ConFuzzled Forum
ConFuzzled Forums => Feedback => Topic started by: aurora on June 04, 2013, 11:58:09
-
The breakfast menu was great and everything I ate cooked to perfection. The rolling buffet was a bit iffy at times though I had burger and chips from there on Thursday and it was great but on Friday the food that was left was unpalatable, the cottage pie was a vile mess, cold hot-dog sausages and the rolls stale and dried hard. :(
-
I have a little irk regarding food...
Fruit!
Or the lack off. This is probably more to do with the hotel, but a selection of fruit at the bar would have been nice. I didn't want to spend £15 for BBQ or pay for the buffet when I was having an iffy stomach anyway. The snack bar only offered beans ( too many beans!) and the soup in the way of vegetables.
I asked at the bar when my stomach was feeling particularly scurvy-licious and the lady was helpful and grabbed some apples from the kitchen. A bowl of fresh fruit, apples, bananas, oranges etc would have been nice and far more appealing that beans beans beans...
-
I had daily feedback sessions with the hotel, and food was often on the agenda. For those that came to the feedback session, you will have heard me repeat this already but just to give this feedback to you on the forums too, the rolling buffet was very much experimental for the hotel this year. UNfortunately, trying to cater for 800+ people on a made to order menu simply has far to many operational over heads. Last year the chef was under immense strain and collapsed as a result. The operational aspect of the food offering ultimately remains within the remit of the hotel and I cannot influence that as the Venue Liaison. What I can do is try to influence the price and the actual food offering. My goal with the hotel has always been to try and find a nice balance between the junk and quick and easy style food that our demographics appear to prefer, and a price that is value for money. The hotel wanted to deliver this in the buffet which would mean that both food is available on demand and quickly, whilst reducing their operational strains, and also delivering the value for money.
On the most part, I felt it was dealt with well, but it had teething issues, and were we to return next year, this is something that would once again come under the microscope. As it is, with the new hotel, the process will now start over, but I feel confident in what they will be able to offer - including fresh fruit, yoghurts, cereals, toast etc.. as well as the fried foods, for breakfast!
Exciting times ahead.
-
On the most part, I felt it was dealt with well, but it had teething issues, and were we to return next year, this is something that would once again come under the microscope. As it is, with the new hotel, the process will now start over, but I feel confident in what they will be able to offer - including fresh fruit, yoghurts, cereals, toast etc.. as well as the fried foods, for breakfast!
Bacon and yoghurt for breakfast ? Hmmm..... ;D
-
no no... bacon yoghurt ;)
*I'm joking!
-
no no... bacon yoghurt ;)
OH MY GOD THE EPI-
*I'm joking!
Oh...well. I'm just...just going to go over in this corner and cry on the inside. ;_;
-Auro
-
Given the location change I'm not sure how useful food feedback is, but just in case...
The food options were better than I was expecting, although as a vegetarian my expectations were pretty low :p Having a vegetarian sausage option from the evening corridor vendors was great, and there was always something edible at the buffet, which proved to be surprisingly good value. It would have been nice if the hotel hadn't run out of hash browns, as they are a pretty big part of a vegetarian breakfast if you want hot food, but I can imagine predicting the hash brown consumption of several hundred furries is a non-trivial affair. The sponsor buffet was also a touch underwhelming, but again, I wasn't expecting much of it so it wasn't a particularly big deal. Obviously, the efforts/resources that go into vegetarian considerations depend hugely on the demographics of the convention, so assuming we're in a pretty small minority then it seemed a pretty good show!
-
Given the location change I'm not sure how useful food feedback is, but just in case...
The food options were better than I was expecting, although as a vegetarian my expectations were pretty low :p Having a vegetarian sausage option from the evening corridor vendors was great, and there was always something edible at the buffet, which proved to be surprisingly good value. It would have been nice if the hotel hadn't run out of hash browns, as they are a pretty big part of a vegetarian breakfast if you want hot food, but I can imagine predicting the hash brown consumption of several hundred furries is a non-trivial affair. The sponsor buffet was also a touch underwhelming, but again, I wasn't expecting much of it so it wasn't a particularly big deal. Obviously, the efforts/resources that go into vegetarian considerations depend hugely on the demographics of the convention, so assuming we're in a pretty small minority then it seemed a pretty good show!
