news Round-up

Stein's fish'n'chips

News of another Rick Stein venture. Cornwall's best-known chef is to open a fish and chip shop in Padstow in April. Located next to Stein's quayside deli, it will have scrubbed table-tops and slate floors and source quality produce.

Lunch for life

Restaurateurs are once again being asked to support the Lunch for Life scheme that seeks to raise money for AIDS-orphaned children in Africa. Under the scheme - the brainchild of London's River Caf‚ owners Ruth Rogers and Rose Gray - participating restaurants are asked to add a £1 donation on to their customers' bills in order to support the work of children's charity Plan UK. The scheme will run for the week leading up to Mother's Day on 21 March. Restaurants taking part this year include London restaurants Club Gascon, Smith's of Smithfield, the Sugar Club and the Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire. Plan UK is keen for regional restaurants to participate, too. For further information e-mail sarah.lothian@plan-international.org.uk, or to register for the scheme call 020 7482 9777.

HRH visit

The Prince of Wales declared his support for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) during a visit to Grimsby-based seafood products supplier Coldwater Seafood last week.

"In addition to good science and good regulation, we need a system that harnesses the power of the consumer and provides economic incentives to well-managed wild fisheries," Prince Charles said. "This is exactly what the MSC does and that is why I have been such a strong supporter of its work right from the start." The MSC is a global charity working to protect the world's fish stocks from collapse. Its global certification programme covers nearly 200 products in 15 countries.

Charity chocolate ball

Chocolatiers, too, will be doing their bit for a good cause when they help to stage London's annual Chocolate Ball, which raises funds for the Sargent Cancer Care for Children charity. International chocolate-makers lending their skills to the event - which will feature chocolate sculptures and fountains, chocolate portraits and a chocolate dress worn by a mystery celebrity - include renowned Belgian chocolatier Pierre Marcolini, and organic chocolate producers Green and Black. The event takes place at London's Café Royal on 11 March.

Disney cakes

Cake manufacturer Inter Link Foods has acquired a licence to make Disney-branded cakes in the UK and Ireland. The range hasn't yet been finalised but is expected to include favourite Disney characters such as Cinderella, Snow White and the Lion King and will be available later this year.

Anglia Food Festival

Locally produced goods including pickles, preserves, herbs and sausages will be in abundance at the Tastes of Anglia Food Festival, taking place at Chilford Hall, Linton, Cambridgeshire, on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 February. Cooking competitions and demonstrations are also on the agenda. Further details from 01473 785883 or www.tastesofanglia.com.

Priory House

The owners of the Priory House restaurant in Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset, have asked us to point out that the restaurant did not close following its sale by chef Martin Hadden in June last year (Caterer, 22 January, page 10). The new owners, husband-and-wife team Peter and Sonia Brooks, have continued to operate the restaurant as a fine-dining operation.