<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
   <title>The Caterer Blog</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/" />
   <link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/atom.xml" />
   <id>tag:www.caterersearch.com,2011:/blogs/catering-news-blog//35</id>
   <updated>2009-01-30T16:16:35Z</updated>
   <subtitle>The latest news and views from the hospitality from the Caterer team</subtitle>
   <generator uri="http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/">Movable Type Enterprise 4.37</generator>


<entry>
   <title>Identify the Virgin inflight meal - and win a Michel Roux Jr cookbook!</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/2009/01/identify-the-virgin-inflight-m-2.html" />
   <id>tag:www.caterersearch.com,2009:/blogs/catering-news-blog//35.48840</id>
   
   <published>2009-01-30T15:27:35Z</published>
   <updated>2009-01-30T16:16:35Z</updated>
   
   <summary><![CDATA[ You have to have been walking around&nbsp;wearing a blindfold and a pair&nbsp;of&nbsp;ear defenders not to have noticed the inflight catering&nbsp;Virgin complaint letter that's been doing&nbsp;the rounds on the internet recently. Well our colleagues over on sister website Flightglobal have...]]></summary>
   <author>
      <name>Amanda Afiya</name>
      
   </author>
   
   <category term="branston" label="Branston" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="flightglobal" label="Flightglobal" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="littlechef" label="Little Chef" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="popham" label="Popham" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="virgin" label="Virgin" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/">
      <![CDATA[<p>
<p><img class="mt-image-left" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 20px 20px 0px" height="156" alt="virgin-1.jpg" src="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/virgin-1.jpg" width="250" />You have to have been walking around&nbsp;wearing a blindfold and a pair&nbsp;of&nbsp;ear defenders not to have noticed the inflight catering&nbsp;<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/4344890/Virgin-the-worlds-best-passenger-complaint-letter.html">Virgin complaint letter </a>that's been doing&nbsp;the rounds on the internet recently.</p>
<p>Well our colleagues over on sister website Flightglobal have <a href="http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/airline-business/2009/01/branson-ends-up-with-custard-o.html">challenged Caterersearch </a>to identify the food in the picture.</p>
<p>So I need your help - and I'm willing to pay. The best answer will receive <em>A Life in the Kitchen</em> by the fabulously talented Michel Roux Jr of London landmark <a href="http://www.le-gavroche.co.uk/">Le Gavroche</a>. </p>
<p></p>]]>
      <![CDATA[<p>While we try and get a response from the airline's caterer, this is how the author of the letter described his meal:</p>
<p><em>You don't get to a position like yours Richard with anything less than a generous sprinkling of observational power so I KNOW you will have spotted the tomato next to the two yellow shafts of sponge on the left. Yes, it's next to the sponge shaft without the green paste. That's got to be the clue hasn't it. No sane person would serve a desert with a tomato would they. Well answer me this Richard, what sort of animal would serve a desert with peas in: [see image 2, above]. </em></p>
<p><em>I know it looks like a baaji but it's in custard Richard, custard. It must be the pudding. Well you'll be fascinated to hear that it wasn't custard. It was a sour gel with a clear oil on top. It's only redeeming feature was that it managed to be so alien to my palette that it took away the taste of the curry emanating from our miscellaneous central cuboid of beige matter. Perhaps the meal on the left might be the desert after all.</em></p>
<p>What do I think? The dish on the left is clearly two large&nbsp;slices of Branston cheesecake&nbsp;drizzled in pesto and accompanied by a tomato wedge, while the one on the right is a fish and saffron crumble served with creme anglaise.</p>
<p>So a prize for the best answer - and better still - if you can&nbsp;recreate it&nbsp;(we need video&nbsp;evidence here that your dishes are both sweet and savoury), we'll take you to for a slap-up meal at the <a href="http://www.littlechef.co.uk/heston.php">Popham&nbsp;Little Chef</a>.</p>]]>
   </content>
</entry>

