Caterer & Hotelkeeper articles from November 2008

Caterer & Hotelkeeper archives from November 2008

About time NHS had food service in-house.(Side Orders)
November 6, 2008... letter of the week At long last, someone has woken up to the fact that the NHS can organise its own services, that catering is important to the patient experience and that food is crucial to improve the public's poor diet. I welcome...

An employer's view on tips in wage packets.(Side Orders)
November 6, 2008... I own an independent restaurant and have been concerned and distressed by some of your reports on the tips and service charge issue over the last few months I own an independent restaurant and have been concerned and distressed by some of...

Help needed to trace poem.(Letter to the editor)
November 6, 2008... I am trying to track down a copy of a poem that was read by the Lord Mayor of London to a caterers' ball in the early 1970s I am trying to track down a copy of a poem that was read by the Lord Mayor of London to a caterers' ball in the...

No substitute for sugar.(Viewpoint essay)
November 6, 2008... Since my time in catering - the 1940 to 1980s - the scene has altered beyond recognition Since my time in catering - the 1940 to 1980s - the scene has altered beyond recognition. We currently have many comedians, both in Government and the...

Need for info on diplomas.(Letter to the editor)
November 6, 2008... The new diplomas may or may not be perfect The new diplomas may or may not be perfect. They are new qualifications that will become what we make of them. In our view, the value of the diplomas is that they are not closing doors to a...

Green should not be costly.(Letter to the editor)
November 6, 2008... Your article "The waste land?" (Caterer, 9*October, page 36) did a good job of showing how the industry can be green by minimising the amount of food sent to waste in landfill sites Your article "The waste land?" (Caterer, 9*October, page...

New licensing laws 'inevitable'.(News)
November 6, 2008... Experts say tighter rules are on their way after critical report on self-regulation By Chris Druce New alcohol licensing legislation is "inevitable" within the next year to 15 months, legal experts warned last week. At a licensing...

Curiouser and curiouserAdventures in Wonderland.('Fat Duck at Home')(Interview)
November 6, 2008... He's produced a book that looks distinctly El Bulli - large, expensive and with elaborate recipes - but it's meant as the definitive last word on the Fat Duck. Heston Blumenthal is keen to make a mark, yet his A-list celebrity status is more...

We still have reasons to be cheerful.(News)
November 6, 2008... The week started well for Britain. In a toe-curling finale at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton became the first British racing driver to win the Formula 1 championship since Damon Hill in 1996, the British cycling team cleaned up at the...

Saf.(Features)
November 6, 2008... Saf restaurant's 100% vegan menu may not be the ideal choice for the avid meat lover, but it offers an exciting dining experience to be found nowhere else in London, says Kerstin Kuhn Vegetarian dining has never been more popular. London...

We've got it taped - the biggest debuts of the week.
November 6, 2008... Two new pieces of video this week feature Heston Blumenthal on The Big Fat Duck Cookbook and our news report from Europe's biggest inner-city shopping centre, Westfield. Amanda Afiya reports HESTON ON FILM Arguably one of the most...

Restaurants could be forced to show tips info on menus.(News)
November 6, 2008... Proposal allows diners to know where service charge goes By Kerstin Kuhn Restaurants could be forced to display on their menus how much of their service charge is given to waiting staff, under proposals being considered by the...

Infozone Foodfile ingredients in season.(food preservation methods)
November 6, 2008... Fresh produce Fish An early cold snap might well finish off the more tender northern European crops, but it can only help the flavour of hardy brassiccas and roots. The plants convert starch to sugar to lower their freezing point and...

Cocktail of the month.
November 6, 2008... Seasonal version of the classic sour A "sour" cocktail refers to a category of cocktails originating from the middle of the 18th century, encompassing such drinks as the margarita, daiquiri, caipirinha and the whisky sour - all drinks...

