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Tag: Jamie Oliver

  • Jamie Oliver’s UK restaurant chain collapses

    Jamie Oliver’s UK restaurant chain collapses

    International outlets, such as those in Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand, will continue to trade.

    Jamie Oliver’s UK restaurant chain has collapsed – but the international outlets remain trading for now.

    “I am deeply saddened by this outcome and would like to thank all of the staff and our suppliers who have put their hearts and souls into this business for over a decade,” said Oliver, who rose to fame as a television celebrity chef before founding a network of high-street restaurants in 2008.

    “I appreciate how difficult this is for everyone affected.”

    Jamie Oliver’s UK restaurant chain employed about 1300 people in 25 outlets bearing the brands Jamie’s Italian, Barbecoa steakhouse and Jamie Oliver’s Diner. They are now in administration.

    UK news media reported the process did not affect the business’ international operations which are largely run by local franchise partners. They include restaurants in Causeway Bay and Harbour City, in Hong Kong, at VivoCity and on Orchard Road in Singapore; and at Bangkok’s Siam Discovery.

    High-street restaurant chains have been hampered by a rough trading environment in recent years, in both the UK and the US. In the UK, rival operator Boparan Restaurant Group revealed plans in March to shutter more than a third of its outlets, trading under the Giraffe and Ed’s Easy Diner brands. Other operators, including Prezzo, Strada, Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Carluccio’s all closed stores last year.

    In the US, casual dining chains like Applebee’s, TGI Friday’s and Ruby Tuesday have scaled back their networks.

    The collapse of Jamie Oliver’s UK restaurant chain this week follows a rescue attempt last year in which the company entered a company voluntary arrangement with landlords to close some stores and reduce rents on others in a bid to continue trading.

    But the company has now succumbed to intense competition, rising costs and a tough consumer market.

  • Tesco signs up Jamie Oliver for healthier eating drive

    Tesco signs up Jamie Oliver for healthier eating drive

    Tesco and Jamie Oliver have joined up to “help make healthier choices a little easier for customers”.

    In his first act for the UK retailer, the celebrity chef and restaurateur will front Tesco’s ‘helpful little swaps’ in store, where healthier alternatives offer reduced levels of sugar, salt and fat, as well as being cheaper for customers. A basket of ‘helpful little swaps’ will cost 12 per cent less than a regular basket.

    The Tesco and Jamie Oliver partnership has been forged in the wake of research by the grocer showing seven in 10 families want supermarkets to help them lead healthier lives and make healthier choices more affordable.

    Oliver said the survey results back up what he hears from his audience every single day: “Britain wants to know how to enjoy more of the good stuff, in easy fun and delicious ways. This makes this partnership one of the most exciting opportunities to actually get Britain eating and celebrating more of their five fruit and veges a day.

    “I’m going to work really hard to respond to the different seasons and what the customer is asking for, by creating exciting meals, shortcuts and tips that get people really fired up to cook. Tesco’s part is to make it easier and more affordable.”

    Alessandra Bellini, chief customer officer at Tesco, said: “Jamie’s passion and skill to inspire a nation to cook, coupled with our experience and reach in providing millions of customers and colleagues with healthy, quality, affordable ingredients will be a great combination to help people take simple steps to leading healthier lives. This is a natural step in our ongoing work to make healthier eating a little easier.”

    As part of the partnership, a series of healthier recipes and tips will be in store and online created for Tesco by Oliver. Many of the ingredients from the recipes will be reduced in price and placed together for convenience for customers – with a focus on British fruit and vegetables.

    Oliver said that during the past few years, under its new leadership, Tesco has consistently raised the bar when it comes to so many important initiatives: from food waste, to leading on industry reformulation and helping kids eat more fruit with its brilliant Free Fruit for Kids in-store program.

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  • Jamie’s Italian expands to Thailand

    Jamie’s Italian expands to Thailand

    Thailand’s first Jamie’s Italian restaurant has opened at the newly ­renovated Siam Discovery in Bangkok.

    It is being run by Hotel Properties in partnership with the mall operator, Siam Piwat.

    Jamie’s Italian began as a joint venture between UK celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and his mentor, Italian chef and restaurateur Gennaro Contaldo. The first restaurant opened in Oxford in 2008 and there are now 42 outlets in the UK and more than 25 internationally, including in Australia and Singapore.

    Jamie's Italian Stratfor

    As with all Jamie’s Italian outlets, the Siam Discovery restaurant is committed to sourcing free-range, higher-welfare meat, and sustainable and ethically produced ingredients. All the recipes are Italian classics with a Jamie Oliver twist, including pasta made on site every day.

    The restaurant is working with Thai farmers and suppliers.

