The Caterer Blog

It is very rare that we at Caterer try and use our influence when enjoying meals out (nothing worse than "do you know who I am?" after all).

However, I can reveal that the Caterer team today forced the sacking of two chefs at one of our local hostelries.

Upon entering the Revolution bar in sunny Sutton for a leaving do lunch, the group envisaged quick, friendly service, tasty pub grub and general conviviality.

It all started well as the drinks orders were made, but it soon went downhill.

The Second Test in the four-match series between England and South African starts today at Headingley.

While most cricket watchers are expecting another close game, after the bore draw at Lords, one London-based South African restaurateur has, quite literally, put his shirt on his country winning series.

Gerrie Knoetze, owner of Vivat Bacchus in Farringdon Street, has promised his (largely England-supporting) customers that if South Africa lose the test series, he and his staff will wear the England cricket top for a week. 

There's nothing quite like snuggling down in a darkened room with a big bag full of popcorn.

We all know that feeling - one hand compulsively scooping handfuls of crunchy, salty, sweet or sticky corn puffs into the mouth while the other partially covers a fearful eye as the drama plays out onscreen.

You know you've had a good film when you stand up resembling a human corn morsel - corn stuck in your teeth, crumbs down your front and remnants in your hair.

It's noisy, smelly and messy - but that's just part of the fun. Or that's what I thought until it emerged at the weekend that one of the UK's most successful arthouse cinema groups has made the remarkable decision to faze out popcorn in some of its cinemas.