No rest for the double winner.(Infozone)(Company overview)
November 6, 2008... Malmaison and Hotel du Vin may have won back-to-back Caterer and Hotelkeeper Best Places to Work in Hospitality awards, but the group isn't about to sit on its laurels. Emma Allen reports The ever-present skills shortage and the need to...

EventsFood inflation and how to fight it.(Directory)(Calendar)
November 6, 2008... Is the economic climate putting strains on your kitchen finances? If so, this seminar will be a great help. The BHA and its patron supplier, iTradeNetwork (formerly Amphire), are holding a half-day seminar on Fighting Food Inflation on Thursday...

good weekBad week.(Carluccio donates charitable restaurant group Action Against Hunger)(Minibar Bath restaurant takes foie gras off its menu )(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Wine Far from damaging unborn babies, a glass or two per week will produce more intelligent children, new research suggests. Spice addicts Grand Union launches what it claims to be the world's hottest burger, the Fired Earth Burger, which...

life afterporridge.(Features)
November 6, 2008... The Government's recent investment of [pounds sterling]1.5b in the prison service may not have touched catering, but standards have improved in the past decade nonetheless. Strange, then, that those involved are reluctant to talk about their...

Expanding your horizons.
November 6, 2008... Despite the hardened economic climate, a buyer's market when it comes to property can make expansion a positive option for those already with funds or access to finance. Karl Cushing reports With the economy seemingly in free fall and the...

Table Talk.(Side Orders)
November 6, 2008... Too many critics... Us journalists aren't a precious bunch. A more humble, modest, self-effacing group you'd struggle to find outside of an Afghanistan Red Cross tent. So it was a little out of character when the...

Going places.(Infozone)
November 6, 2008... The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa in St Andrews has appointed Sara Maciver as spa manager at its Kohler Waters Spa. US-born Maciver has more than 22 years of international experience in the beauty and spa industries. She has previously...

News.(Infozone)
November 6, 2008... * Scottish qualifications probe The Scottish government has set up a task force to review hospitality and tourism qualifications to ensure that they are relevant to the industry. The group, which includes representatives from the industry...

This is his lifeHeston Blumenthal spills his secrets in The Big Fat Duck Cookbook.(Infozone)
November 6, 2008... Property focus - finding funds to expand your business Is prison food the best-kept secret in catering? infozone: Bad service - and how to do all you can to prevent it Kings Place Modern British cooking for a [pounds...

How to: enter the Best Places to Work in Hospitality Awards.(Infozone)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Entries are now being sought Once again this year, we'll be asking you to tell us what you do to achieve a positive working environment but the 2009 awards will also be part-judged by the most knowledgeable panel of experts ever - your...

Downturn can strengthen businesses.(Side Orders)
November 6, 2008... The downturn need not be all doom and gloom for hospitality operators, insists Peter Wood, general manager of Grayshott Spa in Guildford, Surrey, and Master Innholder We are all acutely aware about our costs, and the skill for any manager...

Over to you.(Side Orders)(Andrew Richardson plans celebration of Home House's anniversary)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... How are you keeping spirits up in tough times? Andrew Richardson, general manager, members' club Home House "I'm busy planning the party of the decade to celebrate our 10th anniversary, which also coincides with our new bar opening next...

McClements launches fine dining in Kew.(News)
November 6, 2008... Chef-restaurateur John McClements has launched a new fine-dining restaurant in south-west London in a bid to regain a Michelin star. Taste of McClements in Kew is a 20-seat restaurant serving a tasting menu only. It is open for dinner five...

restaurants at work set to expand following public listing.(News)(Company overview)
November 6, 2008... Contract caterer Restaurants at Work has revealed plans for expansion after its parent company was publicly listed last week. Bright Futures Group was listed on the PLUS market, which specialises in smaller companies not large enough for...

A minute on the clockcatherine roe.(News)(Catherine Roe of Elior speaks for the company's services)(Interview)
November 6, 2008... "The name reflects the fact that we all need time and space and, of course, ties in with the scientific reputation of the institution" Catherine Roe is managing director of concessions at...

