Chef

Knightsbridge to Kenya: Ashley Palmer-Watts to represent hospitality industry on Farm Africa trip

28-Aug-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Ashley Palmer-Watts, The Fat Duck Group executive chef and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal head chef, will fly to Kenya next month to work with fish farmers and bring his restaurant industry expertise to a Farm Africa project in the country.

Paul Beckley: Career Profile

24-Aug-2012 By Peter Ruddick

As head chef at Manchester's The Midland hotel, 38-year-old Paul Beckley works in his native north west but after studying he actually trained in London hotels before working his way through the ranks at The French restaurant at The Midland. He now...

Jason Atherton uses TV show to recruit chef for Pollen Street Social

22-Aug-2012 By Emma Eversham

Jason Atherton is to appear in a new TV show tonight where he will give one of two chefs the chance to land a job working in the kitchens of his London restaurant Pollen Street Social.

Chef Ben Spalding to take up six month residency at Five Eight Zero's Keston Lodge

16-Aug-2012 By Emma Eversham

Ex-Roganic head chef Ben Spalding is to take up a six month residency at pub company Five Eight Zero's Islington venue Keston Lodge.

Wagamama ploughs on with UK expansion under new chief executive

15-Aug-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Fast-casual noodle chain Wagamama has secured four new restaurants in the UK, less than two weeks after it appointed  Steve Easterbrook as its new chief executive.

Jason Atherton and Jose Pizarro among chefs appearing at The Restaurant Show 2012

07-Aug-2012 By Emma Eversham

Jason Atherton and Jose Pizarro are among the chefs confirmed to appear at this year's top industry event The Restaurant Show. 

Nicolas Bouhelier: Pastry World Cup can help UK pastry chefs become more respected

11-Jul-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Nicolas Bouhelier, one of the team of pastry chefs representing the UK in the prestigious Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie, has said the competition can help pastry chefs in the UK become as respected as their European counterparts.

Harrogate chef to open The Square Bar and Restaurant

10-Jul-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Darren Gladman, former head chef of Rudding Park and proprietor of the Oakdale Golf Club catering franchise, is preparing to open his own bar and restaurant with his wife Debbie in Harrogate this autumn.

Westminster Kingsway College students win Nestlé Toque d’Or 2012 competition

29-Jun-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Westminster Kingsway College has been named the winner of the 2012 Nestlé Toque d’Or student catering competition.

Skye Gyngell joins refurbished Heckfield Place as culinary director

28-Jun-2012 By Emma Eversham

Former Petersham Nurseries head chef Skye Gyngell has been announced as culinary director at Heckfield Place hotel, the former hotel and conference centre in Hampshire which will re-open as a country house hotel in March 2013.

National Chef of the Year 2012: Eight finalists revealed

27-Jun-2012 By Peter Ruddick

The eight chefs through to the final of the 2012 National Chef of the Year (NCOTY) competition have been revealed with last year's runner up and third placed chef back in the running for the accolade which will be awarded at The Restaurant Show in...

Taurus Mycook heated blender

20-Jun-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Catering equipment supplier Nisbets has introduced the Taurus Mycook heated blender to the UK market; it combines a number of kitchen processes saving time and use of extra utensils.

The Hippodrome Casino brings three tiers of F&B to London’s West End

19-Jun-2012 By Luke Nicholls

The Hippodrome Casino – the UK’s first ‘international style’ casino – is set to open in London’s Leicester Square next month, featuring five bars and four dining rooms spread over three floors of the property.

Heinz Kitchen culinary bulk sauces

19-Jun-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Heinz Foodservice has this month unveiled five new additions to its premium Heinz Kitchen range of culinary bulk sauces, specifically developed for the ‘increasingly adventurous consumer palate.’

Angela Hartnett to launch new restaurant at Lime Wood Hotel

13-Jun-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Michelin-starred Murano chef Angela Hartnett is to launch a new restaurant at Robin Hutson's New Forest Lime Wood Hotel which will feature a menu of 'Italian-influenced forest dishes'.

Roussillon restaurant falls prey to tough economic climate

12-Jun-2012 By Luke Nicholls

French restaurant Roussillon has ceased trading after almost 14 years in London's Pimlico, citing the current economic climate as the reason for its closure.

Young British Foodie Awards vote Douglas McMaster Best Irreverent Chef

30-May-2012 By Emma Eversham

A new awards scheme designed to celebrate innovation and forward-thinking within the food and drink world has voted former St John chef Douglas McMaster Best Irreverent Chef. 

