Ramsay, Ramsay, Ramsay. No not Arsenal’s wunderkind Aaron Ramsey but the F-word chef Gordon who has dominated the papers this week, cooking up a storm out of the kitchen after the tabloids went to town on his alleged extramarital affair.

Gordon Ramsay doesn’t struggle for profile but has tried to keep a low one this week with various columnists getting hot under the collar about the news.

The whirlwind surrounding Ramsay rather glossed over the unfortunate fact that his Foxtrot Oscar restaurant in London has had to cut its opening hours as consumers become increasingly thrifty. A sign of the times and the increasingly tough restaurant market in general.  
 
Although one suspects the superstar chef won’t be looking on the bright side of all this coverage just yet, a number of Michelin-starred chefs have come out and said the alleged affair will ultimately boost business at Gordon Ramsay Holdings. No such thing as bad publicity?

Maybe there is for James Stocks, the chef booted out of Balbirnie House earlier this year after embellishing his CV, and claiming stints with the likes of Ramsay and Marco Pierre White.

Stocks, who set up Wild Sorrel in Edinburgh, closed the restaurant at the start of this week without apparently telling his staff. Between you and me he’s not looking good to win a Caterer Best Places to Work in Hospitality gong.

The Acorn Scholar 2009 was revealed and one-time Knorr National Chef of the Year Eyck Zimmer added Portuguese Chef of the Year to his already impressive CV.

The Government’s beer hike was described as a kick in the teeth - although you can get one of those for free on most UK high streets on a Friday night - and Shepherd Neame boss Jonathan Neame went one further and accused the Government of “cultural vandalism”.

Newport needs better restaurants, and possibly some more sun, and coffee chain Starbucks is to go Fairtrade.

The business and industry market may be in decline but that hasn’t stopped Mitie pulling off its largest catering deal to date with insurer Standard Life.

Hospitality experts warned the Government not to be hasty on new tips laws, while the Restaurant Association launched a Meal Appeal Scheme in aid of charity and AA hotel inspector Jayne Wyatt was found to have been unfairly dismissed from her role.

And getting into the festive spirit we’ll be giving away a host of cool gifts to Caterersearch users during December via our online advent calendar, courtesy of our sponsors Nestle Professional, Heinz Foodservice, Apetito, Villeroy & Boch and a whole host of generous operators. From the 1 December you’ll able to click on the correct door of the advent calendar (that day’s date) to find out what’s on offer and to enter our prize draw. So you’ll be festering nicely in no time.  
 

Editor's Pick 

Ramsay’s affair nightmare – what the papers say >>
Gordon Ramsay: family man par extraordinaire >>
Football manager Phil Brown on the hardest job in the world >>
Robyn Jones on customer service that went too far >>

 
Quote of the Week 

“There is a genuine dismay and disbelief that the chancellor is turning a deaf ear and a blind eye to the economic plight of Britain’s traditional beer and pub sector”
The British Beer & Pub Association’s Mark Hastings

By Chris Druce