THE LONG LAUNCH…
JEFF GALVIN
WE FOLLOW THE GALVIN BROTHERS AS THEY COUNT DOWN TO THE OPENING OF THEIR NEW CITY RESTAURANT
ONE of the best things about opening this restaurant is its history. Last week I bumped into two very nice ladies who were admiring the site and reminiscing about the days when it was the girls’ school they attended.
They were both extremely happy that the building had been so lovingly restored and one said how nice it was that this exquisite room, which used to be their assembly hall, would now be enjoyed by so many people. It’s lovely to hear such comments, but it also makes you realise that you have to deliver the goods, particularly in a building that dates back to 1890 and has such a heritage.
To ensure that we do, that we have been hiring some of the best in the business. My brother Chris made an all-important call this week to the chef Richard Corrigan, who is a good friend, just to make sure he is okay about his award winning head sommelier, Andrea Bricarello, joining us. He said it’s fine, although he wouldn’t mind breaking Chris’s balls!
We’ve also got a familiar City face on board as restaurant manager – Alessandro Piombino, who has worked at the Royal Exchange (and The Lanesborough). As all the girls on the team immediately pointed out, he is a very handsome chap. This has Chris and me thinking, with the kitchen in full view of our customers, we may need to invest in some male beauty products.