Caterer & Hotelkeeper articles from November 2005

Caterer & Hotelkeeper archives from November 2005

love going to work?
November 3, 2005... Your company could be one of the Best Places to Work in Hospitality, and now it has the chance to be recognised as such in the Caterer Group's inaugural awards Why should I enter the Caterer Group Best Places to Work in Hospitality Awards...

flights of fancy.
November 3, 2005... Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week and hosting a captive market of consumers who often have time to kill, airports offer unique opportunities for catering outlets. In the third part of our series on the importance of location, Rosalind...

the acorn advantage.
November 3, 2005... As Caterer invites nominations for the 2006 Acorn Awards, four previous winners make a special work placement offer. Janet Harmer and Amanda Afiya report With tourism and hospitality destined for continued growth in the UK, never has it...

lime.
November 3, 2005... A Caribbean restaurant in Epsom? Executive chef Orlando Satchwell feels it's an excellent location in which to attract a new clientele to West Indian cuisine, as Janet Harmer found out Introducing customers to Caribbean cuisine is a...

seven-days; wonder.(Company Profile)
November 3, 2005... How does a hospitality company maintain a steady stream of business throughout the week, month and year? Emma Allen reports on how three businesses seek to achieve a seven-days-a-week operation The Capital Group Being successful in business...

How to treat your staff.
November 3, 2005... There are just four weeks left to get your entries in for the Caterer Group's Best Places to Work in Hospitality Awards. Here, three of the judges explore staff retention issues and explain why it's more important than ever to be recognised as...

Spanish flyer.(23rd Chef Conference)
November 3, 2005... Debates, masterclasses, the very first appearance at a culinary event in the UK by one of Spain's most talked-about young chefs - it all happened at the 23rd Chef Conference. We have full reports on the day's events for you over the next seven...

better training ; is vital.(Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park)
November 3, 2005... A plea for better training, dazzling masterclasses from experts in their fields, and some words of wisdom about entering competitions were among the conference highlights David Nicholls isn't known for grabbing the headlines, but the...

Hospitality industry 'must help itself'.
November 3, 2005... The hospitality industry's skills shortage will only get worse unless the sector improves its working conditions, experts warned this week. Talking at a forum held at London's Thames Valley University in Ealing, BaxterStorey chief executive...

simple success.
November 3, 2005... Ian Boxall had his work cut out catering for more than 200 fellow chefs at the Chef Conference - and his priority was to keep things simple As executive chef at the Millennium Conference Centre in London's South Kensington, Ian Boxall is...

supplies, supplies.(Chef Conference)(suppliers in the food business)
November 3, 2005... Produce makes a dish - and we had some of the UK's most talked-about suppliers on hand at the Chef Conference to prove it. Dan Bignold reports A big buzz was created at this year's Chef Conference by our Marketplace, created by Caterer to...

More awards for Ramsay and Oliver.
November 3, 2005... Gordon Ramsay scooped three accolades in the 2005 Harpers & Mot Restaurant Awards on Monday (31 October). Ramsay took home the Vintage Year Award for his achievements in the past 12 months, which saw him open new restaurants in London, Tokyo...

Slump in school meals continues; "Bull in a china shop" Oliver's TV programme is blamed.
November 3, 2005... BY TOM BILL School meal uptake in England has not yet recovered to pre-Jamie Oliver levels, according to the Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA). LACA vice-chairman Irene Carroll said: "The figures don't look good. If it continues and...

Breakfast costs up to [pounds sterling]30 in London's top-class hotels.
November 3, 2005... by Kerstin KUhn London's luxury hotels charge up to [pounds sterling]30 for a traditional English fry-up, Caterer can reveal. In a survey of 18 of the capital's leading hotels, we found that a full English breakfast costs customers [pounds...

Compass uncertainty puts contracts at risk.(Compass Group PLC)
November 3, 2005... Corporate bad news has clients questioning relationships By Tom Bill Compass Group may lose business as a result of the company's recent setbacks, according to industry sources. After three profit warnings in a year, a UN investigation into...

Battle of the breakfasts.
November 3, 2005... Breakfast might be the most important meal of the day, but paying for it could cost more than you think. Jessica Gunn investigates In the wake of Little Chef's takeover last week, new owner the People's Restaurant Group announced that...

Gowers to head up IHG's global marketing.(Intercontinental Hotels Group PLC appoints Peter Gowers )(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has chosen Peter Gowers (above) to be its first chief marketing officer. Gowers, 33, will head up the group's marketing operations across 100 countries for its seven brands, including InterContinental,...

