MPW

weekend edition — The main big news from the world of Hospitality, is that legendary hotelier Phillip Newman-Hall has retired. Formerly Raymond Blanc’s right hand man & general keeper of Le Manoir aux quat’ saison, Newman-Hall has now embarked on what looks like semi-retirement rather than the full blown thing, want to wish […]

The Weekend Edition

4 Oct, 2015 in Culinary life observations tagged Gordon Ramsay / Marcus Wareing / Movie / MPW / YouTube by chefhermes

weekend edition — In the week that saw yet another bunch of fame hungry wannabes/has beens locked in a house for seven weeks, aka ‘Celebrity’ Big Brother, was launched. The Hospitality sector has been reeling from the revelations about yet more shoddy treatment of its staff. Yes, what started out as an exposé […]

The Weekend Edition

30 Aug, 2015 in Culinary life observations tagged foodporn / MPW by chefhermes

Choc delice - header, National chocolate week — To kick National chocolate week off, I’ll give you three dessert recipes. There is the now infamous Chocolate tar ‘Marco Pierre White’, which was originally posted in August 2010; Dark chocolate delice, which is one of my favourite desserts; and a slight twist on a favourite, the Toffee centered fondant. […]

Recipes ~ National chocolate week: Desserts

14 Oct, 2014 in Recipes tagged Chocolate / MPW by chefhermes

opinion — A few years ago a mate asked me about doing some chef stages (working for free to gain different/more experiences). ‘Sure’ I said, ‘where were you thinking of?’. Needless to say he was thinking of the Fat Duck in Bray, it was number two in the Worlds 50 Best list […]

Chef stagiaires: Career progression or free labour?

31 Oct, 2013 in Culinary life observations tagged Gordon Ramsay / Heston Blumenthal / Jason Atherton / Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons / MPW / Noma / Raymond Blanc / Rene Redzepi by chefhermes

header — 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 […]

Who is replacing Gordon Ramsay at Claridges?

29 Oct, 2013 in Rumours and Gossip tagged Claridges / Gordon Ramsay / Heston Blumenthal / L'enclume / London / Michelin / MPW / Simon Rogan by chefhermes

MPW — Every month when I write this particular post, I try to give you, the reader a broad brushstroke of what is available in terms of food festivals up & down the UK and Eire. August is the pinnacle of foodie gatherings, so why is it then a self proclaimed chefs […]

A preview of August

3 Aug, 2013 in Food festivals tagged Food festivals / MPW / Seasonal produce by chefhermes

opinion — Over the past couple of months I’ve been following the infamous chef James Stocks. Many of you will remember his ill-fated tenure at the fabulous Balbirnie House in Fife, where he was labelled ‘Walter Mitty’ after Marco Pierre White described him as such, before he had a remarkable recollection of […]

James Stocks, really?

15 Nov, 2012 in Culinary life observations tagged AA Rosettes / Michelin / MPW / Social Networking / Twitter by chefhermes

opinion — Revelations, The Caterer ~ The Full interview This week I’ve appeared in The Caterer’s Chef section after answering a tweet sent out by Managing editor Amanda Afiya, asking for chefs to take part. Despite how some chefs deride The Caterer for what it once was (ie lots of pages, but […]

Revelations, The Caterer ~ The Full interview

6 Sep, 2012 in Culinary life observations tagged Ducasse / Gidleigh Park / Jason Atherton / Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons / Michelin / MPW / Raymond Blanc / Robert Thompson / Shaun Hill / Twitter by chefhermes

header — After being open a total of 622 days, Coworth Park has seen off two Executive chefs (and technically a former two Michelin starred consultant). Today, hot off the press The Dorchester Collection are set to announce their new incumbent of the mantle at their country outpost. Most readers of this […]

And still it rumbles on at Coworth Park….

8 Jun, 2012 in Rumours and Gossip tagged Aiden Byrne / coworth park / John Campbell / Michelin / MPW / Staff / The Dorchester Collection by chefhermes