Tel: 020 7620 1818 email: cookandbutler@btconnect.com Company Number: 05143672
References
(A selection of letters from our clients.)
References
(A selection of letters from our
clients.)
Earlier References:
2006 - 2010
2011 - 2024
The Worshipful Company of Gunmakers' Court Dinner
Thursday 25th June 2025
King Edwards Witley Lunch
Wednesday 19th March 2025
The Rifles Annual Officers' Club Dinner
Thursday 17th September 2024
The Guild of Freemen of the City of London - 16th December 2023
December 16th 2023
October 16th 2023
The Worshipful Company of Gold and
Silver Wyre Drawers - Monday 16th October 2023
October 10th 2023
Chamberlaine's Court, Guldhall -
Tuesday 10th October 2023
July 18th 2023
The Rifles Officers' Club Annual
Dinner - Thursday 13 July 2023
June 24th 2022
The Worshipful Company Of Coachmakers
And Coach Harness Makers
June 17th 2022
The Worshipful Company Of Distillers
July 2021
Dr Maurizio Bragagni OBE, MBA, CDir
FIoD
Honorary Consul, Republic of San Marino
June 2021
Coronation Past Masters
May 2019
Board of Grand Stewards 2018-19
www.bgs2018-19.com
Dear Mark,
On behalf of the Board of Grand Stewards 2018-19 I extend
sincere thanks for your support with the 2019 Grand Festival
held at the Guildhall last week. The food was delicious,
entirely living up to expectations.
Your experience, wise counsel and the sheer hard work of
your staff ensured that the event was a complete success,
viewed by many as one of the best in living memory.
With my best wishes and warmest regards...
October 2017
Sheriff of the City of London
Sheriff Neil Redclifee
Dear Mark,
What an absolute trumph! That has to be the best Breakfast
ever! Thank you so much for all year extraordinary efforts
in making our Shriffs' Breakfast such a success. It all paid
off and will be remembered for a very long time. The Dragon
in particular was inspirational inspite of our difficulty in
choosing a name for the menu.
The Cornish Lobster Cocktail in the sea which was pure
theatre and the Ballindlloch Beef was absolutely delicious.
Washed down with such exceptional wine - sadly not much by
me as I had to keep my wits about me in front of the Lord
Chancellor.
Please send mine and Emna's warmest and heartfelt thanks to
all at the Cook and the Butler and especially to Modesta and
Jean. We did thank you at the end of the speeches but I
couldn't see you, am not sure if you all heard.
Looking forward to seeing you often in the year ahead and
thank you for making it such a perfect day for us all.
Warmest wishes.
Neil + Emna
September 2017
The Worshipful Company of Hackney
Carriage Drivers
Dear Mark,
As my year as master is coming to an end I just wanted to
say thank you to you and your company, The Cook and The
Butler. Thank you for all the superb food and wine that we
have enjoyed at our lunches and dinners in the City.
Our Company are very appreciative of the level of service we
receive from your caterers at all of our functions. The Cook
and The Butler are highly respected throughout the City, and
rightly so.
I wish you all the best in your role as Master of The
Worshipful Company of Cooks this year.
Thank you again.
Best wishes...
Master of The Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers
June 2016
The Worshipful Company of Weavers
November 2015
Agincourt 600 Committee
Commemoration Banquet at Guildhall
AGINCOURT 600: COMMEMORATION BANQUET AT
GUILDHALL - Sept 2015
The banquet that you provided for us and our 700 guests at
the Guildhall on 22 September was absolutely stunning. The
principal guests, including members of the Royal family,
were utterly delighted with the evening that you and your
staff had arranged for us. Many members of the Agincourt 600
Committee have had many years of experience of dining in the
City of London. We were simply of one mind: you gave us the
most sumptuous and beautiful dinner any of us had ever
received.
The inspired choice of the menu and its ingredients that
reflected that part of North France where the battle of
Agincourt was fought added an almost emotional relationship
between the food and the event we were commemorating. The
care and the amount of thought you put in to designing the
menu was legendary: the sauce "Nicholas Wootton"
accompanying the meat course, named after the Lord Mayor in
1415; the selection of fruits and the mini toffee crab apple
from Picardy; the goats' cheese from goats who grazed on the
battlefield at Azincourt. These superb touches added to what
was a wonderful array of food.
The reception for all of us was marvelous and our guests
were highly delighted to have such lovely canapés. The
champagne and the wines were a perfect accompaniment.
Thank you for all that you provided for us. It was a tour de
force.
The Worshipful Company of Poulters
"...I want to express our appreciation of
the wonderful spread you set out for the company and our
guests at Trinity House; it was excellent. Our thanks to you
and all at The Cook and The butler together with your staff
that night.
