They are coming... Don't panic!

294, 497 visitors watched the Tall Ships leave Aalborg on their way to Kristiansand and then to Hartlepool.

Are we ready for the million or so visitors that are going to flock to Hartlepool for 4 days?

Our three restaurants will open all day from Saturday till Tuesday doing their best to cope with the onslaught.

We really do not know exactly what is going to hit us. We have ordered over three times the supplies we usually get through on a very busy Saturday but even then, we are not sure whehter that will be enough to feed and water the multitude of visitors eager to watch the beautiful tall ships.

The one thing I am really sure about is that Hartlepool will be THE place to be from 7th August.

Those who have been to our town in the past and thought it was a dump will be absolutely bowled over by its transformation. The new visitors will fall in love.

I just hope I will have time to take a few pictures of the Tall Ships...

The Tall Ships are coming to Hartlepool...

33 days to go...7-10 August 2010.
It will be Hartlepool's biggest event ever.
Newcastle up the road, got over one million visitors in 2005 even though the city was only a stopover for the Tall Ships. Hartlepool is the final stage of the race. So one can imagine how many thousands of people will be visiting the town over that weekend.

If you're still in doubt as to whether this event is becoming a reality, check out the Countdown Clock on the official website.

Krimo's on the Fence...

World Cup Fever has suddenly hit Hartlepool and, as one of the few Algerian on Tees Valley, I find myself torn between supporting my country of birth and my adopted one.
England and Algeria meet this evening in Capetown. The forthcoming event has created a lot of interest among the local media. Yesterday, the Hartlepool Mail ran the story and intend being at Flix to report on the live action and ups-and-downs...
The Evening Gazette recounted my grandson's interjection when Algeria and England were drawn in the same group back in December.
"Grampa, you've lived here longer than in Algeria, so you should support England."
My answer was: "That's not how it works, Alex. "
Adam's Flix Movie Cafe will be packed this evening.
This morning we both appeaered on John Foster's show on BBC Radio Tees.
We may even appear on Tyne Tees Television on the local news this evening.
Go Algeria, Go!!

Weather here, Wish you were beautiful...

This was Hartlepool Marina last week. The temperatures soared to 25 degrees. Alfresco eating outside Casa del Mar. Kids from a local youth club enjoying themselves on the water. And Crocodile Dundee surveys the scene...
You could be anywhere but this IS Hartlepool...

Flamenco at Casa del Mar

This Wednesday, 26th May will see our first LIVE Spanish Music Event at Casa del Mar.
It will feature Mark Boden, an amazing Flamenco guitarist and singer accompanied by Phil Philo on guitar and Kris McConnell on the Cajon (box drum) and percussion.
Mark has taught music both privately and in schools since 1996. To further his understanding of Spanish music he attended a Flamenco school in the heart of Andalucia, Spain.Mark says: "Flamenco inspires me to dedicate my time and skills as a musician, not for fame, but because I love it. I play Flamenco because of its passion, grace and emotion. I can express my emotions through it be that of happiness, sadness and love."

Personally, I have always loved Flamenco.It is a musical style that hails from Moorish North Africa which I grew up listening to on a daily basis. This music more than any other, never fails to send shivers down my spine.

Why not come down to the Marina for a couple of tapas, a glass of vino and a true taste of Andalucia.
Check out Mark's videos HERE.

Krimo's 25 today!!

Yes! Made it!
Twenty five years ago today, Karen and I opened Krimo's on Seaton Carew front at 7.30pm to a full house. It really seems like yesterday. Finishing off the last details and diving head first into a 25 year long happy saga in Hartlepool, my adopted town.
How many customers have we fed and watered or wined?
How many carrots have we sliced and cooked?
Fish, meat, chickens? How many?
How many hellos and goodbyes?
"Is everything ok?"
How many babies in nappies have returned to celebrate their 18th, engagement or wedding?
How many chef's hats have I lost down the Front on a windy evening?

My memory is good but yours are even better.
You remember details that have long been forgotten.
You remember the first time you experience Krimo's welcome and hospitality.

Then came Portofino on the Historic Quay and that was an overnight success. A place where couples, families and parties can relax and enjoy a variety of dishes, from pizzas and pastas to fish, poultry and meats...

The Millenium took Krimo's to its lovely location on the Marina right by the lockgates where beautiful yachts come and go past the wide windows as diners enjoy the chefs latest creations.

