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Welcome to our blog all about food! At QuoteSearcher, we’re not just interested in restaurant insurance we are also fanatic foodies who really love our Restaurants! If you also love all things food too read on.

Lack of Sleep Impairs Decisions about Food

June 11th, 2012

There have been two recent studies which consisted of scanning the brains of people who have been sleep deprived compared to people who have had enough sleep. The studies showed that people reacted differently when deciding on having healthy or unhealthy food depending on how much sleep they have had.

The results showed that the areas of their brain that were activated were those related to reward and those that were inhibited were the area’s that related to behaviour control. The results may explain the link between sleep deprivation and obesity.

Dr Marie-Pierre St-Onge led one of the studies said, “The results suggest that, under restricted sleep, individuals will find unhealthy foods highly salient and rewarding, which may lead to greater consumption of those foods.”

The study was conducted over five days on 25 men and women who were of normal weight. They were then allowed either 4 hours or up to 9 hours and were then shown images inside an fMRI scanner of healthy and unhealthy foods. Those who were sleep deprived and shown healthy images, the reward centres of the brain were not active compared to when they were shown images of unhealthy food and these same areas were very active.

Dr St-Onge carried on saying, “This may suggest greater propensity to succumb to unhealthy foods when one is sleep restricted.

“Indeed, food intake data from this same study showed participants ate more overall and consumed more fat after a period of sleep restriction compared to regular sleep.”

Stephanie Greener who conducted the work at the University of California said, “It seems to be about the regions higher up in the brain, specifically within the frontal lobe, failing to integrate all the different signals that help us normally make wise choices about the food we eat.”

This research does help explain other studies that have found a link between a lack of sleep and obesity by showing how the brain can’t make the right choices about food we should eat after being sleep deprived.

Maybe this is why many fast food restaurants, hopefully with the appropriate restaurant insurance are open till the early hours of the morning? Whether you are selling healthy or, perhaps not so healthy, food no matter what time of the day make sure you have the right insurance policy. This will mean your business can carry on as usual even in unforeseen circumstances.

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Red Bow Causing Uproar

June 8th, 2012

Adam Pledger who is the owner of Park House restaurant in Cardiff had placed a 65 foot, red bow around the building in which he operates his restaurant with the aim to attract more customers.

Pledger has been ordered by Cardiff council to take the ribbon down as it is illegal and they have threatened him with legal action if he doesn’t take it down. He says that the council should be helping businesses through the tough economic times and just letting companies get on with it instead of restricting them.

The reason the council have said the ribbon needs to be taken home is because the building is listed so Pledger needed to get consent which he hadn’t applied for. Adam could have prevented this from happening by applying for the proper consent and although his restaurant insurance won’t cover him for anything that is within his control, it is still sensible to be covered for things that are unforeseen e.g. fire or flood.

Mr Pledger said, “The council should be there to help businesses – not hinder them. They should be standing aside and letting businesses get on with it. It’s just red tape and bureaucracy.

“The purpose of it was to show that we are open to the public. It was to try to advertise a building that many people just walk past and make people instead take a second look.”

Adam Pledger has been operating in the building for seven years and said that the ribbon was temporary and would be taken down later on in the month. He said, “It’s not a permanent structure, it’s just to try to generate some interest. Far from complaints, I have got people who have events on next year asking if we can put it back for them.” He also carried on saying that the ribbon had been put up by a specialised company and that no damage had been caused to the building.

A spokeswoman for Cardiff Council said, “Park House is a grade I listed building designed by one of the greatest of the Victorian-art architects, William Burges. It was listed by Cadw for its historic and architectural value in 1966 and is probably one of the most important 19th century houses in Wales.

“Any alterations to a listed building require listed building consent and where appropriate consent has not been granted the alterations are deemed illegal.”

