THE WHEELS OF FORTUNE TURN
I never thought that the garage where I took my car to be serviced would become my first restaurant business. I wasn’t really anticipating cooking in one of London’s most fashionable streets or that I would be enjoying 3 week waiting lists for my cooking. But then life has a habit of turning up unexpected adventures.
When my father died, I inherited his car. A rather unfashionable, gas guzzling turbo-charged Citroën which had every ridiculous mod con available. An old boy’s plaything. But I was very happy to take it on and for a year or when it needed servicing I would take it up to Collier’s Garage on Upper St. Until the day when John told me it wasn’t worth fixing.
So as the wheels of fortune turned, a year later and I was looking on the web at a picture of my old car repair garage, up for immediate short term rent. So I went to see it and through the 50 years of grime and oil, filthy walls, blocked drains, grease pumps, welding fume extractors and hydraulic car ramps, I saw the potential to do something amazing in an extraordinary space.
And so the next PipsDish pop-up venue was born and I got my sleeves rolled up, painted the walls and unblocked the drains. I wanted the place to look like a dream kitchen, somewhere you could come in and enjoy some food and feel the warmth. In another act of serendipity my dear friend and kitchen partner Mary Doherty, returned with her daughter from Greece, where she has been enjoying cooking with the finest produce in her home on Aegina. Working together again, we seem to be bringing lots of joy to the people we love to cook for. And every weekend since we opened in December 2011 our trestle tables have been full of excited, hungry diners who’ve often come back for more.
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READERS COMMENTS ON THE WHEELS OF FORTUNE TURN
I got a notice about you from Hannah at Nourish and living a couple of spits away from Upper Street, I must come and shop and ty the supper club!
good luck with it
Annie
January 23, 20121:11 pmThanks Annie,
January 23, 20121:15 pmwe’re booking for Sunday 5 Feb lunch with live music and Friday 10th Supperclub. Be lovely to see you there!
Philip
Pip
Thank you so much for treating us to a wonderful evening last night. I’ve won some serious brownie points managing to book you for our dinner.
The food was creative and delicious. The atmopshere, welcoming and relaxed. You even managed keep the place warm despite it being the coldest night of the year!
I’m very grateful to you for making our evening special.
Thank you again and I will be eating your food again soon!
February 8, 201211:31 amSarah
I absolutely loved cooking for you. Look forward to seeing you soon
February 8, 201211:38 amHello there -
February 11, 20121:50 pmI wondered whether you were thinking of keeping it on later in the year: I suddenly thought, Birthday Party territory – but that doesn’t happen till September…
http://goodbadyum.blogspot.com/
I have just come across your pop up and think it is a fantastic enterprise. I am new to the pop up scene and will very likely come along on Friday Lunch- what are you cooking? I am glad the pay what you think it is worth scheme is working out and enabling you to provide free lunches.Bravo. There really is nothing quite like this on upper street and I am excited to come and visit.
February 28, 20129:06 pmhttp://www.mudpiesandminestrone.blogspot.com
Pip,
March 1, 201210:24 pmLove your views on cooking on the hoof and understanding the basic ground rules along with knowing good ingredients. I cook and teach the very same way. People really get it when put this way. Great to hear about you. Bravo to you and your venture. Sarah
http://www.sweettree.co.uk
Just wanted to express again what a lovely experience it was to eat at Pipsdish…
March 12, 201211:43 amI absolutely loved the free lunch idea for pensioners; working with elderly and dementia clients myself… it’s a breath of fresh air to see such a wonderful idea come to life in our community.
I’ll be back soon! Nadene
Hi Phillip,
June 10, 201210:40 pmI wanted to say thanks for a fantastic meal and experience last night. I look forward to popping back next weekend, and will definitely buy a copy of your book!
Sam
Hi Philip
Do you open for lunch on Saturday at all? The information on your site seems to say you’re not, but we’re up in London from Cornwall for a weekend early December (travelling back west early Sunday, unfortunately) with our little girl and would love to have lunch at your place with the kind friend – another Edinburger – putting us up.
N x
November 7, 20129:09 pmHey Norman would be lovely. We’re planning to be open on Saturdays in December for some hearty stew. So it might be just right before you head off. Just email Mary@pipsdish.co.uk and we can let you know
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November 22, 201211:26 pmhttp://www.thetableofzekki.wordpress.com
Hi Phillip – I was so happy to see your blog about the garage, as I’m about to start up something similar, but out in the country, on a farm. And it’s an old farm garage – with a mechanic’s pit and engine hoist. I thought I was the only one with these ideas that seem mad to some people. I’m at http://www.thetableofzekki.wordpress.com but will be setting up a new blog for the new venture.
January 12, 201310:35 pmGreat, let’s have a chat. I’ll email you.
January 14, 20138:23 pmSHARE YOUR THOUGHTS