Proto Restaurant Group News

Skin Deep Exhibition at Worthing Museum

The Fish Factory is part sponsoring the Skin Deep Exhibition at the Worthing Museum and Art Gallery which runs until August.  We are happy to help this exhibition as we think its excellent for Worthing. We will be helping out with the catering and providing champagne etc.  You can come and see us there on 12th March.

What is the Skin Deep Exhibition all about?

The Sussex Road Group (SRG) was set up in 2008 by Dudley Sawer, a designer. Working from the Sidney Walter Centre in Worthing, the SRG group gave local people the chance to draw and paint the human figure using a live model.  A wide variety of students attended the ten week courses and day workshops – from beginners to professionals.

The exhibition being held at Worthing Museum and Art Gallery was formed because some members of the SRG group were drinking coffee and lamenting that there was nowhere big enough in Worthing where they could show their work. Paula Fraser-Bergin volunteered to do something about it.

The following day, Paula spoke to Emma the Curator at Worthing Museum who suggested we put an application in to hold an exhibition. After a couple of follow up meetings, the exhibition was sorted.  It takes place from 13th March to 28th August 2010 and it will be opened by the Mayor of Worthing. There will be about 100 works of art on show which are sure to  capture the public’s attention!  These include paintings, drawings, and 3D work.

The theme  SKIN DEEP has enabled the artists to explore a theme that connects to the human figure. Each artist gives a very individual interpretation as you can see from the photo below.

We look forward to meeting you there.

Skin Deep Exhibition which takes place at Worthing Museum

The Fish Factory is sponsoring the 2010 Littlehampton Carnival Queen Contest by donating £500 as the first prize. This is the first time that a prize this big has been offered so the organisers are expecting a huge amount of interest.

To enter the Littlehampton Carnival Queen Contest you need to be female and aged between 15-19 years old and live within a 6 mile radius of Littlehampton. The panel of 7-8 judges are made up of the sponsors and the press, and they will be judging the entrants on:

• speech
• personality
• looks
• day wear

There will be 20 points per judging category  with a combined possible total of 80 points. The competition will be held at The Fish Factory in Littlehampton at the beginning of March. The date is yet to be confirmed. The 2010 Littlehampton Carnival Queen will parade the streets of Littlehampton, during the Littlehampton carnival on 10th July 2010. The carnival this year carries the theme of Winter Wonderland! You may be asking why such a theme is applicable during July? The answer is that the weather has been so wet and cold for the last few carnivals, it seemed like a fun idea. We totally agree – especially if the weather is tropically gorgeous for once!

If you would like information about the Littlehampton Carnival Queen Contest call Mrs Freda Hughes who is the President of the Littlehampton Carnival and her number is 716634. Alternatively you can email Freda at fredahughes@aol.com.

We look forward to meeting all the entrants at the competition. Good luck!

The choir at the Splash FM Christmas party

Tis the season to be merry, and generous! If you came to our Christmas party, you would have heard the angelic voices of the children of Regnante School of Performing Arts singing their hearts out. We have donated £100 to Regnante School of Performing Arts school fund to buy instruments and to help towards their upkeep. Regnante School of Performing Arts is a charity run group for kids and would love the exposure.

If you would like to find out more about this group, go to Regnante School of Performing Arts by clicking here.

Our Chips are King

Just when you thought that things couldn’t get any better, we’ve made yet another improvement to our fantastic Fish Factory menu.

We have recently introduced our King Handcut Chips as we want to treat our customers like royalty. Below is the process from selection to perfection:

(1) First of all we select the finest King Edward potatoes;

(2) Only once the potatoes have passed our strict quality control test, do they get promoted to the peeling station;

(3) Then the potatoes are delicately peeled, ensuring that all the vitamins (next the skin) are retained, which makes them more healthy;

(4) Once they are checked again, they are given the chop – in our rustic chunky style, fit for a King;

(5) The King chips are then deep-fried in the freshest fine groundnut oil for ultimate crispyness;

(6) Then, once they are given the taste test, they are plated for you to enjoy. YUM!

Some interesting facts about the British chip!

• Did you know that a portion of chips contains less fat than a prawn mayonnaise sandwich?

• A portion of chips counts towards one of you your 5-a-day! It contains a third of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C.

You can find out more interesting chip facts at: www.lovechips.co.uk

Proto Restaurant Group are recycling with Greenstar

The soon-to-be Fish Factory in Littlehampton has secured a one year contract with Greenstar Waste Services which means we will be recycling plastic, bottles and cardboard. Greenstar are responsible for the removal, reprocessing and disposal of over 1.4 million tonnes of waste and recyclables each year.

Recycling is headline news today, as we hear about celebrities’ ‘unwanted’ clothes being recycled in a ‘From bin bags to glad rags’ campaign launched by Camden Council and TRAID (Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development), a charity based in Brighton. Click here for the full story. Old designer clothes from stars such as Emma Thompson’s Prada jacket and Ridley Scott’s hat from Robin Hood are being used to demonstrate to residents in Cambden how sewing and needlework can revamp old clothes. TRAID has helped prevent over 1,000 tonnes of unwanted textiles from filling landfill sites in London.

