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Complete Function Hire Serving Suggestions – Expert Advice From Guy Grossi

The team at Complete Function Hire enjoys working closely with the best in the business to deliver stand out dining and event experiences all over Melbourne.

We have been honoured to work alongside Australian hospitality icon, Guy Grossi to provide furniture and equipment hire for some truly impressive events at his restaurant and special events.

Guy Grossi and his team know just how to create unforgettable dining experiences. On this month’s blog, we were privileged to interview Guy to find out about some of his favourite flavours and to get some tips on how to create the most memorable special occasions.

What are your favourite flavours of the moment?

I like simple but bold flavours. Like the simple combination of chilli and garlic or good quality olive oil to dress vegetables. I don’t think flavours need to be complicated to be good. I’m loving the produce that’s coming in at the moment as the seasons start to shift. Autumn is the time for delicious produce such as figs and mushrooms.

What will be the prominent food trends for Melbourne events in 2019?

I think it goes back to the simple philosophy, I think we are going to see lots of simple ways of eating, more rustic, home style eating with less fuss.

Events are all about sharing delicious food at the end of the day, it doesn’t need to be complicated, just tasty and abundant.

Serving suggestions – how can people entertaining at home create simple yet stylish ways to impress their guests?

 

 

 

 

 

The best way is to keep it relevant to the dish, if it’s pumpkin tortellini with sage use some fried sage leaves to garnish. You don’t want to garnish for the sake of it. Use fresh lemon if appropriate for fried items, or a simple dusting of icing sugar on a cake, that’s all that’s really needed. I think less is definitely more, let the food speak for itself, arrange it neatly on a plate without going overboard. I’m not into things arranged like a swan.

Thank you to the legendary Guy Grossi for sharing his expert advice on how to impress party guests.

 

For all your party hire needs, the passionate team at Complete Function Hire are on call to discuss your perfect event, contact us today to start your planning.

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Venues We Love – 40 Rd, Highett

On this month’s Venues We Love, we were thrilled to chat to the creative team of event experts at Fourside Events about their chic new space, 40 Rd.

Simplistic industrial design features including polished concrete floors are complemented by abundant natural light in this ultra cool, pillar less space.

Comfortably hosting events for up to 200 guests (stand up), 40 Rd provides superior flexibility for wedding and event planners who like to think outside the box.

Why is 40 Rd the best place to party?

40 Rd is fresh on the Melbourne event scene. One of the best things about our space is that it can be anything you want it to be – from a glamourous fashion catwalk to an intimate wedding soirée or VIP management meeting… the possibilities at 40 Rd really are endless.

What kinds of events do you host at 40 Rd?

Everything!

From weddings and celebrations through to business events of all kinds (including working days, product launches, photoshoot and wellness retreats), 40 Rd is a modern blank canvas space that transforms to suit your style.

What are your team’s tips for making an event really special?

Find suppliers who get you.

This is the day to change it up and show your guests who you really are. Be you not them!

Fourside Events manage some of Melbourne’s coolest event spaces – tell us why your team are so great at what you do?

We know how to party!!

We handcraft menus and source the freshest local produce.

We approach each event with a customised catering experience tailored just for our clients.

And…. we are excited to announce another cool new venue very soon – watch this space!

Let your imagination run wild at 40 Rd – the ultimate blank canvas venue. Contact the team at Fourside Events to find out more about this fabulous space and their range of unique Melbourne venues.

The team at Complete Function Hire cannot wait to discuss your special day or dream event with you! Click here to enquire today.

Images provided by Fourside Events -photo credits: Ben Potter Photography, Kas Richards, Ksenia Belova Photography

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Food Trends & Expert Tips For Event Planners – White Card Food & Events

The team at Complete Function Hire enjoys working with Melbourne’s most talented event planners and incredible venues.

On this week’s blog, we were delighted to speak to the team of foodies at White Card Food & Events to get their food trend predictions for the year ahead and some great tips on how to create an event that your guests will remember for years to come.

What are the White Card team’s catering trend predictions for 2018?

Wedding and event planners are going to continue to opt for shared menus and grazing stations this year. This style of catering is so wonderful for all kinds of events as it allows people to explore new flavours in a fun way and it also creates a visual experience too.

Grazing stations create a real wow factor!

We love featuring local produce through our menus and another food trend for this year will be around creating innovative ways of healthy eating including Buddha Bowls and really gorgeous mocktails.

White Card  manage events at some of Melbourne’s most unique spaces. Tell us why weddings and events at The Immigration Museum and Scienceworks are always so memorable?

Our spaces vary so much – from the elegance of the Immigration Museum to the rustic industrial feel of the Pumping Station .

