Latest news with #Italian-style
Calgary Herald
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Summer of Smiles: Chef of Le Violon shares his top picks for visitors to Montreal
Article content It is shaping up to be quite the summer for Montreal celebrity chef Danny Smiles. Article content Article content Article content The 48-seat eatery on a quiet corner of Rue Marquette and Rue Gilford, which hosted former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and pop star Katy Perry earlier this week, presents French and Italian-inspired dishes with a focus on fresh, local seasonal ingredients. Article content In a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, Smiles and team serve thoughtful, innovative bites that he describes as, 'super honest.' He prides himself on the menu's simplicity, which was the main goal for Smiles and his partners (co-executive chef Mitch Laughren, wine director Andrew Park and creative director Dan Climan). Article content Article content Then in July, Smiles and his team opened Dalmata, an Italian-style ice cream shop in the Mile End that serves gelato from soft serve machines, which began as an off-menu experiment at Le Violon. Article content Article content 'We never had dreams of opening an ice cream shop but there was this locale that our friends owned and they came to us and said they thought an ice cream shop would go well here,' said Smiles. Article content Just a 15-minute walk away from Dalmata is Smiles' dive-y late night burger bar Double's, which rounds out an eclectic portfolio of projects that each highlight a different aspect of his personality. Article content While Smiles honed his skills through stages at Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe, he's very much a product of his multicultural upbringing in East Montreal. 'My dad is Egyptian Lebanese and my mom is Italian and I grew up in a very Italian neighbourhood,' Smiles says. 'My grandma lived next door and she was a terrific cook. It was two different backgrounds meshed together and it was just so beautiful. I was born in the 80s and growing up there were a lot of immigrants and a lot of influences.'
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Major Italian chain with popular Scots branch to close six locations with almost 200 jobs lost
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR Italian chain has announced that it will close six venues across the UK, scrapping almost 200 jobs in the process. Gusto is a well-loved restaurant chain that offers up fan-favourite Italian dishes, including pastas and sourdough pizzas. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Gusto is on the brink of administration Credit: Alamy 2 It is known for its sourdough pizzas Credit: Alamy And it is known for its Italian-style bottomless brunches and pizza-making experiences. But bosses have now revealed that it is on the brink of administration after facing financial difficulties. And bosses have revealed that six branches across the country will shut for good as part of a deal to save the brand. Private equity investment firm Cherry Equity Partners is now buying over the chain through a pre-pack administration process. This is an insolvency process which allows a business to sell its assets before appointing administrators. And it is considered a way of selling a business to a third-party buyer. We are profoundly sorry to see six of our restaurants close and are tremendously grateful for the support of our staff Paul Moran, Part of this process will involve pulling the shutters down at six different locations, meaning 190 jobs will be lost. The brand has a total of 13 branches across the UK, including one in Scotland. While details of the exact venues impacted by closures have not yet been revealed, it could include the restaurant in Edinburgh. According to Interpath, most of the affected sites are expected to be smaller branches in suburban locations. Pub chain collapses into administration as SIX sites shut their doors for good and 159 job losses They added that these venues have "become economically unviable due to continuing cost headwinds affecting the sector". However, the deal means that the remaining seven branches will be saved - including over 300 jobs. Paul Moran, chief executive of Gusto Restaurants, said: "We are profoundly sorry to see six of our restaurants close and are tremendously grateful for the support of our staff and our loyal customers at these locations over the years… "This investment marks an important step forward for Gusto, ensuring the future of the business and putting in place a strong and stable platform upon which we can start to grow the business again." Full list of Gusto branches Gusto currently has 13 restaurants across the UK. They can be found in these locations: Alderley Edge Birmingham Cheadle Hulme Cookridge Edinburgh Heswall Knutsford Leeds City Centre Liverpool Manchester Newcastle Nottingham Oxford. What is happening to the hospitality industry? Many Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out. Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation. Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's closing branches. Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs. Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon. Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans. WHY ARE RESTAURANTS CLOSING? THE hospitality industry is facing mounting pressures, including soaring bills, rising costs, and squeezed budgets. More closures could be on the horizon due to upcoming hikes in employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and the national minimum wage. Many food and drink businesses have faced significant challenges recently, as the rising cost of living has led to a decline in dining out. After struggling to recover from the impact of the pandemic, many establishments were then hit with soaring energy bills and mounting inflationary pressures. This has forced several well-known chains to shut locations, with big brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's among those affected.
Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Popular Italian restaurant chain with 13 branches on brink of administration
IN HOT WATER Popular Italian restaurant chain with 13 branches on brink of administration Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A POPULAR Italian restaurant chain is reportedly on the brink of collapsing into administration. Sky News is reporting that Gusto, which has 13 restaurants across the country, is in trouble. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The Italian restaurant chain has 13 sites across the UK, including in Manchester and Liverpool Credit: Getty Interpath Advisory is preparing a pre-pack insolvency of the chain. Sources told the news outlet that Cherry Equity Partners, the owner of Cabana restaurants, is the likely buyer. Gusto currently has restaurants in these locations: Alderley Edge Birmingham Cheadle Hulme Cookridge Edinburgh Heswall Knutsford Leeds City Centre Liverpool Manchester Newcastle Nottingham Oxford. It's expected the restaurants will be taken over but some job losses are likely. Insiders have said a deal could be announced in the coming days. The chain offers classic Italian meals including pastas and sourdough pizzas. It also hosts Italian-style bottomless brunches and pizza-making experiences.