Format

Adam Pledger who is the owner of Park House restaurant in Cardiff had placed a 65 foot, red bow around the building in which he operates his restaurant with the aim to attract more customers.
Pledger has been ordered by Cardiff council to take the ribbon down as it is illegal and they have threatened him with legal action if he doesn’t take it down. He says that the council should be helping businesses through the tough economic times and just letting companies get on with it instead of restricting them.
The reason the council have said the ribbon needs to be taken home is because the building is listed so Pledger needed to get consent which he hadn’t applied for. Adam could have prevented this from happening by applying for the proper consent and although his restaurant insurance won’t cover him for anything that is within his control, it is still sensible to be covered for things that are unforeseen e.g. fire or flood.
Mr Pledger said, “The council should be there to help businesses – not hinder them. They should be standing aside and letting businesses get on with it. It’s just red tape and bureaucracy.
“The purpose of it was to show that we are open to the public. It was to try to advertise a building that many people just walk past and make people instead take a second look.”
Adam Pledger has been operating in the building for seven years and said that the ribbon was temporary and would be taken down later on in the month. He said, “It’s not a permanent structure, it’s just to try to generate some interest. Far from complaints, I have got people who have events on next year asking if we can put it back for them.” He also carried on saying that the ribbon had been put up by a specialised company and that no damage had been caused to the building.
A spokeswoman for Cardiff Council said, “Park House is a grade I listed building designed by one of the greatest of the Victorian-art architects, William Burges. It was listed by Cadw for its historic and architectural value in 1966 and is probably one of the most important 19th century houses in Wales.
“Any alterations to a listed building require listed building consent and where appropriate consent has not been granted the alterations are deemed illegal.”
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Michelin Star Chef Bites Back

June 6th, 2012


Restaurateur Sat Bains is fighting back after he felt some of the comments left by critics on TripAdvisor were unfair.

He said he felt people who were unhappy with the service or food they received at his restaurant should have said something while they were there, instead of writing these negative reviews. “Most nasty reviews are done by hidden guests that do not make themselves known. This is my business and I do take all criticism very seriously.

“But I am finding it harder to do so from mysterious, scared guests who won’t even share their experience with us at the restaurant but decide to hide behind a mask and type away until their heart’s content.”

Bains opened his restaurant, Sat Bains, in 2002 and after just a year, he had already achieved a Michelin star and it was Nottingham’s first. In 2006 the restaurant won the restaurant of the year in England by the AA and he won the best starter award in the 2007 Great British Menu series.

Despite all these awards and having two Michelin stars, customers are still criticising his food and service. A customer wrote “The food is good but not exceptional, the prices are too high and there is just something missing here.” Bains wrote back, “I know what’s missing… You. Now stay away, the 2 for 1’s are missing your business.” He said the main reason he writes back is to give some balance to the negative reviews.

His comments appear to have caused little damage the restaurants reputation and many feel that he is entitled to respond to the negative comments as everyone is allowed their own views. Many also feel that it is done in a tongue and cheek way.

Sat Bains, like every other restaurateur, needs restaurant insurance to ensure his business and livelihood will carry on in the wake of an unforeseen circumstance.

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What can we Expect from the Olympics Food Court?

June 1st, 2012

The Olympic Games have been promising us all that the food served this year will be the “best of British.”

This makes us all think of our traditional English goodies: Sunday roast, tea and scones, fish and chips, beef wellington, Cornish pasty along with an Eton mess and a pot of hot tea or a pint of ale. What we are getting isn’t far off, according to a sample menu that has been released.

The menu for what will be on offer accompanied with prices was released early this week and the list includes: Singapore noodles, chicken wings, pizza, pasta and chicken burritos.  There will also be African barbeques, fish and chips and the good old pie and mash.  Also at the Olympic Park is the biggest McDonald’s in the world, which has a capacity of seating 1,500.

Organisers have said that the menu will reflect the “heritage and diversity of British regional products and recipes.”The prices for the food look a little steep but they are for most big events so this is to be expected. For a coca-cola at the games, it will set you back £2.60 and a bottle of water will be £1.60. A pie and mash will be £8 and a beer will be £4.20.

As the main sponsors, McDonalds, will be providing 10% of meals over the course of the Olympics and will be one of 3 branded products that will feature: Heineken and Cadbury’s will be the other two.

Jan Matthews, the head of catering at Locog has said, “We are trying to make it feel like a food festival and we have walked round Borough Market several times to try and get that feel. There will be fruit barrows and stalls where you can buy different types of olives.