<entry>
   <title>Caterer blog no more...</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/2008/10/caterer-blog-no-more.html" />
   <id>tag:www.caterersearch.com,2008:/blogs/catering-news-blog//35.41578</id>
   
   <published>2008-10-08T19:23:42Z</published>
   <updated>2008-10-08T19:37:17Z</updated>
   
   <summary> Dear Caterer Blog readers, The Caterer team are no longer posting on this blog. But don&apos;t despair, Caterer is returning with three new blogs dedicated to food, restaurants and products. If you can&apos;t wait until then, don&apos;t forget you...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Katherine Alano</name>
      
   </author>
   
   <category term="catererblog" label="Caterer Blog" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="caterersearch" label="CatererSearch" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="editorsblog" label="Editor&apos;s Blog" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="kitchenrat" label="Kitchen Rat" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/">
      <![CDATA[<p>
<span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="DISPLAY: inline"><a href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/caterer%20blog.JPG"><img class="mt-image-left" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 20px 20px 0px" height="140" alt="Caterer Blog" src="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/caterer%20blog-thumb-150x140.jpg" width="150" /></a></span>Dear Caterer Blog readers,</p>
<p>The Caterer team are no longer posting on this blog.</p>
<p>But don't despair, Caterer is returning with three new blogs dedicated to food, restaurants and products.</p>
<p>If you can't wait until then, don't forget you can still get news and gossip from our other blogs, <a href="http://www.kitchenrat.com/">Kitchen Rat</a> and the <a href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/editors-hospitality-blog/">Editor's Blog</a>! </p>
<p>And if you don't want to miss anything, then why not bookmark us, so that you have up-to-date news and views from the industry and so that you know when our new blogs launch.</p>
<p>Many thanks! </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>

<entry>
   <title>Sun Meadow launched to cheer up SAD commuters</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/2008/10/sun-meadow-launched-to-cheer-u.html" />
   <id>tag:www.caterersearch.com,2008:/blogs/catering-news-blog//35.39607</id>
   
   <published>2008-10-02T12:27:57Z</published>
   <updated>2008-10-02T11:13:14Z</updated>
   
   <summary>K West has launched its Sun Meadow for these grey autumn days</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Chris Druce</name>
      
   </author>
   
      <category term="hotels" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
      <category term="spas" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="kwest" label="K West" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="sunmeadow" label="Sun Meadow" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="treatments" label="treatments" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/">
      <![CDATA[<p>
<span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="DISPLAY: inline"><img class="mt-image-left" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 20px 20px 0px" height="180" alt="Sun Meadow" src="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/SunMeadow180by180.jpg" width="180" /></span>After a distinctly disappointing, grey summer in the UK the launch of Sun Meadow at <a href="http://www.k-west.co.uk/">K West hotel and spa</a> in London seems like a bright idea.</p>
<p>For stressed or depressed commuters everywhere, and of course hotel guests, the Sun Meadow is claimed to make use of the latest in light therapy technology to relax and rejuvenate you.</p>
<p>According to the press release "as you lie in the cool contemporary room, whilst gentle sounds fill your ears, you can feel the mild heat of the ultraviolet sun beams caress your body from head to toe", which has to be a better&nbsp;alternative to slapping on a load of cheap fake-tan from Boots and mixing yourself a Margareta.</p>
<p>Also, if you get a bit down&nbsp;during these grey old days the treatment is supposed to be perfect for combating SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and safer than a bottle of whiskey (oh, is that just me).&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>So don't be SAD this winter be happy.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2002/01/14/40469/special-k.html">Special K&gt;&gt;</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2003/04/29/47881/secrets-of-the-modern-minibar.html">Secrets of the modern minibar&gt;&gt;</a></p>]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>

<entry>
   <title>Gangsta&apos;s culinary paradise and a challenge to our Gordon</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/2008/10/gangstas-culinary-paradise-and.html" />
   <id>tag:www.caterersearch.com,2008:/blogs/catering-news-blog//35.39666</id>
   
   <published>2008-10-01T10:00:46Z</published>
   <updated>2008-10-01T09:53:18Z</updated>
   
