Spaghetti House (Restaurant)

London 2012 Olympic Games: As It Happened

Today's Events In Summary
• Two of today's Olympic hopefuls shamefully arrived 30 minutes late
• Team GB's Leo Owen successfully completes all three courses
• Sicily's musical “bread” wins gold after nosh-down
• Italy's amaretto wins double silver
• Stella Prosecco secures bronze for Veneto
• Spaghetti House beats other teams in creating an authentic Italian feel

20.30: Welcome to the evening session on Day 9 of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The morning session saw Ed Clancy claim bronze in the men's omnium, gymnast Beth Tweddle win a historic bronze medal, and Andy Murray thrash Switzerland's Roger Federer to win gold on centre court.

Locally-based American and Russian teams made a pit-stop at Spaghetti House, alongside nearby volleyball spectators and athletes. Here evening business has boomed during the games, resulting in true Olympic spirit inside the venue. Younger fans, relatives and supporters were entertained with Olympic themed games that adorned the back of the day's “programme”.

We'll be keeping you up to speed with Leo Owen’s vegetarian versus meat, light-dimming moments and dessert-related action.

20.40: Cheers of “right good” are heard spurring on the Salice Salentino Riserva Doc. The Pinot Grigio Blush from Veneto puts in an admirable performance too but it's the Prosecco Stella that wins bronze, wowing the crowd with its palatable light but not too sweet quality.

20.47: Poached asparagus gently flavoured with a lemon and parsley vinaigrette goes head-to-head with the Antipasto Contadino (parma ham, salame felino, coppa, bufala mozzarella, marinated artichokes, green olives). The Antipasto wins without question, clearly taking the lead with its mix of unsalty and ungreasy fleshy olives and amazingly moreish artichokes. It looks like a victory but the Sicilian music bread from the Pane Casareccio basket cuts in at the last moment to take the gold. Its unusual texture and delicious taste leaves coaches contemplating soaking more entrants in rosemary, olive oil and rock salt as part of their pre-games warm-up.

21.00: The lights of the stadium dim almost unnoticed as competitors busy themselves, hungry for a winner. The coach of Team Spaghetti House comes out to evaluate the suitability of his entrants and receives a warm welcome. He's passionate about his work and he vocally expresses this enthusiasm, simultaneously patting a well-cultivated chest as further confirmation.

21:23: Penne Manzo, surprise contender for silver, is quoted as saying: “I put my all into ensuring I was tasty without being too overwhelming: saucy, and satisfying with succulent steak strips and a slightly cheesy finish.” Penne’s main rival spaghetti combined its key ingredients (slow-fried garlic, fresh chillies, parsley and extra virgin olive oil) to good effect but, when it came to the final moment, despite both being deemed tasty, neither contender performed to gold medal winning standard.

22.30: Team GB’s Leo Owen gives her feedback on the dessert’s performance: “Delicious double amaretto ice cream and crunchy praline combine with a shot of di saronna liqueur to safeguard Coppa di Saronno's unique silver victory. Although pleasingly presented in a coffee cup with biscuits, mascarpone and an equal splash of di saronna liqueur, the tiramisu is slightly too creamy and lacks the boozy kick of its worthy competitor who wins without a counter appeal.”

23.00: This medal winning is getting repetitive now. Italian chain Spaghetti House have already secured a gold, silver and bronze in one sitting. It's clear each special introduced poses a serious threat to other contestants.

23.30: The stadium lights intensify and it's clear today's extraordinary events are coming to a close.
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