Mark Hix on Tramshed, the pressure to innovate and British produce

30-May-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Mark Hix's latest restaurant, Tramshed on Rivington Street in Shoreditch, has finally opened and BigHospitality sat down with the trend-setting chef, restaurateur and writer to talk about the project and his career in the industry.

Russell Norman to open Polpo at Smithfield growing restaurant estate to six

29-May-2012 By Emma Eversham

Restaurateur Russell Norman has confirmed plans to extend the Polpo brand by signing his sixth restaurant in London with business partner Richard Beatty. 

National Chef of the Year 2012 semi-finalists announced

15-May-2012 By Emma Eversham

The 40 chefs who have made it to the semi-finals of the 2012 National Chef of the Year (NCOTY) competition have been revealed by the Craft Guild of Chefs. 

The Collection lounge bar launches new restaurant

04-May-2012 By Peter Ruddick

The Collection lounge bar in Chelsea has launched a new restaurant, Kitchen 264, headed up by Israeli executive chef Oded Oren offering a modern Mediterranean menu.

Career Profile: Barrie St Clair

04-May-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Yorkshire-born Barrrie St Clair spent the first half of his career working through the ranks as a hotel chef. After working as a sous-chef at the Le Meridien hotel, St Clair worked with Marco Pierre-White for an unsuccessful stint before joining the Waterloo...

The World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards 2012: Interviews with Brett Graham, Ashley Palmer-Watts and Fergus Henderson

02-May-2012 By Peter Ruddick & Emma Eversham

The World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards - one of the biggest events in the culinary calendar - took place on Monday night at London's Guildhall with dozens of the world's top chefs, including Rene Redzepi and Ferran Adria in attendance. 

Finalists revealed for Annual Awards of Excellence 2012

25-Apr-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Nearly 50 young chefs, pastry chefs and waiters have made it through to the finals of the Academy of Culinary Arts’ Annual Awards of Excellence 2012.

Gregg Wallace appoints new Gregg's Table head chef after less than two months

24-Apr-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Masterchef host and judge Gregg Wallace has appointed a new head chef at his Bermondsey Square Hotel restaurant Gregg's Table less than two months after the restaurant opened.

Craft Guild of Chefs reveals finalists for 2012 Awards

23-Apr-2012 By Luke Nicholls

The shortlist for the 2012 Craft Guild of Chefs Awards has been announced for all 15 categories, following a record number of entries from chefs across the UK.

World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards 2012: The final countdown begins

20-Apr-2012 By Peter Ruddick

With just one week to go until the World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards 2012 on 30 April at the London Guildhall speculation is mounting over which chefs will be celebrating and which restaurant will be taking home the top prize. 

Career Profile: Arnaud Stevens

05-Apr-2012 By Emma Eversham

Arnaud Stevens is executive head chef at 40/30 at The Gherkin and group development chef for Searcys. Part of the management team at Searcys, he has overall responsibility for the kitchen at The Gherkin while also overseeing all food concepts for the...

Roganic owner to refocus restaurant following departure of Ben Spalding

02-Apr-2012 By Emma Eversham

Roganic owner Simon Rogan has said he is planning to refocus his London restaurant and bring it closer to his other restaurants and research facility Aulis following the departure of head chef Ben Spalding.

ME London asks chefs to submit Masterchef-style video to land commis role

29-Mar-2012 By Emma Eversham

Spanish hotel brand Melia is hoping to find a commis chef for its new ME London hotel by asking potential candidates to submit a Masterchef-style video of themselves in which they can demonstrate their passion for food. 

BigHospitality’s live chocolate masterclass provides top tips for customers, chocolatiers and chefs

26-Mar-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Chocolatier and pâtissier Will Torrent took part in a live and interactive chocolate masterclass hosted by Michelin-starred chef Alan Murchison on Friday, in what was the first event of its kind aired live on BigHospitality. 

Adam Bennett leads UK team to Bocuse d'Or World final

22-Mar-2012 By Peter Ruddick

The UK team led by Adam Bennett, head chef at Simpsons in Edgbaston, Birmingham, has taken sixth place in the European final of the Bocuse d'Or and also collected the best meat prize and will now progress to the grand final in Lyon next year.

The Atholl: four-suite luxury hotel with in-room dining from Albert Roux

14-Mar-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Inverlochy Castle Management International (ICMI), which manages a portfolio of small, luxury hotels across Scotland, is set to open its seventh site – a four-suite hotel in Edinburgh – in May.

Welsh chef wins International Escoffier Challenge Grand Final

13-Mar-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Dion Jones from Carden Park Country Hotel near Chester has won the junior section of the International Escoffier Challenge Grand Final after becoming only the first Welsh chef to represent Great Britain in the competition.

