September 2008 Archives

Ditto bar and restaurant in Wandsworth, south west London, has closed, Kitchen Rat can reveal.

The modern European neighbourhood restaurant, which opened in 1999 and was taken over by new management last summer, shut this weekend.

Located at the top of East Hill, Ditto was a definite favourite among the locals in Wandsworth and the closure does come as a bit of a surprise: For as recently as last week, Ditto was still encouraging punters to book their Christmas parties at the restaurant.

Good thing Caterer got in there early - we had our office Christmas party at Ditto last year.

It's always sad to watch a has-been pop star's desperate efforts to return to stardom and unfortunately for most people involved, success stories like Take That are far and few between.

Car crashes such as East 17's televised attempt at producing another album or Geri Halliwell's shocking stab at a solo career post the Spice Girls aren't fun for anyone. And you can't help but wonder why they don't just leave it be and settle for a life of peace and quiet somewhere far, far away.

So here's another sad story of a "1980s heart-throb" trying to make a comeback: Jason Donovan.

He clearly left Too Many Broken Hearts when his career nosedived in the 1990s and Especially For You, 1980s nostalgia fans, he's back with a new album, giving you the chance at Another Night with him so you can Hang On To Your Love of his music.

 "And where is he launching the new album?" I hear you ask. "HMV Oxford Street? The O2?" No, pop fans, Kitchen Rat is ashamed to have to break it to you - he's opted for the staff canteen at Tesco HQ in Welwyn, Hertfordshire, which is run by Compass Group.

Well, every little helps.

In June, it emerged that Michelin-starred chef Robert Thompson was leaving his position as head chef of the Waldo's restaurant at luxury hotel operator Von Essen's Cliveden House property after just eight months.

The move, which saw Thompson taking on his own restaurant in the Isle of Wight, no doubt shocked Von Essen and it left the hotel worrying about how to get a top quality replacement in.

With no news on an appointment forthcoming, Von Essen has taken the unusual step of borrowing six chefs from its other hotels to cover some shifts at Cliveden.

Or, as the rather breathless press release says, it has "invited top chefs from the other hotels in the Von Essen collection to show off their culinary skills for the next two months".

Matt Hodgkins from Buckland Manor; Homewood Park's Daniel Moon; Ross Hadley of Bishopstrow House; Fowey Hall's John Mijatovic; Jason Hornbuckle from the Purple Carrot; and Hunstrete House's Matthew Lord will all do three nights at Cliveden.

Pan Asian restaurant Haiku in London's Mayfair has closed, Kitchen Rat has learnt.

The restaurant on New Burlington Place was launched by South African group Bukhara last year after a reported £3m investment. Bukhara operates two very successful restaurants in Cape Town - their much celebrated eponymous Indian eatery and the award-winning Haiku.

But Haiku London never really seemed to take off. It opened to a lukewarm reception from the critics, who found the menu of more than 200 dishes just too much to handle. Then the location round the back of Regent Street wasn't exactly screaming for passers by to stroll in for a spontaneous meal and the few times Kitchen Rat popped in for a bite of sushi (which was excellent by the way) Haiku was always empty.

It will be interesting to see what will happen with the space - it's massive, set over three floors. Any takers?  

Michelin starred chef and housewives favourite Gary Rhodes is to return to our TVs this weekend but it'll be on the dance floor rather than behind the stove.

While Raymond Blanc is back with The Restaurant, the formerly spiky haired one, who beefed up and stripped off for Men's Health earlier this year, is seeking to dazzle with his two-step on Strictly Come Dancing.

Rhodes and dancing partner Karen Hardy will take on a field of largely recognisable stars of sport and stage, no doubt with the dedication on Rhodes's part that helped him achieve a second Michelin star earlier this year with business partner Compass Group.

However, such is Gary Rhodes's competitive drive that word reaches Kitchen Rat that the opening of his forthcoming new restaurants with Harbour Hotels in Dorset has had to be put back while he works on his moves so he can truly dazzle on the dance-floor.

Question is will he go one better than TV chef James Martin, who competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2005, and make the final?

