We're keen to keep our regular customers inspired and also, challenge our chefs to be really creative with the fantastic ingredients that we source.  So our first menu change has been carefully planned and is in all our restaurants now!

A new menu launch is always an exciting time for everyone.  Any big changes like this mean everyone working in the restaurant must have all the knowledge and information about the new dishes at their fingertips.  ‘Where are the ingredients from?' What's the tradition behind that dish?'  ‘Is that sage I can taste?' ‘How is that cooked?'  Enter Gennaro.

Gennaro will talk about food, cooking, recipes and eating for as long as there is someone there to listen to him!  "When I was growing up I remember that food was always of prime importance in our family.  Every decision, every argument and every discussion began and ended with cooking and eating."  You can't help but smile as he begins to talk about the new, tapas style, sardines.  "Wonderful, tiny, juicy sardines marinated in vinegar, basil, lemon zest and fantastic olive oil.  Not from the UK" he points out, "from Morocco.  UK sardines are too big.  Taste! Taste!"  Nobody needs any further prompting and everyone agrees that they are truly delicious.

When it comes to trying one of our main course additions - Soft shell crab fritti - some people need a little more encouragement.  "We can eat it all?  Shell and everything?"  Gennaro explains that every year these crabs shed their shells for a few weeks and at that point they are totally edible.  "Besides" he says, becoming ever more animated, "that is a beautiful mayonnaise to dip it in.  My special Amalfi mayonnaise with gherkins and celeriac. What are you waiting for?"  He throws his hands in the air in true Italian fashion.

As the morning goes on we learn that it's the rock chives garnishing the new "Spidiani" pork skewers that give it that slight smoky flavour.  We learn that just a pinch of chilli really livens up the crab spaghettini.  We find out that the new tagliatelle primavera includes English heritage asparagus which is grown especially for Jamie's Italian.  We're reminded of the most important ingredient in any pasta dish - love.  We see and share the new look lamb chops - now Lamb chop lollipops with 3 dips; crushed roasted nuts, chopped mint and parsley and salsa verde.  Delicious.

What a great morning.  We've tasted all the new menu items. We've learned everything we need to know to maintain our great reputation for having a knowledgeable and informative team and, most importantly of all; we've all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! 

Learn, enjoy, share; it's what it's all about!