   <summary> Gangsta&apos;s Paradise rapper Coolio fancies himself as a chef, according to the Daily Record, and reckons he could even take on Gordon Ramsay. In an interview with the Scottish news website, he claims to be a gourmet chef and...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Amanda Afiya</name>
      
   </author>
   
   <category term="gordonramsay" label="Gordon Ramsay" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/">
      <![CDATA[<p>
<p><img class="mt-image-left" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 20px 20px 0px" height="143" alt="Coolio.jpg" src="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/Coolio.jpg" width="142" />Gangsta's Paradise rapper Coolio fancies himself as a chef, <a href="http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/entertainment-news/2008/10/01/exclusive-rap-star-coolio-sets-kitchen-challenge-for-gordon-ramsay-86908-20763544/">according to the Daily Record</a>, and reckons he could even take on Gordon Ramsay.</p>
<p>In an interview with the Scottish news website, he claims to be a gourmet chef and says he has his own YouTube channel for cooking. "I do a lot of healthy fusion food - I do Black Italian - Blitalian, Black Asian - Blasian, Black English - Blenglish and I'm about to try Black Scottish - Blottish." Can't wait.</p>
<p>Asked what he thought of Gordon's cooking, he says: "I ate in one of his restaurants and I was not impressed. I would take all his dishes and make them better."</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p></p>]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>

<entry>
   <title>Leading Hotels of the World celebrates birthday in style</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/2008/10/post-1.html" />
   <id>tag:www.caterersearch.com,2008:/blogs/catering-news-blog//35.39611</id>
   
   <published>2008-10-01T09:05:11Z</published>
   <updated>2008-09-30T15:57:13Z</updated>
   
   <summary>The Leading Hotels of the World is offering a very special rate to mark its 80th anniversary </summary>
   <author>
      <name>Chris Druce</name>
      
   </author>
   
      <category term="Langham Hotel" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
      <category term="hotels" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
      <category term="marketing" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
      <category term="marketing consortia" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="hotels" label="hotels" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="langham" label="Langham" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="marketing" label="marketing" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="theleadinghotelsoftheworld" label="The Leading Hotels of the World" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/">
      <![CDATA[<img style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; FLOAT: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; PADDING-TOP: 10px" alt="Langham hotel" src="http://www.caterersearch.com/Assets/GetAsset.aspx?ItemID=18011" />
<p>With money tight hotel marketing consortium the Leading Hotels of the World has come up with a timely way to mark its 80th birthday.</p>
<p>Today at 1pm UK time it will be offering hotel rooms at a <a href="http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2008/08/21/322955/credit-crunch.html">credit crunch</a> friendly $19.28 (£10.39 in real money) to mark its foundation as a business, you've guessed it,&nbsp;in 1928.</p>
<p>The offer, subject to availability and open for 80 minutes only, means 61 European hotels are on offer including the Baglioni and Langham in London as well as Gleaneagles. So as they say, don't delay.</p>
<p>Visit <a href="http://www.lhw.com/1928">www.lhw.com/1928</a> for more.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2008/07/03/321914/langham-sets-sights-on-rapid-international-expansion.html">Langham sets sights on rapid international expansion&gt;&gt;</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>

<entry>
   <title>Want to be alone? Book a one-room hotel...</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/2008/09/room-for-one.html" />
   <id>tag:www.caterersearch.com,2008:/blogs/catering-news-blog//35.39633</id>
   
   <published>2008-09-30T16:49:04Z</published>
   <updated>2008-09-30T17:13:17Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Have you ever fancied having a a hotel all to yourself? Or does the prospect of spending time all alone in a big hotel remind you too much of The Shining and Jack Nicholson coming at you with an axe...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Katherine Alano</name>
      
