Lisa’s favourite ‘Explorer Extraordinair’ is giving a talk about his new book “Heroes” Its on Wednesday 7th December at Kirkham Grammar, book now by calling 01772 683 444.
Calling all Ranulph Fiennes fans
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Monthly Archives: November 2011
HI-Life celebrates our shining stars at next year’s star-studded awards…
Friday 3rd February 2012 is going to be a night to remember regardless of whether you’re a winner, nominee, sponsor or guest when Hi-Life (www.hi-life.co.uk), the UK’s favourite dining club, hosts its annual awards dinner at The Midland Hotel, Manchester.
This glittering event whose main sponsor for the second year running is Secured Mail is already in the diaries of VIP guests from across the UK including celebrity chefs, soap stars, sporting heroes and a host of names from show business, fashion, beauty and the media. This is the 11th anniversary of the event which year-on-year has grown in popularity and support from both the industry and the restaurant-going public. Hi-Life currently has over 3,500 restaurant partners throughout the UK and over 100,000 annual subscribers to their Club including Platinum Members all of whom enjoy 2 for 1 dining on an annual basis.
TV presenter and journalist Paul Ross has been confirmed as host for the evening and promises to bring his inimitable quick-fire banter to the proceedings. In addition, Hi-Life is delighted to announce that it has also secured American singing sensation, Gwen Dickey of Rose-Royce fame to entertain guests on the night. Ms Dickey is set to perform some of her classic R&B singles including “Car Wash,” “I Wanna Get Next to You,” “Wishing on a Star”, “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” and “I’m Going Down” to name but a few. Other surprise performers are set to thrill along the way too.
As one of the highlight events of the hospitality industry year – the Hi-Life Awards, fondly referred to as the HILDAS are regarded as one of THE top awards to win thanks to the fact that is it is the customers themselves who short-list the actual finalists. Votes have been pouring in both online and via post and voting cards are available at all Hi-Life’s restaurant partners across the UK.
Restaurants from across the UK will have the opportunity to excel in twelve categories (listed below) and be in with the chance of winning a coveted Hi-life Dining Award.
New elements for 2012 include:
- leading table-setting supplier Duni is not only sponsoring the Best Dining Atmosphere category but also mystery shopping the top five nominees in the category
- a filmed ‘cook-off’ in the Best Chef category sponsored by Dawnvale. Judged by Matthew Norman former British Press Awards winner as both Columnist and Food and Drink Writer of the Year and Daily Telegraph Food critic as well as Elizabeth Carter (Editor of the Good Food Guide) and one lucky Hi-Life member (who will be selected from Hi-Life Facebook competition)
Said Lisa Lund, Commercial Director of Hi-Life,
“The Hi-Life Awards is a flag-ship national event for the restaurant industry so it goes without saying that we pull out all the stops to make it bigger, better and more fun every year.
This year is no exception and we’re delighted with ticket sales and sponsorship revenue which this year has exceeded all expectations. Plus, we are extremely pleased to be supporting the Five Stars Scanner Appeal, our nominated event charity this year. We’re looking forward to generating some valuable funds for their worthwhile cause with some show-stopping raffle prizes.”
Tickets to the event are open to all and cost £75 each and include a champagne reception, four-course meal and fabulous entertainment – all in the elegant surroundings of one of Manchester’s top hotels. Tickets can be obtained by e-mailing awards@hi-life.co.uk.
We look forward to seeing you there.
The closing date for entries is 10th December 2011.
one of our lovely chefs….
One of our lovely chefs, Cyrus Todiwala hosts dinner for The Clink
On Tuesday the 22nd November, Chef Patron, Cyrus Todiwala OBE of Café Spice Namasté will host a spectacular event to raise awareness and support for two outstanding British causes The Clink Charity and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.
The dinner will begin at 7pm and will be held at the Maze Inn, London, where Cyrus Todiwala will cook and serve an authentic Indian five course menu using the best, seasonal British produce available.
for more information follow :- http://www.hospitalityandcateringnews.com/2011/11/cyrus-todiwala-hosts-dinner-to-raise-awareness-for-the-clink/?utm_source=All&utm_campaign=Your+H+and+C+News+Nov+16th&utm_medium=email
My Last Supper…
It is true to say that in the eyes of many of our female team in the Hi-life offices Marco can do no wrong…… ( and tbh as far as i am concerned..~Marco is to the chef world what Elvis was to the music world…. A God!!)
So, I will, ofcourse be adding this book to my Xmas wish list : My Last Supper by Melanie Dunea ,
Marco has written the introduction to the second volume of the popular book My Last Supper by Melanie Dunea,which asks 50 of the world’s most famous chefs about what their final meal would ideally be. The dishes are accompanied by stunning portraits of the chefs as well as recipes.
For more information, visit www.mylastsupper.com or you can buy the book from Amazon
x happy reading, niccy
Judges confirmed for Best Chef ccok off…
We have two of our 3 judges confirmed for our National Awards Best Chef Cook Off! The brilliant Matthew Norman~ from the Telegraph and fabulous Elizabeth Carter ~ editor of The Good Food Guide.
Date of the cook off to be confirmed….
Confused.com launch their customer thankyou….
Confused.com has launched a 2-for-1 dining card in conjunction with Hi-Life to say thank you to customers who purchase car insurance or home insurance in November through Confused.com.
