Whats cooking: Ruth Pretty

Ruth Pretty. Picture / Carolyn Elliott

Ruth Pretty is a catering dynamo. She set up her empire from her Springfield property in Te Horo, an hour from Wellington, in 1988, catering for weddings and corporate functions, as well as running a cooking school and a shop stocked with her jams, jellies, chutneys and other foodie essentials. One catering highlight was the world premiere party for The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King last December for 2300 guests. After that a family Christmas is a cinch.

What are you planning for Christmas lunch?

I'll probably start with some Clevedon oysters and just serve them with balsamic vinegar and lemon, and then have crayfish. We seem to have that most years. I'll serve it with some really nice extra virgin olive oil drizzled on it. Delicious with some Jersey Benne potatoes and beans and, for dessert, probably raspberries with whipped cream. By the time Christmas has come I'm almost over all the other things because I've seen so many hams, turkeys and mince pies. Often, what I'll do either on Boxing Day or New Year's day is cook a turkey or glazed ham with all the trimmings.

What's your favourite drink on the big day?

Definitely a glass of Veuve Clicquot rose and, with the crayfish, Neudorf chardonnay.

What time do you get started on the lunch?

As we probably won't eat until 2pm I won't be getting up until about 9am.

Any tips on stress-free preparation?

Caterers work on an endless number of lists. The first list is shopping, then diary when you're going to do those bits of shopping. You'd want to buy the fresh stuff on Friday. Buy all the non-perishables ahead of time. And order whatever you can. For instance, I'd pre-order my raspberries because they always sell out. It makes shopping on Friday really easy because all you need to do is pick them up. Also, do a list of preparation to incorporate into the week leading up. On Monday when you go to cook dinner maybe include a little of the preparation into that.

If you could get out of it, who would you like to make lunch for you?

I really do like making it myself so I don't think I'd want anyone to do it. You should delegate but I enjoy it.

Any Christmas Day disasters?

Not really. As a caterer, you never really have disasters because you know how to turn them around.

What are you hoping for from Santa?

My mother always used to say "all I want is peace and quiet". That's not quite true. Another pug [dog]. We have one but I'm hoping the new one arrives by Christmas.