Falcon swoops for Gold Award.
November 3, 2005... The first Caterer Group Excellence in Catering Equipment & Supplies Awards were held last week at London's Landmark hotel. The awards, sponsored by Brakes, recognised 13 outstanding products in categories including beverage making, crockery,...

White and Forte team up for a second time.
November 3, 2005... Restaurateur Marco Pierre White and hotelier Sir Rocco Forte are going into business together with a new restaurant in St James's, London. The new Italian eaterie opens on Monday (7 November) on the former site of fish restaurant Madame...

Scotland's school meals initiative bears fruit.
November 3, 2005... School meals in Scotland are improving, according to the country's school inspectors. Nutrition experts who visited 39 schools across the country to monitor the Hungry for Success initiative said children were now benefiting from healthier...

On duty to; go Off Duty...(David Nicholls launches his charity recipe book )(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park's executive chef David Nicholls (above, right, with Richard Shepherd) at the launch of his charity recipe book last Tuesday. The book, called Off Duty, was compiled by Nicholls to raise funds for research into spinal...

Novelli to launch chain of gastropubs.
November 3, 2005... Celebrity chef and restaurateur Jean-Christophe Novelli is planning to open a string of gastropubs in the Home Counties. Just weeks after announcing his departure from the Auberge du Lac restaurant at Brocket Hall, Hertforshire, the French chef...

Smoking bill attracts fire.
November 3, 2005... The Government's failure to ban smoking in all workplaces last week has met with stiff criticism from across the industry. Angela Frewin reports Health campaigners and the pub trade have both branded the Government's dramatic U-turn on...

Wales wants total ban on smoking.
November 3, 2005... Officials at the National Assembly for Wales have reiterated their intention to go for a total smoking ban, following the Government's decision to opt for a partial ban in England. As part of the Health Bill, Wales will be given the power it...

Cyrus Todiwala wins top honour at third annual Springboard awards for excellence.
November 3, 2005... The third Springboard Awards for Excellence, celebrating initiatives for attracting and retaining staff in the hospitality industry, were held at the Brewery in Chiswell Street, London, on Monday night. The Special Award, which honours the most...

Valentina Harris joins ; Le Petit Max.
November 3, 2005... Le Petit Max in south-west London has teamed up with celebrated Italian chef and writer Valentina Harris. Harris has joined the restaurant as a consultant to work alongside head chef Simon Gale. Owner Patrick Jefferson said the partnership was...

Chefs and caterers say flu hasn't affected sales.
November 3, 2005... by Angela Frewin Top chefs, restaurateurs and contract caterers have refuted claims that fears over bird flu are scaring customers off chicken. Last week chef Alexis Gauthier, from one-Michelin-starred Roussillon in Pimlico, London, said he had...

Gagnaire to run restaurant in Hong Kong.
November 3, 2005... Three-Michelin-starred French chef Pierre Gagnaire is to launch a new restaurant at the Hong Kong Mandarin Oriental hotel as part of its $140m ([pounds sterling]79m) refurbishment. Gagnaire will open a French restaurant next summer on the...

New York wins 51 Michelin stars.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... New York's inaugural Michelin guide saw the city leap frog London in the culinary stakes winning a grand total of 51 Michelin stars. An astounding four restaurants were awarded three stars - Alain Ducasse, Jean-Georges, Le Bernardin and Per Se,...

Smoking bill move ends in a shambles.
November 3, 2005... A "chaotic muddle" and a "perverse outcome" were just two of the criticisms levelled at the Government's shambolic introduction of the smoking bill last week. After months of speculation that the Cabinet might muster courage enough to introduce...

A minute; on the clock; Giles Coren.
November 3, 2005... The Times restaurant critic Giles Coren has been a busy chap. On Sunday he cooked at the Too Many Critics dinner (full story opposite) and has been starring in Gordon Ramsay's new TV show The F Word. Emily Manson spoke to him Caterer Why...

Book Review.(Italia: The Recipes and Customs of the Regions )(Book Review)
November 3, 2005... Regional dishes of Italy Italia, the recipes and customs of the regions Antonio Carluccio Quadrille Publishing, [pounds sterling]25 ISBN 1-84400-166-0 At first glance, you would be forgiven for mistaking Antonio Carluccio's Italia for...

Caterer loves.
November 3, 2005... Vacherin Vacherin traditionally comes from the Alpine region of the Jura Mountains, which run across the Franco-Swiss border. This gorgeous, gooey cheese, which typically contains 45-50% milk fat, is made from the milk of the Montbeliarde...

