The Editor's Hospitality Blog

Support our School Meals Matter campaign

2010-02-04T12:08:10Z

When it comes to improving the diet and thereby the health of the nation's children, we are all stakeholders.

As parents, we wish to see our children achieve their full physical and mental potential. As taxpayers, we welcome the savings in NHS expenditure that a decrease in the rates of obesity and Type 2 diabetes would deliver. And, as industry professionals, we recognise the positive impact our businesses stand to derive from our children having a mature, healthy and respectful relationship with the food they eat.

Perhaps more than any other industry, hospitality has a vested interest in encouraging children to engage with food and cooking. For any food service-based operation to prosper, it needs to attract employees with a passion for cooking and serving great meals, and customers with a passion for eating them.

]]> That's why Caterer and Hotelkeeper and Caterersearch.com are this week joining forces with the Local Authority Caterers Association to call on the winning party at the forthcoming General Election to make a firm commitment to the continuation of the school meals service.

By signing our petition and supporting our School Meals Matter campaign, you'll be sending a clear signal to the incoming Government that you believe school meals are good for the health of the nation, and good for the hospitality industry.

However, your involvement need not end there. Many hospitality operators already give up their spare time to work with local schools to spark a lifelong friendship with food among schoolchildren - people like the chefs of Chefs Adopt a School, a hugely creditworthy initiative that this week celebrates its 20th anniversary.

In the coming weeks, we'll be offering practical guidance on how you can spread the food gospel in your local communities. By supporting us, you'll be ensuring fresh generations of hospitality workers and customers, and therefore future-proofing your own business.

Charles and Camilla celebrate 20 years of Adopt-a-School >>

Charles and Camilla celebrate 20 years of Chefs Adopt a School

2010-02-02T19:11:33Z

The industry's great and good gathered at St George's Primary School in London's Mayfair today, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Academy of Culinary Arts' Chefs Adopt a School programme.

Roy Ackerman, Heston Blumenthal, Willy Bauer, Brian Turner, Albert Roux, Raymond Blanc, Gary Rhodes, William Curley, Andre Garrett, Robin Hutson, Harry Murray, Ramon Pajares, Alain Roux, Richard Shepherd, John Williams and Cyrus Todiwala were just some of the personalities on hand, as The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall sat in on Chefs Adopt a School sessions by Thames Valley University lecturer, Michael Coaker and Chefs Adopt a School's Idris Caldora.

Chefs Adopt a School was founded in 1990 to encourage school leavers to consider a career in the hospitality industry. It was immediately apparent that the level of children's food and cookery knowledge at secondary school age was lamentably poor. The Academy decided that to make a real difference, they needed to focus on a younger age group. A programme was developed to engage, educate, inspire and equip primary aged children with the vital life skills of practical cookery and food knowledge - from plant to plate. Lessons were created to deliver workshops to children in schools that had no cooking facilities.

Today, the programme reaches 21,000 children annually. Now the Academy is looking to reach out to the remaining 4.5 million primary school children across the UK.

Speaking at the event, chef and Academy of Culinary Arts President, Brian Turner called the scheme's plant-to-plate food education "transformational - it's a force for good and teaches children life skills".

The Prince of Wales called Chefs Adopt a School "a brilliant idea".

"Food is related to ourentire cultural heritage", he said, "and we must find a way of reconnecting children to our food, culture and seasons".

Happy 100th birthday to the Goring Hotel

2010-01-26T13:56:16Z

London's Goring Hotel (the capital's only five-star hotel still owned and managed by the family that established it) held a Luncheon for Chefs and Food Lovers yesterday as part of its centenary celebrations.

Chief Executive, Jeremy Goring pulled on a fetching woolly hat to welcome arriving guests on the hotel's front steps. These included Sir Terry Wogan, Delia Smith, Albert Roux, Raymond Blanc, Gary Rhodes, Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet) and Tom Parker-Bowles.

Lunch was a free-for-all, as guests swapped tastes of a range of Goring dining-room favourites from down the years - all expertly prepared by Derek Quelch and his brigade. These included:

Mrs Goring's pigs fry salad with poach duck egg, cider vinegar and honey dressing (the War years)
Jellied eels with parsley vinegar (the Roaring Twenties)
Terrine of Goosnargh duck leg with roasted beetroot (the Thatcher years)
Poached fillets of Dover sole Americaine (the Edwardian era).

