TNQ
Jobe Ferguson owns one of Manchester's best restaurants with his gaff in the Northern Quarter, the, err, what's that name again? TNQ?
Jobe Ferguson Staff TrainingWhat a name. For the first time in seven years, Gordo has discovered that it's called 'The Northern Quarter Restaurant and Bar'. He could have sworn that it had the word 'Grill' in there somewhere. As well as a few capitals slotted about. Now, call Gordo a dirty old letch (not the first time this week, he can proudly say), but that's a bit of a mouthful.
The reason for all this is after a drinks party down at 47 King Street, another snappily named independent, Gordo went with one of his freelancers for a quick snack. The main course was Barry Pugh's roast fennel scented suckling pig with Bury black pudding, slow roast onion and grain mustard.
Another name that slips off the tongue.
It was, however, near perfect.
JessJobe is either very lucky, or really talented at picking his staff. Gordo likes to think the former. Because as a brigade, Chef Fielden and his team are brilliant.
Best of all is the fittest front of house gaffer in Manchester, Jessica Ferguson, who Gordo has been letching over for twelve years, starting when she was on the door at the then normal Circle Club before it became Testosterone Central Circle Club.
As you will see from the photo, Jess now dresses to put Gordo off.
It 'ain't happening Jess, one day you will fall, willing prey to Manchester's greatest lover. As long as you give him an hour to warm up.
In the meantime, Gordo will have more pig please.
Proper Pig
Simon Rimmer
The bad tempered bald TV-bothering chef and pal-of-Gordo, Simon Rimmer, has done something every bloke wants to do. Brew his own beer.
With the help of Robinsons brewery in Stockport he has 'designed' three, the kicker being that each one is made to go with food; chicken, steak or curry.
Mr Bricktop Now Gordo knows a Rimmer wheeze when he sees one, because the word 'greedy' was coined for him. A Gordo tip is not to be caught standing between him and a bag of money.
So Gordo went along to the launch at the swish new visitor centre at Robinsons in Stockport (well worth a trip), with his pals, Mr and Mrs Bricktop.
The first shock was the state of Greedy's kisser. It had a beard all over the lower half. Not a good look that Simon.
The second shock was the beer was really, really good. The whole idea of each being for a certain food worked. Brilliant, really brilliant. You can buy them here. www.simonrimmerbeers.co.uk
Send my cases to Confidential Towers please, Mr Robinson.
Simon And Beer Label Lovinit
One of the benefits of Gordo’s job. Aldo Zilli.
Gordo is forever having people say “ooh, you’ve got the best job in the world”. He has to agree with them. One good reason is getting invited to Marcello’s new menu tastings at San Carlo. Last week it was at Cicchetti and the cook was TV chef Aldo Zilli, who can cook a bit.
Aldo comes from the Abruzzi region of Italy and is bringing some of his favourite recipes to the restaurant this month.
Marcello is really fanatical about sourcing from the region, but even Gordo was a little queasy about Marcello’s offer of the latest milk fed morsel about to be crisped off in the oven…
Luca Doesn't Understand The Danger He Is In
The NQ Street Party
Gordo spent a brilliant day at the Northern Quarter street party, culminating, after fourteen hours on the piss, in a visit to a bar that will remain nameless. After being a pompous twat for five minutes or so attempting to order a cocktail, the name of which he couldn’t remember, the barman refused to serve him. So far, so good.
The barman must have pressed the really really angry button under the bar. Twenty seconds later a bouncer, looking like an extra in the movie From Hell came steaming up the bar, grabbed Gordo by his right arm and dragged him back down it.
At this point, Gordo’s arm was thinking it had just been struck by lightning. That’s because it’s semi-paralyzed with nerve damage and after neuro-surgery doesn’t really like people patting it, let alone having someone the size of an American refrigerator try and pull it off.
He asked the bouncer to let go. One thing about Gordo, as many a bouncer in town can testify to, Fatty knows when to walk.
This particular lunatic then snapped and literally threw Gordo through the door, giving him, what the Salford boys call, a ‘clip’ on the way down. That’s a right hook to the rest of you.
Now, Gordo dealt with this the next day. Our city today has the best bouncers in the world and he doesn’t want snappers in the system.
Gordo was surprised to hear the other side’s story off a couple of ‘the lads’ some three weeks later.
“Eh, Gordo, what’s this we hear about you giving a barmaid a clip, then getting walked out of (club) and then getting the poor sod the sack?”
Anyone else who is labouring under the miss-apprehension that Gordo can currently give anyone a slap with a withered right arm, send an email please.
Twitter and Gordo
From @Erniechef, head chef at Etrop Grange, being asked how business is after Gordo gave him a bad review:
@Erniechef: Since a review a few weeks ago by a man with taste buds like that of a dog that licks his balls & arse daily; we've been even busier. :-).
From @marcocabrelli, owner of Italia, Deansgate:
The restaurant had the bailiffs in to remove all the furniture a couple of weeks ago, resulting in the gaff getting closed 'for refurbishment'. Gordo, as @GordoManchester, tweeted this news.
Then came Mr Cabrelli’s considered reply:
@marcocabrelli: Mark (Gordo), It's not healthy to put tweets like that, if you want to discuss this place come and see me first. Please remove the tweets.
Needless to say, they haven't (been removed.) Confidential reports without fear nor favour.
By the way Mr Cabrelli, Jonathan Schofield made Fatty do it. Gordo is currently on a long walking holiday in the Pyrenees and can't be contacted. However, Jonathan is back in the office today.
Soundbites
Champion charity mitherer Eleanor Wotherspoon on viewing Gordo's picture of his favourite twins, Bruce and Charlotte:
"If I had twins I'd sell one."
Not marriage material that girl.
Wotherspoon Sophistication
From the narcissist food bother that is Confidential freelancer Lottie Moore on having had another bollocking off Gordo for being unladylike and flirting on Twitter:
"You know when you're constipated and you can't get rid of a turd? That's you," retaliates the champion foot stamper.
Not the best way of ensuring you get paid on time, that, @lottiemoore.
Lottie Moore Bad Girl
From top snapper Pip Rustage for the umpteenth time;
"No."
Gordo wouldn't mind, but he's been asking for so long now, if she said yes he'd have a fucking heart attack. www.piprustage.co.uk
Little Miss No
Happy Trails
Gordo
Follow fatty on Twitter @GordoManchester
