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Julie's in London, which lists Kate Moss, Gwyneth Paltrow, Colin Firth, Kylie Minogue and U2 among its glitzy guests has been busted for breaching its claims to use organic food.
Instead, the restaurant bought cheap meat and pocketed the change. The extent of the swindle has seen the manager warned he was lucky to escape prison. The West London magistrates' court fined Johnny Ekperigin £7500 ($21,000) plus costs.
A routine inspection by environmental health officers found that although the menu listed organic marinated roast chicken, sausages, and spice-crusted rack of lamb, no trace of anything organic was found on delivery notes or in subsequent checks with suppliers.
Tipples and tunes
The Waiheke Island Wine Festival next month has signed a top lineup of talent, including Anika Moa, One Million Dollars and the Nairobi Trio.
The festival is at Isola Estate on Saturday, February 10, and features wines from 19 vineyards, including new vintages and gourmet produce. Tickets are from Ticketek and cost $65 per person or $89 including a return Fullers ferry trip.
Sacre bleu
Gordon Ramsay's global expansion continues, with plans to launch eateries in Paris, Prague and Amsterdam this year. The French venture at the Trianon Palace and Spa outside Versailles, near Paris, could be sweet revenge for Ramsay's rough treatment by chefs in the capital during his training in his 20s.
He was left for months doing menial tasks despite having worked in one of the best restaurants in London, Harveys, under Marco Pierre White. "The French will prepare the food, but the Brits are going to cook it," he says. "I'm fed up with the French telling us we don't know how to cook."
Room with a view
The Mudbrick Vineyard on Waiheke has opened the Potager Garden Bistro in addition to the main dining room for summer and autumn. With a French provincial feel, this petite bistro caters for around 36 diners in an intimate atmosphere opening out to views of the vines. During the cooler months, the bistro will be available for private functions.
For now, it's open Thursdays to Sundays from 7pm and features a small menu, supplemented by Mudbrick's range of 150 wines from New Zealand and overseas. Entry is through the vineyard's tasting room and guests are invited to arrive early to choose a suitable wine for their dinner. Bookings: Ph (09) 372-9050.
