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
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Saturday, 25 October 2008
Hello All
Well well I haven’t been updating as I promised but we have been just so busy trying to get the shop open as quickly as we can. I will start from today and give you a brief summary of what has happened since last time I updated.
Today we went to Andrea’s mum’s house as it will probably be the last time she gets to see both her children and 4 grandchildren for a while. Andrea’s brother works in Formula One so he is away a lot and of course with Andrea and Elaine so busy with the shop they have not been able to go to their mums as often so for the first time in ages we all went to see Andrea’s mum and it was the first day they had off for a long time – it has been 5 months now you know since they took the keys to the shop. To be honest they find it very hard to take a day off and even today we went to Bedford to see a potential cake supplier for the shop so was not a complete break but as close as they get to one!!
So what has been happening – well this week lots more stock started to arrive and for the first time cheese and salumi has arrived and Andrea could not resist going into the cold room every so often on Friday just to smell the cheese and salumi – he loves the smell that only good artisan produce emits. Elaine says that when they retire she will get him a cheese and meat maturing room just so he can spend his days with cheese and salumi!!
Andrea’s brother, Franco, was over this week helping put some finishing touches to the shop and they were very happy for this help as they have had to do most of it themselves but they did get a very nice compliment the other day – a local food shop came in to ask who had done the signs and design for the shop as he wanted to revamp his shop – he then asked where the other Massaro’s shops were – he thought it must have been a chain or franchise from London and he was very impressed to hear that this was a first and had all been done by Andrea and Elaine.
So much has gone on since I last wrote so I don’t know hoe to summarise but basically there have been lots more trips to suppliers and lots of hard work and is all coming together now and the only disappointment is that the shop i s not open yet as we had hoped to be open some time ago but Andrea and Elaine are so adamant that everything needs to be right and it is not as simple as it may sound.
However they have conceded that they must open soon and they are hoping to open at the end of next week. Andrea is a little sad about this as he doesn’t feel it is all right yet and he has had very little actually no time to do his favourite thing which is to cook so maybe after all this effort they may not open with all the plans they had but it will come and they just hope that customers keep coming to see what else is available because the ultimate will be great and to be honest Andrea is a perfectionist and so what you get from day one will be very very good but he is never satisfied – well that is what Elaine says.
OK I promise from today on to update you more often but I have said that before so don’t hold your breath!! But I will try.
Finally I found out today that Andrea’s cousin also called Franco ( I’ll explain another time ) has been reading my blog – I have never met him but his mum has seen me at Andrea’s mums house as she lives across the road but thank you for reading and we hope to see you in the shop one day although I might not be outside the shop as I have now got my own parking space and Andrea doesn’t get the time to take me the nearer the shop especially as there is a local traffic warden that has it in for me and keeps sticking tickets on me – you know who you are!!
Bye for now
Cheeky
Today we went to Andrea’s mum’s house as it will probably be the last time she gets to see both her children and 4 grandchildren for a while. Andrea’s brother works in Formula One so he is away a lot and of course with Andrea and Elaine so busy with the shop they have not been able to go to their mums as often so for the first time in ages we all went to see Andrea’s mum and it was the first day they had off for a long time – it has been 5 months now you know since they took the keys to the shop. To be honest they find it very hard to take a day off and even today we went to Bedford to see a potential cake supplier for the shop so was not a complete break but as close as they get to one!!
So what has been happening – well this week lots more stock started to arrive and for the first time cheese and salumi has arrived and Andrea could not resist going into the cold room every so often on Friday just to smell the cheese and salumi – he loves the smell that only good artisan produce emits. Elaine says that when they retire she will get him a cheese and meat maturing room just so he can spend his days with cheese and salumi!!
Andrea’s brother, Franco, was over this week helping put some finishing touches to the shop and they were very happy for this help as they have had to do most of it themselves but they did get a very nice compliment the other day – a local food shop came in to ask who had done the signs and design for the shop as he wanted to revamp his shop – he then asked where the other Massaro’s shops were – he thought it must have been a chain or franchise from London and he was very impressed to hear that this was a first and had all been done by Andrea and Elaine.
