This week, we had A Conversation With Candi Tegg, our Deputy Head of Catering and Events. Candi joined Shiplake College in November 2017 after an extended maternity leave with her daughter, Florence.
What does your average day entail?
No two days are the same in the Catering Department: I could be working on figures with Suzanne, processing the documents for a new member of staff, serving lunch or meeting with a wedding couple, plus a million other things. I love that every day brings a new challenge; it certainly keeps me on my toes!
Which of the Shiplake 7 do you think are the most important?
I think being curious is the most important of the Shiplake Seven, as with curiosity the other six will come naturally.
If you were on Come Dine With Me, what would your menu be?
Oh, I’ve thought about this a lot over the years! I’d have to go classic crowd pleasers- Prawn cocktail to start, old school Chicken Kiev and chips for main and my world famous (to my friends anyway!) chocolate fudge brownies for dessert.
What do you do to feed your family well?
I am very passionate about giving my daughter a really healthy relationship with food. She’s three and a half years old and she eats everything! I ‘crowd out’ junk food like sweets, crisps & other treats by having lots of healthier options in the house, lots of fresh fruits & vegetables, greek yoghurt, homemade meals etc. I try to avoid having her eat food directly from a packet and I have a big vegetable patch in the garden so she can really get involved with where her food comes from. I’ve tried my hardest to never make food a battle for her, I’ve always tried to make it an enjoyable experience, let her ‘help’ in the kitchen and if she boldly declares to not like something I just keep it casual and she’ll often change her mind!
What are the most popular of the meals provided by Thomas Franks?
Lasagne! Always lasagne! Also, our Caesar salad station which we have renamed ‘Suzie’s Caesars’ after our own Catering Manager Suzanne.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I spend pretty much all my time when I’m not working with Florence, my husband Michael and our 5 year old Basset Hound Ethel. We love going out for breakfast, walking by the river or getting muddy in our veg patch.
