Caterer & Hotelkeeper articles from September 2005

Caterer & Hotelkeeper archives from September 2005

The very model of a modern general manager.
September 1, 2005... Working as a general manager of a hotel can be a fulfilling and rewarding role. But how do you become one and, once you get there, how do make sure you do a good job? Kirstie Redford outlines some of the common routes to success Before you...

If at first you don't succeed.(Nando's establishments)
September 1, 2005... In the UK, Nando's is often singled out as an example of how to roll out a brand effectively. But it hasn't always been this way. Karl Cushing finds how the South African chain is finding the UK to be second time lucky The late, great...

Westover Hall.(restaurants)
September 1, 2005... Born in Martinique and trained in France, Jimmy Desrivieres now finds himself on England's South Coast. Dan Bignold reports Two years ago, 27-year-old Jimmy Desrivieres arrived at Hampshire's Westover Hall unable to speak a word of English....

Taking a flutter.(Noah's Ark pub restaurant )(Red lounge bar and kitchen )
September 1, 2005... Rob Gamble occasionally lives up to his name and does something that goes against his normally cautious nature. And, as Karl Cushing learns, it can pay off Although cautious, Rob Gamble likes to make occasional forays into the world of...

Job applicants lose offers as employers see through the CVs.(applicant had lied on their CVs)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... By Charlotte Walsh One in four companies withdrew at least one job offer in 2004 because an applicant had lied on their CV, according to a study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). However, 24% of businesses never or...

RHM Foodservice launches healthy school food award.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Primary school caterers could win [pounds sterling]2,000 in a new award launched by RHM Foodservice for healthy school food. The McDougalls Healthiest School Food Award will go to the school caterer that can demonstrate the most successful...

The test of british.(Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative)(healthier local economy)
September 1, 2005... What practical steps can catering establishments take to gain the twin advantages of shorter supply lines and a healthier local economy? Dan Bignold looks at the three kitchens taking part in Caterer's British food experiment This month,...

UK performance pegs back Hilton; Results flag, but worldwide figures help hotel division.(impact on bookings)
September 1, 2005... BY EMILY MANSON Lacklustre performance in Hilton's UK hotel operation, which has seen a change in top-line management, failed to dampen the group's results. Figures for the six months to June 2005 showed UK and Ireland profits fell by 22.6% to...

Caterer loves.(Jazz at restaurants)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Jazz Good jazz and good food have a long relationship. Musician Ray Gelato, who plays regularly at London clubs Ronnie Scott's, the 606 Club and the PizzaExpress Jazz Club among others, says: "Jazz started in New Orleans, the culinary...

Pub operators face battle to extend their opening hours.(extending their opening)
September 1, 2005... Residents make their objections known, as 30% of requests to change opening hours are challenged By Chris Druce Pubs are having a much tougher time than other businesses in extending their opening hours as residents and the police object...

Stein looks for golf resort.(Stein Group Hotel)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Hotel company the Stein Group, the new operator at London's Cadogan hotel in Knightsbridge, plans to add a third London property to its collection by the end of 2007. Stein is also on the lookout for a resort-style hotel and golf course in...

London hotel occupancy defies bombs.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The London bombings had little impact on the capital's hotels, according to the latest report from TRI Hospitality Consulting. Revenue per available room (revpar) in London slipped by 2.9% to [pounds sterling]73.89 for July, thanks to a fall in...

Delicatessen demands need a delicate touch.
September 1, 2005... Thinking about opening a deli to help showcase your restaurant? Think twice before you do, advises Nic Paton - it isn't as easy as it looks It used to be so simple. You opened a restaurant, your customers came in, had a meal and went away...

Scots concerned over new licensing system; Smaller businesses could be left in limbo, warns SBPA.(Scottish Beer and Pub Association)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... BY CHRIS DRUCE Scotland's leaders have failed to give the licensed trade any reassurance over its new licensing regime, according to the head of the Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA). SBPA chief executive Patrick Browne said the decision...

