TriBeCa - Glasgow South

I am lucky in that I live pretty close to the recently opened TriBeCa Glasgow South, sister to the West End's original Glasgow TriBeCa.

On the opening weekend, we decided to do brunch with my sister and brother in law to check out our new local.

Previously Leo's, the place has been given a massive makeover, looking a lot fresher, a little bit bigger and heaps cooler.  The atmosphere was also much brighter and relaxed from it's previous get up as Leo's.  From walking past most days since opening, I could see it was pretty busy all of the time but luckily for us my brother in law had managed to grab us a table before we got there so not waiting for these pregnant cankles :)

On offer were delights such as pancakes, french toast, burgers and bagels - all too delicious for words but stupidly I was the one from our party who decided to go with a non descriptive, boring option.  Don't get me wrong, there was nothing wrong with my tuna panini and fries but it just wasn't the choc chip and berries pancake my brother in law ordered or the french toast and maple syrup my husband was tucking into!

Despite my own dud order, I got to sample everyone else's delights.  Perk of being pregnant, people like to feed you.  The pancakes and french toast were amazing and even more to my surprise, the vanilla milkshake was scrumdiddly... I am not normally a milkshake fan.  I am also assured the burgers are to die for, although I didn't sample myself.

Needless to say, I enjoyed it so much and was left craving pancakes for the rest of the week, that Ann from Girl in the City Glasgow and I arranged a little rendez vous the following week.  My second visit wasn't quite as great with my water being missed from my order, no chocolate chip for my pancakes so had to make do with nutella (god forbid), a lack of berries in my berry portion and no glitter or silver balls on my milkshake (these things matter).

Not to mention Ann's order arriving sans bacon initially and had to be sent back.  So, a little disappointing on the second visit which has me wonder was the effort only put in for the opening wow factor and they are already tiring of the crowds?

It certainly doesn't make me want to hurry back but with my maternity leave just around the corner as is TriBeCa to my house, I might find myself hanging out there more often as long as the same little hitches don't continue to occur.

When in Rome ...

I should probably have a tumblr ...!

Ardanaiseig Hotel

Mr Read and I often feel we don't explore our own country enough, usually pushing it aside to go on exotic or cultural jaunts abroad.   Sometimes we forget about the beauty that lies on our own doorstep.

Last month we decided to take a trip to Argyll to stay at the Ardanaiseig Hotel as part of the Mr's birthday treat.  We heard that the hotel was very remote, overlooking the vast and beautiful Loch Awe, however, we didn't realise quite the oasis of tranquility it would be.

I was instantly hit with how deeply romantic the location and hotel is, as you make your way along the long and winding road towards the hotel.  The grounds feel and look magical with old statues placed sporadically around the gardens and an old penny farthing parked in the porch.  The views of the Loch and Ben Cruachan in the distance are breathtaking with greenery and woods all around, and even a boathouse that stands by the Loch that can be rented separately.

We strolled down to the Loch (where you can hire a rowing boat) and around the vast and stunning grounds.  We found a walled garden which took me back to my childhood reminding me of Frances Hodgson Burnett's, The Secret Garden.  We then came across some discarded tennis courts, a small graveyard and an abandoned boat.  I felt like I was in a fairytale, stumbling across treasures at every turn, imagining in wonderment how it all came to be.

The highlight of the trip was dinner, naturally ... always thinking about food, me!  The Ardanaiseig have the honour of Scotland's Chef of the Year 2011, Gary Goldie as their head chef.  Dinner is a unique culinary experience, a seven-course taster menu with much of the produce locally sourced.  In fact, a special moment as we ate our dinner overlooking the Loch, was seeing a kitchen porter out on a rowing boat, fishing for the next feed.

Shamefully, I can't remember the exact menu but I can tell you it was absolutely delicious, one of the best meals i've had in a while.  All washed down with a bottle of red wine, it was bliss!

If you ever get the chance to visit this hotel, you won't be disappointed.

x

iTapela, Bath Street

A few Saturdays ago I was asked to review a rather lovely little restaurant on one of my favourite Glasgow streets - Bath Street.  Of course, myself and my other half obliged (with bells on!).

iTapela has only been a resident of a Bath Street basement for a short time and lay undiscovered by me until my visit.  I usually drink in the many bars on Bath Street so it was pretty convenient to find somewhere to eat which offered up 2 of my favourite cuisines, Italian and Spanish.  With relaxed interiors paying homage to it's Spanish and Italian influences with paint splattered walls and el Toro motifs placed sporadically around the restaurant, it doesn't try too hard and has a laid back atmosphere.