Minute on the clock: James Martin, Strictly Come Dancing>>

Gary Rhodes would enter the celebrity jungle for TV show>>

Crown Group's Kudos Hospitality has wrestled away the deal to run hospitality and banqueting services at the City's Honourable Artillery Company, Kitchen Rat has learnt.

Kudos takes over from longterm incumbent Chester Boyd from January.

Interestingly Kudos parent company Crown appointed a new commercial director in March, none other than David Morris who was managing director of Chester Boyd. Coincidence no doubt.

It's also been said that that Kudos managing director John Wright has left the company, although, alas, Kitchen Rat doubts the two caterers are doing the equvialent of a student exchange, which would be fun.

Anyone know John's whereabouts?

Crown Group sets up own Dragons' Den>>

Chester Boyd wins deal to run public cafe at Buckingham Place>> 

Fresh from a spot of back-tracking over the London Living Wage, Kitchen Rat can reveal London mayor Boris Johnson has thrown himself into his work ahead of the 2012 Olympics.

Admirably a recent evening visit to City Hall, where caterer Jill Bartlett is installed, revealed no Boris supping wine or wolfing down finger food while hobnobbing, which let's be fair is more than can be said for many a freeloading politician.

Although sartorial excellence might not be the major's strongest suit, it appears he is at least hardworking, so much so that he rarely has time for more than an expresso or a Diet Coke in City Hall's staff restaurant.

Of course everyone deserves a break and Boris's weekly, and it sounds well deserved escape from the pressure of official office, comes once a Thursday when he sits down to a Jill Bartlett prepared curry.

Although not as fiery as his mayoral predecessor Ken Livingstone, Kitchen Rat is assured that when it comes to spice in his curry, Boris can hold his own.

Reassuring as for some his appointment as mayor was hard to swallow.

Jill Bartlett extends deal with Shearman & Sterling>>

Visit London reveals global adds campaign ahead of Olympic handover>>

Celebrities are well known for their bizarre requests when staying at luxury hotels and it seems Latin hunk Ricky Martin is no exception to the rule.

Yes, pop fans, Kitchenrat can exclusively reveal that the singer is a bit funny when it comes to food. Before a stay at Paris's most exclusive hotel, the five-star Plaza Athénée where none other than superchef Alain Ducasse is in charge of the kitchens, Martin called announcing that he wasn't interested in their fine dining offer and would be bringing along his own personal chef.

Needless to say, Ducasse's three-Michelin-starred brigade wasn't too happy at the prospect of sharing their kitchen with a celebrity's cook, but it turned out the personal chef wasn't quite what they expected. Rather than some arrogant American health freak a lovely, rotund, 60-something Puerto Rican lady arrived and knocked them all off their feet with her Latin charm. And not only did the chefs share the kitchen, they also sourced nothing but the best ingredients for her feasts.

Heart-warming stuff. But what we really want to know is whether - given all the rumours about Ricky's sexual orientation - she and not some young hot babe, is in fact the inspiration for his famous song "She Bangs (pots and pans)"? 
 

Devonshire Square in the City of London looks set to become the next St Christopher Place.

Kitchenrat hears that in addition to Kenza and Devonshire Terrace, which opened in July, a number of operators are in negotiations to launch new ventures in the square. These include a new Rocket Bar and a new venture by the team behind the Cinnamon Club called Cinnamon Kitchen.

And rumour has it that D&D London is in talks to open a restaurant at Devonshire Square too.

Watch Caterer over the coming weeks for more details.

Lots of hand wringing last week after it emerged that the restaurant at De Vere's Oulton Hall hotel near Leeds was weighing children diners and charging heavier kids more for Sunday lunch.

While there was outrage from campaign groups, there was plenty of media coverage, which was obviously the idea in the first place.

But it got Kitchen Rat to thinking about other levies that could be placed on diners. How about a fashion tax? Anyone caught with a jumper over the shoulders combo has to pay double? Wear sunglasses indoors and you'll get 25% whacked on the bill? And frankly, if you wear your jeans ten inches lower than your underwear, you're not getting in... 

Any more ideas? Let us know.