James Brown sings for hilton.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... I feel good... Godfather of Soul James Brown will be sexing it up at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur for a one-night-only performance to celebrate the hotel's first anniversary on 19 September. The soul legend will be dusting off his craziest suit and...

Chez Bruce pushes Ivy off Harden's top spot.(Chez Bruce)(Restaurant Review)
September 1, 2005... By Jessica Gunn Celebrity restaurant the Ivy has been knocked off its number one slot in the Harden's London Restaurants guide for the first time in nine years. Neighbourhood restaurant Chez Bruce in Wandsworth was voted the guide's favourite...

Gagnaire opens Gaya restaurant in Paris.(Pierre Gagnaire)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Three-Michelin-starred chef Pierre Gagnaire has opened a new Paris restaurant this week. The 40-seat restaurant, called Gaya, opened on Monday on Rue du Bac in the French capital's seventh arrondissement. Average spend is expected to be around...

Lucky 13 start on Harvey Nichols chef scheme.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... A group of 13 young chefs from around the UK took their places on the inaugural Harvey Nichols Chef Apprentice Scheme this week. The scheme gives the apprentices the chance to work alongside senior chefs across Harvey Nichols restaurants...

Conran to open in Copenhagen.(Conran Restaurants)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Conran Restaurants is embarking on a new restaurant and bar project on the waterfront in Copenhagen. The project, which is set to open in late summer next year, will include three restaurants, private dining rooms, a large outdoor seating...

Norman to join the Guardian.(Matthew Norman )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Sunday Telegraph restaurant critic Matthew Norman is moving to the Guardian. Norman, who announced he was leaving the Sunday Telegraph earlier this month because it was revamping the way it reviewed restaurants, said he was delighted to be...

Greenhouse wins first Wine Spectator award for UK.
September 1, 2005... London's Greenhouse restaurant is the first UK venue to receive the Wine Spectator's prestigious Grand Award. The annual prize, which is run by the US magazine, honours restaurants around the world for their wine programmes, dinner menus and...

Gate Gourmet seeks 675 voluntary redundancies to end dispute.
September 1, 2005... Embattled airline caterer Gate Gourmet is to axe 675 jobs in a bid to put its UK operations back in the black. Gate Gourmet is offering voluntary redundancy to its 1,400 employees as it tries to resolve the industrial dispute that saw 667...

Precinct is back in the hunt for Jurys Doyle.(Precinct Investments)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Precinct Investments' deal to buy Irish hotel chain Jurys Doyle was revitalised this week when it won the backing of the Bank of Scotland, allowing it to continue its four-month courtship of the hotel company. Precinct has until Friday (2...

POETRY ON SHEEP? Ewe must be baaarking mad.(brides and grooms )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... A hotel in Somerset is giving brides and grooms the chance to spell out their love through poetry written on sheep. Rookery Manor in Edingworth is providing couples with sheep to create arbitrary poems to express their affection. Managing...

Thousands of restaurants could have missed deadline.(licence applications)(new licensing)
September 1, 2005... How much the UK restaurant scene will be affected by the Government's new licensing regime remains a mystery, owing to a lack of official figures. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) had no data on how many venues missed the 6...

The positive side of new licensing laws.(new licensing act)
September 1, 2005... Hysteria has broken out this summer and it's not just over England's hopes of winning back the Ashes. In the past few weeks the campaign to stop the Government's new licensing act has reached fever pitch as anti-drink groups crank up the...

Book Review.(Breakfasts Jacque Malouf Conran Octopus)(Book Review)
September 1, 2005... Start your day the Aussie way Breakfasts Jacque Malouf Conran Octopus, [pounds sterling]12.99 ISBN 1-84091-414-9 If you're thinking of opening an all-day deli-cafe, or you need to pep up the breakfast service at your hotel, you could...