Festive and fuss-free.
November 3, 2005... Christmas is a busy time, so here's a selection of menu items which are quick and easy to prepare and serve. Diane Lane reports 1. pass the port jelly If you're looking for an alternative to cranberry sauce for your Christmas menus,...

Game on at Mason's.(Mason's Arms)(Restaurant Review)
November 3, 2005... With autumn getting under way, the Dodsons' thoughts are turning to game - and the wines that sell against it. Joanna Wood caught up with them The story so far The property Mason's Arms, Knowstone, Devon Bought 21 June Owners Mark and...

Get ready for a Riesling revival.
November 3, 2005... German wines are on the rebound, and restaurateur Nick Scade thinks Riesling is set for a return Germany has always made some of the world's greatest white wines and I, for one, am a great Riesling fan. I particularly like those steely,...

Just Opened.
November 3, 2005... Roast, London Housed within a giant glass room overlooking Borough Market and St Paul's Cathedral, Roast is the new creation of Cinnamon Club founder Iqbal Wahhab. Meat is sizzled in a spit oven in the open kitchen. Menus also include classic...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
November 3, 2005... Children must be taught about diet Regarding "Bring back cookery into schools plea" (Caterer, 20 October, page 12), it's reassuring to see that the likes of Scolarest have finally concluded food education is an essential part of the curriculum...

the week ; in brief.(Vegetarian Society Awards)(Ignite restaurants)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... Vegetarian Society Awards Rainbow Cafe in Cambridge and Bristol's Cafe Maitreya have jointly won the Best Vegetarian Bistro and Cafe category in this year's Vegetarian Society Awards held on board the Cutty Sark in London. Marble Brewery in...

Over to you.
November 3, 2005... Are German wines as unpopular as everyone says? Iris Ellman, managing director, The WineBarn, Winchester "Riesling makes a very versatile food match and the message that Germany produces some of the best Rieslings - many of them dry - is...

Part-time holiday calculations.(holiday entitlements of part-time workers)
November 3, 2005... Jonathan Exten-Wright, of solicitors DLA Piper Rudnick, advises on how to calculate the holiday entitlements of part-time workers THE PROBLEM The staff of a large hotel work in a variety of ways: part-time, full-time, fixed days and on a...

Table Talk.(Hotel du Vin Birmingham)(Sofitel)
November 3, 2005... deafening response to 24-hour opening Another example of licensing reform as a catch-all harbinger of the apocalypse hit the news last week. The Royal National Institute for Deaf People and the TUC warned that changes allowing 24-hour opening...

good week/bad week.
November 3, 2005... Baked beans lovers Branston takes on Heniz with launch of new brand. Female chefs Cristeta Comerford, first female head chef at White House, to cook for royal visit. Female diners Most men still pay the bill. Mince pies Two million sold...

How ; to.(fruit spreads recipe)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2005... Preserve autumn fruits in brandy A good way to handle a glut of autumn fruits is to preserve them in brandy. They will keep for more than a year in the fridge, and can be used in savoury or sweet dishes. Use plums, damsons, cherries, figs,...

infozone Strategy clinic.
November 3, 2005... The question I'm concerned about the amount of regulation I seem to be facing as a licensee, particularly the issues surrounding underage drinking and spot checks. If my staff are caught serving underage drinkers my licence could be at...

top tools of the trade.
November 3, 2005... Innovative design, cost-effectiveness and ease of maintenance were key factors for the winners of the inaugural Caterer Group Excellence in Catering Equipment & Supplies Awards. Matthew Batham reports The contribution to the success of the...

Leading the field.
November 10, 2005... Pioneering hotel consortium Leading Hotels of the World is broadening its horizons after 75 years in the business. Through joint ventures and strategic alliances it aims to become a complete luxury service provider. Christian Sylt reports ...

Volume cooking equipment.
November 10, 2005... Sometimes pans on a stove just aren't big enough for the quantity of food being cooked. That's when bratt pans and steam kettles come into their own For many chefs the demand on kitchen equipment is not just for heavy-duty performance,...

Snack equipment.
November 10, 2005... Making quick snacks is simple kitchen work, but the equipment to make them needs careful choosing and buying Snacks can be high revenue earners, and the equipment that produces it needs to be high performance. The first rule for buying...

Shelves and tables.
November 10, 2005... While shelving and tables might not be cooking equipment, if organised badly they can bring kitchen chaos. We look at racking, stacking and packing When it comes to having enough space to work in, most chefs will say the person who...

