Another tale of Nanny & The Food Police

Another example of Nanny Local Authorities meddling where there is no evidence of risk. A London burger chain has been bullied into ceasing to serve rare-cooked meat by a Council diktat.

Caterer, 14th November 2011

A Gluttony of Gastro-pubs

 Six weeks after I applauded the editor of the Good Food Guide for ditching the hackneyed term "gastro-pub", it seems that a Sunderland-based pubco - Tavistock Leisure - have different ideas. They are about to roll out both a gastro-pub franchise and an Italian concept - probably even less authentic than Jamie's, I suspect. (Morning Advertiser, 24th October 2011).

I like Sunderland - I spent a lot of time up there 20 years ago, running a couple of places in receivership, and I reckon they're a canny lot.........

Walking on egg-shells

Global finances are (again) in turmoil; Greece's economy is in meltdown, with Italy and Spain not far behind - public sector workers, in particular, scared about losing their jobs ........ but the EU has the time and the money to ensure that the people of Europe pay more for their eggs (Caterer, 10th October 2011). Cracking!

Black Sheep is not a Peculier Golden Goose!

     In the news earlier this week, with the report that control of the independent Theakstons' brewery has now passed to the next generation (Morning Advertiser, 2nd October 2011), the family firm is making headlines again by drawing attention to the unfairness of our excise duty rates by revealing that in the last financial year they paid 41% of annual turnover to HMRC (Morning Advertiser, 5th October 2011).

      Having discovered Theakston's Old Peculier back in the mid-seventies at the Anglesea Arms in South Ken, I had tremendous admiration for Paul when he disagreed with the rest of the family - hence "Black Sheep" - and went it alone.

One government after another goes for the perceived easy targets, but how long before the golden udders run dry?

Nanny's told to get stuffed!

At long last a fairly major player in the hospitality industry has had the guts to call into question government interference - this time, the proposed calorie count on all menus - by pointing out that there is certainly no demand for this additional red-tape from customers. Full marks to Sarah Thomas of Orchid for her sensible comments (Morning Advertiser, 19th September 2011).

Let's hope it inspires others to put these half-baked plans under close scrutiny.

The Gastro-pub is dead - long live the pub

Encouraging news from the editor of the Good Food Guide who is ditching the term "Gastro-pub" because it has become so hackneyed in recent years (Morning Advertiser, 6th September 2011). I agree that too many pubs think they are restaurants nowadays and I certainly would welcome a return to proper pub grub like Scotch eggs and home-made pork scratchings. And why is it that you never see a proper cheese board anywhere?

My home-made pork scratchings

Prohibition (2011-style)

I have smoke coming out of my ears at the moment - I must have missed the original news that cigarette vending machines will become illegal in England from the 1st October 2011. Smokefreeaction.org.uk Report.

 This sort of interference in our lives makes me mad enough (ie very angry) to take up cigarettes (if not arms) against the impossibly smug nannies who believe they know better than the rest of us what is good for us.

It was my choice to give up smoking - it should be your choice too!