Our Pumping station is so full of history with unique design features such as beautiful red bricks and metal engines. Minimal effort is needed to turn the space into your own to create your dream event. We have also enhanced the space with rows of Edison festoon lights which creates a gorgeous ambience for parties.

The Immigration Museum is conveniently located in Melbourne’s CBD and is the perfect location for summer cocktail parties.

The Immigration Museum is so elegant and full of light. The gorgeous urban courtyard is perfect for a summer cocktail party or end of year event. The Immigration Museum is conveniently located in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD so it is a very popular choice for business events of all kinds.

We love our unique event spaces and work closely with our brides and corporate event clients to ensure we create extraordinary event experiences that incorporates their own personal style.

What are your team’s top tips for organising memorable events this year?

  • Try and find spaces that offer an experience for your guests. We can organise for your guests to view one of our original steam pumps in action or to lie back and enjoy a planetarium show before a cocktail or dinner event. Incorporating one of these special experiences will leave a lasting impression on your guests
  • Guests love a grazing table with an interesting selection of tasty bites. We find that grazing stations enhances the event space and creates a real wow factor when guests arrive
  • Get in early if you have your heart set on a special event space for end of year events!

What’s new at White Card Food & Events?

We are currently finalising our end of year packages so stay tuned to White Card & Museum Spaces for more details very soon! Baja was a huge success in 2017 and we are working on something very special for the end of this year which we can’t wait to share.

If you are looking for a unique Melbourne venue to create your dream event, speak to the team at White Card Food & Events today.

 

For all your wedding and event hire needs, click here to contact the team of event experts at Complete Function Hire.

 

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Complete Function Hire Venues We Love – Melbourne Zoo & Werribee Open Range Zoo

The team at Complete Function Hire always enjoys being a part of amazing events and incredible weddings at Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo. Every event is so different and every occasion is always so special.

With its beautiful natural surrounds, manicured centuries-old gardens and different habitats each designed to reflect native home of animal communities, the Melbourne & Werribee Open Range Zoos provides a magnificent setting for truly memorable weddings and events.

With world class food, flexible event spaces and a range of cool experiences to incorporate into your event, the team of event experts at Melbourne & Werribee Open Range Zoos are at your disposal, ready to make anything possible. On this week’s blog, we spoke to the awesome events team from Restaurant Associates about what makes weddings and events at the Zoo’s so spectacular.

The unique backdrops at both Werribee Open Range and Melbourne Zoo make for incredible photo opportunities.

Why are weddings at Melbourne and Werribee Open Range Zoo so amazing?

We can provide a truly unique event with the number of beautiful reception rooms and stunning outdoor ceremony sites to choose from, each with their own different atmosphere at the Zoo. You can do it all at the Zoo – ceremony, pre drinks before reception at a special location and of course our amazing Zoo grounds provide the perfect backdrop to beautiful wedding photography. Couples are escorted around the Zoo to take photos in the award winning gardens, interacting with animals and also just around the exhibits such as the stunning bamboo forest and famous carousal.


Tell us about some of the unique event experiences at the Zoos?

We can provide unique animal experiences or have the function set up overlooking various exhibits and different animals. Our special encounters such as feeding the giraffe, having a kiss by a seal, meeting our meerkats and keeper talks are very popular and bring that extra level excitement to the event and make it truly unique.

Are there any stand out events at the Zoos that stand out for your team and why?

We run Murder Mystery Dinners at both Melbourne and Werribee Zoo throughout the year, which is quite an unusual event but always such fun. People come as couples, groups of friends and even work groups to solve the mystery whilst dining on a two course meal and unlimited drinks. Everyone gets in the spirit by dressing up in the theme of the night and has fun with the photo booth and actors activities.

The spectacular scenery at the Zoos help create magical moments.

What’s on the menu at Zoos?

With the many types of events available at the Zoo, we have a huge variety of menus and packages – from gourmet gala lunches and dinners, innovative canapés to high tea styled bakery treats, classic breakfasts and family favourites. We also have our own onsite Zoo Bakery (the only Zoo in the world to have its own bakery) with our Pastry Chef making amazing wedding cakes and treats. Our food philosophy includes a commitment to sustainability and sourcing local and ethical produce (including all our seafood being MSC certified).

The Zoo’s in-house Pastry Chef at the onsite bakery creates stop shopping cakes.

What special offers are available at the Zoos?

During the winter months (June to August) we offer significant discounts for weddings at Werribee Open Range Zoo. Couples can save more than 25% off our standard wedding packages.

Contact the team at Melbourne and Werribee Open Range Zoos today about your upcoming wedding or event. 

For all your wedding and event hire needs, click here to enquire with the team at Complete Function Hire.