We enjoyed two great tales today connected with food.
First off we heard about a couple of chefs who got involved in a brawl at a top class hotel and restaurant in High Wycombe.
Obviously this is not the sort of behaviour one expects to find in such an establishment.
Nevertheless it seems that two chefs employed at the 38-bedroom Cantley House Hotel became engaged in fisticuffs following a row about croquette potatoes!
Yes truly 35-year old Rasim Salim, described as a successful chef, and another man, known only as Mr Barbu threw potatoes at each other before Salim grabbed his colleague by the throat and landed a number of punches.
At Reading Crown Court, Judge Johanna Matson heard how a heated row had ensued over potatoes and croquettes, which degenerated into a fist fight during which Salim had attempted to strangle Mr Barbu.
Salim was ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, 140 hours of unpaid work and pay £120 to Mr Barbu in compensation.
The hotel said, ‘All our chefs work a 4-day week to ease the workload challenges on their mental health and the victim had been offered support, including a private medical check.”
They added that a member of staff, who had been with them for only a short time had been dismissed on the spot!
Maybe he could seek alternative employment with an airline. I suggest this deliberately as our second tale today involved food offered to travellers whilst flying.
Now when flying business class, passengers tend to expect a range of fancy dishes to be served up.
So some Business Class passengers on a China Eastern Airlines flight were more than a little no-plussed to be offered “Imported Dog Food” alongside more traditional offerings of “smoke pepper beef” and “cucumber” for their delectation.
Apparently “imported dog food’ is more upmarket than “domestic dog food’ which is perhaps what is offered to passengers flying economy.
Mind you a business class passenger on a flight to Japan, who ordered a vegan breakfast was provided with a single banana and a pair of chopsticks!
Mind you things could have been worse as some time ago news was released about a couple from Zurich in Switzerland who whilst in Hong Kong took their pet poodle, Rosa, to a restaurant where they asked the waiter to give her something to eat.
The waiter had trouble understanding the couple but eventually picked up the dog and carried her to the kitchen where they thought she would be fed.
Eventually the waiter returned carrying a dish but when the silver lid was lifted there was Rosa done to a turn and garnished with pepper sauce and bamboo shoots.
Bon appetit!
All being well I hope to have the pleasure of your company again tomorrow,
Scott
