Lady Bamford’s new pub. The worst kept secret in Gloucestershire?
As has been the way in recent years, if you wanted to get on the restaurant property ladder you bought a pub. The great thing about pubs is that they come in all shapes & sizes, and can often co-exist in a village with other pubs quite happily. There are food led pubs, almost bordering … Read more
Out & About – Drake’s at the Clock House, Surrey
Every now & then I get invites to various soirées, and as much as I’d like to attend them all, sometimes it’s just not possible. So when the invite from Drake’s at the Clock House dropped into my inbox, I was pleasantly surprised. It was to announce that Drake’s at the Clock House were re-opening … Read more
Words of Advice ~ Trevor Blyth
This post in the series of ‘5Questions‘ comes from an English chef strutting his stuff in Japan. Trevor Blyth rose to prominence in 1996 by winning the prestigious Roux Scholarship. Rather me rattle on about the competition maybe watch the short film from the Scholarship’s own channel on YouTube: Originally hailing from Norwich, Mr Blyth … Read more
Words of Advice ~ Toby Stuart
Although not an instantly recognisable name, Toby Stuart is the Head Chef at Roux @ Parliment Square, which is part the burgeoning empire of Michel Roux Jnr. Having also worked for the former 2* legend Richard Neat in his French adventure, Mr Stuart has an impressive CV. Starting with a high standard in his school … Read more
Words of Advice ~ Laurie Gear
This edition of the ‘5Questions‘ comes from a chef where you would think the world was against him. After opening the Artichoke restaurant in Old Amersham in 2002, they suffered a major set back 6 years later. In June 2008 a fire in a neighbouring fish restaurant spread to the Artichoke, subsequently causing it to … Read more
Michelin 2011, a Hundred Years On
As you’d expect around the 3rd week of January there is the fevered anticipation due to the release of the ‘Little Red Book’. The speculation has been rife, with rumours circulating on the internet of a new 3 star. The early money seemed to be on Marcus Wareing at The Berkley but in more recent … Read more
Words of Advice ~ Andrew Turner
The timing for this post of ’5Questions’ couldn’t be better really. Friday was the official first day of ‘Roux at the Landau‘, a restaurant Andrew Turner used to over see as Executive chef at The Langham Hotel in London. Now at Wiltons Restaurant, Mr Turner first really came to the attention of the catering media … Read more
Words of Advice, The Legends ~ Rowley Leigh
With Shaun Hill breaking the mould when we did the last ’5Questions ~ The Legends’ as he is still at the stove, we were then asked by a profile, chef would we approach our next participant. Rowley Leigh made his name in the mid 80′s as Head chef of the Roux owned ‘Le Poulbot’ restaurant, … Read more
