Caldora moves
IT'S all change at London's Churchill Inter-Continental, where Justin Higgins has been promoted from executive sous chef to executive chef. He takes over from Idris Caldora - one of that elite band of MOGB chefs - who has joined the BGR (Bank Group Restaurants).
Caldora has been appointed general manager of the 150-seat Bank restaurant in Birmingham, due to open in early December. He will have full responsibility for running the restaurant, taking charge of 70 staff.
"It's a new challenge, co-ordinating and running the operation both front and back of house, dealing with financial challenges, personnel and standards," he said. "I've always been keen to keep developing and I felt that I couldn't do that any more at the Churchill."
Caldora is currently splitting his time between BGR's London restaurants and Birmingham, where he is in the process of contacting suppliers and recruiting staff - an open day for potential staff will be held on 8 October.
"I want to draw Midlands-born chefs back to Birmingham - persuade those chefs who thought there was nothing to keep them here to return," he said.