Ex-cafe royal chef blasts UK kitchens

By Linda Fox

Herbert Berger, who was made redundant as executive chef at the Café Royal last week, says that British kitchens are unhappy places with poor conditions and too much emphasis on profit.

Berger said: "I'm going to take time to look at the industry. I have great concerns about it.

"There are not many happy chefs out there at the moment. There are such problems - not enough staff, conditions are worse and worse, and the 14- to 16-hour working day is back. It's all profit, profit, profit.

"People don't come into the industry any more, there's too much violence in the kitchen and young chefs are given jobs too early. This is not how the profession is supposed to be."

Forte is planning to change the banqueting operation at the Café Royal, which has 21 function suites.

Berger said about Forte's plans: "We've agreed to disagree. They're going to embark on enormous changes which are not my style. They want Gardner Merchant to do the banqueting food, and I'm not going to be part of it. I'm a five-star operator and there is no place for me there."

Berger is now considering several options, including starting his own venture or leaving the UK for a few years.