The London Fine Dining Company was born out of the vision to offer the experience of dining at a top restaurant at the privacy of your home. We have a pleasure of talking to the creative mind behind the company, Head Chef Ben Mariner …
You were incredibly young when you entered the world of professional kitchens. Was cooking a passion for you already then?
Cooking was always a passion for me from as young as I can remember, but it really kickstarted when I first stepped into a professional kitchen. There was such a buzz about it and the rush of the kitchen was super exciting, that combined with my passion for the creative side ended up being an electric mix.
What have been your most memorable guests and cooking experiences?
Definitely the royal wedding in 2011 when Kate Middleton, now Princess of Wales, and her family stayed with us at The Goring Hotel in the days leading up to the wedding. It was a pleasure to look after them and witness the frenzy on the day. Thousands of photographers and journalists were trying to get through the barriers, and I didn’t leave the hotel for over a week. That was the first of many royal dinners and events, including some for the late Queen Elizabeth, but lining up and waving off The Princess of Wales as she left on her wedding day was a really lovely moment.
What makes The London Fine Dining Company unique in today’s competitive fine dining market?
The team. Between the senior team we have a vast range of experience, cooking and running exclusive events for three different royal families, four prime ministers, the House of Lords and countless celebrities, all the way up to canapés and sit-down dinners for over 1000 people at a time for major sporting events. This allows us to understand the needs of clients and execute high class events smoothly, no matter the scale, space or client requests.
The team at The London Fine Dining Company also runs a meal for meal project. For every meal we serve to guests, we also provide a hot meal for someone in need. It is really important to me that the business gives back and has a mission beyond profit and great for the team to see the positive impact of what they are a part of.
What’s most important for you in the service you provide to your clients?
Exceeding expectations. Over-delivering is our top company value and I like to think we do this well, from our communication in planning events, all the way to the creativity and surprises in the dishes and canapés on the day. We also like to send out small treats to clients during the year and go above and beyond in whatever way we can.
What’s shaping the fine-dining experience today?
As a company we work with long-standing establishments and clients, so trust and consistency come first for us. That said, I do see a shift toward more casual dining. We are having a lot of fun at the moment working out ways to bring a more interactive and playful experiences to guests who wish for that without compromising on quality. We are also focusing on canapés, developing new techniques and visual effects to elevate the experience for product launches and corporate events.
