Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2017 | Page 101

Food and drink Island Chef thinks out of the box Island chef Jamie Thompson certainly believes in doing things differently - and his creative catering company Island Kitchen is the proof. Having worked in the traditional kitchens of various restaurants on the mainland and Isle of Wight – including The Royal Hotel in Ventnor - self-taught chef Jamie decided to think outside the box and in 2015, came up with his own version of a fully mobile service for special occasion catering. With a passion for planning events down to the finest details, he says he enjoys bringing a unique twist to everything from dream weddings to elegant parties, showpiece events or intimate dinners. And when it comes to logistically complex events such as marquee weddings and international celebrations – which can prove to be be a planning nightmare for most people – Island Kitchen comes into its own, with a dedicated service that’s tailored to each individual event. For clients with demanding careers, young families, a tight time frame, or who are planning an event from overseas, a full event planning service means they can enjoy even the build-up to the celebration – but without any of the strain. From intimate country weddings to grand city affairs, Jamie makes sure he personally heads up the planning of each event, to ensure the quality of service never wavers. “Having spent a lot of time forging relationships with the industry’s top suppliers, we literally have a dream team on speed dial!” says Jamie, “and because we don’t accept commission for recommendations, any savings and discounts earned from repeat business, are passed directly to the client”. After two years of running Island Kitchen, Jamie is already planning his next move, with the impending launch in April of The Brasserie, its first franchised fine dining restaurant in St Thomas Square, Newport. Watch this space – because at this rate, it will be the first of many for this go-getting food business. Email Island Kitchen at [email protected], call 01983 645817 or visit www.islandkitchen.co.uk www. visitilife.com 101