Feature for Harrow School alumni magazine, the Harrow Record

"While many Old Harrovians have been, and continue to be, hugely successful in the traditional professions, over the years a number have swum against the tide to forge careers in the media. Here, Craig Butcher discovers what a career in television and the press can offer"


The full article "Old Harrovians in the media" appears in the Spring 2010 issue of the Harrow Record, the quarterly alumni magazine for Harrow School, one of the UK's leading independent schools. The article includes an interview with Alastair Fothergill, the producer of BBC wildlife documentaries alongside Sir Richard Attenborough including Planet Earth and Life in the Freezer. The article also includes interviews with Guy Chambers of Black Diamond television production company and Henry Beresford-Peirse of Global Radio News. To download a PDF of the full article, click here (1.9MB)


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Top 10 Fantasy Feasts for Channel 4 Food

"Literature is awash with epic feasts which sadly never took place. From the fantastical to the symbolic, the life-changing to the mind-altering, the world's most imaginative feasts for the price of a book. Craig Butcher raids the bookcase for 4Food"


To read the full article "Top 10 Fantasy Feasts" to accompany the new Heston Blumenthal Feasts television series currently airing for Channel 4, which includes Alice in Wonderland, Hamlet and Paddington Bear, by freelance journalist Craig Butcher for the Channel 4 Food website, the UK's biggest food website, click here.


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Top 10 Money-No-Object Feasts" for Channel 4 Food

"Whether suspended 100ft up, overlooking the great vineyards of Rioja or showcasing the genius of Ferran Adria at the El Bulli Hotel, the ultimate money-no-object feasts are out there. Craig Butcher packs his suitcase for 4 Food"


To read the full article "Top 10 Money-No-Object Feasts" to accompany the new Heston Blumenthal Feasts television series currently airing for Channel 4, which includes the El Bulli Hotel in Spain, Moto in Chicago and La Pergola in Rome, by freelance journalist Craig Butcher for the Channel 4 Food website, the UK's biggest food website, click here.

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The Hitlist: London has thousands of restaurants, here's just a few I should try

London has quite literally thousands of restaurants, bars and cafes. That much is obvious. Over the years I've accumulated a list of venues which others have rated well, or which grabbed my attention. Along with some recent additions from the Twittersphere (thanks to all who made recommendations) the already lengthy list now looks pretty ridiculous -- there simply isn't enough time (or cash) to try them all. This goes some way to explaining why there aren't many restaurants I return to time after time (and perhaps hints at why so many average venues, without the need for return custom, get away with such average food and service). 


So I'm leaving it to the great British public to guide me. Which restaurants do you rate? Which should I avoid like mad? Which venues have I missed out? Please add your comments -- I'm aiming to try as many as possible before the year is out and to cover them on this site!

1. 500 http://www.500restaurant.co.uk/HomeE.html
2. Adagio http://www.adagio-pizza.com
3. The Arch. http://www.thearchlondon.com/?cid=5
4. Amaya http://www.amaya.biz/
5. Barrafina http://www.barrafina.co.uk
6. Ba Shan http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/venue/2:21319/ba-shan
7. Bar Shu http://www.bar-shu.co.uk/
8. Blueprint Cafe http://www.danddlondon.com/restaurants/blueprint_cafe/home
9. Bob Bob Ricard http://www.bobbobricard.com
10. Bocca Di Lupo http://www.boccadilupo.com
11. Bruno Loubet at The Zetter http://www.bistrotbrunoloubet.com/
12. Le Cafe Anglais http://www.lecafeanglais.co.uk
13. The Canton Arms
14. Caravan 
15. Colony http://www.colonybarandgrill.com
16. Dean Street Townhouse http://www.deanstreettownhouse.com/
17. Dinings http://www.dinings.co.uk
18. The Forge http://www.theforgerestaurant.co.uk
19. Giaconda Dining Rooms http://www.giacondadining.com
20. Goodman http://www.goodmanrestaurants.com
21. Hardy's http://www.hardys-w1.com
22. The Hawksmoor http://www.thehawksmoor.co.uk
23. Hibiscus http://www.hibiscusrestaurant.co.uk
24. Iberica http://www.ibericalondon.com/
25. Indian Zing http://www.indianzing.co.uk
26. Koba http://www.koba-london.com/
27. Locanda Locatelli http://www.locandalocatelli.com
28. Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley http://www.the-berkeley.co.uk/marcus_wareing.aspx
29. Mien Tay http://www.mientay.co.uk
30. Moolis http://www.moolis.com
31. Nahm http://www.halkin.como.bz/eat-and-drink/nahm
32. National Dining Rooms http://www.thenationaldiningrooms.co.uk/index.asp
33. No 10 http://www.london-eating.co.uk/36360.htm
34. Norfolk Arms http://www.norfolkarms.co.uk/
35. Odette's http://www.odettesprimrosehill.com
36. The Old Amalfi
37. Park Terrace http://www.royalgardenhotel.co.uk/default.asp?section=219&page=699
38. The Parlour http://www.theparlouruk.com/
39. Pepito http://www.camino.uk.com/pepito
40. Pizza Santa Maria http://www.santamariapizzeria.com
41. La Petite Maison http://www.lpmlondon.co.uk
42. La Pont de La Tour http://www.lepontdelatour.co.uk/
43. Proud Cabaret http://www.proudcabaret.com/
44. Polpo http://www.polpo.co.uk
45. Roast http://www.roast-restaurant.com
46. Roz-Ana http://www.roz-ana.com
47. Salt Whisky Bar http://www.saltbar.com
48. Searcy's (National Portrait Gallery), http://www.searcys.co.uk/nationalportraitgallery/
49. St John http://www.stjohnrestaurant.co.uk/
50. St Paul's http://www.restaurantatstpauls.co.uk/
51. Story Deli http://www.storydeli.com/
52. Terroirs http://www.terroirswinebar.com
53. Tike http://www.tikerestaurant.co.uk
54. Tobia http://www.tobiarestaurant.co.uk/
55. Trinity http://www.trinityrestaurant.co.uk/
56. Vinoteca http://www.vinoteca.co.uk

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Features coming out soon

Lots of new food, drink and travel features are in the pipeline, here's what's coming up next:

The Channel 4 Food website have commissioned several new features for March and April 2010 to accompany their Spring television programming schedule. The number one food website from Channel 4 have commissioned two features -- a world restaurants feature, as well as a food feature accompanying the new Heston Blumenthal Feasts series, due to go live in March 2010. A drinks feature is also in the pipeline for Spring.

The website for the UK's leading quality men's monthly magazine, GQ, have commissioned several features for the next few months for the newly re-launched GQ.com website. Look out for a comparative whisky feature, online in March; a Spanish ingredients food feature due online in March; a French restaurants feature, due online in March and a Spanish wine and travel feature, online in April.

Food and travel website Foodtripper.com are also publishing an Iceland food and travel feature, due online in Spring.

Leading men's ladies' clothing company Aubin & Wills produces a quarterly customer magazine, the Aubin & Wills Almanac. Look out for an entrepreneur feature, in print for Summer 2010.

Links to all these news stories and features will be added to the Craig Butcher website and to this blog when they become available. Click here to read more about Craig Butcher, freelance food, drink and travel writer at the Craig Butcher website.

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