The Big Event 2012 raises £80k for Springboard and Hospitality Action

08-Mar-2012 By Emma Eversham

The Big Event 2012, the evening fundraiser set up by Springboard and Hospitality Action to coincide with Hotelympia, has raised £80k for the two charities.

Professional training kitchen helps put UK on level playing field for Bocuse d’Or 2013

08-Mar-2012 By Emma Eversham

Use of a professional training kitchen and being given time off work to train will enable the UK to compete on a level playing field in the Bocuse d’Or for the first time ever according to candidate Adam Bennett.

Great British Menu returns with an Olympic Feast for 2012

06-Mar-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Simon Rogan, Nathan Outlaw and Aiden Byrne are among 24 of the UK’s top chefs preparing to take part in what is expected to be the last series of BBC Two’s Great British Menu this Spring.

Gordon Ramsay to open The Fat Cow restaurant in LA

05-Mar-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Gordon Ramsay has partnered with his Gordon Ramsay Holdings corporate executive US chef Andi Van Willigan to launch The Fat Cow, set to open this summer in Los Angeles.

Aiden Byrne turns The Church Green into a grill and eyes Manchester for a fine dining restaurant

01-Mar-2012 By Emma Eversham

Aiden Byrne has decided to change The Church Green, the pub he bought in Lymm three and a half years ago, into a British Grill because it was no longer financially viable to run it as a fine dining restaurant.

Nestle Toque d'Or takes on new format for 2012

29-Feb-2012 By Emma Eversham

Nestle Toque d'Or, the culinary competition for catering colleges, has taken on a new format for 2012, doing away with the first round paper entries and putting more emphasis on exposing students to 'real life' hospitality scenarios.

The Ivy commis chef April Partridge named Hot Talent 2012

28-Feb-2012 By Emma Eversham

April Partridge, commis chef at The Ivy was last night named winner of the Hot Talent award 2012.

Raymond Blanc: Michelin stars 'less important' than offering good training opportunities

27-Feb-2012 By Emma Eversham

Raymond Blanc has called on the industry to do more to ensure young staff are getting the right training and are being properly developed so that they are equipped with the right skills to progress through the industry.

BigHospitality at Hotelympia 2012

24-Feb-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Hotelympia kicks off on Sunday at the ExCel centre for five days (26 February-1 March) of awards, product launches, chef demonstrations and more. As a media partner, BigHospitality will be there reporting on all the news as well as providing exclusive...

Kitchen Equipment: Top chefs reveal their must-have kitchen kit

22-Feb-2012 By Peter Ruddick

In the latest instalment of our Kitchen Equipment Special Feature we asked chefs working in pub, restaurant and hotel kitchens to tell us the one bit of kit they couldn't live without and we filmed three of them showing us exactly what made the equipment...

Three top chefs to educate and inspire delegates at 2012 PACE Conference & Exhibition

14-Feb-2012 By Luke Nicholls

The Professional Association for Catering Education (PACE) has enlisted the help of three top chefs – Cyrus Todiwala OBE, Gareth Johns and John Feeney – to inspire and educate delegates at the 2012 PACE Conference and Exhibition.

Career Profile: Sudha Saha

10-Feb-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Chef Sudha Saha has an impressive culinary career. At 17, he was given a place to train hotel management at Chennai. He then joined the Ambassador hotel and trained with the Taj Group. A few years later, Saha moved to Dubai to take up his first executive...

Chefs invited to attend online chocolate masterclass with Will Torrent and Alan Murchison

07-Feb-2012 By Emma Eversham

Chefs, restaurateurs and anyone with an interest in pastry and chocolate, are being given the chance to get involved with a live and interactive chocolate masterclass with chocolatier and patissier Will Torrent next month.

National Chef of the Year 2012 open for entries

31-Jan-2012 By Luke Nicholls

The National Chef of the Year competition is back for 2012, celebrating its 40th anniversary and calling for chefs from across the nation to enter.

Hotelympia 2012: BigHospitality's must-see checklist

31-Jan-2012 By Peter Ruddick

With Hotelympia on the horizon the hospitality industry is gearing up to descend on the ExCel centre, but with five days (26 February-1 March) of awards, product launches, chef demonstrations and more it can seem a daunting prospect, so BigHospitality...

Chef’s Forum launched to bridge gap between catering industry, education and suppliers

30-Jan-2012 By Luke Nicholls

A new forum has been launched in Bristol for chefs whose professional expertise has been recognised with the likes of Michelin stars and AA Rossettes.