Onehungrygirl

Piecebox, Edinburgh

2011-03-23T15:28:00.030Z

I have found a new favourite: Piecebox in Polwarth. A cafe that just appeared from nowhere, one day we just realized that it was there, a new tempting looking place to munch and lunch! Hooray!

I sometimes dream of opening my own cafe/bakery/deli type of a place. If I did, it would be something like Piecebox, for sure. Home baking beautifully displayed, delicious food made from scratch, open kitchen and friendly staff who seem to make everybody feel welcome from the minute you walk in. And no need to mention well thought and hip corporate identity and decor.

So we popped in for lunch on a sunny day during the week. I had a chicken pesto salad with avocado and mozzarella, Fentimans 'mandarin and Seville orange' and a cappuccino. Perfect and not too filling as I had my eyes on something sweet to have after....

...this for dessert, the thing that melted my heart: Banoffee pie, served in a jar. How cute is that! And what's that in a jug? Extra sauce... oh my goodness it was GOOD. Mr Lovable had a massive scone with homemade kiwi jam.

They have got everything spot on: tempting menu, must have homemade cakes&pastries, amazing staff, quick&friendly service, their food is good, coffee is good... yeah, everything is good.

open, clean kitchen

all day breakfast at weekends

homemade jams

2 Polwarth Crescent, Edinburgh, EH11 1HW - 0131 629 6284

Amore Dogs, Edinburgh

2011-03-20T15:40:00.071Z

Finally we got to try one of the three dogs of Edinburgh, the Amore dogs, other ones being The Dogs and Seadogs all owned by the same man, David Ramsden.

At lunchtime on a Saturday we managed to get a table for two by the window after a short wait.

I ordered the 'Spicy salami pizza' from the lunch menu, Mr lovable had pasta, both were lowly priced and delivered to the table very quickly. Our portions looked very plain and quite small but the food was delicious and ended up being perfect size for quick lunch.

I love the decor of this place: lots of white walls, original features and space...

... mixed with small and big colourful details like crazy wallpaper, cushions and antique&modern furniture.

As for dessert, if there is a Tiramisu on the menu I have to have it. This one was just slapped on the plate like the mains but was moist and tasted beautifully boozy.

Bye bye dogs, until next time!

affordable and quick

dog themed, slightly mad decor

staff wearing their own clothing

104 Hanover Street, Edinburgh EH2 1DR - 0131 220 5155

Hotel du Vin Bistro, Edinburgh

2011-02-20T12:41:00.009Z

Valentine's day was here again and we wanted to go somewhere half decent for a dinner.

Last summer we stayed at Hotel du Vin in Harrogate and thought it was rather nice. Ever since then we had it in our minds to try the Edinburgh one for a meal.

We skipped starters and just ordered a basket of bread instead, which was a beautiful selection of freshly baked breads.

We both had the 'Hdv beef burger with bacon and cheese, served with pommes frites and homemade tomato ketchup' for mains. Does it look good in the photo? Yes, it was good, very good. Unfortunately and extremely unlikely to me I had not much appetite that night, so I had to leave most of it... such a shame, but more of a reason to dine here again!

Appetite or not, I always manage to find room for a dessert, so creamy and sophisticated 'Lemon panna cotta' it was and 'Irn Bru Turkish delight' to go with it... something different.

romantic atmosphere

feels like you were in France

'I think. Therefore I du Vin.'

11 Bristo Place, Edinburgh EH1 1EZ - 0131 247 4900

Craigie's farm, South Queensferry

2011-02-08T12:49:00.054Z

Craigie's Farm deli and cafe in South Queensferry is one of our favourite places to go. It's surrounded by fields and behind them is woodlands where there is walking paths to walk the dog and build up an appetite.

They have a farm shop where you can buy goodies to take home and a cafe that is always busy. Homemade cakes, steak pies, quiches, salads, sandwiches, soups and roasts, something for everyone.

We sat outside (in the rain!) and had our sandwiches, mine had cheese and coleslaw in it, served with crisps and Craigie's chutney, which is to die for.

No meal is complete without a slice of cake, this time it was a chocolate one. Slightly dry it was but I have tried couple of their other ones before and they have been much better.

And one of the main reasons we come here these days is this...

... we can sit outside, enjoy our lunch and take Haggis the Dog with us! There she is, hiding under the table...

farm shop and deli full of goodies

you pick your own berries in the summer months

lots of seating outside
West Craigie Farm, South Queensferry, Edinburgh EH30 9TR - 0131 319 1048

Céleste Restaurant, Prague

2010-12-21T17:55:00.002Z

Very unique Dancing house is one of the few new modern buildings in Prague. We were lucky enough to get a chance to dine all the way at the top of the Céleste Restaurant in a private dining room, from where we had spectacular views around us.

Oh, and how is this for travelling in style?

From our hotel to the restaurant we took in this old tram, where we sipped mulled wine and listened to live harmonica music as we drove along the icy streets of Prague.

To start off the dinner there was an amuche bouche of Foie gras, followed by a beautiful bowl of 'Soup of coco beans from Paimpol with poached quail egg and Espelette pepper'.

For mains, 'Simmental beef fillet noisettes with white Swiss chard, black trompette and red wine sauce'. I kept closing my eyes when eating this, it had to be one of the best bits of meat I have ever had in my life.

To end this meal was 'Carpaccio of clementines, almond ice cream, orange blossom cream, orgeat white clouds and Amaretti biscuits', great harmony of almond and citrus flavours. And then there was cheese, which I'm not mad for.

Everything at Céleste is just fabulous: the venue, the view, food, service. Fabulous. They somehow manage to make you feel special without making you feel intimidated, and that's not an easy thing to do. If you appreciate good food and ever get to visit Prague you simply must eat here.

staff's attention to detail

most efficient head waiter I've ever seen

delicious bread selection

Rašínovo Nábřeží 80, Prague 2 - 267 912 475

Kampa Park, Prague

2010-12-19T17:42:00.001Z

A place to go celebrity spotting when in Prague is Kampa Park we were told. 'A favorite of local and international celebrities, this upscale restaurant delivers sumptuous gourmet cuisine' it says on their website.

The restaurant is by the river and has a great view to the Charles Bridge. I can imagine how busy their outside tables would get on a warm summer day...

'Beetroot salad with goat cheese profiteroles and beetroot vinaigrette' was my starter. A big portion of big flavours, beautifully presented.

My main was 'Steamed salmon roll with cauliflower flan, green asparagus and sauce vierge' and everything on that plate was just perfect. Perfectly cooked and so, so tasty. I can still remember how it all tasted and that can't be a bad thing.

The dessert, 'Strawberry ravioli with strawberries, caramel and ivory chocolate mousse' was confusing me slightly as I still don't know where the ravioli was. What looked like ravioli was in fact the chocolate mousse, next to it was strawberries and caramel... but what the heck, it was so good that I wanted to lick my plate, so does it really matter?

I really liked this restaurants decor with light bulbs and feathers hanging from wires, walls painted in warm, earthy red and funky, modern tableware. The thing that left me wondering was that why is their menu not seasonal? Hmm...

beautiful food presentation

waiting staff dressed in white

unique location

Na Kampe 8B, Prague 11800 - 296 826 102

7 Angels, Prague

2010-12-18T11:21:00.001Z

Our first night in Prague was cold and rainy so when we stepped into the warm and welcoming 7 Angels restaurant from the narrow streets of Prague's Old Town I felt like I would never want to go outside again.

Our meal started off with 'Aperitif Slivovitz', traditional Czech shot made from plums. I was feeling a bit under the weather because of a cold so I wasn't drinking at all, but I did knock it down and instantly felt miles better. It must have killed all the bugs in me!

The shot was followed with 'Pate of venison with cranberries' that was lovely, two big slabs of what tasted like homemade pate and a selection of homemade, freshly baked bread to go with it.