After a while I complained of being full. "Novice", cried Matthew Fort, as the Great British Menu judge and food writer spooned a large slab of oxtail pudding onto his plate. He later revealed he was heading off after lunch for a full dinner at Northcote. You've got to admire his metabolism.

Possibly the worst dining experience ever?

2009-11-03T11:21:31Z

On Sunday I was invited to an interactive theatre show based on the classic British TV show Fawlty Towers.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but when we arrived, ordered our drinks long-suffering waiter Manuel was working the crowd offering peanuts from a silver platter and pouring salt into your hand.

Faulty Towers... the dining experience was certainly that. An experience. Think of your worse dining experience: odd or no cutlery, tables served randomly, bread rolls thrown onto your plate, an escaped rat and a screeching hostess... if it wasn't theatre, it wouldn't be funny!

Faulty Towers... the dining experience has been performing since 1997 and has toured the world with it unique style and its interaction with the audience. It has performed throughout Australia, South Pacific, South-east Asia and also a sell-out season at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

If you have ever spent an evening watching Fawlty Towers cringing at Basil's faux pas, Manuel's antics and Sybil's attempt at keeping order then this is for you.

Don't expect a great dining experience, but a chaotic and crazy one - only to be expected when dining with the Fawlty's!

See more photos on Table Talk here >>

You can find out more about Faulty Towers at www.interactivetheatre.com.au

Pubco bosses to climb Kilimanjaro for charity

2009-09-30T15:36:30Z

It's a pub crawl with a difference: four pub company bosses will this Friday attempt to scale Africa's highest mountain Kilimanjaro for charity.

Peach Pub Company co-founder Lee Cash and Peach's Tim Doyle as well as Lovely Pubs' chief executive Paul Salisbury and his brother David have so far raised £15,800 but are calling for further sponsorship to meet their £25k target.

The foursome are raising funds for When You Wish Upon a Star, the organisation that makes wishes come true for very sick children, and the Get A-Head Charitable Trust, which fights head and neck diseases, especially cancer.

"We're really chuffed with people's support so far for our charity climb, but are asking for one last big push to help us crack our £25k target," said Cash, adding: "The climb's for two really good causes and we'll definitely be giving it our all."

To sponsor the quartet visit www.thethreemountaineers.co.uk

If Gary Barlow can do it...

(Picture shows left to right: Tim Doyle, Paul Salisbury, David Salisbury and Lee Cash)

Blog by Emma White

Top chefs take to the stage at the Chef Conference

2009-09-29T17:02:40Z

Well, what a day it was yesterday. Caterer held it annual Chef Conference at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower in London.

The conference kicked off with Heston Blumenthal who talked to Caterer group editor Mark Lewis about the affect of the norovirus had on his Michelin-starred restaurant the Fat Duck in Bray and how the HPA did not do enough to help restaurants in similar situations.

He also chatted about his new tasting menu, new book and the next instalment of his Feast TV programmed.

This was followed on by a debate on topical issues such as user-generated reviews, food sourcing and training. Joining the debate where chefs Shaun Hill, David Cavalier, Simon Hulstone, John Williams and Michael Caines. The debate was chaired by Brian Turner.

There were great masterclasses from Catey chef of the year, Angela Hartnett (Murano) who teamed up with Spain's Elena Arzak. Angela cooked roasted sweetbreads with pickled peaches, liquorish and fennel and a walnut pasta.

The smells in the conference room were amazing, and had the room salivating!

Elena, shared her recipes for walnut cream, with reinvented red cabbage - a delicate dish with vibrant colours.(see right)

The next masterclass came from two-Michelin starred chefs Michael Caines (Gidleigh Park) and Martin Burge (Whatley Manor).

Michael kicked off with pan-fried duck foie gras followed by wild salmon.

First-timer at the Chef Conference, Martin Burge, who despite his nerves presented his signature dish of mango cannelloni.

The Chef Conference ended with a Chef Eats out. Delegates to the conference had to choice to eat at two-Michelin-starred Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley, Phil Howard's the Square and Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester.

To see more photos from the Chef Conference and Chef Eats Out go to Table Talk here >>

Marcus Wareing named GQ Men of the Year chef winner

2009-09-08T21:31:27Z

I've just picked up on LBC that Marcus Wareing has received the chef gong in the GQ Men of the Year Awards 2009.

There's next-to-nothing on Google other than a piece on the Sun website, but nevertheless this marks the end of an incredible year for Wareing in which he was, for the first time in many, many years, in charge of his own destiny following his parting from Gordon Ramsay Holdings and the launch of Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley.

