OUR GOODMAN FAMILY
Meet Francesco, our waiter at Goodman City who has been part of the Goodman Family for 3 years.
Francesco has been a waiter at Goodman City for almost three years. He thinks – correctly – that the prawn tempura is a must have, and that the carrots and onions are very underrated side dishes and, when not at Goodman, loves spending time with his wife and three kids.
After many years in Italian restaurants, Francesco was looking for something different.
“I needed a change, to do something new in my life, so I decided to join Goodman. At the start, everything was new to me, I’d never worked in a steakhouse. I knew a little about steak, but…” He laughs. “Then you come here and get to learn so much about steak.”
Hospitality has long been in Francesco’s blood. “I come from Italy, from Puglia, and I started doing this when I was 16. In the summer season, I’d go to the north of Italy, to places like Rimini.” And then, 25 years ago, Francesco decided to push even further north and move to London.
“Originally to learn English but now,” he adds with a grin, “I’m stuck here.” Happily, that’s for the very best of reasons – “I have a family now, my wife, and three kids” – plus Francesco also loves what he does. “It’s different in the City. I used to work in central London, where there are more tourists, but here it’s more regulars. I enjoy the customers, I enjoy my colleagues, I enjoy the work.”
Francesco has been with us for almost 3 years and is an integral part of the Goodman City team
When not at Goodman, Francesco likes to travel, to cook – “often pasta – I’m Italian” – but, mostly, to spend time with his family. While you’ll often find him watching cartoons with the kids, when Francesco gets control of the remote, he’s a fan of singing competitions, such as X Factor and Italian talent show Amici. “I like it, when you can see these young talents, and follow them as they grow and become famous.” He also enjoys football, and supports “Napoli in Italy and Chelsea here, because when I came here they had a lot of Italian influence, like Vialli and Zola.”
If eating at Goodman, Francesco likes to start with “a nice Margarita, with salt” but will then move on to a bottle of Primitivo – “because I grew up in an area that produced Primitivo”. To start, you’ll find him enjoying the prawn tempura and tuna tartare, followed by a steak. “For bone-in Sirloin, I go for the US one, but I like my ribeye from the UK, and grass-fed and, if possible, from a Belted Galloway.” To finish, he’ll drink an Old Fashioned but there’s only one possible dessert choice. “Tiramisu is my favourite.” In good news for everyone – but particularly Goodman’s pastry chefs – Francesco confirms that the Goodman tiramisu is “very good.”
As for side dishes, “always chips, always peppercorn sauce, the mushrooms, the carrots, the onions.” But never the creamed spinach. Francesco grins. “I am Italian, but I don’t eat cheese…”
Credits
Interview by Neil Davey
Photography by Tom Bowles