Equipment round-up.(safety measures of kitchen hardware)
September 1, 2005... Simplicity of operation and safety are features of this week's collection of kitchen hardware, as Diane Lane reports 1. rice 'n' easy Apuro claims its Samsung commercial rice cooker overcomes the problem of rice becoming sticky, hard and...

Excessive absences.(employment law in restaurants )
September 1, 2005... Rebecca Emmett, senior associate in employment law at law firm Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, offers advice on dealing with staff sickness and absences The problem You have a member of staff who regularly comes in late or calls in sick at the...

Going places.
September 1, 2005... Edinburgh's Monster Mash Cafe, which recently opened an outlet in Glasgow, has been joined by David Ramsden as operations manager. Ramsden previously owned and ran Rogue and Fitzhenry's restaurants in Edinburgh. Ex-Coca-Cola USA Fountain...

How I got here.
September 1, 2005... Carlo Coxon Head chef and co-owner of Edinburgh's Grain Store restaurant Manchester-born Carlo Coxon was studying economics at City of London University when he started working at the Left Bank restaurant, a small business with the...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2005... Intolerance, allergies and food fads I refer to Bill Knott's article "Nuts in the dining room" (Caterer, 18 August page 20), which appears to take the attitude that people are either diet faddists or that food allergies only result in...

Next move for a latecomer to cheffing.(craft skills can help make a career in the hospitality industry)(Column)
September 1, 2005... Each week our panel of experts provide answers to an employment question posed by a Caterer reader The Question I am 38 and have recently discovered a love for food and cooking. I'd like to join the industry but fear I'm too old. Is this true?...

Over to you.(economic aspects of restaurants)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Are restaurant prices running out of control? Dominic Ford, Ford-McDonald Consultants "I don't think restaurants are overpriced at all. You do get places such as Sketch that are extremely expensive. But you also have top-end restaurants...

A minute; on the clock; Pontus Frithiof.(Sheraton Stockholm Hotel project)(Interview)
September 1, 2005... Chef Pontus Frithiof is the biggest thing since pickled herring in his home town of Stockholm in Sweden. He took time out from his restaurant and brasserie to talk to Emily Manson about his new project - banqueting at the Sheraton Stockholm...

Review of Reviews.
September 1, 2005... The Independent 27 August Caroline Stacey applauds the local ingredients showcased on the menu at the Broad Street restaurant in Lyme Regis, Dorset The mixed leaf salad with broad beans, goats' cheese and poached egg alone took trips to four...

Table Talk.(Artist Alejandra Prieto exhibition features furniture made from food materials)(an official ruling has given the cows in the Sverdlovsk region to satisfy their hunger by chewing marijuana)(a love motel for pets opens)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Comfort food, Chilean style Many chefs will happily spend hours attempting to convince you of the artistic merits of their creations, but one Chilean has taken the idea of "food as art" to the extreme. Artist Alejandra Prieto - who was quoted...

good week/bad week.
September 1, 2005... Green Day Cleaned up at the MTV awards. Lindt Brushed off rising cocoa prices to report healthy first-half profits. Grange Hotels England cricket team staying at the Grange City for the final test match at the Oval in London. Indian summer...

how ; to.(meat cooking methods)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Cook steak * Choose a well-aged meat for a better taste. The more fat content, the better the flavour (look for marbled fat). Argentine and Aberdeen Angus steaks are best. * Trim down the fat only if there is a lot. Meat cooked in its own fat...

the big sheep.(Recipes and menus of mutton)
September 1, 2005... Chris Staines, head chef at the Michelin-starred Foliage restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, demonstrates the almost-lost art of preparing roast shoulder of mutton. Michael Raffael reports Mutton is fashionable again after a gap...

[pounds sterling]100 a head ; is only fair.(restaurants pricing policy)
September 1, 2005... No one is forced to pay for first-class food if they don't choose to, argues Nick Scade The press have been having a field day of late over revelations that some restaurateurs are now charging more than [pounds sterling]100 a head. What's...

