Member Article

Raymond Blanc seasons Black Pepper Software’s annual summer party with a sprinkling of celebrity

Michelin star chef and TV cooking icon, Raymond Blanc, was the celebrity guest at Black Pepper Software’s annual summer party in June – a business networking event which saw local businesses, including partners and customers of Black Pepper Software, come together for an evening reception held at Jephsons Gardens, Leamington Spa.

Nestled in the centre of a picturesque setting overlooking the River Leam, the airy venue provided the perfect opportunity for guests to informally network over drinks and canapés, as well as participate in some of the giant garden games on offer.

Later in the evening, guests were treated to an insightful speaker session from Raymond Blanc. Taking time away from cooking in the Royal Enclosure at Royal Ascot earlier in the day, Chef Blanc spoke to the audience about what inspired his passion for cooking and his continued commitment to achieving excellence, as well as his motivation for inspiring the next generation of young chefs.

As a self-confessed technophobe in a room of digital natives and professionals, he admitted he wrote his first cookery book using an Amstrad computer – with mixed results, as he forgot to hit the ‘save’ button on several occasions! He also offered guests an insight into his favourite gadget – his smartphone – which he confessed he cannot live without.

Speaking at the party, Raymond Blanc said: “I’ve always been driven by my passion for achieving and creating excellence in my restaurants, but also in sharing this passion with the next generation of chefs or budding home cooks. In our restaurant, we succeed by empowering our team, by developing them, and ensuring they have all the tools they need – and this ethos was very apparent in Black Pepper’s approach, both to their team and also to their customers.”

John Cooke, Founder and MD of Black Pepper Software, commented: “The evening was a great opportunity to bring together so many of our close business partners and customers in a relaxed and informal environment. Raymond’s speaker session was a key highlight of the evening; it was a great chance to hear from such a celebrated chef who has achieved so much in his career, and to gain an insight into his commitment to achieving results and delivering best practice – a culture we also embody as a company at Black Pepper.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Rowan Welch .