Assistance for Restaurants and Businesses
Gourmet Girls Secret Cafe (photo: Sophie)
Thames Valley Veggies are able to offer vegetarian option menu design and marketing assistance as well as chefs' workshops for restaurants, hotels, B&B's and catering companies.
Initial assistance from Thames Valley Veggies is given on a voluntary basis, but we welcome donations to national vegetarian organisations in return, particularly for workshops and more in-depth help.
We freely list businesses we consider particularly welcoming to vegetarians and vegans.
enhancing menus brings commercial benefits
Local restaurants have noticed significant increases in the number of vegetarian and vegan customers after we have helped them to enhance their vegetarian and vegan offering. These customers in turn introduce both their vegetarian and non-vegetarian friends to these restaurants.
Such eateries include the Spice Oven and the Red Lion, which both have chosen to have separate vegan menu.
your local speaker and workshop leader
Sophie Fenwick-Paul is a registered speaker for The Vegetarian Society, The Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation and Animal Aid. She enjoys giving lively interactive talks, cookery demonstrations and workshops to groups of any size within reasonable travelling distance of Reading.
Sophie is happy to cover any and all aspects of vegetarian food and special diets through her wide knowledge of these subjects. Her emphasis is factual and fun with plenty of group participation. For catering managers and chefs she can focus workshops on creating variety and interest in vegetarian catering, as well as covering nutritional aspects.
We have a pool of excellent local volunteers to call upon to help with more complex workshops and larger group sizes.
Simply contact us at any time if you are interested in finding out more or know a local business that would be.
a recent example of a bespoke two hour chefs' workshop
The group was made up of 15 chefs each responsible for various catering sites under contract, ranging from workplace canteens to 24/7 catering at a convent. The event took place at the catering company's head quarters. A previous one with another group of chefs and management staff took place at one of their contract workplace cafes. Workshops make use of the premises and facilities provided by the business being assisted.
coverage
- vegetarian and special diets catering and rationale
- recipe design, including ensuring good nutritional coverage and variety of ingredients and taste
- vegetarian dairy-free and egg-free cookery session in groups using novel ingredients and recipes
feedback
The group had already had a full day of work but were clearly re-energised during the workshop, putting humour and inventiveness into their participation. The food creations from given ingredients were imaginative and seriously tasty.
One participant commented 'this is the best and most enjoyable training session we've had'. Their manager wrote afterwards to say 'Hi Sophie, Thanks so much for a giving your time up and holding a great meeting, it was such fun. Thank you. Janet'
further information sources
The following organisations provide well-researched information on vegetarian issues and food. They have useful websites and written materials you can download or send off for including some specifically for schools and projects, as well as experts to talk to.
- The Vegetarian Society is an ideal starting point. Ask to be put in touch with their youth contact who will reply to emails from pupils and teachers personally if you have any questions.
- The Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation for talking to qualified nutritionists specialising in vegetarian and vegan diets, and excellent resources on a wide range of healthy eating topics.
- Teach Vegetarian - a website dedicated to school teachers' needs in this area, produced by the Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation.
- Animal Aid provide a wide spectrum of information and support on all areas of animal ethics.
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Story posted by sophie on 2011-11-10 11:01:36.
Story last updated by sophie on 2011-11-10 13:02:41.
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Assistance for Restaurants and Businesses
Thames Valley Veggies are able to offer vegetarian option menu design and marketing assistance as well as chefs' workshops for restaurants, hotels, B&B's and catering companies.
Initial assistance from Thames Valley Veggies is given on a voluntary basis, but we welcome donations to national vegetarian organisations in return, particularly for workshops and more in-depth help.
We freely list businesses we consider particularly welcoming to vegetarians and vegans.
Read more.