   </author>
   
   <category term="hotels" label="hotels" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="oneroomhotels" label="one-room hotels" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/">
      <![CDATA[<p>Have you ever fancied having a a hotel all to yourself? Or does the prospect of spending time all alone in a big hotel remind you too much of <em>The Shining </em>and Jack Nicholson coming at you with an axe screaming "Here's Johnny!!"? </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="DISPLAY: inline">
<p align="center"><a href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/UtterInn.jpg"></a></p></span>
<p>
<span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="DISPLAY: inline"><img class="mt-image-center" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 20px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="203" alt="Utter Inn - Sweden" src="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/UtterInn-thumb-300x203.jpg" width="300" /></span>Today I came across some rather unique hotels, I say hotels rather loosely, because these are <a href="http://eatmypotato.com/index.php/interesting-stories/10-best-one-room-hotels-in-the-world/">one-room hotels from across the world</a>.</p>
<p>You can stay in at Kokopelli's Cave, a 65-million-year-old sandstone cave in New Mexico or in fishing hut (which looks like a shed on water)&nbsp;floating on Lake Malaren in Sweden.</p>
<p>Brings an entirely new meaning to spending time alone...</p>]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>

<entry>
   <title>The art of being in the wrong place at the wrong time</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/2008/09/sometimes-peoples-timing-is-so.html" />
   <id>tag:www.caterersearch.com,2008:/blogs/catering-news-blog//35.39595</id>
   
   <published>2008-09-30T11:45:57Z</published>
   <updated>2008-09-30T13:56:03Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Somtimes you have to marvel at people&apos;s ability to get things so wrong as befell one chinese takeaway done for trying to sell dodgy DVDs to a Trading Standards Officer.</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Chris Druce</name>
      
   </author>
   
      <category term="Borders Agency" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
      <category term="takeaways" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
      <category term="trading standards" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="bordersagency" label="Borders Agency" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="chinesetakeaway" label="chinese takeaway" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="lehman" label="Lehman" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="tradingstandards" label="trading standards" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/">
      <![CDATA[<img style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; FLOAT: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; PADDING-TOP: 10px" alt="Stay lucky" src="http://www.caterersearch.com/Assets/GetAsset.aspx?ItemID=13440" /> 
<p>Sometimes people's timing is so awful and events simply perverse that you have to smile at their misfortune (yes, I am evil).</p>
<p>Take Gordon Brown for example. Struggles to get the top job from Tony "Cheshire Cat" Blair and then steps into his shoes just as capitalism hits the buffers. <strong>Tough break that.</strong></p>
<p>Also the fella that moved to the UK from France the weekend that the&nbsp;Channel Tunnel&nbsp;went up in smoke only&nbsp;to arrive for his new job at Lehman Brothers&nbsp;on the&nbsp;day it went under, is probably rightly&nbsp;thinking his bad luck for the next decade is out of the way.</p>
<p>So hats off to the staff at&nbsp;City Chinese Restaurant and Takeaway in Charles Street, Milford Haven, who <a href="http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2008/09/30/323767/chinese-restaurant-exposed-for-selling-fake-dvds.html">tried to sell knock-off DVDs to a Trading Standards Officer </a>(TSO), there to collect a meal. </p>
<p>Following an investigation the takeway's owners were fined and after the TSO mentioned the case to a buddy at the UK Borders Agency, they raided the place and six illegal workers are now awaiting deportation to China.&nbsp;<strong>No doubt the fine for that one is in the post. Top marks for effort.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2008/09/25/323636/economic-turmoil-set-to-slow-hotel-market-growth.html">Economic turmoil to slow hotel industry growth&gt;&gt;</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/2008/09/lehman-brothers-collapse-is-ba.html">Lehman Brothers Collapse is bad news for Compass Group&gt;&gt;</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>

<entry>
   <title>Caterer&apos;s Green Month is back</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/2008/09/last-week-the-royal-lancaster.html" />
   <id>tag:www.caterersearch.com,2008:/blogs/catering-news-blog//35.39529</id>
   
   <published>2008-09-29T17:15:03Z</published>
   <updated>2008-09-30T08:02:14Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Last week London&apos;s Royal Lancaster had a Green Day. In October Caterer brings you its third annual Green Month.</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Chris Druce</name>
      
