Lima launches event catering service

The Fitzrovia restaurant will offer a tailored service for events and parties from March. The service will be available for people looking to cater for small or large functions - from dinner parties to large meals - or more casual events such as a cocktail party with canapés.

Wider audience​

Speaking to BigHospitality, co-owner Gabriel Gonzalez said the team had decided to launch the service because they believed Peruvian cuisine was still in demand but relatively difficult to find for people not just looking to eat in a restaurant.

"The restaurant was a new idea for the market, there was always a risk but fortunately for us the welcoming of the concept has been really good. After seeing that the demand was there for, not fine-dining but high-quality, Latin American food we asked - why not take it to a wider audience?"

A special team, not working day-to-day in the main restaurant, will handle the catering service creating bespoke menus for each individual occasion.

The team has already catered for a number of clients including the Peruvian tourist board and Locog, the organising committee behind the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Customisable​

Gonzalez revealed the growth of the service would be organic with no targets set as yet for potential profits and business benefits from the venture. 

"We want to make it as customisable as possible," he said. "We will be incurring some costs but it is a very logical next step for us - we already have the kitchens to do the preparation.

"We are going to try to launch it as aggressively as we can, we want to promote it but it is going to be an organic growth. Two or three events a month would be fantastic but it is difficult to measure growth prospects."

The menus will be in keeping with the restaurant allowing the team to use the same kitchen and suppliers. Key dishes will include Peruvian staples such as ceviches and tiraditos. Customers will also be able to choose from a selection of trademark Lima cocktails for their event.

Lima, which launched in July last year,​ was recently named as the One to Watch at Restaurant magazine's annual National Restaurant Awards.​