It’s 3:45am and the lights are on in the Rhubarb Rhubarb mobile kitchen. Outside, it’s still pitch black, but the kitchen is buzzing. The first brews are poured, ovens fired up, and bacon hits the grill. The OB catering team is waking up.
By 4:30am, breakfast is in full swing. Hot boxes are lined with sausages, vegan options sizzle in separate pans, and porridge is dished out to bleary-eyed runners. We know faces now. We know who wants oat milk, who skips carbs, and who always nabs the last hash brown.
After breakfast, we clean down and switch gears to lunch. It might be a full roast, a hearty curry, or a cold spread for a quicker turnaround. We plan each menu based on the schedule, location, weather, and crew size. At some OB sites, there’s space for a full buffet. At others, it’s boxed meals handed out with military efficiency.
Flexibility is the name of the game. If the filming window shortens, we serve faster. If delays happen, we hold food without compromising quality. We stay in touch with the production team throughout the day so everyone stays fed, whatever the filming throws at us.
As the day wears on, we run tea and snack stations. Fruit, protein bars, cakes, crisps – it’s not just about meals, it’s about keeping the team fuelled and happy between long takes.
By 6pm, some shoots are wrapping. For others, it’s dinner service. We provide second meals or warming soups and pastas for crews working late. Then comes clean-up, pack-down, waste sorting, and restocking the vans.
It’s hard graft, but it’s rewarding. You form bonds with the crew. You become a constant presence on site. And when the last meal is served and the thank-yous roll in, you know it’s been a good day.
Need an OB catering team that understands life on location?
From breakfast call to wrap time, we deliver consistent, quality meals that keep your crew going—no matter the schedule, setting or weather. With years of experience in live production catering, we’re ready to support your next shoot. Contact us to find out more.