   </author>
   
      <category term="environment" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
      <category term="green issues" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
      <category term="hotels" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="greenday" label="Green Day" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="greenissues" label="green issues" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="greenmonth" label="green month" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="royallancasterhotel" label="Royal Lancaster hotel" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="sustainability" label="sustainability" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/">
      <![CDATA[<img style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; FLOAT: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; PADDING-TOP: 10px" alt="planet Earth" src="http://www.caterersearch.com/Assets/GetAsset.aspx?ItemID=12265" /> 
<p>Last week the Royal Lancaster hotel hosted its third annual "Green Day".</p>
<p>Rather than a tribute to the alternative American rock band of the same name the day instead involved a series of events to increase awareness of the luxury hotel's green polices amongst staff and suppliers.</p>
<p>Funnily enough, this October see's the return of <em>Caterer's</em> own annual Green Month full of useful tips and features on how to cut your energy use and save money while helping the environment.</p>
<p>It all starts on 2 October with top environmental hotelier Vanessa Scott checking out three properties and providing advice. </p>
<p>There's also exlcusive <em>Caterer </em>research on the progress the hospitality industry has made to date.&nbsp;And don't forget you can keep up-to-date as the month progresses and read previous articles in our <a href="http://www.caterersearch.com/green-zone/Default.aspx">Green Zone.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2007/10/03/309266/the-a-z-of-going-green.html">A to Z of going green&gt;&gt;</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2008/09/22/323534/premier-inn-to-launch-its-first-green-hotel.html">Premier Inn to launch its first Green hotel&gt;&gt;</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2008/09/09/323303/compass-group-gains-marine-stewardship-council-certification.html">Compass Group gains Marine Stewardship Certification&gt;&gt;</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>

<entry>
   <title>Holiday to Greece ruined? Make up for it with a free meal!</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/2008/09/holiday-to-greece-ruined-make.html" />
   <id>tag:www.caterersearch.com,2008:/blogs/catering-news-blog//35.38866</id>
   
   <published>2008-09-18T10:11:43Z</published>
   <updated>2008-09-18T10:22:52Z</updated>
   
   <summary>The Real Greek restaurant chain is offering stranded holidaymakers a free meal. </summary>
   <author>
      <name>Kerstin Kuhn</name>
      
   </author>
   
   <category term="freemeal" label="Free Meal" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="holiday" label="Holiday" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="restaurants" label="Restaurants" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/">
      <![CDATA[<p>
<span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="DISPLAY: inline"><img class="mt-image-left" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 20px 20px 0px" height="200" alt="Stranded Travellers" src="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/Stranded%20Travellers.JPG" width="169" /></span>You know you're living in tough times when you can't even go on holiday without having to fear that half way through your trip your travel company may collapse and you could end up stranded on some sunny island in Greece. </p>
<p>What's worse, of course, is when your travel company goes bust before you've even left for your week off and you're stuck somewhere rainy, grey and cold, with the dream of sunshine and a tan snatched away from you. </p>
<p>Sound familiar? Then you may be one of the thousands of travellers who had their holiday ruined by the collapse of XL Leisure Group last week. But don't despair, there's hope yet as the <a href="http://www.therealgreek.com/">Real Greek</a> restaurant chain is putting a smile back on people's faces by offering all those poor sods who had their holidays ruined a little treat.</p>
<p>Yes stranded holidaymakers, there's a light at the end of the tunnel: if you can prove your trip to Greece was cancelled make your way to one of the Real Greek restaurants in London and claim your free meal to the value of up to £15 before 30 September.</p>
<p>It may not be quite the same as a week of lying on a sandy beach sipping pina coladas&nbsp;but hey - every little helps, right?!?<br /></p>]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>

<entry>
   <title>Alimentum Achievement</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/2008/09/alimentum-achievement.html" />
   <id>tag:www.caterersearch.com,2008:/blogs/catering-news-blog//35.38863</id>
   
