Caterer & Hotelkeeper articles from April 2008

Caterer & Hotelkeeper archives from April 2008

M&B's future still uncertain.(News)
April 3, 2008... Rival Punch rejects solo role in buyout but may yet be part of joint takeover bid By Christopher Walton The future of embattled managed pub operator Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) remains in doubt after rival Punch Taverns ruled itself out...

Give front of house its due.(News)
April 3, 2008... David Pitchford, vice-chairman of the Academy of Culinary Arts and chef-partner at Read's restaurant at Macknade Manor, Faversham, Kent, says we should be celebrating the talents of front-of-house staff as much as those of chefs I am old...

Over to you.(News)(Brief article)
April 3, 2008... When did you last experience great service? Giles Coren, food critic, the Times "There's a new restaurant in north London called L'Absinthe which is great. It is owned by a man called JC [Jean-Christophe Slowik] who worked under Marco...

Hilwood picks Rata for Bovey Castle.(News)(Brief article)
April 3, 2008... Hilwood Resorts & Hotels has poached Jeremy Rata from his position as general manager of the Grand, De Vere's luxury hotel in Brighton. Rata, who has now left the Grand, will become managing director of luxury country house hotel Bovey...

The industry has spoken.(News)(Survey)
April 3, 2008... Every week in the Caterer poll we seek your views on the biggest issues facing hospitality. Chris Druce rounds up recent highlights Are Michelin stars still important? The news It was that time of year again, when Michelin bestows its...

Preparing for insolvency.(Infozone)
April 3, 2008... If you are director of a company that is in financial difficulty, your focus must shift towards minimising the potential loss to the company's creditors. Solicitors Michael Fiddy and Jonathan Leitch explain The problem I own a small...

Fruit from the sea.(Infozone)(Peach Pub Company )
April 3, 2008... Months of work came to fruition for Peach Pub Company as the Scottish Skippers Scheme went into full-time operation. Christopher Walton reports Scottish trawler captains keep restaurants informed about catches by e-mail There is...

Face up to feedback.(Inside)
April 3, 2008... Patients are making their voices heard on hospital food, and caterers must listen Rosemarie Hoyle, divisional manager, Apetito Healthcare Seven years after the introduction of the Better Hospital Food programme, the quality of...

The briefing.(Infozone)(Survey)(Brief article)
April 3, 2008... * Economic gloom deepens A quarterly survey of the financial sector has revealed that most firms feel that the worst of the credit squeeze is yet to come, with severe job losses and a slump in confidence among investors likely, according...

GLOBE TROTTERCelebrating 20 years of Charlie Trotter's.(Features)
April 3, 2008... Charlie Trotter celebrated the 20th anniversary of his famous Chicago restaurant with a meal cooked by some of the world's best-known chefs. Among the diners there was Fiona Sims, who talked to him about his plans for expansion, what the press...

Building health on food foundations.(Inside)
April 3, 2008... To kick off our Inside Healthcare supplement, we asked movers and Ian Robinson, general manager for hotel services, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust "What's worrying is the absence of a formal programme for continuing professional...

Gordon Ramsay Au Trianon, Versailles.(Side Orders)(Brief article)
April 3, 2008... Gordon Ramsay's first restaurant in France is at the newly refurbished Trianon Palace and Spa, near Versailles. Modelled on his flagship venue in Chelsea, London, it offers both exclusive and casual dining. Opened March Owner Gordon...

Adour Alain Ducasse, New York.(News)(Brief article)
April 3, 2008... Alain Ducasse brings his food and wine pairing concept to the historic St Regis hotel. The interior is split into four dining rooms, a wine library and an eight-seat lounge. The menu suggests which wine from a 500-reference wine list would best...

Kempinski Hotel Duke's Palace, Bruges.(Side Orders)
April 3, 2008... The latest Kempinski hotel will be located in the old-town part of Bruges in a 15th-century listed building. The Triplex suite features a terrace built into a tower for a rooftop view. Opening May Owner P&W Insurance Company Head...

Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya Hotel.(Side Orders)
April 3, 2008... Hilton's first hotel in Moscow will be housed in one of the Stalin towers, or "seven sisters", that define Moscow's skyline. The 24-storey building has undergone a major transformation but will retain many of its historic features. Opening...

