After years eating in restaurants all over the world I decided to open up one of my own in Bangkok, Thailand

Appropriately I named it CONFUSION.

The menu was based on a fusion of Thai and European recipes and it made for some interesting combinations.

When I rented the shophouse orginally it was meant to be as a going-concern. A French restaurant had been operating there for years. However, I went on holidays to Ireland and when I returned the place was completely empty. So at that stage I had to decide whether to back out completely or give it a go.

Guess what I did?

Anyway, CONFUSION was a brilliant experience for me. Unfortunately I also had my own “day job” and couldnt really devote as much time as I would have wished. I think what I achieved in the year was simply amazing. Everything was new and built from scratch – from the kitchen to the tables to the menu.

Unfortunately, I had a problem with the lease. It transpired that the landlord wasnt really the landlord. In fact, he was just sub leasing to me. That wouldnt be a major problem except his lease only had 6 months left and he signed for 5 years with me.

I decided at that stage that I would take my losses, put it all down to experience and move on. I sold the restaurant to 2 Scottish guys and in fact CONFUSION is still going to this day. CONFUSION reigns!

One of my favourite stories is the opening night. As you can imagine it was completely full and everyone was running around like headless chickens (if we werent careful we could have ended up in one of the Green Curries!!!).

The only problem was that half of the kitchen was missing. About 9pm I heard a big noise and saw that a big truck had just pulled up outside.Of course – the remainder of the kitchen.

THey decided to walk right through the main door carrying the kitchen and lifted it up the stairs. The customers were a little perplexed but just put it down to opening night jitters! I thought I had got away with it until I heard an electric drill and a fierce amount of banging.

Yes, they were installing the kitchen. I arrived upstairs to see the Chef cooking away while the workmen were drilling. I couldnt believe it. I was screaming at them in Thai that they would have to stop and come back tomorrow. However, I dont think they even thought I was speaking Thai but from the look on my face the realised it was in their interests to get the hell out of there!

Appropriately I named it CONFUSION.

The menu was based on a fusion of Thai and European recipes and it made for some interesting combinations.

When I rented the shophouse orginally it was meant to be as a going-concern. A French restaurant had been operating there for years. However, I went on holidays to Ireland and when I returned the place was completely empty. So at that stage I had to decide whether to back out completely or give it a go.

Guess what I did?

Anyway, CONFUSION was a brilliant experience for me. Unfortunately I also had my own “day job” and couldnt really devote as much time as I would have wished. I think what I achieved in the year was simply amazing. Everything was new and built from scratch – from the kitchen to the tables to the menu.

Unfortunately, I had a problem with the lease. It transpired that the landlord wasnt really the landlord. In fact, he was just sub leasing to me. That wouldnt be a major problem except his lease only had 6 months left and he signed for 5 years with me.

I decided at that stage that I would take my losses, put it all down to experience and move on. I sold the restaurant to 2 Scottish guys and in fact CONFUSION is still going to this day. CONFUSION reigns!

One of my favourite stories is the opening night. As you can imagine it was completely full and everyone was running around like headless chickens (if we werent careful we could have ended up in one of the Green Curries!!!).

The only problem was that half of the kitchen was missing. About 9pm I heard a bignoise and saw that a big truck had just pulled up outside.Of course – the remainder of the kitchen.

THey decided to walk right through the main door carrying the kitchen and lifted it up the stairs. The customers were a little perplexed but just put it down to opening night jitters!I thought I had got away with it until I heard an electric drill and a fierce amount of banging.

Yes, they were installing the kitchen. I arrived upstairs to see the Chef cooking away while the workmen were drilling. I couldnt believe it. I was screaming at them in Thai that they would have to stop and come back tomorrow. However, I dont think they even thought I was speaking Thai but from the look on my face the realised it was in their interests to get the hell out of there!