So much has gone on since I last wrote so I don’t know hoe to summarise but basically there have been lots more trips to suppliers and lots of hard work and is all coming together now and the only disappointment is that the shop i s not open yet as we had hoped to be open some time ago but Andrea and Elaine are so adamant that everything needs to be right and it is not as simple as it may sound.
However they have conceded that they must open soon and they are hoping to open at the end of next week. Andrea is a little sad about this as he doesn’t feel it is all right yet and he has had very little actually no time to do his favourite thing which is to cook so maybe after all this effort they may not open with all the plans they had but it will come and they just hope that customers keep coming to see what else is available because the ultimate will be great and to be honest Andrea is a perfectionist and so what you get from day one will be very very good but he is never satisfied – well that is what Elaine says.
OK I promise from today on to update you more often but I have said that before so don’t hold your breath!! But I will try.
Finally I found out today that Andrea’s cousin also called Franco ( I’ll explain another time ) has been reading my blog – I have never met him but his mum has seen me at Andrea’s mums house as she lives across the road but thank you for reading and we hope to see you in the shop one day although I might not be outside the shop as I have now got my own parking space and Andrea doesn’t get the time to take me the nearer the shop especially as there is a local traffic warden that has it in for me and keeps sticking tickets on me – you know who you are!!
Bye for now
Cheeky
Sunday, 28 September 2008
Another Very Busy Week
Well I have not updated for a while – sorry – but there is so much going on that I don’t know where to start so I will give you brief highlights.
Andrea and Elaine want to say thank you to everyone who came to the stall at the food show in Parkers piece last weekend – they were so pleased with the response and hopefully you will all come to the shop for lots more of the same. Did you see me parked by the marquee on the Saturday?
We have been to London again this week tasting more top foods and we are going again next week to see some more suppliers – nothing but the best for you lucky Cambridge folk. I drove over Tower Bridge – how exciting!!
Even more exciting is Andrea negotiating with 2 suppliers at the moment for some really amazing and exclusive products not only to Cambridge but the UK – well nearly. Nothing has been finalised yet but I can tell you that for now it will be olive oil, olives and honey but if all goes well could be much more and all from small and very hard working passionate small holders in Italy who believe like Andrea and Elaine in real and properly produced food.
On the shop front, frustratingly still not ready to open. This week the final piece of the counters was finally delivered and installed but we are still waiting for the gelato freezer to be fixed and for the shelving to be finished but will hopefully all be done for the end of next week.
It will still probably be a few weeks after that as it takes so much time to source so many products from so many people – be much easier just to pop to the cash and carry!! However Andrea and Elaine are determined that the shop will not be open until it is how they dreamt it no matter how many sleepless nights Andrea is having over the delays.
Bye for now and more soon – I promise
Cheeky
Andrea and Elaine want to say thank you to everyone who came to the stall at the food show in Parkers piece last weekend – they were so pleased with the response and hopefully you will all come to the shop for lots more of the same. Did you see me parked by the marquee on the Saturday?
We have been to London again this week tasting more top foods and we are going again next week to see some more suppliers – nothing but the best for you lucky Cambridge folk. I drove over Tower Bridge – how exciting!!
Even more exciting is Andrea negotiating with 2 suppliers at the moment for some really amazing and exclusive products not only to Cambridge but the UK – well nearly. Nothing has been finalised yet but I can tell you that for now it will be olive oil, olives and honey but if all goes well could be much more and all from small and very hard working passionate small holders in Italy who believe like Andrea and Elaine in real and properly produced food.
On the shop front, frustratingly still not ready to open. This week the final piece of the counters was finally delivered and installed but we are still waiting for the gelato freezer to be fixed and for the shelving to be finished but will hopefully all be done for the end of next week.
It will still probably be a few weeks after that as it takes so much time to source so many products from so many people – be much easier just to pop to the cash and carry!! However Andrea and Elaine are determined that the shop will not be open until it is how they dreamt it no matter how many sleepless nights Andrea is having over the delays.
Bye for now and more soon – I promise
Cheeky
Thursday, 18 September 2008
Finally My New Clothes
Hello me again and I am very happy to say that I got my new clothes today – finally!! and a wash too!!
It has been such a busy week and I have so much to tell you but I am very tired so I will try and tell you in a few days but you should know that you will now be able to recognise me in Cambridge and that Andrea and Elaine will be showing off some of their lovely food at the Food and Garden Show in Parkers piece on Saturday and Sunday. Daisy will be there to on Sunday.