A Host of good ideas.(Inside)
April 3, 2008... Contract caterer Host sees a When Jerry Brand, managing director of Host Contract Management, launched the company in 2004, he put most of his effort into building up contracts in the business and industry sector. Now, with a turnover of...

Fox and Anchor.(Features)
April 3, 2008... Branching out from its hotel empire, Malmaison has opened its own take on a British pub, the Fox and Anchor in London's Smithfield. Michael Raffael reports "We were very clear that we didn't want to do a gastropub" - that's the first point...

My life in hospitality Tim Hart.(Infozone)(Occupation overview)
April 3, 2008... Tim Hart is the owner of Hambleton Hall in Rutland and Hart's hotel and restaurant in Nottingham Highs... We opened Hambleton Hall in 1980. Things were slow to start with, but by the mid-1980s we'd become quite high-profile, partly because...

Review of Reviews.(Side Orders)(Calendar)
April 3, 2008... Areyoureadytoorder.co.uk 27 March Jan Moir enjoys the architecture and views at Gordon Ramsay's Plane Food at Terminal 5, Heathrow Airport, but finds the food on the opening day - like the experience of getting through the terminal...

Strategy clinic.(Infozone)(Brief article)
April 3, 2008... "How can I deal with staff who persistently take sick leave?" The best way to deal with absence is to build the sort of work environment where people want to come to work. This takes time, but here are some measures you can put in place...

Going places.(News)
April 3, 2008... Urban Splash has appointed Matt Redhead house manager at the Midland hotel in Morecambe, Lancashire. Redhead joins from the Headland hotel and cottages in Newquay, Cornwall, where he was deputy general manger. He has also worked on the QE2 as...

News.(Infozone)(briefs)(Brief article)
April 3, 2008... * IHG to create 4,000 jobs InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has unveiled plans to create 4,000 jobs in the UK over the next 3-5 years to fill vacancies at the 44 properties the company has in development. IHG needs to finds 44 general...

My worst job.(Infozone)
April 3, 2008... Stephen Fearnley is general manager of Hand Picked Hotels' Rookery Hall hotel and spa in Nantwich in Cheshire. What has been your worst job? My worst job was actually my very first job as a grill chef, working in a very large, busy,...

Infozone Foodfile ingredients in season.(Features)
April 3, 2008... Fresh produce English glasshouse asparagus is in, but it's scarce and very, very expensive. Proper green-stemmed outdoor rhubarb tastes great at the moment. The first Jersey Royal potatoes are available now but are also expensive at...

Just onelook.(Features)
April 3, 2008... Extending the style and brand identity in hotels and restaurants to staff workwear can have a positive effect on morale as well as enhancing the overall customer impression - and it needn't be expensive. Emma White and Diane Lane report No...

A minute on the clockAndy Hageman.(News)(Interview)
April 3, 2008... After being described by a critic as a "real-life Basil Fawlty", hotelier Andy Hageman decided to publish his memoirs of running Mortons House hotel in Dorset. In his book Innkeeping with Mr Fawlty, he recounts the trials, tribulations and...

Contents.(News)
April 3, 2008... Why they're all backing Slow Food Edinburgh 32 7 Skills Schools support diplomas for 14- to 19-year-olds 8 Pubs Punch will not be the sole buyer for Mitchells & Butlers 10 Restaurants Horler plans Ego expansion 12 News...

Going places.(Infozone)
April 10, 2008... Paul Wood has joined the Hilton Craigendarroch in Ballater, Aberdeenshire, as hotel manager from Swallow Hotels' the Old Manor hotel in Leven, Fife, where he held the same role for four years. Wood replaces Tom McDermott, who takes the role of...

How to: handle international guests.(Infozone)
April 10, 2008... As they say, when in Rome do as the Romans do. But as a hotelier, greeting and looking after guests from all around the globe can be quite a challenge. It's important to know each country's etiquette to make guests feel welcome and avoid...

Pubs may pass on wine price rises.(News)
April 10, 2008... Poor exchange rate, bad vintage and Budget hike to blame by christopher walton Pub and restaurant operators are experiencing a squeeze on wine margins because of the unfavourable pound-to-euro exchange rate, a poor vintage in 2007 and...

