Small Talk

SMALL TALK

Kurt Zdesar on London’s hottest restaurant trends and new concept Fucina

09-Sep-2016 By Hannah Thompson

Restaurateur Kurt Zdesar, who previously helped to found dim sum group Ping Pong, has made his name with trend-setting London sites such as Chotto Matte, Black Roe, and the now-closed Bouillabaisse. With new Italian concept Fucina set to open this autumn,...

Aquavit chefs Emma Bengtsson and Henrik Ritzen on opening in London

02-Sep-2016 By Stefan Chomka

The executive chef of Aquavit in New York and only the second female chef in the US to win two Michelin stars is bringing the Scandinavian restaurant to the capital, with the help of its new head chef.

SMALL TALK

VQ founder Simon Prideaux on growing a 24-hour restaurant brand

26-Aug-2016 By Sophie Witts

Late-night restaurant group VQ opened its third site in Notting Hill this month ahead of its 21st birthday in October. 

SMALL TALK

Amaris Hospitality CEO John Brennan on business, brands and Brexit

19-Aug-2016 By Emma Eversham

Twelve months on from Lone Star's creation of UK hotel group Amaris Hospitality, CEO John Brennan talks about the company's first year, the pros and cons of working with more hotel brands and building a staff culture.  

SMALL TALK

Tom Kerridge on staff shortages, workplace morale, and culinary legend Alain Ducasse

12-Aug-2016 By Hannah Thompson

The two-Michelin starred chef-owner of Marlow pubs The Hand and Flowers and The Coach talks hospitality’s staff shortage, raising workplace morale, and collaborating with French culinary legend Alain Ducasse

SMALL TALK

Portland's chefs on opening their second restaurant Clipstone

05-Aug-2016 By Stefan Chomka

Merlin Labron-Johnson and Stuart Andrew, the chefs at Michelin-starred Portland in Fitzrovia, on launching their second, more casual restaurant in Marylebone, and taking inspiration from New York and Ghent.

SMALL TALK

Happiness Forgets founder Alastair Burgess on opening his first restaurant

29-Jul-2016 By Emma Eversham

Alastair Burgess, founder of bars Happiness Forgets and Original Sin, talks about his move into restaurants as he opens Petit Pois bistro in Hoxton Square. 

SMALL TALK

Josh Littman of Hard Rock Hotels on UK expansion and updating the brand

22-Jul-2016 By Hannah Thompson

As Hard Rock Hotels announces its entry into the UK with a renovation of the 900-bedroom former Cumberland Hotel in central London by 2018, we speak to Josh Littman, EMEA director of development for Hotels & Casinos at Hard Rock International, about...

SMALL TALK

David Eyre on 15 years at Eyre Brothers and Shoreditch's restaurant scene

15-Jul-2016 By Emma Eversham

David Eyre's Shoreditch restaurant Eyre Brothers celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. The 55-year-old chef talks about the evolution of Shoreditch, perceptions of Portuguese food and why you'll still find him in the kitchen. 

SMALL TALK

Shaun Rankin on his new London restaurant at Flemings Mayfair

08-Jul-2016 By Joe Lutrario

Yorkshire-born Rankin is Jersey’s best-known chef and has attracted a Michelin star for his cooking at Ormer in St Helier. Next month, he launches a signature restaurant - Ormer Mayfair - at the newly refurbished Flemings Mayfair in London. 

Small Talk

Mark Rosati on how fine dining inspires the menus at Shake Shack

30-Jun-2016 By Sophie Witts

Mark Rosati began his career at New York's Gramercy Tavern before moving on to Danny Meyer's then-fledgling burger chain Shake Shack. As culinary director he is tasked with eating his way around the globe to create a series of locally-inspired...

SMALL TALK

Isaac McHale of The Clove Club on making The World's 50 Best Restaurants list

24-Jun-2016 By Emma Eversham

Last week The Clove Club in Shoreditch was awarded the Highest New Entry in the The World's 50 Best Restaurants list, making its debut at number 26. Chef Isaac McHale, who runs the restaurant with Daniel Willis and Johnny Smith, spoke to BigHospitality...

SMALL TALK

Eneko Atxa on his new restaurant at One Aldwych Hotel

10-Jun-2016 By Laura Price

The chef-owner of Azurmendi in Spain’s Basque Country, number 19 on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, is preparing to open Eneko at One Aldwych this summer.

Steven Ellis on his new pub Oxford Blue

27-May-2016 By Hannah Thompson

Fresh from seven years with Clare Smyth at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, and two years with Andrew Pern at the Star Inn, Steven Ellis is raring to go with Oxford Blue, opening in Windsor in late summer within two 19th century cottages that used to belong...

John Tabatabai of Rawligion on changing the perception of plant-based restaurants

20-May-2016 By Hannah Thompson

When John Tabatabai woke up six years ago with half his face paralysed, he never imagined that a juice diet could help. Now fully cured after discovering vegan and raw foods, the former international poker player talks raw chocolate, expansion aims, and...