Thank you for the feedback Azzy. Even with the venue change, I take it onboard because getting the balance right, and trying to cater for everyone is never going to be perfect. Knowing that there was better options available this year for vegetarians does mean we were one step closer to getting it right. But.. still lots to learn I am sure, and of course, the Hilton will have a very different way of dealing with their service.
The agenda with the food is as yet far from finalised, but under negotiation still. Once more information becomes available, this will of course appear on the 2014 website once it is live. Watch this space!
Many thanks,
Rizzo
-
Never thought I'd actually enjoy black pudding :)
Though all I really want for breakfast is either porridge or muesli with milk, which there was plenty of! Oh, and coffeeeeee...
-
Cofffeeeeeee ((O________________________O))
-
More in the way of hash browns would be nice, always good food to fill up on.
-
The only thing i have to say about food is can we have that midnight snack/rolls thing again? Bacon and egg baps, hog roast/shredded pork baps, pizza slices etc.
The last night was a pain as it wasnt even a midnight snack...it closed at midnight! Im not even kidding when i say there was no food in the hotel! Me and Roo ran around the place looking for anything after midnight. I had not eaten as id been busy. I had pizza the night before so did not really want it again. Had nibbles at a room party and that was it.
-
I had some problems with the food this year - the availability and the price was generally good, but some issues with the quality; in particular breakfast was often cold with cold and dirty plates. I have fed this back to the venue as obviously it's not really something that can be worked on now.
Thanks very much to Colin for all the work that went into food and drink this year. I know those represent a large proportion of the work that goes into venue planning and this year I was very impressed. I hope next year's hotel can be convinced to be flexible.
-
Other than the breakfast, I used the buffet twice. The first time, they had barely any food out so had to go round a second time once there was more food put out, but it was at least fairly decent food. The second time however was when it was the indian themed buffet and I thought it was truly awful. Mostly due to the undercooked crunchy rice I had to eat. Really put me off that meal :(
On the plus side, the BBQ was a great improvement on last year's. There was a decent selection of food and barely any queues so I was easily able to get my money's worth :D Hope to see the BBQ make a return at the Hilton
-
I found the BBQ was fabulous - great nosh and wonderful staff. I was one of the unfortunate that bought a meal ticket for the buffet during the time where there was no real food available.. However! I seemed to pick just right when going back another time for a wonderful Thai Green Curry <3
All these learning experiences should help with bolstering all the fun things ahead at the new hotel n.n
-
Thanks very much to Colin for all the work that went into food and drink this year. I know those represent a large proportion of the work that goes into venue planning and this year I was very impressed. I hope next year's hotel can be convinced to be flexible.
Thank you Ferret. This was very much appreciated. I have already started work on Hilton, and tomorrow I have meeting with the Event Manager to set very early on expectations of what we want based on just how fantastic Hinckley were this year. I remain hopeful they will deliver a fantastic package to us.
-
Personally I had a really bad time with the food. I'm a bit of a fussy eater so thats mostly my fault.
For the breakfast there was very little I would really eat, all I really had was toast every morning. But it was nice that breakfast was free.
But when it came to the staff meal there was nothing at all on the menu I liked so ended up not eating anything all day. It would have been nice to have something simple. chips, pizza, pork sausage or something (no this isn't all I eat but when it comes to having meals away from home I'm very picky and only go with the generic food that you can go wrong with) I'm just glad I didn't have to pay for it.
Then it comes to prices... I felt that the price of the buffet was double what it should have been. I'm a light eater and would have only got one plate of food during the day so at £15 it was way too overpriced. I also didn't wanna opt for a con long meal ticket, because I doubted I would have even eat much of the food that was there, So it would have been a waste of money.