    Meat Plank, recommended menu

    Menu highlights at Jamie’s Italian Siam Discovery include antipasti planks, a sharing dish served on wooden boards supported by tins of tomatoes and offering a selection of meats, cheeses, vegetables and pickles.

    The Jamie's Italian Burger, a signature main dish

    Oliver’s cook books and the restaurant’s signature napkins are on sale, as well as gifts.

    Jamie's Italian Spring Summer App Menu Shoot

    Jamie’s Italian Spring Summer App Menu Shoot

    With 184 covers, the restaurant features rustic, reclaimed timber refectory tables, zinc tables and vintage upholstered lounge chairs, with monochromatic and hand­-painted floral tile flooring. The dining area is illuminated with brass spotlights, vintage enamel shades and a textured-glass chandelier.

    Guests can view the open kitchen, watch their antipasti planks being made at the antipasti counter in the main dining room, or relax at Jamie’s Bar.

    Jamie’s Italian Siam Discovery_Interior Design 4

    Jamie’s Italian Siam Discovery_Interior Design 3

    Jamie’s Italian Siam Discovery_Interior Design 1

    Jamie’s Italian Siam Discovery_Interior Design 2

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  • Jamie Oliver to announce its opening for the first Jamie’s Italian restaurant in Thailand

    Jamie Oliver to announce its opening for the first Jamie’s Italian restaurant in Thailand

    Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver is pleased to announce its opening head chef for the first Jamie’s Italian restaurant in Thailand, set to open in the fourth quarter of this year. Alex Barman, a dynamic and passionate chef with more than 11 years of culinary experience, will be leading the kitchen team as head chef of Jamie’s Italian Siam Discovery.

    Born in North Wales, UK, Alex started working in restaurants at a young age while still studying, beginning his culinary career as a kitchen assistant in a local hotel restaurant, and then progressing to be a sous chef in a local bistro, and head chef for Whitbread Group in Cardiff. In 2010 he joined the Jamie’s Italian family in Cardiff as a commis chef, moving swiftly through the ranks and taking his first head chef role for Jamie’s Italian in Cheltenham and Birmingham. He was also a member of the training support team for the opening of Jamie’s Italian Westfield, Stratford near the London 2012 Olympic Stadium. Alex moved to Singapore three and a half years ago to open the first Jamie’s Italian in Asia in VivoCity, where he started as the sous chef and was quickly promoted to head chef. In 2015, he moved to Bali as head chef for the new restaurant, Jamie’s Italian Kuta Beach.

    “Everything we serve is made with care,” Alex Barman, the head chef of Jamie’s Italian Siam Discovery said. “Good food is as the heart of everything we do. We are fully committed to supporting Jamie’s fight for better food worldwide, and his mission to make good food accessible for everyone.”

    As with all Jamie’s Italian outlets, the Siam Discovery restaurant will remain committed to sourcing only the best free­range, sustainable and ethically sourced ingredients. The restaurant will also work closely with Thai farmers to showcase local, responsibly grown produce.

    Alex said: “One of the most exciting parts of the job so far has been sourcing ingredients that fit in with Jamie Oliver’s food ethos. It’s not always easy, but it is always enjoyable as I have been able to meet some really amazing people. I am very passionate about sourcing and working with great local suppliers who are as passionate about great ingredients and the food ethos behind them, as I am. I’m really looking forward to seeing these ingredients feature throughout our menu.”

    “Since moving to Asia I’ve always wanted to work in Thailand and experience the culture, people and amazing local food on a regular basis, not just for a holiday, as you never really get to experience the real country and people on short breaks. It’s such a diverse and dynamic country with big differences from one province to another, making it very exciting to travel around and experience all the country has to offer. I love cities and actively seek to work and live in big, bustling, dynamic cities in which Bangkok has to be one of the best so far I’ve lived in.”

    Alex said: “Jamie’s Italian food is simple, rustic and inspired by dishes eaten all over Italy, delivered to the local market at affordable prices, which means it’s great for any occasion. I will also be creating some fantastic daily specials, maximising ingredients I can get at short notice from local markets and suppliers. I’m really looking forward to using some of the interesting products that are available here to create some brilliant dishes, with a new brigade of talented local chefs, and seeing our first guests enjoy our food.”

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  • Jamie’s Italian Opens First Restaurant in Thailand

    Jamie’s Italian Opens First Restaurant in Thailand

    Jamie’s Italian, a partnership between British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and his mentor, Gennaro Contaldo, continues its expansion across southeast Asia with its first restaurant in Thailand, set to launch in Bangkok in the fourth quarter of this year.
    The family ­friendly Italian restaurant will open its doors at the newly­renovated Siam Discovery mall, situated in the heart of Bangkok’s shopping district and proudly brought to you by Hotel Properties Limited and Siam Piwat. Guests can expect Jamie’s Italian Siam Discovery to offer delicious, homely Italian cooking with a Jamie twist.

