Recently in politicians Category

So the heads of state attending the high-profile G20 summit in London's Docklands are to get down to the not inconsiderable task of saving the world economy today.

Well good luck with that one. But it appears the G20 circus has been both feast and famine for the world leaders and those in the hospitality industry.

There was some trouble in the City yesterday affecting Compass Group and Lexington, while later the likes of Barack Obama enjoyed a slap up meal at Downing Street prepared by Jamie Oliver.

The Ritz hotel was one of many taking no chances, electing to board up and hucker down. And thanks to Vacherin for their snap from one of their contracts yesterday that you can see at the top of this entry.

At the Excel Centre at London's Docklands where the summit proper is taking place, it's good news for Compass Group, whose Leith's brand is looking after the feeding duties. However it's not so good for Creativevents who run a number of fixed sites, a stand and on-floor catering at the exhibtion centre on a standard day and have been, essentially, kicked out for the duration.

All around caterers have had to adapt, with Elior, which has many contracts within the City, ordering in extra stock and changing some menus to temporarily make more use of dry and frozen goods in case protests affect deliveries.

Still, with most City clients facing lockdown on the premises, Simon Titchner, managing director at ISS Eaton, candidly told Kitchen Rat: "Actually the protests helped us yesterday as takings were up across the business as all customers used their internal restaurant facilities as they could not go out."

Feast and famine. Feast and famine.

G20 Sumit website>>

World leaders start G20 summit>>

Vacherin appoints head chef for first public restaurant venture>>

Recession presents "great opportunity" for contract caterers to prove worth>>

Well you know you have arrived when the nation's best selling daily newspaper gives you a mention (and underneath a picture of Dolly Parton's best assets as well).

The Sun picked up on Caterer's interview with tourism minister Barbara Follett, in which she said cathedral cities were her favourite UK holiday.

The paper's The Whip column points out that the minister - who is married to top selling novelist Ken Follett - also owns a villa on Jumby Bay, near Antigua, a private, 300-acre island and millionaire's resort where house prices start at £20m and a Pina Colada at the beach bar sets you back £15.  

And nice of The Sun to get the name right as well. Not Hotel & Caterer or Catering & Hotelkeeping.

The fall out from Presiden Obama's warning about company junkets is starting to happen. Following on from VisitBritain's David Hornby's concerns the other week, US hoteliers have cottoned on to the disastrous implications Obama's 'no corporate conferences' policy could have on the industry and have banded together to lobby congress.

New tourism minister Barbara Follett is to be interviewed by Caterer, and we are inviting comment from you.

If you have a question for Mrs Follett, then please feel free to enter it in the comment space below.

It could be to do with the amount of money allocated to the tourism industry. Perhaps you feel that it could be better directed, or that insufficient is given over to promoting Britain abroad.

Or maybe you feel there that Mrs Follett will find it hard to improve on the work of her predecessor - how can she keep up the high standards set?

Perhaps you would like to ask Mrs Follett exactly how much time will be devoted to tourism, as opposed to other aspects of her role - culture and the creative industries - for which she is also a minister.

Or you may have reservations about whether the most will be made of the Olympics in 2012.

In summary, we'd like you send us questions, however wide-ranging, sycophantic or critical, and we'll put them to Mrs Follett. This is your chance to have a say - so make the most of it.

Barbara Follett becomes new tourism minister >>

The Government should show industry support, says Good Hotel Guide >>

The Capital hotel's Michelin-starred chef Eric Chavot is set to cook for French President Sarkozy at the L'Academie Internationale de la Gastronomie's 25 Anniversary celebrations on 1 December this year.

He will be joined at Le Bristol hotel in Paris by fellow European top chefs and multi-Michelin star holders, Ferran Adria (El Bulli), Nadia Santani (Dal Pescatore), Dominique Gauthier (Le Chat Botte) and Eric Frechon (Le Bristol) - representing Spain, Italy, Switzerland and France respectively.

Chavot will be preparing lobster in coconut broth for the 120 lucky guests. That's one lunch we'd really like a seat at.

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>>