Hearty and Delicious: an Interview with Big Pot Kitchen
Interviews 09.02.2022
If there’s one thing we like talking about at Ash Barton it's food. So it was good to catch up with Trevor and Jane from Big Pot Kitchen recently to chat about their famous Big Pot dishes, their delicious desserts and what they love about an Ash Barton wedding.
So tell us about the style of food you offer
"Our catering centres around our Big Pots. These are massive cooking pots designed for large events and lots of guests. They’re the only ones in the UK, so our catering is certainly unique. Our menu is based around these cooking pots, so hearty, rustic one pot dishes designed to feed a crowd."
"Our original dish was Brittany-style cider potatoes with handmade sausages. We ate this on a trip to Brittany and were bowled over by it. It was cooked in giant pots in a food market and we really wanted to recreate it! Our menu now covers a range of dishes, tastes and flavours, but the cider potatoes and sausages dish is still the most popular."
“We’ll be reminiscing on those delicious sausages for years to come! Canapés, big pot sausages and potatoes and Eton Mess dessert were all perfection. Ideal food for a winter’s day. We also loved the informal style of serving directly from the pot.” Megan and Matt
Our mouths are watering! Do you offer any other types of dishes?
"We also have a menu of canapes, starters, desserts and evening food, which was designed to complement the Big Pot. It’s ideal for venues like Ash Barton, as our whole menu doesn’t need any extra catering equipment to be brought in."
And how long has Big Pot been going?
"We started in 2014. After a six month search for the cooking pots we wanted, we finally found a French company who could make what we needed. So we started the business with an exciting trip to the French Alps to collect our two giant cooking pots."
"After this we started to cook at food and music festivals across the South West (winning a Taste of the West Gold award). In 2015 we catered for our first wedding which was such a success we knew that this was the direction we wanted to take. So we now focus on wedding catering. We cater for about 30 weddings a year, so we tend to get booked up pretty quickly. We also attend a few food festivals each year so couples can come and see the Big Pot in action and taste our food."
So do you offer menu tasting for couples?
"Because we cook in our Big Pot, it’s very hard to recreate that in a home setting using a small pan. Part of the Big Pot experience is the aromas and the theatre. We prefer for couples to come and see us at one of our public events where they can see and taste our unique Big Pot cooking."
Do you source your food locally?
"We source locally as much as possible. Our meat is from local butchers and our sausages are handmade to our bespoke recipe by our award-winning butcher in Ilfracombe. Our vegetables mostly come from a local supplier and we try to support local businesses as much as possible."
And do you cater for all kinds of intolerances/beliefs?
"Absolutely. We have lots of experience in catering for all food intolerances and beliefs. We often cater for vegan or vegetarian weddings and always provide free-from alternatives. We have catered for Halal and Kosher guests and are always happy to adapt our menu and source the right ingredients. Next year we have a booking for a completely vegetarian and gluten free wedding."
"Nothing was too much trouble. Lovely couple, amazing set up, and happy full bellies." Lisa and Neil
So tell us about what happens on the day of an Ash Barton wedding
"We know the venue really well so our set up is very finely tuned! We arrive in the morning to set up the Big Pot / kitchen area and start cooking. We prep in the catering kitchen in the big party barn and more often than not serve the Big Pot meal from a serving area at the back of the barn.
"We’ve also cooked and served the Big Pot meal from different areas at Ash Barton including the walled garden, the courtyard and on the patio near the swimming pool. The beauty of the Big Pot is that we can cook and serve pretty much anywhere and can be pretty flexible if plans have to change."
"Everyone has said how amazing the food was and we had an absolutely brilliant day. Thanks for catering to all our dietary needs and going that extra mile. Was a truly special wedding meal." Gemma and Wayne
What’s the best thing about doing the catering for an Ash Barton wedding?
"Ash Barton is a perfect venue for our catering. Guest numbers are usually large and this is what our catering is made for. The big party barn is great for our style of service and, of course, the different areas in the grounds of Ash Barton are fabulous for canapés, informal meals and outdoor Big Pot cooking.
"We’re very familiar with the venue and have developed really good working relationships with the staff at Ash Barton and other suppliers, which means that we know the day will run smoothly. All this and it’s only 10 miles away, so it’s the perfect venue!"
What’s been the most memorable or favourite Ash Barton wedding?
"All weddings are of course memorable. But one or two are that little bit different and stick in the mind. We catered for a summer wedding where the sun was shining and it was hot. Many of the guests were Spanish and the day had a really Mediterranean vibe.
"The meal was very informal. We served a tapas style grazing table in the courtyard and cooked and served our Big Pot Spanish chicken and chorizo stew in the walled garden, where the tables were laid out for informal seating. There were garden games and acoustic music. Later we served Devon scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, with pots of tea, so it became an English country garden vibe. A great day!"
So how often do you meet or talk to couples before the big day?
"We’re happy to talk to couples as often as they need to speak, and they're all different. Zoom and Teams have been great for conversations with couples and of course we’re always available to answer any questions. Often this is by email and we have some email conversations that are 70 messages long!
"We’re always happy to meet couples face to face and if we can, it’s good to meet at Ash Barton to talk about the day and how it will work."
What questions should a couple always ask their wedding caterer?
"Well, of course, costs should be clear and up front, that goes without saying. We think it’s important that the people you are talking to are the people who will be catering for you and managing the meal on your day.
"‘How many events do you cater for on each day?’ and ‘Will you be at our wedding?’ are good questions to ask. Timing questions can be useful. ‘How long will it take for all our guests to be served?’ especially if you have lots. Other than that, it's important for couples to feel they can ask any questions at all, however small or insignificant they may seem! Some brides get very anxious a few weeks before their day and of course organising such a big event is a big deal. So really, they should feel they can ask anything and have their minds put at rest."
"The food was amazing (we had the cider potato and sausage dish and a chicken curry) and we had so many compliments on it. I don't recommend just anybody, especially when it's for people's weddings but Big Pot Kitchen - Trevor and his team are amazing. I am so glad we booked them!" Julie and Tony
And finally, what tips would you give to Ash Barton couples to ensure their day runs smoothly?
"Well one way of doing that is by making sure you have Katie at Best Day Ever co-ordinate the day! Other than that be clear about your plans with your suppliers. If everybody knows what is happening on the day it will work better. And finally relax and enjoy it, because that’s what it’s all about."