   <published>2008-09-18T09:36:45Z</published>
   <updated>2008-09-18T10:17:36Z</updated>
   
   <summary> Since its opening in July 2007, Caterer has followed the progress of Restaurant Alimentum in Cambridge as part of the magazine&apos;s Adopted Business series. It seems the hard work of owner John Hudgell and his team has paid off...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Emma White</name>
      
   </author>
   
   <category term="alimentum" label="Alimentum" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="johnhudgell" label="John Hudgell" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="rspca" label="RSPCA" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/">
      <![CDATA[<p>
<span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="DISPLAY: inline"><img class="mt-image-left" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 20px 20px 0px" height="85" alt="Alimentum.jpg" src="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/Alimentum.jpg" width="100" /></span>Since its opening in July 2007, Caterer has followed the progress of Restaurant Alimentum in Cambridge as part of the magazine's Adopted Business series.</p>
<p>It seems the hard work of owner John Hudgell and his team has paid off and the restaurant has this month been awarded a 3 Rosette quality accreditation by the AA. </p>
<p>Commenting on the award, a proud John Hudgell said "We are delighted to receive such a prestigious award, which is testament to the hard work of Head Chef David Williams and his team.&nbsp; To receive such an important award in our first 14 months is truly amazing."</p>
<p>But before Hudgell sets his sights on attaining his first Michelin Star he could be in line for a further award to recognise his concern for animal welfare at the restaurant.</p>
<p>The RSPCA Good Business Awards takes place at London's National History Museum on the 9th October and Alimentum is on the short list.</p>
<p>&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br /></p>]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>

<entry>
   <title>Lehman Brothers collapse is bad news for Compass</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/2008/09/lehman-brothers-collapse-is-ba.html" />
   <id>tag:www.caterersearch.com,2008:/blogs/catering-news-blog//35.38688</id>
   
   <published>2008-09-16T11:49:32Z</published>
   <updated>2008-09-17T11:01:30Z</updated>
   
   <summary>The demise of Lehman Brothers is a blow for Compass Group which ran the catering at the investment bank&apos;s European HQ in London&apos;s Canary Wharf</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Daniel Thomas</name>
      
   </author>
   
      <category term="Compass UK" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
      <category term="contract catering" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
      <category term="credit crunch" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="compassgroup" label="Compass Group" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="contractcatering" label="contract catering" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="creditcrunch" label="credit crunch" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="finedining" label="fine dining" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/">
      <![CDATA[<p>
<span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="DISPLAY: inline"><img class="mt-image-left" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 20px 20px 0px" height="150" alt="The Canary Wharf HQ of Lehman Brothers " src="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/Lehman%20Brothers%20Canary%20Wharf.jpg" width="113" /></span>The newspapers are full of the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7615974.stm">demise of investment bank Lehman Brothers</a>, which&nbsp;went into administration in the UK on Monday after its US parent applied for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.</p>
<p>The knock-on effect is expected to be widespread, with share prices already tumbling and the effects of the credit crunch set to intensify.</p>
<p>The news is also a blow for <a href="http://www.restaurantassociates.co.uk/RestaurantsAndVenues/Venues.htm">Restaurant Associates</a>, the fine dining arm of Compass Group, which ran the catering at Lehman's European HQ in London's Canary Wharf. </p>
<p>As well as feeding many of the 5,000 staff, RA provided events and fine dining catering at the rather swanky office block.</p>
<p>RA this morning confirmed to <em>Caterer </em>that it is in discussions with Lehman about the contract.</p>]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>

<entry>
   <title>Guy Ritchie and Madonna celebrate his 40th down the pub</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/2008/09/guy-ritchie-and-madonna-celebr.html" />
   <id>tag:www.caterersearch.com,2008:/blogs/catering-news-blog//35.38486</id>
   
   <published>2008-09-12T15:54:20Z</published>
   <updated>2008-09-15T09:08:56Z</updated>
   
   <summary>RocknRolla director Guy Ritchie chose to celebrate his 40th birthday earlier this week on a slightly tighter budget than the one he set for his wife&apos;s lavish 50th last month. Having spent £100,000 on food and drink for Madonna&apos;s party...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Amanda Afiya</name>
      
