Eating Places

[John Cassels]

A bit more mundane ; best breakfast was in the Merchant Navy hotel. Obviously cooked by an ex MN cook.

[John Pruden]

I recall two firms competing for trade along the liverpool and Birkenhead Dock Roads. Stan Waters and another which I am sure I will remember after I press the submit button. Also two sizes in mugs of tea, large and very large.
I have memories of a cafe in Hamilton Square, almost facing the tube called Olivers??/ Olivieries??. Popular for a very substantial breakfast with the Irish and Welsh contingent. I always enjoyed their Mince, Chips and Peas after reporting to Odyssey works for next ship.

Brgds

Bill

BILL there was LAYTENS they had a few one was on great Howard st and of course franks cafe on the dock rd interesting enough old frank had his death certificate on the wall he came around in the mortuary{true} frank was often on radio merseyside.jp

[Robert T. Bush]

After a nights entertainment in Calcutta many anglos including Jute Wallas, Mem Sahibs and Seafarers went to this place where your boy would take you to your table and come back with the best of curries to your order.

Anyone remember Nizams?

There was also excellent Chinese food to be had in the town.

Firpo's was an upscale place and all the big hotels had first class cooks.

The Park restaurant was a seafarers favourite with Fillipino muscians and entertainers.

[Robert T. Bush]

Dr Roy, the Premier of Bengal, had a very liberal alcoholic drink regime. There was one dry day each week on Friday.

For the rest of the time good German Beer, Scotch, and Gin could be had at reasonable prices to go with your curry.

[Jim Brady]

Here you got food but not to eat.Sundays in a bar on the Bluff in Durban,I imagine you could only have a drink if you have a meal.Four of you go in sit at a table and four soups are placed in front of you,you can then order four beers,you dont touch the soup.Soup is taken away and placed on sideboard,two customers come in and same soup is placed in front of them then placed on sideboard this excercise is carried out all day.I often wonder what would've happened if me and my mates would've demolished the soup.Looking at it from what I remember it was just like a coloured water with a few peas and some chopped carrot it didn't look very appertising.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Capt Bill Davies]

GEE'S!

[Keith Moody]

Back in 1956 I was working for NZSco. and was down in christchuch NZ. it was a sunday morning and all was fairly quiet so my pal Dennis Holttum and myself were looking for a cafe to have a bite to eat, we were ( I presume ) in the middle of Christchurch where there was a church on one side of a large green and a row of shops on the other side, tucked into this row of shop was a small resturant so we decided to try it. inside were about half a dozen tables with chairs around them , we took over a couple of them and looked at the menu,which to me seemed extensive for the size of the place and very reasonable prices. anyway we both ordered an omelet with cheese and mushrooms and a milkshake, when the meal arrived it was nothing like the ones served on the Ruahine, the omelet was covering a large plater. it was the biggest Omelet I have ever seen, but boy did it taste good. I was back in Christchurch in 1974 on a far east tour with a band called Deep Purple, unfortunatly I didn`t have time to check out if the resturant was still there. that was one of two of the best meals ever tasted, the other one was in Madeira whilst cruising on the old Arcadia, went ashore for the evening and found this resturant surounded by a tall wall, there were a few seats outside the building and as the evening was warm we sat out there, first drinks then a red snapper fish supper with all the trimings, what a meal, and what a fantastic setting for such a meal, unfortunatly never did get back there again.
keith moody
R635978

ps. talking of good food how many remember the 6inch steak and kidny pies made by wall`s, they used to be sold and served in a tin foil dish. boy they were good!!!!

[John Pruden]

yes bill the only thing they asked how many slices of gravy do you want on you pie and chipsjp

[Capt Bill Davies]

I am sure most will have recognised that I remembered the Stan Waters competitor being Gee's Canteen. Just incase some thought I was taking the lords name in vain in post 36.


Brgds

Bill

[John Pruden]

bill there was a canteen in Vittoria dock i loved black pudding til i looked at the flies around the barrels of blood on the dock never ate it since a rolled up echo was no good to kill them a shotgun might have.