The little snack tables through the day were decent. They just needed to stay open longer and would have been nice if they had a bit more selection.
The late night snacks were ok, but could have done with been open earlier and stayed open later (that could have been fixed with snack table staying open all day) also the selection was crap... it would have been nice if they had both meat and veggie sausage for one.
One night we needed something to eat so we went over to the buffet and asked if we could get some chips and the hotel staff kindly got us a plate for £3 rather than having to go into the buffet, so that a big up to hotel staff there (this was before they started doing the snack tables)
Then there were the sandwiches they started doing at the bar. They were nice to have on the hot days, but they needed more selection, price was fine, but expected it to be cheaper. But at least when they ran out of something, i just asked the bar staff and they asked the chef to make us what we wanted, so that was awesome
At the end of the day I had to go out to tesco and get a loaf of bread and some meat and such to make my own sandwiches, that last me all con almost and that cost the price of one plate of chips at the snack table (£3) So thats a little perspective on the prices. I know its 4 star hotel, but we shouldn't have to pay 4 star prices for what I felt wasn't good food plus should have been cheaper because we was an organised event there.
Also then there are the non alcoholic drinks. They were really expensive almost £3 for a J2O at the bar I must have spent like £40 on J2Os. They should have had the fresh orange juice available at the bar or something at a decent price.
Then there were the drinks in the staff room. Needed more still drinks :) But I'm not complaining because its awesome that you guys had that for us. (don't worry I didn't take the piss, and was respectful of what was there)
So in conclusion. Next year;
There needs to be more simple food on, if its buffet style.
The prices need to be cheaper for buffet, snacks were a little expensive but when you're really hungry you're prepared to pay.
I'd prefer to have an option to pay per meal as it should work out cheaper for someone who only has one main meal a day.
A menu before the con / befor purchase of meal ticket so money isn't wasted if point 1 doesn't get sorted.
Snack tables were great idea. They just need to be open late and have more selection.
Sandwiches were a good idea, so were the snack tables.
I think that about covers everything
Shiin
-
it would have been nice if they had both meat and veggie sausage for one.
They did. My deputy is a vegetarian and went and asked if they had a veggie alternative one evening and they went and made him some. They might not have had it there with them (more meat eaters than not, no point in preparing lots of veggie stuff in advance if you don't know you can sell it etc, etc) but his experience was that if he asked them for it they were more than happy to get it for him.
-
he is talking more about when they did the Bacon butties and the Veggie Sausage baps one night i assume
-
it would have been nice if they had both meat and veggie sausage for one.
They did. My deputy is a vegetarian and went and asked if they had a veggie alternative one evening and they went and made him some. They might not have had it there with them (more meat eaters than not, no point in preparing lots of veggie stuff in advance if you don't know you can sell it etc, etc) but his experience was that if he asked them for it they were more than happy to get it for him.
he is talking more about when they did the Bacon butties and the Veggie Sausage baps one night i assume
Yeah I was talking about that night they had veggie sausage.
-
I liked the lunch buffet thing in the bar, quick pile of chips was an easy lunch!
Breakfast was spot on, I like a breakfast that isn't shy on the mushrooms!
Loved the mobile drinks service, always seemed to appear when I wanted a drink, and did us some very good deals on multiple purchases! :)
-
At the end of the day I had to go out to tesco and get a loaf of bread and some meat and such to make my own sandwiches, that last me all con almost and that cost the price of one plate of chips at the snack table (£3) So thats a little perspective on the prices. I know its 4 star hotel, but we shouldn't have to pay 4 star prices for what I felt wasn't good food plus should have been cheaper because we was an organised event there.
The hotel it's a business and they have to pay the catering staff and make a profit, they also have to factor a certain amount of food wastage into the prices.
It wasn't bad value considering the breakfast was thrown in with the ticket price.
I did come prepared this year with over 10 litres of soft drinks and a selection of non-perishable snacks.