In the end, Jacaranda fed over 600 people across the course of five performances using three different menus for the Bury Court Opera. We provided everything from a formal gala dinner of slow cooked pork belly to a buffet of bowl foods including thai chicken skewers with a satay and chilli sauce.
It was easy to see that the audience were initially unsure of the reimagining of Rossini’s opera as they stared at the airstream caravan parked in the corner of the barn. It was a risk to set this beloved piece in a 1950s version of Vegas, complete with high-kicking chorus girls, but one that ultimately paid off.
As you may remember, we had toyed with the idea of serving American classics to tie in with the diner setting of the opera, but as hundreds of audience and cast members tucked into our specially prepared menu, we think they were more than happy with what they got.
For the formal gala dinners, we served a menu consisting of:
Canapés & Reception Drinks
4 varieties of our choice
Main Course
Pork belly, slow cooked cheek croquette, parsnip and potato puree, leeks and apple
Vegetarian
Spinach, aubergine, ricotta and lentil moussaka with a manchego cheese and potato croquette, leeks and tomato fondue
Dessert
Bitter chocolate mousse, raspberry jelly, white chocolate panacotta, raspberry sorbet, chocolate sauce, nuts, raspberries, chocolate shavings
Raspberry and blackcurrant panacotta, tropical fruit jelly, lime posset, passion sorbet, passion fruit, mango and pineapple syrup, pineapple crisp
Coffee served to the table
The story of La Cenerentola is based on the well-loved tale of Cinderella, so even though the performances were all sung in the original Italian, the plot was easy enough to follow. With the addition of the Southbank Sinfonia and the gorgeous setting of Bury Court, each of the shows proved to be truly spectacular and a hit with the audience.
We also provided less formal catering after other performances which included:
- Sticky beef with parsnip puree
- Bouillabaisse with rouille croutons
- Free range chicken breast with chorizo and sweet corn risotto
- Tomato, parmesan and truffle oil beignets with ebly wheat and wild mushrooms or other
- Vegetarian pad thai
- Thai chicken skewers with a satay and chilli sauce
- Bangers and parsnip and potato mash with caramelised red onion gravy
- Classic fish pie with chopped egg and parsley
And not wanting those with a sweet tooth to miss out, we provided a selection of mini puddings too:
- Milk and white chocolate panacotta
- Lemon posset and rhubarb jelly with crushed meringue
- Chocolate brownies
- Raspberry tartlets
The Bury Court Opera continues to be a highlight of the winter months for us and a challenge that we relish year after year. If you were at one of the performances, please do leave us a comment and tell us what your favourite part was!
*All Images by Jacaranda