"I especially want to thank you for your choice of wines,
the Gewurtz was superb and the Tannat a lovely surprise;
very well done."
October 2015
The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards
Dear Mark,
I missed you at the end of the WCMPC Livery Dinner at
Trinity House on 5 Oct to thank you personally for the
Superb Trafalgar night dinner you laid on for us that night,
although you did get a 'chuck up' in the poem I wrote as
part of my speech. So this is to reiterate that and also
thank you for a whole year of dinners (+ 1 lunch), all of
which have been superb, but crowned, I think, by the 'Ships
of the Line' pudding that evening. You must be very proud of
your head chef and chefs, together with your front of house
team, all of whom are a credit to The Cook and The Butler.
As I approach the end of my year and hand over to a new
Master, I am really pleased that we undertook a strategy of
visiting halls and venues catered by you. It has worked very
well and I have been happy to recommend the arrangements to
other Livery companies I have met.
So thank you, Mark, and your excellent team, for a whole
year's worth of catering. Anyone who came to the Oct Traf
night dinner is in no doubt of the heights your team can
scale and a number have mooted that it was the "best Livery
Dinner ever"! I know people say nice things but that is
heady praise indeed.
We shall, of course, cross paths often after I have stood
down,not least at Anchorites and my own company's (Ethos)
annual bash, which next year is likely to be in May onboard
Wellington.
Once again, thank you and please pass on my thanks to your
team.
The Worshipful Company of Weavers
May 2015
The Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars
April 2015
The Worshipful Company of Makers of
Playing Cards
The Worshipful Company of Carmen
"Dear Mark,
"I wanted to write following the Joint Services Dinner Night
on Wednesday 22" April 2015. I was really delighted with how
the evening went, and how everyone worked together to make
the event the success it turned out to be. I am thrilled
that immediately after, and since, I have received numerous
messages of approval and thanks. The overwhelming consensus
is that the evening was the best Military Awards Night in
memory, and one that will be hard to beat in the future.
"Thank you so much for the key part you played in the
preparations, and the evening itself. The Great Hall looked
impressive and perfectly set out. The food was outstanding,
well presented, and delicious to eat - and most definitely
relished by all. Sourcing beef from Gloucestershire was
inspired, and marvellous. The wines were just as I
remembered them from the tasting, and very well received.
The visual was simply awesome, and a spectacle that everyone
loved and appreciated. It was clear that a great deal of
time had been put in to deliver what you did. Can you please
pass on my thanks to Jean and the team, and give them my
best wishes.
"Once again, thank you so much, for all that you did, to
make the event the success it was. Your support really was,
and is, much appreciated."
The Meyrick Society
"Once again may I thank you and your most
professional staff for yet another memorable Meyrick Dinner.
I said before the event that the menu (particularly after
substituting lamb for pork) looked pretty good and we were
not disappointed – in fact many thought it one of the best
meals to date.
"Personally, it is the perfect evening; a very good meal,
plenty of wine, surrounded by chums and in magnificent
surroundings but as you will have seen from the number
attending, not everyone shares my enthusiasm. In order to
encourage members to attend this evening, the Society now
contributes a major part of the cost of hiring the hall and
thanks to your kind gesture in keeping your price
(relatively) low, we can moderate the cost of the ticket. I
am very much aware of what you do and much appreciate it.
"Assuming that my fellow members want another Dinner, I will
be in touch but in the meantime, thank you for a very
competent service."
March 2015
King Edward's School, Witley
"Dear Mark
"Another Bridewell Day has been and gone and yet again this
has been catered for admirably by The Cook and Butler. Thank
you for your part in ensuring the day was successful. The
food was superb, and again many favourable comments have
been received. All the children seemed happy too with the
contents of their lunchbags.
"Please pass on my thanks to your staff who, as always, were
very pleasant and courteous.
"I hope we will be allowed to use The Cook and Butler in
March 2016, when Bridewell Day falls on Tuesday 8th March.
"With best wishes..."
February 2015
The Worshipful Company of Poulters
"Dear Mark,
"Just a line to say thank you again for the superb meals you
and your team have provided during my year as Master.
Each event was I believe perfect and from the comments I
have received that is the view of all those attending.
Please convey my sincere thanks and congratulations to the
Chef and all his team at The Cook and The Butler for an
excellent job, in every respect.
My warmest regards to you all."
June 2014
The Worshipful Company of Gardeners
ay 2014May 2014
Received via email. Subject: FINA/NVC Diving World Series
"Hi, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you and all your staff members for the time and effort that everyone put in to making the FINA/NVC Diving World Series a huge success."
"We appreciate the challenges working in a new
venue gave but I am very grateful to all the new companies &
organisations we had the pleasure to work with.
Look forward to working with you all in the future."
