Tag: Heritage Portfolio

Almost £90,000 raised for Benedetti Foundation in charity gala at Mansfield Traquair

Heritage Portfolio, the specialist events and catering company within Sodexo Live! recently supported an unforgettable evening at Edinburgh’s Mansfield Traquair, where the Benedetti Foundation raised an impressive £88,555 during a special charity auction and gala dinner. 

Held on 29th October, the evening combined exquisite food, exceptional music and generous giving to support the Benedetti Foundation’s mission to bring the transformative power of music to people of all ages and backgrounds. 

Mansfield Traquair, often referred to as ‘Edinburgh’s Sistine Chapel’ for its spectacular murals, provided the perfect setting for this celebration of music, education and philanthropy. The historic venue, located in the heart of the city, offered a magnificent backdrop for the Foundation to share its work, achievements and ambitions with friends, supporters and guests. 

Guests were treated to performances from Nicola Benedetti and the musicians currently touring with her, including Plínio Fernandes on guitar, Samuele Telari on accordion and Max Calver on cello. Andrea Gajic, one of the Benedetti Foundation’s Tutors also joined her on violin. Foundation Tutors and Ambassadors then joined Nicola onstage to showcase some of the talented musicians the Foundation supports.

Heritage Portfolio curated an elegant dinner menu showcasing the best of Scottish cuisine, featuring a starter of celeriac and turmeric velouté with a Mull cheddar crouté and rosemary oil.

The main course was roast loin of Highland venison with dauphinoise, candied red cabbage, broccoli and port wine jus. Dessert was an apple crumble and filo tart with cinnamon gel and clotted cream ice cream. 

A total of 106 guests attended the gala, with the auction led by Helena Newman, Chairman of both Sotheby’s Europe and Impressionist & Modern Art Worldwide, whose expertise and enthusiasm helped to make the evening a great success. 

The highest bid of the night was for a three-night exclusive stay at Château de Pont Bourguet for up to twelve guests, which achieved a hammer price of £9,000. 

Heritage Portfolio contributed to the fundraising by donating a Champagne Afternoon Tea for two at the Signet Library’s Colonnades, offering a chance to enjoy handcrafted sweet and savoury creations in one of Edinburgh’s most elegant settings. 

Sandy Robson, Executive Director of Heritage Portfolio, said: “Supporting the Benedetti Foundation with this fundraising gala was an opportunity to engage with a wonderful charity, and we were proud to host them within the beautiful space of the Mansfield Traquair.

“Heritage Portfolio created a menu that reflected the quality and creativity of the evening, delivering a dining experience worthy of such an inspiring cause in one of Edinburgh’s most breathtaking venues.” 

Paul Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive, The Benedetti Foundation said: “Mansfield Traquair was the perfect venue for our fundraising gala. The venue’s beauty, atmosphere and remarkable acoustics made it an ideal space for live performance and celebration.

“Every detail ran so smoothly thanks to the professionalism of the Heritage Portfolio team, allowing us to focus on sharing our mission and connecting with guests in a truly special setting.” 

Heritage Portfolio, a division of Sodexo Live!, is a leading provider of private and corporate hospitality for cultural destinations. Producing outstanding catering and event services, it serves some of the most prestigious venues across Britain, delivering amazing experiences that go beyond the remarkable food it creates.

In Scotland, partners include Musselburgh Racecourse, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, National Galleries Scotland, V&A Dundee and The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.  

For more information see  www.heritageportfolio.co.uk  

Heritage Portfolio and Mansfield Traquair Trust continue ongoing partnership amidst SCVO departure

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), Mansfield Traquair Centre’s primary tenant for many years, has formally given notice and will be vacating the building.

The Mansfield Traquair Trust is now welcoming expressions of interest from organisations that would value and complement the unique cultural and architectural character of this iconic heritage site, home to the celebrated murals of Phoebe Anna Traquair, often called ‘Edinburgh’s Sistine Chapel.’

During this transition, event operations will continue as normal. The Trust has an existing partnership with Heritage Portfolio, the venue’s longstanding catering and events provider, which remains in place to support planned and future events. 

With a track record of delivering exceptional hospitality across landmark Scottish venues including the Signet Library, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery among others, Heritage Portfolio brings continuity, experience and reassurance during this period of change.

Dr. Duncan Thomson, Chair of the Mansfield Traquair Trust, said: “For those planning special occasions, we know how vital reliability and consistency are.

“Our longstanding relationship with Heritage Portfolio reflects a shared commitment to making Mansfield Traquair a distinctive and memorable setting for weddings, corporate events and celebrations.”

Sandy Robson, Executive Director of Heritage Portfolio said “We want to reassure all current and prospective clients that Mansfield Traquair is very much open for business and operating as normal.

“Working within the venue for over 20 years, our team knows what it takes to deliver unforgettable events with the exceptional service and attention to detail that Heritage Portfolio is known for, while respecting the building’s remarkable history and architecture.

“We look forward to working with the Trust through this transitional period and celebrating many more special moments with our guests.”

As we move forward, the Trust remains committed to ensuring Mansfield Traquair continues to thrive as a venue for celebration, culture, and community, supported by partnerships that reflect and uphold its unique character.

This commitment is further supported by the Friends of Mansfield Traquair Trust, a dedicated group of volunteers who help bring the building’s rich history to life.

The Friends provide trained guides for Open Days, lead private tours by arrangement. They also offer talks for local groups and societies, helping to share the story of Mansfield Traquair with wider audiences.

Heritage Portfolio, a division of Sodexo Live! is a leading provider of private and corporate hospitality for cultural destinations.

Producing outstanding catering and event services, it serves some of the most prestigious venues across Britain, delivering amazing experiences that go beyond the remarkable food it creates.

In Scotland partners include Musselburgh Racecourse, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, National Galleries Scotland, V&A Dundee and The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. 

Local chef hits our screens tonight on MasterChef: The Professionals

Edinburgh chef Paul Hood will appear on MasterChef: The Professionals tonight at 9pm on BBC One – and it’s all thanks to his wife! 

Cooking since his early teens, when he watched his father at work as a head chef in some of the world’s most famous kitchens, father of two Paul, 34, can’t reveal many details about his journey in the show but he can disclose that it was the experience of a lifetime. 

As Development Chef for Heritage Portfolio for the past three years, Paul has conjured up some of the UK’s most memorable and exciting menus, serving up his diverse, quirky and edgy style for events such as the Scottish Food and Drink Awards.  

It was Paul’s wife, Laura, who applied to the show in secret, whilst pregnant with their son who’s now one. 

Paul explains, “I am so thankful to Laura for supporting my passion to cook. She used to look at me watching MasterChef and shouting at the screen when the skills challenges were on, and always said that I should go for it. In the end, she made the biggest career highlight of my life happen.  

“I promise myself that nothing I do in the kitchen will ever be predictable. Behind the scenes, I work like a machine but this is my passion so it never feels hard and I’m driven to surprise and excite people at every turn. 

“Seasonality matters so much to me, using ingredients when they are plentiful and at their best. Winter is a particularly interesting time, when we have less choice but that’s when a great chef can dial up the creativity and make magical food from fewer ingredients. 

“Heritage Portfolio’s food values are my food values and I hope I showcased some of them on the show – you will have to wait and see.” 

Founder of Heritage Portfolio, Mark Miller, says, “We are so proud of Paul’s achievements over the years and for him to be recognised at this level is richly-deserved. 

“He brings a delicious thrill to every menu he creates for our clients, helping to make their events in some of the UK’s most iconic venues totally unforgettable.”