“Curiouser and curiouser” I mumbled to myself as I attempted to get into the building in which I knew my destination was located. I arrived at the old Town Hall building in Cambridge Heath Road last Monday to meet a restaurant consultant colleague from Paris. Over the doorway on the main road was written Viajante, …
Madness
Starting out in the restaurant game – 29 May 11
People have definite views about owning restaurants; divided into two camps: those who would never touch one with a bargepole, and others for whom the idea of being le patron is a lifelong dream. I have set up 7 restaurant or cafe premises from scratch, and all of them ultimately profitable, but often travelling a …
Postcards from Brazil and Argentina (3) – 3 April 11
A Macabre Spectacle in Buenos Aires There’s something visceral about Buenos Aires. Whether it’s the dark intensity of the tango, or their tragic economic history, a kind of bittersweet sensuality pervades the city. Last Monday my daughter and I went to the Teatro Colon to buy tickets for the opening night of the opera season. …
Postcards from Brazil and Argentina (3) – 3 April 11Read More
Venetian fantasy – 12 June 10
Until the mid 19th century, Italy was a patchwork boot in the Mediterranean, comprising individual states; none more autonomous than Venice. The fairy-like Renaissance city, magically built on stilts, remains a separate entity in many respects. From the shifting population of travellers and traders in the 14th century to the huge numbers of tourists today, …
