Latest news with #Barra
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Meet the Scots chef behind Edinburgh and London private dining company
Feeling a desire to gain formal training, Neil decided to start from scratch and moved back to Scotland to work as a commis chef at Boath House, Nairn. After two years at Boath House, Neil moved to Berlin and through working in ingredient-led restaurants with 'small plate' menus, discovered the style of food he loves to cook: dishes that celebrate high-quality produce, balanced flavours and skilled cookery, but without fuss and pretension. Along with two friends he then opened Barra, also in Berlin, which quickly gained acclaim and was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand within a year of opening. It was here that he met future business partner George Colebrook. He then moved back to Edinburgh to be close to his family, where he began working as a private chef and working part time at The Palmerston. In 2024, Neil and George co-founded Arete, a culinary service specialising in bespoke dining experiences across the UK. You can read more about them here as Neil takes on this week's chef Q&A. Pictured: Neil Paterson and George Colebrook of Arete (Image: Supplied) What was your first kitchen job? A very fun and vibrant grill house in the Austrian alps, the food was not so vibrant and fun if I am really honest, but it was a great first kitchen experience. Where is your favourite place to eat out? Noodles Home in Edinburgh is my absolute 'go-to', I am there on a weekly basis. What is your guilty pleasure meal? My mum's lasagne, it's the best there is, although everyone says that about their mum's lasagne, though, right? Can you share a memory of your worst kitchen disaster? Raspberries in mashed potatoes, on purpose, my head chef made me do it! What is your signature dish? Warm chocolate mousse, brown butter ice cream and olive oil. I've been doing it for about 8 years now, and I just keep coming back to it. Read more: Who would you say is your biggest inspiration? With regards to food, I would have to say Griffin Wilson AKA @cabincorn. In life it would have to be one of my big brothers. What is one of your pet peeves as a chef? Ingredients that are added to dishes purely for aesthetics and contribute nothing to the flavour of the dish. If you weren't a chef, what do you think you would be doing with your life? Something that meant I could spend more time outdoors, maybe a mountain guide? What's your favourite trick for making cooking at home easier? Sharp knives and a good chopping board make the world of difference! What has been one highlight that stands out in your career so far? Earning a Bib Gourmand within the first year of opening my first restaurant alongside two friends in Berlin.
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Big 3 Auto CEO backs Trump tariffs despite huge costs
The burgeoning U.S. trade war has been a meandering journey that has provided more questions than clarity in recent months. After a few weeks, the earth-shattering 145% reciprocal tariffs on China were reduced. A deal with the United Kingdom was announced, but hasn't been made official. The EU and U.S. were on the brink of an all-out trade war but are now back at the negotiating table. And now, the courts are fighting over whether President Trump has the authority to issue these tariffs in the first place. Related: New car prices are rising; here's where to get the best deal The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled 3-0 that President Donald Trump's Liberation Day tariffs exceeded the authorities granted him under the Constitution, but an appeals court reversed that decision, leaving the reciprocal tariffs in place. Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 gives the president the authority to tax the imports of products deemed to threaten or impair the national security of the U.S. Since Trump invoked 25% automotive tariffs under Section 232, they have not been challenged in court and have been in place since they took effect on April 3. The 25% tariffs on auto parts took effect a month later, on May 3. The tariffs, while aimed at foreign automakers, have had a universally negative impact on the Big 3 domestic automakers. General Motors CEO sticks by Trump Ford and Stellantis, among others, have already withdrawn their guidance for the year due to the uncertainty surrounding Trump's tariffs. General Motors GM says that auto tariffs will wipe out between $4 billion and $5 billion in EBITDA this year. Despite the hefty pricetag her company faces due to tariffs, GM CEO Mary Barra defended Trump's tariffs last week during an interview at The Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything event, pointing to the disadvantages U.S. makers face overseas. Related: American car company takes drastic action in response to tariffs 'For decades now, it has not been a level playing field for us automakers globally, with either tariffs or non-tariff trade barriers. So I think