Quality before quantity.(News)(Contract caterer Vacherin )
April 10, 2008... Contract caterer Vacherin has made a virtue out of picking its own way through the complex world of suppliers. Chris Druce reports Vacherin was formed by two contract caterers who were sick of having obstacles put in their way and having to...

Ansanay-Alex to open eaterie in London.(News)
April 10, 2008... Ansanay-Alex: joint-venture deal French Michelin-starred chef Jean-Christophe Ansanay-Alex is to open a restaurant in London, Caterer can reveal. The two-Michelin-starred chef, who runs the Auberge de l'Ile restaurant on l'Ile Barbe in...

News.(Conference notes)
April 10, 2008... Trainee chefs will help to cook lunch for conference delegates Eight students from two of the South-east's leading catering colleges will be among the chefs cooking lunch for delegates at the 2008 Caterer and Hotelkeeper Chef Conference....

costa's pledge on coffee from certified sources.(News)
April 10, 2008... High street chain Costa has committed to sourcing all its coffee from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms by 2010. The company, which opened its first store in Russia last month - its 1,000th outlet - serves 108 million cups of coffee a year....

Domino's enlists MJL to help raise HR standards.(News)
April 10, 2008... Domino's Pizza has selected human resources consultancy MJL Group to manage employment and health and safety procedures for its franchisees in the wake of allegations of staff exploitation last year. In July 2007 Domino's was forced to...

The week in brief.(News)
April 10, 2008... Private members' club at Ivy Caprice Holdings is to add a secret private members' club to its most famous restaurant the Ivy, providing its members with an exclusive hideaway. The invitation-only club will be housed above the iconic London...

Over to you.(Side Orders)
April 10, 2008... Where are you seeing costs rise in your business? Julian Mobbs, managing director at Gastro Taverns "The biggest cost increase we've seen recently is on alcohol. Food has been fine for us as we use local suppliers and gas and power...

devaney is named academy's UK sommelier of the year.(News)
April 10, 2008... Gearoid Devaney from Tom Aikens's Michelin-starred restaurant in London has been named the Academy of Food & Wine's UK Sommelier of the Year 2008. Now in its 28th year, the competition, which took place last week, saw Devaney (right) compete...

Table Talk.(Side Orders)
April 10, 2008... Always remember to floss Hospitality types have some unexpected hobbies and pastimes. While Gary Rhodes likes pumping iron, fellow chefs Giorgio Locatelli and Bruce Poole take their iron in another form and are happiest leaping on...

Minister 'looking into' tips as wages.(News)
April 10, 2008... MP backs union calls to ban the use of tips in pay packets By Gemma Sharkey The Government has given its clearest signal yet that it could get involved in the issue of the contentious but legal practice of using waiting staff's tips to...

No margins for errors.(News)(growth of food prices)
April 10, 2008... Food-price inflation is putting an unacceptable squeeze on operators' chances of profitability, says Peter Backman, managing director of food service analyst Horizons FS Inflation will be constantly grabbing the headlines in the coming...

Picture of the Week.(Side Orders)
April 10, 2008... A bottle of Tooting's finest South London is synonymous with many things but fine wine production certainly isn't one of them. But that might be about to change: meet Stuart Mungall (pictured above), owner of the Patio Garden Centre...

Village Hotels reveals plans for expansion.(News)
April 10, 2008... The 128-bedroom Village hotel in Bury Village Hotels plans to more than double its portfolio to 50 sites within the next five years. The company, which is part of De Vere Group, plans to develop new-build hotels in Glasgow, Edinburgh,...

movers and shakers.(Features)
April 10, 2008... The Galvin Cup, which will be staged at the Grosvenor House hotel in early June, is aimed at both student and professional bar staff, with a trophy and [pounds sterling]1,000 for the winner plus other big prizes up for grabs. Fiona Sims sets...

Restaurant round-up.(News)
April 10, 2008... * Touch-screen temptations London is to see the launch of a new restaurant concept this summer with the opening of a pan-Asian eaterie offering diners an interactive menu on a touch-sensitive screen. Inamo, which is schedule to open on...