Main course 'Roast duck served with potato dumplings and red cabbage' was a heavy plate of no-nonsense food. Duck was overcooked and dry, dumplings not seasoned enough and you could not have put anymore cabbage on the plate. But we were later told that this is the way Czech would expect to have their portions put together.

For pudding it was 'Apple strudel' and there was a silence around the table when everybody was tucking into their desserts, the lady next to me said that she wanted to lick her plate! Food here was not so amazing, but the company and atmosphere made up for it, so overall it was a very enjoyable night.

authentic Czech restaurant

warm&romantic atmosphere

live gypsy music

Jilská 20 Prague 1 - Staré Město - +420 224 234 381

Wok to Walk, London

2010-12-15T16:13:00.002Z

Hunger is a terrible, terrible thing. When it strikes, I can get quite narky, as can Mr Lovable. We never argue, but when we get hungry, things might get a bit nasty between us. This happened after a long day in London, when we were wandering around Soho in the freezing cold weather, hoping to find somewhere nice and quick to eat.

Funnily enough I was hoping for steaming hot noodles when I saw the logo for Wok to Walk. We went there when in Barcelona and ever since that I have been hoping that they would open in UK. And now they have: in London, Cardiff and Glasgow!

The way they work is this: first choose your base from a selection of noodles or rice, then your favourites (meat, vegetables and so on) and then your sauce... and it's all cooked in front of you. Before you realise you will have a box full of tasty wok in your hands. My portion had Udon noodles, chicken breast, pineapple, baby corn, roasted peanuts and garlic&black pepper sauce, it was so good!

Now I can go to their Glasgow branch and keep my fingers crossed that they would one day open in Edinburgh as well.

brilliant concept

always fresh

very affordable and very tasty

4 Brewer st, Soho, London, W1F 0SB - 020 7287 8464

The Wee Restaurant, North Queensferry

2010-12-09T16:54:00.009Z

The heavy snowfall in Scotland this December took us all by surprise. There was lots of it. So much that it caused all sorts of of trouble: airports closed, trains delayed and people not being able to get to work or get on with their everyday lives.

We had a table booked for our birthday dinner at The Wee Restaurant, in North Queensferry, and on a Sunday night we walked into an empty restaurant. Everybody else had canceled their reservations because of the weather! A table of two appeared later on and I heard them saying that they lived just across the road.

This small restaurant with big reputation sits underneath the Forth Rail Bridge and has got a 'Bib Gourmand Award' from Michelin, amongst other awards.

My starter was 'Baked Chavignol goats cheese crottini with apple, celeriac and hazelnut salad', strong flavours and beautiful presentation.

When everyone else ordered steaks and I went for 'Slow cooked veal brisket with garlic mash, petit pois and Pancetta jus'. Everybody enjoyed their mains, only mine could have done with a bit more meat... but the mash was smooth and garlicky and sauce full of flavour.

Mr Lovable and I shared a very nice, gooey 'Baked chocolate fondant with homemade vanilla ice cream and Griottine cherries' for dessert and I only realised now, writing this, that there was no cherries on the plate. Did the chef simply forget or had they run out of them?

Food and venue were spot on, service maybe a bit on the slow side but still very attentive&polite. So well worth the short drive from Edinburgh when fancying somewhere nice for dinner.

menus made from old wine boxes

short and seasonal menu

small, intimate venue
17 Main Street, North Queensferry, KY11 1JG - 01383 61 62 63

Naked, Edinburgh

2010-11-30T19:49:00.004Z

Our life has turned upside down in here as we have a new addition to our family, puppy Haggis. No time to eat out anymore as often as we would like, or like we used to, but luckily there's always the option to eat Naked.

Naked is very affordable, lovingly cooked food delivered to your home. Their menu has got lots of favourites that seem to be staying plus seasonal delights, like 'Winter stew with steak and bacon', 'Frittata with roasted root vegetables' and 'Hot smoked salmon and beetroot salad'.

I finally got to taste their 'Naked burger with smoked mozzarella and bacon' and some chips to go with it. The burger was insanely good, so good in fact that I found myself ordering it again in the same week. Juicy, well seasoned beef, crunchy salad, seriously good dressing... has to be the best burger I have ever had. There, I said it. Best burger I have ever had.

No meal is complete without pudding, so a yummylicious 'Naked chocolate brownie' finished off this dinner beautifully...

always fast delivery

seasonal menu

chips, amazing chips

35 Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, EH12 5AU - 0131 516 2988‎

Salt of the Earth, Falkirk

2010-11-09T18:37:00.003Z

There is a restaurant in Falkirk, Salt of the Earth, that is in my opinion well worth the drive from Edinburgh.

Their Southern French and Scottish inspired menu has got something for everybody's taste and their clientele on a Wednesday night was a mixed bunch: young couples, families with small children, older people, couple of birthday parties... Luckily we arrived just before 7pm and got to order from the 'Early Evening Menu' which offers two courses for £12.95 or three for £16.95.

Mr Lovable had a starter of 'Warm goats cheese with beetroot carpaccio' and when it arrived it made me wish that I'd ordered a starter as well... I got to taste it though and it was as good as it looked! For mains we both had 'Tiger prawn and chorizo brochette, saffron scented rice with salsa verde' and it was superb.

And my dessert, 'Sticky toffee pudding' was warm and perfectly moist served with delicious, smooth vanilla ice-cream that tasted home made.

Our waitress was absolutely perfect, food gorgeous and very reasonably priced, atmosphere warm, welcoming and relaxed... I am already looking forward going back.

service was spot-on

amazing toilets and decor

beautiful presentation

East Beancross Farm, Laurieston by-pass, Falkirk, FK2 0XS - 01324 715500

Chop Chop, Edinburgh

2010-10-27T17:32:00.003+01:00

"Make sure to keep an adventurous mind when eating here" said the head waiter at Chop Chop when we sat down for dinner on a Sunday night. I raised an eyebrow like I imagine proper food bloggers would do and looked at Mr Lovable, wondering what on earth that meant...

Chop Chop has been on Morrison Street in Edinburgh since 1996 and a while ago they also opened another restaurant in Leith. The place doesn't look like much from the outside and when stepping in it almost feels like a school canteen, with very bright, plain decor and buzzing atmosphere.

We ordered two chicken dishes, 'Crispy Northern Chicken' and 'Chicken with Peanuts', some rice and both fried & boiled dumplings. It didn't take long for our chicken dishes to arrive and they were both nice, crispy chicken being the winner of the two.

Then our dumplings started to appear... at Chop Chop food is brought to the table as it's cooked, so you just tuck in and don't wait around. It is ideal to share everything. We were shown how to mix our own dipping sauce and after my first bite I understood why they are famous for these little parcels.

And then we ordered more dumplings... and some more. They were fabulously seriously good.

There are times when I wish to be able to just keep on eating, without ever becoming full, and having dumplings at Chop Chop was like that.

very attentive service

dumplings, oh the dumplings

asking for a fork was not a problem

248 Morrison Street, Haymarket, Edinburgh, EH3 8DT - 0131 221 1155

Urban Angel, Edinburgh

2010-10-18T17:32:00.000+01:00

I have a rare treat for a chef: I have somehow managed to get Sundays off! This is the only day in our week when me and Mr Lovable are both off together so we try our best to make the most of it.

What's a better way to start a fabulous day off than sleep late, then walk to town in cold, crisp, sunny weather and have brunch? This time, we chose to go to Urban Angel
on Hanover Street.

Eggs Benedict with spinach and some black pudding and smoked salmon on the side. Eh, I couldn't really decide what I fancied... what I got was a lovely mixture of salty flavours, homemade Hollandaise and a good start for the day.

If I ever see a cupcake I have to have a cupcake, there's no way around it.

They have another place as well, just off Broughton street and they are both open from 9 am till late. Both perfect spots for quick, light bite of seasonal food.

