Justin Cohen
Jewish News 8 February 2002
Freshly grilled quarter-pound beef burgers, waffles with a chocolate or maple syrup topping, non-stop popcorn and candyfloss, a generous selection of sorbets and ice-creams and hotdogs furnished with mustard or ketchup; not Mike Tyson's pre-press conference snack, but just an average trip to the shops for husband and wife partnership Ashley and Penny Leboff, founders of Britain's only fun food specialists – Penashe.
Today, the Bushey-based company are regulars, serving their fun foods at Simchas in marquees and some of London 's most prestigious venues.
Their fun food menu has been a funky feature at hundreds of Bar and Batmitzvah celebrations. It is not hard to spot when Penashe is in town. Their distinctive stalls, furnished with yellow, black and red canopies – which are also available for appearances at adult birthday parties – are sure to bring memories of long summer afternoons at the funfair flooding back.
The company works alongside such kings of the kitchen as Sharett, Rochelle and Carole Sobell at formal dinner dances, serving candyfloss, popcorn or even fresh waffles at the dessert buffet. What's more, Penashe now frequently go it alone by serving anything from Glatt Hotdogs with Candyfloss up to the full menu of Glatt Burgers, Waffles with Ice-cream, Popcorn and Parve Milk Shakes to cater for the growing trend towards teenage-only parties held to celebrate a bar or Batmitzvah.
From small gatherings in private homes or marquees to corporate bookings at nightclubs involving 2,000 guests, Penashe's reputation continues to swell.
Penashe continues to develop its unique niche market – serving ‘non-stop informal fun' alongside ‘mouth watering, lip-smacking delicious food' as Ashley prefers to put it. Customers are already reporting stress –related headaches at the prospect of choosing between the seven stalls now available.
The selection process is no easier once the party is in full swing. Older party animals can frequently be witnessed regressing back to childhood as they return for second, third and fourth helpings.
And the adults will be chuffed with the value for money.
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