Subscribe...

Wednesday 30 January 2008

Rumbled

I've been watching a lot of Frasier

My plan for a very long lie in this morning was thrown into disarray by having left my mobile phone at work. What a right royal fuck up. I am doomed to walk this earth in a semi permanent daze with slower reactions than a person enjoying the slumber of a coma. Oh how I wish for coma. Just a short one all the same. Twelve hours would be nice.

I had to retrieve my phone from work as I had lunch plans that needed to be confirmed. Plus I don't want my phone falling into the wrong hands. Chefs would take no time to read, analyse, and use against you the contents of your text message folder. Plus there would be no way they could stop themselves sending rude messages to selected contacts. Misplacing my phone did mean that I didn't have to reply to LMM's 30 pre bed text messages. I love her but texting batters my brain.


Phone retrieved I headed to the Mourne Seafood Bar for lunch with East Belfast's answer to Oliver Reed. Well, Oliver Reed meets Nikki Sixx via Will Oldham. He has a lot of free time these days as he is now a full time musician. This also meant I was buying lunch. It also means he has no idea of time and other such protocols that keep society from falling apart.

He was late.

Only by ten minutes but it does beat the full half hour he kept me waiting the last time we met for lunch. I have a problem with time keeping. I'm pretty anal about it and have the patience of a man dangling by his sack waiting for someone to cut him down. That is to say I have no patience.

The food was just perfect. I had the Langoustine Risotto (remember that's Ris-ot-oh not Ris-oh-to). It was silky smooth and just perfect with a beautiful hint of Thai spices in the background. Magnificent. The boy who writes backwards had the chowder. I'm a huge great big fan of their chowder and sometimes I sneak in on my split shift and nail a bowl before heading back to work. It's warming, creamy, substantial and just perfect for a day like today. Much like me you'll find. I don't come with bread though.


But the food wasn't the highlight of the visit. If you can cast your minds back to August when I first reviewed The Mourne Seafood Bar I said that,
"The service was: Efficient, quick, accurate, pleasant, but without any love. Where was the love? Manuel needs to be loved."
Well like any good waiter the woman that took our order and looked after us was listening as we were talking about WellDoneFillet. She probably also spotted the badges as I gave The Boy Who Writes Backwards his. As she cleared our plates away she asked which of us was responsible for WellDoneFillet. Now I could have lied. I could have said we were just fans. I could have said I had just got the badges in the post this morning (thus pushing sales a bit further - nudge nudge). I could have. But I didn't. My face and baldy head were glowing red. I looked like a Chupa Chup lolly. There was no chance of denying it. So I ponied up.

My mind was racing back to what I had posted. I knew fine rightly what I had said. But before I could stutter out any explanation she said she liked the blog and all that. Phew.....she did mention my "lack of love" comment. Crikey. What size of tip was I gonna have to leave to get out of this intact?!

I had been rumbled. Badges would save the day. Good job I carry a sack load with me. So with a combination of cash and badges I was able to leave without getting my ass served to me with a side of fries. Their chips are gorgeous by the way.

But as we left they formed a line up and offered to hug me goodbye.

TAKE THAT FAT BOY!

It could have been sarcasm, but I chose to take it as genuine love for Manuel. So in answer to my question of August the second 2007,
"Where was the love?" the love is indeed at Mourne Seafood Bar.

I now rank Mourne Seafood Bar as my favorite restaurant in the city. It was always a toss up between there and Ginger.

For anyone that cares, my top 3 Belfast Restaurants are Mourne Seafood Bar, Ginger & Molly's Yard in that order. Hey where else do they offer to hug you goodbye? Now that's love........

38 People trying to get Manuel's attention:

Anonymous said...

You know the Mint credit card ads...equal and opposite reactions... well, while you were being rumbled and handing out badges and getting love and giving heeeeeoooouuuge tips I was claiming to be manuel in another Belfast eaterie, being a twat (no effort), complaining for no reason, being mildly obnoxious and tipping like a peasant. "The name's manuel, 5 crispy twenties in a brown 9' by 4' next time or the review...well, you know".
I reckon I can lift £500 a week on this and eat like a Lord. 'Course I'd have to wear a fat suit.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, I wrote that without thinking.
A hairy fat suit.

Manuel said...

BBB: One day I'll make you my personal ass shaver.......one day

ellie said...

I'm made up for you A taste of celebrity. Chuffed to bits!

I'm would pay good money for the CCTV footage of your departure.

Karen said...

Manuel got the love....that's grand and really quite adorable. Is your blog famous in Belfast?

Anonymous said...

