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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFarming '92, 1992-03-18, Page 17FARMING ’92, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18,1992. A17 Farming '92 Catering business gives different perspective Hot business people are always coming away from the meals to give compli­ ments and ask for recipes. People often think they have some exotic recipe but everything is done sim­ ply, but done well, Jeff says. Depending on the size of the event, there will be anywhere from four people to 15 or 16 helping out. When a big event is coming up Jeff and Cathy get the help of neigh­ bours, friends and relatives. Betty Cardiff often lends a hand and if father Murray, M.P. for Huron- Bruce, is speaking at the event he'll likely soon have his jacket off and an apron on to help carve the meat. Because most of the demand is for beef, Jeff says it's not often he can make use of produce from his Continued on page A18 [®Rural Voice nc MAOAZX Of THE AOKCULTUIW INOUSTHY Don’t Delay — Subscribe Today The Rural Voice Produced by people with farming in their blood. Serving more than 15,000 readers in the region. One year lor $16.05; two years for $26.75 (GST included in prices above) The Rural Voice Box 429, Blyth, Ont. NOM 1H0 519-523-4311 PLETCH ELECTRIC LIMITED •ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR* MOTOR SALES, REWINDS & SERVICE, POLES SALES, INSTALLATION & TRENCHING WINGHAM 357-1583 Jeff Cardiff tends the coals in his barbecue while roasts of beef turn on a spit and potatoes cook above. Jeff and his wife Cathy, with the help of relatives, neighbours and friends, served more than 10,000 people last year in events ranging from a wedding to a beach party. Producing food for many farmers is an impersonal experience: you know you're feeding thousands of people but you don't know who or where and you never really know they like it. Jeff and Cathy Cardiff, however, get a first hand look at people enjoying Huron county food thousands of times a year. Jeff and Cathy who farm in Mor­ ris Township, north of Brussels, also operate a catering service that feeds more than 10,000 people each year. It's a nice change of pace from their regular farm jobs, Jeff says. Generally when their pigs go off to market or their beans are trucked away, they have no idea where it goes. In the catering busi­ ness they see the fruits of their labours right there...and get the compliments. Jeff and Cathy have continued a family tradition in catering busi­ ness. Jeffs father and mother Mur­ ray and Betty along with friends Ken and Joan Campbell, first served a barbecue at the Hanover Ski Club in 1970 and soon were in demand all over the area. Back then the business was pretty much just barbecuing beef and roasting pota­ toes, Jeff recalls but it was a big- time operation. They might serve 15,000 to 17,000 people a season. The business passed to a younger generation of the two families in 1980. That year Murray was run­ ning for parliament and Ken was chairman of a hospital building committee in Seaforth so they turned over the catering business to Kevin Campbell and Jeff. They worked together with their families until 1986 when Jeff and Cathy look over the business. The business has changed over the years. In the early days people were mostly interested in someone to barbecue for them while they provided the rest of the meal, Jeff says. Today, people want to have someone look after the whole meal including salads and desserts. It's a lol more work, he says. Today the Cardiffs serve 10,000 to 11,000 people each year between May and October (Jeff says barbe­ cues at other time of the year would be more convenient because there'd be less farm work to conflict but few people think about barbecuing other than in the summer.) Beef still remains the most popu­ lar meal but they regularly serve pork, either whole pigs, roasts or pork chops and have tried turkey and lamb. Every barbecue is different, Jeff says. Last year events they catered to ranged from a wedding for 50 to the Bruce County Cattlemen's Association annual barbecue for 1200 people. Along the way they've done birthday parties (for 260), buck and does, barbecues for curling clubs and agricultural soci­ eties, Brussels FunFest and the crops day at Centralia College, the most challenging meal they pre­ pared. They had to set up to feed 300 in a field at the back of a farm, far from electricity and had to use generators to get power for refrig­ eration needs. In all they catered to nearly 30 events last year. One of the biggest events they've ever taken on has been providing meals at International Plowing Matches in Grey and Perth Coun­ ties for the Cattlemen's Association in the respective counties. In Grey they served 5100 people in five days and in Perth, they served 6000. At the Stratford match they had extra pressure when a storm swept through and knocked off the power one morning at 11 a.m., just an hour before they expected 1200 people for lunch. They had to turn the spits by hand until the power came back on. A favourite event is the Bruce County barbecue which the Cardiff family has been catering since 1973. Many of the people are like old friends and going there is like renewing a friendship, Jeff says. Every year they feed 1050 pounds of beef to the 1200 people who attend. Business has grown by word of mouth, "If you can do a good job of a meal that's your best advertising," Jeff says. 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