Long day’s journey into night; Jamie’s Italian at Gatwick Airport

It was one of those days which I keep meaning not to repeat: an early start, a full day’s work, an evening flight and a late night arrival in another country.

It wasn’t such an early start, just 0630, and I had a taxi to the station so I didn’t have to clean the ice of the windscreen before I left home. It was cold and there had been a heavy frost. Everywhere was white and the journey down to London as the sun came up was a touch scenic.

I had a 10am meeting so I’d timed my journey to London to give me time for breakfast at Patisserie Valerie at King’s Cross. It’s upstairs in the new King’s Cross and although it’s pretty cold at this time of year it’s worth visiting for excellent coffee and big and tasty croissants. It’s also upstairs from Starbucks so it’s a positive boycott.

The meeting was at 1 Birdcage Walk, home of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, where we had a first meeting of the team involved in a rather exciting start-up with which I’ve become involved as ‘marketing director’. I had a presentation so my credibility was at stake because many of those present hadn’t met me before. It seemed to go well.

We finished late afternoon in time for me to head off to Gatwick for a late flight to Barcelona. With a departure at 2015 I had time for dinner. The choice of eateries at Gatwick isn’t great: it’s either mediocre to moderate chains/fast food or the Caviar House with expensive food and pricy wine served in 125ml measures. I chose Jamie’s Italian as the best of a poor offering.

It started badly. The lady by the door asked if she could help me. What is this obsession with helping? I was there for dinner, it’s a restaurant. What’s wrong with ‘good evening, would you like a table for one or will you sit at the bar?’. It’s not that difficult.

I was served by Ivana who’s Slovakian and, as would be expected, pleasant and competent.

I began with a ‘plank’ of mixed vegetarian antipasti. Perfectly edible. Main course was salmon, not overcooked, with Ricotta cheese and a few vegetables. Only problem with the latter was that one of them was beet root. I don’t like the taste of beet root and I don’t like the potassium permanganate mess it makes of everything else on the plate. However I cleaned it all up as best I could and the meal was pleasant if not exactly wonderful. I started with a Moretti, had a nice Barbera d’Asti with the salmon and shut everything down with an espresso.

So Jamie’s Italian. Worth the hype? Does it live up to the Jamie Oliver brand? Not really although I’m not really sure what that brand stands for anyway. Pretty ordinary but OK for an airport meal. I prefer Est Est Est at Luton.

That left an hour or so at Gatwick and like most airports now it says that gates will be advised in x minutes’ time. Luton and Stansted are pretty punctual about doing this. Not so Gatwick and most gates were announced 5 or 10 minutes after the due time. When my flight was not promptly posted I feared the worst but i should not have worried. We boarded promptly and at the time of writing are well on our way and due to arrive Barcelona 2315 CET which should get me into ‘my’ flat soon after 2400.