Who is replacing Gordon Ramsay at Claridges?
Ever since the news broke earlier in the year, that negotiations had broken down between Gordon Ramsay Holdings & the Maybourne Group, rumours have long been circulating about who would be taking up residence in the Art Deco dining room at Claridges. An early front runner was Rene Redzepi, I suppose based largely on the … Read more
When the customer isn’t always right.
In my day job, I have the enviable task of seeing how other kitchens operate. This maybe for a day, a week, a month or even longer in some cases, but what never ceases to amaze me, is customers. From the bizarre to the down right rude, just when you think that there isn’t something … Read more
Cheaper Eats: Alyn Williams at The Westbury
Located just off Bond Street in Mayfair is the Westbury Hotel, from the outside it looks very little to any other 5star London hotel, but it houses a special restaurant; Alyn Williams at the Westbury. Mr Williams has come through the ranks the hard way, no TV fame & quick route to the top for … Read more
Book review: The Rare Brand Market Cookbook vol. 1
Firstly I must apologise for the delay in posting this review, Natalie Martin at Kitch Media PR company very kindly took the time to send me a copy of The Rare Brand Cookbook, & then due to various work & life commitments was unable to post a review. Rare Brand is a book which champions … Read more
A week of AA & Michelin restaurant guides, distilled.
With this week seeing the release of both AA & Michelin restaurant guides, is it worth a compare & contrast post on the subject? There has been much said about the two main guides in terms of disappointment; lack of progression in terms of new awards, establishments effectively buying their awards, lack of transparency and … Read more
Michelin 2014: The results
So the most eagerly anticipated day in the culinary calendar has arrived. Yesterday, 12 hours ahead of publication, Michelin released a teaser of what was to come by posting some of the new Bib Gourmands on its Facebook page. Good news for Alex Aitken who over sees the Kings Arms at Christchurch, publicly thanking the … Read more
Michelin 2014: The rumours, gossip & predictions
This has to be the most nerve racking week for chefs in the UK & Eire; Monday saw the release of the farcical AA Restaurant guide, and two days later, the much more revered Michelin guide is released (Thursday). As per usual, people have been asking via the social media what are my thoughts & … Read more
AA Rosettes 2013/14: The rumours, gossip & predictions
So, this year both AA and Michelin release their guides in the same week, and how the tide has turned. Michelin is viewed by chefs as the benchmark to achieve, but realistically they knew it would be easier to attain 3 Rosettes (the top 10% in the AA guide). Many people ask if there is … Read more
New product launch: Cacao Barry & Purity from Nature.
Tuesday night saw the launch of Cacao Barry’s new line of chocolates, at the swanky Bulgari hotel in central London. Luckily for you, the reader, I was invited along by Jellybean Creative solutions to see the launch. The event was held in the intimate surroundings of the Bulgari’s cinema, where after a couple of short … Read more
