A trip to Pieminister

A Matador pie at Pieminister yum!

So, there was me thinking that to find a decent “pie n mash” shop you ‘ad to go darn the East end o’Landan. It was, I suppose, only a matter of time before somebody brought this classic English dish from the streets of London to the masses. Indeed, Pieminister did not originate from the East end, but down the M4 in Bristol when it was founded by two friends in 2003. Their business has now expanded, with establishments sprouting up around the country, one of which has now found its way up the M1 to Leeds.

This is where Samantha and I found ourselves on a cloudy Sunday lunchtime. We wanted to judge for ourselves that building such a restaurant on the site of the old Oxfam shop, opposite “Reds” was not such a “pie in the sky” idea.

On entering the first thing that hits you is the food counter with the kitchen behind. Sat on top of it true to form was a pie smothered in mushy peas waiting to be delivered to a table. Not really the first thing you expect to see on first entering a restaurant. Fear not readers, or pie fans this is not going to descend into a Five Guys style rant!

We were shown to a table for two by a pleasant waitress and so our Pieminister experience was to begin.

The staff, all of them very young, were to put it bluntly just a little bit too keen.

We had barely sat down and taken our coats off she was busily telling us what they had run out of. Uh oh! – then asked virtually straight away what drinks we would like. Err hang on not even thought about that one yet love.. This also happened to another couple on the table next to us.

However, once these had been cleared up and drinks quickly ordered there was still plenty to choose from the food menu.

This was clearly laid out and I think very reasonably priced. The most expensive pie was around the £5.50 mark, plus sides, the list of which consisted of the inevitable minted mushy peas, fries (skin on ones), sweet potato fries, slaw and other accompaniments priced at £2.00 each. Not bad.

Sam and I both opted for the matador pie, which contained steak, chorizo, olives and butter beans. (Wow, olives in a pie!) My accompaniments were mash potato and garden peas with chilli.

The food came in under ten minutes and it was a very nice treat, with well cooked steak mixed with the aforementioned olives and chorizo. The peas and chilli were also a very good idea. Sam’s sweet potato fries were very good too and better than ones I’d tasted in other “trendy” eateries.

 That was it. As easy as pie! You sit, order, eat within ten minutes of arrival and then (unless you order a dessert) you pay and you go. Next!

You see, Pieminister is a bit like a conveyer belt. Customer comes in, sits down, orders drinks, orders food, eat, go. Don’t expect to stay there too long. Some may call it efficient and yes that is a valid way of describing it, but on the other hand you barely stay there long enough to think, and could be disappointed if you wished for a more prolonged eating experience. However, I would most certainly return and try another one of their delicious pies and if you have a spare few minutes in town should do too.

Our trip to Hyde Park Picture House

Hyde Park Picture House

Hyde Park picture house on Brudenell Road in Leeds is not far from where we live, but as yet my fiancé and I have never seen a film at this famous local landmark. We set to put this right one chilly March evening to see “Still Alice,” at one of the oldest purpose built cinemas in Leeds and the country.

It opened  on 7^th November 1914 with its first screening, “Their only son,” a patriotic drama, in keeping with the recent outbreak of war. One of the first functions of Hyde Park Picture House was to show news bulletins from the front, helping to keep morale high among the families of the 6000 Leeds men who had been enlisted to battle. The venue was a popular place for locals during the golden era of cinema from the 1930s to the 60s and used regularly for dates by couples.

Samantha looking forward to her night at
the pictures!

The picture house was saved from closure in 1989 when it was bought and preserved by the council. As other similar one-screen cinemas succumbed to the rise in multiplexes and declining audiences during the latter half of the 20^th Century, Hyde Park Picture House; along with the nearby Cottage Road Cinema survived and are both still going strong today.

The cinema screen

Samantha and I regularly go to Cottage Road, which pre-dates Hyde Park Picture house by two years. This is the oldest cinema in Leeds, but it was not purpose built, as the building had other uses beforehand, most notably a garage for very early cars.

Cottage Road is still a brilliant place to watch a film, plus the fact it is cheaper and a more enjoyable experience than the busy, over- bloated multiplexes not so far away. However, it was refurbished in 1972 and has the look and feel of a forty, rather than a hundred year old picture house.

