People: On-Trade Archives

By Richard Siddle on April 16, 2018

The larger than life world of Camino’s Richard Bigg

Richard Bigg is such a larger than life character that even his name could have been dreamt up by some Hollywood talent agency. Which is quite appropriate as his life would make for one of those cracking biopics, such are the wide and varied things he has done in what is still only a relatively short career. We might all know him as arguably kicking into life the whole Spanish and tapas dining scene in the UK, with his Camino group of restaurants, but, as Richard Siddle discovers there is so much more to who on the surface seems so quiet and unassuming.

Posted In: Camino, richard bigg, shared dining, Spain, spanish food, spanish wine, tapas, wine, wine suppliers

People People: On-Trade

By Roger Jones on April 3, 2018

All roads lead to Hedonism’s Hide Restaurant for Roux Scholars

Winning the prestigious Roux Scholarship is a road to international stardom. For the 2018 winner Martin Carabott it is a route that follows last year’s winner Lucas Selby into the much-anticipated Hide restaurant, Ollie Dabbous’ new joint-venture with Hedonism Wines that is promising the “world’s largest selection of wine” at your fingertips. Our own Michelin Star chef Roger Jones was at last week’s event.

Posted In: Hedonism, Hide, Luke Shelby, Martin Carabott, Ollie Dubbous, roger jones, Roux Scholarship

People: On-Trade

By Peter Dean on April 1, 2018

Roger Jones ditches wine off menu of new, second restaurant

Our roving Michelin star chef has announced plans to open his second restaurant in Wiltshire with the contemporary twist of it being totally non-alcoholic. With a working name of The High & Dry, the new eaterie will be combining the Michelin-star cuisine of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn with fruit juices, cordials and soft drinks, in one case even using Irun-Bru in the cooking. Please note this story was written and published on April 1.

Posted In: April Fools joke, High & Dry, michelin star, roger jones

People: On-Trade

By Mike Turner on March 21, 2018

Mike Turner on Vermouth bars: Why do old boys have all the fun?

Can the spirit of a Catalonian Vermouth bar ever be recreated in North London? That’s the question wine expert Mike Turner asks. He recalls his first experience of a Vermouth bar in Barcelona, gets enthusiastic about it in his customary way, then wonders whether he can recreate the drink and the atmosphere in La Ferme, a new restaurant he has opened in North London’s Primrose Hill district.

Posted In: Barcelona, La Ferme, Mike Turner, vermouth, Vermouth bars

People People: On-Trade

By Richard Siddle on January 11, 2018

MW, MS, MBA, MSC and World Sommelier award: Basset's career grand slam

Gerard Basset recognised with top French honour

Gerard Basset MW MS has been putting his mark on the UK hospitality industry ever since he first came to this country as a fresh faced culinary student in the early 1980s. This week it was the turn of the French to recognise all the achievements he has made promoting his country’s wines in the […]

Posted In: anne burchett, dedicated wines, farr vintners, france, merite agricole, stephen browett, wine

People People: On-Trade

By Roger Jones on January 10, 2018

Roger Jones puts South African sparkling up against the world

There are Michelin star chefs renown the world over for their excellence in what they can put on a plate, but few have the interest, let alone the commitment and drive to challenge themselves to understand the wines they can match with them. Roger Jones is a breed apart as he reports from South Africa on the sparkling wine competition he set up that pitted local sparklers up against the best of the rest of the world.

Posted In: champagne, roger jones, south africa, sparkling wine, the harrow, wine

People: On-Trade

By Helen Arnold on November 24, 2017

Edinburgh gets taste of Italy with opening of Wine House Hotel 1821

Edinburgh has such a rich choice of restaurants and bars it can be hard for any new opening to stand out, but, as Helen Arnold discovers, premium Italian wine company, Zonin, hopes to make a difference with the launch of a new hotel dedicated to wine in a new venture with local celebrated chef, Sep Marini, called The Wine House 1821, the year Zonin was founded.

Posted In: Edinburgh, prosecco, Sep Marini, Wine House Hotel 1821, Wine Library, Zonin

People People: On-Trade

By Roger Jones on November 23, 2017

South Africa trounces California in latest Tri Nations Challenge

South Africa, Australia and New Zealand are used to pitting their wits against each other with the annual Tri Nations rugby tournament. Michelin star chef Roger Jones decision to re-invent a Tri Nations Challenge for the country’s wine producers is equally as competitive. Even more so when a guest country is introduced. Here he reports back on the recent South Africa vs California winemaker challenge he hosted at The Vineyard Hotel at Stockcross.

Posted In: australia wine, new zealand wine, roger jones, south africa wine, The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, tri-nations

People People: On-Trade

By Richard Siddle on November 20, 2017

How Rioja is at the heart of Abel Lusa’s Cambio de Tercio group

When tennis star, Rafael Nadal, is looking for some home comforts whilst competing in London he heads to Cambio de Terco, widely respected and coveted for creating some of the most authentic Spanish food in the city. That’s all thanks to Abel Lusa who has been pioneering the Spanish food and wine scene in the UK since he first arrived from his native Rioja in 2003. So who better to receive the “Outstanding Contribution” recognition at the recent Rioja Recognises awards from Wines of Rioja.

Posted In: on-trade, restaurants, Rioja, wine, wines from rioja

People People: On-Trade

By Richard Siddle on November 6, 2017

Rioja wines are a key part of the wines lists across ETM's 14 pubs like the White Swan in Fleet Street, London

Guillaume Mahaut: why ETM’s pubs take Rioja so seriously

When you tell friends that you basically buy and sell wine for a living it’s hard to get sympathy for the long hours and hard toil that involves. Which is why it’s always nice to be singled out and rewarded for your efforts. Which is what the Rioja Recognises initiative is all about. Celebrating individuals and businesses that are going the extra mile to support the region. In the first of a series of interviews we profile each of this year’s winners starting with the on-trade operator award that went to the ETM Group and its group wine buyer, Guillaume Mahaut.

Posted In: etm group, on-trade, pub group, pubs, Rioja, wine, wine buyer, wines of rioja

Browsing Category

The larger than life world of Camino’s Richard Bigg

All roads lead to Hedonism’s Hide Restaurant for Roux Scholars

Roger Jones ditches wine off menu of new, second restaurant

Mike Turner on Vermouth bars: Why do old boys have all the fun?

Gerard Basset recognised with top French honour

Roger Jones puts South African sparkling up against the world

Edinburgh gets taste of Italy with opening of Wine House Hotel 1821

South Africa trounces California in latest Tri Nations Challenge

How Rioja is at the heart of Abel Lusa’s Cambio de Tercio group

Guillaume Mahaut: why ETM’s pubs take Rioja so seriously

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