The couple replace Mr Blumenthal in the number one spot. The television chef won the award last year for The Hinds Head in Bray, Berkshire, which is also the location of his world-famous restaurant The Fat Duck.

The Mackenzies bought The Pipe and Glass as a wreck in 2006. The couple, who had never owned a pub before, invested all the spare cash they had — £20,000 – in doing it up.

Mr Mackenzie told The Daily Telegraph that they started with a blackboard menu and just a handful of staff. The pub now has 12 chefs and a Michelin star.

The pub specialises in “refined yet hearty” food, according to Rebecca Burr, editor of the Michelin Eating Out in Pubs Guide.

We are proud to have been their coffee supplier since 2006. Well done Kate, James and the team.

We are delighted to announce the launch of Chez Toi — the domestic internet sales site of Cafe du Monde.

Click here to see more…

This makes Newby the most awarded tea company in the history of the Awards, with a total of 64 awards over 6 years.  Newby’s commitment to packing at source, and creating unique blends is constantly recognised by the awards, rewarding years of dedication to finding the best teas in the world.

Edward Berry, COO of Newby Teas, said: “We are delighted with these awards. Winning such an unprecedented number of Great Taste Awards recognizes the hard work and dedication that goes into making superb tea. Every member of our team is committed to improving the quality of teas that we source each year and innovating new blends, so it is great to hear that it shows in our products!”

The Great Taste Awards judging standards, devised by the Guild of Fine Food, are the most rigorous in the UK.

Bob Farrand, Chairman for The Great Taste Awards, said: “Winning Gold in the country’s largest and most respected independent food accreditation scheme is a massive pat on the back for any producer — independent proof their products are of the highest quality.  We provide constructive feedback from our expert judging teams and for many, winning 1, 2 or 3-star Gold is exactly what’s needed to help grow their businesses, even during a recession. Every winner should feel very proud that their hard work has been rewarded.”

Newby Jasmine Blossom Caddy

Last week the results of the “Great Taste Awards 2010” were announced and we are delighted say that Newby Teas gained 13 Awards.

The Great Taste Awards is completely independent and the judging by industry experts is uncompromisingly  rigorous. Stars are given to products for their excellence and are generally thought of as the food and drink equivalent of the “Oscars”.

A coveted 3 Star Award was given to Newbys superb Imperial Jasmine (caddy).

2 Star Winners are Jasmine Blossom (teabags), Jasmine Monkey (windows carton), and Green Sanguinello (catering pouch). Other Star Award Winners include: Fujian Oolong (window caddy), White Peony (window carton), English Breakfast (caddy), Kaziranga (caddy), Gir (caddy), Hakunda (caddy), Kailash (caddy), Indian Breakfast (carton) and Rosehip and Hibiscus (teabags) which is very popular in our Service en Chambre Hotel bedroom beverage package.

Browse our website for more information on any of the teas, or go to www.newbyteas.com

The Franke Pura is perfectly suited to hotel and restaurant applications and is a very welcome addition to our range of coffee equipment. .…… Watch this space.…..

Fairtrad Logo

22nd February — 7th March 2010

Going green and being sustainable doesn’t have to cost your business, Café du Monde is here to help. To celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight and the Fairtrade Foundations 15th year Café du Monde are offering a free 4 cup cafetiere worth £29.95 with every two cases of Fairtrade “singles” purchased at £50.50 per case, post and packing included or half a case of Fairtrade Beans worth £23 with every two cases of Fairtrade Beans at £46 per case. To apply for the free offer just order during Fairtrade Fortnight between 22nd of February – 7th March 2010.

Since the introduction of Fairtrade certified coffee annual UK sales have rocketed from £13.7 million in 1998 to £137.3 million in 2008. The foundation’s latest survey shows that 70% of the UK’s population recognise the Fairtrade Mark and also link the Mark to a better deal for producers in the developing world.

In February the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) is being launched. This is good news for the industry, because as well as giving advice to businesses who want to become greener, it will also be giving awards to proactive ‘green’ restaurants. Successful restaurants will be able to display an SRA audit sticker in their window, denoting a bronze, silver or gold award, which, it is hoped, will become as recognisable as those of Michelin. The awards will also put audited restaurants at a commercial advantage as in a recent SRA survey 70% of customers said they would be more likely to eat at a restaurant that took environmental issues seriously.

Café du Monde not only offers a range of Fairtrade coffees, but also Rainforest Alliance (RFA). The RFA and its partner group the Sustainable Agriculture Network have demonstrated that traditional, forested coffee farms are havens for wildlife so by choosing Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee you can support farmers who maintain these rainforest refuges. The RFA have also worked for many years with farmers to seek a balance between traditional farming and new high production techniques. These forward thinking farmers, scientists, agronomists and environmentalists have developed farm-management guidelines that maintain eco-friendly traditions, add a growing awareness of social responsibility, and ensure economic sustainability.

RFA coffees available are Premier Cru espresso beans 6 x 1kilo, Pour and Serve filter coffee 80 x 1.9 litre sachets, Bulk Brew filter coffee 40 x 5 litre sachets and also for cafetieres bulk coffee in 4 x 1 kilo packs.

For further information on environmental and sustainable legislation that is expected this year click on the websites below.

Website links: www.fairtrade.org.uk, www.thesra.org, www.rainforest-alliance.org, www.cafedumonde.co.uk

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This year we have decided to donate the money we would usually spend on Christmas cards and postage to “Help for Heros”.  Following the appalling list of casualties sustained by our troops in Afghanistan, it would be difficult to think of a more deserving cause.

So from all of us at Café Du Monde we would like to wish all our customers and suppliers and very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

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On Friday 20^th November, 20 members of staff and their partners celebrated 20 years of Café du Monde.  The venue chosen for the festivities was the award winning South Lodge Hotel, Lower Beeding.  From the pre dinner drinks in the drawing room, where memories were shared and missing colleagues remembered the whole weekend was magical.

The evening’s entertainment was provided by “Encore” singing songs from all the popular musicals whilst we all enjoyed a splendid 3 course meal hosted by Catey award wining Erick Kervaon.  Not too many glasses of wine were consumed as the coach was leaving at 8 am the following morning for Goodwood motor circuit for a morning of competitive driving.

The agenda for the morning was fast and furious for in two and a half hours the five teams were timed as they skidded around a track, raced in the go karts and drove blindfolded in a mini moke around a slalom course.  Laughter rang around the circuit and usually at the expense of one of the team skidding off the track or crushing a cone.  A further surprise for the morning was a flight in a helicopter. There were a few nervous faces but everyone took part in all the activities and any nerves were quickly forgotten.

Lunch was provided back at South Lodge in the Pass Restaurant where a we were given a demonstration on how to prepare Game before a four course lunch which was prepared and served expertly before our very eyes.

The weekend finished with coffee and speeches where David and Mike reminisced over the past 20 years and thanked all colleagues, families and friends for there loyalty and support.  Tears and smiles all round!

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The 2009 Catey awards ceremony took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel on the 7th July.  Special congratulations go to South Lodge Hotel — Lower Bleeding, who won the Group Hotel of the Year Award and to Erick Kervaon from South Lodge, who won the Food and Beverage Manger of the Year Award.  Our congratulations also go to Café du Monde customers Red Carnation Hotels who’s Managing Director Jonathan Raggett won the Hotelier of the Year Award and to Simon Young of the Jumeirah Carlton Tower who won the Hotel chef of the Year Award.

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