Discounts and offers on expenses like dining out and entertainment are becoming more important as inflation erodes people’s disposable income and many people have to tighten their purse strings.
Recent research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies identifies that there has been a fall in median net household income of 3.5%, the largest single-year drop since 1981.*
These additional pressures on incomes mean people are not only on the lookout for bargains but are also becoming savvier. To help, Confused.com is giving away a Hi-Life 2-for-1 dining card to all customers who buy a car insurance or home insurance policy in November 2011 through Confused.com. For customers this means 2-for-1 on eating out all day every day at over 3,500 participating restaurants for a whole year, meaning the savings keep on coming.
Catering for all tastes and price ranges, customers can enjoy 2-for-1 at Malmaison, Loch Fyne, Prezzo, Pizza Hut and thousands of other restaurants besides.
Click here for a full list of Hi-Life 2-for-1 dining offers from Confused.com.
Gareth Kloet, head of car insurance at Confused.com, said: “Saving people time and money is at the very heart of our business at Confused.com so the Hi-Life 2 for 1 dining card offer is something we believe will add real value to our customers. With Christmas fast approaching and so many people looking to cut back on expense without making lifestyle changes, we are hopeful it will be well received as an additional thank you for using our site”
Mark Gabriel, head of home insurance at Confused.com, added: “The recent downturn has made us more careful about what we spend and made us savvier in searching for savings. The Hi-Life 2-for-1 dining card can be used for a year and gives great savings on well-known restaurants throughout the UK. Car and home insurance is a necessity so at Confused.com we wanted to give our customers a great deal on their insurance but a little extra at the same time!
Charity begins in…..Malta,
Thank you SpaTravel.co.uk for supporting The Five Stars Appeal Childrens Charity!
The Five Stars Appeal Childrens Charity have got us a fantastic sunshine filled break for our 2012 Awards on Feb 3rd. We now have a truly luxurious 3-night weekend break in Malta at www.fortinasparesort.com in a fabulous Spa Bedroom. Worth over £1500 to auction off!!I am sure this will help us raise lots of money for The Five Stars Appeal Childrens Charity.
I’ve had a little peek at their website ~ oh my! IT IS LUSH!! I may be bidding for this myself at our 2012 Awards!
Pssst…… look who’s hosting our 2012 awards!!
The most glittering event in the dining calendar has just got better ~ I know ~ can you believe it??
Over the last month the rumour mill has been rumbling thoughout our offices and atlast we are thrilled to be able to shout from the roof tops that the O-so funny broadcaster and television presenter, Paul Ross will be hosting our 2012 awards!
GET IN!!
I’m sure all of you avid blog readers already have your tickets…but just incase here’s a quick plug ! Tickets on sale now and priced at £75 per person. Book your tickets by calling 01253 608910 and quote ‘AWARDSBLOG’ or e-mail stacy@hi-life.co.uk – Don’t delay, the Dining Awards are always a sell-out event.
Ships Ahoy!!
Celebrity Cruise Lunch
This weekend Hi-Life teamed up with Simply Cruise, to bring Hi-Life members an exclusive experience onboard a fabulous ship, Celebrity Eclipse.
On Saturday, setting out from Leeds our members made it to SOuthampton via coach in good time and even better spirits ! The Holiday Inn, Southampton was our resting place for the night and everyone enjoyed their meal.
An early rise on Sunday gauranteed us a tasty breakfast before checking out and heading for The SHIP!!
After check-in at the port everyone boarded the stunning ship for an escorted tour , plus an exclusive working galley tour which was absolutely phenomenal! 
We then concluded our experience with a fabulous lunch in the Ship’s speciality restaurant, Tuscan Grille, where we were served stunning food specially prepared by the extremely talented Executive Head Chef Herman.
This experience gave our members a unique onboard experience, and was a truly perfect opportunity for our cruise lovers to sample the Celebrity Eclipse and all it has to offer.
We were also joined by Hollyoaks latest
soap stars Beth Kingston and Elliot Landridge!
Telegraph Subscriber Corner…
“Those of you who follow the TV show MasterChef will be familiar with Mr Caines cajoling contestants into producing the kind of food
that befits a kitchen run by a chef with two Michelin stars.Derek Bishton’s new-found celebrity chef status comes courtesy of a visit to Michael Caines’s restaurant at ABode in Chester” where he got the chance to whip up a storm in the kitchen…..
To read all about Derek’s fabulous experience and get the recipe, check out the article :”The secret of a top chef’s risotto” in The Telegraph, Subscribers Corner.
It’s a great read ~ although I can’t honestly say ( being a meat lover myself) that I will get the chance to try it! If you have a go please let me know if it is as scrumptious as it sounds!
And for those of you that are feeling lucky…….
Win 2 nights at ABode Chester and a free meal at Michael Caines restaurant.
Michael Caines was recently voted the UK’s number one restaurateur and his restaurants are part of the Telegraph Subscriber Dining Club. This week Derek Bishton from The Telegraph can offer one lucky subscriber the chance to win a two night stay for two at ABode Hotel Chester plus a threecourse meal for two at Michael Caines at ABode restaurant. To win this fantastic prize, log in to www.telegraph.co.uk/subscriber
I’m sorry, but they can’t accept postal entries for this prize 
Entries must be received by midday on Thursday,November 17, 2011
GOOD LUCK!!