Caterer & Hotelkeeper articles from April 2007

Caterer & Hotelkeeper archives from April 2007

L'Avenida hotel, Mallorca.(Side Orders)
April 5, 2007... Located in the mountain town of Soller on the west coast of Mallorca near the capital city of Palma, this boutique hotel is set in a 100-year-old mansion and features a mix of classic Mediterranean and modern interiors. Opened 1 March ...

L'HA[acute accent]tel, Paris.(Side Orders)
April 5, 2007... Built in the early 19th century as a "parlour of love", at one time home to Oscar Wilde and subsequently a famous Hollywood hang-out in the 1960s, this hotel has reopened under new ownership after an 18-month refurbishment. Opened 28...

Radisson SAS, Marseille.(Side Orders)
April 5, 2007... Located in the heart of Marseille's old harbour, the Vieux Port, this hotel spans two buildings featuring both ProvenAs.al and African interiors. Its restaurant, Solaris, offers a menu of Mediterranean food, while its brasserie, Terracotta,...

Sofitel Mansion & Spa, Victoria, Australia.(Side Orders)
April 5, 2007... Set in a mansion house built more than 125 years ago, this boutique hotel in Victoria has rebranded as a Sofitel following a 12-month refurbishment. It includes a fine-dining restaurant, Joseph's, which offers a menu of modern European food as...

My worst job.(Infozone)(dialogue with Darren Tinkler)(Interview)(Brief article)
April 5, 2007... Darren Tinkler, 36, is a development chef with Scolarest, part of Compass Group. He organises the company's Putting Fun Back into Food events at primary and secondary schools across the UK. These include competitions where pupils work alongside...

Going places.(Infozone)
April 5, 2007... Pete Hazelhurst is the new head chef at the Legacy Wild Pheasant hotel in Llangollen, Denbighshire. He has worked for other Legacy hotels, including the Falcon in Stratford-upon-Avon, and once ran his own bakery called Crumbs. Alison...

The fresh advantage.(Inside)
April 5, 2007... With "fresh" produce from all corners of the globe on sale all year round, many consumers overlook thepleasures of seasonal fruit and vegetables. Caterers, however, knowthat local provenance pays dividends, says Antony Adshead To...

Local area networking.(Features)(dialogue with John Morrison of Tomahawk Hotels)(Interview)
April 5, 2007... Tomahawk Hotels' sales manager John Morrison believes in developing relationships with corporate clients as a way of guaranteeing repeat business. Tom Vaughan reports When John Morrison joined Tomahawk Hotels as sales manager in November...

Empress of India.(Features)
April 5, 2007... Call it a gastropub or a brasserie, Tom and Ed Martin's fourth London restaurant achieves both styles with its decor and its contemporary British menu. Tom Vaughan was there for lunch The Empress of India in east London's Victoria Park is...

Review of Reviews.(Features)
April 5, 2007... The Independent 31 March Tracey Macleod is doing it for the kids at the child-friendly Jack and Lulu's in London NW3e_SClBThe menu has been constructed to offer something for all tastes, ages and parts of the day, from light bites and...

Tragus ups the ante in La Tasca bidding war.(News)
April 5, 2007... [pounds sterling]99.7m offer leapfrogs Robert Tchenguiz/Kaupthing bid By Nic Paton All eyes are on how Iranian entrepreneur Robert Tchenguiz and Icelandic bank Kaupthing will fare in their battle to buy casual dining chain La Tasca....

Wetherspoon's to open two pubs in Terminal 5.(News)
April 5, 2007... JD Wetherspoon has signed contracts with BAA to open two new outlets at Heathrow's Terminal 5, which opens next March. The pub operator plans to invest [pounds sterling]1.5m developing the pubs, which will create 60 jobs. Wetherspoon's chief...

New york flyer.(Features)
April 5, 2007... American restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow blew into town last month for the opening of Suka, the Malaysian restaurant that replaces Spoon+ at London's Sanderson hotel. Rosalind Mullen caught up with him It was with mild trepidation that I met...