They will have some lovely hand made pasta for you to buy to take home to or to eat straight away with a very simple tomato sauce. There will also be some Prosciutto di Parma, Parmiggiano for you to buy and some other salamis cheeses and olives and also some tasters for you to try and which you can buy once the shop opens which should be in a few weeks.
By the way I will be at the show too – I will be parked behind the food marquee so please come and have a look at my new clothes and of course go and see Andrea and Elaine at the stall.
See you soon
Cheeky
It has been such a busy week and I have so much to tell you but I am very tired so I will try and tell you in a few days but you should know that you will now be able to recognise me in Cambridge and that Andrea and Elaine will be showing off some of their lovely food at the Food and Garden Show in Parkers piece on Saturday and Sunday. Daisy will be there to on Sunday.
They will have some lovely hand made pasta for you to buy to take home to or to eat straight away with a very simple tomato sauce. There will also be some Prosciutto di Parma, Parmiggiano for you to buy and some other salamis cheeses and olives and also some tasters for you to try and which you can buy once the shop opens which should be in a few weeks.
By the way I will be at the show too – I will be parked behind the food marquee so please come and have a look at my new clothes and of course go and see Andrea and Elaine at the stall.
See you soon
Cheeky
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Another Few Days
Hello
Well has been a slightly better few days. The replacement deli equipment from Italy which Andrea and Elaine have been patiently waiting for for the last 3 weeks may arrive here next week. The hot water is still not working but should now be sorted out next week. The ice cream sorry gelato counter is not working but someone is coming out to look at it soon.
I am not sure I had told you all this before but basically these have been part of the delays to the opening.
Today Andrea was a bit less stressed as he met up with an old friend of his , Carl , who he used to work with years ago and they had lost touch but he came up to see the shop today. I got to drive him for a bit as Andrea had to move me as I can only park for 2 hours at a time. I think he liked me because he was taking photos of me to show his 2 daughters.
Andrea was all excited explaining to his old friend all about the shop and how he got into it. Carl was amazed at the transformation of the shop as Andrea showed him photos before all the work was done. He was also really interested in the pancetta which Andrea is curing and the whole process. Unfortunately it was not quite ready to eat but he is coming back in a month or so but knowing how much Andrea likes his cured meats I do not think there will be any left!!
Andrea and Elaine have also been trying to fit in ordering some products for the Garden and Food Festival at Parkers Piece next weekend where they will have a stall. So far you will be able to buy and try some great parmiggiano , prosciutto di Parma , fresh potato gnocchi and some great garlic olives.
Finally for today I am very happy because if you remember last time I was telling you about a great new range of Sicilian products which they found at the show on Sunday and how they are very excited about stocking it. Well it turns out that the owners have one of my sisters and her name is Agnes and I hope one day to meet her.
Bye for now and more updates soon
Cheeky
Well has been a slightly better few days. The replacement deli equipment from Italy which Andrea and Elaine have been patiently waiting for for the last 3 weeks may arrive here next week. The hot water is still not working but should now be sorted out next week. The ice cream sorry gelato counter is not working but someone is coming out to look at it soon.
I am not sure I had told you all this before but basically these have been part of the delays to the opening.
Today Andrea was a bit less stressed as he met up with an old friend of his , Carl , who he used to work with years ago and they had lost touch but he came up to see the shop today. I got to drive him for a bit as Andrea had to move me as I can only park for 2 hours at a time. I think he liked me because he was taking photos of me to show his 2 daughters.
Andrea was all excited explaining to his old friend all about the shop and how he got into it. Carl was amazed at the transformation of the shop as Andrea showed him photos before all the work was done. He was also really interested in the pancetta which Andrea is curing and the whole process. Unfortunately it was not quite ready to eat but he is coming back in a month or so but knowing how much Andrea likes his cured meats I do not think there will be any left!!
Andrea and Elaine have also been trying to fit in ordering some products for the Garden and Food Festival at Parkers Piece next weekend where they will have a stall. So far you will be able to buy and try some great parmiggiano , prosciutto di Parma , fresh potato gnocchi and some great garlic olives.
