Monday 29 September 2008

Michele and Russell - The Restaurant interview

http://www.bbc.co.uk/restaurant/restaurateurs/restaurateurs_8.shtml
Interview with Russell and Michele for the start of The Restaurant 2008.
Our Restaurant is called 'The Cheerful Soul', our restaurant location was Northwood.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Where did you get the wallpaper from in your retaurant??? Wife wants it in our hall...

Anonymous said...

Many congratulations, you were worthy winners and our favourites throughout.

Anonymous said...

No!

I've been saying he looks like Bear G. from the start :)

Anonymous said...

Very, very well done! I have been watching you guys right from the start and there was no doubt that you would be the winners in the end. You were the best team by a mile, the friendliest and most original front of house, and of course, the best chef in this competition. Michele & Russell - keep it up!!! The best of luck!!! Love, Bjorn (bjornkrohn@gmx.net) xxx

Anonymous said...

As per the other wishes, well done and well deserved! now what’s the address?? :)

Adrian & Nat

Anonymous said...

Will you serve lapin a la coque?

MICHELE ENGLISH said...

No, we won't!
See you Thursday John! :-)

scharabo said...

After your grand opening please post an update. I would expect James and Ali to be there. Perhaps other teams. I know Helen and Steve are now running a hotel/bars/restaurants/function rooms complex, but what are other others up to?

Where did James and Ali go after their three months of additional training at Raymond's restaurant?

UK Foodie said...

Good luck, hope all goes well!

Anonymous said...

Me and my husband ate in your restaurant tonight for our wedding aniversary. Loved it! Food was excellent, and service great. Michelle you are a fantastic host, I can see why you won!

Ali and Barny

Anonymous said...

Just watched the update programme on BBC2. The way Michelle spoke to the joiner was disgusting and I would not eat at this reataurant until she learns a few manners.

Dinkumjames said...

Well done Michelle. You were absolutely right to remind the man who the customer was. Congrtas on opening you new restaurant. Look forwward to visiting soon. Dinkumjames (ex Compleat Angler, Marlow)

Anonymous said...

Alan and Jane say; Bravo, we followed you throughout the series,and tonight on BBC2. You were worthy winners and we look forward to enjoying an evening at your restaurant. Michelle, you show you are 100% behind Russell and your blast at the joiner was understandable under the stress. Many congratulations now and for the future to you both

Anonymous said...

Having watched the programme last night I can't understand how people can defend Michelle's behaviour toward the Joiner. How can you have the cheek to say you don't want to be spoken to like that when the man couldn't get a word in edgeways?!

If that's how you handle stressful situations, god help your customers! Just remember, it costs nothing to be nice.

Anonymous said...

i agree with the comment that russell looks like bear and also michelle behaves like a spoilt brat and did in the series if she doesnt get her own way. screaming like that. no way will we be going there for a meal even tho russell is very nice. poor russell.

Anonymous said...

Those of you that are defending the joiner obviously have no idea of the stress that is caused by someone who has failed to deliver. I can symathise with Michelle, I have experienced the same only for me it was my home and not my business and livlihood. Good on yer gal, long may your business run and should I ever be in your area I shall book a table.

The Champagne Couple said...

Can't believe the 'anonymous' weak mindless individuals who have the cheek to post here. Michelle and Russell are good honest, decent folk...end of. It's a shame that there aren't more honest folk like them out there...the As for the joiner 'bit'....i would imagine the 'anonymous' is the joiner or his wife anyway.

We have eaten in ALL the most decent places in oxon..London..New York etc etc...and what the Cheerful Soul offer is up ther with the best already!! the Cheerful Soul...Michelle/Russ..Sara and Tamsin....have created a really great place to come, relax...eat..chat. Sure it's in it's infancy and they looked a tad stressed yesterday...but great food...great people...and some. Sure, we experienced 'marlow' snobs who think the world owes em a living..but hey...let em got on with it....

Happy to sit on here every day if need be. People who post neg comes anonymously are keyboard warriors who dont have any common decency.

Long may the Cheerful Soul reign in Marlow

Anonymous said...

and of course we all know who 'the champagne couple' are don't we, just as well they didn't sign themselves the 'anonymous champagne couple' otherwise we wouldn't have had a clue!!!

this is not an anti cheerful soul brigade this is just a viewer who has watched the programmes from start to finish and has been appalled on a number of occasions by Michelle's spoilt brat tantrums and her thinking she can rant and rave at everyone just because she is 'stressed'. The restaurant business is no doubt very stressful and I fear that she just does not have the temperent for the industry.

I posted the original criticism and NO I am NOT the joiner - or his wife, I am a person who thinks everyone deserves to be spoken to in a civil manner no matter how 'stressful' the situation

anonymous said...

Rang yesterday afternoon to book a table for Saturday. No reply so left a message. No response by 10.30 to-day so rang again. Girl who answered phone spoke so quickly impossible to get her name. Explained the situation she said they were fully booked but no apology for not ringing back. This is the 2nd time this has happened. Won't try again

Mickie and Tony said...

Thank you very much for a fabulous evening! My husband and I are big fans. As we watched you win the TV series we made a promise to ourselves to visit your restaurant when it opened. We ate in The Cheerful Soul last night and it was amazing! Having travelled over an hour to get there it was WELL worth it!! The food was really, really delicious - I didn't want my Roasted Squash Risotto to end! An absolute delight! And as for my husbands fillet steak - WOW! The food was excellent and we can't wait to come back! Congratulations Michele and Russell!

Anonymous said...

Since you are The Cheerful Soul at the Hare and Hound are the pub and restaurant separate operations with you only doing the food part?

MICHELE ENGLISH said...

Yes, the whole place is run by us. We decided to name the restaurant 'The Cheerful Soul in the Hare and Hounds' as we are in a 400 year old building and wanted to keep the original name as well as add our name. The locals of course know the building by the name of 'The Hare and Hounds' as well.

Anonymous said...

Read where BBCA will be carrying a special program next week (3/2) on your restaurant. Family without a TV come over on Tuesday nights at that time to see a particular program. I'm going to have to tell them 'not for that hour'. Looking forward to it.

You have been open long enough now for the media food critics to have evaluated you. How are you being rated?

Anonymous said...

Just finished watching the show on BBC Lifestyle in the middle east (final was last night, we are very behind)... so glad you guys won, we were behind you guys right from the signature dish, loved the flowers, wishing you plenty of success and cheerfulness! x

Anonymous said...

Many congratulations! I've been following the show here in Sweden on BBC Lifestyle and the final was last night!! hmmmm a little behind but hey ho so glad you guys won! Was just interested as to how your business was going after winning. And Russel i was trying to think who you reminded me of and it's just come to me- Bear Grylls!!!