A 10-year contract worth £30m was signed in June between Sodexo Prestige and the Montcalm which entails the event and contract caterer providing all food and beverage services at the 150-bedroom hotel, including the running of its restaurant and bar The Grill which opened last month.
Run by executive chef Andrew Ives and his team, the 90-cover restaurant's menu includes dishes such as foie gras torchon on toasted brioche with honey and pickled vegetables; grilled cutlet of English rose veal, fricassee of peas and potatoes; and spatchcock corn-fed chicken for two with a herb, lemon and garlic baste.
The bar will serve cocktails and the bar and restaurant will also serve afternoon tea. Sodexo Prestige will also be responsible for room service orders.
Company first
Although Sodexo Prestige has provided fine dining services at a number of prestigious venues in the past, it has so far remained outside of the hotel sector.
David Johnson, Sodexo Prestige leisure and sport managing director, said: “This is really exciting news for Sodexo Prestige as it’s the first time we have partnered with a 5-star hotel. It’s a great opportunity for us to showcase our abilities in the international hotel market and demonstrate the 5-star service we can provide. Adding The Montcalm hotel to our portfolio will strengthen our business significantly in this market sector.”
Ramesh Arora, managing director of The Montcalm and Shaftesbury Hotel Groups, said he had been looking for an established caterer to run its F&B services with Sodexo Prestige's 'proven track record of high-end catering' the main reason for the partnership.
“The opening of a new restaurant and large event space demanded the expertise of an established caterer such as Sodexo Prestige. The opening of The Grill at the Montcalm broadens the appeal of the hotel alongside The Montcalm brand. We very much look forward to developing our 5-star food and beverage offering with Sodexo Prestige,” he said.