The Irish Sun
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Gen Z won't be able to tick off their summer bucket lists due to one major obstacle, research reveals
FOUR in 10 Gen Z won't be able to tick off their summer bucket lists – because they haven't got access to a car. A poll of 2,000 adults found of today's youngsters, while many have a licence, 16 per cent won't be able to 2 Insurance is creating a major roadblock for Gen Z Credit: SWNS 2 Young people will struggle to travel as much as they'd like Credit: SWNS Now plans could be in jeopardy – from In fact, 66 per cent of Gen Z had tried to shape their summer around the content they had seen on their social feeds. With 28 per cent hoping to hit up a The research was commissioned by Veygo to launch its competition offering the chance to win a 'Gig in a Limo' with pop star and Reading Festival performer Nieve Ella, as well as tickets to the festival itself, to help bring Read more in Travel The singer-songwriter Nieve Ella, whose 'But getting there – especially with your mates – isn't always simple.' The research went on to explore the top viral UK hotspots making their way onto summer bucket lists – which includes Loch Lomond, the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye, and Cheddar Gorge. Loch Lomond's rugged surroundings have inspired more than 630,000 Instagram posts with users showcasing paddleboarding, wild swimming, and Most read in News Travel Also making the list are the Italian-style village of Portmeirion in North Wales – which has had more than 10,000 TikToks created about it – and the striking Giant's Causeway. According to the poll conducted via OnePoll, many are desperate to check out Chatsworth House in the While others hope to check Tenby Harbour in South Wales and the idyllic village Bourton-on-the-Water, known as 'Venice of the Cotswolds'. Young driver expert James Armstrong, from the car insurer Veygo, said: ' 'But all too often, access to a car or insurance holds young people back.' 'We are putting them in the driving seat of their summer with our flexible range of insurance options, helping them unlock their bucket list plans, on their terms.' TOP 20 VIRAL HOTSPOTS BRITS WANT TO VISIT THIS SUMMER: 1. Loch Lomond, Scotland 2. Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye 3. Cheddar Gorge, Somerset 4. Portmeirion, Wales 5. Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland 6. Durdle Door, Dorset 7. Chatsworth House, Peak District 8. Tenby Harbour, Wales 9. Bourton-on-the-Water, Cotswolds 10. Lulworth Cove, Dorset 11. Stonehenge, Wiltshire 12. Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh 13. Malham Cove, North Yorkshire 14. Seven Sisters Cliffs, East Sussex 15. Pedn Vounder Beach, Cornwall 16. Brimham Rocks, North Yorkshire 17. High Force Waterfall, County Durham 18. Winnats Pass, Peak District 19. St Nectan's Glen, Cornwall 20. St Dunstan-in-the-East, London
Scottish Sun
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Gen Z won't be able to tick off their summer bucket lists due to one major obstacle, research reveals
One major obstacle is stopping Gen Z from hitting the road this summer ON THE ROAD Gen Z won't be able to tick off their summer bucket lists due to one major obstacle, research reveals Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FOUR in 10 Gen Z won't be able to tick off their summer bucket lists – because they haven't got access to a car. A poll of 2,000 adults found of today's youngsters, while many have a licence, 16 per cent won't be able to hit the open road because they aren't insured to get around. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Insurance is creating a major roadblock for Gen Z Credit: SWNS 2 Young people will struggle to travel as much as they'd like Credit: SWNS Now plans could be in jeopardy – from spontaneous road trips (71 per cent) to visiting viral foodie spots (61 per cent). In fact, 66 per cent of Gen Z had tried to shape their summer around the content they had seen on their social feeds. With 28 per cent hoping to hit up a festival over the warmer months – with Reading (29 per cent) and Leeds (42 per cent) festivals high on the dream summer agenda. The research was commissioned by Veygo to launch its competition offering the chance to win a 'Gig in a Limo' with pop star and Reading Festival performer Nieve Ella, as well as tickets to the festival itself, to help bring summer bucket list plans to life. The singer-songwriter Nieve Ella, whose Instagram page fans need to visit to enter the competition, said: 'Festivals are a rite of passage for many young people this summer. 'But getting there – especially with your mates – isn't always simple.' The research went on to explore the top viral UK hotspots making their way onto summer bucket lists – which includes Loch Lomond, the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye, and Cheddar Gorge. Loch Lomond's rugged surroundings have inspired more than 630,000 Instagram posts with users showcasing paddleboarding, wild swimming, and scenic hikes. Also making the list are the Italian-style village of Portmeirion in North Wales – which has had more than 10,000 TikToks created about it – and the striking Giant's Causeway. According to the poll conducted via OnePoll, many are desperate to check out Chatsworth House in the Peak District, after it racked up more than 22 million views alone on TikTok. While others hope to check Tenby Harbour in South Wales and the idyllic village Bourton-on-the-Water, known as 'Venice of the Cotswolds'. Young driver expert James Armstrong, from the car insurer Veygo, said: 'Summer should be about saying yes – to last-minute plans and unforgettable moments with friends. 'But all too often, access to a car or insurance holds young people back.' 'We are putting them in the driving seat of their summer with our flexible range of insurance options, helping them unlock their bucket list plans, on their terms.'