Picture of the Week.(Side Orders)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... shop and then pop Punters gather at Searcys Champagne Bar at Westfield London, the [pounds sterling]1.6b retail development located in White City, which opened last Thursday (30 October). More than 500,000 shoppers flocked into...

Contents.(News)
November 6, 2008... Michael Schaefer's life in hospitality 43 7 Economy Business failures increase by 95% in less than two years 9 Contract catering Glasgow council's Direct and Care Services operation to become an LLP 10 Restaurants Operators...

Byrne swaps Dorchester Grill for Cheshire pub.(News)(Aiden Byrne head chef to resign)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Aiden Byrne, head chef at the Dorchester's Grill restaurant, is leaving the five-star hotel to run his own pub in Cheshire. The Liverpool-born chef has obtained the leasehold on the Church Green Pub in Lymm and will leave the Dorchester at...

Malmaison looks east for international expansion.(News)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Marylebone Warwick Balfour (MWB) is stepping up its efforts to take boutique hotel chain Malmaison international, while it continues to roll out its Hotel du Vin brand across the UK. Robert Cook, chief executive of Malmaison, admitted that...

Corrigan to close Lindsay House and move to Mayfair.(News)
November 6, 2008... Famous Soho restaurant will be shut down after 25 years EXCLUSIVE By Kerstin Kuhn Iconic London restaurant Lindsay House is set to close next summer after 25 years, Caterer has learnt. Richard Corrigan's Michelin-starred...

The week in brief.(News)
November 6, 2008... Punch backs it licensees Punch Taverns, the UK's largest pub operator, has spent [pounds sterling]14m over the past year supporting licensees hit by the consumer slowdown and the continued fallout from the smoking ban. The level of...

Aspire wins [pounds sterling]1m annual deal at Towcester.(News)
November 6, 2008... Aspire Hospitality Group has won a multimillion-pound deal to provide catering and hospitality services at Towcester racecourse (above) in Northamptonshire. The three-year deal, worth about [pounds sterling]1m in annual turnover, will see...

Greetham appointed to head up Directors Table.(News)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Contract caterer Sodexo has appointed James Greetham to head up its fine-dining division, Directors Table (DT). Greetham, who joins from high-end caterer Searcys 1847, becomes business director - a newly created role - and replaces Caroline...

Credit crunch 'not a threat' to Canary Wharf development.(News)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Restaurants in Canary Wharf will succeed despite the effects of the financial crisis, a local property developer has insisted. The comments came after restaurant group Canteen announced it is to launch its fourth London site with the...

Le Meridien Piccadilly put on market for [pounds sterling]90m.(News)
November 6, 2008... The luxury Le Meridien Piccadilly hotel in London has been placed on the market for an estimated [pounds sterling]90m. The sale of the 267-bedroom hotel is believed to be part of the asset sell-off of failed investment bank Lehman Brothers,...

News.
November 6, 2008... Pubs worst hit but the number of hotels failing has also risen Business failures increase by 95% in under two years By Daniel Thomas The hospitality industry has seen a 95% increase in insolvencies in less than two years - and the...

Glasgow council to enter contract catering market.(News)
November 6, 2008... LLP status will give council service commercial freedom By Chris Druce A proposal to create a significant new player in the contract catering market in Scotland has been given the green light by officials in Glasgow. At a meeting...

Shamwari Townhouse, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.(Side Orders)(Restaurant review)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... The Mantis Collection's latest opening on the east coast of South Africa is a boutique property flanked by sandy beaches and acres of nature reserves including Shamwari Game Reserve. Opened October Owner Mantis Collection General...

Mandarin Oriental, Boston, USA.(Restaurant review)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Located on Boston's Back Bay, this hotel offers 136 guestrooms and 12 suites individually designed with Asian interiors. The Asana restaurant offers an all-day menu of American and Asian specialities. Opened October Owner CWB Boylston...

