RIP Lynda Bellingham

1948-2014

Nino's ~ A Superb Staple for the Ages

I have well and truly lost count of the number of times that myself, my family and friends have walked through the door of Nino's. We have lived where we are living for well over a decade, and Nino's has been a steady companion pretty much all along. Thus I felt it was time for me to put together a small but heart-felt tribute to what I feel to be a marvellous establishment.

For many years initially, we were rarely seen out of the place week-on-week, and though there may have been gaps in visits of varying length, I for one was and still am always extremely happy to return. As a result of my lengthy and still ongoing period of interactions with this fabled Italian "with a Lancashire twist", I have been treated to quite an evolved and intrinsic journey that has seen Nino's become what it is today.

Yet almost always, whatever has happened with the ins and outs of the place, the atmosphere, welcome and quality has shone through.

The man simply known to many as Alex (a true Italian gem of a man) has fostered and reared Nino's from its relatively humble beginnings to a successful and consistently great business and restaurant experience; one that has become the reliable go-to place for legions, and whose reach now stretches across the county and most probably the country. Every scrap of success Alex and his team have garnered they well and truly deserve. I cannot conceive of the amounts of effort, finances, tough choices, hope, faith and passion that have been driven into Nino's over the years. Of course, you may say, the same could be said of many an eatery. True, but few places I have seen where this is so evident from the customer's perspective. It really is a great feat when one stops to think about it.

Today at its core Nino's remains what it always was; a great place to spend an evening run by great people who serve consistently pleasing fare. Alex, rather like Nino's version of the Godfather, now takes a slightly more peripheral (though just as invested) role now that he has a well established team or "family" (literally and figuratively) to run things and run things well. From my point of view, whilst the transition to get to this stage has at times been rough, the result is one that I am proud of, nevermind Alex. To anyone who knows anything or has any experience of Nino's, the state in which it finds itself today must surely be a fitting and happy one.

I for one have experienced and enjoyed numerous meals, night's out, birthdays (my own and those of others) and get-togethers there and long may there be more.

Indeed, Nino's star is seemingly ever on the up, as in the last year or so Alex has set his sights upon a new site in Cliviger, Burnley; a sister restaurant to the original Nino's home in Rossendale. By all accounts this new branch is exceedingly popular and is set to do just as well. Whilst I have seen and been inside the Burnley branch (and was mightily impressed indeed!) I am yet to eat there, but hopefully that will soon change.

Really this all boils down to me expressing what I am sure generations of people have felt upon coming out of a night at Nino's: thank you. Thank you Alex, and thank you to all of your team from beginning to present. You've surely cracked it with Nino's - long may you continue!

The Great British Bake Off 2014

Ah yes, it's been that time of year again. Bake Off mania has once again gripped the nation as twelve new amateur bakers of all different shapes, sizes and sorts entered that hallowed tent in an attempt to become a baking master.

We've had the variety, we've had the ups and downs, the hilarity, the familiar, the fresh, the sterling bakes and the not so sterling bakes. All wrapped up and served upon a gingham altar to provide a Bake Off that surely provides a very entertaining bit of telly.

This year, Bake Off moved to the prime time as it was upgraded from BBC Two to BBC One. Not only was this yet another testament to the show's success, but it also meant the stakes and expectations were raised just that tad bit higher, and thankfully by and large, this latest series did not disappoint. 

Unlike the more care-free, playful versions and spin-offs of Bake Off (e.g. for the latest Sport Relief version - see my BLOG ARCHIVE) this was the show in its original format, meaning competition and lots of it. No one-offs, and no celebrities donning a pinny; this is the true version of Bake Off for amateurs, though very skilled amateurs, to prove that they are the best. Consequentially (and also I suspect to increase ratings) the feelings of drama and tension were intensified. I have no doubt that this was almost ever-present for the twelve individuals in question as per every series (though they did also seem to be having a good deal of fun too) yet to me as a viewer there were times when the range of dramatics got a bit silly. I will credit the producers in that they did blur the lines quite well between real life and potential "dramatic realism", i.e. staged moments to draw in the BBC One viewers of a Wednesday evening. I can think of no better example of this than "bin-gate" which occurred a few weeks in. Bake Off fans will instantly know what I mean by this, and all I will say is - if this really did happen as it was shown then it it was bound to create immediate dislike for a couple of the bakers and producers of the show, and if it did not - then just dislike for the producers.

