NORTHERN PLANNER

JamesB was kind enough to buy me lunch in Leeds a couple of weeks back. He even let me choose where to go. So I picked  Pasta Romagna for a number of reasons. Number one is memories…. It may be Italian, but it’s authentic, local,small and all  about people.

When Mum used to make me go shopping as a boy she would always sweeten the pill with a slice of Gilda’s pizza, or a big helping of freshly cooked lasagne. When I moved away, sometimes I’d come to Leeds with work and that’s where I’d meet her. It was our special place. Not me and Dad, or me my Mum and my sisters, just us two. Now my parents have moved away to Cornwall, there are times when they seem a long way away. Mum seems a bit closer when I eat here.

Since I first went there it has slowly become surrounded by big chains. There’s  Pret, a Cafe Nero and a Bagel Nash all on the same street. But still this little cafe is always brimming with energy, chatter and love.

The proper  homecooked Italian food is good enough, but it’s the atmosphere that makes it. Gilda, the owner is a quintessential Italian mother. She’s been there, watching proceedings like a hawk for all these years.

She’s passionate, loud, generous and fun. And she sings, really sings. The customers love it, but……..

Someone didn’t and complained to Leeds council about the noise. The cynic in me wonders if it was one of these big competitors. And you know what happened? These loyal customers fought back. They kicked off so much it just couldn’t go any further. Gilda’s actually got a sign in her shop thanking whoever complained for making the people who love her little shop  more fiercely loyal than ever.

I bet no one would fight for Starbucks like that.