greggerypeccary wrote:Jamie's restaurants have gone bust.
"Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's British restaurant chain has gone into administration, partly due to increased competition and escalating rents in local commercial districts."
I like Jamie, and I liked his restaurant here in Perth when it first opened.
It went downhill fast, though.
Pretentious staff, and a stupid EFTPOS payment system where you enter a tip before your PIN, made the dining experience less pleasurable.
I actually contacted his office to let him know that although tipping is the norm in Europe, it's not the done thing in Australia (certainly not in Perth).
It was turning away a lot of customers.
Tipping in Australia, would have been the tipping point of the closure! (pun intended).
So forcing one's business principles from overseas onto a country that has a different set of principles, isn't doing "As in Rome...etc" situation.
So that's why it's gone bust. I was wondering why.
I never did get a chance to go into his restaurant, but then again, I have a lot of his cook books. I did have a chance to go to his restaurant on board the cruise ship,
but but but......when fine dining in the evening is part of the cruise package, and breakfast and lunch also, why would I pay for a restaurant when I have all other dining available for no extra charge?
Anyway, re: food, I just bought, after 2 years of pondering about it, a Thermomix TM5.
Fantastic, best thing I ever bought as far as electrical gadgets go!
Got it for a great price too, since it will be superceded by a newer model the TM6 for a heftier price tag.
I got mine on special for $1580, usually its about $2080. So yes, after 2 years pondering because I couldn't fathom the price over $2K I bought it, and loving it.
I have this cookidoo key that goes online and access to over 40,000 recipes worldwide, with guided cooking on screen on the machine.
It is so darn easy. It makes a bread dough in 2 minutes (whereas usually 20 minutes kneading by hand).
But basically, it is the way of the futuristic kitchen, it replaces many electrical items, with no need for cook books.
That's my thrill for the week, my new cooking buddy.