Deal done on Furlong Hotels?
September 8, 2005... Speculation was mounting as Caterer went to press that the Furlong Hotels group had been sold for about [pounds sterling]50m. The group, which owns three hotels, including the 69-bedroom Lygon Arms in the Cotswolds, and manages a further four...

Events.(Calendar)
September 8, 2005... September 9-11 Ludlow Food Marches Various venues, Ludlow, Shropshire 11th year of this renowned food, wine and beer festival. 01584 873957 www.foodfestival.co.uk 11 Action Against Hunger fundraising dinner Bank Aldwych, 1 Kingsway,...

Superior interiors.
September 8, 2005... Interior product suppliers will be aiming to catch the eye at the four-day Hotel@Decorex show at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, later this month. Diane Lane looks at what they'll be exhibiting 1. on the tiles Tile distributor Waxman...

Menuwatch.
September 8, 2005... 't hommelhof Stefaan Couttenye decided to indulge his passion for beer by cooking with it at his restaurant - and now even Michelin-starred restaurants are following suit, as Fiona Sims discovers Stefaan Couttenye loves beer - drinking...

IHG hotel sale fetches [pounds sterling]170m; Sell-off brings switch to management and franchise company a step closer.
September 8, 2005... BY ANGELA FREWIN InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) has sold 10 hotels in Australasia and the South Pacific for a combined Aus$405m ([pounds sterling]170m). Nine hotels in Australia and New Zealand - including six Holiday Inns, three Crowne...

Consumers like the taste of organic food.
September 8, 2005... By Kerstin Kuhn Organic food tastes better, according to a recent survey, but chefs remain divided. Almost three-quarters (72%) of consumers buying organic produce say they do so because it tastes better than non-organic produce. The survey,...

YHA is living in the past as the debts pile up.(Youth Hostels Association)
September 8, 2005... Saddled with massive debts and an out-of-date image, the Youth Hostels Association is planning to sell off property to help it return to profitability. Andy Williamson investigates why the YHA has fallen out of favour When Richard...

Still time for Hotelier of the Year entries.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2005... Time is fast running out for nominations for Caterer's Hotelier of the Year 2005. If you think you know the next winner, send your entry to Caterer and Hotelkeeper before the deadline of 12 September. Since 1983, the award has honoured the...

Pick a winning team.
September 8, 2005... A restaurant lives or dies by its staff. Two months down the line from buying the Mason's Arms, Mark and Sarah Dodson tell Joanna Wood how they've set about assembling the right team for their business One of the key things to get right...

love going to work?(Hospitality Awards 2006)
September 8, 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 Caterer Group's inaugural awards Why should I enter the Caterer Group Best Places to Work in Hospitality Awards...

GOTTGENS SELLS FISH HOEK TO CONCENTRATE ON SCOTTISH HOTEL.
September 8, 2005... South African-born chef Pete Gottgens has sold his Fish Hoek seafood restaurant in Chiswick, west London, to focus on his hotel business in Scotland. The AA-award-winning restaurant closed its doors on 15 August and is due to reopen soon under...

An appetite for; the Ashes.
September 8, 2005... England is on the verge of winning the Ashes for the first time in 18 years. The Oval will be packed out for five days, as crowds expect another nail-biting finish. But never mind all that. Who's doing the catering? Joanna Wood investigates ...

meet The best Oyster shucker in britain.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2005... Winning oyster shucker Sam Tamsanguan is caught in action at the Tabasco British Oyster Opening Championships, where he was crowned British champion for the fifth time. Tamsanguan, of London's famous fish restaurant Wiltons in Jermyn Street,...

Claude Bosi to open gastropub.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2005... Claude and Claire Bosi, proprietors of the two-Michelin-starred Hibiscus restaurant in Ludlow, Shropshire, have bought a second business in the neighbouring county of Herefordshire. The couple, who launched Hibiscus in 2000, have acquired the...

