Baba Ganoush Catering expands menu after Thorpe Arch move

Baba Ganoush Catering says the move to larger premises allows it to offer more and better services to a wider area, as well as saving it money.

The company has operated for ten years, with sister business Dining by Matthew Hyde launching in 2019, undertaking catering for weddings, corporates and events.

The two firms were based in Rose Avenue in York Business Park, Poppleton, until the move in January this year.

RECOMMENDED READING:
Baba Ganoush shares the love in lockdown with ‘Valentine boxes’

Director Ashley said: “We needed to have more space to broaden our offering. It’s much more economical to be out of York.”

Ashley Hyde outside her new premises (Image: Darren Greenwood)

The new premises feature a large food preparation area, as well as a dining space and bar area.

Before the offices, kitchen and storage areas were separate and Ashley says “was becoming too expensive.”

Ashley Hyde outside her new premises (Image: Darren Greenwood)

The entrepreneur and her chef husband found the new location, which was previously occupied by an air conditioning cooling company. It also offers outside parking.

Ashley continued: “For years we have been looking for a space to add a string to our bow.

Lamb cutlets (Image: Darren Greenwood)

“We do tasting events here for our couples. People have told us how they like the industrial style kitchen. They tell us they love watching people cook. This is very popular in London.

“Open plan kitchen events for weddings and corporates are every popular in London and the US. We want to be the first in Yorkshire. Come to our industrial kitchen. Our chefs are really friendly.”

The guests enjoy their food at Baba Ganoush (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Baba Ganoush works with a range of venues and businesses across the City of York but with hospitality being increasingly competitive, Ashley says the business needs to be flexible and change tack, offering more corporate events, corporate lunches, corporate canapes and dinners.

A selection of salads (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Increasingly, people want to sample the food before making a booking and the new venue makes this easier.

Another trend, Ashley says, is people are switching back from small sharing plates to individual plates of hearty food. People are also loving a tiramisu.

Baba Ganoush employs five in events and six chefs, who now serve a much wider area. The Thorp Arch location is also convenient for Leeds, Harrogate and Wetherby, as well as York.

A selection of desserts (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Ashley works with a range of suppliers including Sykes House Farm Butchers, Tarbetts of Wetherby for fish, Dales for Fruit and veg, as well as Simply Gorgeous Cocktails.

She said: “Our full ethos is we like to do really nice food done really well. I think we have a really nice group of suppliers who do great food.”

Adrian Pettitt of Simply Gorgeous Cocktails (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Ashley added: “We were spending so much money in York on rent, it became difficult to ensure quality in other areas. We are in a fantastic location, which is reasonably priced, which means we can get the better-quality food.”

And judging by what was served up to guests, Ashley  and Matthew look to have the right recipe for even more success.