Food Fun and Love

CATEGORY >

From the pages of Pauline’s Travel Journal
Late last year Joanne Purnell, my daughter and the Chef de Cuisine of Good Gracious and I were invited to Singapore as guests of Kriston Food & Beverage. There were interested in sharing catering trends, food ideas and business strategies with an American company and we were honored to be asked!
The trip was in late October and it’s taken until now for me to blog about because as soon as we returned, Good Gracious was knee-deep in holiday events. So, I apologize for the lag time but I really want to share this experience with you.
ARRIVAL
After 20 hours of flying, Joanne and I were greeted with fabulous smiles and flower leis from Annette and Guin from Kriston Food. They took us to our hotel located in the heart of downtown Singapore, very near the trendy Orchard Street which is similar to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Our suite was on the 21st floor and as we looked out our window it reminded me of looking over Central Park in New York City -- masses of trees and beyond that a high-rise skyline.

Settling in at the Sheraton after a long flight. I'm still wearing the lei .. I loved it!
At an afternoon tea reception with Annette and Guin filled us in on details and what to anticipate for the week ahead of us. It started right away with a visit to the kitchens of Kriston where we met the entire team – from kitchen and sales to operations and of course, Jacquie Tan the CEO.
THE SINGAPORE FLYER
The first order of business was dinner at a restaurant managed by Kriston -- The Singapore Flyer. The Singapore Flyer is the world’s largest observation wheels and one of Asia’s biggest tourist attractions. Guests can dine in the individual capsules. But once you have seen the view, there is no reason for local guests to come back. To create a reason they invite visiting chefs to design a special menu that they can promote. It has been an effective marketing campaign for them. And so “The Purnell Menu Collection” was created for November and December.

The Singapore Flyer.Each capsule can host a meal for 12 people.Here Joanne is holding court with the media (more about that later).

Sharing ideas at the offices of Kriston Food & Beverage.
While Joanne was in the kitchen of The Singapore Flyer teaching the chefs how to execute her menu, I met with the sales team of Kriston Food and Beverage to discuss the overall event experience and sales process. In the afternoon, I conducted training sessions with the operations team. Between the two sessions we covered everything from first impressions to closing the deal.
A WRITER’S FESTIVAL
Happily, The Singapore Writer’s Festival coincided with our visit and out hosts arranged my book, Food, Fun, Love: Party Styles, and myself to take part in it. Kriston was catering the festival’s 300-person opening night party so we got to see them in action. Of course Joanne couldn’t help but be in the kitchen and prepare some food for it herself!

My book front cover was displayed on the huge giant book cover outside the venue, called The Art House. (See my book in the top row there?) The festival name this year was UNDERCOVERS: Find your Passion. Dive Under Covers. For those of you who know me, how perfect is the theme of passion for me and my book?
A WEDDING SHOW

Joanne and a chef from MEGU talking about food trends to bridal clientele
Kriston Food and Beverage is a multi-layered company and the premier division is MEGU Events which has a wedding venue. While we were there they held a bridal show with two sessions. In the first half of the day we served a buffet luncheon, the sales team gave tours of the property and I spoke to them about wedding trends. At the afternoon session Joanne prepared and served the “Purnell Wedding Menu Collection” and did a short presentation on stage with MEGU’s chef. I repeated the trends presentation. There were 125 couples in attendance and MEGU sold 32 weddings that day, with deposits, quite a success I’d say.
FOOD!
Our schedule was busy and between education and cooking, we toured the city with our hosts, learning more about the culture and its passion for food which was very good and very diverse. We had an Indian lunch one day, French bistro fare the next. We had Asian French, traditional Chinese food, dim sum (I’m not a big fan but this dim sum was the best) We ate duck tongue, went to a variety of markets such as the Tekka Market in Little India with all its aromas and spices and others that offered frogs and eels. We ate Jackfruit which was quite intriguing.
Then, in the middle of all this exotic food we went to a tourist attraction and restaurant called The Dempsey where we ate bbq ribs, nachos, guacamole and even Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream! Jacquie was curious to see how it measured up to the real thing!
RECOUPING IN INDONESIA
The trip ended back at The Art House for a final “Meet the Author” session at the end of The Writers Festival.