There are parts of Hyde Park Picture house which still look and feel original. This is what sets it apart from its neighbour. The manned box office is on the outside of the building for a start!

An original fire hose is on display in the reception area, and the auditorium boasts an original patterned Edwardian balcony, which is still there in all its splendour.

Edwardian balcony

Famously the cinema is the only one in the UK to be still gas lit, which makes it one of the cosiest and romantic places to watch a film with your partner. A piano is also still used for live musical films. A clock in the actual theatre is a novel addition, even though it cannot be seen once the lights go down.

Original fire hose

The staff are very proud and knowledgeable about the old building. They kindly let me take photos of the interior before the film started. We sat up on the balcony, which is the best place to look and admire the overall view of this beautiful old picture house.

...and the film we went to see

A quick word on “Still Alice,” the film we went to see. It is illuminated by an outstanding performance from Julianne-Moore as the professor who is cursed with Alzheimer’s disease. As somebody thankfully who has never witnessed somebody first hand with this condition I learnt a lot about Alzheimer’s, its effects on the sufferer and  impact it has on their loved ones. Well worth seeing and  a very good night all round.

Four reasons why I will not be returning to Five Guys + 1 reason why I might!

Normally I am a huge fan of burger restaurants in general, but just not this one. Five Guys is probably not aimed at 30 -something’s like me, but for people half my age instead.  However, here are four reasons why I would not return to Five Guys and one reason that I might just be persuaded to go back.

1. The Experience

........is a bit like a trip to Argos. You order your burger with its fillings on a tacky bit of glossy brochure paper with little clipart pictures of tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, guacamole or whatever. Look, if your burgers are supposed to be so great they should have these in any way! I’m hungry I can’t be bothered deciding what I want in my burger. Please just put everything in and that will more than satisfy me.

Going to 5 Guys is a bit like shopping here:

Ok..if I must.. I’ll have some cheese, a burger (of course) err red peppers or green?, Mayo or Salad cream?, tomatoes or jalapenos?, Think I might skip on the cucumber.. Dill pickle? Onions? Chillies?

ArrgghI don’t know... just put the whole lot in and make it the biggest burger on the planet for all I care. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse! Then, this is where the Argos bit comes in. You place your order with your filling options, plus choice of fries and you get a number. Then you queue and wait until the food is ready and your number is called. There you have it, your food neatly wrapped in a brown paper bag. Now find a table.

       2.  The cost

In plain Yorkshire, a bloody rip off! It’s £14 for a burger, fries and drink.. yes £14. Ok, Five Guys is supposed to be better than McDonalds and well yes you do (thankfully) get a bigger portion than you would at the golden arches. However, at least with McDonalds you know what it is. It’s crap, but cheap and useful in certain situations. For this to be value for money it had better be the best burger and chips I’ve ever tasted to justify that £14 leaving my wallet for you Mr Five Guys.

       3.    The food

5 guys cheeseburger

Now, the burger is actually quite nice, but ...and there is a big but. In my opinion  it is no better than the burgers at my local pub, which cost £4.95 plus a pint!  Nothing wrong with it, but definitely not worth fourteen English pound sterling (and I don’t even get a pint). It is reasonably sized, bigger than other fast food chains, granted but it isn’t so barnstormingly brilliant that it makes me want more or justify its value (£8 for the burger on its own). On my visit I went for the Cajun chips, which in my opinion were too dry and after a few of them, my mouth felt like the Sahara Desert. At least you got a fair portion, but unfortunately like a marathon runner I hit the wall halfway through.

4.   The decor

Red and white with posters on the wall about how flippin’ great their burgers are... and how it’s everybody’s favorite burger place just because The New York Times says so.. plus, how brilliant they are because they use a certain type of oil that other places do not. So what? How about some nice pictures on the wall? I want something, please to ease the pain of the large hole in my wallet that your burger has just created. It’s a bit like when you are in the pub and all they show on their TV screens are adverts about their flippin’ Tuesday night drinks offer, instead of sport or a music video.

                             .....And the reason why I might go back...

                                          

                      The drinks Machine!!!!!!