   </author>
   
      <category term="pubs" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="davidgest" label="David Gest" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="guyritchie" label="Guy Ritchie" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="madonna" label="Madonna" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="thepunchbowlinmayfair" label="the Punchbowl in Mayfair" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="trudiestyler" label="Trudie Styler" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/">
      <![CDATA[<img style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; FLOAT: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 5px" height="93" src="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/madonna-guy-ritchie_799302c.jpg" width="150" />RocknRolla director Guy Ritchie chose to celebrate his 40th birthday earlier this week on a slightly tighter budget than the one he set for his wife's lavish 50th last month. <br /><br />Having spent £100,000 on food and drink for Madonna's party at "exclusive London club" Volstead, Ritchie opted to throw his own party at his favourite London pub - the Punch Bowl in Mayfair - which he co-owns with his wife.<br /><br />The night apparently took on a Celtic theme with guests including Sting's wife Trudie Styler, David Gest and Kate Moss's boyfriend Jamie Hince banging out old Irish songs till the early hours. Now there's an image.<br /><br />Meanwhile, next door a gang stole £2m worth of computer equipment and telephone cables in a massive security breach from the telephone exchange. Now that's what I call a snatch.]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>

<entry>
   <title>The pride and joy of Tom Kerridge</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/2008/09/pride-of-place-in-tom.html" />
   <id>tag:www.caterersearch.com,2008:/blogs/catering-news-blog//35.38416</id>
   
   <published>2008-09-11T16:45:10Z</published>
   <updated>2008-09-11T17:02:16Z</updated>
   
   <summary><![CDATA[ Pride of place in Tom Kerridge's new kitchen at the Hand &amp; Flowers in Marlow goes to a beautiful bespoke island suite by French manufacturer Athanor. It cost £29,000 and the stainless steel chrome titanium alloy top gleams in...]]></summary>
   <author>
      <name>Diane Lane</name>
      
   </author>
   
   <category term="athanor" label="Athanor" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="demetre" label="Demetre" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="handflowers" label="Hand &amp; Flowers" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="kerridge" label="Kerridge" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="kitchen" label="kitchen" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="michelin" label="Michelin" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/">
      <![CDATA[<p>
<span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="DISPLAY: inline"><img class="mt-image-center" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 20px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="166" alt="Athanor.jpg" src="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/Athanor.jpg" width="250" /></span>Pride of place in Tom Kerridge's new kitchen at the <a href="http://www.thehandandflowers.co.uk/">Hand &amp; Flowers</a> in Marlow goes to a beautiful bespoke island suite by French manufacturer <a href="http://www.signature-fse.com/athanorsuites.shtml">Athanor</a>. It cost £29,000 and the stainless steel chrome titanium alloy top gleams in the bright kitchen lights. </p>
<p>Besides an oven, holding cabinet, planchas and radiant hobs Kerridge insisted on a central gantry for storage of pots and pans much to the disapproval of fellow <a href="http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2008/01/23/306085/top-michelin-rated-restaurants.html">Michelin-starred</a> chef Anthony Demetre of <a href="http://www.arbutusrestaurant.co.uk/">Arbutus</a> and <a href="http://www.wildhoneyrestaurant.co.uk/">Wild Honey</a>. </p>
<p>"Why would you have something so beautiful and bespoke and put a gantry on it?" he asks. "It's like buying a Ferrari and putting a roof rack on it."</p>
<p>Well if you put it like that...</p>]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>

<entry>
   <title>Calling all Acorn Club and Oak Members</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/2008/09/calling-all-acorn-club-and-oak.html" />
   <id>tag:www.caterersearch.com,2008:/blogs/catering-news-blog//35.38284</id>
   
   <published>2008-09-10T12:28:58Z</published>
   <updated>2008-09-10T12:33:39Z</updated>
   