Finally for today I am very happy because if you remember last time I was telling you about a great new range of Sicilian products which they found at the show on Sunday and how they are very excited about stocking it. Well it turns out that the owners have one of my sisters and her name is Agnes and I hope one day to meet her.
Bye for now and more updates soon
Cheeky
Monday, 8 September 2008
I've been to London
Hello
OK I promise I am going to try and write very day but shorter amounts as after all I suppose that is what blogs should be but we are just so busy – even me.
I have been to London twice in the last week. On Sunday I actually drove into London – I have never done that before. It was very exciting though. I took Andrea, Elaine and Daisy, the girl who is going to work in the shop and that I told you about last time. They were going to a food show to see if they could unearth any new suppliers and also to say hello to ones they already have and taste all the new products they were launching – we do like to be up to date!! That way you can have all the best goodies possible.
Andrea and Elaine are very excited about a new supplier they found that were just launching a very exclusive and tasty artisan range of products from Sicily. Look out for what they say is an amazing lemon preserve made using sicilian lemons which are supposed to be the best.
Also they found a new product from a supplier they already knew which is a lovely type of ham made from a pig native to Sardegna and that is a hybrid of wild boar and domestic pig and produces an exquisite ham. Look out for this.
The most exciting day for them though was Friday. This is when they went to Borough Market in London. They love it. This trip was just to see a few of their suppliers again as they have had these lined up for over a year but had not seen them for a while.
Andrea gets so excited in Borough Market and Elaine finds it very funny as she says he turns into Rick Stein as soon as he steps into the market as he constantly goes on about how there should be a Borough Market in every town and why can’t we get that kind of produce everywhere. It is very funny but I suppose he has a point.
Not too worry though because you lucky Cambridge people will get some of it soon and if Andrea and Elaine have their way then you will get plenty more because they are trying to get more suppliers to supply them even if as Andrea says he has to go and get it himself.
Apart from these couple of exciting days things at the shop are going very slowly and there are a few problems but they are working very hard to sort them out and get open as soon as possible but probably will not be until the end of the month at the earliest now.
OK I am off now but will get back to you more regularly but shorter so you can get all the up dates as they happen.
For the record I have still not been washed and still do not have my writing but it’s OK because I know they are doing their best.
Bye for now
Cheeky
OK I promise I am going to try and write very day but shorter amounts as after all I suppose that is what blogs should be but we are just so busy – even me.
I have been to London twice in the last week. On Sunday I actually drove into London – I have never done that before. It was very exciting though. I took Andrea, Elaine and Daisy, the girl who is going to work in the shop and that I told you about last time. They were going to a food show to see if they could unearth any new suppliers and also to say hello to ones they already have and taste all the new products they were launching – we do like to be up to date!! That way you can have all the best goodies possible.
Andrea and Elaine are very excited about a new supplier they found that were just launching a very exclusive and tasty artisan range of products from Sicily. Look out for what they say is an amazing lemon preserve made using sicilian lemons which are supposed to be the best.
Also they found a new product from a supplier they already knew which is a lovely type of ham made from a pig native to Sardegna and that is a hybrid of wild boar and domestic pig and produces an exquisite ham. Look out for this.
The most exciting day for them though was Friday. This is when they went to Borough Market in London. They love it. This trip was just to see a few of their suppliers again as they have had these lined up for over a year but had not seen them for a while.
Andrea gets so excited in Borough Market and Elaine finds it very funny as she says he turns into Rick Stein as soon as he steps into the market as he constantly goes on about how there should be a Borough Market in every town and why can’t we get that kind of produce everywhere. It is very funny but I suppose he has a point.
Not too worry though because you lucky Cambridge people will get some of it soon and if Andrea and Elaine have their way then you will get plenty more because they are trying to get more suppliers to supply them even if as Andrea says he has to go and get it himself.
Apart from these couple of exciting days things at the shop are going very slowly and there are a few problems but they are working very hard to sort them out and get open as soon as possible but probably will not be until the end of the month at the earliest now.
OK I am off now but will get back to you more regularly but shorter so you can get all the up dates as they happen.
For the record I have still not been washed and still do not have my writing but it’s OK because I know they are doing their best.
Bye for now
Cheeky
Sunday, 24 August 2008
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
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
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