I have never been to the Ritz. This maybe because I can’t afford it, or it could equally be because, to enjoy the Ritz fayre, I would have to bypass The Wolseley, right next door at 160 Piccadilly. This is something I have not yet achieved.
Although not of the Catholic faith, I feel the need to confess. To you. I have sinned. I am guilty as charged. What is my heinous crime so dark and mysterious? I am a beginner. No, really! At everything? Truly, everything!
Maybe it’s an age thing. I love my job and pretend that I know lots about enterprise software but the truth is that every year that passes I double my knowledge on that subject. At that rate of acceleration, it makes me realise how little I actually know. For example, if my knowledge keeps doubling every year, then in ten years time I will know 1024 times more than I know right now. That proves that I know virtually nothing. And so it is with wine, my other “specialist” subject.
Castlefield is a very trendy part of Manchester that (according to estate agents) has now encompassed formerly ropey areas like Hulme and will probably soon extend to Rusholme and Moss Side.  Location, Location, Location, as they say.
I grew up in Manchester so I am proud to have a flat in Hulme and I refuse to call it Castlefield, (until I decide to sell, of course). But whatever the address, it is only a short walk to “real” Castlefield and on a sunny August day, where better to take our mates Tony, Jeanette and son Charlie, than to sit outside by the Canal. Dukes 92 is the obvious choice because it is so popular but it was very exposed and at least two of us appreciated a bit of shade from the midday sun so we chose another place. We made the choice to choose Choice. Now if you clicked on the hyperlink you will have reached the most annoying site on the world wide web. Fortunately, despite this, if you go the restaurant you will find one of the best Sunday lunches in Manchester.
Just time for a quick review of a very funky little Albanian owned place in London’s West end. Hidden behind Wyndham’s Theatre on an alley opposite famous fish resto, J Sheekey, it is a wine focussed place with a short but interesting and not over expensive wine list. It also has a decent looking bistro menu. We stopped for a quick glass on the way to buy show tickets.
Stumble It!