I just love Mary Portas Secret Shopper
Frankly all other business programmes have fallen short for me this season. The Apprentice claims the creme de la creme of business talent actually consists of childish man boys who shout, stamp their feet and pun, badly.
Stuart Baggs, whiny manchild and Apprentice loser, said: "When i was born my first word wasn't mummy, it was money." Wow - give this man a job.
Dragon's Den lost my attention about three season's ago for the repetition and predictability. The worst part is watching the dragon's compete to get the final pun in rather than focusing on the trembling entrepreneur before them. I'd much rather watch the Harry and Paul version nowadays.
So on to Mary.
Mary has passion for retail and that is why she is so good to watch. She believes that retail businesses can be better and the customer should be no more worse off. This isn't be rocket science...
A happy customer = spends more money.
But somehow the UK retailers and us consumers lost our way.
Her first episode, aimed as fast fashion, highlights that just because a product is cheap doesn't mean the business isn't raking in the profits. Why should we have to put up with a dirty floor, untrained staff, long queues when a nicer environment would encourage us to spend more, feel good about how we look and what we have bought. A feeling i know i never get when walking out of Primark.
Mary stomps into mobile phone stores, estate agents, sofa stores and takes no hassle. She is a joy to watch even if she does throw in the odd pun once and awhile.
Bravo Mary, I salute you. you are doing for retail what Jamie did for school dinners.
Friday 11 February 2011
Friday 4 February 2011
The Secret Experience
Well it has been year's in the making but I finally got myself to a secret restaurant last weekend along with my boyfriend Russ and his best mate Steve who happens to be dating my sister, Jade. Two couples, two best friends, two sisters - yet there is only four of us - go figure.
The Huddersfield based Birkby Lodge Dining Club exceeded my already high expectations.
As we drove over the pennines to our secret destination the realisation of going to a stranger's home for a meal suddenly dawned on us. We were putting a huge amount of trust into something we had limited knowledge about and actually that was quite scary! Before I pulled a U-Turn and headed to the nearest Nando's, we had arrived.
The house was a lovely white painted detached cottage, with smoke bellowing out of the chimney and a welcome sign on the door. We gathered our bottles of Tiger beer (and M&S non alcoholic cider for me, the DES for the night) and we headed, albeit slightly apprehensively, in.
From stepping through the door into a welcome seating area complete with roaring fire and ambient music, I felt at ease. We were shown by our waiter to the table for four which was beautifully set out with homemade pickles and poppadoms and a frosted glass bottle of water that would usually be an extra charge in any other restaurant.
Our waiter explained that the table was ours for the night and the chef, his wife Mithu, was working on our starters. We had already pre ordered our food from a menu of authentic Indian cuisine so we relaxed into the evening, in disbelief we were sitting in someone's living room. The large room held three other tables, the diners were obviously regulars and they resisted gawping at the surroundings. Unlike us newbies.
Without going into details of how spectacular the food was (I do want to leave some things to the imagination!) here is what we ate, all to a restaurant standard if not better, because it also had that touch of home.
Starters
The Huddersfield based Birkby Lodge Dining Club exceeded my already high expectations.
As we drove over the pennines to our secret destination the realisation of going to a stranger's home for a meal suddenly dawned on us. We were putting a huge amount of trust into something we had limited knowledge about and actually that was quite scary! Before I pulled a U-Turn and headed to the nearest Nando's, we had arrived.
The house was a lovely white painted detached cottage, with smoke bellowing out of the chimney and a welcome sign on the door. We gathered our bottles of Tiger beer (and M&S non alcoholic cider for me, the DES for the night) and we headed, albeit slightly apprehensively, in.
From stepping through the door into a welcome seating area complete with roaring fire and ambient music, I felt at ease. We were shown by our waiter to the table for four which was beautifully set out with homemade pickles and poppadoms and a frosted glass bottle of water that would usually be an extra charge in any other restaurant.
Our waiter explained that the table was ours for the night and the chef, his wife Mithu, was working on our starters. We had already pre ordered our food from a menu of authentic Indian cuisine so we relaxed into the evening, in disbelief we were sitting in someone's living room. The large room held three other tables, the diners were obviously regulars and they resisted gawping at the surroundings. Unlike us newbies.
Without going into details of how spectacular the food was (I do want to leave some things to the imagination!) here is what we ate, all to a restaurant standard if not better, because it also had that touch of home.
Starters
Verity and Russ: Tandoori Chicken
Jade and Steve: Selection of Aubergine, Potato and Courgette Pakoras
Main
Jade and Steve: Spinach and Paneer (Asian Cheese) Curry
Verity and Russ: Lamb and Chickpea Curry
(Both options served with pilau rice, naan, side dishes of Indian coleslaw, cauliflower and pea curry and mixed dhal)
Dessert
Jade: Mango and Lemon Syllabub
Verity: Kulfi (Asian style ice cream)
Russ and Steve: Rich Chocolate Fudge Cake
The meal cost a mere £20 with £1 going to Cancer Research, it was a bargain at double the price and an experience I'll remember forever.
Down to every last detail we were looked after, even the toilets were clearly marked out by hand written chalkboard signs with a polite 'mind your head'.
Mithu joined us at the end of the evening with a well deserved glass of wine in hand. She was trying to persuade me to host my own evening but after seeing her high standard i think I'm a few years off that. But I'm completely in awe of her and all she has achieved after launching the restaurant only a few months ago.
She is keen to spread the word and asks all her guests to tell their friends! For those of you interested in seeing the Birkby Lodge Dining Club for yourself, the following dates are available.
Tapas night: Saturday 26th February 2011
Chinese Night: Friday 25th & Saturday 26th March
Great British Menu: Friday 29 & Saturday 30th April (to celebrate the royal wedding)
Viva la difference! French night: Friday 27 & Saturday 28 May
If interested get in touch with her here
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