Big Chef, little Chef

[Santino]

Heston in car: "I'm really worried, going in here, that they'll want to compromise quality to increase margins".
"Hi Heston."
"Hi. Are you going to compromise quality to increase margins?"
"No. We got you in because you're a top chef. We'll take your advice".
"Will you roll it out across the chain?"
"If the pilot makes a profit".
"Really?"
"Yes"
"Oh, good. Bye".

Actually, he said something like:
"Why wouldn't I roll it out if it's successful?"

Covering his back, in other words.

 

[danny la rouge]

Actually, he said something like:
"Why wouldn't I roll it out if it's successful?"

Covering his back, in other words.

True. He did.

Ruth Maddox.

 

[Melinda]

Ruth Maddox.

She makes a great impression.

 

[danny la rouge]

She makes a great impression.

Yes. But it's of Frank Spencer, and everyone does that one.

 

[Guineveretoo]

Caught some of the program, and I wish them well. Have since the launch intended to stop at Popham next time Im driving down to the south west. But the key word there is is curiosity - I'm not convinced on the model, the refits are an obvious necessity, but the menu. While there is a need for roadside full meal, and you will beat Brake Bros pubs by upping the quality, not addressing the quick and convenient is I think suicidal.
Britain has, within its culinary arsenal, fast foods to take on the ubiquitous burger joint. And little chef is about the the only chain we have left to counter global homogenization (sorry also watched Dave Gorman last night) - what I think they need is a bar stoolly area for quick consumption of bacon sarnies, sausage sarnies, and toasted sandwiches.

What I saw was fast food - in fact, Heston and his mates spent ages tasting made up products before agreeing which ones would be mass produced and, presumably, frozen and microwaved?

Also, they had a "bar stoolly area" (love that phrase!), didn't they, for exactly that purpose? Or did I misunderstand what the big table with the stools was all about?

 

[danny la rouge]

Also, they had a "bar stoolly area" (love that phrase!), didn't they, for exactly that purpose?

To look like a 50s diner! It's British retro pretend-to-be-America chic.

Iconic brand. Nostalgia. And other phrases.

 

[Azrael]

[...] - what I think they need is a bar stoolly area for quick consumption of bacon sarnies, sausage sarnies, and toasted sandwiches.

Excellent idea, if they haven't done it already. (I also wondered about the big "bar stoolly" thing; excellent phrase, BTW.)

The redesign was obviously a huge step up from Fomica Hell, but it was rather predictable. (American diner/Buger King clone. Nice ceiling tho'. ) If you're going to pinch, pinch what works, but it wasn't distinctive. Beside the blue sky, of course.

I'd have stuck with Little Chef design, but upped the quality. (Real curtains, nice chairs, maybe some quirky touches like silk-flex on the pendants.) Still, seems they got the menu right, although I don't see why they needed Mr Liquid Nitrogen to tell them "cut down the menu & simplify" -- Mr Ramsay does it every week!

 

[gosub]

What I saw was fast food - in fact, Heston and his mates spent ages tasting made up products before agreeing which ones would be mass produced and, presumably, frozen and microwaved?

Also, they had a "bar stoolly area" (love that phrase!), didn't they, for exactly that purpose? Or did I misunderstand what the big table with the stools was all about?

Yep, but in a take on Brake Brother (60% of the country's identical pub menus) type way. What have they got to take on Burger King, McDonalds and Wild Bean Cafe?

 

[Guineveretoo]

Yep, but in a take on Brake Brother (60% of the country's identical pub menus) type way. What have they got to take on Burger King, McDonalds and Wild Bean Cafe?

Aren't they pretty much the only chain of roadside cafes which still exist?

I used to like them back in the day when there was lots of competition, because they were the only ones which did vegetarian sausages - Linda McCartney brand, in fact - long before these were mainstreamed.

 

[gosub]

Aren't they pretty much the only chain of roadside cafes which still exist?

I used to like them back in the day when there was lots of competition, because they were the only ones which did vegetarian sausages - Linda McCartney brand, in fact - long before these were mainstreamed.

I my eyes yep, meanwhile THF and Granda are letting BK and McD in their motorway real estate and retail at petrol stations outstrips fuel in terms of profits.....


eta A Linda MCCartney sausage sarnie to go anyone?

 

[gosub]

Just looked at their website (sorry even annoyed myself for not having checked it earlier) bacon sarnie and sausage sarni are on breakfast menu no bacon sarnies after 11:30! or any veggie sausage and toastie options at all, plus beer and wine on the menu

I reckon they will pick up The Bullington Cross trade that I would say shut due to the way they redid the interchange with the A34 combined with ever reducing drink driving laws, but the food on the run trade (which is a more likely hook with novelty toilets) will keep rolling by.

 

[Homeless Mal]

I watched the show and I think that MD Ian, and that Jo from Popham have put me off helping Little Chef in any way as they were such unpleasant people. Jo and some of the other staff at popham engaged in a form of bullying towards that Sue, a bullying you see from people who have worked in a job for many years and in some ways are an explanation for why a restaurant or business has gone down hill. They came off looking negative, unpleasant, and offputting.

Overall Heston was fairly ineffectual IMHO. What he did do was show off Little Chef management in a poor light, and in some ways came off looking like a corporate puppet. Having said that I actually now have more respect for him as he obviously takes a lot of care and pride in his business and is his own man.

e2a: just rered thread and did they change management at Popham?

 

[Onket]

Anyone see the programme about this the other night?

The manager of the chain still comes across as a slimy fucker, although towards the end it did appear he was actually trying to stick to the original whatdyacallit that Blumenthal came up with.

<edit2add> Made me one to visit one of the new ones as well as one of the old one, which may well have been part of the point of the programme.