Brain Food: Canteen culture - HP Invent, Bracknell

Entree: A job in the canteen at HP Invent could take you further than you think. Rumour has it that high-flying new CEO Carly Fiorina was once a waitress in the restaurant at global HQ in Cupertino, back when the company's name was plain old Hewlett-Packard. Given that illustrious history, it's a pity the dining area at the UK head office isn't a bit smarter.

Efforts to re-brand HP as a funky new e-business don't seem to have penetrated this far. Compared to the glass and steel modishness of the main building, the canteen is dowdy.