News.
April 10, 2008... Sodexo wins education contracts worth [pounds sterling]7m Three-year deal to feed children at schools in Milton Keynes by chris druce Caterer and facilities management company Sodexo has picked up new business in the education...

Regaining confidence.(Features)(purchasing of property)
April 10, 2008... Good-quality, well-located property will still be sought by a variety of buyers Since the middle of last year the words "credit" and "crunch" have dominated the UK property market, leaving many deals in a state of flux or even collapse....

Times are tough, so sell more wine.(News)
April 10, 2008... These are torrid times for the on-trade. The unfavourable pound-euro exchange rate, a poor vintage in 2007 and the chancellor's 14p tax hike on a bottle of wine in last month's budget mean that wine margins are being pinched harder than grapes...

Cocktail of the Month.(Side Orders)
April 10, 2008... The Grapetini As a category, vodka is probably one the world's most underrated spirits. Nevertheless, it's a favourite on cocktail lists in style bars, cool hotels and hip restaurants - in fact, the spirit is probably the most universal...

Police deny rise in foie gras incidents.(News)
April 10, 2008... Police chiefs have played down fears about an escalation in foie gras-related incidents, saying there is no evidence that animal rights activists are intensifying their efforts against restaurants selling the fatty goose liver. Despite...

Infozone Foodfile ingredients in seasonFoodfile ingredients in season.(Infozone)
April 10, 2008... Fresh produce Fish Glossy new South African lemons are small and expensive but have a fresh, zingy fragrant juice and arrive alongside tender broad beans from Italy. Fresh and sweet bobby beans and Egyptian peas are recommended as a...

good weekBad week.(Side Orders)
April 10, 2008... Welsh cheese lovers Cardiff Council buys the Great British Cheese Festival and moves the pungent event to Cardiff Castle. Cubans They're allowed to stay in their country's hotels at last. Not that they need or can afford to, mind. ...

My life in hospitality Shaun Hill.(Infozone)(Walnut Tree restaurant )(Viewpoint essay)
April 10, 2008... Shaun Hill is chef-patron at the Walnut Tree restaurant near Abergavenny, South Wales Highs... In my early career, I'd have to say that one of the biggest highs was getting to work with Robert Carrier, who was immensely charming and a...

The briefing.(Infozone)
April 10, 2008... * New sex discrimination laws New sex discrimination laws introduced this week mean that for the first time, employers must take "reasonable" steps to protect staff from sexual harassment by customers or other third parties. Individuals...

Strategy clinic.(Infozone)
April 10, 2008... "How can I maximise return from my website?" First, ensure your content is up to date and be aware that without relevant content, search engines will not be able to find your business. Make sure seasonal breaks and offers are available...

Oliver names fifth Jamie's Italian site.(News)
April 10, 2008... Oxford restaurant will be the first in the chain to open By Kerstin Kuhn Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has unveiled a fifth site for his forthcoming neighbourhood restaurant chain Jamie's Italian, but has conceded that development...

Caffa Vivo, Newcastle.(Side Orders)
April 10, 2008... Terry Laybourne expands his restaurant portfolio with this Italian eaterie in Newcastle's Quayside. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner six days a week, it offers classic Italian fare with dishes including risottos, pastas and meat and seafood...

Anchor Inn, Lower Froyle.(Side Orders)
April 10, 2008... Former Caterer Adopted Business duo Lucy Townsend and Andy Clark, from the Peat Spade Inn in Longstock, have opened their second pub-restaurant with rooms after extensively refurbishing a fire-damaged site. It has three dining areas - a saloon,...

Pho, London.(Side Orders)
April 10, 2008... A stone's throw from Oxford Circus, this is Vietnamese restaurant Pho's second site, which is named after a speciality rice-noodle soup. Diners can create their own pho with a choice of stocks and fillings, offering meat, seafood and vegetarian...

Osteria Stecca, London.(Side Orders)
April 10, 2008... This new restaurant in St John's Wood in north London sees chef-patron Stefano Stecca return to the former Rosmarino site, offering his modern take on traditional Italian cooking. It includes a main dining room as well as a bar and an alfresco...

