our Story
Flavour First: Crafting Taste Since 2000
Ian has 25 years of experience in the food and drink industry, and absolutely loves it! Determined, infectious smile and a firm believer that the sky is the limit.
Has recently moved to Stroud to settle down with his young family, he previously ran his own restaurant, worked in family hotel, supported many others open ventures, founded and directed an award winning experiential events company in London and has just completed an 8year run as the F&B catering contractor for a central London venue whilst also growing a more intimate events and cookery enterprise in Stroud.
He teaches locally with the NHS, helping people with type 2 diabetes learn how to change their diet, improve their lives through food and hopefully reverse the condition.
They often say hospitality workers, chefs especially, are like pirates, and I totally get it, not the stereotypical mercenary types, but the original ones who banded together to try to make things better and make a difference. We have an amazingly wide ranging team of professionals, from chefs and waiters, to managers and mixologists, dishwashers and just generally an awesome mix of brilliant people who deeply care and who work together to ensure every event goes as smoothly as possible and who try to exceed expectations every single time!
Legends, all of them.
THE TEAM
Food for me
is everything.
"It's what brings us together in times of both joy and sadness, it nourishes and nurtures us, it makes us smile and feel alive. Food can be used to break down barriers and connect people. Food is present at every celebration and I feel so blessed that I get to be an integral part of so many people's special occasions and celebrations, it's so awesome! When I'm cooking i'm in my happy place, surrounded by sensory stimulation with textures, colours, smells, even the sounds of the kitchen! I try to incorporate and be inspired by these sensual textures as much as possible as I create food and dining experiences for my guests"
- Ian Ballantyne, Chef, The Family Meal
