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The Observer's food critic Jay Rayner undertook a bit of career diversification in this week's magazine, writing a feature about his experiences at the male grooming parlour, London's The Refinery.

Taking with him his foodie, nay gourmande, principles, the valiant Rayner went for a full Galaxy wax - even more than the oft winced at back, sack and crack and lived to tell the tale.

If you've got a spare minute or two it's well worth a read. Ouch  http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/11/male-body-waxing

As you may have found out/heard/read in the magazine by now, we're running a programme of news, features and blogs next year around the concept of helping businesses survive the recession.

We think it's a great idea - times are tough, and you, the reader needs help. We're keen to chip in with the advice we have at our disposal, so we'll be bringing in advisers from various fields.

Consultants, financial institutions, food service companies and technology providers will all be sent along to help restaurants and hotels steer their way through the coming economic storm.

It might be that you have an extention planned that would double revenue, but which be a risk in the current climate. Or perhaps your manager is refusing to work a certain shift, while other members of staff struggle in her absence.

We can help, with answers provided by our experts on an ongoing basis. Put your name forward and you can receive this top-level advice free-of-charge, while also gaining the hefty bonus of coverage in the magazine.

So do enter - head to our short series of questions on the Caterer website to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity.

Economic slowdown could force drop in room rates >>

Britain facing prolonged recession, hoteliers warned >>

Donald Trump's controversial plan for Trump International Golf Links Scotland - two golf courses, a five star hotel and small village near Balmedie, north of Aberdeen has finally been given the go ahead after years of wrangling.

Environmental campaigners had managed to stall the plans last year after winning what now turns out to have been a pyrrhic victory. Scottish Finance Secretary John Sinney said the proved had been approved because it would bring "significant economic and social benefits" to the area, but environmentalists remain unconvinced.

Rob Ashlin from Sustainable Aberdeenshire group slammed the ruling as disappointing, adding the development flew in the face of the council's planning policy.

As the UK's largest pub operator, there is always plenty going on at Punch Taverns and so to keep us journos and other industry watchers abreast of all the news, the company helpfully sends out a weekly e-mail, known as the Grapevine.

In last week's edition, we learnt that the Green Man in London is installing an ATM machine, in a project dubbed 'Hole in the Wall' (catchy). Meanwhile, in the managed division, Spirit, the Wheatstone Inn in Gloucester was re-opening while the Half Moon in Worksop was hosting a charity talent contest.

All good stuff, no doubt, but for some reason, the e-mail did not carry the rather bigger news that the head of the Spirit division, Andrew Knight, left the business rather abruptly (or so it seemed) last Monday, and was replaced by former Whitbread heavyweight Mike Tye

The rumour mill kicked into overdrive as whispers began that Knight had not exactly been preparing for life after Punch - in fact Caterer spent the day with Knight last month discussing his plans for the future of its managed houses.

One wonders if Knight was pondering the words of the late, great Marvin Gaye. "It took me by surprise I must say, when I found out yesterday, I heard it through the grapevine."

Mystery surrounds the future of Niels Sherry, who, Kitchen Rat can reveal, left his role as chief operating officer at hotel chain De Vere Deluxe abruptly in January after just four months in the role.

Sherry joined the Alternative Hotel Group's (AHG) owned De Vere in September from Morgans Hotel Group in New York to head up an executive team in charge of nine hotels including Cameron House in Loch Lomond, the Grand in Brighton and the Roda, scheduled to open in Spain in 2009.

At the time, Sherry seemed set for the long-haul, speaking of his vision to "build this from the grass roots up by celebrating each hotel's individual and regional strengths".

But we now learn that he left the company in January, with sources alleging a difference of opinion with AHG management. De Vere confirmed Sherry's departure, but refused to elaborate any further.

The news comes in the week we revealed that AHG is closing De Vere's head office with the loss of a number of jobs.

Working in hospitality means it doesn’t take much to get on to a TV screen and become an instant celebrity.

One of the judges on Raymond Blanc’s The Restaurant took their staff down to Cornwall as a trip to say thank you for all their hard work during the year. A nice gesture of course but the staff decided to thank the judge in their own way. They trawled the town for locals (some of which can be seen here) and paid them handsomely to go and ask the judge for their autograph, as they had seen them on TV and were “very big fans”.

Our star struck judge was none the wiser and was heard to say– “I can’t believe the show is so popular in Cornwall”.

Last month the Sunday Mirror spilled the beans on Hell’s Kitchen contestant’s Paul Young’s “steamy affair” with the mother of sacked co-star Lee Ryan.

The 1980s singer allegedly dated hairdresser Sheila Ryan after his 20-year marriage ended last year.

Word has now reached the rat that despite the affair being kept under wraps during the series, behind the scenes the tension between Paul and Lee was almost tangible.

Could it be then that this friction between the two men was what forced one co-star to resort to the bottle to calm their nerves both before and during service? Kitchen Rat hears one celebrity contestant’s tea cup was in fact filled with more of a Russian brew than the traditional builder’s variety…

Kitchen Rat has heard love is in the air. Yes, improbable job of the week - surely up there with Travelodge's director of sleep - is Unique Vacations' (they had to be, didn't they?) Chief Romance Officer.

Yes Unique, representatives of Sandals Resorts, has appointed Joann Delgin to the newly created Cupid-type role minus the bow and arrow.