tariffs is one tool that the administration can use to level the playing field,' Barra said. Barra went on to say that her relationship with Trump has improved since his first term, saying, 'There was actually some things where General Motors could have handled some situations better.' During his first term, Trump and GM clashed over numerous issues, including plant closures and moving jobs overseas. However, GM is one of the federal government's biggest partners, with hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts to supply the executive branch and military with vehicles. So it's best practice for both sides to work together, and Barra isn't the only auto executive praising Trump for his handling of the industry this time around. Ford CEO praises tariffs GM isn't the only company facing a billion-dollar charge from U.S. tariffs. Ford revealed that the tariffs will shave at least $1.5 billion off the company's EBITDA this year, but CEO Jim Farley also praised Trump's handling of tariffs. Ford says it 'supports the administration's goal to strengthen the U.S. economy by growing manufacturing.' More automotive news Major automaker considers tariff move that customers will hateToyota moves production of popular U.S. sedan to BritainCar dealers are worried, and it could be great news for car buyers One reason Ford supports the tariffs is that it already has a much stronger domestic production base than its domestic competitors. 'Last year, we assembled over 300,000 more vehicles in the U.S. than our closest competitor. That includes 100% of all our full-size trucks,' CEO Jim Farley said during the company's last earnings call. 'In this new environment ... automakers with the largest U.S. footprint will have a big advantage, and boy, is that true for Ford,' he added. It puts us in the pole position.' Related: Owning a car is about to get a lot more expensive The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
GM CEO Mary Barra on Trump tariffs and US manufacturing: 'We could have done better'
General Motors CEO Mary Barra acknowledges the company could have been better positioned during its conversations with President Donald Trump in his first term — particularly when it came to the Detroit automaker's North American manufacturing operations. GM's top executive said onstage at the Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything conference in New York City that she brings lessons learned from past interactions with Trump's White House to today's tariff-related conversations. 'When we didn't see eye to eye on some things, I think there's actually some things where General Motors could have handled some situations better,' Barra said May 28 about the company's past chats with Trump's administration. 'We had to do some restructuring, and we could have executed better, which would have positioned it a lot better.' During the negotiation of USMCA in 2018, the current trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada that Trump managed during his first term, conversations between the President and GM occasionally turned ugly. At the time, GM was in the process of shuttering its massive assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio, which had focused on manufacturing small cars, amid restructuring efforts that involved layoffs of nearly 6,000 salaried workers in North America. Trump claimed these job cuts had "nothing to do with tariffs" then imposed by his administration on China and the European Union. Vehicle costs: Economists estimate new tariff costs to range between $2,000 to $12,000 per vehicle The changes made national headlines and drew negative attention, and tweets from the president. 'But even through that period and then beyond, we've always continued to have dialogue, and that's a kind of a lesson learned. I've been very clear that I believe in electric vehicles, I'm very clear about the importance of manufacturing,' Barra told WSJ editor in chief Emma Tucker. 'Having the dialogue to make sure they understand our industry — because I think we do have a shared goal of strengthening it — has been beneficial.' GM is facing costs up to $5 billion from Trump's tariffs alone, the company reported during its most recent earnings report. Barra applauded the relief stemming from the most recent executive orders signed April 29 which were 25% tariffs on all imported autos which began in April and another 25% on all auto parts set to begin by May 3. The change prevented stacking tariffs with previously announced tariffs on steel and aluminum, the costs of which Barra described as 'untenable.' GM has made a variety of production changes at plants in the United States this year, including an $888 million investment the company announced late May 27 in its New York propulsion assembly plant to produce the next generation V-8 engine, the automaker's largest ever in an engine plant. GM said April 23 that it planned to expand transmission production at its Toledo (Ohio) Propulsions Systems plant, where it builds transmissions used in the Silverado and Sierra pickup trucks. 