Caterer and Hotelkeeper – 7093
SORRY - IT IS FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Paul Wilson, sous chef at Quaglino's restaurant, London, has teamed up with Cutty's Catering, the fish suppliers, to organise a football match (yes, I know, Table Talk had banned references to soccer, but this is for charity) in aid of Leukaemia Research, kicking off at 4pm on 3 July, at Paddington Recreation Ground.
Wilson has yet to name teams, but claims Marco Pierre White, the Roux brothers, Gordon Ramsay and Jean-Christophe Novelli are in the frame to don strip. For details call 071-839 5866.
CONSPIRACY THEORY
The judge who threw out the jury on the OJ Simpson murder hearings felt that the media, aided and abetted by prosecuting counsel, had made it impossible for them to return a verdict free of pressure. The Hyatt Regency Los Angeles has been offering journalists covering the story a special rate of $89 a night (single or double occupancy). Will the judge subpoena the general manager to answer conspiracy charges?
OUCH! THAT HURTS
Closer to home, Table Talk never ceases to be amazed at the lengths to which public relations companies will go to attract the attention of journalists. We hear PRs at Conal Walsh have been pricking their fingers to draw "blood" which has been spattered on to the invitations to the next meeting of the Carnivores Club - dedicated to the enjoyment of meat. Table Talk hopes they've been using clean pins!
PEDAL POWER
Things seem to have gone downhill at Teatime Promotions since proprietor Pam Powell won our Tourism Catey for taking afternoon tea round the world. The latest offer is a Dirty Weekend with Clive. Clive Powell, that is, son of Pam. And it's uphill, actually. Mountain biking in Wales. Pam's doing the food. Energetic mud-lovers, call 0597 810585.
TAKING THE BAIT
Eric Marsh, proprietor of the Cavendish Hotel, at Baslow in the Peak District, has been writing serious letters to the Editor ever since the invention of ink. His latest note to Table Talk is different, however.
The hotel offers good fly fishing, on which many of its guests, but few of its staff, are experts.
Thus, a housekeeping student unthinkingly vacuumed a dead fly from the bedroom carpet and then realised, to great surprise, the reel of a fishing rod propped against the wall was rapidly unwinding.
Marsh collapsed intohysterical laughter for five minutes, and then spent the next ten disentangling lineand fly.
FUNNY LA LA
A Radio 4 reporter saw a witty sign on the window of an Italian restaurant: "Our food is like Verdi's music. Even when it's mediocre, it's good."
LORD, THAT WAS AHOT CURRY
Flamboyant Newcastle restaurateur Abdul Latif, owner of the Rupali restaurant in the city centre, has another claim to fame, in addition to his boast that he can make a curry so hot that no man alive can finish it. He has become Lord of Harpole, a tiny Suffolk village, after buying the title on the open market. "I just thought I would like a title," he explained.
Will he join fellow restaurateur the Earl of Bradford, in the House of Lords? Apparently not: buying the title entitles Mr Latif to no more than the name.
The Earl cannot rest entirely at ease, however. Among obscure titles still on sale is that of Lord of Bradford.
