For our first Kent caterer post we are featuring a highly commended – and quite frankly mouth-watering – catering company, Kitchen Of Kent.

A Kent wedding award finalist with extensive experience in the food industry, it’s easy to see why this Kent Caterer team are so highly sought after.

If you’re looking for wedding food that will blow your guest’s minds, please do read this month’s catering Supplier Spotlight article – just be prepared to salivate!

We asked Russell from Kitchen Of Kent a few questions about him, his team, and those scrumptious menus of theirs…

1. Tell us about yourself and how you got started?

Russell’s culinary career has stretched for over 25 years. Starting as a teenage pot wash in Devon, Russell worked his way up, training in several Rosette restaurants under London chefs across the South West. Moving to the South East he quickly progressed to Head Chef at a busy gastro pub. After 8 successful years, and keen to extend his knowledge, he began working across London and the South East for several leading chefs within the event sector. With this experience, Russell then secured his own contracts for the BBC and the London Symphony Orchestra.

In February 2015 Russell founded Kitchen of Kent with the view to building an event catering business that offered more than just catering and was committed to promoting and supporting local suppliers. In 5 years, Kitchen of Kent have catered over 500 events, been a finalist at the Kent Wedding Awards and are recommended suppliers for several beautiful Kent wedding venues.

… Thank you so much for such wonderful food on Sunday! We were thrilled and everything was delicious… We did have quite a lot left over but have been enjoying it at home for lunches ever since – thank you for letting us take it away! – Fran

2. Where are you based and how far are you willing to travel?

We are based conveniently In Staplehurst right by the train station, so easy for access to London and not too far from the M20. With great access to all parts of Kent and are happy to travel across the county and even further afield. Kitchen of Kent have a wedding in France in 2022 – the client was keen to take ‘The Garden of England’ with them to showcase English food. It’s a great experience for us to be able to travel with them.

3. How would you describe your cooking style?

Having grown up in Devon & Kent, I like to keep things simple and use the best food the region offers us – let the produce do the talking. Our food is traditionally British with a contemporary twist. Passionate about what we do, we use only the best local suppliers, alongside seasonal produce wherever possible. Everything on our menus is made in our own kitchen to ensure clients have the best food experience.

We cannot praise Kitchen of Kent highly enough…from the moment we contacted them to arrange a quote to the moment they left our home (tidier and cleaner than when they arrived) their professional manner and perfectionist approach ‘wowed’ us. – Kelle & Christopher Norris

5. What advice would you give to couples planning a wedding?

The main thing is to urge couples to do what they want to do. I hear couples getting so tangled with what other people might like, that sometimes they forget themselves! It’s their day and they’ll only do it once, so enjoy it! The other thing is to be super organised and delegate so that you can enjoy the run up to the big day.

6. Tell us something unique about your service!

We’re more than just caterers. Our prices also include: All service staff, cutlery & crockery, menu advice & guidance, a complimentary tasting, site visits. In addition, an event manager on the day, a complimentary set up service beforehand and VAT.

We also have a sister company, K Bar, that provides pay bars, dry hires and daytime drinks packages. These include some of the best drinks available from Kent vineyards, brewers and distilleries.

We’ve been lucky enough to work with some great couples over the years. Our company were lucky enough to be the chosen caterer for Fifi Geldolf’s wedding at Sir Bob’s home. Here we created a woodland themed menu to go with the style of the day – a great wedding! We also catered for Richard Dawkins’ daughter’s Pagan wedding at the fantastic Lost Village of Dodd in Greater Buckland.

7. Where can we see more of your work?

Kitchenofkent.co.uk and Facebook