A Very Busy Week

Hello – Sorry for not writing sooner but it has been a very busy couple of weeks at Massaro’s. By the way that is going to be the name of Andrea and Elaine’s new shop. I should stop just calling it a shop as its proper title is artisan deli and espresso bar!!

There is not actually much of an espresso bar but it is one of their dreams to have authentic espresso bars but this shop is a bit too small really and they have so much wonderful things for you to buy that they have had to squeeze lots into a small space. They have spent lots of money to get it as big and as a nice as possible for their customers as it used to have walls and pillars in it before but now it is just one space. They have also spent lots of money on making the basement very nice, modern and clean because that’s where Andrea will prepare lots of nice things for you to buy and take home.

Anyway this week as some of you may have noticed if you were walking or driving down Regent Street on Tuesday morning all the display equipment for the shop was delivered. The shop front had to be taken out to get it all in. At one point there were 3 glazier vans, 3 delivery trucks and about 11 people working to get it all in as quickly as possible so that not too much disruption was caused to the neighbours and traffic.

Unfortunately it did not all go too smoothly as 1 of the units delivered was wrong and now they have to wait a few weeks for a new piece to arrive from Italy. This means that the opening date has been delayed and also the coffee machine cannot be installed yet so they have been very stressed and sad this week but work is still going on as there is lots of painting and cleaning to do to make sure it is as nice as possible when it finally opens.

I have seen the designs for my new clothes but I am not sure when I am getting them as this has been delayed also due to the other problems but I hope I will get them soon.

Andrea is also very frustrated at the moment as while all the planning and building has been going on he has been too busy with this and has not been able to concentrate on what he really loves which is making nice food. Elaine has also missed dealing with customers and selling all the nice food as she has been very busy with the painting and other things. They have had some visits from food suppliers but still lots more to do on that front as there is so much to choose from because they collected so much information and tasted so many foods over the last couple of years that it now has to be narrowed down to the best. That is the bit they really enjoy though so they can’t wait finalising all the products.

We are going to visit lots of suppliers and some farms as well in the next 2-3 weeks and we are also going to a good food show soon to make sure you will have all the latest products and I of course will very busy as well as I have to take them to all these places.

Finally I met Daisy this week. She is going to work in the shop and she has already been in to help do some of the preparation work as there is so much to do. She is coming in again next week for a few days and then she is going to start in a week so she can start to learn all about the products. She seems very nice and I think everyone who comes in the shop is really going to like her.

Bye for now and I will update you again soon.

Cheeky

PS I now have my email address – it is cheekycento@massaros.co.uk