Table Talk
The excrement didn't hit the fan after all…
Jean-Christophe Novelli's flouncy exit from Brocket Hall was accompanied by childish name-calling. General manger Andrew Hepburn branded Novelli's issuing of a writ for late payment of fees as "petulant" and "absurd". In retaliation, Novelli told one journalist that Hepburn was a "poop-head". Struggling to understand this rather bizarre choice of insult, the journalist later deciphered Novelli's thick accent and realised he'd labelled Hepburn a "puppet".
Today's road kill special: confit of squashed badger
A retired civil servant loves nothing better than to tuck into dead animals he scrapes up from the road, reports the Sun. Arthur Boyt of Davidstow, Cornwall, is a big fan of tasty stews and sandwiches made of badgers, weasels or rats. Boyt, 66, said last week: "I'd rather eat a country rat than some of the meat served up in restaurants." A former taxidermist, Boyt has a degree in biology, so he knows which parts of a dead animal are safe to eat. "If the animal has been dead a while and has gone green, the taste is a bit bland," he explained. "But if you cook them thoroughly you can still eat them. I've been doing it all my life and never been ill once." The oddest-tasting meal he ever ate was a giant horseshoe bat, and the most delicious was a run-over Labrador. "It was like a joint of lamb," he said. "People may laugh but it's perfectly healthy food with no additives and full of nutrition."
Oh, what a circus… seems looks are everything
London's glamorous Circus restaurant and bar staged a Models and Members night last week. But invitations sent by e-mail assured punters that the door staff wouldn't turn away non-members and there'd be the chance to re-register. No such luck for the poor models, who had to show agency cards even after having been "exhaustively interviewed by Circus barmen". The invite said that after hundreds of hours of interrogation, a select group of 50 of the most beautiful models were chosen for the night. Feminism's alive and well in Piccadilly, then.
Utensil city sculpture is Wang's thang
An artist has used 1,000 kitchen utensils to create a model of London. Chinese artist Zhan Wang has re-created the cityscape from pots, pans, gravy boats, teapots, cutlery and other utensils. The Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, the Tate Modern, the Thames and the Gherkin are all featured. His stunning sculpture can now be seen at the Hayward Gallery as part of an exhibition which explores why we travel and includes work from 50 international contemporary artists.