Casa del Mar, a very popular tapas bar, my favourite eating style, opened in 2006 and four years later, goes on attracting diners from far and wide.

Once you have been bitten by the restaurant bug, it is impossible to live any other life. Restaurant life is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. It becomes your work, your leisure and your social life.

Twenty five years later, do I want a rest from this life?
No way, as well as being my work, restaurant life has also been my 25 year holiday.

Karen and I enjoying a late supper in 1986

Krimo's Silent Night...

5pm on Saturday.
The dreaded news.
A massive power cut on Krimo's side of the Marina meant that the restaurant would not operate that evening.
Dismayed staff arrived only to find out that they had been handed a rare Saturday night off. Most of them did not know whether to smile or to appear sad.

Hayley and I got our mobiles out and began disappointing our diners.

One lady had already begun to get ready for her 7.30 booking. And I had always thought Karen spent too long getting ready.

Although I could discern the disappointment in their voices, most of our prospective customers felt sorry for us and the irretrievable loss of business.

We suggested a change of venue. Portofino or Casa del Mar on the other side of the Marina were untouched by the electrical fault.
A few accepted and did dine satisfyingly at our other two restaurants.
I commiserated with, consoled and cajoled the ones whose special celebration had been spoilt.


Later when I sat down with a glass of wine, I knew that the fault had been repaired, most of our customers had a good evening either in our other restaurants or at home planning another outing.

I also knew that there was no use in shedding tears over spilt milk.
I poured myself a second glass of wine.

An audience...

went very well.
I hyperventilated all afternoon but managed to stand up at 6pm in front of 4o people. I knew most of them. I could talk to them one to one, one to six but one to forty was daunting.
Tell them something funny and then you will relax if they laugh.
I did.
That same morning I was in a steamed-up steam room at my local gym.
The door opened. A female shape walked in and sat down.
I said: "Good morning."
She said: "I saw your photo in the paper last week."
How the hell did she recognise me?
Whenever I go back to my hometown in Algeria nobody recognises me, even in bright daylight!
I am a bloody celebrity in Hartlepool!

They laughed. I relaxed.

I waffled for a whole hour and answered questions for half an hour.
The organiser said that I'd had them eating out of the palm of my hand.
They couldn't have been hungry. The buffet had been sumptious.
The feedback was generous.

That night I dreamed of stage, Hollywood and Hamlet and woke up very early remembering what I had not said.
An audience (part two) ? Who knows.

An audience with...

...Billy Connolly, watch out!!!

Krimo's Easter Egg...

Last night, I got funny looks from kids when I suggested that instead of money, they could pay their bill with Easter Eggs...
I have a feeling they must have thought I'd cracked up.
They were further puzzled when I told them that all the food we were serving was made out of chocolates. Even the spicy meatballs!
But when the parents smiled, the young ones' eyes lit as they realised that I was just pulling their legs.
I asked a few how many Easter eggs they had received. One four year-old proudly confessed: "Millions!"


Photoshop came in handy when I decided to cover Portofino all over with chocolate.

Krimo's Love Story...

Just watched the film Julie and Julia, a really charming film of the real lives of two women who fall in love with French cooking.
Julia Child takes cookery lessons in France and ends up writing a book and presenting cookery programs.
Julie Powell who, bored with her mundane job, blogs about cooking Julia Child's 524 recipes in 365 days.

I really enjoyed this film. It brought back memories of my tiny kitchen at Seaton Carew in 1985 when Karen and I opened our first restaurant.
Cooking is more than a job. It is a love story.

Krimo's March Food Quiz...

Why not try your brains at our March Food Quiz!!!

It's not all about March...
It's not all about Food...
But it is a very easy quiz...

The Prize: A meal for two at Krimo's...

PS: Travel expenses from faraway shores not included... (Sorry!)

Krimo's Valentine Rhymes...

Valentine's Day might be a time when lovers all over the world express their devotion to each other, but that goodwill is not reaching the rose growers of Kenya.
One reason is the global financial crisis, which has resulted in a reduced demand for flowers.
(BBC News)

Roses are red,
And so are cookery books.
Some chefs are really vain
They hate being called cooks.

Roses are red,
Kitchen language is blue.
If I catch that Cupid
I’ll serve him in a stew.