    Living up to the restaurant chain’s philosophy of serving amazing, affordable food in a casual setting, the latest Jamie’s Italian restaurant will embody a relaxed, buzzy vibe for a comfortable dining experience.

    10 Interior at Jamie's Italian restaurant

    The space will boast a tasteful mix of rustic, reclaimed timber refectory tables, industrial­chic zinc tables and vintage upholstered lounge chairs, with monochromatic and hand­painted floral tile flooring adding graphic impact to the restaurant interior. To add warmth, the dining area will be illuminated with brass spotlights, vintage enamel shades and a textured glass chandelier.

    Guests will be able to watch their antipasti planks being made before their eyes at the antipasti counter in the main dining room, or hang out for a pre and post meal tipple at the bar.

    Jamie’s Italian is all about fun, accessible dining. Menu highlights at Jamie’s Italian Siam Discovery will include the famous antipasti planks, perfect for sharing. Placed on large wooden boards supported by tins of tomatoes, the impressive platter allows guests to pick

    from a wide selection of fresh, cured and pickled antipasti, including Italian­style cured meats, buffalo mozzarella and aged pecorino cheese, chilli jam, pickled green chillies, Gaeta olives, caper berries and a crunchy salad of shaved root vegetables with chilli, lemon and mint.

    All pastas will be freshly made on­site daily. The old­school classic, Tagliatelle Bolognese, features handmade pasta, tossed in a rich ragu of beef, pork, herbs, Chianti and Parmesan and finished with crunchy, herby breadcrumbs. Our famous prawn linguine is a must try ­ juicy, garlicky prawns in a tasty fish broth with fennel, tomato and chili, topped with lemony rocket. Pizza dough will all be made by hand, and proved for hours before being hand­stretched to create an irresistibly crisp base. The simple but classic Margherita, dressed with a rich San Marzano tomato sauce, creamy bocconcini, shavings of British Cheddar and whole basil leaves, is the perfect choice for pizza purists, while the Funghi Misti is an earthy delight topped with porcini mushroom sauce, roasted herby mushrooms, mozzarella, chervil and tarragon.

    For meaty mains, guests will be able to opt for a Chicken Al Mattone, a traditional Tuscan dish that is made by grilling a marinated chicken under a brick. The weight of the brick ensures that the chicken is pushed further against the grates of the grill, producing a smoky, juicy and intensely­flavoured grilled chicken with an addictively crisp skin.

    As with all Jamie’s Italian outlets, the Siam Discovery restaurant will remain committed to sourcing only the best free­range, sustainable and ethically produced ingredients. The restaurant will also work closely with Thai farmers to showcase local, sustainable produce at its Bangkok branch.

    Jamie said: “I’m hugely excited to be taking Jamie’s Italian to Thailand. Bangkok is such a vibrant, buzzing city with a really fantastic food scene, I’ve no doubt that it will be a brilliant addition to
    the Jamie’s Italian family. We’ll be sourcing lots of beautiful, top­quality local produce, and cooking up some incredibly tasty food, and all at a reasonable price. I can’t wait for it to open”.

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  • Jamie Oliver heads to India

    Jamie Oliver heads to India

    UK celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is to open his first restaurant in India.

    Jamie’s Pizzeria, a 60 seat restaurant serving pizzas, salads, sides and desserts, will open in Delhi this autumn.

    “I can’t tell you how excited I am to be bringing Jamie’s Italian and Jamie’s Pizzeria to India. Delhi is a vibrant, colourful, buzzing city with an already incredible food scene, so to be opening two restaurants there is a huge honour,” Oliver said in a statement.

    The pizzeria will be the first of several planned for major Indian cities. Oliver already runs 30 restaurants globally, including in the UK, Dubai, Hong Kong, Russia, Australia, Singapore and Toronto.

    The Indian business is a joint venture between Delhi-based Carnation Hospitality, which operates Wendy’s and Barista franchises in India, and UK-based International Market Management.

    “We chose Delhi because we found a great launch site and feel that we can offer something new to the market, this is to say highly accessible, affordable restaurants serving great quality Italian food sourced with the greatest care,” said Jasper Reid, IMM’s founder, in an interview.

    “It’s a fun and easy-going place offering customers the highest quality but at amazing value. The plan is for customers to get a yummy pizza and a drink for around Rs 400 to Rs 450. We feel there may be a gap in the market for this quality and this price,” Reid said.

    He added that the partnership will launch the other Jamie Oliver brand, Jamie’s Italian, in India as well.

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