A good hospitality feud really does lighten the soul.
If it’s not Premier Inn getting tough love from Travelodge over buyout rumours its chef Christophe Novelli throwing restaurant critic Michael Winner out of his establishment.
One such nicely bubbling niggle was put back on the boil last week when Gordon Ramsay won New York restaurant guide Zagat’s Newcomer of the Year for his first US venture at NYC’s London hotel.
Ignoring some recent creative accounting to do with Ramsay’s Michelin star haul, on the face of it it was further good news for the globe straddling chef.
However, a mischievous report from the New York Times, which had already given Ramsay’s US eaterie a lukewarm review in February, pointed out that by overall score - 25 in this case - Ramsay despite his newcomer award doesn’t make it into the top 50 Zagat Survey rated restaurants by food in the Big Apple. Tut, tut.
This may have slipped people’s attentions in the UK except for the fact that London guide publisher Harden’s is gleefully showcasing the article on its website.
If you remember there’s a bit of previous between the Harden brothers and Ramsay after said guide book publisher said the superstar chef’s huge international reputation had started to look shaky at the publication of its latest London restaurant guide in August.
In response at the time Chris Hutcheson, chief executive of Gordon Ramsay Holdings, suggested the criticism was a PR stunt and on behalf of Big Gord. claimed Harden’s was happiest destroying rather than constructing.
So it seems hatchets are only likely to be buried in backs at the moment, but thinking constructively how about a bout of charity boxing at NYC’s Madison Square Garden in aid of Hospitality Action to let both sides work off some steam for a good cause?
Anton Edelmann picks up Ambassador award at Hospitality Action Ball>>