Pesto’s Picks January 2012

The New Year is almost upon us, and with 2011 having been the second warmest year on UK records hopefully our New Year celebrations won’t be blighted by freezing temperatures and relentless rain. Or perhaps that’s just wishful thinking…

With many of us about to embark upon the mission of sticking it to a long-standing vice, enter into battle with excess Christmas weight or seek out a new career as part of our New Year’s resolutions, what better time to take your mind off all that stress-inducing good behaviour and enjoy watching someone else sweat it out for a few hours, bringing us to the first pick of the year; TNA Maximum Impact Wrestling IV at the Manchester Evening News Arena. (Friday 27th January)

According to the MEN “Wrestling legends Sting and Kurt Angle head up the roster of stars from TNA’s flagship television programme Impact Wrestling.



“TNA World Heavyweight Champion Sting will be making his first wrestling appearance in the UK for almost a decade alongside Olympic Gold Medallist Kurt Angle.

“Also starring at the Manchester event will be Gail Kim, Rob Van Dam, Beer Money, Crimson, Mickie James, Gunner, “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles, “Samoan Submission Machine” Samoa Joe, TNA Knockout Velvet Sky, Mr. Anderson, Matt Morgan, Bully Ray, Mexican American and many more.

“Speaking ahead of his Manchester visit, Sting says: “It has been too long since I’ve been back to the UK. I promise you there will be Maximum Impact in January 2012. It’s going to be Showtime!

“Fans will see lots of bodies flying through the air, broken tables, chairs everywhere. We call it professional wrestling. We call it IMPACT WRESTLING”.

Ooh er.

Next up from the North West we have something altogether more relaxing and a little more high-brow from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Beethoven’s Pastoral (Wednesday 11th January).

Conducted by Vasily Petrenko with Nikolai Lugansky performing Beethoven’s Overture, Prometheus, Piano Concerto No. 4 and Symphony No. 6 ‘Pastoral’ the evening is set to by truly magical, ideal for anyone wishing to wind down following the excesses of the festive season.

“One great composer: three incredible worlds. From blazing joy to blinding rage, no composer captured human emotion with more passion – or poetry – than Ludwig van Beethoven.”

Tickets range from £13 to £36, but there aren’t too many left!

Yooooooou’re gooooooorgeous! Probably words you’ve heard exchanged many times over the Christmas period if you’ve visited at least one bar with at least one over-zelous festive reveller. Well, if you’re in Glasgow this January 31st and would like to hear the song as it should be sung, britpop one-hit-wonder Babybird, or Stephen Jones as he’s less-commonly known will be performing at Glasgow’s legendary King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut.

Jones’s brand of off-beat pop will be sure to brighten up your post-christmas midweek blues, and at only £12.50 a ticket it won’t break the bank either. Support comes from the Sneaky Russians, who appear not to be Russian, but must have sneaky tendencies to have wormed their way onto the bill with their dire brand of long-deceased garage band indie-pop.

Well that’s it folks, our picks of the month for January. Next month, what with it being February and all, we’ll be doing a Valentine’s special – watch this space!

www.men-arena.com/?page_id=1867
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2080355/Feeling-hot-2011-second-warmest-year-record-hottest-spring.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Angle
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasily_Petrenko
lugansky.homestead.com/
www.babybirdmusic.me

Music enthusiast, Julia Roberts fan and Italian original Octavio Gabaldon holds of on scoffing Lasagna al Ragú with Peroni and cocktails to tell us a bit about his time at Pesto Italian Restaurant Liverpool 1.

How long have you been part of the Pesto team?

It has been nearly a year. I joined the adventure in October 2010.

What is the best thing about working for Pesto?

One of the best things is that even though I’ve been here for just a short time, all the staff made me feel like one of them from the very first day. At Pesto you work with people who very soon become friends, and when you're working with friends the job is that much more enjoyable.

What is your favourite Pesto dish and drink?

I like a lot of the dishes we serve, that´s the best thing about Pesto; why go for one dish when you can have three or four? But if I have to choose one, I would go for the Lasagna al Ragú, and to drink a refreshing Peroni Red, and Lecca-Lecca, especially after a meal when I'm getting ready to go out.

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

Once a gentleman came in with his son in a buggy, he asked for a table for two, but left the buggy at the back of one of the waiter stations and came back to me. I looked at him, he looked at me, after a few seconds he realised he had left his son in the buggy facing the wall.

Which three celebrities would you invite to dinner at Pesto?

Frank Sinatra would have been one of them, Spanish football legend Raúl Gonzalez, although he´s still playing, and Julia Roberts.

What inspired you to become a manager?

