It’s not all hard work. There's lots of fun to be had and I, ‘The Boss’ (and others) have recorded a few of the funnier and lovely moments to share with you.

This is what 100 kgs of chicken looks like in roasting dishes.

After eight days of constantly moving location, it was a pleasure to arrive at our rented house in Twizel. It had been a long hot drive from Lawrence with long stops for lunch and coffee at Roxborough and Tarras. Read on to learn what is involved when catering for a rowing regatta.

A 'toolbox' breakfast awaits Downer staff working on the Southern Motorway extension project near Templeton

This type of catering has become very popular recently as a way of rewarding workers for getting up that extra bit earlier to attend health and safety briefings and other workplace presentations.

We provided 2 of these breakfasts for Downer staff in December - 2 teams of 120. Again, our ability to cater on site and on time with a smile in the early hours helped brighten the day.

Our seamless arrangements on-site and flexibility, often at short notice are valuable to managers needing to maintain work schedules. In this case we were able to provide a truck within 6 hours, overnight.

Jordon Luck reaches the climax of "Why does love do this to me"

The Kaipoi Carnival was next to kick our summer catering programme into a higher gear, rocking with the Shadow Puppoets and Jordan Luck.  A few days earlier, we were serving Denver leg venison with juniper berry, thyme and black pepper jus, at the Canterbury West Coast Deer Farmers annual velvet awards. Later we served breakfasts for two 'toolbox' meetings Downer and a 90 th. birthday celebration luncheon at Charteris Bay.

When planning a Mexican themed wedding, we called upon our friends from abroad. One of our staff had been living in the southern USA and Mexico for a brief period and made friends with a Mexican chef named Robert. We had a few skype calls during which he generously gave us some recipes. With his tuition and some practice, we managed to produce an amazing meal which was enjoyed by 100 guests in an old woolshed in North Canterbury.

“Scones in her eyes” won the days for the Alliance Group at the Christchurch A and P Show

A busy November for Lovely Grub

We packed-out for seventeen days and 3 separate functions this month, starting with 3 days catering for 180 shooters at the South Island Down-the-line Champs at MacLeans Island. We needed to live on site at the Canterbury Clay Target Clubs range.

When completed, we relocated to Canterbury Park and set up for the corporate hospitality of the Alliance Group at the Christchurch A and P Show - we catered 835 lunches plus numerous morning and afternoon teas. We worked alongside chef Graham Hawkes who was doing sample tastings for the Alliance Group clients. Their rural clients enjoyed freshly prepared scones every morning with their tea and expresso coffee.

Lovely Grub providing barrister coffee

After 3 days at the show we relocated back to the gun club for 3 days of the NSSA Sket tournament, followed by 6 days of the National Sket Championships. We were treated to some excellent shooting when the New Zealand Team challenged the Australian Team. Of the 130 shooters attending about 40 were from Australia. It was a real pleasure to cater for many of the guests who we have come to know very well over our 12 year relationship with the Canterbury Clay Target Club.

After 19 days away, we, with our truck and trailer finally returned to base.

Prize giving during Torpedo Spring Challenge 2017

Torpedo Spring Challenge - Geraldine

It was immediately obvious upon receiving the enquiry, that the logistics of service were going to be as important as providing a high-quality meal. The stipulation was to cater for 1700 competitors, including 130 special diets, in one and a half hours.

We put together a plan including a menu and layout drawings to which Jodie said “Yes”. We supplied: a choice of salmon, vegetarian or bacon frittata; three flavours of muffins and a homemade muesli cup with yoghurt; and a piece of fruit.  Competitors moved on with their tray-loads to the drinks marquee for coffee or orange juice.

As the breakfast was to be eaten while standing during prize giving, trays, that could be easily carried and eaten from, were considered essential. We chose a design with a two-cup holder and a flat surface for placing food, a serviette and a spork for eating the muesli.

‘Go Geraldine‘, put us onto the local high school, who were fundraising for a trip to Cambodia, to provide peak serving time staff - a win-win for all parties!

Lovely Grub, provided the food service and drinks marquees via Hire Pool. We were on location directing the setup from the Wednesday till the final pack up on Sunday.

Along with the competitors, we noticed and greatly appreciated the assistance and hospitality shown to us by the Geraldine community. Whether it was for small items, advice from the supermarket or just getting our ‘fixes’ from the coffee shop, everyone was so helpful.

Read on for more photos

Lovely Grub and the Great New Zealand Trek

If you wish to learn about location catering this is the story to read.

This story started some seven years ago when Gavin heard this trek that was travelling from Cape Reinga to the Bluff, 8 days per year. He pitched three years running for the job in the North Island and gained a meeting with the trek principals during the last North Island leg.