Sablon wins Roux Scholarship.(News)
April 5, 2007... Armand Sablon (left, on hearing the judges' decision, and right with Michel Roux), chef at Galvin at Windows restaurant in London, was awarded the 2007 Roux Scholarship this week. Sablon's interpretation of Escoffier tournedos Rachel and Roux...

Side Orders.
April 5, 2007... Our back pages: stories from the Caterer vaults The Caterer and Hotelkeeper, 1 July 1961 Replying to Mr David Fisher (Letters, 3 June), I am a left-handed waiter of 30 years' experience and I have not found it a handicap even for...

Contents.(News)
April 5, 2007... Four of a kind... hospitality's young entrepreneurs 30 7 Smoking One in four English pubs is not ready for the ban 8 Contract catering The City gives Compass boss a vote of confidence 10 Restaurants Macdonald Hotels teams up...

Jeffrey ChodorowThe New York restaurateur brings a new casual-dining concept to London.(Features)
April 5, 2007... Can eastern Europeans plug the hospitality skills gap? Brown's last Budget and what it means for hotels infozone: Adopted Business Tomahawk Hotels on why relationships matter The young ones How four 30-somethingsbuilt their...

All bets are off for supercasino.(construction of gambling casinos-Manchester)
April 5, 2007... Last week's decision by the House of Lords to reject plans for a supercasino in Manchester could spell the end for the Government's current gambling agenda. Emily Manson reports on the likely implications When the House of Lords decided to...

Events.(Features)(Calendar)
April 5, 2007... Taking place at London's Savoy hotel on 16 April, the National Restaurateurs' Dinner is the annual fundraising event for three of the hospitality industry's most respected organisations: the Restaurant Association, the Academy of Culinary Arts...

Perfect Marcus?(Features)(Recipe)
April 5, 2007... Last week Marcus Wareing told us how it felt to be a newly crowned Clam chowder I used to make chowder like this when I worked at the Point, a luxury resort in upstate New York. We served it in a large tureen on the terrace at...

Skills crisis? Keep the talent you have.(News)
April 5, 2007... Against the backdrop of the seemingly perennial skills shortage blighting hospitality, it's heartening to hear that employers are now doing something positive about it. Macdonald Hotels & Resorts (news, page 10) will next month launch an...

MPW to sue Ramsay over book theft.(News)
April 5, 2007... Marco Pierre White has confirmed to Caterer that he will be taking legal action against Gordon Ramsay over the infamous reservations book theft at the latter's former London restaurant, Aubergine. The move comes after Ramsay last month...

London's Orrery loses second head chef to Galvin brothers.(News)
April 5, 2007... Allan Pickett, head chef at Orrery, is to leave the London restaurant to join brothers Chris and Jeff Galvin as head chef at Galvin Bistrot de Luxe, Caterer can reveal. Pickett, who joined the D&D London-owned Orrery in June 2006, will...

The week in brief.(News)(Craft Guild of Chefs appoints Nick Vadis )(Brief article)
April 5, 2007... Starwood's Heyer forced out Starwood Hotels & Resorts' chief executive, Steven Heyer, has been forced to resign after the company's board "lost confidence in his management style and leadership". Stephen Quazzo, chairman of Starwood's...

Acorn House looks for new backers for training.(News)(Brief article)
April 5, 2007... Acorn House, London's first environmentally sustainable restaurant, has launched a campaign to attract backers to fund its restaurant training facility. The restaurant, which is a joint initiative between the Shoreditch Trust, the Terrence...

City analysts applaud recovery at Compass.(News)(Brief article)
April 5, 2007... New catering boss wins round investors in less than a year By Chris Druce Compass Group has bounced back from a scandal-hit two years with an impressive start to its current financial year that has delighted City analysts. The...

