EMA Catering London is an event catering company for festivals, public events, and large venues, catering for corporate events and any other occasion that calls for expert event catering in London and the rest of the UK. Family-owned since 1995, our catering service offers flexible menus, suitable mobile catering units, and professional event service. When you have guests with celiac disease, a ‘gluten-free option’ is never a marketing phrase; it is a necessity. Make the mistake of serving a guest gluten-laden food, and they will spend the rest of the evening trying to keep it down; get it right, and they too will enjoy a relaxing evening in the company of everyone else.
Why “top-rated” should mean verifiable, not just nice reviews
Top-rated is an even easier claim to makeany of us can say it. But it only counts if it’s founded on proof that you can verify. Before you get dazzled by a fancy website or a five-star award, take a peek at the proof a truly top caterer should be able to give you.
Gluten-free is a safety issue, not a preference
This is the section that we see most often overlooked by many caterers. Coeliac disease isn’t a lifestyle choice but a serious autoimmune condition that around 1 in 100 people in the UK now have, according to Coeliac UK. And if you have coeliac disease, even just one crumb of gluten can cause you to react and harm your gut. A ‘free from’ jar of marmalade doesn’t cut it, a rogue crouton does.
And it’s legal. To be labelled as gluten-free, food should not have more than 20 parts per million of the protein, and gluten is one of the 14 broad allergens that all caterers are legally required to declare (as part of allergen legislation such as Natasha’s Law). The FSA allergen guidance makes it crystal clear what the duty is. This is a piece of cake for a best-in-class event caterer, not a problem.
What safe gluten-free event catering actually looks like
Ask the caterers what they do at this point. Those who get gluten-free right speak of cross-contamination without being askedit is the number-one danger. An accreditation scheme run by Coeliac UK called the Gluten Free Accreditation scheme was set up in 2012, and over 2,500 venues in the UK have achieved its mark of excellence, so this is their standard.
Why Mediterranean and Turkish menus suit gluten-free so well
This is where our food history really shines. The overwhelming majority of Turkish and Mediterranean foods are actually naturally gluten-free- not gluten-free by use of a substitute. And a quick note about naturally gluten-free foods versus those foods that are ‘gluten-free.’ by use of a substitute. Grilled marinated meats, rice pilafs, lentil and pulse dishes, fresh salads, grilled vegetables, hummus, and baba ganoush are all, for the most part, naturally gluten-free in the original version of the dish.
Since all of our menus are created around this kind of cuisine, it does not imply that your Mediterranean event caterer is already offering terrific gluten-free food – it’s already part of a working process. Likewise, it does not indicate that it is taking care of vegetarian or halal diets. For this reason, instead of a Mediterranean event caterer, a versatile London event is a great opportunity: a friendly and humble table.
Case study: a London wedding with a coeliac guest of honour
Here is one of the latest articles on what responsible gluten-free catering looks like in practice: we catered for a wedding for 180 people in London, of which the bride has coeliac disease. This wasn’t a comment on the uncommon dietary choice, it was the matter of the bride’s ability to enjoy the wedding as opposed to having a bad experience.
Instead of tacking on a “gluten-free plate” to the table, we designed the menu so that almost all of the dishes on the tables were naturally gluten-free (bar the gluten-containing grilled meats, rice, salad, pulses and dips). The only gluten-containing dishes were prepared separately and labelled and served with their own utensils to avoid cross-contamination. All of the waiting staff knew which dishes were gluten-free and why, so they could confidently reassure each guest when asked. Our table was sitting with gluten-, wheat-, and dairy-free guests, and the coeliac was able to sample everything in sight while the others snacked on sandwiches, and I spent the rest of the day in a food-induced haze!
The best gluten-free catering is incorporated into the menu, not tacked on at the end. What portion of a caterer’s menu is naturally gluten-free? Ask. You might be surprised at the response.
Why EMA Catering is a safe choice for gluten-free events
A family-owned London caterer since 1995 with Turkish and Mediterranean values, we don’t see gluten-free as a ‘tick-off’ note; we believe it is a requirement. As a great majority of what we do (not including the pitta bread) is naturally gluten-free, whether it is our grilled meat, rice, pulses, salads, or dips, we try to have gluten-free items as part of the spread from the outset rather than an afterthought, and that’s much safer and much better to eat.
We’re top-class rated for food hygiene. We are fully insured for public liability, and with a very strict allergen procedure and thorough handling policy to prevent cross-contamination, we’ve obtained HMC-certified halal meat and can also supply vegetarian & vegan menus so that halal, gluten-free and plant-based guests can all be served at the same table. Our catering can let a coeliac guest relax and really enjoy their food.
Questions to ask before you book
Take this to every London caterer you shortlist. The answers separate the genuinely capable from the merely confident.
- What is your current Food Hygiene Rating, and which authority registered you?
- How do you prevent gluten cross-contamination during prep and service?
- How much of your menu is naturally gluten-free, rather than substituted?
- How will gluten-free dishes be labelled and served on the day?
- Are your serving staff trained in allergen awareness?
- Can you safely cater for a guest with coeliac disease, honestly?
- Can you combine gluten-free with halal, vegetarian, and vegan needs?
- Can you share references from similar London events?
If you want a London team to offer gluten-free to every event from the outset, that is how we operate. Check out our event catering or our samples of events we have catered. Get in touch with us regarding your date, number of delegates, and requirements, and we will get back to you in a day.
The bottom line
London Best Event Caterer is not a matter of the person who blows the most hot air in their marketing, but rather the person who can support the promises they make with tangible evidence of their work, process, skills and techniques. You will get recent hygiene ratings and safety information, genuine reviews, and any other relevant information about the caterer’s compliance with the particular industry procedures, and what the market is ensuring about the existence of gluten-free alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
What does an event caterer company do?
An event caterer company offers event cateringmenus, set-up, staff, service equipment, event day and other services. The services offered depend on the type of event and location of the event.
What types of events does EMA Catering Service?
EMA Catering offers festival, public-event, corporate, outdoor, and large-event catering. This site mentions Mediterranean and halal menu options.
Is there a mobile catering unit service?
Yes. Mobile catering units are part of EMA Catering’s event catering operation. Ensure the unit, menu and catering staff for the mobile catering unit are verified for each event.
Does an event catering company offer vegetarian/vegan or halal menus?
Yes. EMA Catering says its event catering offers halal, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free catering. Food requirements should be discussed in the planning stages.
Does EMA Catering do catering throughout the UK?
EMA Catering says it delivers event and festival catering from London through the UK. Confirmed date of event and venue location to be determined by event date/operational requirements.
How can I get a quote for event catering?
Contact/Quote process With your event date, venue location, event type, number of guests expected and catering requirements, you will receive a far more accurate quote and proposal.