Can't argue with that!

always busy

good for brunch

daily specials

121 Hanover Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1DJ - 0131 225 6215

Angels with Bagpipes, Edinburgh

2010-10-14T17:14:00.025+01:00

On a sunny autumn day I was wandering around Edinburgh's Old Town, doing some shopping and enjoying the quietness that always follows the hectic August and Fringe Festival.

I then took myself for a lunch to Angels with Bagpipes, new addition to Royal Mile's restaurants. Owned by Marina Crolla from the Valvona&Crolla family it offers a modern Scottish menu with an Italian twist.

For my main I ordered 'AWB Fish and Chips with pea puree and saffron aioli', steaming hot fish in a light, crispy batter presented in a quite funky way.

My dessert 'AWB Chocolate mousse, puff candy and Irn Bru sorbet' was a beautiful combination of flavours: rich chocolate alongside refreshing, cold sorbet... and puff candy in the middle. Who could resist that?

I was seated at the front, next to the bar and later on had a peek of the rest of the place and the same gorgeous, elegant theme continues throughout the restaurant.

Now I'm looking forward to bring Mr Lovable here and treat ourselves to a dinner!

quite posh, in a not scary way

prompt, charming waiters

I used to work with two of their chefs!

343 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1PW - 01312 201111

Friday Favourites - Cupcakes from Harvey Nichols

2010-10-01T19:35:00.005+01:00

I have a new obsession:

Cupcakes from Harvey Nichols food market.

Made by the Forth Floor Head Pastry Chef, Charlotte Hands.

At £2.50 each someone could say that they are tad expensive. Or that I should not eat too many as they are packed with calories.

Rubbish. They are gorgeous, yummy and I deserve them.

Buffalo Grill, Edinburgh

2010-09-28T15:59:00.002+01:00

Mr Lovable and me have a long list of places that we want to try for food and one of them is Buffalo Grill. There is two of these steak restaurants in Edinburgh, one in Newington and another one in Stockbridge.

On a cold Friday night we went to the one in Newington's Chapel Street for dinner. It was, as it always has looked like when I have passed by, very busy and inviting.

I could have spent ages going through their menu but eventually managed to make up my mind and started off with 'Crispy chili beef with tomato and mint salsa'. Spicy hot bits of beef with a bowl of refreshing salsa. So far so very good.

'Blue Mountain burger' with melted blue and white cheese, served with chips, salad and relish tray was exactly what I was wanting for my main. In fact, it was so enjoyable that I did not say a word when I was working my way through it. It reminded me of Bells Diner. Mr Lovable had a T-bone steak and was happily tucking into his portion as well.

We both had 'Toffee Dime bar cake' for dessert and I squealed with delight when I realized that I used to get slices of this same cake from Peckham's, it's heavenly!

Buffalo Grill does it for me. With their friendly and fast service, not pretentious and very tempting menu full of honest food, big portions and affordable pricing I will be going back for sure.

lots of buffalo/Indian themed pictures on the walls

looks very inviting and warm from the outside

open kitchen, always a good thing

12-14 Chapel Street, EH8 9AY - 0131 667 7427

Scottish Food Word Sunday - 'Glister Pudding'

2010-09-26T16:45:00.000+01:00

'Glister Pudding'

"A steamed pudding made from a Victoria sponge mixture flavoured with ginger, marmalade and lemon juice. Served with custard or wine sauce."

From 'Dictionary of food' by Charles Sinclair

Street sign in Comrie, Scotland

Tusitala, Edinburgh

2010-09-08T10:49:00.000+01:00

There is this restaurant called Tusitala in Edinburgh between Morningside and the city bypass that always looks busy, yet I have never heard anyone talking about it. On a Friday night I couldn't get a table for two of us from anywhere else and we decided to finally try this Tusitala for dinner. It must be nice if it's busy, right?

The decor is very bright and modern and majority of the clientele is on the older side. There's an open kitchen with a big wood burning oven. Their menu has everything you can think of in it, a strange mixture of Mediterranean and Scottish. Pizzas, pastas, steaks, burgers, fish, salads and even a 'special senior menu'.

'Tower of black pudding and haggis with pear and sultana compote', a starter we shared was ok, sweet pears and sultanas sitting on a bed of rich, spicy haggis, topped with black pudding.

'Blackened Cajun supreme of Scottish salmon, with buttered noodles and citrus yogurt' was my choice for a main course. The two enormous bits of my salmon were well seasoned and perfectly cooked and but the rest of the dish was so-so. As was Mr Lovable's burger and chips. Everything apart from the salmon on my plate tasted like out-of-the-packet-meal and slightly out of date... even the noodles. Yuck.

I just wonder who would come here? And more importantly: why? Why would anyone come here for a meal? There's many, many restaurants in Edinburgh where you can get much better value for your money and more enthusiastic&friendlier service. I think this place is bullshit and so overpriced it's not even funny.

Just out of curiosity and being polite I asked to see the dessert menu but unfortunately it never arrived. The waiting staff was too busy either yawning, standing around or being bored. So we paid our bill, left and on the way home stopped at S.Luca for some comfort ice cream. At least we got a nice dessert that night.

great views

airy, modern deco

big car park

47 Buckstone Terrace, Edinburgh, EH10 6QJ - 0131 445 2233

Scottish Food Word Sunday - 'Ashet'

2010-09-05T19:16:00.001+01:00

'Ashet'

"A dish in which meat is roasted or cooked."

From 'Dictionary of food' by Charles Sinclair

Mysterious Mr Fox at the Taste of Scotland in 2009

Assembly, Edinburgh

2010-09-02T11:33:00.005+01:00

We came here for our first date to have few drinks almost three years ago and ever since then have found ourselves coming back whenever fancying a relaxed, quick meal.

Assembly's menu consist of everybody's favourites: there's burgers, fajitas, salads, nachos, sandwiches, pizzas and sides. And a very funky cocktail menu, all at very affordable prices.

This time I had 'Assembly house salad with chicken and chili and lime dressing', freshly made green salad with hot and spicy pieces of juicy chicken. Another nice meal that I have had here.

And a slice of 'Banoffee pie', me insisting to have dessert once again...

Food here has always been good, their service friendly and fast, atmosphere chilled and welcoming. What more can one ask for?

'no fuss' menu

no need to book a table

open late

41 Lothian Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1HB - 0131 220 4288

Scottish Food Word Sunday - 'Bride's Bonn'

2010-08-29T22:39:00.000+01:00

'Bride's Bonn'
"A flat cake made with self-raising flour, butter and caster sugar (5:2:1) by the rubbing in method, brought together with milk and flavoured with caraway seeds. Cooked on a hot griddle on the wedding day and traditionally broken over the brides head as she entered her new Shetland house."

From 'Dictionary of food' by Charles Sinclair

Border of Scotland and England on the A68

Friday Favourites - 'Poilâne Sourdough'

2010-08-27T16:36:00.003+01:00

Few days ago I was food dreaming and buying cupcakes, as I often do these days, at Harvey Nichols Foodmarket, when I saw some rather tasty looking sliced bread behind the counter.

I found out that it was sourdough from Paris, from a bakery called Poilâne and gets delivered once a week to Edinburgh's Harvey Nichols, on Wednesdays. After chatting to this very charming older gentleman from Glasgow who was buying big bags of the bread and recommended it to me I had no choice than to buy some to try it.
Expensive? A wee bit.
Worth every penny? Oh my, yes.
Absolutely beautiful bread.

Scottish Food Word Sunday - 'Bannock'

2010-08-22T17:54:00.000+01:00

'Bannock'

"1. A circular scone made from barley flour, oatmeal or barley meal and cooked on a griddle. Various types are produced for breakfast and high tea. 2. A biscuit resembling shortbread but containing chopped mixed peel and almonds."

