Table talk
Table Talk is edited by Ben Walker E-mail: benjamin.walker@rbi.co.uk.
Madge and Guy left Frozen after guard's hot date
Madonna fired one of her security guards after he sneaked out for a curry and left her £6m London home unguarded - with herself and hubby Guy Ritchie locked out. Neighbours reportedly heard the pop star singing at the top of her lungs: "Poppadom preach, I'm in trouble deep, poppadom preach, I've been losing sleep." At which the security guard flung open the door of the nearby curry house and shouted back: "But I've made up my mind… I'm keeping my balti." He was sacked on the spot.
All those in favour say "Mmm"
The American fast-food conglomerate that operates KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut goes by the rather uninspiring name of Tricon Global Restaurants. But whether its proposed name-change is any better is open to debate. On 16 May shareholders will be asked to approve the new name of Yum! To which you might feel like responding: Yuk!
Caterplan curries favour with delegates
At the launch of the BHA's Contract Catering Survey last week it soon became clear that it wasn't the survey delegates were eager to get their teeth into, but the wonderful bag of treats left on their seats. Sponsor Caterplan had lovingly filled goody bags with the usual PR bumph and a few freebies, the best of which was surely a huge tub of jalfrezi paste with enough for 80 portions of the spicy Indian dish.
NHS caterers try a new direction
Hospital caterers suffer the effects of funding starvation as much as any other part of the NHS and also, like the clinical side of hospital management, have to look wherever they can to find ways of improving the service without extra cash. Which may go to explain why one of the subjects for debate at next month's Hospital Caterers Association conference in Cardiff is "Feng Shui in NHS Catering Management". Maybe delegates will be told to turn all ovens to face the east and everything will be all right.
A wee drop of whisky keeps Anne feeling frisky
Anne Tracey of Aberfeldy, Perthshire, who turned the grand age of 105 this month, attributes her longevity to enjoying a "wee drop of whisky every day". Anne, whose life spans three centuries, says she has been drinking Famous Grouse whisky for as long as she can remember. She has a nip before bedtime every night and, despite her advanced years, drinks it the "modern way", with a splash of lemonade as a mixer. Famous Grouse presented Anne with a bottle last week to help her celebrate her birthday.
So what time does tomorrow's meeting kick off?
Hilton has devised a way to keep absenteeism at a minimum during the World Cup in June by dressing up its meeting rooms with football regalia and installing wide-screen televisions. Hot pies, Bovril and breakfast will be served. Grant Hearn, managing director of Hilton UK & Ireland, says: "We devised these packages so that companies can work and play at the same time." Since some of the games will kick off at 7.30am British time, the initiative will also encourage staff to come in early, he reckons.
