SERVING dinner to nearly 200 people who are only arriving at 22:30 is not everyone’s idea of Saturday night fun.
But Keith and Karen (‘The Butcherbird’) Morgan say they feel honoured to have been selected by the National Arts Festival organisers to host the thank you party for the festival’s technical crew.
The dinner is late because the ‘techies’ have to get everything at the show venues tucked away before they can feast and party – which they will do, until the small hours of the morning.
The Morgans are veterans of the late night circuit.
For the fourth year in succession, the Morgans have moved their popular Bedford restaurant brand to the National Arts Festival, setting up in the Scout Hall.
Karen says, “To succeed at the festival you have to keep coming back because word of mouth is the strongest marketing tool.”
It’s “a mission” to drape the hall, organise chairs and tables, pack and cart all the kitchen equipment, napery, crockery and cutlery, glassware.
But, thanks to their staying power, they have built up a core group of loyal fans from all over the country. Many keep coming back and bringing their friends. The National Arts Festival CEO Tony Lankester is one of them.
This is no surprise when you consider their festival dinner menu. They offer four fancy starters including a pink salmon rose on potato rosti and a pumpkin puff with bacon, camembert and caramelised onion.
The mains are the kind of slow-cooked regional treats that make Bedford so proud of The Butcherbird: lamb shank, deboned lamb neck, eisbein, oxtail and Thai chicken or lamb curry, followed by three puddings.
The Morgan’s willingness to pop up where there’s an opportunity laid the foundation for The Butcherbird restaurant’s success.
In the early days, the Morgans would trek down to Kenton and pop up for the duration of the holidays. In fact, when they were discussing a name for their business, they considered calling it ‘The Gypsy Cook’ – ‘have pots will travel’.
Karen still caters for large weddings in a 200km radius of The Butcherbird’s home base in Bedford.