Young chefs scholarship to promote Welsh produce.(News)
April 5, 2007... The Welsh Assembly has launched a scholarship scheme for young chefs to increase the awareness of food and produce from the principality. The Welsh Food Scholarship gives chefs under the age of 23 the chance to win a series of internships...

Stars from the east.(Infozone)
April 5, 2007... Hard-working, reliable and well-educated eastern European migrants are helping to plug the skills gap in the UK hospitality industry - but some believe it's just a short-term solution, as Nic Paton discovers If the BBC plotted a remake of...

One in four English pubs not prepared for smoking ban.(News)
April 5, 2007... Publicans warned to expect drop in revenue after 1 July By Christopher Walton In the week that the Welsh smoking ban became a reality, industry leaders issued a stark warning on the state of readiness of English pubs ahead of the 1...

De Vere Hotels to bring in individual F&B directors.(News)
April 12, 2007... Company will offer positions to its head and executive chefs By Chris Druce De Vere Hotels is introducing dedicated food and beverage (F&B) directors at each of its properties for the first time, Caterer can reveal. The company,...

Events.(Features)(Calendar)
April 12, 2007... Taking place at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh on 18-19 April, the VisitScotland Expo is an entirely Scottish business-to-business event for the tourism industry. Organised by VisitScotland, it offers an opportunity for Scottish...

a tall story.(Features)
April 12, 2007... Clinching the contract at the Gherkin in 2004 was a feather in the cap of Searcy in its quest to cater for the most prestigious venues. Gaby Huddart charts the company's impressive list of contract wins At the end of February, 30 St Mary...

Catering contracts at other landmark buildings.(Features)
April 12, 2007... City Hall The Queen's Walk, London SE1 2AA Contract caterer Jill Bartlett Length of contract three years, with a review to roll to five Contract start January 2006 Annual turnover [pounds sterling]1.2m The City Hall...

The briefing.(Infozone)(Website overview)
April 12, 2007... * Boost for London start-ups The London Development Agency has launched a [pounds sterling]9.9m initiative to support small companies and entrepreneurs in their early stages of business. The scheme aims to develop commercial skills by...

Kitchen Bible.(Features)(Book review)
April 12, 2007... Pasta New York-style The Babbo Cookbook Mario Batali Crown Publications, [pounds sterling]20 ISBN-10: 06096 07758 ISBN-13: 978-0609607756 I love French (obviously) and Italian food, but Italian is my absolute...

Features.
April 12, 2007... CH12-04-07 Leader Grappling with the introduction of the smoking ban this July will certainly prove difficult enough for pub operators up and downing the country, but a report out this week (?) warns that the pub sector has a greater...

Cookbook Cafe, London.(Side Orders)
April 12, 2007... This new casual eaterie at London's InterContinental Park Lane hotel is an interactive restaurant where customers can share their recipes, help create menus, sample dishes and attend chef workshops. It has central cooking stations where chefs...

The Forge, London.(Side Orders)(Restaurant review)
April 12, 2007... Open for lunch and dinner, this European restaurant in Covent Garden comes from Robert Seigler (owner of Le Cafe du Jardin and Le DeuxiA[umlaut]me) and is set in an old church with Celtic-style clear glass windows and rustic brick walls. It...

The Restaurant at Sopwell House, St Albans.(Side Orders)
April 12, 2007... Formerly the Magnolia, this restaurant at Sopwell House hotel has reopened following an extensive revamp. New head chef Leigh Diggins serves a menu centred on modern British food with a focus on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. ...

Review of Reviews.(Features)
April 12, 2007... The Independent 7 April Thomas Sutcliffe is left somewhere between admiration and exhaustion after the masterclass shown at the Grill at the Dorchester in London W1e_SClBThat sense of ambition, nudging towards excess, never quite goes...

the westerly.(Features)
April 12, 2007... It might be home to some of London's more successful workers, but not a great deal of London cooking makes it out to Surrey. Janet Harmer checks up on one of the exceptions to the rule After making a name for himself at a nearby country...

