Restaurant Alimentum

Apologies for not updating recently but as usual it’s been a hectic time.  The last 3 months have flown by.  I’ve had the usual ups and downs you get with any new business which have kept me on my toes, but I’m extremely proud of what the whole team have achieved within such a short space of time.  Customer feedback is fantastic and we’ve achieved an overall rating of ‘excellent’ from customer feedback on Local Secrets.
However, we’re still not doing the covers we need to, which I’m sure has nothing to do with my sleep deprivation and the nervous twitch I seem to have developed under my left eye.  Opening a restaurant is certainly not for the feint hearted!
We need to increase lunchtime trade so this seems like an appropriate time to provide you with some polished marketing spiel - “hey, why not meet up with a friend or business colleague at Alimentum and enjoy a fabulous 2 course lunch for £12.50 and 3 courses for £15.50, served within the hour if you have to dash back to the office for that important business meeting” - it just rolls off the keyboard…..
If we can pick lunchtimes up, and a little more on weekday nights , then my 6 year old daughter can quit her unexpected new post of pot wash and go back to school. Anyway, social services issues aside, we’ve recently launched our new menu which is generating great feedback and it’s just been uploaded onto the site.  The wine list has also been tweeked and added to, and you can view this along with our Christmas menu under the menu tab. 
Whilst i remember, nominations are being made for the Observer Food Monthly awards and it would be amazing to get short listed! It takes 30 seconds to fill in the form and you can win a weekend in a swanky Paris hotel for your trouble, tres bon n’est pas?  Simply follow this link www.fillonline.co.uk and vote for Alimentum in the best restaurant category for Southern England.
Apologies once again for the radio silence over the last month and I promise to update more regularly from now on!

It’s Friday night at 9.00pm and we’re cooking with gas – well the kitchen is. We’ve upped the numbers tonight and will do 70 which will help me sleep tonight.  Service is running smooth so it’s got the makings of a good night! There’s been a good buzz in the cocktail bar and the atmosphere throughout is great.
I’m having to road test our new Champagne cocktail (for research purposes obviously) which has a sugar cube drenched in Cognac and topped with Champagne.  This requires my urgent attention….

Another week open and the feedback is tremendous!  However, I’ve been made aware recently that the opening hours are not particularly clear so please see below for details of when we are open.
Lunch
Monday to Saturday  12-2.30pm
Sunday   12.30-3.30pm

Dinner
Monday to Saturday 6-10.30pm
Sunday   Closed
A fixed price menu of 3 courses for £15.50 is available every lunchtime and between 6-7pm every evening.  There is a choice of 2 starters, 2 mains and 2 desserts that will change regularly. 

After my meeting with the shopfitters we will now be closing for the next 3 Mondays to carry out the snagging works, so the next Monday we will open will be the 27th August (my wedding anniversary!) and every Monday thereafter.

The cocktail bar is open until 12.30am Monday to Wednesday and from Thursday through to Saturday it closes at 1.00am.  You don’t need a dinner reservation to use the cocktail bar, so if you want to sample some of the best cocktails in Cambridge come on down!

On a separate note I’m currently up to my ears in paperwork!!!  If you know of any good book keepers please let me know by emailing me john@restaurantalimentum.co.uk there’s a free lunch in it for you if I take up your recommendation!

The menu has been updated to include prices and a few tweeks .  We’ll continue tweeking so keep on checking.  There is also a 3 course menu which will change regularly for £15.50 at lunchtimes and £17.50 between 6-7pm so you’ve got no excuse!
We’ve just done a food and wine matching evening with the guys from Noel Young wines which left me feeling slightly jaded,  but resulted in some great food and wine matches.  I must remember my spittoon next time…
The last few days have gone extremely well with nothing but positive feedback.  We’ve also taken on our Senior Sous chef Tom Earle,  who is currently Head Chef at the award winning Harts in Nottingham and trained at Claridges, Cotswold House and Lords of the Manor.  The Bio’s have also been updated to include our bar manager James Sandrini, who’s not just better looking than Tom Cruise, he mixes a better cocktail!  

Alimentum will be officially open to the public this coming Saturday.  There’s still an awful lot of fit out works that have to be completed by then, but it’s doable! It has not been an easy build, but I’m convinced my premature ageing over the last few months will all be worth while.
Whilst the shopfitters have not met their deadline for completion, they are still on side and have committed to finish the project to my specification.  I have subsequently changed the penalty clauses from financial, to being tarred and feathered as an extra incentive.
We’re now taking reservations on 01223 413000 or by e-mailing reservations@restaurantalimentum.co.uk, so come on, make that reservation today!!

It’s blooming frustrating, I still haven’t had firm comitmment back form the shopfitters yet regarding hand over so I can’t comitt to an opening date. I’m hoping it’s going to be next Thursday but Friday the 13th has been talked about as a possibility. If this happens I thought i’d walk under a few ladders whilst black cats cross my path, just to make sure the odds are stacked against me.
On a positive note the menu is up, just click on the menu tab and all will be revealed! Not only have all the ingredinets been ethically sourced, but they taste amazing as confirmed by my rapidly expanding waistline.
The food is technical and prepared with skill and passion, but is kept simple on the plate. Foams have been barred and are only allowed entry under extreme circumstances.
Three courses and half a bottle of wine will be under £50 per head, and 2 course fixed menus will be available for under £15 at lunchtimes and between 6pm and 7pm.
Let me know what you think!!

What a day!!! I’ve been up against some tight deadlines but this has taken the digestive.  I greeted the first group of friends with a broom in one hand and a glass of champagne in the other, classy I know, but we opened on time!
Even up until 4pm today I wasn’t sure it would happen, but a monumental push by everyone involved made sure it did.  I think the look of sheer panic in my face also helped spur everyone on, so thanks guys, you’ve saved me from the funny farm!
The food was fantastic and was praised by everyone.  Considering Anton has only had a day to work in the kitchen with his brigade, he really has pulled rabbits out of hats.
Equally Alfonso has been superb front of house and took total charge of service leaving me to work my way through the cocktail menu, that’s more like it! The staff both back and front have been absolutley superb, so thanks guys, it’s really appreciated.
The only downside is the ’IT’ wizard who installed the till software on my laptop has caused it to crash and burn, so no photos tonight.
Well we’re up and running and have another dry run today for more friends and family today (it’s 3am at the moment). The restaurant is 85% of the way there, but there’s still more to be done. I now have to make the decision whether to continue with Tuesday 3rd as our opening or hold for a couple of days to finish the fit out properly.  I’ll keep you posted…

All the joinery items should have been on site today, well if I’m being picky they should have been about 2 weeks ago. It’s now transpired that the joiner suffered temporary amnesia and forgot to fabricate the portal frames that go over the banquette seating, easily done, they’re only about 25 square metres in size after all. They won’t be ready in time, a temporary replacement will have to be supplied.
The company installing my music system walked off site today because it’s too busy, and are now saying they can’t complete the installation until the 11^th July, not exactly music to my ears…
As a fall back plan I’ve just retrieved my ‘ghetto blaster’ from the loft. I knew this baby would come in handy one day. It dates back to the 80’s and is the size of a Hummer, but it’s got a good honest sound.
Must remain positive.