I saw the pic on medbh's. Fucks sake manuel, if the CIA showed that pic at Guantanamo and made the ass shaving threat the whole Al Qaeda thing would be cleared up in twenty minutes flat.

Threatening me however only only encourage me to think how I could chew both my arms off if your arse and me ever got in close proximity.


That said, and in all seriousness, that is some notoriety you've achieved there. Now all we need is for some of the Mourne staff to leave a comment and tell us how good a customer you were. We want the jus.

Anonymous said...

I knew you were talking about Robin even before I clickyed the link. Love the dude to bits even though the last time he was in Ginger I had to tell him off for arm wrestling Micheal McKeegan of Therapy? fame. And i do have to point out you got the love that i provide every customer without the knowledge you'd be writing about it.

Not like MSB

Anonymous said...

And also, thank you for educating me as to the proper pronunciation of risotto.
You famous man you!

Megan McGurk said...

They hugged you? How perfectly sweet, Manuel. The waiters know who has their back in the blogosphere.

Anonymous said...

hugs are nice, but there's love and then there's love. i'd write some more cranky stuff - see if you can get a reach around next time!

Niall said...

jees man, did u get mildly excited by the person to person contact.... glad to see you are gettin some well deserved recognition.

Niall said...

also, its good to see places taking an interest. Worthwhile public service and all!

Old Knudsen said...

I don't get you, one minute yer calling them all cunts to me in an e-mail the next yer loving them on yer blog.





Just kidding.

Anonymous said...

Arise Osama Bin Manuel. You beat me to Mourn Seafud by a mealtime; I was there for dinner (fantastic with tremendously tolerant service of my slightly intoxicated chums) and again Guatanimo Bay'd my two waiters as to your identity - they were exceptionally protective of you! It was like being in the west and aksing about the Ra - 'oh aye, know them well, but we're sayin nuthin'. Luckily the analogy stopped there as rather than taken out the back for a 'hiding' I got a lovely bowl of mussels!

Anonymous said...

I have a feeling that wearing your badge will become a ticket for good service and excellent food.

Anonymous said...

You definately are reaching some level of infamy in the pubs and eateries around our fair city, Manuel.
A couple of staff in the Spaniard were asking about you after they overheard me calling you all the c*nts of the day for having to give up my anonimity if I wanted the badges...

Anonymous said...

You'll be the most famous waiter in Belfast soon enough dude.
Next you'll be having lunch with Eamon Holmes and appearing on The Stephen Nolan show.

Mudflapgypsy said...

You Love it Manuel!

All you want is recognition and a pat on the head isn't it?

You'll be wearing WellDoneFillet T shirts next when you are off duty.

Now you better be careful if you slag someone off. They know who you are now, word will spread, they'll have hardcopy printouts from the cctv.
Your image will be circulated.

Anonymous said...

hey manuel - get on Sam Baker... sorry i don't have anything relevant to this post but just wanted to tell you to get on the whole sam baker thing... this is kinda like spam - "add INCHES to your sam baker today" - don't get me wrong i liked the post but i was listening to him last night and i thought 'i bet a hairy arsed waiter from belfast would love this' - so err.. yeah, that name again: sam baker

Unknown said...

Manuel, thanks for the pointers to the good eatin' places, we'll be in Belfast any day now.

Manuel said...

Ellie: Nah wouldn't go that far.......I'd rather have money that fame

Gypsy: It's not even famous in my own house....

BBB: I'm gonna git you sucker......as Public Enemy may or may not have said....

BPC: Oh there is love in Ginger......Plently big love too....Mr Shiels eh.....he's a character eh....you read my post about the wedding we went too...? Crikey......Ginger mmmmmmmaybe tonight

Manuel said...

Geek: Man u? How dod you know....?

Medbh: I'm watching mine from now on....

Daisyfae: No......No my list of enemies is long enough as it is......

Niall: I'm like the BBC.....now give me a £150.!

Knudsen: Ha cheeky bollocks.....which reminds me

Roger: Silence is our code.........money will always get you want you want to know though....

Conortje: Or a beating........it's all very possible

Sheepo: Spaniard eh......I got threw out of there once for lighting up.......hehehehe

Dave: That's not even funny......Nolan what a fat bile filled cunt......and Eamon holmes too.......

Muddy: I'll never get a job in this town again........I'm gonna have to slide back under my rock....

toast: I'm checking as we speak.....

Conan: are you really?

Unknown said...

Yes, really. And we'll need feeding at about 5.30.

Anonymous said...

Class. Just class.

Manuel said...

Conan: You need a table you just email me.....you'll not be any where near were I work but.....

Fresh Blade: Oh hello again...How you been? I am class aren't i? hehehehe

Anonymous said...