Despite moments of potential controversy, there was still plenty to appreciate about this year's Great British Bake Off. Contestant-wise there was a plethora of positives, from down-right lovable oddities like Jordan and Norman, those you just love to hate like Enwezor, and fantastic newly-discovered gems like Chetna and Martha (who was my favourite to win for a good while FYI). All of these boiling down to the three finalists - Luis from Stockport who was a creative powerhouse, humble and hugely talented Richard (who was my favourite finalist) and (SPOILER ALERT!) eventual winner Nancy, who for me was surely talented but persona wise was not the best of the bunch (at least so it seemed to come across on TV). Most of all this is my opinion of course, but that is part of what is great about the Bake Off contestants every series; you are always guaranteed a variety and inevitably, the more you watch them the more you become invested in their collective and individual journey. 

We were also treated to other regular elements that have been ever-present, and that have only ever got better from day one. Judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry returned of course with their signature brand of expertise, chemistry and charm. Though there were a quite a few baking flops (it is a competition don't forget!) we were still treated to the ever delightful and delicious standard on the opposite end of the scale. Plus real stand outs for me this year were presenters Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc, who not only presented the show to us, but who also churned out a non-stop bombardment of hilarious double entendres and cracking one-liners, served with lashings of scintillating sass.

Indeed, Bake Off has done it again for 2014. Whatever expectations or standards that were set, or even raised seem to have been satisfied as once more legions across the nation have tuned in to watch, and to once more take The Great British Bake Off to heart.

Ramsbottom Civic Hall FIRST THURSDAY COMEDY CLUB

This was my first First Thursday Comedy Club in Ramsbottom, but hopefully it won't be my last. All in all it was an extremely hilarious, rip-roaring brilliant local night out, with some great comedy genius. Quite simply every first Thursday of each month sees a handful of circuiting comedians take to the modest stage of Ramsbottom Civic Hall. I confess I did not really know what to expect, as this is definitely the most low key comedy gig I have ever been to. However that did not stop the laughs coming thick and fast as, broadly speaking the supreme tides of hilarity out-weighed the awkward silences and stage deaths.

We were hosted by Kerry Leigh, who in my opinion was not that in tune with the audience and was not that consistent with the comedic quality. Nevertheless she was likable enough, and she developed enough of a rapport to go through the evening.

Our opening act was a masterfully camp, cavalier, creative corker of a comedian called Johnathan Mayor, who from start to finish fired line after hilarious line of witty, flamboyant and utterly brilliant material at us that, whilst occasionally straying into the "controversial", was nevertheless superb to watch.

The middle act was the low point for me, but still passable enough to generate some good laughs. Benjamin Rhys was a very young, very fresh-faced, and perhaps a tad naive comedian who was definitely responsible for the most awkward silences and comedic misfires. I don't really hold any of it against him though as he surely soldiered on to finish his set, and as I say he did get some good laughs in too.

Finally our headline act was non-Geordie (he's from Sunderland actually) Danny Pensive. Slightly different in style, yet hugely endearing, incredibly approachable, perfectly timed and crafted, and overall a stunningly successful stand up powerhouse. Great routines, wonderfully honed and wonderfully told. Hilarious, no nonsense, bish bash bosh, the end.

I commend thoroughly each comedian I saw tonight, and the minds behind the event, on a job well done. I am greatly thrilled and proud that the little Lancashire town of Ramsbottom can produce such sterling stand up comedy.