From 'Dictionary of food' by Charles Sinclair

Hairy cow (tukkalehmä in Finnish) at Prestonfield

The Restaurant at The Rutland, Edinburgh

2010-08-21T17:36:00.005+01:00

Our last dinner at The Rutland in June left us slightly disappointed and we both agreed not to go back in a hurry. Fortunately I was convinced and encouraged by a number of people to dine there again, them saying that it must have been just a one-off bad night.

So we did. It was a quiet Tuesday night when we walked in and I was well hopeful.

The menu was same than the last time. I chose 'Breast of corn fed Goosnargh chicken, potato gnocchi, wild mushrooms, tarragon and red wine sauce' and a side order of 'potato wedges with sweet chili and sour cream'. The chicken dish was an absolutely beautiful plate of harmonic flavours. I was seriously considering of asking for a spoon or straw to get every last drop of the dark, rich sauce...

For dessert I had 'Caramel and dark chocolate tart with apricot syrup and creme fraiche'. When we were tucking into our puddings our waiter said to me "By the look on your face I assume that everything is OK." Ha-ha. It was more than OK, it was heavenly.

So what a difference to our last experience. I am a fan of The Rutland now. I was so glad after this meal that I couldn't stop smiling and I kept saying to Mr Lovable "I'm so happy, I'm so happy". I'm looking forward to dining from their new menu which I believe will be starting in September. Until then...

they have eteaket teas!

again, crazy disco-style decor

exceptionally good, knowledgeable and smooth service

1-3 Rutland Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2AE - 0131 229 3402

The Boathouse, South Queensferry

2010-08-18T06:37:00.001+01:00

I was well chuffed when after phoning several restaurants around South Queensferry on late Thursday night The Boathouse managed to get us in for a dinner with just 15 minutes warning.

The Boathouse is right in the heart of South Queensferry. There is a cocktail bar upstairs and bistro downstairs as well as the restaurant where we had dinner. The restaurant menu is light and mainly fresh seafood, as you can imagine, them being located right by the sea.

Most of us ordered fish or scallops. My 'Seared swordfish with sweet chili salsa' was meaty and perfectly cooked, little rare in the middle, just the way it should be. Our table of seven was quite loud and bubbly but as soon as our mains arrived everybody went silent and just enjoyed their food. I love when that happens!

My dessert 'Panna cotta with a mixed berry compote' was a bit disappointing as it was a teeny-tiny portion. All other desserts seemed to be bigger than mine and I always get serious food envy if my portion is the smallest.

Other than that, it was a really good night, a chance for two families finally to meet each other over a delicious meal. Only improvements that I can think of in this restaurant could be slightly bigger portion sizes and little more effort and imagination with food presentation: now all plates had same boiled potatoes and beans. Still, I'm sure we will return, their fish is so good.

fantastic location and views

tempting seafood menu

small, intimate venue

22 High St, South Queensferry, Edinburgh, EH30 9PP - 0131 3315429

The Two Bridges, South Queensferry

2010-08-16T06:46:00.005+01:00

Dinner time after a sunny, hot day and we find ourselves in South Queensferry with nowhere booked to have some light supper. We tried our luck at The Railbridge Bistro but it was packed, no chance to get a table for the four of us.

Next option down the road was The Two Bridges that is under a new management or owners. There was no customers sitting on the tables outside, which worried me a bit, but we were absolutely starving so decided to give it a go anyway.

We ordered pots of tea, soups and starters. I had 'French toast with chili and basil, served with fresh rocket and parmesan cheese' and it was nice, moist and spicy, but unfortunately they have seemed to run out of rocket, oops! Luckily the homemade, seriously good and thick lentil soup saved this meal.

What a funny place this is. Like they started re-decorating&furbishing with enthusiasm and then just sort of... gave up. The upstairs and downstairs don't quite match. There is no atmosphere. The staff seemed bored to be working there. You can see what the owners are trying to achieve, but it's not anywhere near it yet. It's a pity, because of the location and area this could be a superb addition to South Queensferry's restaurants.

breathtaking views to the Forth

really tasty soup

lots of tables outside

Newhalls Rd, South Queensferry, West Lothian, EH30 9TA - 0131 331 5381

Scottish Food Word Sunday - 'Nun's Beads'

2010-08-15T17:54:00.003+01:00

'Nun's Beads'

"Grated Dunlop cheese, egg yolks and breadcrumbs (4:1:1), made into a paste, formed into walnut-sized balls, each ball covered in thin puff pastry and deep-fried until golden brown"
From 'Dictionary of food' by Charles Sinclair

Edinburgh castle waiting for rain in last years August

Friday favourites - Victoria Mason Jewellery

2010-08-13T17:03:00.002+01:00

Last week I saw some adorable jewellery, made by Victoria Mason. She makes silver necklaces, rings and and earrings that are inspired by everyday household objects like teacups, scissors, biscuits, clothes pegs...

I got the spoon and fork sterling silver necklace on the top left corner. It's tiny, shiny and perfect! If you're ever struggling to find a gift for the foodie in your life, head to the The Red Door Gallery in Edinburgh's Victoria Street, or have a look at the full range of her jewellery from her website. She has got a cool blog, too!

The Scottish Cafe&Restaurant, Edinburgh

2010-08-12T06:32:00.013+01:00

There are people in this world that absolutely LOVE food and it's written all over them. The owners of The Scottish Cafe&Restaurant, Victor and Carina Contini are like that. Their third and newest restaurant is at the National Gallery of Scotland
right in the middle of Edinburgh city.

We had the pleasure to taste their butteries at the Taste Festival this year and been planning to go for lunch ever since. The menu at the cafe consists of breakfast served until 11.45 am, sandwiches, pate's, butteries, cheeseboards and also afternoon & cream teas served from 3pm to 6pm. Not to mention their very tempting looking pastries and cakes... They also have a restaurant menu that has got all the Scottish classic starters and mains in it.

After doing an open bus tour around Edinburgh's old town with my mom and brother we were all starving so we headed for lunch and ordered haggis for my mom, soups for three and hot butteries served with a seasonal mixed leaves salad. I had the 'Loch Arthur cheddar and our own unsmoked Borders boiled ham', it was lovely and greasy and hot, perfect lunch for a windy day after spending all day outside.

Next time I have a Sunday off I would love to try their 'Sunday roast lunch special: Classic traditional Sunday roast, served with crispy potatoes and fresh organic summer vegetables' from 12 noon to 5 pm, for £13.95...

herbs growing outside

friendly and warm welcome

unique location & buzzing atmosphere

The Mound, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL - 0131 226 6524

The Olive Branch Bistro, Edinburgh

2010-08-10T12:24:00.003+01:00

Days off are my absolute favourite thing. And better than a day off is to have a whole week off. And to have a whole week off with Mr Lovable is just... well, heaven.

Last week was a Very Special Week as my mom and brother were in Edinburgh for few days! So on Monday, the day of their arrival, after scrubbing the whole flat from floor to ceiling the pair of us made a trip to Broughton Street to get sausages, black pudding and bacon from Crombies for next days big breakfast.

While there, we went for a late lunch to The Olive Branch Bistro. Both of us ordered fresh tagliatelle with chorizo, artichokes, cherry tomatoes, roast fennel and olives and not much was said after our plates arrived. It was a perfect sized bowl of very, very tasty pasta. Chorizo is an amazing ingredient: it just goes with pretty much anything.

I couldn't help noticing that their daily specials had honey and apricot cheesecake written on it. I quickly scanned my endless 'list of excuses to have dessert' in my head and used "But we are on holidays..." and got to eat my oh-so-lovely slice of cake.

Restaurants and cafe's come and go on Broughton Street but this place looks like it is steadily busy and hooray for that. I have been here few times before and the food&service has always been faultless.

