Caterer

100 years ago

Electrical heating is making progress. One of the latest departures is the "Thermogen", an electrically heated bed quilt, invented by Mr Snedekor. It is a quilt of cotton wool, covered with silk, in which a coil of wire, covered with insulation and non-conducting material is enclosed. The coil can be plugged in to any plug or pendant and the quilt is speedily heated. A useful appliance in country hotels.

Messrs Ind Coope & Co, the well known brewers, have been successful in securing the contract for the supply of beer to the army of occupation in Egypt.

50 years ago

Caterers, particularly industrial canteen managers, will doubtless not be slow to take advantage of the recently announced 50% increase in the bacon allowance.

Bacon and Egg Breakfast Fry:

take two rashers for bacon finely chopped, or use the ready-cooked fat bacon "off ration", four dried eggs, reconstituted salt and pepper.

Place bacon in hot frying pan and cook lightly without fat. Pour in seasoned eggs and cook without stirring until set and lightly browned underneath. Roll up, cut in strips and serve.

10 years ago

A 15th-century manor house, deep in the Oxfordshire countryside is an unlikely spot to find some of the finest French cooking in England. But it is at Great Milton Manor - renamed Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons - that Raymond Blanc has opened up his restaurant with rooms, gaining two Michelin stars before the opening.

Britain's seasonal hotels may escape the full impact of the Government's new rules on television licences. Last month, Home Office minister Douglas Hurd announced that from 1 January next year, the full £46 annual licence fee must be paid on every five sets over 15.