Don't believe what you read in the papers!

We'll say it again about the newspapers.

You shouldn't believe all that you read in them.

The BBC have dug up that old chestnut about the average meal cost in a British pub. And, of course, as soon as it does so, all the newspapers - looking for a bit of easy copy - go and repeat the damn thing. So, we have a story which is months old that suddenly gets front page news again. It all began when the Good Pub Guide reported that because of the drop in revenue caused by the smoking ban, pubs were hiking up the cost of their food to replace it. And as a result, the average cost of lunch in your local had now risen to £20.

So, we'll repeat what we've said before. We'd love you to spend £20 on your lunch here at Intimo. But there's no need - we've got a fantastic selection on our menu. All home cooked and prepared - and quite a few of our lunchtime selections are avaiable for a quarter of that!!

So, don't believe what you read in the papers - it doesn't need to cost you anywhere need that!

Coming up soon - our Christmas Party season begins next weekend. So, if you've not fixed up your lunchtime or evening social with friends, family or collegaues, you know where to come!!

Christmas is coming!

We're really gearing up now for Christmas - and our Christmas Party menu is proving poular.

If you're looking for a great place to share your Christmas fun with friends, family or colleagues then you should look no further than Intimo.

Great food - unpretentious; great prices - good value; and a great atmosphere - warm and welcoming.

Just how restauarnts should be in our opinion.

So, what are you waiting for - book today!!

Think before you eat!

We saw an interesting article on the web yesterday. A foodie writer was suggesting that there are a number of questions you should ask of a restaurant before sitting down to eat.

Well, that's fine if you must be so intense – so we’ll put the questions to the Intimo test!

Here are the questions:

1. Does the restaurant use organic/local/fair trade produce?

Intimo tries wherever possible to use local and fresh produce.

2. Fast food is full of salt, sugar and fats – often twice the recommended daily amount.

We cook good food as quickly as we can – we don’t do Fast Food!

3. Is the food cooked fresh or microwaved?

Our food is cooked fresh and to order.

4. Are you looking for sparkling crystal and starched linen or plastic beakers and Formica tables?

Intimo does not do ‘pretentious! But we do believe in standards and quality – you’ll find our restaurant just about right!

5. Many burgers contain 48% chicken, water, beef fat, beef heart, rusk, starch, onion, salt, spices hydrolysed vegetable protein, etc – but no beef!

Then you’ve never eaten an Intimo Burger!!

6. Is the restaurant child-friendly?

We welcome well-behaved children for lunches, snacks or dinners.

7. Mark-up on wines can be as much as 400%.

All we can say is – not at Intimo!

8. Service charges are discretionary.

Absolutely - we couldn't agree more!

Salty scandal

An investigation into the culinary offerings of some of the UK's favourite fast food restaurants has found "shockingly high levels of salt in some family, individual, and children's meal options", which in many cases could result in children receiving well over their maximum daily recommended limit in just one sitting.

That's according to Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH), which surveyed a total of "346 individual food and drink items and 264 advertised meal combinations" from Burger King, KFC, McDonald's and Pizza Hut.

CASH cites the example of a family of four tucking into Pizza Hut's Cheesy Bites Meat Feast, one Medium Pan Super Supreme, one Garlic Bread, one Potato Wedges, one Saucy Chicken Wings (Buffalo), and four individual Madagasca Vanilla Cheesecakes. They would, the organisation claims, consume an astonishing 12.3g of salt each - "over twice the recommended daily maximum limit for an adult (6g), and almost two and a half times the limit for a seven to 10 year old (5g) in one meal".

Down at KFC, meanwhile, a Deluxe Boneless Box "shared between four could contain 5.2g of salt per person", which is "almost a whole day's salt limit for an adult and over the recommended maximum daily limit for a child".

Menus aimed specifically at kids fared little better. CASH probed 21 such menu items and 48 meal combinations. It reports: "The salt content of the meal combinations varied from 4.3g of salt in a Pizza Hut children's meal (nearly 50 per cent more than the 3g upper daily limit for a child of four to six years) to 0.6g in a McDonald's Happy Meal of chicken nuggets and a fruit bag."

Intimo has a novel approach to salt on it's customer's food.

You'll find it in a small pot on the table - just next to the pepper.

Here at Intimo we don't offer fancy promotional dealsor Family Fun Packs. Instead,we believe in providing good food, home cooked and at honest prices.

So, the next time you fancy taking the family for fast food - think again and come and try us.

Intimo - a breath of fresh air. With no salt added.

What planet do these people live on???

The 2008 Good Pub Food Guide has just been published and, according to these so-called experts, the price of pub food has soared to an average £20 for a two-course lunch and glass of wine.

What?

