Conscious Communications

Private Catering for Christmas Party

We were thrilled when the team at Conscious Communications, based in Cambridge, approached us to cater their team Christmas party.

Having collaborated with them on multiple events before, we were excited to be part of their own special celebration! The event was hosted at the charming, character-filled Histon Manor in Cambridgeshire, a 17th-century estate with an intimate, festive atmosphere perfect for the occasion. Our team is well-acquainted with this venue, having catered previous dinners and events there, so we were ready to make the evening unforgettable.

The Brief

As a creative team and experienced event organisers, Conscious Communications had a clear vision for their party.

They wanted a bespoke, stylish, and memorable celebration that reflected their team’s personality. The menu needed to be showstopping, interactive, innovative, and a perfect complement to the overall event ambience.

The Menu

To kick off the celebrations, we began with a small selection of traditional, seasonal canapes. Our staff circulated among the guests, creating a warm and inviting start to the festivities and encouraging conversation.

The Canapès

● Winter Gazpacho

● Faux Gras, Mushroom And Walnut Pâté

● Pheasant Bonbon With Cumberland Jelly

We also added an interactive twist with a Crostini Bar, a fun and festive station that encouraged mingling and served as an ideal introduction to the main meal. The Crostini Bar was designed specifically for this event to reflect the festive spirit while remaining engaging.

The Crostini Bar

● Glazed Brie With Cumberland Jelly

● Turkey And Stuffing Ballotine With Cranberry Compote

● Creamed Hot Smoked Salmon With Horseradish

● Pan-Fried Bubble And Squeak

● Sauté Wild Mushroom With Truffle Oil

The Main Event

After initial greetings and canapés, guests took their seats for the main course. We opted for abundant, chef-led sharing boards, keeping the meal informal yet sophisticated. The chef-led service allowed guests to ask questions, interact with the team, and watch their dishes arrive directly from the kitchen.

These festive sharing boards included:

● Salt-Baked Chalk Stream Trout With Preserved Lemons And Soft Herbs

● Long Horn Rare Roast Beef With Fresh Horseradish Cream

● Roasted Candied Beetroot, Caramelised Walnuts, Goat Cheese Curd, Spicy Winter Leaves, Balsamic Reduction

● Chestnut Mushroom, Kale And Puy Lentil Wellington

● Maple And Soft Dark Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots

● Broccoli With Toasted Almonds, Charred Brussels, Creamed Leeks, Savoy Cabbage With Crispy Lardons

● Vegan Creamy Leeks And Broccoli

● Roasted Winter Squash, Feta, Labneh, Pomegranate Molasses And Seeds, Dukkha

To continue to festive dishes, we served the following desserts:

● Artisan English Cheese, Fresh Fig, Grapes And Celery, Winter Chutney And Water Biscuits

● Panatonne Trifle

● Velvet Chocolate Ganache Torte

And finally, some sweet treats to finish:

● Lemon Meringue Petit Fours

● Macaroons

Into The Evening

As the evening progressed, guests enjoyed quizzes and even a casino night! To keep the guests energised, we provided a selection of Christmassy bar snacks to fuel the remaining celebrations:

● “Twiglet” Inspired Straws

● Pigs In Blankets

● Salted Caramel and Winter-Spiced Popcorn

Feedback

This elevated interpretation of a traditional Christmas dinner was exceptionally well-received. Guests appreciated the festive atmosphere, interactive food stations, and our attentive service.
Conscious Communications praised our creativity in menu design and our dedication to delivering an unforgettable experience.
From the team at Conscious Communications:
“Thank you all so much for Friday. It was just wonderful. Everyone is still raving about the food and service.”

Images used were taken by the amazing Richard Ecclestone Photography

TESTIMONIALS

Having used Boxed Events as caterers at our wedding in June 2018, we couldn’t recommend James and his team enough. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Boxed Events to anyone looking for a unique culinary experience for their event.
TAD CHAPMAN

James and his team provided the catering for an outdoor wedding at a venue I own recently and I have to say they are by far the best catering team I've worked with. The setup was professional, the team were all friendly and hard working, service was exceptional and most importantly the food looked and tasted absolutely amazing.
HANNAH WHITELEY

Simply fabulous – James and his team made our party so relaxed and enjoyable for everyone. They listened to what we wanted, advised us on food choices, and then delivered culinary perfection with (what looked like) incredible ease. Great communication throughout the whole process, and always with the air of a relaxed professional who is on top of their game.
MICHAEL WITHERS

James thank you for catering for my hen night. Amazing service, gorgeous staff and food was sublime. The lamb main course was out of this world. The meal was utterly delicious and really made our Saturday night. Thanks again.
MARTY MARASCHINO

We used Boxed Events for our wedding, and they ran the whole day for us, including the bar, catering, event management, glass hire, etc. They listened to all of our requirements, and responded promptly and with the answers we wanted to hear! We could not have asked for more from them, and they made the day as special for us as we had hoped.
STEVE MACALLISTER

James and co. provided our food for our wedding at Barrington Hall. From our tasting through to the day itself everything was perfect. James is a great guy and really understood what we were wanting from our wedding breakfast and so many guests commented on how great the food was.
SOPHIE WILSON

Just wanted to thank you both for the amazing food and service you delivered at our wedding! So so many comments from our guests, lots of people said it was the best wedding food they had ever had - especially the sausages. It suited everyone. Thank you again, the staff were incredible and very professional. We will be in touch again for future parties and celebrations. Cannot recommend you guys enough.
J & I

Now that the dust has all settled, and the hangover has finally gone, I wanted to send thank you to you and a massive thank you to your team who helped run our wedding. Myself and Jake had the best day, and your team were a massive part of that. They were so accommodating, so lovely, the bar staff were amazing and they honestly couldn't do enough for us. The amount of compliments we have had on the food as well is incredible, no wedding will ever compare! Please pass my thanks on to your team, it wouldn't have been the day we had if it wasn't for all of them! Thank you again.
S & J

We just wanted to say a massive thank you to you and the boxed events staff. You were all so chilled and efficient putting us at ease and a massive help to us throughout the day. We have to particularly single out Imo who was absolutely fantastic the whole day. Thanks again for helping to make the day what it was.
J & A

I want to thank you most sincerely for all the care and attention you put into my 80th birthday lunch on Saturday. It was exactly what I wanted. A lovely meal which we didn't have to worry about - we were just able to sit and enjoy. The food was wonderful. I am very glad we found you and asked you to provide the lunch. With our thanks and good wishes.
P

We just wanted to give a huge thank you to you, James, and the whole serving team at Boxed Events. Saturday was the perfect day, in no small part thanks to you! We've received so many compliments from our guests about the food - everything was so delicious and there was plenty to go round. You're all such professionals, and we really appreciated your quick thinking to move dessert outside to get the marquee turned around in time for the dancing. Thank you so much too for answering all our many questions and helping us plan the perfect day. You've been a constant source of reassurance for us both, and it put our minds at ease knowing that the catering and running of the day was in excellent hands.
J & J