Recently in politics 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>>

So you think keeping your customers happy is increasingly hard in this recessional times, do you?

Well how about the prospect of setting back the peace process in Northern Ireland a few years, over something as seemingly innocuous as your choice of flowers? Not grumbling now are you...

One shit,shit, shit! moment happened to Colin Prentice and team at the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont in the not too distant past.

Prentice and his team, professional to their core, provide a range of services as Eurest Services at the Parliment Buildings in east Belfast, including putting out the flowers.

However, on one occassion a garland of lilies was put up in the building as part of the day-to-day service. Very nice, you may think, but the lilly is of course a symbol for nationalists of the Easter Rising. Not so nice.

Luckily it was spotted and removed before politicans from either side of the political divide noticed, avoiding any rumptions, accusations of favouritism or broadsides from Ian Paisley.

Although people love their coffee, I doubt you get that sort of fallout if you added milk by mistake to a customer's Americano in Starbucks.

For more see A Minute on the Clock this week in Caterer.

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