Caterer & Hotelkeeper articles from February 2006

Caterer & Hotelkeeper archives from February 2006

What's it worth?
February 2, 2006... Business and industry clients need to understand the real worth of a catering service and its realistic price in order to help eliminate contractors' reliance on purchasing discounts to boost their income. Tony Horton explains how the...

Back to the floor.(BaxterStorey)
February 2, 2006... When BaxterStorey chief executive Alastair Storey decided it was time he sampled the training experiences of his company's chefs, Michelin-starred restaurant the Vineyard was the only place to go. Dan Bignold explains Imagine...

Green and Red.(Tex-Mex)
February 2, 2006... Forget Tex-Mex, authentic Mexican cuisine is now on offer in east London - along with 50-plus tequilas. Dan Bignold reports The 1980s craze for themed nights out catapulted Mexican cuisine straight to our hearts. As long as punters could...

Keep domain over your name.(Europe's new domain name .eu)
February 2, 2006... Tuesday 7 February marks the second phase of the registration process for Europe's new domain name, .eu. Romain Dourlen advises how to register The Problem The .eu domain name deadline is looming for hotel and catering businesses....

Tasty choices.(Buyers Guide)
February 2, 2006... Matthew Batham takes a look at some of the latest food products 1. take stock Macphie aims to help caterers save time with a ready-to-use Red Wine Sauce. Made with red wine and veal stock, it's designed to complement a range of meats,...

star performers.(high achievers)
February 2, 2006... As any employer will tell you, a business is only as good as its staff. But sometimes employees don't always get the recognition they deserve. So we asked employers to send us details of their top performers so we could showcase...

Bread from leaven.
February 2, 2006... Making bread from a natural leaven requires very different techniques from those needed when using brewer's yeast. Master baker Dan Lepard offers a step-by-guide, and the results, as Michael Raffael reports, can be spectacular Using a...

expert advice.
February 2, 2006... Hotelympia is hosting a wide variety of seminars featuring experts on all aspects of the hospitality industry. Janet Harmer gives a run-down As well as being inspired by wonderful new products at Hotelympia, visitors can also become...

Starry-eyed start to 2006.
February 2, 2006... The Mason's Arms is in celebratory mood after gaining a Michelin star in the 2006 "Little Red Book". This and some redecoration saw Mark and Sarah Dodson start the New Year in confident mood. Joanna Wood dropped in The Dodsons have had a...

Whose job is it to spot the illegal immigrants?(Quaglino's restaurant)
February 2, 2006... Last month's raid on Quaglino's restaurant has again forced the hospitality industry to face the issue of illegal immigration. Nic Paton investigates Immigration officers' raid on Conran restaurant Quaglino's, in London, last month...

movable feast.
February 2, 2006... We're all so busy these days that many more people eat in transit than ever before, so caterers need to be ready with hand-held snacks and portable meals. Diane Lane reports Whether it's on the train, in the car or at our desks, many of us...

the week in brief.
February 2, 2006... Hilton shareholders approve Hilton Group shareholders have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the gaming and hospitality group's plan to sell its hotel arm back to the USA's Hilton Hotels Corporation (HHC) for [pounds sterling]3.3b. The...

Vision gets a little blurred in the delivery.
February 2, 2006... The vision is out there, but larger caterers still struggle to make it reality, says Chris Stern It doesn't seem long ago that everyone was wringing their hands about the difficulties Sodexho was having in the UK. More recently, we all...

Purchasing clause could hinder sale of SSP.(Select Service Partner)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Compass Group could struggle to sell its SSP travel concession business to a trade buyer, according to a leading investment bank. Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein (DKW) said that a purchasing clause in the deal, which ties the buyer into a...

Travelodge seeks management cuts.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Eighty jobs are under threat at Travelodge after the company announced a major shake-up of its management structure. As part of a broader [pounds sterling]3m cost-cutting drive, the budget hotel chain has begun redundancy negotiations with...

