Young pub chefs Stephen Williams, 22, and Andrew Tyrrell, 20, have been acclaimed at the 2005 Restaurant Rémy Awards. Judges praised the duo, co-chefs at the Coach & Horses in Clerkenwell, for helping to establish a "buzzing gastro pub popular with locals". Fellow gastro pubs the Falcon at Poulton, Gloucestershire, and the Crab in Chieveley, Berkshire, also received acclaim for offering "full-flavoured British food" in a "traditional pub setting". Anthony Flinn, 24, of Anthony's in Leeds, secured the event's top prize, the Excellence Award, for his Heston Blumenthal-inspired "molecular gastronomy".
3663 adds to its meat range
3663 First for Foodservice has boosted its range of fresh meats available to caterers. The company has added 17 different cuts of meat to its portfolio to inspire menu ideas among chefs over the Christmas period. 3663 is also offering a combined delivery of fresh, chilled and frozen meats to pubs through its frozen and chilled division. Julie Moore, frozen and chilled marketing controller, said: "Introducing fresh meats in a variety of cuts is an exciting new direction for us." For more information call 0870 3663 000 or visit www.3663.co.uk
New cooking-oil initiative
Waste cooking oil from pubs and restaurants has been banned from use in animal feed as part of new Government initiative. The legislation has been introduced to safeguard animal health and the food chain according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Caterers are urged by the FSA to ensure that waste cooking oils are stored correctly and removed by an authorised collector. The Government aims to promote the use of waste oils in electricity generation, transport fuels and bio diesel producers. The FSA stressed that cooking oils from food manufacturing or unused oils can continue to be used in animal feed. For more information visit www.food.gov.uk