So, what is the Big Catch Up?
In brief…A delicious evening, a chance to catch up with friends, neighbours and people from your past. I’ll make the food, you bring whatever you’d like to drink. It’ll be excellent. Arrive hungry.
6pm-9pm
Saturday May 25th
Kensington Town Hall
$65 per person Book Now
In not so brief…you’ve been warned! It occurred to me recently that I have been cooking food for my customers for the past 8 years but never really get to cook my excellent party food for my friends, family or Facebook friends.
And I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but I make really, REALLY delicious party food. I’m not just saying that because I’m an egomaniac, but because people tell me all the time. And I have tastebuds!
“You guys are incredible. The food is phenomenal. I’ve been to weddings that haven’t been as well catered for as this meet-up.” (*I didn’t catch the dude’s name, but he was very effusive and delighted by a function I catered for in August 2023)
Yes, yes, I know I don’t do functions anymore, but occasionally I accidentally say yes and end up cooking for a past client (or a friend’s birthday), blow everyone’s socks off and soak up the glory and adoration of a very happy group of people.
Erm, you were saying…The Big Catch Up???
Ah yes, so I’ve hired the Kensington Town Hall on May 25th and I’m inviting you all to come and party with me.
How much will it cost to attend?
$65 per person
That seems bloody cheeky to invite your friends and family and neighbours to party with you and then charge them! (*actual comment from one of my 16 year old staff)
Sure! BUT attendance is not compulsory. You don’t have to come! It’s entirely optional.
I’m just a girl, planning a delicious party at the Kensington Town Hall, asking you to join me.
And to BYO drinks.
What will I get for my $65?
Menu as I see it at this point will be the Gina’s Kitchen Greatest Hits.
Here’s what I’m thinking so far…Nuts, Lavosh, Tartlets, Dumplings, Corn Fritters, Sausage Rolls, Grilled Zucchini with Whipped Feta and Dill on Corn Chips, Vietnamese Chicken and Three Herb Bites (jeesh, some of these need snazzier titles), Pulled Pork Rolls, Mini Cheeseburgers, Lamb Haloumi and Pinenut Filo Triangles, Salads (top 5 greatest hits), dessert bar featuring, but not limited to my Salted Caramel Slice Croquembouche.
But won’t that mean you will be busy, Gina, and not able to chat?
Yes, for a little bit, but I have excellent staff and have booked my OG Gina’s Kitchen Angel, Iggy, to manage the event. I’m also hoping I can pass on my excellent party food knowledge to a new batch of chefs/cooks…stay tuned (or contact me if you’re a chef/cook who would like to learn my delicious tricks and maybe even work at my function.)
Speaking of my staff, did you know that in the last 8 years I’ve employed 60 Gina’s Kitchen Angels? Pretty cool, right! I’m hoping lots of them will come back to the function to eat the food and catch up.
Another reason for putting on this function is that my current crop of staff don’t get experience working at functions anymore, well, not as regularly as my original, pre-covid batch. This will be a great way for them to get some experience as wait staff, in a busy but non scary environment. I trust you’ll all be super lovely to my staff as they learn the ropes. They’re all really excited about it! Mainly because of the food…and because I talk a good game. And, come to think of it, probably because I pay more than your average wage.
So, in your ever so humble opinion, why is your food so good?
Well, I make all my food from scratch, using lots of flavour by way of herbs, veggies, fruit, meat and dairy. You know, real ingredients. I don’t just open up packets of things and deep fry them, that’s not what I’m about.
I have a million cookbooks (at least 400) and I have tested them extensively over the years. In fact in the early years of Gina’s Kitchen there was one month in which we had canapes for dinner almost every night.
Ah, good times.
My point is that I have honed the recipes, and my skills I guess, and I really believe you’ll have a super tasty evening on May 25th.
I also have a zero-waste policy for my finger food. I hate it when I’m at a party and eat a delicious canape but then am left with a bamboo skewer or little boat or bone in my hand. Drives me bonkers!
SO, I’ve designed all my party food to be just one or two delicious bites and then it’s gone.
AND, if I have to serve something on a little boat or in a little jar, I use reuseable. Then my angels clean them in my commercial dishwasher.
So, just like with my stainless-steel meal containers, instead of just contributing to the enormous growing piles of throw away plastic, bamboo, paper containers etc I’m contributing to the employment and training of young people. #wastewarrior #savingtheplanet #givethegirlamedal #onehashtagtoofar?
Sounds good. Can you guarantee it will be the best meal of my life?
Yes, absolutely.
Nah, just kidding. But I can guarantee it will indeed be ONE of the meals of your life.
So, how will it work?
Here’s the plan; I make really excellent food; you bring along whatever you’d like to drink (and a glass or keep cup to drink it in). Be responsible, ploise*, keep yourself nice. No need to get blotto…. remember, it’s all about the food! And, if you feel like partying on after 9pm you can pop down to the Doot or the Quiet Man or Hardimans or The Wine Bar or another local venue. Genius.