Image source: drinks.seriouseats.com

The drinks machine is brilliant! It is by far the best reason to go to Five Guys and the only reason I may be persuaded to go back. So, after the Argos bit you get a go on this fantastic invention! On the touch screen are hundreds and I mean hundreds  of different options, made up of common soft drink brands such as Coca Cola, Fanta and Sprite for example, but with the added twist of having many different flavourings to choose from, some of which I never knew existed! Anybody for peach 7up? , vanilla flavoured Powerade perhaps, or Cherry Fanta? Brilliant, I could sit in Five Guys all day (ignoring the decor) and try each one. Well done Five Guys. You have got a brilliant USP here! Throwing my Yorkshire flat cap to one side it could even be worth £14 on its own! 

10 things to look out for during the General Election Campaign

The 2015 General Election campaign will officially get under way when the Queen dissolves Parliament on 30^th March, prompting weeks of political mayhem, madness and a colourful battlebus coming to a town near you. Here are ten things to look out for during the campaign and throughout Election Day, until the winner is declared in the early hours of May 8^th.

1. A leading politician has eggs thrown at them while out campaigning, conveniently by somebody who looks a bit like Swampy.

Source www.itv.com

2. A harassed looking Nick Clegg being barracked by his own constituents in Sheffield, blaming him for tuition fees, the closure of a steel factory and the fact that it constantly rains in South Yorkshire.

3. An online story about a leaflet deliverer being chased by a dog.

4. Nigel Farage filmed in a pub having a pint and Boris Johnson making a gaffe,

5. A party leader claiming to be a fan of a "cool" rock band in order to try and win the youth vote. 

6. One of the battlebuses breaking down in a rough part of town and is vandalised by the locals.

Gaffe prone Boris Johnson 

7. Somebody saying something rather embarrassing about immigration.

8. A story about a remote polling station, in an unpronounceable Welsh hamlet, that only had one voter all day.

9. A visibly disappointed celebrity candidate, who stood over some local environmental issue, being interviewed at the election count after only 207 people voted for them. You really didn’t think you’d get elected did you just because you’re on telly?

 10. At the count, a, prominent, winning candidate is being interviewed with a joke candidate from The Monster Raving Loony Party stood in the background wearing full costume.

A battlebus coming to a town near you.

 Film Review- The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

The Second best exotic Marigold Hotel takes us on another colourful Indian journey to check up on the lives of the English pensioners, who took over the running of the place in the first film. Muriel Donnely (Maggie Smith) and Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel) are in America seeking investment for their plans to expand the enterprise to a second hotel in Jaipur. After the pensioner charms the company with her forthright opinions they agree to send an inspector to “check” on their new investment. Cue comedy and chaos back in India as two mysterious guests arrive at the Marigold Hotel.  Sonny and his plans are also thrown into turmoil over his plans to marry Sunaina (Tena Desae), while the other pensioners led by Evelyn Greenslade (Judi Dench) and Douglas (Bill Nighy) continue their intertwining romances as British expats abroad.

I liked this film, although it will never be up there with the very best movies that have passed my gaze. The performances of the older cast members, especially Maggie Smith provide the best moments with a string of classic one-liners, put-downs and jokes about old age to warm the soul. Dev Patel is excellent as the bumbling Sonny, whose tendency to mess things up has you cringing in places. The first Exotic Marigold Hotel film, in my opinion showed us far more of Indian life and its streets, along with a clearer narrative and less confusion with the characters. It took me a while to remember who’s who and their situations, until I remembered in the second half of the film. There were not as many scenes featuring the streets or the call centre for example that I enjoyed in the first film, concentrating more prominently on the lives of the expats and Sonny. The Asian wedding scene was interesting, especially to see some of the rituals that take place at these of ceremonies and the dancing. Overall this film is second best to the first one, but then how often do we say that about a sequel? However I did enjoy watching it very much and it will most certainly leave you feeling a lot better afterwards.

Rating 3.5/5. 

My alternative look at The Brit Awards 2015

Last week we had the Grammy’s, then the Oscars and now, saving the best till last, the Brit Awards 2015! This year hosted by Ant and Dec, yippee not the unfunny Southern smugness of James Corden.

So, to open the bowling a nice bit of gentle out-swing from Taylor Swift- a bit of a warm-up song to fill in some of the Blank space of time while guests make it back from the bar.

After her performance its time for Ant and Dec.They have the temerity to take the mickey out of a certain arrogant rapper, North East 1 Kanye west 0. 