They also go on to say that unless pubs rein in their prices, they risk losing customers. According to them, the price of a pub main meal, such as steak and kidney pie, costs on average £10.50.

Well we don't know what planet these people live on - but one thing we can guarantee you - it doesn't need to cost anywhere near that at Intimo. Our current lunch menu boasts a range of great home cooked and home prepared food for just a fiver.


Yes, that's right - a fiver!

We've alos got a great range of meat, fish, pasta and salads to tempt you - and they'll cost you nowhere near £20 a head we can assure you!!

So what are you waiting for - why not try us out?

Christmas party bookings are now starting to come in - so don't forget to get your places booked asap. We'll be promoting our Christmas menus very shortly.

Join us for a great Christmas Party Night

If you’re looking for somewhere special to celebrate this Christmas with colleagues why not join us at Intimo, for one of our great Christmas Party Nights?

Our Christmas Party Evenings are perfect for parties or groups of friends or colleagues – with a minimum party size of just 8 and up to 60.

The Intimo Christmas Party Night includes a delicious 4 course menu with a choice of starter, main course and desert plus coffee and mince pies - all this for just £21.95 per person. And our Christmas menu also includes a special offer on wine, with a free bottle for every six bottles pre-booked.

Intimo Cafe, Restaurant and Bar has a growing reputation for fine food and a great atmosphere so why not book now to avoid disappointment?

Tables for the Christmas Party Night are limited, must be pre-booked and are available strictly on a first-come, first-served basis.

Demand is expected to be high – so you are advised to book now to make sure of your places.

You can phone your bookings through to us on 01424 439080.

What a stink!

The introduction of the smoking ban in public places on July 1st has had a number of effects - some businesses claiming that they have lost business, others bemoaning the fact that the non smokers have still not returned in the numbers they promised to do prior to the legislation.

Here at Intimo, we retain a strictly neutral view of smoking believing that non smokers have the right to enjoy their food and drink in a smoke-free environment - and we cater for those who enjoy tobacco, with a seated area outside.

However, our eyebrows were raised when we saw a report in the paper over the weekend regarding pub smells. Apparently, some pubs are planning to pump in artificial scents to mask the smell of stale beer, sweat and drains that used to be disguised by cigarettes before the smoking ban.

The smell of ocean breeze and freshly cut grass are being tested by one major brewery in an effort to disguise the locker room aroma in some crowded venues on warm Friday and Saturday nights. One pub boss reports: “Appetising food smells have increased but others are less attractive, such as stale food and beer, damp, sweat and body odour, drains and — how do you put this nicely? — flatulence.”

So, do you still want to eat in your local pub????

Well, we can assure you that Intimo has a very pleasant smell indeed - the smell of good, honest, home cooked food!

But don't take our word for it - come along and try it out for yourself!

We're open for lunch and dinner and we'd love to see you!

Come and see a show

The White Rock Theatre in Hastings has some great shows lined up for the Autumn with a host of top stars due to appear.

Frank Skinner is in town on September 14th; in October, Dr Feelgood and Marty Wilde and the Wildcats appear; November sees top tribute bands Think Floyd and Abba Mania on stage whilst in December the traditional panto Sleeping Beauty begins its festive run.

Check the latest list of shows on the left - but do remember to check with the venue for more information.

(Left) Abba Mania at the White Rock Theatre, Hastings, November 30th

Remember, if you are visiting Hastings for a show, why not visit Intimo for your pre-show dinner?

Call us to reserve your table on 01424 439080.

A great Bank Holiday!

We enjoyed a good Bank Holiday Weekend with a great crowd of people visiting us over the three days - it was good to see old friends and some new ones enjoying our hospitality.

Mind you, you shouldn't wait for a holiday weekend to come and sample Intimo!

Smoking

Reports suggest that cigarette sales have dropped by almost 7% since the smoking ban was introduced in England in July.

We don't moralise at Intimo but we do support the right of our customers to enjoy their food and drink in a smoke-free atmosphere.

However, for those of our customers who do like to smoke, we have plenty of outdoor space with seating from which you can enjoy your tobacco.

So, with just a few days of summer remaining, why not pop down to the coast and see us for a great lunch, dinner or snack?

Bank Holiday Treats?

Forget the miserable summer we're having, why not come on down to the seaside this August Bank Holiday?


Hastings is a great place to bring the family with traditional seaside activities for everybody - all within walking distance too.


The Old Town of Hastings is quaint with some interesting shops worth a browse. Then, of course, the seafront is always worth a wander - with a fun fair for the youngsters and crazy golf for all the family.


And when you've walked up an appetite, why not come along and visit Intimo for a great Bank Holiday lunch, dinner or snack? We've a brand new specials menu being developed - and we'll bring you news of that right here very shortly.