The little flashy well done badges thing is giving me a twitch in my right eye.

Manuel said...

Sheepo: buy some then.....It'll stop after that....

Is it just me? said...

I've eaten there three times and as the song goes 'two out of three ain't bad'..in my book its pretty good and the staff were pretty good too.

NB I want a bloody badge!!!!

Manuel said...

Is it: email me.......

Native Minnow said...

"sometimes I sneak in on my split shift and nail a bowl before heading back to work. It's warming, creamy, substantial and just perfect"

You're sure you're talking about food here, right?

Anonymous said...

I just want to clear something up here guys, i offered to hug manuel but he declined!! And crept sideways out the door like a crab, excuse the pun!
And regarding the comment made by "belfast plate carrier", all my customers are VIPs, but unless i clone myself, i can't possibly hug them all goodbye, and serve them at the same time (while listening in on their conversations! Come on, we all do it!!)
And the juice/jus for "bendersbetterbrother": Manuel is a perfect gentleman to serve, i say no more! lol

Anonymous said...

lola, does he practice what he preaches. Did he look at your face or ...somewhere else? What size was his youknowwhat? Tip, that is. What did he steal or did you make it obvious when tidying the table you knew exactly what was there and he better not? How leery was he? Did he talk like Alan Carr? Was his back hair plaited?

These are the answers we need to know.

Megan McGurk said...

Hey congrats on your multiple nominations for the Blog Awards, Manuel. What, you have as many as you have blogs now?

Ali said...

I love the Fraiser theme. :)

Manuel said...

Minnow: dirty boy......very dirty boy....

Lola: See new post

BBB: YOU'RE CRUISING BIG BOY.....

Medbh: right back at ya! well done us!

Ali: Love watching frasier....

Unknown said...

That's a shame... we could have rumbled each other!

Manuel said...

crikey!!

Anonymous said...

成人電影,情色,本土自拍, 情色聊天室, 寄情築園小遊戲, AV女優,成人電影,情色,本土自拍, A片下載, 日本A片, 麗的色遊戲, 色色網, ,嘟嘟情人色網, 色情網站, 成人網站, 正妹牆, 正妹百人斬, aio,伊莉, 伊莉討論區, 成人遊戲, 成人影城,
ut聊天室, 免費A片, AV女優, 美女視訊, 情色交友, 免費AV, 色情網站, 辣妹視訊, 美女交友, 色情影片 成人影片, 成人網站, A片,H漫, 18成人, 成人圖片, 成人漫畫, 情色網,
美女交友, 嘟嘟成人網, 成人貼圖, 成人電影, A片, 豆豆聊天室, 聊天室, UT聊天室, 尋夢園聊天室, 男同志聊天室, UT男同志聊天室, 聊天室尋夢園, 080聊天室, 080苗栗人聊天室, 6K聊天室, 女同志聊天室, 小高聊天室, 情色論壇, 色情網站, 成人網站, 成人論壇, 免費A片, 上班族聊天室, 成人聊天室, 成人小說, 微風成人區, 色美媚部落格, 成人文章, 成人圖片區, 免費成人影片, 成人論壇,
日本A片, 愛情公寓, 情色, 舊情人, 情色貼圖, 情色文學, 情色交友, 色情聊天室, 色情小說, 一葉情貼圖片區, 情色小說, 色情, 色情遊戲, 情色視訊, 情色電影, aio交友愛情館, 色情a片, 一夜情, 辣妹視訊, 視訊聊天室, 免費視訊聊天, 免費視訊, 視訊, 視訊美女, 美女視訊, 視訊交友, 視訊聊天, 免費視訊聊天室, 情人視訊網影音視訊聊天室, 視訊交友90739, 成人影片, 成人交友, 本土自拍, 免費A片下載, 性愛,
成人交友, 嘟嘟成人網, 成人電影, 成人, 成人貼圖, 成人小說, 成人文章, 成人圖片區, 免費成人影片, 成人遊戲, 微風成人, 愛情公寓, 情色, 情色貼圖, 情色文學, 做愛, 色情聊天室, 色情小說, 一葉情貼圖片區, 情色小說, 色情, 寄情築園小遊戲, 色情遊戲情色視訊, 情色電影, aio交友愛情館, 言情小說, 愛情小說, 色情A片, 情色論壇, 色情影片, 視訊聊天室, 免費視訊聊天, 免費視訊, 視訊美女, 視訊交友, 視訊聊天, 免費視訊聊天室, a片下載, aV, av片, A漫, av dvd, av成人網, 聊天室, 成人論壇, 本土自拍, 自拍, A片,成人電影,情色,本土自拍,