1983 My Story begins catering a large after party on a Saturday night for the one and only flamboyant Peter Allen.

The venue “Belle Vue” restaurant, a two-story grand 100-hundred-year-old mansion. Owned, operated, and converted by Richard Milne. In its glory, this build was transformed into beautiful restaurant of the era “80’s”

The Belle Vue wasn’t well known for great food and service, bookings 3 to 4 weeks in advance.

The Saturday night in 1983, approximately 11.30pm there was to be a after party cocktail party for Peter Allen and his cast. The cast came, ate, drank, and left in a very short time, may be an hour. Mr. Peter Allen never came.

Sunday morning, I received a call from my boss Richard, could I please come into work, the cast wish to have there last after party tonight at 11.30pm. When you are a young chef and trying to make a name for yourself, you don’t refuse.

The function was prepared, the time came for the after party. The cast came and still no star.

Our maître d’ Dale, a very tall man, professional to the core, flung open the “in door” to the kitchen, in walked Peter Allen, a man who stood approximately 5 foot 7 inches tall.

Mr. Allen came over to me and apologised for not attending his after party, he mentioned he stayed back after his show, wasn’t happy with his own performance and believed he needed more of rehearsal to get his performance right.

We chatted for some time, mentioning how small the kitchen I work in and how do you get all this wonderful food out so quickly.

Slowly the restaurant kitchen became the life of the party, Peter Allen stayed in the kitchen introducing me to his manager, cast and etc… this after party didn’t go for an hour, I remember leaving 5.30am in the morning.

To this day Peter Allen would be one of the most humble, professional, and nicest celebrity I have ever met. What I took away from him, is to stay humble, be professional and honest to yourself.

This is My Story, the 80’s was an interesting decade.

Jeffrey R. Gear