Whenever I see Ant and Dec together on a stage we are always bloody voting for something and tonight is no different! Yes the Great British Public can vote for that oh so important award for “best video artist,” featuring a rather motley crew of nominees:

1.     One Direction- just because Simon Cowell said so.

2.     Ed Sheeran – Thinking out loud- because he’s Ed Sheeran and he has to be nominated for everything.

3.     Sam Smith- Stay with Me- because everything Ed Sheeran is nominated for he has to be too

4.     Calvin Harris – Summer- Sorry forgot this song had ever even existed let alone the video

5.     Uptown Funk- Because it’s everybody’s favourite song right now.

Oh god, Rita Ora has entered the building, last seen at the Brits getting drunk and being rather embarrassing with the members of One Direction...Ooh don’t mention that wardrobe malfunction mister, look her in the eyes not anywhere else. The best Male solo artist is won by the fox himself Ed Sheeran, beating off the competition from Sam Smith, George Ezra and some other bloke called Damon Albarn.

Royal Blood scoop the best British group award which shows you don’t have to have five number ones and be on a reality TV show to win awards.

So, let the vocal battle commence, first up on stage, Sam Smith. Nice song very profound but didn’t really get the juices flowing to be honest. Bring on err Ed Sheeran. 

First let’s have a game of bingo Ant and Dec style, which brings together the rather odd couple of Ellie Goulding and Lewis Hamilton, whose on-screen chemistry make the lead actors of Fifty Shades of Grey look positively smoking.  Lewis, seriously don’t think you are going to pull Ellie Goulding any time soon mate after that performance.

Who is St.Vincent, apart from a Carribean Island? Ellie Goulding and Taylor Swift are best friends apparently, as she scoops the best International artist award.

Time for some rock n’roll!

Royal Blood take to the stage and fill this year’s “token rock act” slot. At least it was nice to hear some proper guitars for a change, along with some interesting lighting effects.

Ellie Goulding has ditched her best friend Taylor Swift for Rita Ora. She surprisingly tips Jessie Ware to win the best female award, much to the surprise of Ant and Dec, who I'm not sure had even heard of her. Don’t mention that wardrobe malfunction to Miss Ora, Dec, or she’ll chop your balls off quicker than you can say “Byker Grove.”

Oh my days it’s Simon Cowell with glasses on. Oh for god’s sake you never miss an opportunity do you Si. "Vote for One Direction in the video category" he muses. Well I suppose they are better than Calvin Harris. Ant and Dec give him a tie. He’ll probably try to flog it off-camera to Labrinth, who is sat next to him.

It’s time for some Mark “collaboration” Ronson and the best British female solo award. There’s Ellie’s tip, Jessie Ware along with Ella Henderson and Paloma Faith, who wins and is rather emotional when she takes the stage. Nice roses, might need watering later on. She’s seen the first legal pictures of her all over tube stations. Hmm.. Cue the longest acceptance speech of the night.

Now it’s the ginger one Mr Sheeran’s turn, time for a brew. No wait, is he really playing that guitar riff or is a loop pedal doing it all for him? It looks like he’s trying to sing, play the guitar and drive a car at the same time. He’s getting rather loud and emotional is our Ed, which is a shame because I’d earmarked his act for a cheeky nap. Oh well.

Oh no who’s this vile looking creature? It’s the walking egg-timer herself Kim Kardashian-West, although it looks like everything is mostly heading South. She will be awarding the best global success award. Inevitably, Sam Smith has won this award in a rather one-horse race. Is he the only British act to be successful abroad then? Ooh another friend of Taylor Swift, isn’t she a popular girl. Ant and Dec want a selfie with the egg-timer on legs but oh no shock horror the phone was locked. Oh well maybe another time lads. Now she wants everyone to stand up for her husband Kanye and a special song about his shopping trip to Aldi.

Well at least that’s what I think him and his rent-a crowd onstage were shouting about. That’s all I could hear because the rest of it was muted out by ITV except for one word which I cannot repeat. Now why is it rappers insist on having 500 other people on stage with them when people like Ed Sheeran can happily stand on their own looking like Billy-no mates, with only a guitar for company. By the looks of the performance it seems as if Kanye and his chums have set fire to their local branch of Aldi and they seem rather happy about it. Don’t give any of their own brand of baked beans to your missus Kanye, they might shatter her backside. Was that everybody’s friend Taylor Swift trying to be cool by dancing to Mr West? Lionel Richie looks slightly less impressed.