Base2stay launches first London apart-hotel.(InterContinental Hotels Group)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Apart-hotels, a popular hybrid concept in the USA, are attempting to grab a foothold in the UK market with the unveiling of a new site in London last week. Following a [pounds sterling]4.5m refurbishment programme, the Quality hotel in...

the week in brief.(Capital Pub Company)(InterContinental Hotels Group)(BaxterStorey )(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Capital Pub Company expands London's Capital Pub Company has bought 10 west London pubs from Spirit Group. Capital, which is funded through two Enterprise Investment Schemes, has recently raised [pounds sterling]3.6m through corporate...

GuestInvest lines up more 'buy-to-let' hotels.
February 2, 2006... Hotel investment company GuestInvest launched a prototype of its second property Nest at Paddington station this week and revealed it has a third site in the pipeline in Bermondsey, south London. Following on from the original Guesthouse West...

Opening of Rhodes W1 is delayed.(Cumberland hotel)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Fine dining at London's Cumberland hotel, part of Thistle's luxury Guoman brand, has stalled as the restaurant still has to be designed, Caterer can exclusively reveal. Gary Rhodes's latest upmarket restaurant Rhodes W1 was scheduled to...

Live in presidential luxury... at [pounds sterling]6,000 a night.(Hotel luxury)(InterContinental)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Hotel luxury may have hit new heights with the launch of InterContinental's presidential suite in Hong Kong this week (31 January). The five-bedroom 7,000sq ft suite features a split-level living room with plate-glass windows, panoramic...

Hotel's windows ruling victory.
February 2, 2006... Hotel owners will not have to restrict how far windows open to stop guests falling out, following a Court of Appeal ruling at the end of last month. The case was brought to the appeal courts by Christian Lewis, a guest who fell out of a...

Fairmont and Raffles to unite in [pounds sterling]2b deal.(Fairmont is to join with top Asian hotel Raffles)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... By Emily Manson Canadian luxury hotel group Fairmont is to join forces with top Asian hotel brand Raffles in a massive [pounds sterling]2b deal. The acquisition proposal has been put forward jointly by Kingdom Hotels, a trust fund of...

McDonald's pilots job sharing for families.
February 2, 2006... Scheme could help parents, carers and reduce absenteeism By Angela Frewin Fast-food giant McDonald's is trialling a flexible job-share scheme in the UK that allows families working in the same restaurant to swap shifts without notice....

Takeover moves for ailing Tootsies Cut-price deal on the cards for brand that's "lost its way".(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... BY JESSICA GUNN Struggling burger chain Tootsies' future is under the spotlight again after owner Urban Dining admitted it had received several takeover approaches. Urban Dining's management last week revealed it had received several...

Mixed trading fortunes for Conran restaurants.
February 2, 2006... Conran Holdings has reported a buoyant Christmas period but otherwise flat results for the year. Chief executive Des Gunewardena said December sales at its most recently opened restaurants, including Plateau at Canary Wharf, the sites at...

Marston Hotels joins call for total smoking ban.
February 2, 2006... UK-wide group Marston Hotels has become the latest hospitality company to back Caterer's campaign to Stub Out Smoking. Opening its new [pounds sterling]22m Nottingham Belfry hotel this week (1 February), it called on MPs to back a total...

MBI acquires Scotsman Hotel Group.
February 2, 2006... Boutique hotel operator the Scotsman Hotel Group has been bought for more than [pounds sterling]60m by MBI International, a [pounds sterling]2b multinational corporation owned by Saudi tycoon Sheikh Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber. The group,...

Rentokil's laundry shut-down may leave clients high and dry.(Rentokil Initial PLC)(close its loss-making linen)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Hotels and restaurants in the UK could be left without laundry services following Rentokil Initial's decision to close its loss-making linen and workwear division. Rentokil is shutting the division on 30 April after failing to find a...