As well as Proto’s recycling scheme, there are a number of other areas where we are helping to save the planet, such as fitting energy efficient light bulbs in all of the public areas in all of our restaurants. So you can polish your halo in the knowledge that you are eating at Proto’s planet friendly restaurants. Phone 01903 227780 for Food Restaurant, and 01903  207123 for Fish Factory reservations.

Celebrities helping to save the planet

Matron Sparsis helps Carry on Doctor team to raise over £800 for Chestnut Tree House

You may remember a special weekend a few months back – August 22nd/23rd to be precise – when Worthing played host to some amazing sunshine and tropical temperatures. This weekend also happened to be the weekend of Worthing International Birdman 2009! And if you didn’t know, our very own Andrew Sparsis was part of the Carry on Doctor team and helped them to raise over £800 for Chestnut Tree House – whoppie!

FIVE TV

We have a special treat for you this Friday night at 8pm on Channel 5 in the name of Brighton Beach Patrol. It seems that the show couldn’t find enough action in Brighton, so they had to find more adventure in sunny Worthing! The show will feature  highlights from the Worthing Birdman weekend, and you will more than likely be able to see our Proto Group Director in another strange outfit!

Proto Restaurant Group help raise over £800 for Chestnut Tree House

Matron Sparsis taking part in Worthing Birdman

How could we not mention Worthing International Birdman 2009? What a weekend! Thank you to everyone who sponsored our Carry on Doctor Team – we raised almost £500 for Chestnut Tree House. You can see our sponsor page and more details if you click here. We would like to remind you that the only reason Andy did not jump was because he was not allowed to for health and safety reasons. The plan was that Andy was going to jump in with the nurses, but he was told that under no circumstances was he allowed to … So no more booing please! In fact if you booed Andy, you must pick up the phone right now and dial 01903 207123 and book at table at The Fish Factory.

The good news is that Andy is entering Birdman next year and is making a craft. Do you have any suggestions? We were thinking that with Andy’s Greek-Cypriot background, he could make some wings out of feathers and wax – just like Icarus and Daedalus. We don’t think Andy will be flying too near the sun so he should be safe!

We have just seen some wonderful photos of Birdman on David Sawyer’s website. Click here to see all the fun action.

Matron Sparis, Nurse Neeru and Nurse Vaughan

Lobster platter served in fish restaurant, sussex

Look at this beautiful new lobster platter which is a new addition to The Fish Factory menu at only £15.50. How can you resist?

Here are some fun facts about lobsters:

• Have you ever heard of a lobster march? Hundreds, or sometimes thousands of spiny lobsters form into columns and migrate en masse. This scenario is often spotted just after a storm. It is thought that the lobsters could be seeking a better food supply or warmer water. Scientists don’t know.
• Lobsters have extremely poor eyesight, but a fantastic sense of smell! They should of gone to SpecSavers!
• Believe it or not, eating lobster was once considered a mark of poverty. Lobsters were consumed by servants, slaves and prisoners. Once upon a time, in Massachusetts, servants rebelled and forced a contract stating they would not be fed lobster more than 3 times a week.
• In the early 1800s lobsters were so common that they were simply gathered from the shore by hand.   Sourced: www.thejunglestore.com

Lobster is very good for you!

• Lobster is not just delicious, it is very good for you because it has low calories, it is low in fat and low in cholesterol. Lobster is better for you than lean beef and even skinless chicken breast. Lobster is high in amino acids; potassium and magnesium; Vitamins A, B12, B6, B3 (niacin) and B2 (riboflavin); calcium and phosphorus; iron; and zinc.
• Lobster can be steamed, boiled or grilled.
• You can hypnotise a lobster before cooking him or her to reduce stress by holding its head down and rubbing it.
• Did you know that our house champagne is still only £16.50 a bottle and is delicious to drink with lobster.
• The lobster season begins on the first Monday after September and ends in April so now is the time to book to ensure you don’t miss out on this delicacy. Call 01903 207123!

Brothers in Jazz

If you have been to Food recently, you have probably listened the dulcet tones of Brothers in Jazz. Brothers in Jazz are literally brothers. Andrew Sparsis found Simon and Ollie Tappin busking in Montague street one day and asked them if they would like to play in Food.

Simon is 21 and plays the piano, Ollie is 16 and plays the base. Both Simon and Ollie are self-taught. Simon went to Chichester College to study jazz, and then he passed his expertise onto Ollie, and they formed Brothers in Jazz three years ago. Simon is now a professional travelling musician, and frequently plays in West End Produtions such as Beauty and the Beast, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and High School Musical. Recently he was Assistant Music Director in the UK production of 42nd Street.

Like the producer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Andrew sparsis knows talent when he sees it!

Brothers in Jazz are available for weddings and parties. Just call Simon Tappin – 07742 269 380 or Food.