Stop Waste

Stop Waste

It is rare indeed that I find myself agreeing, in part at least, with Gordon Brown. However, for once I do agree with him when he says that people should stop wasting food.

Britain is facing the highest level of food price rises in Europe, the negative effects of which are being felt the most by those on low incomes.

It is therefore quite right that people should stop wasting food and learn to use leftovers, as I was brought up to do.

However, whether the Prime Minister should try to micromanage people's shopping habits quite so much, by suggesting that people should plan meals in advance and that supermarkets should end three-for-two deals, is open to question.

I suspect we will soon see a "Dig for Victory" campaign.

Britain Exposed To Food Price Rise

Britain Exposed To Food Price Rise

Ernst & Young's Item Club has issued a report today that states that the UK is "more exposed" to rising food price rises than other similar countries.

The US has a balance of food, France has a surplus whilst the UK has a trade deficit in food.

World food prices are rising as a result of population growth, poor climate in the major cereal producing nations, the growth in the production of biofuels, and the increasing wealth in developing nations which has prompted a higher demand for meat and livestock products.

This will have a negative impact on the finances of businesses and households. However, if people learn to use leftovers and stop wasting perfectly good food significant savings can be made and the negative effects of the price rises mitigated.

People need to stop being so wasteful, and learn the recipes of their grandparents eg; bubble and squeak, corned beef hash, cold cuts, shepherd's pie etc.

Food Fight Frenzy

Food Fight Frenzy



It seems that a US high school food fight got a tad out of hand last Thursday, in scenes resembling a Laurel and Hardy movie police had to be called and an officer was injured.

At least 200 students were in West Aurora High School's cafeteria when french fries, milk, sandwiches and pizza slices were hurled in a food fight frenzy.

Zach Little, a student, said:

"It was just insane..Things like milk cartons, full pop bottles and blue slushies were flying around. Kids literally bought the food to throw it and, to me, that's a little expensive."

The alleged instigator, Demetrius Oglesby faces a felony charge of resisting arrest after authorities said he ran from a police officer. The officer tripped over another student, who had fallen during the food fight, breaking his foot. A school official also suffered minor injuries.

Two juveniles also face misdemeanor charges from the incident, including a 15-year-old charged with mob action and disorderly conduct and a 14-year-old charged with assault.

Seemingly the event was preplanned, as students had said that rumours about the food fight had been circulating throughout the 3,000 student school all week as a senior prank.

Letting off steam is what students do. However, given the number of starving people in the world wasting food in this manner just seems to be in very poor taste.

Smollensky's Metro

Restaurant

Smollensky's Metro
48 South End
Croydon

Phone:- 0208 688 6132

Website www.smollenskys.com/metro/

Overview

In the gloomy first week of the new year, Eva and I decided to go out for simple burger, and decided to try the new Smollensky's Metro which has been opened on the site of the Crazy H which we have reveiwed on this site earlier.

Smollensky's Metro is part of the well known, and reputable, Smollensky's chain. The Metro concept, according to the publicity, specialises in quality burgers (eat in, take out). They claim that they use the same "high quality products and perfected techniques" in the preparation of the food.

With such promises, we entered the premises with a sense of anticipation.

Ambience

The restaurant blurb describes the ambience as contemporary, with a naturally warm style.

Quote:

"With wooden surfaces, glowing brick work and the leather seating, attention was paid to deliver and atmosphere as comfortable and welcoming as our staff."

Well, the layout was reasonably bright and cheerful; brown brick walls complemented by red painted canvas. However, this being January rather disappointingly the concept of warmth was very much lacking; the restaurant was cold, and Eva told me that the Ladies were freezing.

Additionally, the background music being pumped out was to our view too loud; so as regards ambience, we were not that impressed.

Menu

The menu offers a good range of burgers, and chicken dishes, together with some grills. However, rather surprisingly they do not offer baked potatoes.

Service

Our waiter was rather an oddball, I would almost say he looked a bit spaced out. No sooner as he had offered us the menus, and I mean within 10 seconds, he asked us if we were ready to order.

Oddly enough, we weren't!

We read the menus, at OUR leisure, then placed our orders. I was surprised that, given the fact that Smollensky's claim to offer "quality burgers" of 170g (which therefore should require some decent cooking), we were not asked how we wanted them cooked.

After our meal I mentioned our disappointment with the food to the waiter, and asked why he did not ask us how we wanted them cooked; I was greeted with a blank uncomprehending stare, he muttered something and then went away.

We were then ignored, no offer of coffee or anything else, until we made a move to leave; then, as if by magic, a bill appeared.

Food

I chose the egg burger. This was a rather sad looking specimen, dry and over cooked. I suspect it had been sitting on the hot plate for most of the day. The egg gave the poor old thing some much needed moisture.

Eva chose the cheese bacon burger; this was the same in quality, except that she had no egg.

The meal, which included a screw top bottle of Pinot Grigio, came to just under £31; we paid no service, as none was given.

Recommendations

• Offer baked potatoes and potato skins on the menu



• Turn the heating on, especially in the Ladies



• Turn the music down



• Train the waiters to serve in a responsive and customer orientated fashion



• Train the chef to cook burgers to the customer's requirements



• Do not reheat the burgers

Overall Opinion

We lament the demise of the Crazy H.

Smollensky's staff and chef have a lot to learn, and we most certainly do not recommend that you waste your money in this place until they have addressed our recommendations.

The Value of Chip Fat

The Value of Chip Fat

In one rather unexpected outcome of the recent Tory leadership battle, chip shops and restaurants have been told by David Cameron to collect their old cooking fat so that it can be used to fuel cars.

