The Staff Canteen Live 2025: exclusive networking lunch for Lightspeed

The Staff Canteen

The Staff Canteen Hosted an Exclusive Networking Lunch at Carousel, London on October 27 for our “Tech” partner lightspeed.

Carousel is a creative hospitality hub in Fitzrovia known for its constantly changing guest-chef residencies, alongside an all-day neighbourhood wine bar and private hire/event spaces. The team moved from their original Marylebone site to Charlotte Street in November 2021.

Lightspeed Networking event

The guests

Today at Carousel, we welcomed 12 hospitality professionals for the lunch.

Felice Foscheri, Associate Director - Southampton University
Kristina Gladilina, Head of wine - Lita
Marina Brook, Restaurant Manager - Woven by Adam Smith, Coworth Park
Aman Lakhiani, Owner - Junsei
Ashima Dewulf, Hospitality & Operations Manager - Kinsbrook Vineyard
Charles Carron-Brown, Sommelier - Aulis
Paolo Galgano, General Manager - Alex Dilling at Cafe Royal
Justin Brown, Head of Culinary Operations - Gather and Gather
Ola Bober, General Manager - Ploussard
Ellie Perryer, Manager/ junior sommelier – Boys Hall
Vivien Schaper , Restaurant Manager - Hearth at Heckfield Place
Kevin Ricou, Head Waiter – The Ritz

Carousel bespoke networking lunch

 

The feedback 

Paolo Galgano was impressed by the event, saying: “It’s been about connection, building a good network and understanding more of the sense of hospitality - which is family and trust among people. It’s about sharing experiences all together, sitting at the table and enjoying exquisite food with great company.”

Ellie Perryer said: "Today has been about socialising with people in the industry and getting to know faces that you probably wouldn't normally socialise with on a daily basis and understanding as well how Lightspeed can be a

part of the industry and make it all run smoothly.”

Claire Cordell,  UK Field Sales Manager for Lightspeed said: "I'd like to say that Lightspeed speaks for itself, the fact that we're here at Carousel with them hosting us and working obviously very, very closely with you and Staff Canteen. I think Lightspeed, as I say, does what it says on the tin and we would welcome the opportunity to partner with more businesses like Carousel moving forward.

“Today has been about networking and meeting people from within the industry, sharing experiences, and really building out that network of people that you can talk to and work with who understand the industry that we're in.”

Networking event at Carousel

Canapes

Fried chicken, pickle, hot honey

Bream tostada, avocado salsa, fermented tomatillo

Crispy aubergine, tahini whip, Szechuan sauce

Krone, Borealis Cuveé Brut (2022) Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Tulbach, SA

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Sourdough, cultured butter

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Small plates

(served sharing style)

White bean purèe, pickled cherry tomatoes, charred onions, lovage leaf

Tuna ceviche, miso emulsion, kohlrabi, fermented tomatillo, jalapeño

Beef Tartare, pasilla agridulce dressing, picados, smoked horseradish

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Smoked beef rib, mole negro, roasted carrots

served with

Triple potato, crispy nduja, white pickled onions

Kale salad, confit shallot, honey dressing, toasted sunflower seeds

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Buttermilk Vanilla Mousse, Poached Pear, Caramel

Wines:

Castaño › Macabeo › Murcia, SP, (2020)

Ponte Pietra – Merlot/Corvina – Veneto, IT, (2020)

 

Small Contribution. Big Impact.

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The Staff Canteen

The Staff Canteen

Editor 27th October 2025

The Staff Canteen Live 2025: exclusive networking lunch for Lightspeed