Anantara Phuket, Thailand.(Restaurant review)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... This resort is located on Mai Khao Beach and comprises 83 private villas sleeping between one and four. It features five dining outlets including a Thai fusion tapas restaurant. Opened October Owner Minor International General...

Doubletree by Hilton Milan, Italy.(Side Orders)
November 6, 2008... Hilton's first Doubletree property in Europe is located in Italy's fashion capital of Milan in close proximity to the city's main exhibition centres. The new-built property is set over six floors and welcomes all guests with the brand's...

us group Dolce Hotels plans expansion into UK.(News)
November 6, 2008... US hotel operator Dolce Hotels has unveiled plans to expand into the UK in the next year. The group, which is owned by private equity company Broadreach Capital, is looking to expand its current portfolio from 26 to 50 in the next five years....

The briefing.(London Development Agency is sponsoring workshop for tourism businesses)(Mechanical Copyright Protection Society )(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... * LDA offers business boot camp The London Development Agency is sponsoring a workshop for London's tourism businesses that will look at the risks and opportunities that have arisen from the credit crunch. The free workshop will cover...

King of kings.(Rotunda restaurant)
November 6, 2008... There's a new [pounds sterling]100m development in King's Cross, London - a collection of art galleries, concert halls, conference facilities and office space. With all that activity, people will need somewhere to eat, and former Searcys chief...

My life in hospitality Michael Schaefer.(Wyndham Grand London )(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... General manager at the Wyndham Grand London Chelsea Harbour hotel Highs... I grew up in Germany and after my military service I had to decide what I was going to do - so I chose hospitality. I don't come from a family of hoteliers, but...

Review of Reviews.(Side Orders)
November 6, 2008... The Observer 2 November This week Jay Rayner implores you to adore Robert Owen Brown's latest venture, the Angel in Manchester, even though it challenges your lovee_SClBThe day we were there, two of the five main courses were off...

Strategy clinic.(introduction of an alcohol policy in the workplace)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... "I have noticed that many of my bar staff have been drinking on the job. I don't mind them having the odd pint, but am I legally entitled to stop them for health and safety reasons? Yes, you would be entitled to instruct your staff to stop...

Our back pages: stories from the Caterer vaults.(Side Orders)
November 6, 2008... The Caterer & Hotelkeeper, 8 June 1945 Six years back it was truly claimed that the hotel industry was Britain's fourth largest. But since September 1939 it has been impossible for it to do other than fall to a lower and once unthinkable...

Preventing bad service.
November 6, 2008... In this economic climate it's imperative your customers receive the best possible service. Any mistakes, writes Pure Vision service excellence consultant Angi Egan, and your brand could be irreversibly ruined THE PROBLEM A customer...

Dare to indulge.(Features)
November 6, 2008... Enticing customers to opt for a dessert can be a tricky task in the wake of the credit crunch and continued concerns about healthy eating. But people love a treat, and a good dessert menu can still guarantee happy customers and healthy profits....

EventsArena lunch welcomes Arora.(Features)
November 13, 2008... The annual Arena Christmas Lunch has a real treat this year. Entrepreneur Surinder Arora has agreed to be the keynote speaker at the lunch, to be held on Monday 1 December at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Knightsbridge. Arora is one of the...

Infozone Foodfile ingredients in season.(Infozone)(Recipe)
November 13, 2008... Fresh Fish It's still six weeks away, but already those natural Christmas decorations, sprout stalks, are in. Ordinary Brussels sprouts are very good this year and taste even sweeter now we've had some cold weather. English Jerusalem...

Relive a memorable evening to salute the hotel industry.(Side Orders)(Hotel Cateys)
November 13, 2008... Video footage from the Hotel Cateys and Hotelier of the Year 2008 were unveiled on Caterersearch.com this week, along with a reader offer to win Tom Aikens's new book, Fish. Amanda Afiya reports HOTEL CATEYS The hotel sector came...

