Glasgow's Italian Roots
Glasgow has more Italian restaurants per square mile than anywhere else in the whole of Britain, according to a new survey by MSN of the UK's eating habits.
The study revealed that over 25% of the restaurants in Glasgow have an Italian theme.
That does not of course mean that they are all good.
The number of Italian eateries in Glasgow is as a result of the waves of immigration from Italy, in the early part of the 20th Century.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Friday, February 24, 2006
Feast of Contemporary Indian Art
One of London's most fashionable Indian restaurants, the Quilon Restaurant and Bar, recently held an exhibition of contemporary Indian art (8th-19th February).
The exhibition, called a "Feast of Contemporary Indian Art", had items taken from a collection at the Gallery Sumukha in Bangalore.
Gallery Sumukha was set up in 1996, and its mission is to promote awareness of Indian contemporary art both within and without India.
The works of 27 Indian artists were represented at Quilon, and included; acrylic and oil paintings, copper relief and watercolours, by artists such as Manish Pushkale, Laxma Goud and Rayis Komu.
An auction was then held to provide an art degree for an overseas student.
The exhibition, called a "Feast of Contemporary Indian Art", had items taken from a collection at the Gallery Sumukha in Bangalore.
Gallery Sumukha was set up in 1996, and its mission is to promote awareness of Indian contemporary art both within and without India.
The works of 27 Indian artists were represented at Quilon, and included; acrylic and oil paintings, copper relief and watercolours, by artists such as Manish Pushkale, Laxma Goud and Rayis Komu.
An auction was then held to provide an art degree for an overseas student.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
BA Catering
BA Catering
BA's Customer Relations department emailed me yesterday, in reference to my "All Day Deli" article.
They say that they will pass my comments onto their "catering team".
We shall see what comes of this!
BA's Customer Relations department emailed me yesterday, in reference to my "All Day Deli" article.
They say that they will pass my comments onto their "catering team".
We shall see what comes of this!
Monday, February 20, 2006
BA's Shameful All Day Deli
BA's Shameful All Day Deli
I had the misfortune to fly by BA to Stockholm last week, and suffer the unpalatable and tasteless excuse for food that they insult their customers palates with.
BA is the national airline of Britain, yet in respect of its catering (performed by a third party company "Gate Gourmet", a title that most surely is a contradiction in terms) it more resembles British Rail's catering efforts of the seventies and eighties.
The in flight catering on the route consists of a boxed sandwich and some fruit in sugared water, this abomination in a box labours under the misnomer "all day deli".
Unlike many companies who have woken up to the idea that customers who are after all paying for the product deserve a choice, BA offered no choice on either the outward or inward bound flights that I took.
My outward bound "meal" was an egg mayonnaise sandwich.
This consisted of a small portion of chopped egg, a sad piece of lettuce and a hint of mayonnaise placed between two unbuttered pieces of brown bread.
The combination was bland, unpalatable and unsatisfying.
I fared no better on my return trip, again being offered no choice. This time my "meal" was a cheese and coleslaw soft roll.
I saw, nor tasted, any evidence of cheese.
Neither "meal" pack contained any salt or pepper to add life or luster to these culinary abominations.
I raised the issue as to lack of choice and poor quality with the very kind and service minded stewardess, she was very apologetic and said that the staff were embarrassed to serve them
She noted that they don't eat these "meals" themselves, and wished that someone would complain loudly enough to improve the situation. Indeed, she said that some of the food that they have served was in fact worse.
Let us hope that BA take note of this complaint this time. It is not the first time that I have had to chide them for their lamentable lack of culinary imagination or skill. They won the coveted "Worse Than Worthless Award" for their Ham and Cheese Bloomer in 2003.
I had the misfortune to fly by BA to Stockholm last week, and suffer the unpalatable and tasteless excuse for food that they insult their customers palates with.
BA is the national airline of Britain, yet in respect of its catering (performed by a third party company "Gate Gourmet", a title that most surely is a contradiction in terms) it more resembles British Rail's catering efforts of the seventies and eighties.
The in flight catering on the route consists of a boxed sandwich and some fruit in sugared water, this abomination in a box labours under the misnomer "all day deli".
Unlike many companies who have woken up to the idea that customers who are after all paying for the product deserve a choice, BA offered no choice on either the outward or inward bound flights that I took.
My outward bound "meal" was an egg mayonnaise sandwich.
This consisted of a small portion of chopped egg, a sad piece of lettuce and a hint of mayonnaise placed between two unbuttered pieces of brown bread.
The combination was bland, unpalatable and unsatisfying.
I fared no better on my return trip, again being offered no choice. This time my "meal" was a cheese and coleslaw soft roll.
I saw, nor tasted, any evidence of cheese.
Neither "meal" pack contained any salt or pepper to add life or luster to these culinary abominations.
I raised the issue as to lack of choice and poor quality with the very kind and service minded stewardess, she was very apologetic and said that the staff were embarrassed to serve them
She noted that they don't eat these "meals" themselves, and wished that someone would complain loudly enough to improve the situation. Indeed, she said that some of the food that they have served was in fact worse.
Let us hope that BA take note of this complaint this time. It is not the first time that I have had to chide them for their lamentable lack of culinary imagination or skill. They won the coveted "Worse Than Worthless Award" for their Ham and Cheese Bloomer in 2003.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Gordon Ramsay Gets a Slap
Gordon Ramsay Gets a Slap
Gordon Ramsay normally tells other restaurant owners off for the state of their kitchens.
Now it seems that he has been a given a taste of his own medicine.
Information released under the Freedom of Information Act showed that food inspectors found minor hygiene problems at two of Ramsay's London restaurants.
At one of the three Michelin starred Gordon Ramsay restaurants, a food inspector found the freezer needed to be cleaned "thoroughly."
At another restaurant, based in Claridge's, inspectors noted a washing sink was too close to where food was prepared; also chefs were seen wiping their hands on dirty cloths. The ladies' restrooms also were reported to be missing soap.
Ramsay has now addressed these issues.
Gordon Ramsay normally tells other restaurant owners off for the state of their kitchens.
Now it seems that he has been a given a taste of his own medicine.
Information released under the Freedom of Information Act showed that food inspectors found minor hygiene problems at two of Ramsay's London restaurants.
At one of the three Michelin starred Gordon Ramsay restaurants, a food inspector found the freezer needed to be cleaned "thoroughly."
At another restaurant, based in Claridge's, inspectors noted a washing sink was too close to where food was prepared; also chefs were seen wiping their hands on dirty cloths. The ladies' restrooms also were reported to be missing soap.
Ramsay has now addressed these issues.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Anthony Worrall Thompson's Forbidden Pie
Anthony Worrall Thompson's Forbidden Pie
To read the recipe for Anthony Worrall Thompson's forbidden Snickers Pie, please click here.
To read the recipe for Anthony Worrall Thompson's forbidden Snickers Pie, please click here.
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