Simon’s 50th
Saltbush recently catered for our dear friend Simon Anderson’s 50th birthday party. The venue was his own Off-Grid House in the Megalong Valley. We grew most of the food, planned the menu, adapted to issues on site, cooked, served and ate...
Produce used for the event was either grown and harvested at our own urban farm in Bulli, supplied by local small-scaled producers or sustainably/regeneratively farmed (particularly for the proteins).
Simon’s house is a remarkable off-grid house in the middle of the forrest. It had been quite overcast for the days leading up to the party. We had pre-prepared most dishes off-site and turned up to the house just needing to par-boil potatoes, bake a quiche and some mini tartlets in the oven.
No sooner had we arrived than Simon said ‘I’m so sorry, we don't have enough power turn on the oven today.' We'd have to make a choice between the oven and running the composting toilet system for 50 guests.’
The off-grid house and overcast sky forced us to innovate and cook everything we could over the fire. We also snuck in a quick run back to the Airbnb we were staying in to cook the quiche in the oven. Hehe.
Energy prioritising like this was a bit of a wake up call. It’s not every day an off-grid house needs to support 50 people. But it did shed some light on the energy we use in day-to-day life, and the assumptions we make and expectations we have, around the energy, food and water cycles that we depend on.
The event comprised of one architect inviting another practise of creatives (Saltbush) to cater for their party in a beautiful work of architecture. One of the lovely things about this event was that it was also, all about food. It was a beautiful bridging between architectural culture - Simon and his off-grid house - and the broader interests in regenerative cultures that Saltbush are working in, more and more.
Project: Event catering
Description: Catering for a 50th with 50 guests
Location: Off-grid House in the Megalong Valley
Client: Simon Anderson and Kim Bell
Year: 2022
Team: Suzy Pickles and Adam Russell
Collaborators: Jesse Russell
Photography: © Brett Boardman [all rights reserved]
Project code: 2202