Chef Ollie Dabbous is cooking for a charity event at London Zoo
Ollie Dabbous, Michelin-starred chef and protégé of Raymond Blanc, is getting his teeth into a charity-led project at London Zoo – and tigers will be present.
Dabbous is developing a special three-course menu for a fundraising dinner that will include encounters with the attraction’s tigers, wallabies, kangaroos and more.
The event has been organised by bespoke catering solutions agency Ampersand and proceeds are going to Hospitality Action, a charity that helps support members of the hotel and restaurant industry who fall on hard times.
“I was approached with the idea for the event by Tim Jones and Bill Toner from CH&Co Group, the parent company of Ampersand,” says Dabbous. “They asked and I said yes, very simply because it’s a good cause, they’re nice folk at Ampersand and it sounded like fun, both for me and the diners. Of course, there is always a challenge when you are cooking away from your own kitchen, but by being smart with the menu and organisation, you can make things more manageable.”
Dabbous, dubbed the “most-wanted chef in Britain”, worked under Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and at the Fat Duck and Noma. He opened his eponymous award-winning restaurant in London in 2012 with business partner Oskar Kinsberg – and two years later the duo launched their second venture, Barnyard in Fitzrovia.
The charity dining event will incorporate different elements of the London Zoo attraction, including the opportunity to enjoy Indonesian and Australian-themed areas.
“Guests will enjoy a champagne and canapé reception overlooking Tiger Territory,” Dabbous says. “On the way over to the Mappin Pavilion, where dinner will be served, guests will be able to feed and have photos taken with llamas.”
It’s not the first time the star chef has prepared a menu for an unusual setting. In June, he led a pop-up restaurant for a charity event at Sotheby’s New Bond Street galleries to coincide with a British art pre-sale exhibition. Designing the dishes for the tasting menu, Dabbous was inspired by the shapes and colours of the artworks on show. This time, however, he won’t be taking inspiration from the surroundings.
“I haven’t taken inspiration from the zoo itself. I’m just focused on serving delicious, seasonal food. Given the location, there will be enough sights and sounds going on all around the diners. Making the food themed as well may feel like overkill.”
Tickets cost £135 ($175, €157) per person and are available at hospitalityaction.org.uk. The event takes place on 27 September.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2016 issue 3
Editor’s Letter: Place-Shifting
Technology is giving us the
power to Place-Shift experiences
to create on-demand, immersive
attractions in any location
Promotional Feature: EAS - Beautiful Horizons
The attractions industry is set to descend upon one of Europe’s
most inspiring cities – Barcelona. And if it’s inspiration
you’re looking for, the Euro Attractions Show is the place
Theme Parks: Desert Operations
On the brink of an entertainment revolution, Dubai looks forward to three major theme park openings. Attractions Management caught up with key decision- makers from the upcoming attractions
Mystery Shopper: Disney Delights
Disneyland Shanghai is the company’s first new theme park resort since 2005 and its biggest investment to date. TEA president-elect David Willrich went undercover to find out what Disney’s doing differently
Analysis: Part 3 - Benchmarking
Consultant David Camp asks how we measure success as he focuses on benchmarking and market penetration rates in part three of the series
Opinion: Media Frenzy
Is it time for media-based rides to raise their game? Gavin and Jason Fox, creative directors from Oscar-winning special effects studio Framestore, believe Hollywood-standard content is the next step for the industry
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Chef Ollie Dabbous is cooking for a charity event at London Zoo
Ollie Dabbous, Michelin-starred chef and protégé of Raymond Blanc, is getting his teeth into a charity-led project at London Zoo – and tigers will be present.
Dabbous is developing a special three-course menu for a fundraising dinner that will include encounters with the attraction’s tigers, wallabies, kangaroos and more.
The event has been organised by bespoke catering solutions agency Ampersand and proceeds are going to Hospitality Action, a charity that helps support members of the hotel and restaurant industry who fall on hard times.
“I was approached with the idea for the event by Tim Jones and Bill Toner from CH&Co Group, the parent company of Ampersand,” says Dabbous. “They asked and I said yes, very simply because it’s a good cause, they’re nice folk at Ampersand and it sounded like fun, both for me and the diners. Of course, there is always a challenge when you are cooking away from your own kitchen, but by being smart with the menu and organisation, you can make things more manageable.”
Dabbous, dubbed the “most-wanted chef in Britain”, worked under Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and at the Fat Duck and Noma. He opened his eponymous award-winning restaurant in London in 2012 with business partner Oskar Kinsberg – and two years later the duo launched their second venture, Barnyard in Fitzrovia.
The charity dining event will incorporate different elements of the London Zoo attraction, including the opportunity to enjoy Indonesian and Australian-themed areas.
“Guests will enjoy a champagne and canapé reception overlooking Tiger Territory,” Dabbous says. “On the way over to the Mappin Pavilion, where dinner will be served, guests will be able to feed and have photos taken with llamas.”
It’s not the first time the star chef has prepared a menu for an unusual setting. In June, he led a pop-up restaurant for a charity event at Sotheby’s New Bond Street galleries to coincide with a British art pre-sale exhibition. Designing the dishes for the tasting menu, Dabbous was inspired by the shapes and colours of the artworks on show. This time, however, he won’t be taking inspiration from the surroundings.
“I haven’t taken inspiration from the zoo itself. I’m just focused on serving delicious, seasonal food. Given the location, there will be enough sights and sounds going on all around the diners. Making the food themed as well may feel like overkill.”
Tickets cost £135 ($175, €157) per person and are available at hospitalityaction.org.uk. The event takes place on 27 September.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2016 issue 3
Editor’s Letter: Place-Shifting
Technology is giving us the
power to Place-Shift experiences
to create on-demand, immersive
attractions in any location
Promotional Feature: EAS - Beautiful Horizons
The attractions industry is set to descend upon one of Europe’s
most inspiring cities – Barcelona. And if it’s inspiration
you’re looking for, the Euro Attractions Show is the place
Theme Parks: Desert Operations
On the brink of an entertainment revolution, Dubai looks forward to three major theme park openings. Attractions Management caught up with key decision- makers from the upcoming attractions
Mystery Shopper: Disney Delights
Disneyland Shanghai is the company’s first new theme park resort since 2005 and its biggest investment to date. TEA president-elect David Willrich went undercover to find out what Disney’s doing differently
Analysis: Part 3 - Benchmarking
Consultant David Camp asks how we measure success as he focuses on benchmarking and market penetration rates in part three of the series
Opinion: Media Frenzy
Is it time for media-based rides to raise their game? Gavin and Jason Fox, creative directors from Oscar-winning special effects studio Framestore, believe Hollywood-standard content is the next step for the industry
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redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care
has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that
cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given
Mexican operator, Solmar Hotels and Resorts, is hosting a series of events in celebration of
Global Wellness Day, including a Temazcal ceremony at its Playa Grande Resort and Spa in Los
Cabos.
Mandarin Oriental has announced a standalone residence brand, Mansions, which will debut at
Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, Abu Dhabi, in 2029.
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Templespa Templespa was founded in 2000 by Liz and Mark Warom, seasoned entrepreneurs with a proven track reco [more...]
