Wow not even a week since last time!!!

Hello again and although it has been nearly a week since I last updated it is much sooner than usual!!

Well first of all if ever an answer was needed as to why it takes time to open such a shop and the unprecedented problems here’s a few examples

On Sunday Andrea was happily doing an olive oil tasting in order to finalise Massaro’s olive oil range when Elaine noticed that one of the external drains was blocked – he then spent the next 4 hours unblocking and cleaning the drains and with his brother coming in again to finish a few jobs later that day and his mum coming to help also that was the end of the olive oil session and he has not had time to get back to it since.

Yesterday he spent nearly 2 hours locked in the cold room!! Daisy was putting stock away in the cold room which was one of the basement rooms which they had converted into a cold room and she closed the door behind her to go and get some more stock – when she returned the door wouldn’t open. That was the end of that for then but later last night Andrea managed to get into it and after some time managed to get in and decided it was the door handle that was faulty. He took a handle off another door and went in to fit it - after fitting it from the inside the door wouldn’t open again and this time he was locked in – some time later a much colder Andrea managed to get out and then sorted the door out – well for now anyway. It wasn’t all bad though because if you have been following you will know that it is actually Andrea’s favourite room – Elaine thinks he could have got out sooner but he chose to stay in there so he could spend more time with the cheeses and salumi!!!!

If that wasn’t enough there is now a problem with the power upstairs whereby it keeps tripping and of course this needs to be sorted out before opening.

On a brighter note some lovely cheeses arrive today for Andrea and Elaine to sample and they say they are very nice. A young Pecorino from Sardinia has a very fruity taste with hints of pineapple – an amazingly named cheese ( Formaggio Bastardo!!) - no English translation needed, was also very nice and will appeal to you cheddar lovers out there – a fantastic new cheese to even the supplier – Pecorino Gran Sardo is very similar to the more commonly known Grana Padano but is made from sheeps milk and is much smoother whilst still having that slight grainy texture – finally Pecorino Pepato will appeal to anyone who knows the very commercial Pecorino Romano – Andrea has not been able to find an artisan Pecorino Romano but this will substitute nicely as it has the salty taste as well as a nice grating texture and enhanced even further by its peppery taste (pepato) due to it having whole peppercorns in it and of course it is produced in an artisan manner.

Some great cheeses for stock have also arrived but due to more delays some will not see the opening day as they are very fresh cheeses such as mozzarella di bufala, stracchino and caprino fresco – I think some local Regent Street businesses will be having some samples very soon!!!

Well that’s it for now but more soon - I promise.

Cheeky