Lovely Grub had just returned from 12 days at Twizel catering for Maadi Cup rowers when Judy, Pat and Gavin packed a new set of clean clothes and headed off for a 3 day road trip to Martinborough to learn about how to service the trek in the coming years. It was a fun trip combining work with pleasure - as is our way. (Lots of wine tasting and some sightseeing along the way). We believe what sets us apart from other caterers is the way we enjoy what we do. Being part of our client’s collaboration to make their event a success is another thrill.

It was to be another two years before we were successful in securing the first trek.  Read on for photos and accounts of the last two years

Working in amazing places

While we travel to many indoor venues with all the bells and whistles, we are equally at home in the great outdoors working from our fully-equipped and self-sustaining mobile kitchen fleet.

Follow on for photos of our gear and some of the amazing places we have worked at...

Helen taking in the view from deer park during the L.O.R.D. shoot

Rewarding work

Travelling to amazing places, seeing great things and meeting wonderful people - the rewards for dedicated effort in providing meals throughout New Zealand.

One location for catering on the L.O.R.D. movie shoot was eight hours from base by road with no chance of back up - and no cell phone coverage!

Starting at 4.30 am and returning to the motel after 5.30 pm meant we had to reply upon sending messages to our suppliers. Then our own dinner needs to be prepared before bedtime and the call-sheet has not been sent through. Bother! Looks like another half hour is needed to find out how many must be fed for breakfast and if they will be at one location or two - all adds up to a tough challenge.

The great thing about catering for this 150 cast and crew, was the wonderful Chinese friends we made along the way and the spectacular scenery. What an amazing place to see the full moon come up and go down in the same working day.

Our staff were fantastic, doing long hours away from home and family. Not only were they working all day with their mates but rooming with them as well. Check the photos out...

Lovely Grub Teams with High Profile Car Maker - Hyundai

Lovely Grub has paired with Hyundai over the last three years to provide their corporate catering at the South Island Field Days. It has provided food, expresso coffee and other drinks at their VIP area.

In 2015 we were with them at the new Kirwee site and the following year we went to Waimumu, just out of Gore. The last SIFD field days were again at Kirwee and were notable for the mud the enveloped the site after the recent heavy rain. It was a major trial even getting to the site let alone service it. Our kitchen truck and trailer had to be towed 400 meters in to site from the main road by the green tally loader.

It’s so much fun working for Hyundai when the sell yet another car. The customer gets to ring the bell and everyone in the site cheers.  Then we have some more entertaining to do.

Other Field Day Work for 2017

Apart from Hyundai we had Dow Agro Science, GEA Farm Technology, Fonterra and Balance Agri Nutrients to cater for in the mud. Travel inside the ground was either by 4 x 4 or walking - which was gumboots only.

Other Catering at the Same Time

During this busy period Lovely Grub had another team up at Cambridge in the North Island catering for 200 rowers attending the Maadi Cup. It was a busy week for all the staff but they coped extremely well with all clients being very happy with their service. Thanks guys.

NICE PEOPLE IN NICE PLACES

Just on two years ago, Michelle at Farmers Mutual called asking if Lovely Grub could do their corporate catering at the regional finals of their Young Farmer of the Year competition in Timaru.

It was very late notice and we were due to fly out to London on the Monday but the lady sounded really nice. She was worried that we would have to supply a meal in their marquee on a site without power. I explained that that was no problem as we have generators on the truck so the deal was done.

Well, we had been on site since early morning doing morning tea, preparing for dinner, when in to the truck came Radar. Like a breath of fresh air. He explained he was comparing the days proceedings and chatted for half an hour or so before commencing his work.

From helping out Michelle briefly for that day in Timaru we have catered for two of the three southern regional finals this year. At each, we have resumed our friendship with Radar. A lovely trip to Roxborough and one to Methven. Its great to support Farmers Mutual who are in turn supporting our rural community where you meet the nicest of people in the nicest of places. Keep up the good work Farmers Mutual.

Fencing competition during the 2017 Young Farmer of the Year southern regional finals at Roxborough.

GENESEO students and faculty assembled on White Island

12 days on the road

Lovely Grub tagged along and catered for students from the American GENESEO College throughout their amazing whirlwind geology tour of the North and South Island.  Follow on for Gavin's story and photos

Marquee wedding in the upper Grey Valley near Reefton - Mai Mai Valley Road

Lovely Grub catered for an Akaroa wedding and then the next day, 336kms away, this marquee wedding in a Reefton farm paddock. One hundred and thirty guests attended a splendid affair on the banks of the river.

This tight time-frame was achieved by splitting a team from the Akaroa wedding at 6.30 pm Friday. They headed-off in the green truck to Reefton, where accommodation was arranged. The remaining team in the white truck followed the next morning. The advanced team arrived just after midnight and were on location by 7.30 am Saturday, setting up ready for the second team's arrival at 12:30 pm.  

This is a fine example of what can be achieved with good logistical planning and a great team of staff dedicated to serving the customer.

