Selfridges Sunday Service
Sunday, October 6, 2019
7:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Selfridges, Oxford Street, London (map)
About the event
Andi, Zaidee, Natalie and I watched in awe as Willow, head of Restaurants, briefed and motivated her team which included everyone from Sales Floor staff to the Stores Director.
Behind the scenes Mark, Head Chef of all the Selfridges Restaurants, had been working with his talented team of Chefs to prepare the evening meal. Grant, of the Corner Restaurant, had been planning the menu all week and true to the Mike’s Table ethos of using surplus food and linking in with Selfridges own incredible re-use/recycle policy, he collected vegetables that were considered too blemished or wonky to be sold in the Food Hall and created a delicious creamy vegetable soup served with amazing left over Sourdough from Coomeshed Farm - once tasted never forgotten.
The other restaurants and bars within the store saved all their surplus too, including the ale pushed out of the beer lines before cleaning - normally this would be thrown away but Grant ingeniously used it to make a delicious ale gravy which he poured over the individual cottage pies he created from burgers and sausages donated by our old friends the Hampstead Butcher.
Concessions and suppliers donated cheeses, meats, olives, chocolates and lots of other treats so our guests could enjoy a sumptuous 5 course meal.
Our guests arrived looking gorgeous - everyone had made an effort to look their best and our friend Mary wore a tie. The Selfridges hosts handed out delicious Mocktails created from fruit left over from the bars and kitchens. The excitement in the restaurant was electric. The view from the windows dramatic. The setting, complete with beautifully laid tables adorned with exquisite flowers kindly donated too, was stunning.
As guests took their places at the table they were joined by members of the Selfridges Team and they all ate together. There were many magical moments.
Before pudding we held a raffle and 5 lucky winners were presented with a large yellow Selfridges Bag filled with Home Ware or Beauty gifts. The elated looks on the winners faces said it all. And if that wasn’t enough, every guest left with a goody bag.
Thank you Team Selfridges for your talent, time and generosity.
Menu
Saturday
Starter:
Winter Vegetable Broth with Honey-Glazed Ham or Creamy Dhal with Roast Tumeric Cauliflower
Main:
Farmer’s Sausages with White Bean, Chilli and Courgette Stew or Char-Grilled Vegetable Ragu with Gran Padardo
Desert:
Citrus Cheese Cake with Lemon Curd
Sunday
Starter:
Winter Vegetable Broth or White Bean & Courgette Soup
Main:
Chicken & Farmer’s Sausage Casserole or Peppers stuffed with Chestnut Mushrooms & Herbs both served with Roast Potatoes, Roast Carrots & Cauliflower cheese
Desert:
Citrus Cheesecake with Lemon Curd
The Team
Saturday Chefs:
Andi, Maxie & Simon (the Royal Chefs!)
Sunday Chefs:
Gareth, T, Philippa & Natalie
Saturday Front of House:
Elizabeth, Eve, Anup, Mandy & Louise
Sunday Front of House:
Elizabeth, Juno, Seamus, Robin & Louise
With special thanks to Brutus and Helen of St Margaret’s, Abiola, Emma and Henry of Glass Door and all the parishioners of St Margaret’s, especially Janice, who helped and supported us.
More about Glass Door
Glass Door arranges for Churches to donate their Hall space for 1 night per week during winter as a night shelter. Glass Door place homeless people at the shelter and provide support to help them off the street and into more permanent accommodation.
Each night shelter resident arrives at 7.00pm for a hot drink and a meal at 8.00pm, then sleeps in the Church Hall and is given breakfast the next morning. The meals are prepared and served by volunteers with food donated by the congregation.
We were delighted to partner with St Margaret’s Church who run a Glass Door Shelter each Sunday evening throughout winter. We donated £300 to Glass Door to help them continue this precious work.