*ploise Urban Dictionary
https://www.urbandictionary.com › define › term=ploise
An Australian way of saying “please” popularised by the Australian tv show Kath & Kim.
Will there be tables and chairs?
Yes! Here’s my vision…I’ll have seats all around the outer edges of the hall (because no one should have to stand up for 3 hours.) Grab a chair and have a natter with a friend or a group, if you feel like it. Move around and chat to people you might not have seen in a while if you feel like doing that. Sit alone and people watch but still get to enjoy great food (it’s all about the food, remember). Read a book quietly in the corner and still enjoy the food. Anything goes!
Ideally, I’d love you to try one of each delicious morsel and then also help yourself to salads and then the dessert buffet. I’m a big fan of no waste, so although it’s essentially an all you can eat affair, I’d rather people just try a little bit rather than loading up their plates and wasting food. There will be plenty of food and no one will go hungry or miss out on anything. I promise! I’ve been to enough functions where only the people standing near the door get any food, but I am confident that I know how to run a really great function (check out the BVE on this 48-year-old!!!) I might not be a super confident person in all aspects of life, but feeding people is my jam, baby. Some might even say it is my purpose.
I envisage round tables along both edges, so if there ends up being a group of people who know each other, maybe they – maybe they kind of congregate on one table. Maybe there will be photos and memorabilia on the tables. Maybe not. One thing is for sure, there won’t be fancy table decorations because…it’s all about the food, and you know zero waste – not to mention that aesthetics is not my jam (it’s food, it’s all about the food, baby). Oooo, maybe there will be fairy lights. Fairy lights are definitely my jam too.
Will there be food on the round tables?
I’m planning that when you arrive, I’ll have my famous Talking Nuts and Lavosh available on all the round tables. Again, just reminder that there will be a LOT of food for you to try during the night, so try to refrain from filling up on nuts and lavosh. By all means try them, delight in their deliciousness, but just remember that you’ll want to save room for dessert, not to mention all the finger food and salads.
I’m also envisaging tables of food down the middle of the hall so you can help yourself to salads and then desserts. In 2018 I catered for 265 people at the Kensington Women’s Dinner, and I bought melamine plates and stainless-steel cutlery (another pet peeve of mine is being fed really nice food on a paper plate. Urgh. Or with a bamboo fork. Double urgh.) BUT because I no longer do functions, I don’t have the opportunity to use the plates or any of my function platters. So, this will be a nice chance to give them another use. And again, my angels will clean them. We’re creating employment. Legends, one and all!
Will there be surprise musical guests?
Funny you should ask…maybe there will be! If you only know me from my Gina’s Kitchen days (or indeed don’t know me at all) you might not know that I trained as a Classical Tuba Player. Yup, true story, I’m not even making that up. I have a Bachelor of Music: Classical; Tuba from the Victorian College of the Arts.
I had also spent an additional, 2 years prior to that at Melbourne Uni at the Institute of Education training to be a music teacher, before I realised that children TERRIFIED me. Now, I know what you’re thinking…all fascinating information Gina but how is this relevant – well, it isn’t, I’m just fleshing out my villain origin story…
Sounds like you’re hosting your own wake, are you sick, Gina, is there something we should know?
No, I’m totally fine. BUT I did go to one of my very best friend’s funeral last year and although it completely sucked that we were at her funeral, it was actually also really lovely to catch up with everyone.
Yet another reason I’m hosting this event. I just feel like we should get together for a joyous reason (the food, remember, it’s all about the food) before we have to inevitably get together for sadder reasons.
Side note…if you do come to this event and catch up with people, make sure you take photos of yourself with your friends.
Gina, I love you, but this whole event sounds like my absolute worst nightmare…
Calm down. You don’t have to come. It’s not compulsory. Even if you are my very best friend in the world, please don’t feel like you have to come. I promise I won’t think any less of you.
Gina, I don’t even know you (and to be honest reading this has been a LOT so far…) but I’ve heard your food is really good and I want to come along. Is that, OK?
Absolutely. You don’t need to know me to buy a ticket. Just come along, eat and be merry. Come alone, come with a friend, come with your entire family/work group if you like! No one will force you to speak or get involved with any shenanigans.
OK, I’m in, so what are the details?
Starting time is 6pm. I’m guessing finger food will come out from 6.30 (don’t panic, remember there will be nibbles on the tables when you arrive and salads and desserts on tables too. You won’t miss out on anything. No one has ever gone away from a proper Gina’s Kitchen function hungry)
Finishing time is 9pm.
Doesn’t 9pm seems a little early to finish?
You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here*
*At the Kensington Town Hall in this case, unless you want to be part of the clean-up crew
Want to kick on after 9pm? Head to another local pub/bar.
How will I get there?
Walk if you are local.
Train: If coming by train take the Craigieburn train and alight at Newmarket Station – it’s 270 metres from the Kensington Town Hall.
Tram is 57. Alight at Newmarket Plaza
If you’re planning to drink, please don’t drive. Taxi. Uber. There are options.