If looking for relaxed, friendly bistro that is excellent value for money, look no further.

jugs of water with fresh mint, lime and lemon

great place for people watching

tables outside as well

91 Broughton Street, EH1 3RX - 0131 557 8589

Scottish Food Word Sunday - 'Haggis'

2010-08-01T09:27:00.021+01:00

'haggis'

"A sausage made from the minced heart, liver and lungs of a sheep mixed with oatmeal, suet, minced onion, spices, herbs and seasoning, all encased in a sheep's stomach and boiled prior to being served hot. Nowadays more commonly stuffed in a plastic casing. Traditionally served at Burns' night suppers with tatties, bashit neeps and an excess of whisky, whilst Burns' Ode to the Haggis is recited with due ceremony."
From 'Dictionary of food' by Charles Sinclair

'Haggis graffiti' in Edinburgh

Friday favourites - Ruth Reichl

2010-07-30T18:05:00.000+01:00

My favourite food writer, Ruth Reichl. First of her books that I ever bought was 'Garlic and Sapphires' and I swear I could not put it down. I had to read it pretty much at one go, I cried and giggled my way through it and when it was finished I went and ordered rest of her books.

An amazing author. You can follow her on Twitter, too. Her tweets are like little poems!

Scottish Food Word Sunday - 'Kale Brose'

2010-07-25T15:53:00.001+01:00

'kale brose'

"A Scottish peasant dish of cows' heel simmered and skimmed for 4 hours, finely shredded kale and toasted oatmeal added and boiled until cooked. A more up-market version uses beef broth with beef cheek."

From 'Dictionary of food' by Charles Sinclair

Naked, Edinburgh

2010-07-22T17:12:00.009+01:00

Here is something different for Edinburgh's takeaway scene: Naked takeaway. It was about the time that somebody thought of something like this!

You can get freshly cooked, affordable, good quality seasonal food delivered to your door. Choose from their very attractive menu, place your order and get it delivered to your house. Now there's and option for those nights one doesn't fancy cooking and is not in a mood for Chinese or Indian...

For starters we shared 'Iberico chorizo and chickpeas', tapas-style stew with tomato, pepper and onion sauce and 'Killer king prawns', succulent king prawns marinated in garlic and coriander, coated with crispy Panko breadcrumbs. Both were decent starters but the prawns were a winner and I'm not a massive fan of them normally!

I ordered 'Yoga chicken', local free-range chicken marinated in buttermilk and herbs, served with a light creme fraiche dressing, cooked and served on a wooden skewer with a small gardener's salad. There was something missing and it was the dressing, but what the hell: I had juicy chicken on a bed of salad that tasted so fresh that it was just pulled out of the garden. I was also in a mood for comfort food so had an side order of delicious buttery mash as well. Mr Lovable had 'Jamaican stew pork' with rice and was oohing and aahing over it.

Eek! Like how damn cute is their packaging? I am very much looking forward to our next order from Naked... I have a funny feeling that their burgers with chips would be sensational.

fresh idea, fresh food

open 7 days

fast, free delivery

35 Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, EH12 5AU - 0131 516 2988‎

Scottish Food Word Sunday - 'Hairst Bree'

2010-07-18T17:11:00.002+01:00

'hairst bree'
"A type of hotchpotch with as well as the usual vegetables, broad beans, shredded lettuce, cauliflower florets and chopped herbs."

From 'Dictionary of food' by Charles Sinclair

First Coast, Edinburgh

2010-07-13T14:19:00.003+01:00

I have lost count of how many times we have been to First Coast

for dinner. Last Friday night, our original plan was to drive to Peebles and find somewhere to sit down for a dinner, but instead ended up walking over to scary Gorgie to our favourite bistro.

Their menu had luckily changed since our last visit, otherwise my only choice would have been to order the best risotto I've ever eaten again! We both had homemade black pudding with caramelized apple and sticky gravy for starter and it was different than any black pudding that I have ever tasted, very nice and perfect partner for the apple.

For my main I had Middle eastern platter, tabbouleh, chickpea and pumpkin stew, pistachio and sumac labneh, muhammara and flatbread. I did not have a clue what half of the things were on this dish, but ordered it anyway and it was a superb combination of different flavours.

For dessert we couldn't resist sharing an Eton mess with hazelnut and chocolate. I never thought of using anything else than berries or fruit for this pudding but changed my mind after eating this lovely dessert.

their waiting staff is so relaxed and friendly, nothing is ever too much trouble for them

funky menu that changes often

always busy, always enjoyable

97-101 Dalry Road, Edinburgh, EH11 2AB - 0131 313 4404

Scottish Food Word Sunday - 'Inky-Pinky'

2010-07-11T14:17:00.003+01:00

I have made a great book discovery: 'Dictionary of food: International Food and Cooking terms from A to Z' by Charles Sinclair. It covers all descriptions of dishes, ingredients, equipment and techniques you can imagine of the world's cuisines. Funnily, there's even loads of Finnish words in it as well. But what really caught my attention was all Scottish food terms that I have never heard of before, like 'inky-pinky', 'haggamuggie' or 'howtowdie'...
I thought that this is way too fascinating not to share and decided to post one Scottish food word every Sunday.

First one to go is my favourite,
'inky-pinky'

"A kind of stew of leftovers made with beef stock thickened with corn flour and heated with cold roast beef, which has been trimmed of all fat and gristle. Cooked carrots and cooked button onions are added together with seasoning and 25 ml of vinegar per litre of stock. Served with small squares or triangles of toast (called sippets)."

Friday favourites - Good Natured Berries

2010-07-09T14:53:00.001+01:00

We eat lots of fresh berries, especially in the summertime. Lots of them. When we do our weekly shopping there is always a varying selection of strawberries, blueberries, cherries, raspberries and blackberries in the shopping trolley. I grew up in the countryside in Finland and every summer our huge garden produced more berries that we could possibly eat. We had hundreds of strawberry plants and in the back of the garden blackcurrant and redcurrant bushes. And of course all the nearby woodlands were packed with blueberries and lingonberries in the end of the summer.

At the Taste Festival this year we sampled berries from Good Natured and were both amazed how good they tasted. They actually reminded me of my childhood. So full of flavour that you'd think that they somehow injected the berryness in.

Since that I have kept my eyes open when shopping, but have not managed to find any of their products in supermarkets or anywhere else. Only place I have found them since was at The Royal Highland Show. As well as gorgeous berries, they also do tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, potatoes and range of herbs. Their pesticide residue free berries are grown in Angus on the East Coast of Scotland. If you ever see them, buy them, they are guaranteed to be bursting with flavour.

Kalpna, Edinburgh

2010-07-07T14:48:00.001+01:00

We are lucky to have the best Indian take-away in Edinburgh, Delta, just around the corner from us, but sometimes it's nice to go and sit down for a curry. Kalpna has been in St Patricks Square for a quarter of a century. Another place on our list that we have wanted to try for a long time but never quite managed, until now.

This family owned vegetarian restaurant is open for somewhat famous 'all you can eat' lunch from 12pm-2pm and for dinner 5.30pm-10.30pm. Make sure to book in advance to avoid disappointment as the place seems to be always busy.

My starter was Tandoori mix with broccoli, baby potatoes and Paneer, coated in a spicy yogurt marinade and cooked in a tandoor. The broccoli could have been cooked more but it was still a nice dish, with two interesting sauces.

For mains I chose Mughal Kofta: cheese, onion, nuts&potato fritters in a delicious hot spicy cashew nut and almond sauce, garnished with fresh coriander leaves and caramelised onion. We also ordered some pilau rice and naan bread that was to die for. All food arrived very quickly and was full of rich flavours.

When we arrived the place was empty but filled up in minutes and I was glad to see lots of Indian customers which is always a good sign. The only low point was that I found their staff a tad ignorant, bored looking and not so friendly... maybe they were just having a bad day? But still, I would definitely go back.

lots of sauce

mirror decorations on the walls

quick service

2-3 St Patrick Square, EH8 9EZ - 0131 667 9890

The Restaurant at The Rutland, Edinburgh

2010-06-23T11:17:00.012+01:00

The Rutland Hotel is impossible to miss in Edinburgh as it is located in the West end of Princes Street. It hosts a boutique hotel with 12 rooms, always busy bar on the street level, a lounge bar called The One Below and The Restaurant at The Rutland upstairs.

