Table talk
Watch out for the very fine noodles
A restaurant in China has asked all its employees to shave their heads to ensure customers never again have the unsavoury experience of finding a hair in their food. The restaurant, in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, is offering compensation to its shorn workforce. The restaurant was unable to confirm whether its horror of the floating stray hair would extend to diners also being shorn before entry.
It's got to be cheaper than soundproofing the rooms
A hotel in Northampton is offering to cure customers of their snoring during their stay. Visitors to the Innkeeper's Lodge can buy a herbal remedy when they check in. Many snorers are too embarrassed to stay in hotels because of the noise they make. According to hotel manager Louise Hallam: "Some people are actually afraid to stay in hotels, because they think they might disturb other guests with their snoring. We can offer them a great night's rest and possibly the solution for an embarrassing problem.
"I've never had anyone actually complain to me about one of their neighbours snoring, but I imagine it could be a problem. My partner uses the remedy and says it is very effective." The Helps Stop Snoring remedy is also available in shops. It's sprayed into the back of the throat.
FIFA creates a cultural dog's dinner
A South Korean restaurateur is vowing to keep dog on his menu during the 2002 World Cup, despite a plea by FIFA, soccer's world governing body, for the country to impose a ban. Lee Hak-Soo says he will continue to hawk the traditional Korean delicacy behind the scenes, even if the government imposes the temporary ban.
"No one has the right to tell us not to eat it," said Lee, who sells spicy dog soups and casseroles. "I am angered to see our government bowing to foreign pressure, unable to defend our food culture." Korean dog-meat lovers are bracing for what many believe is the inevitable prohibition of their favourite food during soccer's premier event, which will be hosted jointly by South Korea and Japan. Under international pressure, the government closed down thousands of dog-meat restaurants during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. But thousands still thrive in back alleys and in the countryside.
The issue drew fresh attention last week when FIFA urged South Korea to impose a similar ban during the World Cup, scheduled for 31 May to 30 June. "I can just imagine what our government will do about dog-meat restaurants during the World Cup," fumed Lee, vowing to simply take down his signboard and continue cooking his standard fare. Many Koreans take the dog-meat criticism as a slight to their tradition and culture.
Pukka partner in ecological drive
Despite her husband being paid more than £250,000 a year to be the face of Sainsbury's, Jamie Oliver's wife, Jules, was spotted recently struggling out of Waitrose in north London weighed down with shopping, while he was away in Australia. A spokesman for the Naked Chef said that Jules had really been shopping at Sainsbury's but was simply recycling carrier bags.