'We're trying to make changes to pay less tariffs because we're strengthening our U.S. manufacturing,' Barra said. 'There's decisions we can make when we look at the entire equation … we have the capacity available in some of the assembly plants and engine plants that we have in this country that we're going to continue to utilize.' On April 3, Trump put a 25% tariff — the tax an importer pays on a good when it crosses international borders — on all imported vehicles. His objective was to encourage more U.S. manufacturing. Trump was set to then enact 25% tariffs on all imported parts starting May 3. Since most vehicles assembled in the United States contain a lot of imported parts, the duties on those parts would run into thousands of dollars per vehicle. Ford Motor Co. rolled out a campaign and discounts the day tariffs first kicked in, offering its employee-pricing plan, known as the A Plan, to consumers on most of Ford 2024 and 2025 model year vehicles through June 2. But executives later said prices may necessarily rise to counteract tariff costs on the company's bottom line. General Motors did not join automakers that cut costs and advertised tariff-free pricing deals, and Barra would not commit to post-tariff vehicle price changes, citing the dynamic pricing of the automotive industry even without tariffs that requires changing to stay competitive. 'I've had the opportunity to talk to the president and his administration on a regular basis, and one of the things that I'm very appreciative is they have taken the time to understand ... the dynamics of our industry,' Barra said. 'I can't speak to all the other industries that are facing tariffs, but I can tell you for decades now, it has not been a level playing field with U.S. automakers globally with either tariffs or non-tariff trade barriers.' Senior autos writer Jamie L. LaReau contributed to this report. Jackie Charniga covers General Motors for the Free Press. Reach her at jcharniga@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: GM CEO: We could have done better under Trump tariffs
USA Today
3 days ago
- Automotive
- USA Today
GM CEO Mary Barra on Trump tariffs and US manufacturing: 'We could have done better'
GM CEO Mary Barra on Trump tariffs and US manufacturing: 'We could have done better' Show Caption Hide Caption General Motors: History, innovation, and legacy Learn about the rich history and notable innovations of General Motors, from its founding in 1908 to its leadership in electric and autonomous vehicle technology. Barra applauded the relief stemming from the most recent executive orders signed April 29 which prevented tariffs stacking on previously announced steel and aluminum taxes. During the negotiation of USMCA in 2018, conversations between the president and GM occasionally turned ugly. GM is in the middle of changing its manufacturing operations to reduce tariff costs, Barra said. General Motors CEO Mary Barra acknowledges the company could have been better positioned during its conversations with President Donald Trump in his first term — particularly when it came to the Detroit automaker's North American manufacturing operations. GM's top executive said onstage at the Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything conference in New York City that she brings lessons learned from past interactions with Trump's White House to today's tariff-related conversations. 'When we didn't see eye to eye on some things, I think there's actually some things where General Motors could have handled some situations better,' Barra said May 28 about the company's past chats with Trump's administration. 'We had to do some restructuring, and we could have executed better, which would have positioned it a lot better.' During the negotiation of USMCA in 2018, the current trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada that Trump managed during his first term, conversations between the President and GM occasionally turned ugly. At the time, GM was in the process of shuttering its massive assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio, which had focused on manufacturing small cars, amid restructuring efforts that involved layoffs of nearly 6,000 salaried workers in North America. Trump claimed these job cuts had "nothing to do with tariffs" then imposed by his administration on China and the European Union. The changes made national headlines and drew negative attention, and tweets from the president. 'But even through that period and then beyond, we've always continued to have dialogue, and that's a kind of a lesson learned. I've been very clear that I believe in electric vehicles, I'm very clear about the importance of manufacturing,' Barra told WSJ editor in chief Emma Tucker. 