I love my job. I really do. I’ve been running Spitting Pig East Anglia for years now and never cease to enjoy cooking delicious food and seeing the pleasure this brings. I also love the interaction and banter with customers. No matter what the event, people always bring smiles to our faces – and our food always brings a big smile to theirs!
We recently provided catering at an agricultural and craft fair in East Anglia. In addition to providing delicious, traditionally roasted meats, we also exhibited Spitting Pig cooking products and allowed customers to have a go at seasoning and cooking meat – or ‘roasting a hog’ – on the open range. People both young and old were thrilled to try their hand at this ancient cooking method – and it didn’t do our sales any harm either!
This ‘hands on’ experience was great fun but it also gave us the chance to talk to people about what they like to eat, and also let them know that we cater for both private and public events. While we told those using the open range that they can buy Spitting Pig equipment for their own parties, we are always quick to remind them that over 20 years’ catering experience goes into all Spitting Pig events – with a focus on outstanding customer service which cannot be found anywhere else.
The fair was attended by a wide range of people from farmers to families, and the organisers provided lots of entertainment, including dog displays, sheep dog trials, treasure hunts, face painting and even a duck race (with live ducks!) As you can imagine, traditional hog roasts go down very well for such an audience and we had a steady stream of customers all day, with the chicken going down almost as well as the hog.
There were also agricultural exhibitors and we were delighted to be able to talk to some of our suppliers (we buy all meat, fruit and vegetables fresh from local suppliers). We have great relationships, honed over many years, with these suppliers and it is always nice to see them at local events.
But most of all, I enjoy the interaction with customers. Watching their faces as we prepare and roast the meat, seeing them slowly seduced as the meat crackles and our seasoning brings the juicy flavours floating under their noses. Our customers love what they call ‘good old-fashioned food’ – and we can tell how much by the numbers who come back for seconds!
And we are always prepared to accommodate our customers whatever they require in private catering. “I’ve always wanted a medieval banquet, with all of this stuff and a few jugs of mead”, one man said to me as he enjoyed spit roasted chicken. He took my card and wheeled away in delight to find his wife when I told him we can accommodate any such an event – and even arrange the mead.
All in all, the event was a great success and we are already planning for next year, though we have a busy calendar in between. Now I’m off to find a local mead supplier!