Having planned on an afternoon of Tapas, we were almost a little overwhelmed at the extensive menu on offer.  We expected a fusion of Spanish and Italian but instead our menu was mainly Italian pastas, pizzas with a small selection of Tapas and Paella with their use of Scottish produce reflected in their menu description.  At first we found this somewhat confusing, a mix of identities and a very busy menu, we wondered if the food would be up to scratch with so much on offer but as they say, the proof is in the pudding.  Pardon the pun!

So here is what you really want to see ... the delights that tantalised our taste buds and lived up to the reputation of The Partners collaboration who run iTapella.

My starter: Goats cheese crostini with rocket & sun blushed tomatoes

This was delicious, it practically melted in my mouth and the flavours were amazing.  Thumbs up for presentation too :) 

The Mr's Starter:  Pan Fried Oban landed Scallops with roasted chorizo & caramelised sweet potato.
This is the first time the other half had tried scallops and his judgement on the day was it would definitely not be his last.  Also self confessed chorizo addict, he devoured this dish.

True to our word we went for a main of Tapas.  iTapella recommend 3 dishes each ... for gutsy grubbers like the Mr and I, we are usually tempted to go for a little bit more but we contained the excitement and went with the restaurants recommendation of 3 each.

Typically we went for Patatas Bravas, Calamari with Lemon and Garlic Mayo, Braised Chorizo with tomatores, potatoes and parsley, Braised Meatballs in a Rich Tomato Sauce, Chargrilled King Prawns with Garlic and Parsley Butter and for a change we threw into our Tapas selection, Pot Roast Ayrshire Lamb in rioja, tomatoes and olives.

Apart from the Calamari being a teeny bit too crispy, we were left stuffed and smiley faced.  The lamb was especially delicious and so fresh and tender.  Oh, and the meatballs .... I could have ordered 3 plates more.

You'd think after all that we wouldn't have room for dessert ...

Vanilla Cheesecake with Lemon Curd and Raspberry Sorbet for him ... 

Tiramisu for her :)

Aside the food, we were greeted by friendly staff who were attentive even when the restaurant became crowded and busy.  Nothing was too much trouble, especially when it came to the cocktail menu ... we were convinced not to leave without washing it all down with a l'il something from their vast cocktail list.  A whiskey manhattan was the Mr's chosen drink ...

By this point I couldn't fit in anymore and had to call it a day.  A truly satisfying afternoon with colourful and tantalising food, flavours and fun ... I will definitely visit again.  I am salivating just looking at the photos again!

I think this may have to become a regular feature on the blog, I never realised how fun it was to reminisce over such scrumptious delights.

You can find iTapella situated at 104 Bath Street downstairs in the basement.  Enjoy!

x

Keep Calm ...

Today I got some news that should have excited me more than it did.

I'm a bridesmaid for my sister in law in 2 months time and she called to let me know the bridesmaids dresses had arrived ... first fitting is next week.  At this very moment i'm sure the colour drained from my face and my little ticker slowed down almost to a stop.

You see, I promised myself i'd lose at least another 14lbs before the wedding ... preferably before my first dress fitting.  Has this happened?  Well .... No.

I have got back into a habit of eating what I want, when I want and being truly good to myself on the chocolate treat front.  To be fair, I haven't put any weight on since my 14lb weight loss last year which is very positive but it doesn't avoid the fact that I have been in complete denial about the extra weight I need/want to lose.

Sourced from weheartit.com

I have now set myself a challenge - to lose 5lbs by next week.  Pretty unrealistic, right?  I know it probably won't happen but if I can at least keep it in my mind every time I go to reach for a creme egg )which seems to be on sale at the front desk of every shop I go to at the mo) then it may keep my grubby mits off them.  For goodness sake people, Easter is ages away!! Tut.

So, a return to my celebrity slim and increase in protein and healthy foods as well as exercise will be the way forward.  Even if I only lose 1lb I will be happy I have achieved some loss and will need to keep it up over the next 8 weeks in the hope that my creme egg booty doesn't end up waddling down the aisle!!

Wish me luck!

x

Can't cook won't cook!

Carrying on from my previous post about my much anticipated weekend of unique dining, I thought I would share with you the recipe and results of last nights kitchen adventure.