Is there a dress code/theme? What do I need to wear?
The theme is “It’s all about the food”
Wear a ballgown, wear jeans and a nice top, wear noise cancelling headphones, wear your wedding dress, wear your old school uniform, wear fancy dress for all I care! Oooo, in fact, invite some friends and tell them that it’s fancy dress, that’d be hilarious!
Seriously though, wear whatever the heckity heck you want. Just be comfortable and happy. The world is a scary place at the moment. No need to add “I’m stressed about what to wear to the Big Catch Up” to your list of worries for 2024. I’ll probably be wearing my “uniform” of tunic, leggings and comfy shoes.
Will there be name tags?
Yes, there will be name tags. I’m sure I’m not the only one who can’t remember names at the moment (Perimenopause? Early onset Alzheimer’s/Dementia? Face blindness? Social media and technology ruining our brains?). Who knows, probably a combo of factors so to save any embarrassment and to cut to the chase we’ll print name tags out.
OMG, I hate name tags!
Again, you don’t have to wear a name tag, everything is optional.
I will pop a sticker on you if you are GF or DF or VEGAN so that my staff can easily identify you and target you with especially delicious Gluten free, Dairy free or Vegan food, but apart from that tags are optional.
Oh, good, that answers my next question…I’m Vegan/GF/DF will I still get $65 worth of food? Is it worth coming along?
Entirely up to you!
I do always include Vegan and Gluten Free food at my functions, but please check the menus on the table and with the wait staff as they bring food to you, especially if you are coeliac or have an allergy. There will be nuts on some things and I only have 1 dishwasher and oven, so the same oven will cook nuts and meat and everything else.
I’m from Overseas/Interstate/Regional Vic. Is it worth me flying/driving in for?
Absolutely! In fact, if you do come in from overseas or interstate or from regional VIC this is a great opportunity to invite all the people YOU want to catch up with while you’re in Melbourne. They can buy a ticket too and meet you there. At least you’re guaranteed really delicious food. No one will be disappointed. You can make it like a party within a party.
A party within a party? So, like I can have my 25th birthday party there?
Yes! Or your 80th, or your wedding, or your book club. Or just a catch up with a group of friends from uni. I don’t especially care. For me it’s all about the food.
I’m making the food.
You’re eating the food.
My Gina’s Kitchen Angels are serving the food (they even have super cute t-shirts now, so you’ll be able to identify my angels. Hmmm, I wonder if I could get them to wear wings???)
Is it a fundraiser for something?
Nope. Just a party, all about my food.
Sounds fun. But my partner/husband/wife/friend doesn’t like parties or people. Can I come alone?
Yes, come alone. Leave them at home. Don’t force fun or a bloody good meal on them.
You’re bound to bump into someone you know, or if not someone you know, most people I know are really lovely, so you’re bound to be adopted my someone for the night, if that’s what you want. Or left alone to enjoy the food, if that’s what you’d like.
Will I meet the love of my life there?
Who knows, maybe! Do let me know if you do. That’d be a great feel-good story for 2024.
Be honest, Gina, are you starting a new business? A party within a party business, perhaps?
No.
I swear.
Initially when I came up with the idea in March last year I discussed it with my lovely friends Kathy and Sharon. They listened patiently while I exploded with ideas. Then they calmly and gently reminded me that:
A) I don’t like doing functions (true, but only because my dinner business is massive now and weekends are really fun when you don’t have to work and although I love cooking the food for the functions and am a glory hound of the highest order and so enjoy being there and seeing people get so much joy out of eating my food, functions are a massive amount of work, and not especially profitable!)
B) That one a month sounded like a LOT (oh yeah, I had a crazy list of ideas) and maybe I should just start with one.
C) I don’t do functions anymore
I like the idea of it Gina, but I really don’t want to bump into {insert name of your nemesis that will no doubt be there}
Look, I get it. But the Kensington Town Hall is a big place. We can fit a couple of hundred people in so you should be able to avoid people you don’t want to see.
Can I bring my kids?
If you want to spend $65 on a ticket for them, sure, go ahead. But YOU’D probably have more fun leaving them at home with a babysitter or grandparent or their other parent.
What if I book a ticket but then get a better offer closer to the date? Can I get a refund?
- I doubt you’ll get a better offer
- I’ll do you one better than a refund. I’ll give you a $65 Gina’s Kitchen Voucher so you can still sample the food at any other time from my weekly menu
- If you really need a refund of course that’ll be totes fine. I imagine. I’ve no idea how it works but we will work something out. I’m nothing if not completely reasonable. Oooo maybe the tickets will sell out and there’ll be desperate calls online for a ticket to the Big Catch-Up (calm down Gina, it’s a meal/party, albeit an awesome one, you’re not Taylor Swift)
Any other questions?
Just email gina@ginaskitchen.com.au or text or call Gina on 0419 896 832 or DM me. I’m @ginaskitchenflemington on Insta and FB.
Wait, where do I book?
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