Speaking to Caterer after the awards, Wareing said: "[It was] the perfect end to my first year at Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley. [I am] delighted and honoured."

Other winners included Outstanding Achievement - Elvis Costello; International Man - Mickey Rourke; Alfred Dunhill Film-Maker - Guy Ritchie; Woman - Lily Allen; Band - Take That; Sportsman - Jenson Button; Solo Artist - Dizzee Rascal; and 2009 Catey Awards host comedian Michael McIntyre.

See our video interview with Marcus Wareing.

The people of Wavendon celebrate Mark Webber's German Grand Prix win

2009-09-08T15:46:31Z

Now here's a bit of globe-trotting for you. South African chef Grant Hawthorne last week hosted a celebratory dinner for Australian Formula 1 driver (and winner of the 2009 German Grand Prix) Mark Webber at English restaurant, the Plough Wavendon, with produce from South African and 1979 Formula 1 World Champion Jody Scheckter's English farm, Laverstoke Park.

The international line-up proved for an interesting evening as diners tucked into an incredible seven-course degustation menu featuring some of Scheckter's amazing biodynamic and organic produce such as in the Laverstoke lamb en sous vide with broad beans, carrot, highland burgundy red and Aspley Guise truffle. All the dishes were accompanied by wines from Tasmania, which is where the Mark Webber Challenge Foundation (raising money for charities including the Save the Tassie Devil Appeal and the Leukaemia Foundation) is based.

]]> Speaking at the dinner, Webber said that sitting next to World Champion Jody Scheckter with just the one win under his belt he was glad that racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart had been unable to make it to the event.

"Winning the grand prix was a very proud moment for myself and the team having had a one, two at Silverstone [with his team mate Sebastian Vettel finishing first] and then another one, two in Germany - and of course it's been 28 years since another Australian, Alan Jones, won. It's my responsbility to try and get the Australian national anthem played!"

Webber, who owns the nearby Stag in Mentmore with his partner Ann Neal, said that he loved food and "eats plenty of it" but added that having been a "big, red meat eater" back home in New South Wales he eats less of it nowadays and his diet was more likely to contain lots of pasta and a little bit of seafood. While declaring a love for chocolate and ice-cream, he did admit to laying off his favourite foods for a race weekend.

Host for the evening Grant Hawthorne said: "Mark has been a regular at the restaurant and to show how proud we are of him and his achievements this year, we donned our black ties and celebrated. Not only is he a great racing drive, but he is a local to many."

To see images from the night and the dishes served, go to Table Talk.

Starbucks and spas take the flak at the Edinburgh Fringe

2009-08-27T10:21:08Z

When TV channel Dave this week awarded a prize for the funniest gag at the Edinburgh Fringe, a swipe at the quality of Starbucks coffee and a comment on the growing trend for hotel spas were in their shortlist.

Funnyman Adam Hills compared going to Starbucks for coffee with "going to prison for sex. You know you're going to get it, but it's going to be rough." And Rhod Gilbert made this observation about spas in hotels: "a spa hotel? It's like a normal hotel, only in reception there's a picture of a pebble."

The award for best gag went to comic, Dan Antopolski. His winning gag was a one-liner from his show Silent But Deadly: "Hedgehogs. Why can't they just share the hedge?"

The top ten in full:

"Hedgehogs - why can't they just share the hedge?"
"I was watching the London Marathon and saw one runner dressed as a chicken and another runner dressed as an egg. I thought: 'This could be interesting'."
"I had my boobs measured and bought a new bra. Now I call them Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes because they're up where they belong."
"I went on a girls' night out recently. The invitation said 'dress to kill'. I went as Rose West."
"I'm sure wherever my dad is; he's looking down on us. He's not dead, just very condescending."
"Going to Starbucks for coffee is like going to prison for sex. You know you're going to get it, but it's going to be rough."
"To the people who've got iPhones: you just bought one, you didn't invent it!"
"A spa hotel? It's like a normal hotel, only in reception there's a picture of a pebble."
"I've been reading the news about there being a civil war in Madagascar. Well, I've seen it six times and there isn't."
"I started so many fights at my school - I had that attention-deficit disorder. So I didn't finish a lot of them."

Boom-boom.

Your chance to ask top chefs questions you've always wanted to ask

2009-08-25T09:59:49Z

Some of the country's chefs are decending into London for next month's Chef Conference and its your chance to ask the questions you've always wanted to ask.