The mister and I thought we would attempt Heston Blumenthal's Scotch Egg recipe from Waitrose.



I have actually never tried Scotch Eggs so this was all new to me but according to good old Hes, Scotch eggs are the trendy savoury snack of the moment ... and, well, if Heston says it's trendy then who am I to disagree.



What you will need:

10 medium eggs

450g Waitrose Premium Pork Sausagemeat Stuffing

1 heaped tsp thyme leaves

45g French’s mustard

½ level tsp cayenne pepper

Salt & Pepper

1 packet of chives, chopped (oops! we forgot these)

Plain flour

50ml milk

125g Cooks’ Ingredients Breadcrumbs

Ground nut oil, for frying



STEP 1



Place 8 of the eggs in a large pan with cold water over quite a high heat. Heston recommends that as soon as the water starts to simmer to set a timer for 1 minute 45 seconds - I would actually boil the eggs for a little bit longer as it will make them easier to work with later. Once the eggs have boiled place them in a bowl filled with cold water and ice to cool down.



STEP 2



Place the sausagemeat in a bowl, add thyme, mustard, cayenne pepper, seasoning, chopped chives and 2 tablespoons of water. Mix thoroughly and form 8 patties with your hands. Chill the patties in the fridge for 20minutes.



STEP 3



Once the eggs have cooled down remove the shells. Flatten each pattie into a circle and place an egg in the centre. Wrap the sausagemeat around the egg, pressing the edges in order to seal it but being careful not to press too hard.



STEP 4



Next, arrange 3 small bowls. In the first bowl put the flour with some seasoning, in the second bowl beat the 2 remaining eggs and stir in the milk. The 3rd bowl should hold the breadcumbs. Roll each egg (covered in the sausagemeat) in the flour, gently tapping off any excess, then dip it in the beaten egg and finally, roll it in the breadcrumbs, making sure that all sides are coated.



STEP 5



Finally fill a saucepan with oil deep enough to cover the eggs and heat to 190c. Fry the Scotch eggs 2 at a time for 2 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and place on a drying rack over a baking tray. When all the eggs have been fried, place the tray in the oven for an additional 10 minutes. Serve immediately while the yolks are still runny.



et Voila!



This was the first time I had tried a Scotch Egg and I have to say they were pretty tasty. Not the healthiest but I don't think I will be eating them all the time. I would definitely recommend boiling for longer than Heston recommends (even though I love runny yolk it's just too hard to work with). Apparantly they are great for picnics so will need to make some the next time we have some sun and I get the chance to actually have a picnic. Let me know if you try this out :)

Festival in the Sky

You’ve heard of the Mile High Club, now we have the Dine High Club!

This weekend I will be heading to Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens to take part in Festival in the Sky which is running alongside this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.

For the month of August, a 22 seat dining table will hoist adventurous diners 100 feet into the sky by crane to enjoy a unique culinary experience. Yes, you heard me right – ONE.HUNDRED.FEET.HIGH. *gulp*

The unusual concept has already been travelling the world in the likes of Las Vegas, Istanbul and Paris and it was even featured in this years Big Brother house when all housemates were taken up in the air to enjoy a meal.

There are a few dining options offered - breakfast, lunch and dinner and also the chance to experience the talents of a guest Chef. Each ‘flight’ lasts around half an hour and the seats even turn 180 degrees so you can take in the views of the city below. And in such a beautiful city of Edinburgh, the views are sure to delight (unless of course in true Scottish style it pelts it down with rain! *crosses fingers*)

As soon as I heard about this I knew I wanted to try it. I am not a natural thrill seeker and I don’t even like heights or flying but with this taking place practically right on my doorstep, I wasn’t going to be the one to miss out.

My family think I’m mad, my friends think I am a sucker … I will probably need a rather large drink before take off and an even bigger one when we land, but you know what? I can’t wait!

If you happen to pass a dining table suspended from the air on Saturday afternoon ... give me a wave ... and I'll try not to drop my fork!!

Check out the website for booking info

http://www.festivalinthesky.com/

x

Cupcake Heaven!

You might remember a while ago I posted some pics of some designer junk food?? Well, here is an even more scrumptious version of our designer labels .... CUPCAKES!! I am literally salivating over these pics, my sweet tooth will certainly not help me fit into anything tho!I think i would find it hard to choose if faced with this selection but so far loving the Ageny Provacateur with its boobie-esque cakes and matching nipple tassles lol ;)

Which one would you pick?

x