'Having the dialogue to make sure they understand our industry — because I think we do have a shared goal of strengthening it — has been beneficial.' GM is facing costs up to $5 billion from Trump's tariffs alone, the company reported during its most recent earnings report. Barra applauded the relief stemming from the most recent executive orders signed April 29 which were 25% tariffs on all imported autos which began in April and another 25% on all auto parts set to begin by May 3. The change prevented stacking tariffs with previously announced tariffs on steel and aluminum, the costs of which Barra described as 'untenable.' GM has made a variety of production changes at plants in the United States this year, including an $888 million investment the company announced late May 27 in its New York propulsion assembly plant to produce the next generation V-8 engine, the automaker's largest ever in an engine plant. GM said April 23 that it planned to expand transmission production at its Toledo (Ohio) Propulsions Systems plant, where it builds transmissions used in the Silverado and Sierra pickup trucks. 'We're trying to make changes to pay less tariffs because we're strengthening our U.S. manufacturing,' Barra said. 'There's decisions we can make when we look at the entire equation … we have the capacity available in some of the assembly plants and engine plants that we have in this country that we're going to continue to utilize.' On April 3, Trump put a 25% tariff — the tax an importer pays on a good when it crosses international borders — on all imported vehicles. His objective was to encourage more U.S. manufacturing. Trump was set to then enact 25% tariffs on all imported parts starting May 3. Since most vehicles assembled in the United States contain a lot of imported parts, the duties on those parts would run into thousands of dollars per vehicle. Ford Motor Co. rolled out a campaign and discounts the day tariffs first kicked in, offering its employee-pricing plan, known as the A Plan, to consumers on most of Ford 2024 and 2025 model year vehicles through June 2. But executives later said prices may necessarily rise to counteract tariff costs on the company's bottom line. General Motors did not join automakers that cut costs and advertised tariff-free pricing deals, and Barra would not commit to post-tariff vehicle price changes, citing the dynamic pricing of the automotive industry even without tariffs that requires changing to stay competitive. 'I've had the opportunity to talk to the president and his administration on a regular basis, and one of the things that I'm very appreciative is they have taken the time to understand ... the dynamics of our industry,' Barra said. 'I can't speak to all the other industries that are facing tariffs, but I can tell you for decades now, it has not been a level playing field with U.S. automakers globally with either tariffs or non-tariff trade barriers.' Senior autos writer Jamie L. LaReau contributed to this report. Jackie Charniga covers General Motors for the Free Press. Reach her at jcharniga@
The Star
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Delicious Spanish flavours at Barraca, a must-try during KL Restaurant Week 2025
Most Malaysians are die-hard, cast-in-stone foodies. And yet, prices at some of the best restaurants in Kuala Lumpur are distinctly out of reach for many pocket-weary urbanites. In order to even the paying field (pun intended), Kuala Lumpur Restaurant Week 2025 recalibrates the dining scene for a limited period, offering diners of all stripes the opportunity to savour meals at some of the city's hottest spots at pocket-friendlier prices. This year's iteration will run from June 6 to 22 with lunch set menus starting from RM58 per person and dinner set menus starting from RM78 per person. There are 30 participating restaurants including the Michelin-selected Wagyu Kappo Yoshida as well as celebrated eateries like Sushi Masa, Aposto, Barraca and Coast by Kayra. The eatery's hallmark is the long bar counter seats which are designed to resemble the tapas bars in Barcelona. If you're looking for a new place to try during KL Restaurant Week, three-week old Spanish eatery Barraca makes for an ideal option. The spanking new restaurant is housed within The Campus in KL and is owned and operated by Samadhi Retreats, which also runs eateries like Tamarind Springs and sister Spanish restaurant Barra, the non-halal kin of Barraca. The pork-free eatery is a charmer, with a long space largely taken up by a bar counter with seats that offer uninterrupted views of the scenes from the open kitchen. It is helmed by talented Spanish chef Ignasi Prats, who is also behind Barra. 'At Barraca, we have a bar counter because this concept is very popular in Barcelona in Spain where you can go to any tapas bar and have a big variety of tapas in a casual environment. "We wanted to recreate the same environment but for a more inclusive crowd, because the area has a very diverse demography of people, which is why we opted for a pork-free restaurant,' he says. Prats is the creative culinary force behind Barraca, which serves delicious Spanish tapas and paella. — ABIRAMI DURAI/The Star For KL Restaurant Week, Barraca's three-course set menus for lunch and dinner offer incredible value. Lunch is at RM78 per person (RM20 less than the regular price) and dinner is RM98 per person (RM66 less than the regular price). A reservation for two is required to access Restaurant Week offers. For lunch, Prats serves up a Mediterranean Salad as a starter. The salad is made up of roasted eggplant, bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, olives and capers. 