Can you tell us about Salsa Rose and how it came about?

Hesper: Olivia and I have been friends since we were 15 and both come from big families where entertaining, cooking outdoors over fire and hosting are ways of life. Some of our most precious memories have been created over great food and wine - it’s a wonderful way of bringing people together.

I grew up foraging and fishing in the Outer Hebrides on the West Coast Scotland and Olivia, being French, grew up in Paris and the South of France; both places have food and cooking at their core.

Olivia: In 2019, I decided to run an event at our family Chateau in the South of France and called my best friend Hesper to cook for our guests. We worked extremely well together and over a glass of wine in Hesper's garden a few weeks later, the idea of Salsa Rose was born. What began as a side hustle quickly gained momentum, allowing us to dedicate ourselves fully to the business. The pandemic provided the opportunity to set up our brand and business, and as soon as restrictions were lifted, we were ready to go.

We started out with shoot catering, and through word of mouth, we began securing wedding bookings. Now, five years later, Salsa Rose has evolved into a full-fledged 360 events company under the arches in Bethnal Green. The name 'Salsa Rose' combines my nickname 'Sal' and Hesper's middle name 'Rose', reflecting the personal touch we bring to our work.

 

What do you love most about catering and events?

Olivia: I love the variety of events we cater for; there's always something new and exciting. My favourite part is taking on the challenge of a big event, figuring out how to make it happen, and then nailing it. It's so rewarding to see how much we've grown and what we can achieve. What we do is more than just catering; we deliver top-notch quality with a personal touch. Plus, I really enjoy meeting new people in the industry and growing our community.

You've recently started using Falcon enamelware. What’s your favourite product and what do you use it for?

Hesper: We love the simplicity of Falcon enamelware – you can create a beautiful, chic tablescape suitable for everything from a casual picnic setup to a luxury al fresco three-course supper. We do a lot of outdoor cooking over fire, so the no-smash element of Falcon enamelware is perfect for those events where we are setting up outdoors.

Do you have any tips for catering for larger gatherings with family and friends?

Salsa Rose Tips:

- Get everyone involved in the kitchen and give them a job.

- Prep as much as possible ahead of the event so that you can enjoy your time with guests when they arrive

- Keep it simple, but always add colour to your spread.

- Sharpen your knives!

- Get a BBQ involved so you can cook outside and be part of the fun.

- Pre-batch all your cocktails (Margs & Negroni's are always a winner).

What do you love most about London in the Summer?

Hesper: When Salsa Rose events are in full summer swing, some Sunday's I love taking my time to gather locally sourced ingredients to cook for friends and family. I will spend afternoons wandering around to our favourite Hill & Szrok butchers, buy fresh fish from Fin & Flounder fishmonger's and visit my local veg shops.

Are there any other local companies you'd like to shout about? Where do you usually eat, drink, and source ingredients in your local area?

Local Food & Drink Suppliers to East London

Shrub – the best UK grown fruit and veg

Fin & Flounder - Fishmonger's

Neal's Yard Dairy – Cheeses

East London Liquor Co - locally distillery

Toast Brewery - zero-waste beer

Crockery

Where There's Mud - handmade crockery

Knives

Kitchen Provisions - Stoke Newington

Eat & Drink

107 Wine Shop & Bar