Bits and Bobs from Gordo - 12th October 2004

Gordo Airs His Briefs...

Friday: The Bridge on St Anne's Square.
Rob Owen-Brown has set up a restaurant in St. Anne's square in a tent during the Food and Drink Festival. It was great fun, good value and of an extraordinarily high quality. Rob is sourcing the food off the stalls around him, all farmers with great raw material. Gordo had lunch there with his pop, Shady. Shady thought his pork a little dry, Gordo disagreed with him but there you go. It has finished now, but let's bribe Rob to do it again for the Christmas markets.

Thursday: Autumn Fair at One Piccadilly
The Story of Angie's life	Angela Brown, recent full time addition to the ManCon drinking crew, organized the Autumn Fete at One Piccadilly as part of the Food and Drink Festival. The whole of the ground floor has been let to Kro, Private Sanctuary, Nicky Oliver, Rice, Manna, Beach Stop and Café Nero. This is a proper line up, and will transform the fortunes of Piccadilly Gardens in Gordo's not so humble opinion.

They all contributed to the night. Gordo has now complete respect for Mark Ruby of Kro. His wife Kay, who was present on Tuesday at The Cow Auction, looking beautiful and very pregnant. At the fair, Gordo was tapped on the shoulder to find the lovely Kay offering him canapés, balancing a tray on her bump whilst pouring him a drink. Mark was grafting hard lifting pints to his mouth. Respect.

Thursday: Autumn Fair at One Piccadilly
Shelly Takes Aim	Angela had arranged skittles, a bowling alley (Gordo baffled everyone by striking with two balls), eight lane scalextric (how cool was that?) and a shooting gallery. It was a really good do. The Rice people are very impressive on the food front, that one will be a winner. Dr. Sleep ('I don't sell beds, I sell sleep'. Yes Nick, you ain't bad at training us to drink beer as well) had everyone

trying out the beds. John Locke from the Comedy Store got down and couldn't get up. Well attended, I have to give David Partridge's wife Rebecca a special mention, great looker, and was she competitive at the Bowling Alley! Sir Howard Bernstein officially opened the place, I am warming to him, he is a grafter for Manchester so he gets my pat on the back. Also thanks to Stephen Morgan from Berkley Morgan for being a sport; Gordo was rude to him and his pal earlier in the week, not only did he forgive him, he bought a table at the North West Comedy Awards.

Thursday Late: Dinosaur gets Trophy Nicked from Circle
Unsuccessful Suicide	Gordo for once went home early, but everyone else went to the Circle, where they were joined by The Dinosaur Crew fresh from winning one of the awards at the Roses do. Chris Lloyd intelligently left his trophy on the bar. Someone nicked it. Come on lads, own up. Email Gordo@manchesterconfidential.com and he will arrange to get it back to the Dinosaur crew with no honour lost.

Friday: Sex Maniac Chef Magician Jean-Christophe Novelli at The Lowry

What's all the fuss about girls?

Well, we managed to fill up the night that saw Superstar Chef Jean-Christophe Novelli (JC for short) overlooking the cooking at The River Restaurant, the recently re-named rather cool eaterie in The Lowry. It's growing on me. JC was growing on the women, mind. More of that in a minute. Spotted in the room were Nigel Havers and Joan Rivers, both queuing up to be introduced to Gordo. Loads of Manchester Confidential readers in attendance, good on you all, too many to mention here. Scott Harper,

Gaffer of The Malmaison looking trim back from holiday; looked like he enjoyed the meal. Gordo's table did. We had a lawyer, Brendan Padfield from Eversheds, his Sister, Judith Watson, lawyer at Cobbets, her Hubbie, Howard Sharrock, Accountant, Katy Leach, Estate Agent. Then the nice people, the gentle Joe Holdsworth, owner of Martina Furniture and the lovely Rachael. And Gordo. Despite us three feeling somewhat surrounded at first, things got a bit more relaxed when the pro's had drunk too much wine to pick our pockets. Gordo nailed Brendan for a table at The North West Comedy Awards after his eighteenth glass of red. Well done Brendan.

Ms Leach grins and bears it

The food was probably the best this year so far. But what of JC himself? This guy is great. He got himself round the room, full of fun and mischief. To say the women thought he was the best thing since sliced bread was something of an understatement. Then he opens his mouth. 'Ow Beyootifull u are my lleeetle sweeeet peea…' Four birds

on our table passed out. The Mullet's girlfriend, Denise, had a hot flush and had to go to the toilet supported by her mate Victoria. Being voted the sexiest chef in the UK was well justified. Sportingly, JC offered up three meals in his restaurants for the Comedy Awards, so Gordo forgave him for being a good looking little French swine. But only after Gordo had nailed Ms. Leach's feet to the floor so she wasn't popping into the kitchen for 'a leeetle tour…..'

Good Idea this, whoever organized it. Don't forget your own guy though; let's do a Manchester Confidential dinner there soon.

Saturday: Footie at The Comedy Store

Dominic spots Gordo Dancing

This is good venue for the footie now. New screen in the bar, much better than the old one. Email me Gordo@manchesterconfidential.com if you want to know the arrangements for the next one. Moved on to Atlas bar at five, Kobie Langford, Josh from Heaven, Elsa, Chris Lloyd, Nick the Sleepmeister and The Mullett in Tow. Our Lindsay brought up the rear. Really like Atlas these days, best bar snacks in Manchester. Visited Evuna (they were rude, but we probably deserved it), Label (getting cooler, great place) and The Circle where Gordo turned, yet once again, into John Travolta. All finished up a Train Wreck.

Blimey.

Happy Trails