Chef makes a hearty stew

This week was very busy with 100+ bookings with Chefs, Catering Staff, Bar Staff and Kitchen Porters all working in Bristol and Bath.

After a crazy Friday afternoon I decided to put a stew in the oven and go to the pub for a few well deserved beers.

I decided on making a popular stew that we have made on a number of occasions in our household. The best advice on this recipe is to cook slowly over a low temp and the meat turns out lovely and tender.

Ingredients

Olive oil
A knob of butter
1 onion, peeled and chopped
A handful of fresh sage leaves
800g stewing steak or beef skirt, cut into 5cm/2 inch pieces
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Flour, to dust
2 parsnips, peeled and quartered
4 carrots, peeled and halved
1/2 a butternut squash, halved, deseeded and roughly diced
500g small potatoes
2 tablespoons tomato purée
1/2 a bottle of red wine
285ml beef or vegetable stock
Zest of 1 lemon, finely grated
A handful of rosemary, leaves picked
1 clove of garlic, peeled and finely chopped

• Preheat the oven to 160ºC/300ºF/gas 2.
• Put a little oil and your knob of butter into an appropriately sized pot or casserole pan.
• Add your onion and all the sage leaves and fry for 3 or 4 minutes.
• Toss the meat in a little seasoned flour, then add it to the pan with all the vegetables, the tomato purée, wine and stock, and gently stir together.
• Season generously with freshly ground black pepper and just a little salt.
• Bring to the boil, place a lid on top, then cook in the preheated oven until the meat is tender.
• Sometimes this takes 3 hours, sometimes 4 – it depends on what cut of meat you’re using and how fresh it is.
• The only way to test is to mash up a piece of meat and if it falls apart easily it’s ready. Once it’s cooked, you can turn the oven down to about 110°C/225°F/gas ¼ and just hold it there until you’re ready to eat.

• Mix the lemon zest, chopped rosemary and garlic together and sprinkle over the stew before eating. Just the smallest amount will make a world of difference – as soon as it hits the hot stew it will release an amazing fragrance.


Foot Note: After a few beers this was a nice way of filling the stomach. There was plenty made so we even managed to feed some friends.

Christmas Catering Jobs

At Back-2-Front we are looking for skilled waiting and bar staff to join our team.

We currently have a number of catering positions available within Hotels, Restaurants and Sporting grounds.

If you have had experience within a busy restaurant or a top end hotel and are used to serving customers at a high calibre then we have work for you.

We have jobs in Bristol, Bath, Taunton, North Somerset, Chepstow, South Wales and in and around the Cotswolds.

To apply for a job within our catering agency visit our website and register through our online registration form.

Waiting Jobs, Bar Jobs. Catering jobs for Car Drivers in Bristol

Car Drivers needed to work at Weddings, Festivals and outside events this summer.

Wedding and festival season is here and we have plenty of bar jobs, waiting jobs and catering jobs available.

We are looking for friendly, energetic and experienced waiters and bar staff to work at various weddings and events across Bristol and North Somerset.

We have a number of jobs for dedicated car drivers in the Cotswolds and North Somerset. We pay enhanced rates with petrol money included.

Have you worked on a busy, lively bar and enjoyed the pace and variety this kind of work offers?

Or have you had a job in a restaurant and can carry 3 plates?

If the answer is yes we would love to hear from you. We pay a competitive rate and enhanced rates for car drivers.

To apply for a job within Back-2-Front visit our website and register with us- Quoting "Blog" - using our online registration form.

Waiting Jobs, Bar Jobs. Catering jobs Bristol

Wedding and festival season is here and we have plenty of bar jobs, waiting jobs and catering jobs available.

We are looking for friendly, energetic and experienced waiters and bar staff to work at various weddings and events across Bristol and North Somerset.

Have you worked on a busy, lively bar and enjoyed the pace and variety this kind of work offers?

Or have you had a job in a restaurant and can carry 3 plates?

If the answer is yes we would love to hear from you. We pay a competitive rate and enhanced rates for car drivers.

To apply for a job within Back-2-Front visit our website and register with us- Quoting "Blog" - using our online registration form

Wedding Catering, Waiting and Bar Staff

Do you need to hire Catering/Waiting/Bar staff for your wedding?

At Back-2-Front we have numerous skilled staff ready to serve you and your guests for any occasion.

Birthday Parties, Anniversary Dinners, Award Ceremony’s, Bar mitzvahs, Christenings, Work functions, Christmas Parties, Conferences and Banquets, just about anything you want to celebrate.

We can even supply you will a Butler to cater for your every whim or even a Kitchen Porter to wash the dishes at the end of the night.

Our staff have a wealth of knowledge and experience ready to make your event run smoothly.