The science of selling.(Features)(applications of revenue management systems)
April 12, 2007... By analysing historical computer data about yourcustomers it is possible to predict booking patternsand use them to dictate room rates and maximise revenue. Ross Bentley explains Somewhat of a dark art, yield management, or revenue...

Going places.(Infozone)
April 12, 2007... Rowhill Grange hotel has promoted Ian Heath to general manager. Heath was previously deputy general manager at the Wilmington, Kent, hotel. Previously he was conferencing and banqueting manager at Rowhill Grange before spending eight years in a...

Give disability a fair chance.(Side Orders)(Letter to the editor)
April 12, 2007... I was very interested to read the feature "Stars from the east" (Caterer, 5 April, page 48) and agree with many of the sentiments expressed I was very interested to read the feature "Stars from the east" (Caterer, 5 April, page 48) and...

Bog standard was appalling.(Side Orders)
April 12, 2007... As someone employed in the industry, I know that cleaning toilets is not exactly the nicest job, but as a consumer, I find the state of the toilets really is a deciding factor in whether I enjoy a place or not As someone employed in the...

Do not disturb notice works.(Side Orders)(Letter to the editor)
April 12, 2007... I write in response to the letter from Sue Burgess (Caterer, 5 April, page 18) concerning chambermaids waking up guests at 7am I write in response to the letter from Sue Burgess (Caterer, 5 April, page 18) concerning chambermaids waking up...

Don't slam door on world freedom.(Side Orders)(Letter to the editor)
April 12, 2007... Having worked at the Glasgow Hilton, I was really upset after reading the letter headed "Think again on Cuban ban" (Caterer, 1 March, page 21) Having worked at the Glasgow Hilton, I was really upset after reading the letter headed "Think...

Non-alcoholic alternatives.(Side Orders)(non-alcoholic option due to smoking ban )
April 12, 2007... With the smoking ban looming, and everyone banging on about how the industry has to up its offering and cater for a more diverse crowd, I find it bizarre that few places offer anything even vaguely interesting as a non-alcoholic option ...

The man who sold Hilton.(News)
April 12, 2007... Hotelier Sir David Michels oversaw the reunification of the US and UK Hilton brands last year. While the hospitality world waits to find out his next move - currently a closely guarded secret - he took time out to talk to Emily Manson about his...

Table Talk.(Infozone)(mergers of Woodrow Taylor and George Wimpey Inc.)
April 12, 2007... Sealed with a whopper In what is expected to be one of the biggest mergers to take place this year, housebuilding giants Taylor Woodrow and George Wimpey last month agreed a deal that will create a company with combined annual turnover of...

Good week/bad week.(Side Orders)(briefs)(Brief article)
April 12, 2007... Scotch whisky Global sales rose 4% to [pounds sterling]2.5b last year, representing a quarter of the UK's total food and drink exports. Cocoa lovers Indulging in a good old-fashioned cup of cocoa can help keep heart attacks at bay. ...

The Narrow, London.(Side Orders)(Bar review)
April 12, 2007... Gordon Ramsay's first pub is in a Grade II-listed building on the edge of the River Thames in London's Limehouse. It is divided into a bar area and formal dining room and offers a menu of classic British food with a focus on seasonal...

How to: break bad news to staff.(Infozone)(employee recognition)(Brief article)
April 12, 2007... Breaking bad news is an integral part of management. Decisions a company makes could mean you have to deliver news that conflicts with your own morals and throws people's lives into turmoil. But there are ways to handle it. Be upfront ...

News.(Infozone)
April 12, 2007... * Macdonald intern programme Macdonald Hotels has launched a new group intern programme in conjunction with Swiss Education Group (SEG). The programme lasts for a minimum of 16 weeks and is designed to provide more experienced, committed...

Contents.(News)
April 12, 2007... What was Sam Harrison's worst moment? 49 7 Tourism Whitehall review says DCMS must be more effective 8 Hotels De Vere to bring in individual F&B directors 9 Pubs 5,000 outlets could disappear in the next five years 10 News...

