Kitchen Rat: You’d batter believe it; Grand larceny; Not loving it

You’d batter believe it

Just when you thought the nation couldn’t be divided further, in stepped The Caterer to tackle the big issues this festive season. A good-natured debate (borderline fracas) emerged in Caterer HQ last week after some of my esteemed colleagues suggested Yorkshire puddings had no place on their Christmas spread.

As is Britain’s way with all political hot potatoes, we tossed this one out to the public, and I’m pleased to announce that sense prevailed, with 58% coming out in support of nestling a Yorkshire pudding up against your roast turkey (or vegetarian/vegan alternative). Best response goes to school catering manager Sarah Jolly: “A big yes from me, but as a starter with onion gravy.”

This rat knows when it hears a top festive food trend.

Not loving it

MacDonald’s came in for some strange criticism last week after a 30-year old reporter known as Big Mack tried a Big Mac for the first time. In a rambling pseudocritique of the burger that has since gone viral, the Insider journalist laid into the calorific value of the burger (508) and admitted “while the taste wasn’t as bad as I’d feared, I hope to never eat one again”.

Fittingly, for a rather childish take on restaurant criticism, the reporter struggled with the touchscreen (“How did they work? Were they like ATMs or self-checkouts at supermarkets?”) but fortunately a colleague was on-hand to “talk me through what to do step-by-step”. Let’s just hope he doesn’t have any colleagues called John Dory, Reuben or Benedict so that more operators don’t suffer the same attention.

Grand larceny

Thefts from hotel rooms have long been a nuisance for hoteliers, with many guests seemingly feeling bathrobes, towels, light bulbs and the batteries from the remote control are all included within the cost of their room.

A recent survey of more than 1,000 hoteliers by luxury hotel guide Wellness Heaven has suggested that the entitlement of guests could be directly equated to the number of stars held by the hotel they’re staying at. While proprietors of four-star hotels reported towels and hangers among items stolen, those above four stars reported stolen artworks, computer tablets, mattresses and even a grand piano.

It’s one way to finish your Christmas shopping…