News.
November 13, 2008... Our regular profile series takes a look at the hospitality companies behind the headlines, This week we focus on education caterer Cucina The knowledge Cucina Cucina landed seven new education contracts for the new academic year,...

Principal Hayley set to ramp up its food offering.(News)(Mark Staples appointed as development director )(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Principal Hayley Group, the hotel and conference venue operator, has appointed its first food and beverage development director in a bid to step up its food offering across its 21 sites. Mark Staples, who joins from purchasing company...

Going places.(Infozone)
November 13, 2008... David Reed has joined the Bingham hotel in Richmond, Surrey, as general manager, overseeing operations throughout the hotel, restaurant, bar and events space. Reed joins the Bingham from the Forbury in Reading, where he was general manager for...

good weekBad week.(Side Orders)
November 13, 2008... Le Frog Bistro Casual-dining operator from the North-west of England is rescued from administration after it croaked last month. Dab sales They're up 47% in the past year as consumers are becoming more open-minded about trying different...

a touch of theatrePumpkin soup with white trufflePumpkin soup with white truffle.(Features)
November 13, 2008... Chef Guy Savoy shows how theatre in restaurants can be revived with that much-maligned ingredient, the pumpkin. Michael Raffael visited his three-Michelin-starred kitchen Travel back 40 years to the pre-nouvelle cuisine era. Then, the...

Celebrating successwhere itcountsEvery one's a winner.(Features)
November 13, 2008... Mark Lewis, Group Editor, Caterer and Hotelkeeper For 25 years, the Cateys have rewarded success at senior management level across the hospitality industry. With the launch of the Hotel Cateys last year, we are now able to celebrate ALL...

Rudding ParkHarrogate.(Features)
November 13, 2008... Conference and Banqueting Award Rudding Park is set in the scenic, sprawling countryside of Harrogate, North Yorkshire. In 2007 it hosted 1,292 events with a total revenue of [pounds sterling]2.9m, and growth in spend per head increased...

Anthony MarshallLondon Hilton on Park Lane.(Features)
November 13, 2008... Hotel Chef of the Year Award (more than 250 covers) Over the 12 years Anthony Marshall has been executive chef at the London Hilton on Park Lane, he has overseen many major banquets - including the Royal Warrant Holders' lunch, held to...

Simon RadleyThe Chester Grosvenor and Spa.(Features)
November 13, 2008... Hotel Chef of the Year Award (fewer than 250 covers) Simon Radley joined the kitchen of the Chester Grosvenor and Spa in 1986 as a chef de partie and rose through the ranks to become head chef within seven years. He has been instrumental in...

Premier Inn Gloucester EastBarnwood.(Features)
November 13, 2008... The Extra Mile Award July 2007 saw one of the worst flooding disasters the UK has experienced in decades. Many hotel operators were forced to close their businesses, leaving hundreds of people stranded. However, one property that really...

Richard EllisonOld Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, St Andrews.(Features)
November 13, 2008... Food and Beverage Manager of the Year Richard Ellison has been at the Old Course Hotel for just over a year, during which time guest spend on food and beverage has risen by 10%. He was part of a major relaunch of the fine-dining Road Hole...

Gary ClarkThe Chester Grosvenor and Spa.(Features)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Food and Wine Service Award Gary Clark has quickly risen through the ranks at an excellent array of Scottish and North of England hotel restaurants. He became interested in wine while working at Malmaison in Glasgow, when he began...

Carly TaylorSton Easton Park hotel, Bath.(Features)
November 13, 2008... Front of House Manager of the Year In the end it was Carly Taylor's passion and persona that swung the judges in her favour. As front-of-house manager at Von Essen's Ston Easton Park in Somerset, Taylor has developed year-on-year in her...