So after that it’s a girl with bigger eyebrows than Liam Gallagher apparently. Well she looked OK to me whoever she was. She wants a three-some with Ant and Dec. Moving swiftly along its time for best international male solo artist. Unfortunately Pharrell didn't see the Brits as being cool enough to attend so a recorded message it is. I’m sure he’ll find space at the back of the mantelpiece for his Brit Award.

Ooh it's the last chance to vote for the best video artist award. More Morecambe and Wise-style antics from our Geordie friends before a surprise live appearance from Take That. So there’s Gary Barlow on vocals with a big keyboard and crikey, whose that bashing a big drum? Why none other than Howard Donald and what’s going on here? Is Mark Owen actually playing that guitar? Still I suppose that’s what happens when your dancer leaves the group. So who will Ant and Dec pair up from their bingo? The likely duo of Lisa Snowdon and Lionel Richie, that’s who. They both say hello and introduce the award for the best single. Clean Bandit, Ed Sheeran (of course), My Love by Jess Glynne-  not really. Sigma..oh dear. Sam Smith inevitably to keep up the kind of Coe/Ovett style duel with Sheeran. Oh bloody Calvin Harris again. Oh dear. To think on another night he might have won two awards. Uptown Funk won this category because it’s everybody’s favorite song at the moment. Poor old Mark Ronson he’s not used to being in front of loads of people. He says he could not have done it without the world’s most talented Hawaiian, Bruno Mars, which isn't really that difficult to be with only Nicole Scherzingher for competition. 

Now the world’s most talented Scouser comes on stage, John Bishop. Some quality acts up for best International group except for 5 Seconds of Summer. They thankfully lose out to the Foo Fighters who, like Pharrell are too cool for this school.

James Bay the critics’ choice has a nice hat on, although Ant and Dec seem less interested about getting to know this upcoming young buck in the music industry and more interested in how drunk he is. Only at The Brits. Sam Smith advises him to get dumped by someone to inspire his music, advice he must have received himself from Adele, conspicuous by her absence this year.

It’s time for some George Ezra the third man in the Sheeran/Smith duel. He’s like a protest vote really. Budapest is a great song though.

The best British Breakthrough Act: Interesting bit of nostalgia that PJ and Duncan (who Ant and Dec used to be called for younger readers) lost out in this very category back in 1995 to a “ little” band called Oasis. To present the award is the “inevitable at some stage” appearance of Fearne Cotton feat. Charlie XCX. “This is a girl power moment," muses XCX. Who the FK are FKA Twigs? Predictably Sam Smith wins his second Brit in a category Ed Sheeran was barred from because he’s been around too long.

Ant and Dec crawl under a table like two kids playing hide n seek at a wedding. Maybe it’s to escape the booming voice of Paloma Faith who is now performing. Now this is where I stand with Paloma. Like her songs, the music part that is until she opens her mouth and it then seems to drown out any well crafted music production on her records. Anyway she’s not as bad as Cheryl Fernando vajazzle, or whatever she's called now, again conspicuously absent from these awards completely, thank goodness. Looks like Paloma is getting rather wet out there, either that or there’s a leak in the roof of the 02.

Jimmy Carr and some underwear model to present the penultimate award. Oh my god she’s another best friend of Taylor Swift. How many best friends does one girl need? Hope she doesn’t get in a cat fight with Ellie Goulding at the after party, they were each wearing white and both claim to be Taylor Swift’s bestie. Awkward.

Video of the year, the one we've been cajoled into voting for all night is finally revealed. Inevitably like with all public phone votes and a bit of Tesco-style number crunching probably by a certain Mr Cowell it's One Direction who scoop the award for “You and I.” I don’t think this award should really count because it has all the validity of a Zimbabwean General Election. Unfortunately the boys are in Japan so to accept the award it’s the powerful despot himself Mr Simon “four eyes” Cowell. I bet those spectacles can grow pound signs too ££.