Pauline at Meet The Authors
The next morning Joanne meting with media gathered at The Singapore Flyer to unveil her menu and then it was all hugs and goodbyes. But our journey was not over yet. We caught the ferry to take us to Indonesia and stayed at the Banyan Tree Resort which was two days of heaven.
Looking back on it, it’s hard to say if they were able to learn from us or us from them. I think the most important parts of these exchange trips between two companies from the same industry is the exposure to new a new culture and the fresh perspective it can bring when you return home.
Thank you to everyone at Kriston Food & Beverage for a delicious and memorable learning journey.
Share on:
  • ← Previous post
  • Next Post →
  • FOOD is my passion. I have FUN with my team and my clients and I LOVE what I do! For me, it really is all about FOOD, FUN and LOVE!
  • Our Mission... To create Fabulous Events & Delicious food for an Exceptional Experience
140x140

Pauline Parry

Founder Good Gracious! Events

About Pauline

Educated in the prestigious British hotel and restaurant management tradition, Pauline is the renowned and highly sought after founder and president of GOOD GRACIOUS! Events. Professional event planners, private clients, and corporations - both nationally and internationally - seek out her innovative expertise and imaginative concepts.


GOOD GRACIOUS! Events was established over three decades ago and is an award-winning full-service LIFESTYLE food and beverage company that has earned the trust of a diverse set of clients and has a reputation for being a trendsetter in producing unique, quality and fabulous presentations in all aspects of weddings and events.


Pauline has been inducted into the Catering industry Hall of Fame for Events and Weddings and has published a book called FOOD FUN LOVE Party Styles.


Facebook Twitter Gplus RSS

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM


Joanne Purnell

Joanne Purnell
Vice President

About Joanne

Joanne Purnell is a graduate of the California Culinary Institute and before joining GG! Events worked and traveled in England and Paris to gain working experience.


Joanne has been Chef de Cuisine for nearly 20 years at GG! Events and during this time she has won numerous awards including Chef of the Year. She has been published in magazines on various food topics including presentation, trends and all aspects of cooking and is a contributor for, “Inside the Recipe Box of Catering Chefs”


Joanne is an educator in the catering industry and is regarded as a leader. Today, Joanne is Vice President at Good Gracious! Events.


Blog Archive

  • ►  2020 (4)
    • ►  February (3)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2019 (34)
    • ►  December (2)
    • ►  November (2)
    • ►  October (3)
    • ►  September (2)
    • ►  August (2)
    • ►  July (2)
    • ►  June (2)
    • ►  May (4)
    • ►  April (4)
    • ►  March (4)
    • ►  February (4)
    • ►  January (3)
  • ►  2018 (49)
    • ►  December (4)
    • ►  November (5)
    • ►  October (4)
    • ►  September (4)
    • ►  August (5)
    • ►  July (4)
    • ►  June (4)
    • ►  May (5)
    • ►  April (4)
    • ►  March (4)
    • ►  February (4)
    • ►  January (2)
  • ►  2017 (5)
    • ►  December (3)
    • ►  November (2)
  • ►  2016 (1)
    • ►  December (1)
  • ►  2014 (2)
    • ►  February (1)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2013 (8)
    • ►  December (1)
    • ►  November (1)
    • ►  September (1)
    • ►  August (1)
    • ►  June (1)
    • ►  March (1)
    • ►  February (1)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2012 (20)
    • ►  December (2)
    • ►  November (1)
    • ►  October (1)
    • ►  July (3)
    • ►  May (1)
    • ►  April (2)
    • ►  March (2)
    • ►  February (3)
    • ►  January (5)
  • ►  2011 (34)
    • ►  December (3)
    • ►  November (2)
    • ►  October (2)
    • ►  September (3)
    • ►  August (1)
    • ►  July (4)
    • ►  June (2)
    • ►  May (2)
    • ►  April (3)
    • ►  March (5)
    • ►  February (4)
    • ►  January (3)
  • ▼  2010 (18)
    • ►  December (2)
    • ►  November (2)
    • ►  October (1)
    • ►  September (1)
    • ►  August (1)
    • ►  July (1)
    • ►  June (3)
    • ►  May (1)
    • ►  April (1)
    • ►  March (3)
    • ►  February (1)
    • ▼  January (1)
      • A Culinary Adventure in Singapore
  • ►  2009 (4)
    • ►  September (1)
    • ►  August (3)
latest posts

Other Good Reads ...For Foodies

  • Food52
    What a Cookout Pro Actually Serves on the Fourth of July
  • i am a food blog
    Chinese Chicken Salad
  • A Cozy Kitchen
    Strawberry Biscuits
  • Recipes
    11 Cocktails to Make By the Batch
  • Donna Hay

For Wedding Inspiration

  • Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog
    Organic Romance Meets Modern Elegance at La Casa Toscana
    2 days ago
  • Wedding International Professional Associaiton
    07 Nov 2022 : Wedding MBA
    2 years ago
  • Spendid Communications
    Measure What Matters
    8 years ago
  • Real Weddings | California Wedding Day

For Ideas and Inspiration...

  • The Business of Being Creative
    Episode 216: The Intention Reception Paradox
  • The Wedding Biz
    532 ANDY KUSHNER: Goodbye for Now
Copyright © Food Fun and Love