Wetherspoon's to put more focus on food; Sales fall 7% at smoke-free outlets.
September 8, 2005... BY TOM BILL Pub company JD Wetherspoon will become an increasingly food-led operation in an effort to curb falling sales at its non-smoking pubs. The group, which plans to open 50 smoke-free venues by Christmas, has seen turnover fall by 7% at...

Ronay's new guide includes gastropubs.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2005... Veteran food critic Egon Ronay is to include gastropubs in his new guide, which is due out in November. The guide will list up to 300 gastropubs alongside nearly 240 restaurant entries. In all, 430 pubs were visited anonymously across the UK....

Loch Fyne eyes [pounds sterling]35m sale to private equity firm.
September 8, 2005... Loch Fyne Restaurants is poised to agree a sale to a private equity firm for about [pounds sterling]35m. The group, which operates 25 Loch Fyne restaurants, is believed to be in talks with private equity firms Isis Equity Partners and Hutton...

Blackiston set to 'do a Jamie' for Norfolk.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2005... Michelin-starred chef Galton Blackiston is supporting a bid to improve school dinners in Norfolk. The chef-patron of Morston Hall, near Blakeney, has vowed to do for Norfolk what Jamie Oliver has done for Greenwich schools. Blackiston will...

Schwab celebrates winning AA Chef's Chef of the Year award.
September 8, 2005... By Angela Frewin Germain Schwab has been crowned the AA Chef's Chef of the Year for 2005-06. The award was announced just over a month after Germain and wife Annie sold their five-AA-rosette Lincolnshire restaurant-with-rooms,...

Hurricane Katrina tragedy hits hotels; Thousands evacuated as New Orleans flood waters rise.
September 8, 2005... BY EMILY MANSON New Orleans's tourism industry faces ruin after the devastating floods which followed Hurricane Katrina destroyed the city and claimed up to 10,000 lives. Hoteliers are reluctant to speculate on the extent of damage to their...

Aldrich leaves Compass as reshuffle continues.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2005... Peter Aldrich, chief executive of Compass Group's UK & Ireland business and industry division, has announced his retirement from the company. The 49-year-old's replacement is Chris Copner, former managing director of Select Service Partner...

School meals to follow CWT guidelines.
September 8, 2005... Future school meal standards are likely to be based on nutritional guidelines devised by the healthy food charity Caroline Walker Trust (CWT). The School Meals Review Panel, a group of 30 nutrition, catering and education experts, looks set to...

Pied e Terre ; to reopen.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2005... Two-Michelin-starred London restaurant Pied e Terre will reopen on 3 October, nearly a year after a fire forced it to close. The blaze last November destroyed the third floor and roof and caused water damage to the property. Its new look...

Pubs plan to ditch food to sidestep ban on smoking.
September 8, 2005... By Chris Druce Thousands of pubs are likely to ditch food to sidestep smoking legislation due to be introduced in England. Under the Government's current proposals, smoking will be outlawed in all pubs and bars that serve food from 2009. New...

No complacency - on or off the field.(Oval Events)(Brief Article)
September 8, 2005... As this week's Caterer went to press, the Daily Mail was exhorting the nation to sing Jerusalem at 10.25am this morning (Thursday), to help spur on Michael Vaughan and his boys as they begin the final push for Ashes glory. For the army of...

A minute; on the clock; simon hopkinson.
September 8, 2005... Simon Hopkinson's book Roast Chicken and Other Stories was recently chosen by Waitrose Food Illustrated magazine as the most useful cookery book of all time. Hopkinson ran London restaurant Bibendum's kitchen in South Kensington for eight years...

A helping hand with your career.
September 8, 2005... Signing on with a recruitment consultancy is a fairly foolproof way of getting yourself matched with the right job - but don't forget that you still need to impress them with your talent and enthusiasm. Rosalind Mullen reports You can...

fresh move by charlton house.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2005... David Cavalier (left), food innovation director at contract caterer Charlton House, is making office food fresher. The chef is having fresh fruit and vegetables delivered to City law firms within 24 hours of being harvested from Secretts Farm...

