New York never sleeps...

And neither does Colin...
Friday morning, I texted to wish him a good time, as he happens to be in New York for a pre-Christmas break. I asked him to say hello to Obama from me if he happened to see him.

He texted back:
"Will do. It's great here.
Went to a restaurant called Gilt last night. Check it out online. It has 2 stars. Was awesome as the Yanks say.
By the way it's 5 hours behind here. Lol."

Oops... I had forgotten about the time difference and had sent him a text just after 9 am.

I wonder whether Colin will bring us back a doggy-bag from Gilt...

Burning dreams...

I have been having weird dreams since my knee operation.

This morning, was it this morning or this afternoon? Was it not yesterday? Colin from Krimo's came to the office to talk news, reviews and mainly menus. A fruitful and vegetable meeting...
As he got up to leave I asked him whether he'd enjoyed his stint at Casa last week?
He looked at me and said:
"Casa? I wouldn't know the first thing about tapas. Especially when the menu is in blooming Spanish!"

I honestly, clearly remember somebody telling me that he had worked a shift at Casa del Mar as all the chefs were off... All that in what must have been a dream!

Since I came out of hospital, I have had very vivid dreams about cooking, kitchens, etc...
























Last night I woke up in a sweat really believing that I had set a pan on fire. Then I realised that it was only a bad dream!

Moi, burn a pan? Are you joking me or what?

Just ask Lydia, our long-suffering-serving porter (At least 18 years at the sink!) Yes, just ask her if Krimo ever burnt a pan in his time in the kitchen!!!

Darlings Town...

Colin and Tracy got married a year ago, somewhere in Darlington!

Darlings Town!!

You know, Darlington has a lot to answer for!
The Quakers...
Stevenson's Steam Engine...
And Colin and Tracy's wedding!!!

It was magical!
Honest!
The organisation! Well, Nicola helped a lot... Remember Nicola?
Everyone including bride and groom was absolutely over the moon for the way the whole day went for them.
Music, wine and laughter...

Col and Trace, here's wishing you all the best for the future!

Photo courtesy of Dirk van der Werff, an excellent local photographer!

L'entente cordiale...

Colin, our very tall head-chef is famous for his dry humour. Just ask any of the waitresses at Krimo's and they will all go: "Arghhhh!"
He has been known to tease vegetarian staff with things like "Would you like an omelet... a ham omelet?"
I personally think he is very quick-witted. His humour seems to extend beyond the Channel.
Many moons ago Colin worked at our French friend Didier Deville's Bistro 57 as second chef. As his subordinate, he was always at the butt of his boss's pseudo-chauvinistic Rosbif jokes, especially if the French rugby team had lost to a British team.

Nowadays Colin has finally swapped positions and now he has a Frenchman under him. Gentle giant, Jimmy!
Is Colin the kind of person who would fight the Hundred Years War all over again just to get his own back? Non!
A true Englishman, Col savours his revenge cold, with a bit of horseradish instead of Mayonnaise.

Staff Profile: Colin Berry

Position: Head-Chef at Krimo's

Age:36

Joined the restaurant: June 2000 Initial job: Sous-Chef

Job History: Swallow Hotel Stockton 1987-94, Ayton Hall 1994-94, Didier's Hartlepool 1994-98, Al Syros 98-2000

What do I like about working here? The staff and meeting people

Favourite dishes I like cooking: Thai food

Favourite dishes I like eating: Thai food

Favourite holidays: New York, Thailand and China

Places I'd like to visit: Australia but won't because of spiders...

Heroes: The one and only Status Quo! and the Boro.

Krimo says: I met Colin long before he started at Krimo's in July 2000. He worked with Didier, my best French friend in the whole world. Didier is one of the best chefs I know personally and to get to employ someone who had worked for him was an honour for a cowboy cook like me.

Colin is tall, very, very tall and bloody thin for a chef! You know the old saying "Never trust a thin chef!" Colin has broken the mould... among other things.

From the heights of his cool head he makes all the staff look and warm up to him. His funny lines often stump newcomers but those waitresses or young chefs who have fathomed him out will always try and come back with a quick repartee.

He runs a tight ship, making all the "sailors" very comfortable even on rough evenings when waves of orders batter the galley every few minutes.

Colin, it is great having you on board!