Catering for Samsonite TV commercial crew at Castle Hill

Korean commerical shoot for Altlantic Salmon

The final TV commercial

Location catering also means catering in weather extremes, in this case above the snowline on the Mt Lyford ski field access road.  This was for a Korean commercial film shoot advertising Beanpole Outdoor clothing. 

Read on to see more photos

Maadi Cup Parade 2014

MAADI CUP was once again held in Twizel at Lake Ruatanawha, stunning weather blessed the event with keen and hungry competitors fronting at the buffet with stories of the days racing and the rivalry from battling teams kept us on our toes for the week.

The procession marched past the High Country Lodge with much merriment and chanting by competing teams keen to outdo each other both on and off the water. Finals day arrived and extra food in hand the teams battled for the beloved Maadi Cup with Hamilton Boys being the victor.

Moral to the story eat your greens all week and be a winner at the end.

Saturday 15th March saw the competitors in the amazing and challenging Godzone multisport adventure race come together in Kaikoura for the awards dinner. They had just completed a gruelling week of sleepless nights battling weather and winds in the mountain ranges and on the sea around Kaikoura. The coastline is spectacular, rugged and very unforgiving

Each team must comprise of one woman and three men, who, with tired bodies, blistered feet and screaming muscles crossed the finish line to enjoy hot food, a cold Moa beer and a welcome rest and leg rub.

The prize giving dinner and award ceremony were held at the memorial hall in Kaikoura. Lovely Grub provided a carb packed, tasty and very substantial dinner buffet for hungry weary competitors. Our theme was kiwiana. For dessert we decided on a small tub of Deep South ice cream, a different flavoured baby lamington, shortcake in miniature form, kiwi fruit puffs and our beloved and tricky-to-catch chocolate fish - also in miniature form.

There were smiles all around as people took this treasure trove to devour, many coming back for seconds. as if back to their naughty days of years gone by.

The winning team of Seagate was replicated this year, so our congratulations go to them for all the dedication and hard work that goes into competing in a prestigious event attracting 30% overseas entries.

Once again we have shown our true dedication to location catering by providing nutritious and fuelling food for competitors in this specialist adventure racing situation. Special thanks go to Anna Bastion and her team for working with us on this occasion.

During February 2014 Lovely Grub had the pleasure of working with Todd Blackadder, Angus Gardiner and all of the staff that go together to make our mighty Canterbury Crusaders Rugby team that we are all so proud of. We had special dietary requirements that we had to work with to produce meals that were punchy with flavours and kept these players in top condition for the battles that were to face them in this coming season.

We also had fun times with the team where we taught them how to make Pavlova’s then they had to replicate them for a team challenge. This ended with a dinner for all the team's families and a judging of pavlovas took place with our function coordinator announcing the winners and the pavlovas being eaten and enjoyed by one and all. This was a productive and enjoyable week.

Read on about the stories behind some of our major catering events this spring:

• Alliance shareholders at the Christchurch Show served 200 lunches per day at the Christchurch Show
• Despite an extreme spring storm, 400 Air New Zealand guests were catered for at two different sites at Christchurch Airport
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner served to 250 French Fest Akaroa participants
• A different birthday party at Steam Scene
• Running a shop for 13 days during the  Canterbury Clay Target Championships
• Location catering in Moores Valley for Wellyfest – the 4 day Wellington Folk Festival

Recently Lovely Grub received an inquiry and subsequently confirmed a function from Denmark. It came through email via our website asking to set up a skype phone meeting. It turns out that the client had eaten with Lovely Grub some 10 years ago and still vividly remembers both the taste and friendly staff at that function. She is bringing some 30 Danes and additional kiwi friends to sample some of New Zealand's best food in a lovely location on Banks Peninsula. MORAL- Good food,nice people leave a long lasting impression.

The Green Party is currently showing up well in the polls. They also choose their caterers well. Lovely Grub completed their second annual Christchurch conference. We did 88 special diets each day plus 2 lunches for 190 guests and 3 dinners for 170 guests. This conference show cases Lovely Grubs ability to cover special dietry requirements with ease.

New Zealand's Governor General, Jerry Mateparae, presents Woman's Premier Single Scull cup to Emma Twigg. Fiona Bourke 2nd Place ( subsequently Woman's World Double Scull gold medalist in Sydney 2013) is the Lovely Grub connection.

Lovely Grub's Autumn

Dow's confidence is in the drum and in Lovely Grub. Dow's big benefit from having Lovely Grub is that they get to carry on business with their targeted clients, uninterrupted and with confidence in the high level of food and service offered by Lovely Grub. Read on as to how you also can benefit from our service. Others to have benefited from Lovely Grub this autumn are:

• Southern R P C
• Craw Family Reunion
• Diamond Way Buddhists
• Canterbury University biological science field trip students
• Variety Bash 2013 - The Children's Charity Tour
• Canterbury District Lions Club Convention 2013