Conran to expand with Sauterelle.
November 10, 2005... Conran Restaurants will expand its presence at the Royal Exchange in London this December when it opens the 70-seat Restaurant Sauterelle. The restaurant, which will serve regional French cuisine and an extensive list of French wines, will...

China Tang.
November 10, 2005... The menu reads like an encyclopaedia of Cantonese cooking techniques, and leading critics are enthused. Sejal Sukhadwala enjoys a taste of colonial Shanghai On my first visit to China Tang, I'm having lunch with a visiting American...

Serveries with a smile.(Theatre-style serveries )
November 10, 2005... Servery counters benefit from a bit of theatre to enhance meal appeal and build staff-customer interaction. A new generation of hybrid counters takes this trend further by incorporating cooking equipment. Bruce Whitehall reports ...

Designing your kitchen.
November 10, 2005... Whether you're planning a kitchen for a 40-seat restaurant, a five-star, 300-bedroom hotel, or for a corporate building feeding 3,000 staff, the principles of design and considerations should be the same. Derek White outlines what you need to...

Master motivators.
November 10, 2005... Motivational training can take many weird and wonderful forms, but the benefits to workforce morale - and therefore staff retention - can make it well worth the investment, says Kirstie Redford One of the best ways to help retain staff is...

Finding the right club mix.
November 10, 2005... Six months after opening as a restaurant and bar, the Cube & Star is gearing up for its first night as a club. Diane Lane reports on preparations for the big party After weeks of hard work renovating the basement of the Hoxton Square...

Vending to get a bigger role ; in our schools.
November 10, 2005... Vending machines will play an increasingly important role in school catering as lunch hours shrink and children spend more time at school, claims the Health Education Trust (HET). Speaking at an Automatic Vending Association conference in...

Come fly with Lavazza.(2006 calendar and advertising campaigns)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Italian coffee group Lavazza this month launches its 2006 calendar - always a favourite with the boys for its images of scantily clad women - along with its new advertising campaign. The theme is first-class air travel, which, according to the...

All-in breakfasts will bring business.
November 10, 2005... Mintel research shows that inclusive breakfasts can help attract business but budget operators disagree By Kerstin Kuhn Budget hotels should include breakfast in room rates if they want to continue to attract more new customers, according...

Luxury on ; the forecourt.(London hotel Claridge customer service)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Guests at London hotel Claridge's who are running late can now get where they want in a hurry thanks to the hotel's latest purchase - a Bentley Continental Flying Spur. The hotel is one of the first customers in the world to take delivery of...

England's pubs are still waiting for details of the smoking ban.(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Pub operators in England will have to wait until next year before they find out any more official details about the smoking ban, due to start in mid-2007. Labour MP Kevin Barrow, chairman of the Health Select Committee, said last week that...

British cow beef back on the menu.
November 10, 2005... British cow beef has been allowed back on to menus after a nine-year absence. Following a recommendation from the Food Standards Agency, on Monday the Government lifted a ban on serving beef from cattle more than 30 months old imposed in August...

Blumenthal joins Roux judges.(Heston Blumenthal, Roux Scholarship )(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Competitors at next year's Roux Scholarship will be faced with a new judging line-up, including the three-Michelin-starred chef and Catey winner Heston Blumenthal. Blumenthal replaces Rick Stein and will be joined by fellow new judge Andrew...

New boss tackles Cinnamon Club's [pounds sterling]1m debt.(Begbies Traynor )(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Westminster restaurant the Cinnamon Club is to undergo major financial surgery after admitting it owed the Government [pounds sterling]1m in unpaid taxes. The Indian restaurant is understood to have accrued debts in PAYE and VAT returns in its...

Restaurants at Work takeover.
November 10, 2005... Independent contract caterer Restaurants at Work has been taken over by a six-strong consortium. The group, headed by former Aramark managing director of specialist markets Wyn Roberts, is believed to have paid between [pounds sterling]2.5m and...

QMH to sell two more UK hotels.
November 10, 2005... European hotel group Queens Moat Houses (QMH) has put a further two hotels up for sale following the successful disposal of nine of its UK properties earlier this year. The 200-bedroom York Moat House and the 120-bedroom Cheltenham/Gloucester...

Conran takes over at the People's Palace.
November 10, 2005... Conran is to open its 12th London restaurant with the takeover of the People's Palace at London's Southbank centre. A spokeswoman for the Southbank said: "Southbank and Conran Holdings are discussing terms for the level-three restaurant at the...

Two line up to buy Initial conferences.
November 10, 2005... Two contenders have been shortlisted in the race to buy Initial's conference division after the De Vere hotel group pulled out last week. Initial's owner, the hygiene and pest control group Rentokil, has put its Style Conference division of 29...