The event takes place on 28 September at the Jumeriah Carlton Tower in London and will see a stellar line up take part in live interviews and masterclasses.

Topping the bill in a one-on-one on-stage interview is Bray's internationally feted supersonic chef, Heston Blumenthal - famous for his multi-sensory cuisine at his three-Michelin-starred Fat Duck restaurant.

Another three-starred chef, and making her Chef Conference debut, is Spain's Elena Arzak who will be demonstrating with this year's Catey Chef winner Angela Hartnett from Murano.

Michael Caines from Gidleigh Park and Abode Hotels and newly-crowned two Michelin-starred chef Martin Burge from Whatley Manor will hit the stage together in what promises to be a great chef demo.

Other chefs taking part include: Simon Hulstone, chef proprietor, Elephant Restaurant; David Cavalier, food director, Charlton House Catering; John Williams, executive chef, The Ritz, London; Shaun Hill, chef, The Walnut Tree, Abergavenny and Brian Turner, president, Academy of Culinary Arts.

The Chef Conference concludes this year with a lunch at one of three Michelin-starred restaurants in London. Delegates will have a choice from dining at Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley; Phil Howard's the Square and Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester.

All our chefs will be open to questions, and this is where Caterer needs you. If you have a burning question you want to ask any of the chefs, all you need to do is leave your questions on Table Talk and we will field your questions on the day.

If you leave your questions and comments on Table Talk we'll automatically enter your name into a draw to win tickets to the Chef Conference and a lunch of your choice.

So what you are you wating for - leave your question here!

The stupid questions that London tourists ask

2009-08-18T14:20:19Z

With the economy in such turmoil, London's hotels, restaurants and bars are relying on custom from inbound tourists more than ever before.

Judging by these brainless questions asked by tourists at the City of London Information Centre, though, it's a wonder our foreign pals have the wit to book a hotel or get through the front door of a restaurant, in the first place:

1. How can I have tea with the Queen?

2. Could you recommend a good plastic surgeon?

3. Are there guided tours of M15?

4. When do the clowns come on at Piccadilly Circus?

5. What number in Oxford Street is Oxford University?

6. Where can I buy paraffin for my lamp?

7. What time does "evil song" start at St Paul's Cathedral?

8. Which side of the river is London Bridge on?

9. Where can I hire a banana boat?

10. Is it a long walk to Times Square?

11. Where abouts is the Eiffel Tower?

12. Which way to the beach?

13. When does Tower Bridge move?

14. Where can I see the buildings destroyed in the Second World War?

15. Where do the Spice Girls live?

Janet Street-Porter questions the Staycation

2009-08-17T13:59:35Z

Recent research by VisitEngland revealed that holidays at home are on the increase, with holiday trips taken by UK residents in England in the first four months of 2009 up 13% on the same period last year.

Judging by Janet Street-Porter's article in the Daily Mail Online today, however, not all holidaymakers will have found a UK break a happy and relaxing affair.

The TV presenter and journalist reckons that "having a fun holiday in the UK is so bloody difficult" and that "going to Mars" would be simpler than organising a mini-break.

She lambasts our levels of customer service, saying that "as a nation we've no idea how to be servile, willingly dish up tasty meals or welcome visitors with smiley rather than surly faces".

She brands our transport system as "over-priced and incomprehensible".

And she rails against trendy websites that "take ages to download" and feature a maze of room rates, offers and ticket types.

The cockerney columnist reached these conclusions while booking two getaways, one in Northumberland and another in Edinburgh. If you operate a hotel in either region, you might want to check your forward bookings and see if there's a J Street Porter on the list. If there is, be afraid, be very afraid.

Chef turns the tables on his guests in aid of charity

2009-08-11T16:50:31Z

I received an e-mail this week from a chef in County Durham who is holding a charity event in aid of Cancer Research on 30 August.

Paul O'Hara, chef at The Bridge Pub & Restaurant in Whorlton Village, who lost a friend and his mother to cancer within months of each other, hopes to raise money for this great cause.

What's different about this event, is that he is not just holding a dinner, but some of his regulars will be donning on the chefs whites to spend the day in the kitchen and do a service.

The dinner will be a six-course meal with petite fours and canapes - all done by the kitchen apprentices - for up to 80 guests.

And there will be no let up for the punters walking into that kitchen! Paul, who was head chef for one of the Northeast's top chefs Terry Laybourne - won't be letting his standards drop. He will be insisting on the highest standards throughout the day. A tough day ahead...

