News & Opinion
Filter Articles by
Hospitality’s Mental Health Struggle
14 September 2018
The first half of this year has been especially sad. It was a dark time. We lost two lovely chefs. They decided that life was no longer worth living. We didn’t see it coming. They both seemed just fine. Bright, sparky as always, funny and full of fun. Two vibey and talented guys. But, they cho... read more
Are Chefs Still Sexy?
24 April 2018
Some five years back, I read a study which asked 2,000 people what they believed was the sexiest profession for a prospective partner. Twenty seven percent said that Chefs are sexiest. Yes, sexier than pilots, doctors, firemen and of course, lawyers. Chefs were top of the sweetheart tree.I hav... read more
HSC Now a National Brand
24 April 2018
The LSC group are proud to announce the merger of it’s two hospitality staffing brands HSC and Foundation.“HSC, the hospitality solutions company, has grown exponentially over the past 5 years and is now the leading brand for hospitality staffing in South Africa” says Phillip Meyer... read more
The Basics
13 October 2017
Crippling writer’s block hit me like a heavy duty tenderising mallet this morning. So, as one does, I phoned a chef friend and asked what he found challenging and frustrating in his kitchen. Without a breath, he commented “Hickmore, many newly graduated chefs have no idea of the basics,&... read more
Chefs and Other Drama Queens
23 August 2017
They live amongst us, red faces contorted in anger contrasting against the white of a chefs uniform. Bad tempers and short fuses seem to be part of the territory, almost an acceptable quirk for a chef.Why do we tolerate swearing and histrionic shouting in the kitchen? Is it that the industry attract... read more
Fifty Is The New Thirty?
11 May 2017
Many of my compatriots in the hotel industry are getting, let’s say, rather long in the tooth. “If you remember the 1960’s, you weren’t there, man” they whisper. But, a quick look at one’s birth certificate and a peek in the mirror reminds us that we were, most ce... read more
Chef As Superhero
10 May 2017
“In the endless reaches of the Grand Hotel, there once existed a kitchen that burned brightly like a baked Alaska from a degustation menu. There, civilisation was far advanced and it brought forth a race of ‘Superchefs’ whose mental and physical powers were developed to the absolut... read more
CV Bloopers
10 May 2017
Sometimes my day can be a little hectic reading through the hundreds of CV’s we receive from Hospitality Professionals. Most resumes we get are well thought out and professionally presented. But, occasionally we come across some gems that are destined for our “CV Bloopers” file. Th... read more
Culinary Olympics Erfurt
10 May 2017
I had the privilege of attending the 2016 IKA Culinary Olympics in the beautiful and picturesque town of Erfurt in Germany. Erfurt is the regional capital of Thuringia and its old town is one of the most intact medieval cities in Germany, having survived World War II with very little damage. A fabul... read more
How to Fire Your Boss
24 February 2016
You have been given an offer you can’t refuse by a company you’ve been longing to work for. Once you have told your spouse, family and pals you need to tackle the boss.So what do you do? Naturally you’re nervous. How is he going to react? Will bridges be burnt?Here are some steps t... read more
Is FoodPorn Good Publicity?
22 February 2016
It’s an epidemic! Badly taken photos of restaurant food emblazoned across the interweb. Restaurant Guests, heads down, more engaged with their photography than their fellow diners. Frantically snapping away with their smart phones from starter to dessert. Instagram, Facebook, twitter gobbling ... read more
Is Talent Not Enough?
20 August 2015
When you watch a great musician or dancer on stage and you delight in their shear artistic genius, do you ever wonder if they passed their matric? As you are inspired by the music and the visual spectacle do you care if the artist passed Physics or Afrikaans second language?You don’t give a co... read more
