Landing in hot water
1998. Although Krimo’s at Seaton Carew was still doing the business, I was too busy at Portofino to spend much time there. My friend and head-chef, Madjid ran the kitchen with his second, Lisa. The restaurant was still being awarded the AA Rosette that I had won in 1986. Karen and Marie, between them, helped by some capable youngsters, looked after the restaurant. Just a few months after its opening, Portofino was becoming a favourite among Hartlepool diners. With Elaine’s and Davey’s help, I set out to build a good team. We decided not to take bookings at weekends. The result was that by 6 pm, we usually had a waiting list. The tiny bar area always ended up so cramped that staff would have to snake their way between customers carrying trays laden with drinks. I often asked the already busy pizza chefs to prepare a few garlic breads to share among the waiting diners to quell their hunger and irritation.
By Valentine’s Day 1998, we decided to take bookings only for special evenings. Little did I know that we would be swamped by lovesick couples who had not bothered to book. That night, the restaurant catered for close to 200 diners. Cater is a kind way of putting it. We didn’t stop chasing our tails all evening and fed 200 hungry and impatient people, who throughout the service complained about having to wait. Despite their disappointment, most returned over and over again. There is always a buzz about eating out in a busy and boisterous place like Portofino. The music played a big part in creating a party atmosphere. It was a mix of Latin, French, Algerian, Spanish and current British hits and whatever I could lay my hands on that tickled my ears. In one word, it was a mishmash of lovely sounds that made people feel they were on a foreign holiday.
As most of you know, Portofino sits at first-floor level, on the Historic Quay which was built by Balfour Beatty in only 52 weeks. It is now the site of the National Museum of the Royal Navy. The TDC has installed a stair lift that, rather than providing disabled access, turned out to be a nightmare.
Within the first few months of operation, it broke down several times halfway up the stairs, entirely blocking access to all diners and becoming a dangerous hazard in case of fire. Over the years, we contemplated various alternatives to provide disabled access but weren’t able to come up with anything. The current owner, who started working part-time for us that same year, making pizzas a couple of evenings a week, has once again raised the matter with the landlord and is investigating new avenues.
In our early years, being the only restaurant on the Marina, our lunchtimes were also very busy. Jacksons Landing, the designer outlet, which opened its doors in 1994, attracted shoppers from all over the region, and many of those preferring a “proper” meal to a snack in the outlet’s café, came to Portofino in their droves. I liked Jacksons Landing very much and often went there, in search of a bargain. I remember buying a lovely black suit from one of the clothes shops called Ciro Citterio. It is still hanging inside my wardrobe waiting for me to lose a few pounds. Sadly, after two unsuccessful makeovers, the outlet closed down and was later bought and demolished by the Council.