A minute on the clockPaul Gayler.(News)(Interview)
April 10, 2008... Paul Gayler is the executive chef at London's Lanesborough hotel who is setting up a series of events this month at catering colleges throughout the UK to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust charity. He spoke to Kerstin Kuhn about the...

Infozone.(Julia Medot and Declan Cassidy apponted as marketing managers at Strand Palace hotel )(Brief article)
April 10, 2008... Move of the week London's Strand Palace hotel has appointed Julia Medot and Declan Cassidy as marketing manager and senior sales manager respectively. Medot joins from the InterContinental hotel in Paris, where she was marketing...

Jaundiced view of liver pAcentste?(News)
April 10, 2008... Foie gras is the food that divides the dinner table, and a recent surge in protests against restaurants has forced many to stop selling the controversial delicacy. Is there a future for foie gras on British menus? Kerstin Kuhn investigates ...

Review of Reviews.(Side Orders)
April 10, 2008... The Guardian 5 March Matthew Norman finds a lot to like at L'Autre Pied in London W1, but wishes the chef would cook more for the punters than for the Michelin inspectors With the blessed exception of one of those unwanted freebie...

Consequences of fraudulent CVs.(Infozone)
April 10, 2008... It pays to carry out rigorous checks on the CVs of job applicants, as being deceived by false information can be costly, damaging and downright embarrassing, as Michael Ball of law firm Halliwells explains THE PROBLEM We recruited a...

News.(Infozone)
April 10, 2008... * Are you in the wrong job? Employees spend an average of four years and 10 months in jobs that do not make the best use of their skills, according to an online survey by the Skills Commission. The poll of 2,087 people revealed that one in...

Wine's worldHow operators like Brett Woonton and Charlie Young are turning their passion into profit.(Features)
April 10, 2008... The weird world of biodynamic wines The Galvin Cup - bar staff get their chance to be the best infozone: The best ways to maximise returns from your website Fraudulent CVs Has your new recruit told you nothing but the truth?...

LettersFair trade is an admirable idea - and it should begin at home.(Side Orders)
April 10, 2008... Letter of the week This may be a contentious view, but I'm beginning to think that fair trade is just another bandwagon that many outlets and suppliers are jumping on in order to appear caring. Sure, having a policy that ensures a...

Deaf student seeks work placement.(Side Orders)
April 10, 2008... I have a catering student, finishing NVQ level 2 in June, who wishes to advance to level 3 full- or part-time in September. He is looking for a work placement in London or Kent, preferably, in pastry section. He can lip-read to a small...

Remembered in passing?(Side Orders)
April 10, 2008... The passing of George Hill, former chief executive and chairman of British Transport Hotels, was not recognised in last week's Caterer. Nor, in recent weeks, were the deaths of Melvyn Greene, a noted industry consultant Harry Cracknell, the...

Don't forget front of house.(Side Orders)
April 10, 2008... I completely agree with David Pitchford (Caterer, 3 April, page 20). The way a meal is served matters just as much as - and sometimes more than - the food itself and we consistently underplay the talents that exist front of house, with the...

Industry must get involved.(Side Orders)
April 10, 2008... Is the continuing debate on colleges pathetic or just apathetic? Over recent weeks, the ongoing debate about colleges and the standards of college-trained students has been raised once again. As a college lecturer, I feel that a voice from...

Olivere_SSRqs Aussie.(Features)
April 10, 2008... Matt Skinner came to the public eye as Jamie Oliver's wine-loving Matt Skinner has been keeping himself busy since he moved back to his native Australia. As well as being Jamie Oliver's wine consultant, and overseeing the list at Jonathan...

Contents.(News)
April 10, 2008... Matt Skinner... Jamie Oliver's wine-loving sidekick 32 7 Wine Customers will end up paying for Budget changes, a poor exchange rate and a bad vintage in 2007 8 Restaurants Jamie Oliver names fifth site for his Italian chain 10...

EventsTime for a taste of the west.(Side Orders)
April 10, 2008... The Pet Shop Boys put it as succinctly as Caterer ever could: Go west! Why? Because the Taste of the West Trade Show is taking place in Exeter from 21 to 22 April. It's a trade-only exhibition showcasing a broad base of South-west food and...