Jamie opens a new pad

I am in Brighton today. A bright sunny May day in the true English tradition of warm but not warm enough. Brighton Laines area is a warren of jewellery and organic, fairtrade, harvested by mineral water washed virgins carefully picked food. One shop is selling vegetarian shoes which has something to do with ethical leather I guess and I am tempted to see if they have anything in Halal with a slight heel.

So I am technically working, planning the annual trade compliance report with the editor who is a friend of mine. Today is the reason I gave up corporate life, to use long public transport journeys to visit nice people in nice places, have lunch and get paid for it - smashing.

So while I am lurking and waiting for my friend I see a gaggle of middle to late middle aged woman at the kerbside. The level of noise and chatter is loud and highlights the agitated state that the post 45 group were in. – Bright coloured big skirts over fifty-something house wife bottoms make them look like turkeys or chickens clucking and squabbling around the yard.

It turns out that today is the opening lunchtime of Jamie Olivers Italian restaurant. The 50 or so excited turkey diners were gathered outside to be the first diners to "bosh it all in a bowl and make it luverly" at Jamie’s new gourmet pad.

At spot on twelve with a restrained whoop the crowd filtered into the new venue. I wandered over and looked at the menu and the prices and was surprised at the average numbers and pretty average menu. This is main stream food at mainstream prices.

I hoped to get a glimpse of the mockney cockney chef on his Lambretta scooter, perhaps be offended by the menu prices or be astounded by the range of exquisite food.

In the end it was a Carbonara of an event. - Plain, nice if well served - but could easily have come from a jar made in Holland.

I wandered across the road to the famous 'food for friends' place where I would eat my vegetarian, with extra ethical bells and whistles alfalpha sprout lunch with a friend and I will not be "boshing it all up" as it turns out.