Tai Wu
The excellent Tai Wu, king of Dim Sum on Oxford Road, closed recently. Gordo is alarmed to report that it has re-opened as an “international all you can eat buffet restaurant”. One of Gordo’s Twitter followers alerted him yesterday. Peering through the windows revealed the following selection of counters.
Roasts
Dim Sum
Italian
Chinese
Szechuan
Deli
Sushi
Ice cream
Desserts
Now, don’t get Gordo wrong, but that’s an awful lot of disciplines being executed in one place. Gordo will report next week, but he ain’t hopeful.
Tai Wu: Says It All
How Not To Use Twitter
Gordo called into Solita, the new ‘little Italy’ restaurant in the Northern Quarter to have a drink with his pals Simon and Franco, who may or may not be the owner/directors of the gaff that does dishes so calorific even Gordo can’t finish them. But it’s nice trying to.
Sat outside in the sunshine, Franco, as ever glued to Twitter, burst into laughter.
“Look at this tweet! You’ve been making enemies and again Gordo…”
@paullomax Enjoying a great meal at @solitanq Shame @GordoManchester has turned up. Massive twat.
Gordo’s ears were burning and he made the mistake of replying to this, his very first troll. Mr Paul Lomax, a verbose tweeter with a very uncool net following of 57, became fueled with testosterone accusing Gordo of being a coward.
At least he was right on that count.
He then sent Franco a message saying “I can’t stand him, I’ve have loads of run-ins with him over the years”.
Paul Testosterone Lomax Gordo's Very Own Troll
Mr Lomax is a techie who works for Dennis Publishing, the vehicle of one of Gordo’s heroes, Felix Dennis. Good wine binds them together. But Gordo is absolutely baffled with the whole thing; unlike his boss fatty has never, ever met Paul Lomax, nor spoken to him. Why would someone shout that out in the digital street? It’s rude and boorish.
Ok, ok, don’t answer that.
Mind you, Mr Lomax and his lady friend did endear themselves to Gordo when one of the waiters came out, jaw agape, reporting that the couple were the first to eat three main courses between the two of them along with the usual starters and puddings. Mightily impressive that.
TGI Fridays Opens
People can be sniffy about TGI Fridays, Gordo isn’t, cos he loves them. This goes back to 1994, when Gordo was living in Pittsburgh for six months. People there were so fat they made Gordo and his troll, Paul Lomax, look thin. One afternoon Gordo got pissed and stoned in one of them and entered into an electronic pub quiz they used have.
Winning the restaurant stage, it then went onto satellite and Gordo quickly went from the locals to statewide, winning the Pennsylvania finals. At this point TGI’s gave fatso five cases of beer and a free beef burger, which Gordo shared out. Sadly, Gordo was beaten soundly in the statewide play offs, by a Hawaiian.
The last Gordo could remember about the evening was going outside for a wee; he had forgotten where they were inside. He came to at three in the morning in a dumpster covered in rotting lettuce leaves and mayo.
Anyways folks, TGI’s here in Manchester won’t be doing that to you, so go there without fear. Its one of the biggest in the UK. The bartenders are the guys who taught Cruise to flair in the film Cocktail. They gave Long Island Iced Tea to the world, a rabid pit bull in sheep’s clothing, along with 500 others.
The burgers are pretty darned good as well. Go, it ain’t fine dining or the bar at The Lowry; it is, however, great fun.
It’s on Cross Street in the Royal Exchange.
Another New Cocktail Bar, Liquorice
Another cocktail bar opens, this time in the refurbished Destinos, situated between Tib Lane and King Street. Owned by the old pro Stephen Pilling, who also owns the fabulous Damson restaurant in Heaton Moor, it’s looking terribly smart. Intimate as well. Gordo will be taking the man-magnet Rambo in there to try it out and report back next week.
Harvey Nichols
Gordo was on the second floor of Harvey Nichols yesterday, trying out some of the new foods either on, or coming to the floor. We were then treated to a lunch, which carried on until after five. Very nice it was too.
The high spot for Gordo were the new pies from Adams & Harlow. Lush. Very, very lush.
Adams & Harlow: Perfect Pork Pie
Tom Parker-Bowles
He’s got a new cookbook called Let’s Eat. It’s a belter. Gordo has cooked the fish pie, scrambled egg and chorizo as well as the treacle tart. A good lad this one, the recipes work and work well. Gordo is making him an honorary Northerner. Buy the book on Amazon.
Tom Parker-Bowles' Fish Pie: Messy But Glorious
Home Sweet Home, Northern Quarter.
Full English and cheeseburger toastie. That is all.
Home Sweet Home Full English
OK folks, the arm has gone to sleep. Don’t forget to follow Gordo’s Troll, @paullomax. He is desperate. Let's see if we can boost him up to 60 net followers. Don’t go reading him and operating machinery with moving parts at the same time.
Happy Trails
Follow Gordo on Twitter @GordoManchester
