something to remember and would definitely recommend the Spitting Pig company to friends and family.

To book any type of event at any time of year in any location why not take a look at our online menu’s or speak to one of our friendly staff at the office, all the information you need is on our website.

Picture the scene….a balmy summer’s day, the sun beating down on a huge field scattered with stalls, children running around, a band playing in the background and a flurry of activity as everyone mills around the gazebos and checks out the competition for the funniest shaped vegetables. It’s a summer gala! We all love them, and every year it’s traditional for local towns and villages to set out to entertain and bring everyone together, children and adults alike for a summer celebration.

Often there’s fairgrounds with loud music booming out and candyfloss for the kids. After riding the walzer for a while, some might have a slightly wobbly tummy, but for the cast iron stomachs amongst us who still have an appetite there’s always the Spitting Pig!

We think that our hog roasts are perfect for these ocassions. Nothing looks more mouthwatering than freshly roasted pork, cooked right in front of you by professional, friendly staff. Even if the weather doesn’t co-operate and the heavens open, we can make the best of things and ensure you still get hot, tasty, melt in the mouth food. It looks so impressive too, a full pig roasted on a turning spit is a real spectacle compared to the usual scattering of burger vans.

The Spitting Pig often caters for large numbers of hungry people and we have perfected the art of cooking, carving and getting food on plates in as quick a time as possible. No-one likes standing in a queue for hours, so we do our best to make sure you’re served your food quickly and efficiently. We look after our customers too, and if the sun shines there’s a gazebo to keep you cool, and if the rain pours this offers shelter and a place to sit and socialize.

So if you’re wanting a hang out area for the foodies at your summer fete, gala or garden party, why not consider the Spitting Pig? We will be more than happy to cater for your guests, no matter how many people you are expecting. Our experience and expertise means that we are more than capable of catering for hundreds of people or even just a handful, all you have to do is ring us for a quote and give us some idea of what you would like to organise and we will do the rest!

With a variety of events being catered for, ranging from birthday parties to weddings, we’ve been more than happy to fill your menu specifications. With each event catering specified the need of different dietary requirements; we’ve spent our time ensuring that the detailed specification of ingredients needed to the alternative food options is correct. With vegetarian options also being accommodated for, each event will have their own unique menu as stated during the booking process of their events catering.

With weddings being a popular choice for the weekends catering staff, we have ensured that only the finest meats are used for each menu, making that special day, a little less stressful for the happy couple. With each menu asking for a different meat for their weddings, we have been rushed off our feet to ensure we get the freshest, locally sourced meat for the tastiest cuts and most succulent, tender, melt in your mouth texture.

Many birthday parties are on the list to be catered for this weekend, ranging from 18 year olds to 81 year olds, we ensure that each party is unique. By ensuring our menus are family friendly, we make sure that all ages would be happy to eat our foods, and take a professional approach to the way in which we make our foods, and interact with our customers.

With some of our staff checking that each machine is working correctly and the correct accessories are sent with the correct machine to the correct location, and others packing up ingredients, whilst few managed the phones for new events. With the vans sat outside, ready and waiting to be loaded and shipped off to the event locations, we were nearing the end of our long day of preparation. Ensuring everything was to the standard and specifications we aim to deliver constantly, we were ready to ship out our catering teams.

Why not get use to cater for your event, make your menu unique and really make your event stand out, just give us a call or drop us an email, for a free quote.

We’re all aware of how time consuming and stressful sorting out the catering for any events can be, and the amount of people makes this even more time consuming, with the constant fear sitting in the back of your head on whether or not everyone with like the food, and if it will be eaten, with this stress added onto top of ensuring that every little aspect of the event is going accordingly to plan, and this can make any event feel lost, as more time is spent on the preparing and management, than the actual enjoyment.

This could have been the case at a party we were chosen to cater for over the weekend, however, with the hog roast being catered for by our trained chefs that guarantee our freshly, locally sourced meats are thoroughly cooked, this aspect of the party was taken off the organisers mind. With the party in full swing, the hog was cooking away, and from the looks on some people’s faces, licking their lips showing that this was kicking up their taste bugs. As we began carving, the queue began forming, and we could see just from the theatrical looking way in which the pig is cooked, it was working its magic on the budding guests.

Within minutes of the meat being served, the room feel deadly silent, with the under-lying beat of the DJ running through the room, the only sound that could be heard were the positive reactions coming from the guests throughout the event, and evidently, many were returning for a second serving. From the look of relief coming from the organiser’s face, we could see that all there expectations had been met, and they were thoroughly pleased with the way in which the party had turned out.

So if you’re thinking of organising a new event, be it a party or themed event, then why not take a look at some of our special offers; why not give us a call or drop us an email for a quote.

With a varying number of reasons as to why the runners were chosen, every single one of them given the cheering determination to carry the torch with pride, knowing they deserved the honour to bear the torch. Though the weather held off during the torches visit, earlier rain had caused the Blue Peter team to call off their Big Olympic Tour Event at Towneley Park, but this didn’t stop the lucky school reporters working with the show to produce a video report of the torch travels, showing off some of the town’s highlights, including the Singing Ringing Tree structure and Turf Moor.