Ever since the Taste of Edinburgh we had planned to come here for dinner and finally managed to book a table for Friday night.

My starter was grilled Lincolnshire asparagus, with wild rocket, hollandaise sauce and parmesan crisp. It was really tasty and I started to get my hopes up that this could be a nice dinner. Mr lovable enjoyed his savoury Crowdie cheesecake starter and I had slight food envy.
Then it went from nice to not so nice.
We waited and waited. After what felt like forever our friendly waitress informed us that our order was just after a big table and we would be served soon after them...

Our mains arrived eventually, my 'saltimbocca of Sunnyside farm veal with sage, air dried Cumbrian ham, potato fondant' and a side order of 'Colcannon' looked like it had been sitting in the pass for a while and was a bit dry and overcooked, while Mr Lovable's lamb dish was cold... and both portions were ridiculously small. Such a shame.

We shared an 'Eton mess made with Scottish strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, whipped cream, meringue and vanilla ice cream' for dessert. This was good, but then again a dessert that's almost impossible to get wrong...

Slightly disappointed, but maybe we were expecting too much as it is not the cheapest place to eat. I wonder what went wrong on that night at The Rutland? There seemed to be loads of waiting staff wandering around and not much happening. And the restaurant was only half full, how would they cope with full covers? I'd hate to think.

fresh gerberas on every table

free range veal from Sunnyside farm

a bit mad, modern decor

1-3 Rutland Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2AE - 0131 229 3402

Edit: Re-visited in August 2010 with great service and superb food!

Restaurant Martin Wishart, Edinburgh

2010-06-17T19:48:00.003+01:00

I have to admit that I was nervous for this dinner. I have never eaten in a Michelin star restaurant before and was worried about lots of things: that I would feel intimidated, that I would do something wrong, that I would not like some of the dishes, my biggest worry of all being that we would end up leaving hungry and would have go to the chippie on the way home.

That was a bunch of worries wasted, as it quite often happens in life. From the minute of walking in we were treated so well that I felt like we were something special. I also had my concerns about not being able to take pictures of my dinner and when I said to the maitre d' that I have a question to ask he just nodded and said "Yes, you can take photos of the food." Yay!
So here it is, our dinner at Martin Wishart in pictures and few words:

We decided to go for the tasting menu, 6 courses for 65 pounds. It started off with some haggis bonbons and then hors d'oeuvres that were just beautiful.

Gratin of Kilbrannan langoustine and Devon snail, parsley and grain mustard was the first course. Food porn at it's best, if I may say so.

Presse of foie gras with praline, apricot purée, black olive tapenade and madeira cream. This was served with a warm slice of brioche. So simple and so very good.

Ceviche of halibut, mango and passion fruit. This was the only dish that I found a bit disappointing, simply because I'm not a massive fan of 'raw' fish, I just don't like the texture. Lady in the next table was complaining that the mango was 'overpowering' the fish but for me it was the opposite: if it wasn't for the mango I would have struggled to finish this.

Red mullet, spelt grain 'A Banda' and new season garlic velouté. Brilliant, sophisticated flavours brought together. Was I in food heaven?

Loin of Borders Roe deer, gratin of asparagus, goat’s cheese gnocchi, sauce grand veneur. I have never tasted meat like this. It was so full of flavour and so tender that it literally melted in my mouth.

Cylinder of dark chocolate, Jivara milk chocolate mousse, lemon cream and earl grey ice cream. Perfect dessert to end a perfect meal.

This was one of the most relaxing evenings that I have ever had, it did not feel like over two hours at all. The service was flawless and personal, the decor calming and relaxing, the food beyond exquisite. I wish I had bigger and better words in my vocabulary to describe it all but this will have to do. Would I go back? Hell yes.

We were both in a strange high after all this: when we came home I said to Mr Lovable that "I feel like I've had few glasses of wine", though we didn't have any! Another strange thing as well is that I didn't feel overly stuffed or bloated or whatever I would normally feel after having dinner, just felt... nice and... well, high as a kite.

amazing, knowledgeable staff

food like I've never eaten before

their attention to detail

54 The Shore, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6RA - 0 131 553 3557

Treacle Bar&Kitchen, Edinburgh

2010-06-11T14:49:00.005+01:00

I have wanted to try Treacle since it opened a bit over a year ago and now I finally managed to go there for lunch. We have been to their sister bar, Hamilton's in Stockbridge couple of times on a Sunday afternoon and always left satisfied.

They have funny tables and benches outside that are packed when it's nice outside. Treacle's menu is a funky mix of sharing platters, pies, burgers, noodles, salads and sandwiches. They also do breakfast until 12pm during the week and until 6pm Saturdays and Sundays.

The interior designer had some fun designing the decor of this place, it is irresistibly cute with comic book type of illustrations on the walls and candles on every table.

Roast vegetable enchiladas with melted cheddar, sour cream and refried beans. Hooray! See how much cheese there is on top of that? That's what I like to see/eat. Perfect, I liked it a lot. My pal Lynsey had a crispy falafel and sesame burger with spiced mayo and home cut parsnip fries and seemed to like her food as well.

I was hoping to have room for dessert as well, but no chance. All very tempting pudding options, like 'Belgian waffles with Nutella and vanilla ice cream', were scribbled on a blackboard next to our table. Ah well, one more reason to go back to Treacle that is then!

cosy, relaxing interior

seriously cute toilets: pink for girls, blue for boys

friendly waitress that seemed to enjoy her work

39 Broughton Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3JU - 0131 557 0627

Olive Press, Preston

2010-06-07T17:19:00.010+01:00

Olive Press was my choice for lunch when I quickly visited Preston. I had done my research the night before as I was limited with time and wanted to make sure that I would get something half decent to eat before driving back home.

There is a handful these restaurants in North West England, all part of Heathcotes Collection. Their menu is traditional Italian with a modern twist, lots of exciting options to try alongside all old favourites like handmade pastas and stone baked pizzas.

I wanted something light, so when I saw 'Healthy lifestyle dishes - all dishes under 400 calories' on the menu I was more than happy. 'Pizza with a salad centre', plum tomatoes, fresh basil, dried chilies&rocket salad centre was so tasty I didn't even realize that I was eating a pizza without cheese on top...something that one would not expect to happen!

I was pleasantly surprised with this place, though I'm not quite sure what I was expecting. Not for a moment did I feel uncomfortable eating alone and that to me always says something about the place. Their attentive staff all had smile on their faces and on my way out I got into chatting with two lovely men that I assume were the owners/bosses, when they kindly asked my opinion about wallpaper options for the bar upstairs.

extremely helpful&friendly staff

perfect for quick, nice lunch

open kitchen, always interesting

23 Winckley Square, Preston, PR1 3JJ - 01772 886363

Taste Festival, Edinburgh

2010-05-31T12:09:00.010+01:00

Taste of Edinburgh weekend was here again, a chance to sample specially prepared menus from some of the best restaurants in the city. There was also classes and demonstrations, not to mention a wide variety of exhibitors at the producer's market.
London will see their festival in June and Taste of Birmingham is on in July.

I was surprised to see half as many people in than there was last year. Maybe this had something to do with the extremely cold weather or it could have been the pricey tickets that are 16 pounds each, if you buy them on the day. We bought ours months ago and got them for next to nothing and I heard that they were giving away free tickets during the week as well. But you still have to pay for your food.
Taste festival has got their own currency called 'crown' and this is used to pay for all goods purchased. This year I finally understood why that is... so you don't realize how much you're actually spending! In the end, the food is quite expensive. Almost all the dishes we had were ten crowns each, that being five pounds and they are starter size portions. Ouch, I say, but worth it if you love food. And I know for sure that I will still be going again next year, no matter what.