Kevin Gratton will head up kitchen at Scott's.
February 2, 2006... Head chef of London celebrity restaurant Le Caprice, Kevin Gratton (left), will be moving to Mayfair restaurant Scott's when it reopens in the spring. Gratton, 35, has worked at Le Caprice, also in Mayfair, for eight years but will...

BHA: Unite to fight high energy bills Hotels and restaurants urged to form cost-saving co-ops.
February 2, 2006... By Angela Frewin Hoteliers and restaurateurs must join together to combat rocketing energy bills, according to the British Hospitality Association (BHA). Prices for all forms of power have spiralled by more than 50% in the past four...

London councils to publish restaurant hygiene results.
February 2, 2006... Initial proposal could be with Food Standards Agency by the end of the month By Jessica Gunn Food hygiene inspection reports, dubbed "scores on the doors", are to be published for all London restaurants after the capital's 33 boroughs...

A minute on the clock chris meredith.
February 2, 2006... Chris Meredith has been awarded his second Michelin star in as many years. His first star was at the Samling in 2004, but he left before it was announced. This year the star is for his work at Gilpin Lodge. He talks to Emily Manson about what...

Book Review.(Arabesque: A Taste of Morocco, Turkey and Lebanon)(Book Review)
February 2, 2006... Taste of Middle Eastern delight Arabesque: A taste of Morocco, Turkey & Lebanon Claudia Roden Penguin: Michael Joseph, [pounds sterling]25 ISBN 0-718-14581-X Well, the crazy season is finally over. No more turkey, cranberry sauce or...

Caterer loves.
February 2, 2006... Porridge Porridge is the new breakfast of choice. With the opening of the world's first porridge bar in Edinburgh, the demand for a hearty way to start the day has never been greater. Spurred on by a nation obsessed with GI superfoods and...

Catherine Murphy, sales manager, Chancellors hotel and conference centre, Manchester.
February 2, 2006... Chancellors hotel and conference centre in Manchester has recruited Catherine Murphy as sales manager. She was conference officer manager at the hotel's sister site, Manchester Conference Centre.

Chris Wayne-Wills, general manager, Macdonald Crutherland House hotel.
February 2, 2006... Macdonald Crutherland House hotel in East Kilbride has appointed Chris Wayne-Wills general manager, David Friel head chef and Don McGregor operations manager. Wayne-Wills was general manager at Manchester's Jarvis Piccadilly hotel, Friel was...

Companies face a blitz on benefits Taxman to target uniforms, taxi fares and food and drink.
February 2, 2006... Chris Druce Hospitality companies will be in the firing line again this year as the taxman targets staff benefits in kind. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is focusing on staff benefits in a bid to clamp down on operators breaking the law....

How I got here.
February 2, 2006... Paul Gould Group executive head chef, NEC Group Paul Gould is celebrating more than 30 years with Birmingham's international exhibition centre owner. He started as head chef at one restaurant there in 1975, just before the NEC,...

International Openings.(Management Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts)(Dunn's River Villagio Golf Resort and Spa)
February 2, 2006... Four Seasons Tented Camp, Golden Triangle, Thailand Camping has never been a byword for luxury, but now upmarket hotel brand extraordinaire Four Seasons has unveiled an indulgent tent-dwelling haven as its third Thailand property. Accessible...

Letters.
February 2, 2006... An easy route to 'not very qualified'? I have been working since September with a group of level 3 candidates on the long-awaited new vocational qualifications. I have been involved in developing them with People 1st, which has done a good...

Next move for a student keen to work.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Each week our panel of recruitment experts provide answers to an employment question from a Caterer reader the question I'm halfway through a degree in hotel and restaurant management and really miss the buzz of customer interaction....

Over to you.(high-street outlet)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Is the high street killing the staff canteen? Jonathan Doughty, group managing director, Coverpoint "No. I think the high street is teaching contract caterers, if anything. Contract caterers have a price advantage because they don't...

