In Brief

Oliver hailed chef of decade

Jamie Oliver has been named chef of the decade by Men's Health magazine. Associate editor Mike Shallcross said: 'He is passionate about good food and has shown you can eat healthily and still enjoy delicious food.' Oliver also scooped two national television awards for his School Dinners programme and special recognition for his campaign to raise the standard of school dinners.

Roux proves a fan of pub grub

Celebrity chef Albert Roux praised pub food at the Remy Martin and Harden's Guide 2006 restaurant awards. Pubs awarded by selecting reviews from paying customers were the Priory Inn, Gloucestershire, the Gun, Docklands, and the Cabinet, in Hertfordshire. Roux commented on the growth of pubs that offer 'good food, using local produce at reasonable prices'.

BPC picks Challenge finalists

The British Potato Council (BPC) has selected six chefs to compete in a cook-off final for the title of Great Potato Challenge Champion. They are: Carl White, the Plough, St Albans, Hertfordshire, Philip Davis, Cross Gates, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Tristan Farmer, Enverdale in Cupar Angus, Scotland, Nicholas White, the Bull Inn, Hinton, Gloucestershire, Graham Smith, the Bear Inn, Bristol and Di Sheenton, Five Bells, Cullompton, Devon. The cook-off will be in January and BPC marketing executive Caroline Evans said: 'This is a new competition for the BPC. The pub chefs and ourselves have been extremely impressed with the standard of entries.'

Chef wins Thwaites contest

Christopher Bull, head chef at the Swan and Cemetery in Bury, has won Thwaites' beer with food competition. The contest involved using Thwaites products in recipes in a bid to encourage people to buy more beer with food. Bull's entry included Liberty Stew - featuring Thwaites' Liberation ale. He won a mini-break at a Shire hotel and received the prize from Thwaites' catering development manager Judi Houghton. She said: 'We will use recipes submitted to put together a beer-with-food recipe book.'

Booming BFF was biggest yet

British Food Fortnight (BFF) was bigger and more successful than ever. Now in its fourth year, the event was backed by the Government and supported by pubs and restaurants around the country. More than 24,000 shops, pubs and restaurants were provided with information about sourcing and promoting British food and drink. BFF organiser Alexia Robinson said: 'There are clear commercial benefits in promoting British food and drink. It differentiates [businesses] from competitors, therefore increasing sales.'

Fox food condemned as unfit

Food from a Norfolk pub kitchen was condemned as being unfit for human consumption. Environmental health officers removed items from the Fox in Garboldisham after it was discovered to be out of date. Meat, pasta, sausages and cream were seized during a routine inspection and a hearing was held at Thetford Magistrates Court. The case was called because licensee Simon Griffiths disputed the decision to destroy the smoked sausage and five lamb cutlets. Breckland council spokeswoman Mandy Montagu said: 'We have the power to shut down premises if they are an imminent danger to the public but this case was not one of those and it was felt that removing the food was the most appropriate course of action.'