   <summary> The Oak Club formerly known as the Acorn Club has made the decision to channel all its efforts into the promotion and development of the Acorn Scholarship. An independent award created by previous winners of Caterer and Hotelkeeper&apos;s Acorn...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Katherine Alano</name>
      
   </author>
   
   <category term="acornscholarship" label="Acorn Scholarship" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="oakcommittee" label="Oak Committee" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/">
      <![CDATA[<p>
<p><img class="mt-image-left" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 20px 20px 0px" height="150" alt="Acorn Scholarship 2009" src="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/logo_150x150.jpg" width="150" />The Oak Club formerly known as the Acorn Club has made the decision to channel all its efforts into the promotion and development of the Acorn Scholarship. </p>
<p>An independent award created by previous winners of <em>Caterer and Hotelkeeper</em>'s Acorn Awards. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Now in its 7th year, the Scholarship's objective is to seek out young talented individuals within the catering and hospitality industry and help them realise their ambitions and reward their determination.&nbsp;(For more details go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.caterersearch.com/acornscholarship">www.caterersearch.com/acornscholarship</a>)</p>
<p>Consequently, the committee of the Acorn Scholarship would like to offer refunds for any Oak/Acorn Club Members who have paid an annual subscription in 2008. </p>
<p>To receive this refund please contact <a href="mailto:ljenkins@malmaison.com">ljenkins@malmaison.com</a> with your name, email and postal address.</p>
<p>Your support of entries to the scholarship in your capacity as Acorn Award Winners would be great too.</p>
<p>With best Regards<br /><em>Lisa Jenkins</em><br />The Acorn Scholarship</p>]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>

<entry>
   <title>Dress up for Christmas</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/2008/09/dress-up-for-christmas.html" />
   <id>tag:www.caterersearch.com,2008:/blogs/catering-news-blog//35.38121</id>
   
   <published>2008-09-08T14:58:39Z</published>
   <updated>2008-09-09T11:07:17Z</updated>
   
   <summary>In the run up to the Christmas party season, events organisers will no doubt be putting the finishing touches to their entertainment plans. But for those who are still looking for something to give their guests an extra treat, Private...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Emma White</name>
      
   </author>
   
   <category term="bollidarling" label="Bolli Darling" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="privatedrama" label="Private Drama" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/">
      <![CDATA[<p></font>In the run up to the Christmas party season, events organisers will no doubt be putting the finishing touches to their entertainment plans. But for those who are still looking for something to give their guests an extra treat, Private Drama has launched a range of Bolli Darling five costumed <span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="DISPLAY: inline"><img class="mt-image-left" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 20px 20px 0px" height="180" alt="Eye Candy1-crop.jpg" src="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/Eye%20Candy1-crop.jpg" width="110" /></span>walkabout characters called Eye Candy. </p>
<p>One example is the feather boa-rimmed 'Angel'&nbsp;with a large feathered skirt and a selection of&nbsp;attached skewers for sweet treats such as marshmallows that guests can pick off on passing. The 'Burlesque' character offers a similar theme but with a giant netted collar and ruffled <font face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" size="3"><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="DISPLAY: inline"><img class="mt-image-right" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 20px 20px" height="180" alt="Eye Candy 2.jpg" src="http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/Eye%20Candy%202.jpg" width="181" /></span></font>leotard.</p>
<p>Straight out of an Alice in Wonderland-style animation or Gwen Stefani concert is the Miss 'Candy Floss' character with a wig to rival Marge Simpson's and Humbug mint design tights and corset. Unsurprisingly, Miss Candy Floss serves up candy floss and other sugary treats.<br /><br />Wrapped up like a floral display is the character 'Bouquet' with clear plastic wrapping bunched up and decorated with a big bow and completed with a flowery hat. Or for a real Christmasy feel,&nbsp;the 'Christmas Tree' character comes with&nbsp;long evening gloves, customary swinging skirt to carry treats and even a lopsided Christmas Tree hat.</p>
<p>Beats a tired old Santa Claus outfit any day.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p></font>]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>

</feed>

