erica graham

Visited Trouble the week after Michael left (our timing immaculate as always!!), and there were only three tables there. Don't know if the new chef had started, but IMHO it wasn't of the same quality as Michael, although the welcome was just as warm. Interestingly the prices hadn't changed at all. Looking forward to trying the Bedfords new Deli and Bistro in Tetbury, that we understand is about to open on Monday- can't wait!!

Wish I was there

I'll take a wild stab in the dark and guess we are not in it? Forgot to post my form back 2 years ago, so i'm out PS do tell about Nathan! ← OK big fat 8!!!! But i should say here that buying it is the best way to find out (in case anyonefrom GFG is reading !!) And yes, couldn't believe it when I looked for you and you weren't there.

Very surprised to get hold of my copy today!! No real surprises I don't think, but I've only had a quick flick through. Everyone here seemed to get good write ups!!

they can't cook and they can't be arsed to wash up either! ← Actually, to be fair, they weren't allowed to stay past about 2am (health and safety regs.). That said, after the first night they had managed to use every glass in the bar and not wash a single one. I went in in the morning to close the blinds because the place looked like a s***t hole, and ended up washing all the glasses and sorting out FOH because I couldn't face leaving it like that. James did the same in the kitchen. After they left, we insisted that thekitchen was steam cleaned !!!

I can second that one - "Rooster Booster" regularly used in addition to stock.

No-one paid on the first Saturday- we had them crying on our shoulders on the Sunday when they came back to the restaurant to clear up. As far as I know, Sam sacked his chef on Friday! They telephoned us at the hospital asking if our Sous Chef Nick would work.....we gave them his number and said he'd call them................(That was the second call to us at the hospital)

And what star potential..........Great to see you Duncan and Judy!! Knew it was bad, but... damn......I was in labour whilst you were waiting....I think my ordeal was way better than yours!!!!!

I know that this is turning into the alter at which to worship MPW, BUT there is a quote from White Heat which we photocopied and for a while had stuck up (in our family kitchen) "If I came to your house for dinner an hour late, then criticized all your furniture and your wife's haircut and said all your opinions were stupid, how would you feel? People still come here and expect a three course meal in an hour. What do they think I do- pull rabbits out of a f****ing hat? I'm not a magician"

works for me ← Us too! Our favourite quote of the night was "Well you've got two choices, apologise or leave" The cheer in our front room could be heard up the high st!!!!! He is much more mellow than before, but aparantly the sous chef Mathew doesn't seem to of!

So- for some mad reason, I have managed to talk myself into taking the family for a day out, to get away from the builders, and Cardff has been nominated as our destination for the day.(That day being tomorrow!!) When I went last year to Cardiff, I ate at Woods Brasserie, and unlike the lovely couple on the table next to me who seemed to be having the meal of the century, I wasn't exactly blown away- could have been in a Cafe Rouge or similar flavour. So can anyone recommend somewhere else to eat? We are driving from the Cotswolds, so can make a diversion on the way for a good meal. (Lets face it hubbie and I are mainly going to keep daughter happy, so would like to get a decent meal out of it!!! )

No, I can honestly say she wont bother you for weeks and weeks!! (if you get my drift)

We have the final confrontation, oops I mean meeting with our loss adjuster today, and if we manage to sort out the final settlement we will be buying our new kitchen on Monday, with a plan to open the restaurant week begining 1st October!

Jackie really was like that too- no editing required. She was sweet, but only in small doses and wide spaces- in an enclosed room it was like being faced with betty boop crossed with minnie mouse!

Bless them, it was like lambs to the slaughter- and believe me it WAS a slaughter in The Ostrich, the programme made it look a million times better than it was!! Still, I never realised that Fairford looked so pretty!! I was 9 months pregnant whilst it was all going on hence the reason for us allowing a couple of muppets loose on the general population- and yes the town has forgiven us as it caused such hilarity all round. They even telephoned us at the hospital when I was in labour to ask us how to fix the broken dishwasher!! I might appear on tonights episode as I was present at the challenge- but hopefully I managed to hide from the cameras- however if you see a HUGE HUGE pregnant woman in a black sack- well that was me!! (I gave birth 2 days later!!!!)

We try to do a mix of the two- straight GP mark up on the "lower" end and a cash mark up on the top end, and in between a "suck it and see" admittedly this means that the top end is much better value for money- but we're trying!! WE can't do it any other way as restaurant set costs have to be covered by the GP, otherwise you're shut!!

We sell "hampers" full of our produce every christmas, and the favourite "basket" has always been a wooden wine case- although its not good for posting as they are heavy!

Thanks! Yes we do live on site, so its been a fairly miserable weekend all round (especially with a 9 week old baby) Our buildings insurance guy came today and its going to be at least a month if not longer- all the floors, walls, tiling (new bathrooms 10 months ago!) have to go. On the good side, James gets a new kitchen as its all a right off.

the insurance loss adjuster has told us to start ripping out. We've lost the whole of the kitchen and the bar, and we are waiting to hear about the walls and building itself (different insurer) we're hoping that they haven't been too badly affected, but its all a bit depressing at the moment.

3ft in the kitchen and bar- loss adjuster just told us to start ripping out basically the river coln burst its banks and flowed through us until it was redirected.

Every silver lining has a cloud.... or alot of them- thought you might like to see what Allium is looking like http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6909754.stm look at picture number four

We have just found out that we are finalist in UKTV Food's Local food hero competition, so will have yet another camera crew getting in the way over the next few weeks. For more info on the show http://uktv.co.uk/food/localfoodhero (sorry still can't figure out how to put in a link!!) Will keep you posted!

If you are in or near the Cotswolds, then I can't recommend enough our supplier Great Farm- she raises chicken, guineafowl and duck. The chickens are quite big to look at, and have a good firm consistancy and great flavour- the reatail at around £10 from the local butchers. www.greatfarm.co.uk We bought every chicken Leonnie from Great Farm produced for 6 months until the ultimate chicken was raised!!!

22 Mill Street Chagford www.22millstreetrestaurant.co.uk Agaric, Ashburton www.agaricrestaurant.co.uk Both good local restaurants, been to both and can thoroughly recommend them.