The event caught my attention as soon as it popped up on my Facebook newsfeed. I read:
Time to shake off the blues and the heavier comfort food of dark days and embrace all that Spring has to offer. The menu has been inspired by the thoughts of spring with the vibrant colours on show and the new buds of life that are emerging. Come and enjoy a warm and pleasant ambience with good food and you never know you may meet new friends along the way. If you have a special occasion to celebrate why not book and allow my sister and I to spoil you.
A quick check of the family calendar to make sure we were free and a few minutes later I had booked up two tickets (£25 each plus £1.53 booking fee). Sisters Sinead Jackson and Caroline McCormack set up their business Heritage on a Plate and run supper clubs in the area and this was their fourth event.
Sinead was a contestant in the 2017 series of MasterChef UK.
The supper club experience
It’s a different experience to going out to a restaurant. Supper club venues are quirky- a previous night was held at Bethlehem Chapel in Blaenavon and this one was in St Mary’s Panteg Hall in New Inn. It’s a sociable experience. You sit among people you may not know.
We had a fabulous night with lots of laughs. A woman on our table was due to give birth to her third child in two weeks. An old workmate that I hadn’t seen for over ten years was sat by us and she has just started up her own sweet business. The conversation was easy as the sort of people who go to supper clubs have the same mindset of chatting to guests on their table and being sociable.
The drink
This was a great money saver as you bring your own alcohol or soft drinks. On this occasion, I was the designated driver so had a bottle of diet coke to accompany the menu.
The food
The food was gorgeous. Simple. I’m not going to attempt a John Torode review. The courses were spot on and I loved the homemade coleslaw right through to the aspargus and the strawberry tart at the end along with everything else in and around my plate!
The chefs came out of the kitchen to chat to guests and even helped to serve up the food and clear the tables. At the end of the night they sat at a table among guests and looked relieved that it went so well.
You don’t get an experience like this at a restaurant. And it was an experience. We spoke on our table about how consumers want better experiences instead of things. It’s not just about nice food, we want something else, something to remember. For £25 we had a lovely meal and an experience in an unusual venue and didn’t have to pay rip-off prices for dodgy wine.
The vegetarian meal was spinach and ricotta lasagne served with homemade coleslaw and salad.
The entertainment
Duane Edwards got on the stage as the deserts were being finished off and quickly had a few guests joining in and waving their hands in their air. My musical knowledge isn’t great but I’m pretty sure his range of songs took us from the 1950s right through to the 1980s.
Heritage on a Plate
Contact Heritage on a Plate on 07581788752 or email [email protected] to find out about their next event.
