Cocktail Time!

It's already 2012 in Christmas Island, New Zealand and Fiji, but here in the UK our celebrations won't be getting under way for a few more hours - leaving just enough time to grab ingredients for making your own Pesto cocktails to see in the New Year with!

Our first masterclass, as effortlessly demonstrated by our very own Deansgate cocktail king Marcus, will take you through how to create the Maple Leaf.

The Maple Leaf is the creation of Marcus and Christian of Pesto Italian Restaurants Deansgate. The special recipe was laboriously tested by Marcus, Christian and the video team - we are pleased to confirm this delicious treat is easy to make and suitably potent for any New Year's celebrations!

So, without further ado, we introduce Pesto Italian Restaurant's the Maple Leaf.



Ingredients

Maple Syrup
Monin Syrup (liquid sugar)
Mount Gay Rum
Basil
Lots of ice!

Equipment

Cocktail shaker
Cocktail glasses
Straws (optional)
Strainer

Method

Chill your cocktail glass with ice and soda
Add a shot of maple syrup
Add a generous shot of Mount Gay rum
Monin syrup
A smack of basil
Shake it all up with the ice
Strain and pour
Enjoy!

Interview: Nigel Bradbury

Pesto Italian Restaurants Manchester veteran Nigel talks to us about his time at the restaurant and his appreciation for the work of David Jason and Victoria Wood!

How long have you been part of the Pesto Italian Restaurants Deansgate team?

I have been working for Pesto for 4 and a half years now. I worked at our Trafford centre branch for four years before moving across to a new challenge at our Deansgate branch just before Christmas last year.

What is the best thing about working for Pesto?

Pesto is like a large family. You are able to contribute towards and get involved in the development of the business. It is also great job satisfaction to be able to meet new and regular customers every day, welcoming them into the pesto experience and family.

What is your favourite Pesto dish and drink?
 

White wine is a guilty pleasure for me. I would thoroughly recommend our Soave DOC. My favourite dishes have a habit of changing as I do like everything on the menu! If I had to choose it would be the Peperoni Ripieni and the salsiccia peperonata. I have a sweet tooth too and can’t say no to a dessert, our mascarpone cheesecakes tempts me every time!

What's the funniest thing to have happened to you in the restaurant?

There are too many to say. Every day you get to speak to new and familiar faces who have so many stories to tell and make you laugh, unfortunately some I don’t think I could repeat!

Which three celebrities (dead and alive) would you invite to dinner at Pesto?

There are so many people to choose from the three I would choose are David Jason – a great British actor, who could forget Only Fools and Horses! Adele as she is a very talented singer and down to earth and Lee Evans as he is a great comedian and would fill our evening full of laughter!

What inspired you to become a manager?

I started out as a waiter and have worked my way up to my current position of Deputy Manager. I love the fact that no two days are the same and I get to meet people from all walks of life. I relish the challenge to ensuring every customer we meet receives great customer service every time. I have been lucky to have learned a lot from some inspiring managers on my way up the ladder. I am still learning something new every day and that challenges me to strive even higher to deliver the outstanding service we deliver every day. There is no other job I would rather do!

After a meal at Pesto, what's the best thing to do in Manchester?

There are many amazing bars and clubs and music venues that attract an array of stars, celebrities and of course nothing beats a night out than with friends and the great warm and friendly people of Manchester.

What was the last show you went to and how was it?
 

I recently saw the day we sang by Victoria wood. This was Victoria Wood at her best; she is a great British comedian who we don’t get to see enough of. They play was moving and worth the standing ovation at the end. I hope she is back again soon with another play or touring as she's very funny in the way she delivers comedy - she’s unique!

What does the next year at Pesto hold for you?

To continue to welcome new customers who will become friends and to making our next year just as busy and as exciting as last year!

We reckon after all the goings on at Pesto Italian Restaurants Manchester and Liverpool over the last couple of months (free Blondie tickets from Debbie Harry and a night on the tiles with Heather Morris) there'll be no shortage of diners to keep the Pesto team busy and excited!

http://www.pestorestaurants.co.uk/location/deansgate/

http://www.pestorestaurants.co.uk/giggling-with-glee-at-pesto-deansgate/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Jason

http://adele.tv

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Evans_%28comedian%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Wood

http://www.pestorestaurants.co.uk/menu/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Only_Fools_and_Horses

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150301293009743&set=a.10150113595239743.276775.363209709742&type=1&theater

Pesto Italian Restaurant Deansgate manager Anthony Mahmud is a busy man, don't you know? Who has time for interviews when you're busy mingling with the likes of Heather Morris of Glee fame, snapping pics with Katy Perry or, er, having your face painted? Well, we were lucky enough to steal Anthony away from the daily glamour to deliver a good grilling about life at Pesto Italian Restaurant Deansgate.

How long have you been part of the Pesto team?

I have been working for Pesto for two and a half years. I trained at Pesto Trafford Centre, I then opened Pesto Liverpool One and then came to manage Pesto Deansgate.

What is the best thing about working for Pesto?

The involvement we get in the development of the brand. As we are a small privately owned company any suggestions any of the team make are listened and then acted upon.  It gives a real sense of ownership in what we do.

What is your favourite Pesto dish and drink?

There are too many to decide. For the food it’s between the Arancini, I have never had better, the Gamberoni Peppercocino and the cheesecake. I love them all.  My favourite drink is the Frangelic. It’s cocktail we created at Deansgate. It’s a Martini of Stolichnaya Vodka, Kaluha and Frangelico (a hazelnut liquor which is my favourite) topped with cream and crumbled chocolate. It’s divine.

What's the funniest thing to have happened to you in the restaurant?
During a warm Saturday’s afternoon we noticed a group of men across the road. Our outside section was full and everyone was intrigued to see what was happening.  The men dispersed and we notice a half naked man was tied to a lamppost. It was his stag do.  During the afternoon his party kept coming back and played trick on the poor stag. The funniest thing was not that everyone stayed longer to with more wine to watch but that three police vans drove past, stopped, laughed and then drove away.

Which three celebrities (dead and alive) would you invite to dinner at Pesto?

Madonna – As she’s fantastic
Jenson Button – As he’s amazing
Stephen Hawkings – As he’s interesting

What inspired you to become a manager?

I’ve lived and worked within the service industry all my life. I grew up in a pub and most of my jobs have been in bars and restaurants so, I suppose, it’s in my blood. I have been lucky to have worked with amazing managers, including my parents, who put their all into making the customer experience as amazing as it could be. These people have inspired me to become a manager.

After a meal at Pesto, what's the best thing to do in Manchester?
 
Go and party. We have amazing music venues, bars and clubs in Manchester.
 

What was the last show you went to and how was it?
Katy Perry. She was brilliant. She even got audience members up on the stage to dance for one of the songs. At the end of the song a little girl asked for a picture with Katy. Katy took the picture, looked at it and decided it wasn’t good enough so she took another. I thought that was really sweet.

 
What does the next year at Pesto hold for you?

Building of the success of Deansgate, meeting new customers and seeing friends who used to be new customers.

So there you have it folks! To read interviews with more of the Pesto Italian Restaurants team check out our blog at http://pestorestaurants.co.uk/blog or subscribe to the Blogger RSS at http://pestorestaurants.blogspot.com – alternatively you can follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pestorestaurant or keep up on Facebook where you can upload pics of your Pesto party and get tagging! http://facebook.com/pestorestaurants