Our Story
About Peapod & Co.
Peapod & Co. is an independent catering and event planning company specialising in creative food and drink for private parties, weddings, corporate events, brand activations, sporting occasions and VIP hospitality across London and the South of England.
Founded by award-winning chef Henrietta Russell, we plan and deliver events for private clients, leading brands and organisations across the UK and beyond.
From private celebrations to marquee receptions and high-profile events for over 500 guests, our team brings creativity, discretion and a highly personalised approach to every occasion.
We are trusted to deliver events of the highest calibre, with guest lists often including royalty, cultural figures, entertainers and leaders in business and media.
Locally Sourced & Sustainable Ingredients
Rooted in quality and sustainability, our chefs prioritise seasonal, British ingredients and locally sourced produce wherever possible when creating our food and drink menus. Around 70% of our ingredients are sourced within 50 miles of our Hampshire base, supporting local producers and businesses.
We work with trusted suppliers who share our appreciation for provenance and quality. All our meat is sourced from HG Walter, the award-winning London butcher. We source our salmon from Severn & Wye Smokery and our trout from ChalkStream® in Hampshire. Seasonal ingredients feature across our menus, from Kent asparagus and Isle of Wight tomatoes to English wines from Candover Brook and spirits from The River Test Distillery.
Supporting British farming, independent producers and responsible agriculture is central to our sourcing philosophy. We recognise the importance of protecting the countryside, preserving biodiversity and caring for the land for future generations. These values have been part of Henrietta's cooking philosophy since her training at Ballymaloe, where she developed an appreciation for seasonal cooking, sustainable food production and the connection between the land and the plate. It continues to shape the way we source ingredients and create our menus.
Our Founder & Head Chef, Henrietta Russell
A passion for food, hospitality and creating occasions to remember
Henrietta Russell, also known as the canapé queen, launched Peapod & Co. in 2019 to bring creative, seasonal menus to the South of England.
Ballymaloe-trained, Henrietta has over 20 years of catering experience, working with discerning clients and leading brands at some of the UK’s most prestigious events. Her experience includes Chelsea Flower Show, summer parties at the V&A, the Royal Academy and London Fashion Week. One of her career highlights was catering for Queen Elizabeth II during the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.
Previously Head Chef at Rocket Food and Sous Chef at the internationally recognised event group Rhubarb (RHC Hospitality), Henrietta has worked with leading catering teams across the UK, developing her skills and devising award-winning recipes. During her time leading the Rocket Food kitchen, the team won award twice.
Earlier in her career, Henrietta worked as a private chalet chef in Verbier and as a pastry chef with the Hotel du Vin group.
Growing up in the countryside, Henrietta developed a passion for local ingredients, seasonal cooking and protecting the British farmland that helps sustain them. This continues to influence her menus, alongside her use of inventive techniques and distinctive flavour combinations.
Why Peapod & Co.?
The name embodies Henrietta’s love of food, hospitality and parties. Henrietta is a triplet, the youngest pea in a pod. Having grown up in the Hampshire countryside, her passion for cooking, entertaining and rural life blossomed from an early age. Close to her family, Henrietta wanted a name that celebrated these connections while being unique, fun and true to her values.
Henrietta was inspired by her mother, who hosted large charity balls in Hampshire throughout the 1990s in aid of Leuka, now Leukaemia UK. Watching the creativity, care and attention to detail that went into creating these memorable occasions sparked her own love of hospitality and her ambition to create special events and menus of her own.
Peapod & Co. reflects Henrietta’s culinary journey, her connection to family and her roots in the countryside.
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