'Curry in a hurry' was our first sample, Tony's mum's chickpea curry with potatoes and sambals from Tony's Table. One of my favourite of the bunch, I decided later when I was summing it all up!

'Butts in buns with Asian slaw', pulled Perthshire pork with ugly bread focaccia and spiced slaw also from Tony's Table, was nice but I preferred the curry. We also got a chance to see the man himself, Tony Singh, and I was surprised to find him super-friendly and very approachable. So lovely, actually, that I really want to go for lunch there as soon as possible!

'The Mal Burger' from Malmaison was good last year, and this year their burger made from naturally reared ground beef with Gruyere cheese and bacon was sensationally good. The sauce was out of this world and to my disappointment there was no chips with it like they had the year before, but hey-ho. Mr Lovable wanted to have two of these...

'Ravioli di asparagi', pasta parcel with green asparagus from Cucina at Hotel Missoni, was nothing special: quite bland tasting and barely warm. Their service was rude and ignorant to the point that for a moment I thought of not ordering anything. Well, I should have... at least I know now to avoid this place.

Hot Aberdeen butterie with Patullo's asparagus, crowdie and Lanark Blue with watercress and walnuts, dressed with cold pressed rape seed oil from The Scottish Cafe&Restaurant, very Scottish tasting and Mr Lovable's favourite. Their service was amazing, everyone seemed to be welcomed with a big smile by the owner and he managed to make me feel like we were old friends when I chatted to him!

Lapsang tea-smoked salmon with ponzu and Japanese wands from Waitrose Kitchen. Pea shoots and smoked salmon were just a perfect match and it looked so very pretty on the plate, too!

Roasted beef fillet with black truffles, watercress and early potatoes from Launceston Place and Action Against Hunger. Can I just say that I'm not a big fan of beef like steaks and big lumps of it, and was a bit apprehensive when I saw this in front of me. But the meat was so beautifully cooked and tender that I could have had more!
This was Taste of Edinburgh's first ever Celebrity Chef Charity Pop-Up restaurant, menu by Tristan Welch. 'The restaurant has been stocked by donated supplies and is run by generous, talented staff who have donated their time for the cause'. All proceeds from the restaurant were donated to Action Against Hunger. I am hoping to see more stuff like this next year...

'Rhubarb and custard', poached rhubarb, rhubarb jelly, vanilla custard and crystallised rhubarb from The Rutland Hotel, first dessert to sample. Very nice, wouldn't mind going here for dinner one night...

Marmalade and whisky ice cream served in a sugar cone from Amber was one mouthful of beautifully presented homemade ice cream.

'We Scream', soft vanilla ice cream with Tony's Table monkey blood from Tony's Table was just soft ice cream from a machine with a bit of berry coulis on top. At least they've got sense of humor in this place!

Chocolate mousse with strawberries, coconut whip and hazelnut crackling from Waitrose Kitchen. The bottom part with strawberries and chocolate was good but the 'coconut whip' was made form canned whipped cream! What's that all about, Waitrose?

So that was what the Taste Festival 2010 tasted for me ... where do I want to go for a meal after all this? Tony's Table for sure, The Scottish Cafe&Restaurant and Centotre, Tony's Table sitting smiling on the top of my wish list!

opportunity to meet famous chefs

chance to sample new restaurants

blueberries and strawberries from Good Natured, I have never tasted berries that good!

Inverleith Park, Edinburgh, 28-30 June

The Quay, Montrose

2010-05-28T12:46:00.004+01:00

I have made a discovery that I would like to share... yesterday I was on one of my travels, this time headed north from Edinburgh, to a town called Montrose. As I had half of the day off I wanted to have a wee wonder around and then sit down for nice lunch somewhere.

I asked the petrol station guy about The Quay when passing by and he said 'You HAVE to go and eat there, their food is seriously good!'. The night before I had done a quick Google search about where to eat in Montrose and found similar comments. I was so hopeful.

So in I went and ordered black pudding, poached egg and Hollandaise sauce to start with. It was beautiful, a superb start for a rainy day's meal; simple, comforting flavours sitting on a toasted slice of brioche. As I was eating I was making notes in my head to cook this for breakfast one day.

Roast squash, chestnut and sage risotto with crispy bacon for main. As I had eaten the most perfect risotto only two weeks ago in First Coast I wanted to see if this would be as nice, but it was not quite so. It was, however, very pleasing with earthy flavour and I did enjoy every forkful.

Chocolate mousse with Viennese biscuit was simply heavenly. Once again, my eyes were bigger than my stomach and that night something really rare happened, I didn't have dinner. I was still too full from my lunch. Note to self: must triple the amount of exercise if going to keep lunching/munching like this.

If you are ever anywhere near Montrose, eat here. I think it's even worth of taking the coast road when going to Aberdeen and stopping here for a meal. It is that good.

simple, modern decor

warmest welcome

very reasonably priced

1-4 Wharf Street, Montrose, Angus, DD10 8BD - 01674 672 821

Pink Olive, Edinburgh

2010-05-20T16:18:00.017+01:00

Pink Olive is a Scottish bistro with a simple, no fuss, shortish menu and stripped and plain decor, 'atmosphere that appeals to all' in Edinburgh's Newington neighborhood. From the outside it looks just too cute and inviting and I remember walking by so many times and wondering what their food is like.

Since that we have been here for a dinner, last summer, and both liked it quite a lot. Ever since I have wanted go come here for lunch and this week I popped in by myself at lunchtime on a day when temperatures hit record highs for May in Scotland.

I ordered leek & smoked Arran cheddar tart with puy lentil vinaigrette that was obviously packed with calories but was well worth it. Portion size could have been a tad bigger in my opinion, but this was after all lunch, and I do remember their dinner portions being a lot bigger.

Mississippi mud pie with chocolate fudge sauce was what I first had my eyes on in the dessert menu but the hot and humid weather made me to go for orange & lemon jelly which was truly refreshing and paired nicely with ginger syrup.

I have been here for lunch and dinner, next excuse for a visit is to sample their Sunday brunch...

relaxed ambience

mostly female clientele, which I find oddly amusing

friendly staff

55-57 West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DB - 0131 662 4493

First Coast, Edinburgh

2010-05-14T14:54:00.009+01:00

First Coast is 'quality neighborhood bistro' in Edinburgh's not so nice area between Haymarket and Gorgie, in Dalry Road. If you brave yourself and don't let the location scare you, I promise that you will experience wonderful cooking, food made with passion using the best, freshest ingredients.

We have been here loads of times and always find ourselves coming back.

I had braised oxtail with potato gnocchi for starter, it was so good and full of flavour that it made me emotional.

Pearl barley and Mascarpone risotto with honey glazed butternut squash for main course. I don't think I have ever eaten my food as slowly as I ate this risotto... it was so delicious, creamy and tasty that I did not want it to end, ever.

For dessert we shared a rhubarb roly poly with custard. There was even a wee jug of extra custard and this of course made me super-happy: one of life's little pleasures is getting extra sauce with your food.

This is one of my favourite places to eat in Edinburgh, anything I've ever tasted has been mouthwatering and it's always been an enjoyable experience. I can't recommend this place highly enough, please go and sample yourself...

never disappointing

chilled atmosphere

menu that changes frequently

97-101 Dalry Road, Edinburgh, EH11 2AB - 0131 313 4404

The Chop and Ale House, Linlithgow

2010-04-26T18:36:00.089+01:00

The Chop and Ale House in Linlithgow is a former bar of Champany Inn, 'a haven of excellent restaurants and comfortable bedrooms just twenty minutes west of Edinburgh'. They have got a Michelin star restaurant as well as their own wine shop, sitting in the middle of nowhere and I've heard that the place is always busy.

The Chop and Ale House is a more relaxed and cheaper alternative to the fancy restaurant. They take no bookings, but a table in this cosy, small pub is worth the wait if need to.

It was hard for me to even consider ordering anything else than one of their famous burgers, but the menu offers Aberdeen Angus steaks, Scottish lamb chops and fish and chips, just to mention few options.