Kind regards
Events Officer
April 2014
The Meyrick Society
March 2014
The Society of the Livery of the Coopers'
Company
December 2013
Sons and Friends of the Clergy
October 2013
The Worshipful Company of Builders' Merchants
June 2013
Lime Street Ward Club
Lime Street Ward Club Civic Luncheon
"On behalf of the Master, Wardens and members of the Lime Street Ward Club,
thank you and your team for playing such an important role in the success of
our Civic Lunch. The food and service were exceptional. Well done and many
thanks."
April 2013
The Worshipful Company of Builders' Merchants
March 2013
The Worshipful Company of International
Bankers
"I would like to mention that food on our Banquet was extremely delicious and we have received many compliments for nice goose and lavish dessert of course. Your management was extremely good and l was very amazed to see kitchen discipline [in action] for the first time on that day."
Lime Street Ward Club
Lime Street Ward Club AGM Dinner
"It is with great pleasure that I write on behalf of The Master, Mr Vernon
Ashford, Wardens and Members of Lime Street Ward Club to thank you and your
staff for a wonderful evening. The service was prompt and efficient and the
food delicious. We really do appreciate your efforts on our behalf. Martha
certainly runs a good team."
February 2013
Bishopsgate Ward Club
"My very warm thanks to you and your
team for catering our Civic Lunch in Guildhall Crypt on Thursday.
"I know that, with the Lord Mayor's subsequent commitment, everyone had to
keep to a very tight timetable and - I am pleased and grateful to
acknowledge - all did, such that the Lord Mayor had even a minute or two to
spare!
"The food was excellent - many commented especially on the grouper - and all
were well pleased with the wines. I thought the Shiraz worked particularly
well."
December 2012
71st (City of London) Yeomanry Signal
Regiment
"Dear Mark,
"Now that the dust has settled after our absolutely fantastic Charity Boxing
Dinner in support of Hounds For Heroes, I would like to take this
opportunity to thank you for your immense generosity in helping us to raise
our whopping £45,000 for the Charity. In actual fact, between us we raised
circa £67,000, leaving a clear profit of £45K once all the costs to run the
event had been met. A very respectable total, I trust you will agree.
"In reality, we could not have done so outstandingly well without your
support. We are very proud of the fact that we have now raised enough money
to provide the through-life costs for two assistance dogs. The training of
these dogs will commence in the New Year and I would like to remind you that
we have officially named one of the dogs ‘Yeoman’ to reflect our Regimental
Yeomanry heritage and aspects of the communications provided by our Corps,
the Royal Corps of Signals.
"The Cook and The Butler’s support to the event was critical to the success
of the evening; quite simply we couldn’t have done it without you. Your
table presentation was outstanding, and the food was absolutely delicious.
We have received so many compliments based on the standard of the catering.
In addition, your incredibly generous donation of one of our key auction
prizes went such a long way to helping us reach our total for the evening.
Thank you so much.
"Team Dogfight wish you and yours a peaceful and Merry Christmas and look
forward to a future association.2
November 2012
The Guild of Freemen of the City of London
October 2012
The Worshipful Company of Chartered
Secretaries and Administrators
The Worshipful Company of Tylers and
Bricklayers
“Dear Mark,
"Very many thanks for the excellent food at the Installation Lunch on
Thursday - you and your staff did us proud. From the tea and coffee for both members of the Court and their
ladies upstairs to the food and wine service I don’t think things could have
gone much better.
"It all contributed to making the day that bit extra special…"
August 2012
Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St
George
May 2012
City of London Solicitors' Company
April 2012
The Worshipful Company of Lightmongers
The Meyrick Society
November 2011
City of London Solicitors' Company
October 2011
British Red Cross
Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St
George
July 2011
The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing
Cards
May 2011
Lime Street Ward Club
“Dear Mark,
Thank you for making the luncheon such a huge success. Over the past few days we have opened letter after letter thanking us
for the quality of the food and the service.
Our concern is that as a result The Cook & The Butler will become so much in
demand that we’ll struggle to make bookings in the future.
Thank you once again…”
Golden Wedding Anniversary
The Worshipful Company of Paviours
March 2011
Cripplegate Ward Club
December 2010
The Worshipful Company of Cutlers
The Guild of Freemen of the City of London
Broad Street Ward Club
November 2010
Royal Tank Regiment
Share Plan Lawyers
Reunion de Gastronomes
September 2010
The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
August 2010
The Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights
Bread Street Ward Club
The Worshipful Company of Cooks
British Red Cross
On behalf of The International Fundraising Committee of the
British Red Cross may I extend our heartfelt thanks for
helping us to make the ‘Tribute to Annie Lennox’ on World
Aids Day, 01 December 2009, at Guildhall such a fantastic
event. I know Annie was thrilled with the evening and quite
overwhelmed by the amazing show of friendship and support
from everyone who participated and was present.