Review of Reviews.(Seafood Restaurant )
February 2, 2006... The Times 28 January Giles Coren heads off to Wiltshire and finds ballottine treated differently at the Old Bell in Malmesbury and Whatley Manor's brasserie, Le Mazot, in Easton Grey There was [at Le Mazot] a ballotine of chicken...

Table Talk.
February 2, 2006... will kirby's moves prove a recipe for disaster? It seems James Martin did more than just win over the hearts of housewives with his latest antics on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing - he inspired some of his colleagues to start dancing too. We hear...

We want information - and consistency.(publish environmental health reports online)
February 2, 2006... Two months ago we reported that Norwich restaurateurs had hit out at their city council's decision to publish environmental health reports online. Their concern was that lengthy delays between inspections could result in details of hygiene...

good week/bad week.
February 2, 2006... Mediterranean food May improve the health of unborn babies, and increase your life expectancy, according to new research. Jamie O Hanging out with Brad, Angelina, Patsy Kensit and Madonna at Locanda Locatelli. Soft drink makers Agree to stop...

how to.(Browns hotel)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Make Brown's Dartmoor whisky porridge Ingredients (Serves 6-8) 300g porridge oats 450ml milk 450ml water 150g Cornish clotted cream 60g honey 2 shots of whisky Salt and sugar to taste Method Place porridge oats, milk and water in a...

infozone foodfile ingredients in season.(weather conditions)
February 2, 2006... Fish There should be an improvement in Iceland's weather this week, which will help supplies of cod and haddock. With the Irish cod season also approaching, prices should fall. UK conditions have also improved, so expect better supplies of...

the week in brief.(London achieved growth of just 1.9%)(Job losses)(appointment of Ian Payne )(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Scots top UK revpar list Scottish hotels outperformed their English and Welsh counterparts in 2005, according to a new report from Deloitte. Scotland trounced England in the 2005 HotelBenchmark survey, with Scottish hotels generating a...

Controlling energy costs.
February 9, 2006... Spiralling gas and electricity prices have pushed the cost of energy in the kitchen into the headlines. But help is at hand. CESA, the Catering Equipment Suppliers' Association, offers advice on ways to economise When...

Getting the most from your combi-oven.(Combi-ovens)
February 9, 2006... Combi-ovens are the most versatile item of prime cooking equipment any professional kitchen can have. But there are tips and tricks that might not be in the instruction book. CESA, the Catering Equipment Suppliers' Association,...

the Near pavilions.(Regional Food and Drink Pavilion at Hotelympia)(Speciality Food and Drink Pavilion at Hotelympia)
February 9, 2006... There are two new pavilions at Hotelympia this year. One will showcase regional produce from around the UK and the other will feature speciality food and drink. Antony Adshead peeks inside Regional pavilion For the...

Why Hospitality Action deserves your support.
February 9, 2006... Images of high-profile industry figures suffering serious illness and and financial hardship feature in the campaign to raise funds for Hospitality Action. Kirstie Redford looks at the work of the charity and how its grants are allocated ...

Holmes truths.(interview)(Interview)
February 9, 2006... Terry Holmes has worked in just a handful of hotels in his 43-year career. Now, stepping down as executive director of London's Stafford hotel, he shares his thoughts on the industry with fellow hotelier - and former colleague - Rupert Elliott...

The relaxation zone.(seminars and exhibitions)
February 9, 2006... Most luxury hotels have a spa these days, and this year the spa suppliers will be out in force at Hotelympia Janet Harmer reports One of the fastest-growing markets in the hospitality industry - the spa business - is to be represented...

Sporting chances.
February 9, 2006... The Winter Olympics is coming to Italy this weekend, and host city Turin is determined to make sure its tourism industry sees some long-term benefits. Emma Allen reports Until recently, the city of Turin, in the north-west corner...

My new kitchen.(Sam Harrison new kitchen)
February 9, 2006... Since its doors opened last August, business at Sam's Brasserie has grown above projection. So it's a good job the kitchen was made robust enough to cope with the extra numbers. Diane Lane reports Sam Harrison had a clear idea of...

