You’ll be able to buy three varieties of Beyond Chocolates at Waitrose, all tasting as delectable as they sound – Truffles filled with 70% Dark Chocolate; Truffles infused with Peppermint Tea; Truffles blended with Caramelised Oranges.
 Launching this year’s Christmas party packages in last month’s newsletter resulted in a surge of enquiries – so get in quick! We have three great-value Christmas packages, with dinners at £85 or £75 a head and lunches at £35, so even if the budget’s tight this year, you can still celebrate in style! We still have some spaces left at Beyond Boyle by the Tower and at our associated venues – book early to avoid disappointment.
If you’ve been following the Spark saga, here’s the latest instalment. (For new readers, Beyond Boyle Foundation was one of 15 winning social enterprises in the 2009 ‘Spark Challenge’, and has received a £60,000 grant to pursue social enterprise activities.) As part of the ‘Spark Challenge’ prize, we have been partnered with a team from BT Global Services and together we have recently worked on one of the challenges we face. The challenge could have included issues such as how to recruit and retain skilled staff, how to structure a detailed financial forecast or how to establish an effective sales system. In our case, the BT 'Spark Challenge' team was charged with helping us to create as much value as possible for the Beyond Boyle Foundation.
For us, it was a valuable opportunity to gain access to exceptional consultancy expertise, which we would not otherwise be able to afford, thereby gaining a better understanding of the business systems that successful organisations introduce to manage growth. For individuals from BT, the 'Spark Challenge' provides a test of their ability to apply their skills within a different context, by helping social enterprises meet financial and social goals. It also provides an insight into the social enterprise business model and the issues of homelessness.
In true Beyond Boyle style, we nourished our relationships over a ‘Cook up a Conversation’ dinner with the BT team on the first day and worked very collaboratively together over the three days. At the end of the 'Spark Challenge', the BT team presented their recommendations to us and outlined what steps we should take over the coming months.
The big news is that working together, the combined team built a very exciting pathway for the Freshlife model Simon is developing for the Foundation.
We’ve recently hosted a number of interesting corporate and personal events.
Don’t be Zilli, you can’t barbecue cornflakes!
Every year, JWT, one of the world’s largest advertising and communications organisations, organises a special event for their client, Kellogg’s. This year, it was held at Beyond Boyle, where we hosted an afternoon chef school gathering for 40 guests, followed by a barbecue in the evening. Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli (representing the Kellogg’s brand Optivita Cereal) made an appearance to present prizes and participate in the chef school activities. No cornflakes were harmed during the barbecue.
We received some very encouraging feedback that reveals just how effective our cooking events can be for teambuilding.
"It was a fantastic event. Cooking together made even the most unlikely people work together in harmony, breaking down more barriers than I would have thought possible. I think everyone found the chance to go into a real life professional kitchen an exciting treat. Simon was a great host and instructor, and the food definitely tasted better knowing we had cooked it." (Cathy Lewis, JWT Group Planning Director.)
“The food was absolutely great! Can’t believe we made it ourselves. Loved the vegetarian stuffed aubergines! Came away really feeling like I’d learnt a dish! Thanks Beyond Boyle!” (Eliza Sloss, Marketing Executive.)
 “Having the task of organising a team building and fun events day for clients and agency was pretty daunting, however Beyond Boyle made the experience so much easier and stress free! Everyone involved from the admin side to the chefs and team on the day have been nothing but helpful and I had complete faith that the day would be a success. There was a nice relaxing atmosphere on the day and everyone was keen to get involved / take over the kitchen! Food was fab and I would definitely recommend Beyond Boyle to anyone!!” (Carys Stephen, Client Coordinator and PA.)
Getting to know you...
For the Beazley Group (a specialist insurer with more than two decades of experience in providing clients with the highest standards of underwriting and claims service worldwide) we provided a cook school at our local venue by The Tower of London. This was a special team-building event to help Beazley’s US finance team get to know some of their UK colleagues. An intimate evening three-course cook school was held for ten people, creating a fantastic menu of Carpaccio of Salmon with Crab and Lemon Dressing; Loin of Tablehurst Farm Lamb with Chive Crust, Fresh Pea and Mint Risotto; plus Chocolate and Cardamom Fondant with Pistachio Ice Cream.
What’s your legacy?
In Beyond Boyle Foundation’s first event, we worked with Tinder-Box, a vibrant business coaching organisation, to organise and cater for the launch of Legacy Together. There were 70 guests from large corporations and social enterprises. Legacy Together is a pioneering joint venture that is developing collaborative programmes to help businesses create positive, sustainable change that goes way beyond their own organisation.
A palm court orchestra and a farmer’s market menu!
We hosted a lovely party following a Civil Partnership between Martin and Ralph. It’s always great to help celebrate such an important day. There were 80 guests and the event was given added je ne sais quoi with palm court music played by the fantastic Aspidistra Drawing Room Orchestra, which consists of a string quartet, piano, flute and oboe.
Beautiful canapés were served on arrival, with bubbly. The canapés included Ham Hock Terrine with Dormansland Piccalilli; Melted Red Onion and Golden Cross Goat’s Cheese Soufflé Tarts; Lobster Spoons served with Thermidor Foam; and Seared Petworth Beef Fillet with Hermitage Butter.
The substantial Farmer’s Market menu featuring dishes inspired by our local farmer’s markets plus by some Simon Boyle signature dishes (Carrot, Almond and Coconut Soup; Avocado, Penne and Chilli Salad with Flaxseed; Marinated Mackerel with Pomegranate on
Wilted Baby Gem; and Risotto of Tomato and Cannellini Beans with Tarragon).
Our client was delighted: “A big thank you to everyone at Beyond Boyle for such a great day on Saturday! Please do thank the lovely Martin and all of his staff and, of course, Simon himself not just for cooking the food but also introducing it. Everyone loved the venue so hopefully more people will want to hold their events with you!” “Everyone we have spoken to was thrilled with the event – and particularly with the food and the staff. Hopefully some of them will organise events with you.”
BB Foundation launch
Our official launch event for Beyond Boyle Foundation will now take place early in 2010! The launch event will provide an excellent opportunity to showcase the Foundation and our trainees to third sector and public sector industries!
 ‘Happy’ foods, such as chocolate, are calming because they trigger the release of endorphins. Other foods such as milk, chicken, bananas and leafy green vegetables may produce pleasant feelings because they stimulate the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Foods containing tryptophan also have a relaxing effect. So I guess they also could be called ‘happy foods’. The point is, some foods release something to relax your mood.
Most of us use cheap sugary chocolate bars to reward ourselves during a hard day. I am not going to tell you not to eat chocolate. What I am going to say is that rewarding yourself by devouring sweet snacks in seconds is not really rewarding yourself!
Instead, try this. The night before going to work, make this recipe. During work, eat a good balanced diet and work hard as normal. When the cravings come at around 10.30am and 3.00pm, eat fruit or some nuts... and take the time to anticipate the delicious chocolate dish you have waiting for you at home! Enjoy!
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