I Worked at "Kings Casino" from 1984 to around Early Winter in 1987, about 3 Years!
It was a Great Place to Work and most of the Kitchen Staff were Great as well, I had a Good Reason for leaving, I will talk about this next Time!
But I have One Last Story about the "Casino" I would like to Post about, some 25 Years later (after I had finished at the Casino), My Son "Nathan" Who Works as a Coffee Vending Machine Engineer, in the East Anglia Region of the UK, by Coincidence has Machines in "Kings Casino"
He was Repairing a Machine there about 2 Years ago, when He got talking to a Female Member of Staff, who had Remembered me Working there all them Years previously!
She had apparently been Working there for over 25 Years and also Had a Photograph of me and "Head Chef" Peter Culley.
So the Next time "Nathan" was there Mending a Vending Machine, she gave Him the Photo (to give to me), she had took it all them Years ago!
That's Peter in the Middle, with me to the Left!
I Remembered it well, it was Taken around Christmas/New Year Period in 1985, it was a Big Buffet, All Types of Meat and Seafood you could Imagine, I remember the Restaurant was Closed that Night, but there was well over a 150 Covers at the Buffet.
Its Great to Look back on Photos like this, its the only thing I have concerning "Kings Casino" and as the Casino Closed Down about 18 Months ago, I'm not likely to see or go in there Again!
As for some Music, My Favorite English Band are Level 42, and in 1985 they Released a Single Called "Something About You" Prior to the Album which Followed, Called "World Machine"
World Machine was Level 42's 6th Studio Album, all of which were on the Polydor Record label."Something About You" was Written by Level 42 and Wally Badarou.
It was not Released until 1986 in the US, and became their only Top 10 Hit on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, in the UK it Reached Number 6 on the UK Pop Chart!
I saw "Level 42" Live about 2 Years Previous to the Single Release, Mark King was Great on the "Bass" the Best British Bass Player by Far!
I Believe after Their next Album Release in 1986 called "Running in the Family" Level 42 went off the Boil a bit, and went too Commercial, this coincided with the "Gould Brothers" Leaving the Band!
As I said in my Previous Post (Non-Music Post) being Second Chef had its Advantages and it's Dis-advantages!
Now for One of the Dis-advantages, This was around Winter Time in 1984, some Years previously I had been doing my Chef Training College Courses from 1974 to 1979.
Two of my College Tutor's Stand out in my mind, as to being the Best Cookery Teacher's I had, while doing my 5 Year's Training, One Being a Chef by the name of "Lee Mills" and the other was a Chef named "Brian Thompson"
Why I mention this is, because One Night while being in Charge of the "Casino Kitchen" I was on the "Stove" and an Order came in for A "Beef Stroganoff" amongst other Dishes, I believe it was a Party of about 4 People!
So I did the Order and everything was Fine (or so I thought it was) and a little later, the Waiter came into the Kitchen, and said to me "the Chap on Table 5?" reckons He used to be your Teacher and would like a "Word with you"
So when I had the time to spare, I went out into the Restaurant to see Who it was, now "Head Chef Peter" was Good at the sort of thing, I was Not, I liked being behind the Scenes!
To my Surprise when I got to the Table in Question, I saw my Ex-College Teacher "Brian Thompson" sitting there, immediately I thought he was going to say "What a Lovely Meal, Lee, I taught you well!
But he didn't, In front of everybody, he started going on about, "I Taught you how to make Beef Stroganoff properly, all them Year's ago, and you Dished this up for me, what the Hell's going on!
I was Stunned, to say the least, but I quickly got my thoughts together and in front of everybody at his Table and in the Restaurant at that time, I said, That was back then, I now Work here for "Peter", and I will Cook Meals how he wants me to Cook them, after all, they pay my Wages!
I then Walked back into the Kitchen, and that was the "Last Time" Brian Thompson, Spoke to me, I have seen Him a Couple of times around town , since then, I don't know if he see me or he just didn't speak!
That all Happened some 28 Years ago, so if I saw him tomorrow, Would he Speak, I don't know!
About the "Beef Stroganoff" what was He moaning about, to tell the Truth I cant remember, but I think it was something to do with the "Fresh Single Cream" I had used!
Incidentally, he was also my Head-Chef (Brian Thompson) when I worked at the "Sandringham Hotel" about 2/3 Years previously!
Here's the 114th Mix for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by Dick G, its called "Brit Mix 2" there's some classic Brit Funk Tracks on here, including Loose Ends, Central line,David Joseph, Delegation, 52nd Street and Paul Hardcastle! Press play to listen or go to DixMix's pagefor Full Track Listing and download.
