Cake or biscuit?

We've been having a debate here in the Subject Librarian office. Could we prove once and for all that a Jaffa Cake is indeed a CAKE and not a biscuit! Lets consider the evidence... a) A Jaffa Cake has a sponge base b) It goes HARD when stale; biscuits go soft... c) The word biscuit is derived from the french meaning 'baked twice' ? Is a jaffa cake baked twice?

They're certainly classed as cakes for the purposes of taxation - In 1991 McVities found themselves having to justify their decision to classify them as cakes due to the UK law that exempts biscuits and cakes from VAT ("zero rated") but classes chocolate covered biscuits as luxury items and subjects THEM to VAT at 17.5%. McVitie's produced a 12” Jaffa Cake to illustrate that they were just minicakes and won their case thus. -

BUT does that Prove it either way?

How about the scientific arguments highlighted in the article 'Are Jaffa Cakes really biscuits?' published in The Online journal “Journal of Unlikely Science”

and not forgetting the treatment given in the wonderfully entitled 'A Nice Cup of Tea and a Sit Down' (by 'Nicey' and 'Wifey', ) both in print and Internet versions.

On the other hand, consider this. Taken from the official HM revenue and Customs website, the term Jaffa Cakes appear in the 'Zero-rated' column but under section 3.4.2 - Biscuits! Now it gets confusing....

I await your comments with anticipation on this one!

Hospitality and Urban Regeneration

On 14th June 2007 the CIHMR (Centre for International Hospitality Management Research are presenting the first in a series of research seminars aimed at raising the profile of hospitality research in the UK, at Sheffield Hallam University. Entitled 'Hospitality in Urban Regeneration'. The Centre are looking for presentation submissions from anyone in the very early stages of their research, as a basis for further exploration and debate.

Click here for more information about this seminar, including booking details as well as more information on other seminars in the series

If you wish to present at the seminar, you need to send a 300-word abstract with full address and institutional affiliation details as an electronic file to Dr. Emma Martin (by tomorrow – 31st May !)

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Ever checked in to a hotel after a really stressful day or the day before a big event and worried that you weren't going to be able to get a good night’s sleep? Well, Travelodge have come up with one idea to help guests unwind and relax – goldfish!

Guests checking into The Travelodge at Birmingham’s Fort Dunlop can participate in the trial of the Goldfish Hire Service by requesting a fish therapy room when they check in, and then following the hotel's guide to relaxation. Surveys were undertaken and Animal psychologist and sleep experts were consulted in the development of the service! The service was probably the brainchild of Travelodge’s relatively newly appointed ‘Director of sleep'; Wayne Munnelly. The first in the world to be appointed to this post, Wayne is paid to test such things as mattress tension and pillow density! Following hot on the heels of his 'cuddillow' no doubt!

All this has lead me to a very interesting blog in which there's some very funny pictures of people bed jumping...

but I think that’s probably for another day!

Want a coffee?

Between 23rd and 24th July, Caffe Culture, the UK’s only dedicated event for the café and coffee bar sector will take place at London’s Olympia.

This 2-day event will feature 160 international exhibitors, and provide workshops, seminars, demonstrations and tastings, as well as the opportunity to meet with suppliers and distributors, café owners and buyers from the various brand chains.