The challenge of bringing your idea of perfect service to reality. It´s not an easy thing to do, it´s something you have to work on everyday, but it's the greatest feeling when you see it happening, and when you see it reflected on the customers’ faces.

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

Out and about, there's a lot to see in the Liverpool 1 area; Albert Dock, which has fantastic views, Matthew Street which is full of history, and of course brilliant shopping.

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

We had the Matthew Street Music Festival two weeks ago, I had a fantastic time going from one stage to another listening to all kinds of music, having fun with friends and people I'd just met in the street.

What does the next year at Pesto hold for you?

I will keep trying to bring a piece of Italy to Liverpool, and hopefully bring Pesto to more and more people everyday.

To meet the rest of the Pesto team why not check out our other blog posts!

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

http://www.pestorestaurants.co.uk/section/pasta-e-riso/

http://www.peroniitaly.com/gb

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ra%C3%BAl_Gonz%C3%A1lez

http://www.albertdock.com/

http://www.pestorestaurants.co.uk/location/liverpool-one/

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

http://www.pestorestaurants.co.uk/about/meet-the-team-at-pesto-italian-restaurants-manchester-liverpool-glasgow/

Interview: Sarah Henderson

Pesto Italian Restaurants Liverpool One deputy manager and Take That enthusiast Sarah Henderson took time out from opening restaurants and, er, 'sampling' Pesto's fine Italian wines to tell us about life at L1.

How long have you been part of the Pesto team?

Four and a half years now! I have worked in all three restaurants – I opened Trafford & Liverpool and am off next month to open Glasgow too.

What is the best thing about working for Pesto?

I have had the opportunity to really be part of something here; it’s a small company so you are far more than just another cog in the machine.

What is your favourite Pesto dish and drink?

Drink wise, I love the Pinot Grigio Blush. I wouldn’t like to count how many bottles I have drunk over the years! Food wise, I go through phases of which are my favourites! Bruschetta Pomodoro has always stayed pretty near the top though…and the Fiorentina pizza…oh and I do like the gamberoni peperoncino.

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

Oh too many things to remember! I have had brilliant teams of people in all three sites over the years, there’s been so many characters who have entertained me every day!

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

I would love to say someone high brow to make me look intelligent and interesting, but to be honest my life would be made if Take That had come in while they were here! Am I allowed five? Just Robbie would be perfect if not.

What inspired you to become a manager?
I just developed a passion for it very early on in my career - I love the people in the industry and have loved developing and working with all different types of people.

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

You can’t go wrong with a nice glass of wine or two on the L1 terrace on a summer’s eve! 

What was the last show you went to and how was it?
I have been to both Take That and Kings of Leon this month in Manchester. Two very different concerts but both just amazing!

What does the next year at Pesto hold for you?

Hopefully I will just get to continue helping build the brand and, if I am lucky, get to spend a bit of time in some great cities opening a couple more great restaurants…..watch this space!

That's all for now peeps - keep your eyes peeled for Pesto's Picks for August tomorrow and our latest team member introduction next week! You can also check out our latest celebrity diner here - Debbie Harry at Pesto Italian Restaurants Liverpool One!

Keep up with Pesto Italian Restaurants Liverpool One Manchester and Glasgow on Facebook and Twitter - and don't forget when you come to visit to check in on FB or Foursquare!

http://facebook.com/pestorestaurants

http://twitter.com/pestorestaurant

Interview: Javier Mellado Pesto Liverpool One

Liverpool One is the UK's largest open air shopping centre, and the tenth largest overall; right at the heart of Liverpool One is Pesto Italian Restaurant, managed by the tall, dark and handsome Javier Mellado. We caught up with Javier to ask him what it's like working at the hub of the UK's biggest and brightest cities.

How long have you been a part of the Pesto team?

I started in October 2010

What is the best thing about working for Pesto Liverpool One?

To be able to contribute on the development  of the business and feel part of the everyday decisions.

What is your favorite Pesto dish and drink?

Cartoccio Merluzzo, Bruschetta Salsiccia and the Moretti beer.

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

Rafael Nadal, Fernando Alonso and Cameron Diaz.

What inspired you to become a manager?

I love the challenge with people, the adrenaline of a busy time and dealing with suppliers.

After a meal at Pesto L1, what's the best thing to do in Liverpool?

Around Pesto you have all types of shops, the Odeon cinemas, the Echo Arena, Albert dock, Mathew Street to visit the Cavern, Victoria Sreet full off night bars, very close to the theaters and why not maybe a football match in Anfield or Goodison park?

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

My last show was a the Peter Pan Christmas panto at Liverpool Empire with my children. It was very funny.

What does the next year at Pesto L1 hold for you?

Hopefully a lot of people through the door and a exciting campaign that'll put Pesto in Liverpool's top ten eateries.