Searcy: the contracts.(Features)(overview of Searcy's)(Company overview)
April 12, 2007... Searcy dates back to 1847 and was originally a specialist event and outdoor catering company. It was in the 1980s that Richard and Nigel Goodhew consolidated their equity in the company to take full ownership. Since they took over the company,...

Side Orders.
April 12, 2007... Inside Technology - will you be able to keep up as the future gets faster? Ex-Hilton boss David Michels looks back on 40 years in his favourite industry On top of the world Contract caterer Searcy on how it runs the restaurants...

Catering at an icon.(Features)
April 12, 2007... General manager JoA'l Claustre and his team Anyone working in hotels or restaurants who sees a move into contract catering as a soft option needs their head testing - at least when it comes to operating the catering at an icon such as 30 St...

IT had to be roux.(Features)
April 12, 2007... Armand Sablon has matched his boss's achievement in being named the winner of the annual Roux Scholarship, following a tough cook-off at London's Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel last week. Janet Harmer was there Success has certainly...

Data with destiny.(Features)
April 12, 2007... Hotel technology is changing so fast, you need to predict Inside Technology | Hotels Nick Price is a man ahead of his time. As director of technology for luxury hotel chain the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group (www.mandarinoriental.com),...

Give our threatened pubs a break.(News)
April 12, 2007... Grappling with the introduction of the smoking ban this July will certainly prove difficult enough for pub operators up and down the country, but a report out last week warns that the pub sector has a greater challenge ahead. Forget the myth of...

Brave new world.(Inside)
April 12, 2007... In case you didn't make it to Olympia last month for the VoIP for Business An increasing number of businesses are moving towards a converged network model, where telephone and computer systems are brought together on to one network, driven...

Center Parcs to celebrate 20th birthday with a [pounds sterling]60m face-lift.(News)(Brief article)
April 12, 2007... Center Parcs has unveiled plans for a [pounds sterling]60m upgrade of its accommodation facilities to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The leisure park operator has appointed interior design group Target Living to complete a major face-lift...

La Tasca to be merged as Tchenguiz wins takeover bid?(News)
April 12, 2007... La Tasca could be merged with the Slug & Lettuce and Ha!Ha! Bar & Canteens chains after Iranian entrepreneur Robert Tchenguiz surprisingly beat private-equity giant Blackstone for control of the Spanish tapas chain. Blackstone's Tragus...

Delaware to name new exec chef at Wembley.(News)(Delaware North Companies Inc replaced chef Stephen Wheeler)(Brief article)
April 12, 2007... The new stadium has seven restaurants and two free-flow public catering areas, plus 164 private boxes and a royal suite By Kerstin Kuhn The search for an executive chef to oversee the food offering at the new Wembley Stadium is close...

Whitehall review says DCMS must be more effective.(News)(Department for Culture Media and Sport)
April 12, 2007... Industry wants department to play a stronger tourism role By Emily Manson Industry leaders have welcomed a Whitehall review that called on the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) to improve its leadership and become more...

Jumeirah Carlton Tower weighs in with 50kg egg.(News)
April 12, 2007... The Easter weekend may have been and gone, but a giant egg (above) at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower hotel in London's Knightsbridge is keeping the chocolate dream alive for a little longer. The one-metre-high egg, which is made from 50kg of fine...

News.(briefs)(Brief article)
April 12, 2007... The week in brief Eight Thistles for sale A portfolio of eight Thistle hotels has been put on the market by property agent Christie & Co, with a price tag believed to be in excess of [pounds sterling]60m, Caterer has learnt. The...

Barracuda to offer 'the spirit of South Africa'.(News)(Barracuda Group)(Brief article)
April 12, 2007... Pub operator Barracuda Group has launched its fifth retail brand, Cape, promising to bring "the spirit of South Africa" to the UK. Cape, which launches with a single pub in Nottingham, is Barracuda's second South African-themed brand...