With the torch making its lunchtime stop within Burnley Mechanics Theatre, we were honoured to cater for the torchbearers, and Olympic torch team, each of which looked remarkably pleased with the way in which our hog roast melted in their mouth, with only the freshest of meats being used from locally sourced farmers. With a wonderful display of dancing from The Clarets Dance Team, the crowds watched, waiting in anticipation for the flame to depart from Burnley.

We were truly honoured to cater for the Olympic Torch during its pass through the town, witnessing to coming together of crowds looking on in wonder, knowing the Olympics are only a few weeks away, standing together as a nation. The honour of the United Kingdom being chosen to host the games is already a huge admiration, and the relay of the torch around the country has also been considered in itself a wonderful event.

With the disappointment of England’s defeat now looming over the nation, the sight of the Olympics brings us hope, looking on to our new hopefuls representing the country to bring home to gold. So why not consider hosting your own Olympic themed event, and look into our special offers for your catering, with a variety of different available offers, give us a call or drop us an email to receive a quote, and make your next event truly unique.

Though the tension within the local pub was high, and breaking it was hit and miss, Spitting Pig never failed to ensure that fans were getting their fair share of the succulent hog roasts provided as half time appetisers. We can all say that we wanted a better first half, and the sight of the fans said the same, yet we here at Spitting Pig aimed to keep the fans happy and well feed. Though half time was daunting for fans, our hog roast machines never failed, like the England squad, disappointment was not an option. It would appear that the idea for the perfect combo, Beer, Meat, Football, was slowly taking shape, the beer was flowing, the game was nail-biting, and the meat was falling of our machines quicker than the changes in this English weather.

With the sensational goal shortly after half time, fans were eccentric and overjoyed at England’s recent success, desperately hoping to keep hold of this lead for the next 45 minutes. With Spitting Pig delivering the tender hog roasts to overjoyed fans, anticipating England’s luck within the group stages of the tournament. The final whistle was blown, and fans were over the moon for the result, which has prompted us here at Spitting Pig to offer our services during the group stages of the tournament. Want to host an amazing themed party due to England’s success and anticipation for Euro 2012? Why not take a look into our new football themed offers.

With the excitement of the group stages settling, and quarter finals brewing in the mist, the anticipation of witnessing the Olympic Torch Relay running its way through Burnley this weekend is enough for any sports fanatic to attend. The streets will be layered with supporters for the runners, which can only mean they can cheer for so long before their stomachs do the cheering for them; so instead of walking miles from the relay for food, Spitting Pig will be there to feed hungry supporters, ensuring the satisfaction of witnessing the torch pass, without losing your view for hunger.

Menu 1 - The orginal hog roast menu

Hello Spitting Pig fans and welcome to another blog entry from the office of hog roasts, this morning we had a meeting regarding the different menu options we have available. Every couple of months we like to get together and discuss some ideas and use feedback from certain events to make sure we are giving our customers as much choice and quality as possible. We use these sessions to throw out new ideas and it’s the perfect time to get creative and really cook up a feast. Once we have put our new ideas on paper they then go through a vigorous testing process in our state of the art kitchens, we have taste testing and try to get as much feedback from the general public as possible. Once we are completely satisfied they are then made available for events. One recent success of this was our Winter Warmer Menu, it has proven so successful that we are keeping it available right up until the summer months. Of course we are always on the lookout for new and exciting ideas so if you have any ideas for menus then please feel free to send them into admin4@spittingpig.co.uk. I’ll be back later in the week, and I’ll be sure to let you know the results of our meeting.

Gas Service

As part of the complete package that we offer here at Spitting we offer each and every one of our customers the chance to have their machines serviced year round both at our factory and at their premises. In the winter months we run a special offer which is as follows

Between the 21st of February 2012 and the end of March 2012, our Gas Safe (Corgi) qualified technicians will travel to your premises and conduct a thorough service, leaving your machines ready for the onslaught of commercial use during the Spring and Summer of the up-and-coming year. The service leaves your machine complete with a 12 month Gas Certification; something which is legally required for caterers to operate in the public domain.

The prices are as follows but are excluding the cost of parts and VAT.

1^st machine serviced on your premises         £125.00

2^nd machine serviced on your premises       £200.00

3^rd machine and thereafter                                 £75.00 per machine

So this really is a reminder that this week is the last week to book onto the servicing before we starting travelling around the country. All we required is at £25 + VAT deposit to book us in, this is deducted from final service cost. So give us a call today on 0800 587 5899.

Hog Roast Wedding

Recently we have had a significant amount of enquiries all asking the same question. Can you come and cater for the evening buffet at my wedding. Yes of course we can. Here at Spitting Pig we have some beautiful wedding menus that are extremely popular, but we understand that sometimes weddings have a more relaxed feel and that catering is only required for the evening buffet. That where one of our menu 1, 2 or 3 options comes in handy. These are fantastic hog roast buffets that won’t break the bank perfect for the evening catering at a wedding or indeed any function. And of course as with every Spitting Pig booking you get the complete service of a hog roast expert chef and their waiting team being on site preparing your food from the finest and freshest ingredients. So take a look at our private party menu options for your special day