The chip fat proposal is being promoted by John Gummer, he of the "safe burger" claim in the 1980's, whom Mr Cameron has appointed one of the chairmen of the group overhauling the party's environmental policies.

Gummer claims that more than 75% of the 300,000 tons of waste fat produced by restaurants in Britain each year "goes down the drain, where it has a terrible effect on sewers".

However, the fat can easily be turned into an eco-friendly substitute for diesel. Gummer goes on to claim that it is even greener than other biofuels, since it causes the emission of much less carbon dioxide.

You learn something new every day!

Restaurant

Beulah Spa
41 Beulah Hill
London

Phone:- 0208 6532051

Overview

Eva and I went to the Beulah Spa, part of the Harvester chain, on Sunday evening.

The Beulah Spa is a family restaurant which serves steaks, chicken and burgers. The Beulah Spa does not accept bookings, so you have to take a chance and hope that they can fit you in.

Ambience

The Beulah Spa is a converted pub, and houses a restaurant and adjoining bar. The Harvester chain is themed rural.

We started off with a drink in the bar area, which was very busy, more resembling an airport departure lounge than a cosy bar.

I would like to make a number of observations concerning the housekeeping, and general ambience:

• The bar was awash with spilt drinks, and needed to be wiped down.



• The same was true for some of the tables in the bar, including ours.



• The Beulah Spa allows children, and therefore has a collection of crayons and puzzles for children to doodle on at each table. Unfortunately, no one had bothered to tidy up at our table. The crayons, and half completed puzzles, were scattered over the table and floor.



• The background music, which invaded both the bar and restaurant, was targeted at the under 20’s; despite the fact that the customers were from all age groups. The music was loud and intrusive.



• On two separate occasions, each lasting five minutes, an alarm went off behind the bar. The extremely irritating high-pitched beeps were finally stopped when several people went to the bar to complain.



• Eva tells me that the floor of the ladies was awash with paper.

We finished our drinks and went to our table, which provided a nice view of an overflowing waste bucket (this of course should have been emptied, or moved from our line of sight).

Menu

A reasonable selection of steaks and chicken dishes were on offer. However, I would point out that at other steak houses you are given the choice of 8oz, 12oz and 16oz cuts, the Beulah Spa only offered 8oz.

My menu card still had the remains of the previous diner’s meal splattered across it, it should have been wiped clean first.

Service

Our waitress was polite and efficient.

There was an excessive delay between the starter and main course. I assume that this was due to a backlog in the kitchen.

Food

I started with the potato skins, these were not too bad. They were covered in a very large dollop of sour cream, cheese and a tangy barbecue type sauce (the latter was in my view excessive for the size of the portion).

I chose the sirloin, medium, with fried eggs for my main course. The steak was overcooked, and although not impossible to cut was not as tender as it should have been. I would not give it high marks for flavour either.

The fries, peas and onion rings that accompanied the meal were ok.

As part of the Harvester experience you are invited to help yourself to the salad cart. This provided a good choice of tomatoes, cucumber, potato salad and other items that were fresh and of good quality.

Eva started with the deep fried prawns in breadcrumbs. These were fine, cooked golden brown and not greasy.

She chose the chicken stack for her main course. This consisted of two grilled breasts of chicken sandwiching a gammon steak. The dish was garnished with melted Emental cheese and barbecue sauce. This was accompanied by a large baked potato with sour cream and peas.

Eva felt that the dish was quite nice, although the cheese was bland and the potato only luke warm.

The meal, which included a bottle of Chardonnay, came to £43 before service.

Overall Opinion

In my view you can find better value bistros with better quality food, and a far more attractive atmosphere, in central Croydon and the suburbs.

I recommend that the Harvester chain revamp their menu, and improve the selection and quality of the meat.

The Beulah Spa needs to pay close attention to their housekeeping. This is, in my opinion, not worth visiting unless the points raised are addressed.

Restaurant

Mama Amalfi
18 George Street
Croydon

Phone:- 0208 688 5787

Overview

Eva and I made a reservation for 9:00PM Saturday night. We arrived on time and were shown to our table.

This was poorly situated, being positioned at the left hand side of the archway leading from the bar to the main restaurant area. It was far too close to the table behind it, had I sat down I would have been bumping chairs with the person behind me. Eva’s position was no better; her chair was squashed (by the table) far too close to the wall behind her, and on her left was a large plant which would have intruded into her personal space.

Needless to say we did not accept the table, and requested a better one. We were told that the restaurant was busy, and that there were no others..very much a take it or leave it attitude! We left it, and went elsewhere.

Here is a list of points that I suggest the management address:

1. When a restaurant accepts a booking they should ensure that they can accommodate the customer; if it is full then don’t take the booking.

2. Don’t assume that customers will accept being crammed into their tables, in the manner of a fast food chain, we (the customers) won’t accept that.

3. Should the restaurant be busier than anticipated when the booking was made; then apologise, offer a drink at the bar and ask if the customer would be prepared to wait.

4. Mama Amalfi has seating in the basement, as well as on the ground floor. Should the restaurant be in a fortunate position of being busy on the ground floor, then open up the basement and offer people some decently spaced tables.

Needless to say we will not bother returning, until the management prove to my satisfaction that they have addressed these issues. Your choice guys, you will be out of business if you don’t!

Overall Opinion

Don’t waste your time or money going there, Croydon is overflowing with restaurants, many of which still remember that the customer should not be taken for granted.