Private Party Catering in Midlothian

Based in Edinburgh in Scotland, Green Kilt is a eco-friendly caterer for all styles and occasions serving Edinburgh and the Lothians. They have previously catered for weddings, corporate events and birthday parties.

What do you need to know from an organiser in order to provide a comprehensive quote?

To be honest, many people don't know what they want when they first talk to us, and it can be daunting organising a celebration if you are not a professional organiser. Our approach is to listen to what you like and dislike, what's affordable, and ask helpful questions, to come up with a specification, then we'll quote.

What advice would you give to a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

If you are organising an event that is important to you, the last thing you want is a caterer you don't get on with! So, do try to meet the caterer in advance, to find out whether you are comfortable with letting them help you with getting your occasion just the way you want it. That way, it will be less stressful. There will be all sorts of advice about hiring a caterer but one of the things few people might think of is whether the caterer is a responsible and fair employer, and whether they contribute to their communities in any way. Sure, it's important they provide great food and service, but what are they really like as a company?

Please tell us a little bit about how and why you started the business.

Dan Leaver started Green Kilt with a real passion for the best of Scottish produce, and many years as a chef working throughout Scotland. Through Green Kilt, Dan believes in bringing good food to people at all levels - from charities requiring a sandwich lunch for their training, through to community events and weddings, fine private dining, and of course, through our wee cafe where it all began, in Portobello, Edinburgh. Starting a business was a chance to bring an ethical dimension to catering, reducing the environmental impact of the industry through our own practice. But it's also been great fun to be setting up a business in the Portobello community, where local people are enjoying our food and supporting our journey too.

Please tell us about a booking you've had through Add to Event, how did it go? Would you recommend us to others?

We have catered lots of private parties of all kinds through Add to Event and it's interesting to look back at the messages between us and different customers as their party ideas take shape. One that sticks in my mind though was a very brief series of messages. A mum was organising a family party and had been let down by other caterers and she had a very simple, very last minute request: rolls with bacon and sausage! We got back to her with a price and she booked us to turn up and that was it. But when we got there, it turned out the mum was organising a 21st birthday party for her twin sons who have autism and would only eat bacon rolls or sausage rolls - hence the limited buffet menu, and she'd been tearing her hair out with stress trying to find an alternative caterer. Add to Event had made finding a caterer much easier for her, reducing her stress massively. She also told us that the reason she had hired us was because we'd accepted her limited menu and given her a straightforward quote, rather than trying to "up-sell" things she didn't want, again, reducing her stress. It was a small and very simple job for us but a lovely one, I'll never forget the 21-year-old twins heading a stampede to the buffet table looking delighted. Any caterer who looks down their nose at the simple jobs misses out on a lot!