school meals fail on veggie choices
by Christina Golding
SCHOOL meals caterers are failing to provide adequate options for vegetarian pupils, according to the Vegetarian Society.
A survey of more than 100 school meals providers found that 61% were unclear of what a vegetarian meal should exclude.
The Vegetarian Society estimates that 12% of secondary school and 5% of primary school children are vegetarian.
While most schools offered what they considered to be a vegetarian option, more than half included fish as suitable for vegetarians and a small number of caterers believed chicken and other white meat could be included.
"This may come as a big shock to parents who expect their children to be given the choice to eat a vegetarian meal at school," said Sara Ayres, youth education officer for the Vegetarian Society.
The report also found an "over-reliance" on cheese as a protein source, rather than alternatives such as beans, soya products and lentils.
A school meal caterer's pack with recipes can be obtained free from the Vegetarian Society on: 0161-928 0793.
A separate report, by contract caterer Chartwells, shows that children in independent schools have a healthier diet than those in state and grant-maintained schools.
It also found that children's general awareness of health and nutrition is high, but many stated that if they ate healthy food they would still be hungry.
Packed lunches were found to be more popular in state and grant-maintained schools where the cost of school meals were perceived to be too high and portions too small.
A PLANNED training hotel in south London will need a high-profile industry figure to champion its cause, say officials working on the project.
Southwark council and the Pool of London Partnership, an inner-city regeneration agency, are currently drawing up a brief for consultants who will put together a report on the scheme's feasibility.
The plan is to set up a working hotel staffed by trainees but managed by professionals. The Butlers Wharf Chef School and several top hotel groups have been involved in talks.
The study will be used to sell the idea to potential sponsors from the hospitality industry. But Terry Wilden, head of economic development at Southwark, said: "One of the problems we have as a local authority is that we are not the people to do that."
Although the council was involved in setting up the Butlers Wharf Chef School, that scheme had a high-profile champion in Sir Terence Conran, who helped draw in sponsorship and get other bodies involved. "This would need a similar sort of project champion," said Wilden.
A LONDON hotel chef accused of assaulting the hotel's acting manager on Christmas Day is taking his claim for unfair dismissal to an industrial tribunal.
Raafat El-Cherbini claims to have worked at the 100-bedroom Europa Hotel in Cromwell Street since 1990. He was sacked in early January after the alleged incident, which he says had no witnesses.
El-Cherbini asserts that the management wanted to get rid of him because it was planning to close the 60-seat restaurant.
He also describes the sacking as an act of revenge, after he was (wrongfully, he adds) held responsible for a visit by immigration officials in December.
The Europa Hotel declined to comment on the case until after the hearing, set for 26 June in Woburn Place, London.
five years in bath
Milburns Restaurants has beaten off three rivals for a five-year contract, worth £1.6m in annual turnover, to handle restaurant and functions catering at Bath's Pump Rooms and Assembly Rooms from 1 July. Milburns has catered there for 16 years.
four london rubys
James Myers last week opened his fourth Ruby in the Dust restaurant, a 70-seat outlet in London's Portobello Road.
three at lea hill
Chris and Sue Hubbard, new owners of the Lea Hill hotel (pictured above) in Membury, Devon, plan to boost the restaurant business with the aid of chef son James. The hotel, which has 14 bedrooms spread over four properties, was sold through Robert Barry for slightly below the asking price of £475,000.
nelson hind first
Nelson Hind Catering Management has scooped a three-year, cost-plus contract to cater for 700 staff across three sites in Southampton for contact lens maker Wesley Jesson. The contract, formerly held by Sutcliffe, is worth £200,000 in annual turnover.
mermaid's four
Greenall's Via Fossa Bar, Break for the Border, Whittards and Morland's Exchange/Diner have all signed up for units at the £25m Mermaid Quay retail and leisure development in Cardiff Bay, which will open in time for the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
