Here's the second part of our countdown of the most popular hospitality stories on The Staff Canteen in 2017!
From conversations about drug abuse in the industry, to chefs refusing accolades like Michelin stars; we countdown the top stories to feature on the site each month from July to December 2017.
10. Michelin Guide UK 2018: 27 new Bib Gourmands
At number ten, was the news of 27 new Michelin Bib Gourmands for the UK and Ireland this year. Bib Gourmands are awarded to restaurants recognised for offering "exceptionally good food at moderate prices”. The price limit in the UK is £28 for three courses and €40 in Ireland.
New additions to the Michelin Guide for 2018 include Adam Handling's The Frog E1, Skosh in York and Galvin Green Man.
9. Simon Hulstone says 'skills crisis? no it's an attitude one' as apprentice drops out from role
In August, we spoke to Michelin starred chef Simon Hulstone, after he voiced his frustration on Twitter when an apprentice dropped out the week before they were due to start work at his Torquay restaurant and brasserie, The Elephant. The apprentice had been training for six months prior.
Simon said: “At the end of the day we’re almost used to it now, there’s no commitment, no loyalty, and it’s not even a face-to-face conversation - it’s a text message, a message from their dad or girlfriend and it’s just bollocks, to be honest with you.”
The apprentice was due to work along side Simon's other apprentice Ali, who was at risk of being deported back to Albania. Simon added: "With Brexit, I am seeing more and more problems arising."
8. Tributes pour in for photographer and chef favourite Stephen Perez
It was a very sad day in October when the news spread that photographer Stephen Perez had died suddenly, aged 47. Tributes poured in on social media for the talented young man, who had taken pictures of many of the world's best chefs and their food.
Sat Bains wrote:
"We're all absolutely shocked and gutted to lose such a top bloke. Our hearts and thoughts are with @louiseperezsmith who's lost her best friend and Soul mate. ???????? ❤️????????x RIP Chief ????????"
Just months before, Stephen had offered his advice as part of our editorial on how to take the best food images. It was a loss for many, and our thoughts are still with Stephen's family and friends.
7. Top French chef Sebastien Bras asks for his three stars to be removed from the Michelin Guide 2018
At number seven, it came as a shock to many when top chef Sebastien Bras of Le Suquet requested that his three Michelin stars be removed, due to the "high pressure" that the accolade puts on a restaurant.
Speaking to French news website AFP, Sebastien said: “You’re inspected two or three times a year, you never know when. Every meal that goes out could be inspected. That means that, every day, one of the 500 meals that leaves the kitchen could be judged.”
6. The Image of ‘The (Male) Chef’ - A Response by Emma Underwood
Gender was a popular topic of debate this year. After we shared a Facebook post, with a list of rules about the stereotypical Chef (with a capital C), Emma Underwood, General Manager of Where the Light Gets In, wrote a blog response.
In her blog, Emma pointed out that while the post was intended as a joke, these attitudes are unfortunately representative of many (male) chefs in the industry today.
She said: "The fetishisation of male chefs serves to only create unreal expectations for many entering the career, and alienates females from desiring to work in a professional kitchen. Transforming chefs into these poster boys may boost TV ratings and sell books and magazines, but it hinders recruitment and attraction for a huge sector of society."
5. MasterChef: The Professionals 2017 - week 1 by Monica Turnbull
Number five on our most-read list was the return of MasterChef: The Professionals 2017. Judges and renowned chefs Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing are back on our screens, looking for this year's champion. In the first week, we saw duck and soufflé skills tests, which a few of the contestants struggled with, and a spicy invention test - where one chef admitted he doesn't own a spice rack!
On the final day, the remaining chefs had to cook for food critics Jay Rayner and Grace Dent and food writer William Sitwell. Despite the incredible amount of pressure, Gareth Howarth, sous chef at L'Ortolan; Jamie Park, head chef at The Frog and Ryan Blackburn, chef owner at Old Stamp House were put through to knock out week.
4. An Open Letter to (Male) Chefs by chef Tom Colicchio
After a string of celebrity chefs were accused of sexual harassment in America, Tom Colicchio, owner of Crafted Hospitality and ‘Top Chef’ judge, wrote an open letter to his male counterparts to address the sexual harassment prevalent in the hospitality industry.
In the letter (originally published on Tom's Medium account), he writes:
"Assessing a woman as a body, rather than as a person with a mind, character, and talent, denies the full measure of her humanity. It’s wrong and it demeans us all. Real men don’t need to be told this."
Many of our social media followers were quick to praise the chef for speaking out about such an important issue.
3. Michelin starred chef ‘tired’ of the industry's endless rankings and lists
The third story in our list is the complete reverse side of the coin. Having been named the '69th best chef in the world' by an unnamed company, Christian Puglisi posted on his Instagram account calling rankings and awards ‘ridiculous’. The chef and restaurateur is no stranger to accolades, his Copenhagen restaurant Relae holds a star in the Michelin Guide and it is also ranked at No. 39 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.
Christian said: “It’s not sports, it’s not politics. It’s not about votes, it’s not about ratings. It’s about eating, living, cooking, and kicking ass.”
2. Michelin Guide UK 2018: The full list including deletions
Second on our list is no big surprise. The Michelin Guide UK 2018 was announced at another live ceremony on Monday, October 2. The only new three starred restaurant was The Araki, a sushi restaurant run by Japanese chef Mitsuhiro Araki. Many were also pleased to see that Claude Bosi had regained his title, with Claude Bosi at Bibendum being awarded two Michelin stars. Having only opened in April, Claude seemed shocked by the news.
He told The Staff Canteen:
"I was not expecting to go back to two stars straight away – I thought it would be one, then two. But I have the magical two with me and it’s been great… "
In addition to the above, there were also 17 new one stars in this year's selection.
1. Neil Rankin hits back at Gordon Ramsay over drug abuse comments
The most popular (and perhaps most controversial) story in the second half of this year was a Facebook post from Temper chef owner, Neil Rankin. He was responding to comments from Gordon Ramsay, who said "Coke’s everywhere. It’s spiralling out of control." This was ahead of his upcoming TV documentary, Gordon Ramsay on Cocaine.
In the post, Neil addressed Gordon directly and said:
"Its employers like you that made this industry unappealing and held it back for decades and created the long hours that only add to the drug problems."
Rankin's social media response quickly went viral, with chefs flocking to the comments to discuss drug abuse in the industry.