“While sport will take centre stage, the ‘Olympic experience’ that people will take away will be build from and influenced by a multitude of factors, one of the biggest will be food and drink.”

Although the majority of places offering food at the Olympics won’t need restaurant insurance, the restaurants in the surrounding area definitely will. It is a great way to ensure your business carry on running as usual even in the case of an unforeseen circumstance, especially during the Olympics.

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Marco Pierre White Launches Restaurant in Newcastle

May 30th, 2012

At the end of this week the hotel that will include restaurant by top chef Marco Pierre White will open.

Hotel Indigo will open on Friday on Fenkle Street in Newcastle. The building has been left abandoned after the insurance company it housed, moved out over 10 years ago.

The world-famous chef Marco Pierre White will manage the hotel’s £20 million restaurant. The chef had three Michelin stars before he retired and became a restaurateur and has personally designed the menu and hired the staff.

The restaurant seats 100 people and will be a steakhouse bar and grill. It will be Newcastle’s first restaurant that is headed by world-renowned chef and he will be offering “affordable glamour.” Included in the restaurant will be a bar for non residents of the hotel which will have a regionally inspired menu.

Marco Pierre White was the first chef to be dubbed a celebrity chef and was at the time the youngest chef to receive three Michelin stars and is considered the Godfather of modern cooking.

 Like every other restaurant in the industry, White will need a good restaurant insurance policy just in case he encounters any unexpected problem.  This is the best way of ensuring your business can carry on as usual in most circumstances.

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Suppliers Included in “Scores on the Doors” Scheme

May 28th, 2012

Wales’ “scores on the doors” hygiene system for restaurants and takeaways will be extended to companies who supply food, health ministers have announced.

The companies who prepare food but do not sell it directly to customers will display a 0-5 rating on their premises.

The call comes after an E. Coli outbreak in Wales pushed for stricter rules.

Lesley Griffiths, Wales’ Health Minister announced the expanded scheme, would take into account wholesalers, transporters and manufacturers, which are not currently rated under the Food Standards Agency scheme.

Griffiths said, “Food hygiene is essential for the protection of public health.

“The rating scheme will help drive up standards and benefit both consumers and businesses.

“The scheme will enable consumers to make a more informed choice about where they choose to eat or shop for food, while good food hygiene means a higher rating which is good for business.”

Hygiene

William Tudor, a butcher from Bridgend was jailed for 1 year for food safety offences around a fatal E. Coli outbreak in 2005 in south Wales.

Businesses similar to this which supply ingredients and food to other retailers will also be required to display their food hygiene ratings, under the new proposals. If serious cases of neglect are discovered, owners could lose their businesses, commercial restaurant insurance, supplies and will also have a knock on effect on the jobs of the staff who work at the company.

The government in Wales states that 2,500 more businesses will be covered as a result, taking the total number to be around 32,500 in Wales.

On the behalf of the FSA, an evaluation undertaken in 2011 and found that only 31% of food businesses were voluntarily showing their food hygiene rating.

The government believes that the new statutory scheme will be in place by November 2013, which would make Wales the first place in the UK where displaying the ratings will be compulsory.

Darren Millar AM, the health spokesman for the Conservative party said, “We welcome this major step forward in improving food hygiene standards in Wales.

“Displaying visible hygiene ratings on the premises gives consumers clear information to make an informed decision about where they dine or purchase food.

“Giving customers access to information about compliance with hygiene regulations is critical in driving up standards and rooting out bad practice.

“Welsh Conservatives have long campaigned for a hygiene ratings scheme to empower consumers.

“I hope Welsh ministers will engage effectively with food businesses and consumers over the implementation of this scheme and examine ways of making additional information on hygiene inspections available to the public.”

Kirsty Williams Welsh Lib Dems leader, said “We welcome the introduction of the Food Hygiene Rating Bill and we hope that it will receive cross-party support.

“The people of Wales have a right to enjoy food that has been prepared in clean and hygienic premises.

“Scores on the Doors is something we called for in our manifesto last year and we will work with the Welsh government to implement this policy.

“The legislation must work to ensure high standards of hygiene and cleanliness for the Welsh public but it must also be legislation that is fair to Welsh food businesses.”

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