Fresh produce.
September 8, 2005... Fresh cpes are beginning again, although some of the first mushrooms have been soft and showing signs of maggot damage. Rocket salad from Italy is beginning to flower, and it's probably worth looking at alternative supply until the situation...

Opinion.(Letter to the Editor)
September 8, 2005... Letters A non-political body must protect our fish letter of the week In common with many people, I was horrified at the news last month that the EU had fined the French government because its fishermen had continued to ignore...

the week ; in brief.(3663 (United Kingdom))(Initial Textile Services)(Brief Article)
September 8, 2005... 3663's healthy eating campaign Food service wholesale distributor 3663 is launching a campaign called Positive Steps to promote healthy eating across the industry. It includes a telephone helpline covering issues such as cooking methods,...

Side Orders.
September 8, 2005... International openings The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong Located in the heart of the Central district, the hotel has a slick design and hopes to become a destination property. The rooms are billed as the largest in Hong Kong and...

It's time to fight the fug.
September 8, 2005... Forget the gloomy predictions and look at the results of smoke-free legislation, urges Ian Willmore of Action on Smoking and Health Are you worried about losing customers if they can't have a fag in your restaurant? What about the pubs in...

Review of Reviews.
September 8, 2005... The Guardian 3 September Arabella Weir objects to queuing up to eat early without a booking at Rick Stein's Cafe, Padstow, Cornwall They operate a system wherein if you've failed to book a table millennia in advance you may subject yourself...

Side Orders.(the methods of preparation of broccoli)
September 8, 2005... Table Talk BROCCOLI WHIP... WITH A CHOCOLATE FLAKE, PLEASE A range of vegetable ice-creams has been developed by Gordon Ramsay's wife Tana. Her "ice-greens" come in the unusual flavours of broccoli, carrot, lettuce, pea, tomato and yellow...

The question.(Credit management)
September 8, 2005... The solutions Chris Morton, Chris Morton Associates An interesting question, particularly as it implies a considerable problem. Non-payment of a restaurant bill is, of course, a crime, and diners trying to abscond without paying can be...

ORCHID.(Kenneth Poon achieved Michelin star )
September 15, 2005... Kenneth Poon won a Michelin star at the Oriental at London's Dorchester hotel and is now heading the brigade at Bokman Chan's Orchid restaurant in Harrogate. Rosalind Mullen reports Bokman Chan opened Orchid more than four years ago in...

Events.
September 15, 2005... September Eat-Japan 2005 Original Sushi Competition 2005, to be judged in October - closing date: 30 September. www.eat-japan.com 16-18 London Soldier Chelsea Barracks, London The Army and London's Volunteer Reserve Forces seek catering and...

GIVE US ; THE TOOLS.
September 15, 2005... Jamie Oliver's much publicised campaign put the need to improve school meals firmly in the spotlight. But the poor state of much of the kitchen equipment revealed in Caterer's exclusive survey means moving away from a price-driven service...

love going to work?(Best Place to Work in Hospitality)(inaugural awards)
September 15, 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 Caterer Group's inaugural awards Why should I enter the Caterer Group Best Places to Work in Hospitality Awards...

Anduriz set to shine at conference.
September 15, 2005... International and home-grown stars will be lining up to dazzle delegates at the 2005 Chef Conference next month. One of Spain's hottest chefs, Andoni Aduriz, is to give delegates a masterclass in the afternoon session at London's Millennium...

Strada group 'not ready to sell up yet'.(Brief Article)
September 15, 2005... Speculation that the Strada group of Italian restaurants is looking for a buyer are premature, according to an industry source. Instead, the group is actively in negotiations to purchase up to five new sites, including venues in Brighton,...

Festive flavours from around the world.
September 15, 2005... It's never too early to think about Christmas. And in the UK lots of restaurants give you the chance to experience the festive season as it's celebrated elsewhere in the world. Dan Bignold and Emma Allen look forward to a global Christmas ...