We were very grateful for the extremely generous deal which
you gave us on the catering and decor. The food was good and
the room looked beautiful. I was told by Jeremy that you
were extremely helpful and obliging to work with and for
this we thank you most sincerely.
Although primarily to highlight and recognise the
achievements and humanitarian accomplishments of Annie
Lennox; her work of course goes hand-in-hand with that of
the British Red Cross — to help where we can and inspire
others to do the same. Your generosity was also a wonderful
show of support for this work.
The British Red Cross helps people in crisis, whoever and
wherever they are. We are part of a global network of
volunteers, responding to natural disasters, conflicts and
individual emergencies, including many ongoing HIV
prevention and assistance projects all over the world. We
enable vulnerable people at home and overseas to prepare for
and respond to emergencies, and when the crisis is over, we
help people to recover and move on with their lives. The
money raised from this event will help us to continue with
this work.
Once again thank you for all you did to support The British
Red Cross and Annie Lennox and I hope we will have the
opportunity to work with you again at some of our future
International Fundraising Committee events.
With deep gratitude
Maria Shammas MBE
Chairman International Fundraising Committee, Vice President
British Red Cross
The Worshipful Company of
Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers
The Award to Industry Banquet in aid of
Help for Heroes
May 2009
The Movers and Shakers Charity Dinner
www.cureparkinsons.org
The Wandsmen of St Paul's
Cathedral
The Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers
The City of London's Court Leet of the Guildable Manor
of the Town and Borough of Southwark
July 2008
Langbourn Ward Club
Dear Mark
Once again, on
behalf of Pauline and myself, and the Langbourn Ward Club,
thank you very much indeed for all your efforts and
endeavours on our behalf. Personally I thought the food was
fantastic, and the lamb cutlets were cooked to perfection.
We thoroughly enjoyed the Welsh Salmon, and it was a pity
the Lord Mayor missed out, although Sheriff Luder certainly
enjoyed it.
The whole meal was
beautifully prepared and superbly balanced. All the comments
that I, the President, the Secretary and Pauline received
about the meal were highly complimentary – and referred to
in terms such as the ‘best ever meal that they had had
at a Civic function’. Please convey our sincere thanks to
the Chef, kitchen staff and to Paulina and her team of
waiters/waitresses. They did a magnificent job.
Thank you also, for
the table numbering provision. Just the job. As for the flower
arrangements, they were fantastic, and all the ladies who
took them away were very fulsome in their praise as to how
nice they were. Very many thanks indeed. Thank you for being
there, and supervising the process personally. Very many thanks. It
was a wonderful occasion not least because of the cuisine,
the time you took in planning it, the modifications you made
after our tasting, and the way it was cooked, presented and
served. A first class outcome.
Regards
Pauline
June 2008
Birthday Dinner
“May I say on
behalf of us all a very warm and sincere thank you for the
excellent food and service at the Birthday Dinner on the 26th
June. If you could read the many letters of
appreciation we have received I know you would be delighted
by the compliments heaped on your company.”
April 2008
Pharmacom Media
www.pharmacommedia.com
September 2007
The Worshipful Company of Loriners
April 2007
The Worshipful Company of Upholders
March 2007
Dinner at Temple Bar St. Paul’s Cathedral
Dear Mark,
I’m just writing to thank you
so very much for arranging such a superb Menu for the
Celebration Dinner Party for Eric and our friends on
Tuesday 6th March. Without exception,
everyone said what an honour it was to wine and dine in
such unique style in the most wonderful setting of Sir
Christopher Wren’s little gem - Temple Bar, Paternoster
Square.
The food, wine and service was
first class and for all it will remain a remarkable and
most memorable evening, especially for the Birthday Boy!
Of particular interest was the delightfully pretty
Flower of Courgette stuffed with Lobster Mousse and the
Saffron Sauce. The Rack of Lamb was greatly
appreciated; the colourful Trio of Summer Dessert
produced some ooh’s and mmm’s and by the time the Plate
of Cheese arrived, the belts were beginning to loosen!!
The choice of wines was excellent and the Birthday Cake
was said to be a perfect and fitting conclusion to the
Celebration Dinner.
To have the evening so
successfully organised within the space of less than a
week was remarkable. All credit is due to the
professionalism of you Mark and your company. As
mentioned when I first introduced myself, you came so
highly recommended that the outcome was never in doubt.
With all good wishes.
Maureen Bonanno-Smith
January 2007
The Worshipful Company of Loriners
October 2006
The Worshipful Company of Gunmakers
June 2006
Considerate Constructors
Monitors' Annual Conference
www.ccscheme.org.uk
May 2006
April 2006
The Worshipful Company of Gunmakers