The Bridge restaurant is in its third year and is already pick of the pubs for County Durham in the AA guide, and is one of only three pubs in County Durham to be in the Michelin Guide.

If you would like more information on this event contact Paul at The Bridge Inn or you can sponsor the event here.

2009 Hotel Cateys shortlist unveiled - are you on it?

2009-08-07T16:12:34Z

The wait is over. The shortlist for the 2009 Hotel Cateys has been unveiled.

The awards, organised by Caterer and Hotelkeeper, were launched in 2007 to complement the Cateys and are designed to allow hoteliers to celebrate the achievements of their staff and give them the recognition they deserve.

As with the Cateys, contenders for the Hotel Cateys have been nominated, selected and recognised by judging panels consisting of their industry peers.

This year's categories include, Front of House Manager, Housekeeper of the Year, Spa Professional and Hotel Chef award.

FULL SHORTLIST

Front of House Manager
Jane Butler, Woolley Grange Hotel, Wiltshire
Charlene Hamilton, Hotel du Vin, Cheltenham
Roland Hoffman, The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
Ben Malpass, The Cavendish Hotel, London

Front of House Team
ABode Hotel, Glasgow
Brown's Hotel, London
Malmaison Hotel, Leeds
Strattons Hotel, Norfolk

Conference and Banqueting Award
Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa, Berkshire
Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel, London
The Berkeley, London

Food and Beverage Manager
Andrew Bennett, The Park Lane Hotel, London
Stefan Engl, Cunard Lines, Queen Mary 2
Erick Kervaon, South Lodge Hotel, West Sussex

Housekeeper of the Year
Rachael Park, Rudding Park, Harrogate
Emma Lucking, Kettering Park Hotel & Spa, Northamptonshire
Barbara Sheridan, Thistle Marble Arch, London

Green Award
One Aldwych, London
Strattons Hotel, Norfolk
Best Western Moor Hall Hotel & Spa, West Midlands
Tamworth Premier Inn South, Whitbread plc

Hotel Restaurant Manager
Mark Bevan, Simon Radley at The Chester Grosvenor, Cheshire
Cedric Chirossel, The Castle at Taunton, Somerset
Lisa Edwards, Village Hotel & Leisure Club, Walsall
Marc Whitley, The River Bar and Restaurant at The Lowry Hotel, Manchester

Hotel Restaurant Team
Malmaison Hotel, Aberdeen
Michael Caines at ABode Manchester
The Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh
The Ritz, London
Village Wirral Restaurant Team, Village Hotel & Leisure Club, Walsall

Spa Professional
Maria Haggo, The Spa at Chancery Court/ Renaissance Chancery Court, London
Kerry Hole, SPA SPC, Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire
Mandy Meth, Cunard Lines, Canyon Ranch Spa - Queen Mary 2
Maxine Turnock, Cliveden, Berkshire

Hotel Chef Less than 250 Covers
Kenny Atkinson, Seaham Hall Hotel and Serenity Spa, County Durham
Stephen Crane, Ockenden Manor, West Sussex
Lee Streeton, Brown's Hotel, London

Hotel Chef More than 250 covers
Nigel Boschetti, The Royal Lancaster Hotel, London
Steve Munkley, Royal Garden Hotel, London
Simon Young, Jumeirah Carlton Tower, London

Human Resources Manager
Sam Hayter, Starwood Hotels, The Park Lane Hotel
Liz McGivern, Red Carnation Hotels
Nick Wyatt, von Essen hotels

Human Resources Team
Royal Garden Hotel, London
Starwood Central London Hotels, Sheraton Park Tower Hotel, London
The Berkeley, London

The winners will be annouced at a black-tie event will be held on 6 November at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. Good luck to all our shortlisted entrants!

And there is still time to book your place at the event by logging onto www.hotelcateys.com.

Hotel Cateys shortlist soon to be unveiled

2009-08-04T16:13:00Z

The wait is almost over! The shortlist for the Hotel Cateys will be announced on Friday (7 August).

The judges which included Harry Murray, Peter Lederer, and 2009 Catey manager of the year winner Carrie Wickshead congregated at the Dorchester and the Royal Lancaster hotels in London to finalise the shortlist of the 16 categories.

The winners will be annouced at a black-tie event at the Royal Lancaster, London on 6 November.

And don't forget there is still time to enter the Hotelier of the Year. The deadline is 14 August and you can enter at the Hotel Cateys website