'Basically in summer time in Spain, before we barbecue the meat, we always grill bell peppers and eggplants to make a cold salad. And I put it on the menu because it was one of my mum's favourite meals,' says Prats. The Mediterranean salad is a triumphant offering that features eggplant, peppers, olives and capers. The salad is divine – luscious, slightly blistered eggplants form the structural heart of this dish, which is accentuated by the sweetness of the peppers and the briny overcoat provided by the olives and capers in this constellation. The balsamic reduction served on the side adds a touch of acerbity and contrast that livens up this entire assemblage and gives it a pep in its step. The main dish for the lunch set menu is the ultra-decadent Canalones De Pollo, which is long pasta logs stuffed with slow-cooked chicken and topped with bechamel and cheese. This hedonistic charmer is a rich – and richly rewarding – dish that combines some all-star favourites – ooey gooey melted cheese, the stunning silkiness of a bechamel sauce, tender chicken and perfectly cooked pasta. For dessert in the lunch menu, Prats serves up a Spanish favourite in the form of the Churros Con Chocolate. As its name implies, this sweet treat combines long spiral twists of churros (deep-fried dough) with a warm chocolate sauce in a combination no human could find fault with. The churros are crisp to the touch and pair perfectly with the chocolate sauce served on the side. If you're opting to eat at Barraca for dinner during KL Restaurant Week, the three-course set dinner is a sure-fire winner. The starter of Piquillos Con Bacalao for instance features red capsicum stuffed with milk cod fish brandade. 'We slow-cook the cod fish with milk, potatoes, and herbs to make the brandade. And then basically we mash everything together to make a kind of paste. And in Spain we have a small bell pepper that has a sweet, smoky flavour so we use the cod fish to fill into the pepper. And then we make a sauce with the peppers and some onions,' explains Prats. The result is a convergence of soil and sea that somehow meld fluidly into one cohesive, incredibly tasty dish. The peppers have a smoky undercoat buoyed by a natural sweetness and this is balanced against the cod, which is incredibly flaky and supple with an aquatic undercurrent. The sauce that ties it all together is robust and piquant and covertly turns the entire concoction into a superstar offering. For mains for dinner, there is the crowd-favourite Paella de Chorizo, which Prats says was actually created as a back-up plan but has since become a bestseller on the menu. 'Originally I was doing a paella with duck but we ran out of duck. So this chicken chorizo paella was created as a back-up. But everyone really liked it and there was a lot of demand for the dish, so I added it to the menu,' says Prats. The paella with chicken chorizo was originally created as a back-up dish but became so popular that it is now a mainstay on the menu. — Photos: ABIRAMI DURAI/The Star The paella is cooked using a base of red peppers, green peppers, onions and tomatoes which are cooked until caramelised. The rice is then cooked with this mixture as well as chicken stock and porcini mushrooms. The entire assemblage is then topped with artichoke hearts and grilled chicken chorizo. This is a dish that takes you on an euphoric rollercoaster ride of flavours, textures and sensations. The paella rice is cooked till it retains a firm bite. The mushrooms meanwhile have stealthily infiltrated the inner sanctum of the rice and saturated it with woody, rustic notes. The chorizo that crowns the dish is surprisingly similar to the porcine brethren it resembles and is firm and incredibly flavourful. Trust me, this is a meal you'll want to have if you're looking to experience unfettered jubilance. The fabulous Basque-style burnt cheesecake offers a wonderful way to end your KL Restaurant Week 2025 dinner. — ABIRAMI DURAI/The Star For dessert as part of the three-course dinner menu, there is the incredible Tarta De Queso (RM36), which is essentially a Basque-style burnt cheesecake. This was a dish that attained fame when it was first introduced at Barra, so Prats says he had to have it at Barraca too. The highlight of the cake is its texture – which is sweet, smooth and incredibly creamy to the touch with the richness of cheese swimming through its veins, offering an unforgettable ending to the night. Bookings for KL Restaurant Week 2025 can be made through or through the DiningCity app. Address: L1-08, The Campus Ampang, Jalan Kolam Air Lama, 68000 Kuala Lumpur