Inspector Gadget.(Pepper mills)(Elis electric mill)(Gilberts Food Equipment)
February 9, 2006... Pepper mills Chefs' requirements from a pepper mill are simply to dispense a stream of ground or crushed pepper for seasoning with the minimum of fuss. Inspector Gadget put a few to the test 1 Elis electric mill Made from...

Valentine's Day rings the changes... and the tills.
February 9, 2006... Valentine's Day is still popular with romantic couples, but restaurants and hotels increasingly see it as a chance to nurture long-term relationships. Andy Williamson reports Good news for all you romantics out there: the Valentine's...

Little Chef sets up coffee shop brand.
February 9, 2006... Roadside operator to unveil Coffee Tempo! tomorrow By Tom Bill Little Chef is to overhaul its restaurant concept with a grab-and-go brand called Coffee Tempo! The 235-strong chain of roadside diners will unveil the first unit at...

US Congress has questions over Compass investigation.(International Relations Committee)(Brief article)
February 9, 2006... The validity of Compass Group's internal investigation into allegations of corrupt procurement practices at the UN has been slammed by a US congressional committee. Following publication of the caterer's findings last week, the House of...

Caffe Nero looks to the Middle East for international launch.(Caffe Nero)(Brief article)
February 9, 2006... UK coffee chain Caffe Nero plans to launch itself on to the international stage within the next six months, it revealed last week. Nero chairman Gerry Ford said the company was in talks with a number of potential partners and expected to...

Arora Family Trust buys nine UK airport hotels.
February 9, 2006... Property investment group the Arora Family Trust has bought nine hotels from the Airport Hotels Unit Trust (AHUT) for more than [pounds sterling]300m. The properties are the Hilton and Renaissance hotels at Heathrow, and the Hilton, the...

Wozza signs lease for third London grill.
February 9, 2006... Antony Worrall Thompson's grill concept is expanding into a "menage a trois" with a new site set to open in Barnes, south-west London, at Easter. Following the success of his restaurants in Kew and Notting Hill, Worrall Thompson has signed...

Tom Aikens diversifies with new opening.
February 9, 2006... Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens is to launch a new restaurant concept around the corner from his existing site on Elystan Street, in Chelsea. The 36-year-old chef has bought a former pub, the Blenheim, on Cale Street, and plans to open a...

Blunder forces school meals deal re-tender.
February 9, 2006... West Berkshire Council has been forced to re-tender its school meals contract following a wrangle over paperwork. The three-year primary and secondary deal, which turns over [pounds sterling]1.2m a year across 68 schools, was won by...

Revenue ruling makes troncs more complex.(payroll systems )(Brief article)
February 9, 2006... New employees to be issued with even more tax forms By Angela Frewin Restaurants which run their tronc through a separate payroll are to face even more paperwork as HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) continues its clampdown on tipping. ...

Travelodge is ready to resist [pounds sterling]1b Whitbread takeover bid.(Whitbread takeover bid)(Brief article)
February 9, 2006... Travelodge rallied its defences publicly for the first time this week following increasing speculation that rival Whitbread was preparing a [pounds sterling]1b takeover bid. The budget hotel chain released a statement on Tuesday (7...

Hodgson's hooks national fish and chip shop of the year title.(National Fish and Chip Shop of the Year)(Brief article)
February 9, 2006... Linda and Nigel Hodgson celebrate after their Lancaster chippy, Hodgson's, won the National Fish and Chip Shop of the Year competition last week. In second place was Andy's, in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, while third was McDermott's in Croydon,...

Monster crab weighs in at industry show.
February 9, 2006... The world's biggest edible crab, the Norwegian Red King, was the star of the show at an industry extravaganza held last week by the Norwegian Seafood Export Council at Belgravia's One-O-One fish restaurant. Executive chef Pascal Proyart...

