Dining Wild
The lakeside BBQ hut was bought before Watatunga even existed. Brought up as an addict of the TV programme ‘Pimp my Ride’ where vehicles undergo ever more outrageous modifications to suit them to their owner’s unique mindset, Ed, founder of Watatunga, is rarely content to leave a vehicle, gadget or, in this case BBQ hut just as he finds it. So when we brought the BBQ hut home, he was swiftly measuring up for steel frames underneath it so that it could be moved by fork-lift to the ideal location (still at that time simmering in his mind) in due course.
Roll on 5 years and his vision has all come together. The BBQ hut now sits on the sunny lakeshore at Watatunga overlooking grassy swathes where Père David deer lounge by the waters, Kafue flat lechwe peek out through the grasses and mountain bongo roam the willow. This was the unique setting for a celebratory dinner last week – our first pop-up dining experience catered for by Lucy Cheyney of Wild Lulita.
We are so excited to be running two more of these special evenings this year and hope you might join us on August 27th to experience the magic of dining in this special place!
We arrived as a group of 20, not all known to each other but soon to be chatting happily in the evening sun as canapés emerged. Fresh Cromer crab, olives, pea and mint hummus, charred red-pepper romesco, cured meats and cheeses – all served with an enormous smile as we looked out over the lake and the congregating geese.
We had brought our own bottles and, once corks were popped, they were sequestered in coolers around the table ready for top ups when needed and we all took our place for the main event. The table was bedecked with sweet-pea and lavender, the glasses glistened and tiny solar bulbs adorned the stretch tent canopy over-head. Côte de boeuf, perfectly cooked over the fire, harissa and lemon marinated chicken, king prawn with chorizo and cherry tomato – all accompanied by fabulous salads.
As we ate, geese clattered overhead at intervals, taking off from the lake in their tens and hundreds. As guests made their way to ‘the loo with a view’, escorted in a buggy by our team, the blackbuck and bongo made an appearance on the far hedge line, watching, browsing, enjoying dinner at the same time as we did.
To round things up, the perfect meringue AND chocolate brownies, utterly delicious and a bittersweet sight as it signalled the close of a very special evening.
If this sounds like something that you might enjoy, then head on over to our Events page and you’ll find the last remaining places for our event on 27th August that kicks off at 18.00 until just before sunset.