The Tall Ships are coming...

The Tall Ships website is the place to look for anything you need to know about Hartlepool's biggest event in 2010!

Just over 25 weeks to go the 7th August 2010 when at least 75 ships will be arriving to Hartlepool from Kristiansand (Norway) on the last leg of the Tall Ships Race.

There will be a massive array of events between 7th and 10th when many of the ships will depart for Amsterdam on a North Sea Regatta.

Once people have visited Hartlepool during these few days, they will fall in love with the amazing facelift the town has had over the last 20 years.

Krimo's parking up the wrong tree...

Navigation Point's owners have decided to introduce parking charges. Nothing wrong with that. It is their land and they can do whatever they want with it.

In the beginning (over 10 years ago) was a vacant Marina. Vacant flats. Vacant shops. Vacant berths.
Then came businesses (Krimo's was the first) on that side of the Marina. One at a time. Shyly. Hesitantly. A few struggled but over the last six years, the area began to blossom.
Many boat owners left faraway havens to come and berth their floating weekend retreats in our Marina. There were now waiting lists for the apartments.
The Marina became fashionable. It even acquired a new name. The Jewel in the Crown... Of Hartlepool and Tees Valley.
It began attracting visitors from far and wide. The Lords of the Land were happy. The businesses were cautiously pleased. The residents ecstatic with everything on their doorstep. It seemed like the centre of the Universe. Especially on a sunny day.

And then came the crunch.
The high rents began to bite.
Midweek, customers became a rare sight.
Paid parking plans finally came to light.

The Mayor promised that, not if, but when the Council adopted the Marina, no parking meters would go up. According to a leak, a thorny point sank the inflated adoption plans.

Back to square one.
The meters came on Monday, followed by their maids.

Unfinished coffees.
Tables hurriedly vacated.
Scuffles over a few seconds past the first free half hour.
Worried workers. Worried employers.

A mile away, defeated Morrisons placed a hood on each parking meter as customers voted with their feet.
Down here we're left robbing Peter to pay Paul.

We need our customers. When are our landlords going to realise that they also need us?

(Photo courtesy of the Hartlepool Mail)

Krimo's Snow Patrol...

Might as well make the most of this snow...
Portofino's chefs take a break and build a funny snowman.
Cherry tomatoes for eyes...
Courgette for nose...
Parsley for hair...
Mad!

Krimo's Frozen Assets...

The snow has been with us for nearly two weeks and caused havoc to roads, water pipes and a few bookings.
But on the whole it hasn't deterred the hardy Hartlepool diners who will go out whatever the weather.

Sliding along Church Street on New Year's Eve, I couldn't help but smile at all those hardy revellers, dodging the icy pavements in their short-sleeve shirts and mini-skirts, popping in and out of pubs to fill up on liquid central heating...

I wonder how they stop their berries shrivelling in sub-zero temperatures!

Kristmas is here...

Four weeks since my last blog.

Algeria has qualified for the World Cup in South Africa. I was looking to supporting two teams. My country of birth and my adopted country.

They were drawn in the same group and will be playing each other one Friday evening in June. Can't wait to find out which country my heart will support.

The festive season seems to get shorter every year. Twelve weeks in 1985. Four weeks last year. Three weeks this year. The credit crunch is still biting. New businesses are suffering a lot more than the established ones.

2010 is our 25th anniversary year. Looking forward to the nostalgic memories from many of our long-time regulars.

2010, the year of the Tall Ships in town. This may be the making of Hartlepool.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!

Krimo's future chefs...

When a teacher from Jesmond Road School asked if she could bring a couple of pupils round to Portofino as they are learning all about Italina food, I expected some teenagers.
And then Matthew and Bethany landed this morning to see how our restaurant operates.
Two adorable five-year olds, keen to learn how to make pizzas and pastas.

Then they sat to taste their own cooking. Kim served then and between the two of them they wolfed down a massive pizza. Actually, I pinched slices.
Once they finished their gourmet meal, they were kind enough to take a pizza back to school for their friends.

Great morning at Portofino.

Krimo's Young Gourmets...

Young Emilie (11) must have been so impressed with her teatime treat at Portofino that she had to write about it in our visitors book! She recommends the soup of the day among other things!!!
I love the French spelling of her name.
I shall have to congratulate her on this comment when she comes again.
Well done, Emilie!