And remember - don't worry about the weather - just make sure you're not hungry!!

Another reason to visit Hastings!

The Hastings Museum and Art Gallery has now re-opened following a £1 million refurbishment.

The Museum now boasts a variety of new features and exhibits including a retro exhibition of memorabilia recalling the infamous Mods v Rockers bank holiday clashes of the 1960's. included in this new exhibition is a replica of the iconic Mod emblem - the Lambretta scooter.

A brand new exhibit dedicated to John Logie Baird, who chose the town as the venue for the world's first ever TV broadcast, includes replica equipment used by Baird in that first historic broadcast.

The museum also features displays of the Hastings-born conservationist Grey Owl and Robert Tressell, author of ‘Ragged Trousered Philanthropists’, who spent time living in the town.

For more information on the newly refurbished Hastings Museum, including opening times and admission details, visit the Museums website.

Of course, after a morning spent viewing this fabulous new facility in the town - it's time for aspot of lunch.

And where better than Hastings favourite lunch spot - Intimo!

We look forward to seeing you!

Restaurant rip-offs

The Foodie Magazine Olive has just published a list of the 10 most common restaurant rips offs.

And interesting reading it makes too!

Strange how nearly all the apparent rip offs are techniques employed by the so-called top places – the places to be seen, the places with more of a spotlight on the name on the door than on the food.

You get my drift?

So, here’s the list – and see if you can spot what I mean.

The Top 10 Restaurant Rips Offs

1. Supplements
2. Rising prices after positive reviews
3. Wine mark-ups
4. Cover charges
5. Special occasion menus
6. Upselling
7. Mineral water
8. Extra courses
9. Daily specials
10. The set lunch

Here at Intimo, we have a very simple philosophy – we provide good, honest food at a price that represents value for money.

That’s why our customers return time and again.

We leave the rip offs to the so-called celebrity chefs and their fellow London Big Hitters

Pier Pressure

There has been a bit of a spat down here in Hastings between the local council and the owners of the town's pier.

The rumpus ended with the council issuing a closure order on the owners - and for most of the summer, one of the town's most iconic landmarks has been sitting forlornly behind fences and padlocks - not a great advert for the British Seaside.

Anyway, with a little help from the council, the owners of the Pier’s Bingo Hall and Amusement Arcade carried out some repair work to strengthen the structure, enabling both the Bingo Hall and Arcade to begin trading once more.

So, our Pier is now open again which is great news for the town. We're not getting carried away though because the future remains uncertain for the section that is still shut - and there seems to be no end in sight to the original dust-up between owners and council.

But at least our visitors can once again walk along this beautiful structure - after a great lunch in Intomo, of course.

The seaside just isn't the seaside without a pier!

Come to Hastings and see UFO's

Our home town of Hastings was in the news all over the world this week.

It all started with a request to the Ministry of Defence under the Freedom of Information Act regarding the number of reports on UFO sightings.

Their response made interesting - and entertaining - reading!

Apparently there were 97 reports investigated by the MOD who, rather po-faced says "We are obliged to investigate any sightings that may be related to military aircraft."

Amongst the report was one from a Cumbrian driver who reported seeing: "a triangular object with lights. One green, one red, and the other two amber." We're not sure but, could this have been ... ahem ... a set of traffic lights?

But the most bizarre sighting of the 97 received by the MoD - and the piece of the story that propelled Hastings into the newspapers - was "the alien" seen by two witnesses outside their kitchen window in Hastings, East Sussex.

The couple's identity is not disclosed - but perhaps the aliens were searching for a decent place to eat! Should have sent them straight round to Intimo!!

Incidentally, now that the hot weather has returned with a vengeance, remember that Intimo has seating outside - perfect for that lunch snack and cool drink!

We look forward to seeing you.

Phew! What a start!

Welcome to the Intimo Blog.

It doesn't seem like five minutes since we opened up Intimo - a great new place to eat in the centre of Hastings. Time has flown by but we've alreday built up a loyal customer base - all attracted by good honest food at sensible prices.

You'll find all you need to know about Intimo right here - including how to find us and how to make a reservation.

Intimo is a great place to meet friends, family and business colleagues for a snack, for lunch or for a great dinner.

If you work in Hastings - we're convenient for lunch and snacks. If you'd like to call your order through - then ring us on 01424 439080.

If you're visiting Hastings on holiday - we're right by the sea front and close to all the shops. A great place to dine for all the family - we believe in offering great food at sensible prices.

If you're planning a night out in Hastings - why not join us for dinner before or after your theatre, concert or show?

And if you just like great food - you must pay us a visit!

We'll keep you posted right here on our special events and new menus - so do keep visiting us.

We hope to see you soon!

Michael