Russell Crowe, the possible future owner of Leeds United, strides on stage for the British squeaky album time. Ed Sheeran, Alt-J, George Ezra, Royal Blood and yes you’ve guessed it Sam Smith are nominated. The ginger fox beats the brewery. Sheeran doesn't think the Brit award statue made of playdoh with bits of loo roll hanging off it is worthy of the work put into making music. Nuff said.

It’s time for our headline act! For the first time in twenty years it’s Madonna!!

On she comes wearing a black cloak so long that anyone could easily trip up over it. Nah that couldn’t happen could it?..oops,  just has.. and that was quite a clunk over the microphone as she toppled down those steps along with those dancers who tumbled with her. Perhaps the stage was still wet after Paloma Faith’s performance or maybe it’s because Madonna is so used to wearing skimpy outfits on stage and forgot she was wearing something rather longer. She did well to get back up at her age and carry on as the rather average song suggested. Oh well the press have got their headlines and no matter what went before it the 2015 Brit awards will always be remembered for when Madonna fell over on stage. Still it has got everybody talking and will probably boost her album sales. Its publicity Simon Cowell could only dream of. Oh look there’s Kanye West holding Kim Kardashian like a 15-year old boy who has just got together with his new bird in the park. Madonna finishes and will now go off to warm up the hairdryer for that dancer who didn't take her cloak off properly. So, back to Ant and Dec now to thank us for watching and say bye bye.. Ok well, maybe after the montage showing the “best bits” from tonight’s show? Cut to credits..aww aren’t you going to say goodnight boys? No? Oh well see you again next year. Time for the after party, which will probably end up with everybody having a sleepover at Taylor Swift’s house, because she’s everyone’s best friend isn't she.

Back for another series - The opening of Leeds Trinity arcade

So first of all I have been very lazy this past 7 months in that I haven't added to this blog since 15th August 2012...

Anyway I am back and hope to build up the following of people from random places in The Netherlands, Russia and the USA.

So to briefly update you I am now engaged to the lovely Samantha as of Valentines Day this year and we will be moving in together in July. I am also keeping busy with the discos and of course up to date with music. I have started creating online mixes as well to try and boost my profile as a DJ and hopefully lead to fame and fortune (i can dream).

The crowds gather for the 6pm opening but should have been listening to
"Material Girl"

While out and about I always listen to other DJs, what music they play and how about they go about their work, to gain ideas on how I can improve myself. However at the opening of the new Leeds Trinity shopping  mall, last week, I couldn't help feeling that I could have done a far better job than the DJ they employed to warm up the crowd before their second "grand opening" of the day at 6pm.

There we were stood waiting, my fiance', her mother and me, staring at a giant white box with the name of a well known communications giant emblazoned on it. Above us stood the silver horse statue that has been the focus of all the pre-amble on the local news to the opening of Leeds' latest shopping experience. Stood even more majestically through the modern, glass ceiling was the 17th Century Holy Trinity church of which it was named after. The crowd gathered as they had done for centuries when something new was about to be opened or unveiled. The anticipation gathered.

But there was something wrong, something really annoyingly wrong. At first I could not put my finger on it, but then after a few minutes it dawned on me... the noise.. the noise, not of the people,  but the dull hum of music coming out of the high-tech speakers surrounding the crowds. I cast my eyes downwards and to the right and lo and behold I spotted the source with its cap turned round and his headphones glued to his ears.

He's missing a real trick I thought. Why he persisted in playing this horrible non-descript buzzy garage I do not know. I stood and thought about what I would play if I were standing in his shoes (probably with no baseball cap on, but maybe the headphones)

The silver horse at Leeds Trinity

Why doesn't he play something we all know? If it was me stood in the DJ booth I would have taken this wonderful opportunity to take a side swipe at the commercial monolith that has invaded the centre of Leeds City Centre.

For the older listeners, I would have started with Madonna's Material Girl, and then Simply Red's "Money too tight to mention" and then The Pet Shop Boys "Opportunities, (Let's make lots of money)
Abba's Money Money Money would also be an obvious choice.

To get down with the kids I would have put on Jessie J's Price Tag, Wiley and Daniel Merriweather with Cash in my Pocket and Mackelmore's current hit, "Thrift Shop." Now that would have been far more entertaining and appropriate way to help launch Leeds Trinity.

The new shopping mall in Leeds

Weblinks 

Trinity Leeds website

Jonathan's Discos website