We had gazed at their stunning posts on Instagram and dreamt of sitting at their beautiful table in the woods. The premise of a Nomadic Dinner is simple, “Hidden woodland feasts inspired by nature”. We know how much hard work needs to go into making something look and feel that good. Here’s what we learnt from our experience…
So, a plan was hatched. When they released the tickets for their bluebell experience we would grab some and invite some guests to join us. And given our great collaboration previously with the team at Steadfast Collective on the Digital Communities Survey, we knew they’d be the perfect partners to enjoy this shared experience with us!
What greeted us, as we arrived, was a simple wooden bar, set up under a tree in a Buckinghamshire field, hidden off a country lane. G&T’s, or a non-alcoholic alternative, all round!
Learning to Forage
Then we were taken across the field, in a small group, with our own forager guide. We were invited to explore the world of foraging, learning about edible plants and tasting lots of different flavours, like wood sorrel, sage and nettles.
Now, with the excitement built, we entered the woodland area and descended down a track into a stunning carpet of bluebells amongst the trees. It really did take your breath away.
As we got further, we got moments of seeing some structures around the corner, between the trees, and the smell of smoke. And then there it was, a massive table laid for a feast, benches, chairs and a fire pit for sitting around afterwards.
The Bluebell Woodland
Beyond that, the chef’s station, where the kitchen team were cooking our food over fire and preparing to plate up.
When it came time to sit down, the food didn’t disappoint. A stunning soup served with smoky, toasted sourdough bread, drizzled with olive oil and sea salt. Local lamb, slow roasted and served with pickled vegetables, new potatoes and a beautiful salad of locally picked leaves, some of which we’d picked earlier.
Dessert was a hand made, vegan, dark chocolate ice cream with cacao nibs, crème fraîche,decorated with foraged edible flowers. It was as much a delight for the eyes as it was for our stomachs. Then, we were offered nettle tea from cast iron kettles hanging over the fire. Marshmallows handed out to toast on sticks, as we sat on logs and huddled in blankets.
In a world where we can know and see so much, through our screens, it’s easy to feel there is nothing new or special out there. But it’s these kinds of shared experiences that you have to be there for, fully immersed it becomes unforgettable. And when shared with others, it’s something we can all reference, that creates a bond between us.
Shared experiences are special and create bonds between people – something every good-cultured workplace and every brand wants. Connections that mean something, that inspire and enable flourishing relationships, that make customers stick around, that produce great work.
Events don’t have to be drab, you don’t have to do what you’ve always done. We hope this blog post has given you a taste of what’s possible!
