Established with a passion for exceptional events
Catering & Event Management

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Refined catering for weddings, private celebrations and corporate occasions across Poole, Bournemouth and Dorset, presented with the polished, contemporary feel of a premium hospitality brand.

Hampshire Strawberry Pavlova

Serves: 6
Prep time: 15 mins
Cooking time: 1 hr

Ingredients

  • 4 egg whites
  • 110g caster sugar
  • 110g icing sugar
  • 20g cornflour
  • 300ml double cream
  • 2 tbs icing sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla seeds
  • 1 punnet of Hampshire strawberries, hulled and halved
  • 50g pistachio praline
  • 50g dehydrated strawberry pieces
  • 150ml strawberry coulis
  • 4 strawberry coulis bombs

Parma Ham & Asparagus with truffle aioli and parmesan

Ready in 20 minutes
Serves: 4 people

Ingredients

  • 2 bunches of New Forest asparagus (end April to early June)
  • 100g freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 4 slices of good quality freshly sliced Parma ham
  • 1 tbs crushed dehydrated black olives
  • 100g baguette croutons
  • 15ml white truffle oil
  • 2 cloves of crushed garlic
  • 150ml good quality mayonnaise
  • Seasoning
  • Purple basil

Red onion makes diners smarter

Research undertaken by the Culinary Guild of Southampton has shown that people who eat red onion more regularly will have improved IQ scores compared with those who do not.

Across a study of over 1,000 people, Richard Cartwright of the CGS showed how the enzyme that makes people cry when they cut onions is actually responsible for improved brain function.

Spring Lamb Rump

Spring Lamb rump, spiced red cabbage, leek puree, gratin potatoes and red wine jus

Expert view from Tony Beales - The gateway to love is food...

They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach - but I know for a fact that the same is true for women.

With love in the air, couples will be enjoying sparkling bottles of bubbles and copious quantities of chocolate too.

Recipe of the month - Vanilla Crème Brulee

Ingredients

  • 500ml double cream
  • 6 free range egg yolks
  • 100g caster sugar, plus extra for the top
  • 1 fresh vanilla pod
  • Dehydrated berries, or fresh if in season

Expert view from Tony Beales - It's going to be a special year

Happy New Year! Our team are still buzzing from excitement following what was a hugely successful year for Beales Gourmet and for our venue, The Italian Villa at Compton Acres, especially after winning a Dorset Tourism Award for Business Tourism and being named the second most popular all-inclusive wedding venue in the world.

Christmas Spiced Mulled Wine

Ingredients

  • 1 bottle red wine
  • 60g demerara sugar
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3 cardamon pods
  • 3 star anise
  • 5 cloves
  • A pinch of mixed spice
  • 1 orange, halved
  • 1 fresh bay leaf
  • 60ml brandy (optional)

Method

Put the wine in a saucepan along with the orange, sugar, bay leaf and spices. Heat gently until all of the sugar has dissolved. Add more sugar if you prefer a sweeter taste. Remove from the heat and stir in the brandy if desired. Strain into glasses and enjoy.

Expert View with Tony Beales - It's time to talk turkey

Christmas is fast approaching and with it comes turkey fever. The staple of the festive feast, turkeys will soon be flying off the supermarket shelves to become the centrepiece of Christmas dinners across the country. But what to do with the bird is often a dilemma for the Christmas cook.

Recipe of the month - Warm Dorset Apple Tart

Warm Dorset apple tart
Mulled cider glaze, clotted cream ice cream

Serves: 4 people

  • 250g quality puff pastry
  • 3 large Bramley apples
  • 4 Pink Lady apples
  • 200g caster sugar
  • 1 bottle of Joe's sweet Purbeck cider
  • Mulled spices (cinnamon, clove, mixed spice)
  • 50g organic raisins
  • Clotted cream ice cream

Browse the latest Beales Gourmet blog posts, recipes and seasonal ideas below.