Behind the Lens: Filming the UK Disciples of Escoffier's 20th Anniversary Dinner

https://vimeo.com/1175477668

Some events stay with you long after you've packed down the kit. The UK Disciples of Escoffier's 20th Anniversary Dinner was one of those nights — a room full of culinary heritage, exceptional talent, and a genuine sense of occasion.

We were proud to be trusted to capture it all.

A Milestone Worth Celebrating

This year marked the 20th anniversary of the UK chapter of the Disciples of Escoffier — an organisation dedicated to honouring the legacy of the legendary Auguste Escoffier and championing excellence in the culinary arts. President Chef Paul Askew welcomed guests to what was a truly landmark evening, one that balanced celebration with purpose.

The dinner also had a wonderful cause at its heart. Young chef Elle Read, who recently finished second in the European Jeunes Talents Escoffier Competition, will be heading to Paris this April to compete at the International JTE Competition. The evening's auction — featuring prizes including VIP hospitality at the Randox Grand National, a chef's table for six at the University of West London, and champagne afternoon tea at the Royal Overseas League — helped raise the funds to get her there. A fitting cause for an organisation that puts mentorship and the next generation at the very core of what it does.

The Menu

The four-course dinner was a showcase of classical French cuisine at its finest, each course prepared by a different Disciple chef. Guests arrived to a Charles Heidsieck champagne reception with Petrossian caviar and canapés before sitting down to:

• Starter by Tom Egerton, Chef Lecturer at Capital City College — a pressed duck and pistachio terrine with rhubarb and spring salad

• Fish course by Tom Scade, Executive Chef at The Vineyard — scallops en croûte with champagne sauce

• Main course by Deepak Mallya, Head Chef at The Ritz London — stuffed saddle of lamb "Belle Epoque" with potato purée and spring vegetables

• Dessert by Michael D'Angelo, International Pastry Consultant — the classic Poire Belle Hélène, finished with coffee and petit fours

Classical, precise, and utterly stunning to photograph.

The Production

For an event of this significance, we deployed a full hybrid production setup — one dedicated shooter working the room alongside three hybrid cameras, giving us the flexibility to capture everything from the intimacy of the kitchen to the atmosphere of the dining room in full flow.

We produced a highlight film for Corporate Connections Liverpool, whose members were well represented on the night, and featured both President Paul Askew and Brian Quinn, Executive Director of CC Liverpool. Beyond the video content, we also produced stunning food photography — because when dishes of this calibre are being plated, they deserve to be documented properly.

Why Events Like This Matter to Us

There's a particular privilege in being invited to film a milestone. A 20th anniversary is a moment of reflection as much as celebration, and our job was to make sure the people who've given two decades to this community could look back at this evening and feel it was captured with the care it deserved.

Whether it's the focus on a chef's face as they finish a plate, a spontaneous moment between colleagues, or the warm glow of a beautifully laid dining room — these are the details that tell the real story of an event. That's what we're always chasing.

A Huge Thank You

To the UK Disciples of Escoffier, congratulations on twenty extraordinary years. To Paul Askew, Deepak Mallya, Tom Egerton, Tom Scade, Michael D'Angelo and the whole team — thank you for an evening that was a genuine privilege to document. And to Brian Quinn and Corporate Connections Liverpool — thank you for having us along.

If you have an event coming up and want it captured with care and quality, we'd love to hear from you.