Students protest at meals price hike Call for healthier options and alternatives to fizzy drinks.(Canteen prices rose )(Brief article)
February 9, 2006... BY ANGELA FREWIN Hundreds of students and teachers at Lambeth College in London have staged a one-day boycott of its four canteens to protest about unhealthy and overpriced food. Canteen prices rose last September after the subsidy...

Vote on smoking ban could go either way.
February 9, 2006... Private members' clubs may still be exempt from ban Chris Druce With just days to go until the final House of Commons vote, the future of the smoking ban in England is still in the balance. Despite continued lobbying for a total...

Laurel pubs look to food for growth potential.
February 9, 2006... The Laurel Pub Company has put food at the centre of its growth plans. Chief executive Julian Sargeson said intense competition and a potential smoking ban in England meant the group would be aiming to push food sales as a percentage of...

Charles backs mutton revival.
February 9, 2006... Prince Charles launched his Mutton Renaissance Club at a gala dinner at the Ritz hotel in London last week. The club, which was co-founded by the Academy of Culinary Arts, aims to help farmers, butchers, chefs and retailers benefit from a...

Gate Gourmet director jailed for stealing [pounds sterling]30,000.(Ravinder Dhillon cases)(stealing [pounds sterling]30,000 from the company)(Brief article)
February 9, 2006... Gate Gourmet's former finance director Ravinder Dhillon has been jailed for 12 months for stealing [pounds sterling]30,000 from the company. Dhillon, 44, was sentenced by Isleworth Crown Court for illegally transferring the cash to Denmark...

Now Stelios turns his hand to pizza Products will be delivered frozen for franchisees to reheat.
February 9, 2006... Jessica Gunn Serial entrepreneur Stelios Haji-Ioannou has turned his attention to the fast-food business with the launch of EasyPizza. The creator and chairman of EasyGroup, which includes EasyHotel and EasyCruise, last week announced...

The week in brief.
February 9, 2006... Great Eastern Hotel for sale? Luxury private hotel group Hyatt Corporation is believed to be in discussions to take over the Great Eastern Hotel in London. The 267-bedroom hotel by Liverpool Street station has a price tag of [pounds...

Van der Horst leaves the Greenhouse.
February 9, 2006... Bjorn van der Horst has parted company with London restaurant the Greenhouse, just as it has been tipped for a second Michelin star. The 33-year-old chef would not explain the reasons for his departure, but added that after three years of...

Another Frenchman signs for the Gunners.
February 9, 2006... Janet Harmer Raymond Blanc has been announced as the latest signing at Arsenal Football Club. The French chef will head up what is being heralded as the most luxurious food offering in football, a 110-seat restaurant at Arsenal's new...

A minute on the clock Chad Fox.(Interview)
February 9, 2006... Chad Fox is guest services manager at the Fairmont Chateau in Whistler, one of Canada's premier skiing resorts. He tells Emily Manson about the hotel's new ski concierge service Caterer Where did the idea for a ski concierge service come...

Book Review.(The Dylan, Amsterdam A Tasteful Experience)(Book review)
February 9, 2006... Tasteful promotional exercise The Dylan, Amsterdam A Tasteful Experience Edited by J Freud Inmerc Publishing, a55 ([pounds sterling]38) This is not a pure cookbook, rather an insight into the world of the Dylan hotel in...

Caterer loves.
February 9, 2006... Valentine's Day It's said that money can't buy you love, but for those prone to ridiculous fiscal displays of affection, Valentine's means more than just a padded card and Elizabeth Duke's finest. Topping the lavish love chart this...

Design for efficiency.
February 9, 2006... If the catering industry does not start to make changes in its energy efficiency and CO2 discharge levels, says David Clarke, it runs the risk that decisions will be made by those who don't understand the operational requirements...

Earl Withers, deputy catering manager,the NEC Group, Birmingham.
February 9, 2006... Earl Withers (left) has been promoted to deputy catering manager of the NEC Group, Birmingham. He was catering general manager of the group's International Conference Centre (ICC) and National Indoor Arena venues. Allan Boyle has become ICC...