Jurys Inn, Manchester.(Features)
November 13, 2008... Front of House Team of the Year When 250 basketball players checked into the Manchester Jurys Inn hotel in May this year for the Paraylmpic Games, it might have fazed lesser front-of-house teams. But faced with the multiple language...

Bedruthan StepsCornwall.(Features)
November 13, 2008... Green Hotel of the Year Award Going green is no longer just an option for the hospitality industry - it's a necessity. Ellie Dyer, sustainability manager at Bedruthan Steps Hotel, located on the dramatic Cornwall coast, has certainly taken...

Sean WheelerMalmaison and Hotel du Vin.(Features)
November 13, 2008... Human Resources Manager of the Year Sean Wheeler's flair for HR has not gone unnoticed in the past. He was a finalist in Personnel Today's HR Director of the Year award in 2006, and his work was recognised in the HCPTA Awards for...

The DorchesterLondon.(Features)
November 13, 2008... Human Resources Team of the Year When 97.2% of your employees state in the annual Employee Satisfaction Survey that they're proud to work for your company, you know you're doing something right. Or at least, you can rest assured that your...

Loris LucchiniThe Chesterfield Mayfair, London.(Features)
November 13, 2008... Hotel Restaurant Manager of the Year What were the judges looking for in this year's winner? A multitalented individual, someone with a flair for leadership and people management, who engages with restaurant menus, and who has shown...

The Granary BeefeaterPremier Inn Peterborough (Ferry Meadows).(Features)
November 13, 2008... Hotel Restaurant Team of the Year This year's Hotel Restaurant Team of the Year demonstrates just how diverse the hotel sector in the UK has become. While last year's victor, Galvin at Windows, has arguably one of the country's most...

Jean RobertsHotel du Vin, Harrogate.(Features)
November 13, 2008... Housekeeper of the Year The winner of this year's award was described as a "role model" by one of our judges. Chairwoman of the Yorkshire Housekeeping association for the past decade, Jean Roberts was on board at the Harrogate Hotel du...

John WilliamsExecutive Chef, the Ritz.(Features)
November 13, 2008... Outstanding Contribution Award When John Williams joined the Ritz, London, in June 2004 as executive chef he brought three decades of hospitality experience to the legendary Piccadilly hotel's kitchen. Williams incorporated classic French...

Nicola WilliamsMalmaison, Birmingham.(Features)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Spa Manager of the Year Described as a perfectionist and troubleshooter, this year's winner has not only shown total commitment to the spas at both the Hotel du Vin and Malmaison Birmingham, but also continues to push herself to keep...

Inside Beverages.(Inside)
November 13, 2008... A warm start to 2008 boosts sales of bottled water: 38 Deciding where to pitch the price of your coffee: 42 How to persuade your customers to try green tea: 50 Problems with the coffee you serve? Try these tips: 54

Delegates hear wide range of views at European Coffee Symposium.(Inside)
November 13, 2008... The first European Coffee Symposium, held in London and organised by Allegra Strategies, drew an impressive line-up of well-known speakers from the beverage trade. Offering advice to coffee shop operators, Caffa Nero director Paul Ettinger...

Lincat guide to boost tea sales.(Inside)
November 13, 2008... Commercial catering equipment company Lincat has produced a Guide to World Teas to help caterers boost sales of hot beverages and increase profit margins. Developed in consultation with Ben Poole, proprietor of Imperial Teas, to mark the...

Water levels rise in warmer months.(Inside)
November 13, 2008... Dismal weather was blamed for a decline in sales for the on-trade bottled water market in 2007 by 10.4% to 206 million litres, but a warmer start to 2008 saw sales rise by 4.7% throughout the year. These findings form part of The Natural...

Reach for a Bunn.(Inside)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... UK caterers now have more convenient access to Bunn beverage equipment and parts with the opening of new facilities in Manchester and Milton Keynes. Bunn sales representatives and technicians will be available at both locations to advise...