News.
April 12, 2007... COUNTDOWN TO THE SMOKING BAN There are now less than 11 weeks to go until the smoking ban is implemented in England. How has pub operator Fuller, Smith and Turner prepared for the ban without the benefit of having properties in...

My life in hospitality.(Infozone)
April 12, 2007... Sam Harrison The highs Opening my own restaurant and bar in August 2005 made me so proud. Sam's was totally newly built from a shell, so it was incredibly satisfying to put it all together and see the end product. I had been very...

Caterer loves.(Side Orders)
April 12, 2007... Rosemary Rosemary might be an evergreen herb, but at this time of year as the weather gets warmer its luscious, dark-green leaves are at their most flavoursome. It is now that the plant starts to bush out with new growth and produce...

Average ingredient cost of a pub meal in 2006.(Infozone)
April 12, 2007... The average food ingredient cost of a pub meal in 2006 was [pounds sterling]1.16. Food costs accounted for 34% of the average selling price of a pub meal in 2006. Managed branded pubs spent the most on ingredients, while managed...

Strategy clinic.(Infozone)(Brief article)
April 12, 2007... "I am planning to buy a run-down pub to convert into a destination food unit. What should I consider before I buy?" Like any property purchase it is all too easy to get caught up in the romance of your dreams. Help to avoid this by writing...

Leasehold change of use.(Infozone)
April 12, 2007... Hugo Greer-Walker, an associate on the real estate team at law firm Halliwells, outlines the potential pitfalls of converting a leasehold pub for restaurant use Infozone your Business and you Wake-up call The Problem I...

Report warns of 5,000 pubs under threat.(News)
April 12, 2007... By Christopher Walton As many as 5,000 pubs and bars in the UK could cease trading by 2011 through a combination of the smoking ban, a clampdown on drinks promotions and declining beer sales, experts have warned. A new report from...

Springboard award winner.(Infozone)
April 19, 2007... Every year Springboard's Awards for Excellence celebrate what a great place the hospitality industry is to work. In our second monthly profile of the winners we look at the Springboard Ambassador's Award winner, Andy Aston, of Restaurant...

Going places.(Infozone)
April 19, 2007... Compass Group UK and Ireland has appointed John Pain as marketing director with effect from 19 April. He was vice-president of marketing for KFC Asia-Pacific after spending time as vice-president of food for Taco Bell and marketing director for...

News.(Infozone)(briefs)(Survey)(Brief article)
April 19, 2007... * Thistle training offer Thistle and Guoman, the UK hotel chain, is searching for trainees to be part of a 12-month management training programme. Each recruit will be assigned a mentor by the company and will be given the chance to work...

Better shape up, pubs warned.(News)(marketing in pubs)(Report)(Brief article)
April 19, 2007... Pubs must market themselves better, become more integrated with their local community and raise their standards of service if they are to be successful, experts have advised. Operators are already facing threats to their businesses from the...

Keeping the customers satisfied.(Features)(Harrison Catering Services)
April 19, 2007... The campaign for healthier school food may have failed to convince some pupils, but Harrison Catering proves it can still be popular. Tom Vaughan reports Far left: Initiatives include juice and smoothie weeksBelow: Lambeth has a three-week...

Events.(Features)
April 19, 2007... Is your pub more than just a boozer? Is it the heart of your community? The life and soul of your village? If so, then you might want to enter it for this year's Calor Rural Pub in the Community award, the deadline for which is 30 April. Judged...

Infozone Foodfile ingredients in season.(Features)
April 19, 2007... Fresh produce English asparagus has started early this year and, although it is expensive and cheaper alternatives are arriving from Chile and Spain, it's the best you'll find. The morel season is now finishing in Europe and will be moving...

'Battery hens' are bad for business.(News)
April 19, 2007... Caterer's offices aren't exactly state-of-the-art, but they are comfortable, bright, air-conditioned and, with panoramic views over both the City and Epsom Downs, inspirational enough to get the creative juices flowing week in, week out. ...