Oliver turns in a [pounds sterling]7m profit for 2004.
November 10, 2005... Jamie Oliver's empire of cookery programmes, best-selling books and advertising deals has made him one of the UK's most successful entrepreneurs. The cheeky chef's company Sweet as Candy (Holdings) earned [pounds sterling]7.17m in pre-tax...

McClements loses head chef after problems with suppliers.
November 10, 2005... Head chef Daniel Wodehouse has walked out of Twickenham restaurant McClements, claiming that suppliers were refusing to deal with owner John McClement. It is the second time that the restaurant's head chef has left the operation in two years....

Atlantic Bar to reopen for Christmas parties.(Atlantic Bar and Grill reopening)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Simon Wright may relaunch the restaurant and bar under a new name in January if the lease is extended By Jessica Gunn The Atlantic Bar & Grill in London's Piccadilly is reopening next week, but only for private parties and events....

Hotel restaurants are losing market share.
November 10, 2005... Exclusive report shows guests choose to eat out locally By Angela Frewin Hotel dining is on the decline, with guests increasingly choosing to shun in-house eateries in favour of nearby restaurants, according to a new report. Research by...

Minister targets booze promotions.(Pubs new licensing act)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... By Chris Druce Pubs and bars that encourage excessive boozing through drink promotions will be targeted under the new licensing act. At an industry conference last week, licensing minister James Purnell signalled he could use the act to punish...

More room to celebrate at Fortnum & mason.
November 10, 2005... Fortnum & Mason, London's oldest department store, is to revamp its restaurant offerings and expand the number of in-house eateries from three to five. The store's private owner, the Weston family, plans to invest [pounds sterling]24m in a...

Compass sacks chief executive Peter Harris.(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Compass Group has sacked its UK and Ireland chief executive, Peter Harris. The dismissal follows an internal investigation into alleged corruption surrounding the awarding of a [pounds sterling]35.3m United Nations food and water contract in...

New drinking laws give pubs a licence to serve breakfast.
November 10, 2005... Operators favour early opening instead of all-night extensions By Angela Frewin Pubs and bars have spurned the chance to serve booze 24 hours a day, opting instead for cups of tea and bacon butties when the new licensing laws come into...

No one gains from shortage of EHOs.(Environmental health officers)
November 10, 2005... Environmental health officers (EHOs) are in chronic short supply. A survey conducted by the BBC earlier this week highlighted that there are now more than 700 vacancies for EHOs across the country and that nearly two-thirds of local authorities...

A minute; on the clock; Adam Simmonds.
November 10, 2005... Ynyshir Hall has just been awarded eight out of 10 in the Good Food Guide, the first restaurant in Wales to achieve such a score. It also has four rosettes in the AA guide. Caterer spoke to head chef Adam Simmonds about just where it all went...

Big ideas for Little Chef.
November 10, 2005... Roadside restaurant chain Little Chef is under new management. Nic Paton finds out whether Britian's most renowned motorway brand can reinvent itself New Little Chef owners Simon Heath and Lawrence Wosskow are men in a hurry. Next Thursday...

Book Review.(Classic Recipes from Scotland)(Book Review)
November 10, 2005... The Scottish way Classic Recipes from Scotland Tom Bridge Mainstream Publishing, [pounds sterling]20 ISBN 1-84018-943-6 Strangely, despite writing a book on Scottish food, Tom Bridge doesn't hail from Caledonia; in fact, he's a...

Caterer loves.
November 10, 2005... Ice-skating Ice-skating is said to date back to the Vikings, who, more than 1,200 years ago, built skates from animal bones. The bones were shaped and sharpened until they formed a flat gliding surface and were then attached to Viking feet...

EHO shortage puts customers at risk.(environmental health officers)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... Local authorities forced to cut inspection programmes By Angela Frewin An acute shortage of environmental health officers (EHOs) is putting the public at risk from food poisoning in restaurants and other catering outlets. The BBC's Real...

Going places.(Uk restaurant industry's appointments)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2005... The Boisdale of Belgravia restaurant in London has recruited Colin Wint as head chef. He was head chef at Livebait in Waterloo and senior sous chef at Covent Garden's Rules restaurant. Russell Bateman has joined Danesfield House hotel in...

Grills and griddles.(cooking equipment analysis)
November 10, 2005... Grills and griddles are two of the simplest items of cooking equipment in any kitchen, but they are remarkably versatile, as Keith Warren explains Grills and griddles have a unique feature among kitchen equipment: they are the only items...