Brie and bacon burger with side salad, coleslaw and homemade chips, not one's typical Monday night dinner, but what a treat it was. We both agreed that the burgers were one of the best we've ever tasted and we have sampled few! Good quality, juicy beef and smoked bacon that was out of this world, but then again, this is a place that has got it's own butcher and smokehouse, so no wonder.

We were too full to have a dessert each, but ordered a cranachan to share and while enjoying it, made plans to save our pennies so we could come back and have dinner at The Restaurant.

big portions

best chips I have ever tasted

their own wine shop and the big dog that 'works' there

Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland, EH49 7LU - 01506 834532

The Cornish Pasty, Keswick

2010-04-20T17:17:00.011+01:00

Driving back from the Lake District we stopped in picturesque Keswick to have a wander around, our plan was also to sit down and have lunch somewhere before heading back home.

Little did we know that we would end up eating our lunch standing up on the street and enjoying it!

Pie menu, so much choice that I felt dizzy...

There they are, cornish pasties! We had two and shared them.

Spicy vegetable...

... and leek, ham and cheese. I have never tasted anything like this. They were both so good that I have no words to explain it. I regret now that we did not buy more to put in the freezer at home.

They even have water for dogs outside! We had dessert as well, of course, but unfortunately I failed miserably to document it as it was just too good. Sorry. If ever near Keswick, go and taste for yourself and you'll understand.

constant queue outside, never a bad sign

one thing, done to perfection

super tasty food

3 Lake Road, Keswick, CA12 5BS - 017687 72205

The Windermere Restaurant, Lake District

2010-04-19T15:25:00.021+01:00

After Easter we took ourselves for a mini break to the Lake District where we stayed in the Low Wood Hotel that is situated on the north shore of Lake Windermere, near Ambleside. I understand now why so many people choose to go to 'The Lakes' for holidays. It's so relaxing and beautiful out there that you would just want to go back.

This hotel is hilarious: the location could not be any better and it has somehow got four stars, browsing through their website you see images of this modern, chic hotel but in reality the rooms and leisure club are quite small, basic and dated. Their main restaurant, The Windermere Restaurant, bar and reception area are done up really nicely and don't somehow fit in with the rest.

I liked the tasteful decor of the restaurant quite a bit, lots of dark wood, high ceilings and windows, contemporary art scattered on the walls.

We both had high hopes that dinner in here would be really nice...

I had smoked haddock and gruyere cheese fish cakes with watercress, tartar sauce and quail eggs for starter and enjoyed it, so far so good.

Our pan-seared Goosnarch cornfed chicken breast, cassoulet of chorizo and beans with butter bean puree arrived after a long wait and we had to send them back as there was no chorizo on the plate, oops. Our waiter was genuinely apologetic and we had new plates in front of us in minutes.

Sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream, can never go wrong with this pudding! After our first dinner experience I was actually nervous for next nights dinner, but to our relief it went a lot smoother with no major hiccups. We both ended up having excellent burgers but the service was still painfully slow and strangely disorganized. I hope that they will get their problems sorted and bedrooms re-decorated as this could be a really special hotel.

staff that tried their best

really superb burgers

sophisticated decor

Ambleside Rd, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 1LP - 015394 33338

Cafe Andaluz, Edinburgh

2010-04-05T09:07:00.027+01:00

Cafe Andaluz in Edinburgh's George street is something that I've wanted to try since it's opening but never managed to until now. After I booked us a table I couldn't stop thinking about our trip to Barcelona couple of years ago in and the yummy tapas that we ate there.

On a Sunday night they do a special deal, three tapas of your choice and a dessert for £14.95 which is what we had. With great difficulty we ended up ordering the following...

Roasted sweet potato, parsnip and chickpea mixed with chopped parsley and coriander, topped with a tahini dressing.

Creamy soft cheese, fried in breadcrumbs and served with caramelized onion chutney and

pan fried sliced chicken breast marinated in paprika, lemon and coriander, served with chili yogurt.

Two portions of chorizo and black pudding sauteed in spicy tomato.

Grilled goats cheese with Seville orange and chili marmalade.

And finished with caramel cheesecake and raspberry pavlova.

Needless to say, we were well stuffed after all that food! It was like 'fast food tapas', all our food was in the table in less than five minutes from ordering and tasted like not a huge amount of effort was put into the cooking. But still, I would probably go back. This would be a fun place to go with a big crowd and just order everything, so until next time...

Spanish staff

great interior

real Spanish atmosphere

77b George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3EE - 0131 220 9980

Cafe Marlayne, Edinburgh

2010-03-26T10:04:00.088Z

There is a duo of restaurants in Edinburgh that can be found in every guidebook and food mag, receiving the most amazing reviews one after another. I'm talking about Cafe Marlayne on Thistle Street and their slightly larger restaurant in Old Fishmarket Close. They both have classic french menus that change quite often, sometimes daily, depending what is in season and at it's best at the time.

Their tiny bistro on Thistle Street was packed on a Wednesday night, with all 9 candlelit tables full. We were handed handwritten menus that looked very tempting with duck breast, lamb rumps, rib-eye steak, sea bass, halibut and lemon sole.

I started off with buffalo mozzarella served with roasted red peppers, crispy chorizo, tomato and pesto...

followed by halibut fillet on a bed of crushed potatoes, rocket, crispy parma ham and garlic butter. Both dishes were pleasing to both eye and mouth, and I was so happy that I still had room for a pudding!

Then I had some serious trouble choosing from their dessert menu...

but eventually managed to make up my mind and key lime pie it was, delightful end for a truly divine meal.

I understand now what the fuss is about with Cafe Marlayne; it's so cosy, welcoming, intimate, and the food is simply gorgeous and good value for money. Make sure you book your table in advance, as they are always busy. Bon appetit!

absolutely perfect service

handwritten menus

so-oh-romantic

76 Thistle St, Edinburgh, EH2 1EN - 0131 226 2230

Gilded Lily, Carlisle

2010-03-24T11:12:00.010Z

There seems to be limited options if you fancy something a bit nicer to eat in Carlisle town centre. I wanted to treat myself for lunch in David's Restaurant, but to my disappointment it was closed so I walked back in the rain to my second restaurant option, Gilded Lily.

I was given a table right beside the open fire and a menu that had everything crammed in: sausages&mash, fajitas, steaks, tapas, burgers, pasta bake, jacket potatoes, lamb cutlets... you name it, it's all there.

I fancied something light for lunch and ordered smoked salmon and asparagus from their lunch specials menu, making sure that it was indeed a main course. I also got overly excited about the orange&liquorice cheesecake, but was told that it had been replaced by another flavour.

When my plate was placed in front of me all I could think of was: 'where is the rest of it?!' Three spears of asparagus and one poached egg is not a main course! It was excellent, but more like a starter size.

Without the strawberry and balsamic cheesecake I would have left hungry, so I could say that the pudding saved my meal. Gilded Lily is, in my opinion, a tad overpriced with the waiting staff being strangely nervous and service a bit on the slow side. But everybody else seemed to enjoy their meals, the decor is just fantastic and atmosphere relaxing, so I would probably pop back in again.

must see ladies toilets

stylish, funky decor

real fireplace

6 Lowther Street, Carlisle, CA3 8DA - 01228 593600

Monster Mash, Edinburgh

2010-02-28T15:48:00.101Z

Monster Mash is something different. If home-cooked, simple, tasty British food with very affordable pricing is what you're after, then this is your place.

They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, ‘top nosh at half the cost’.

Their menu has got it all: steak pies, fish and chips, haggis, shepherds pie, burgers and even macaroni and cheese. And finally: sausages, mash and gravy...

I had two monster sausages (classic herby pork, medium cut, smooth sausage from Crombies), mustard mash, onion gravy and a side order of peas and sweetcorn. And my choice of drink was of course a can of Irn Bru. The food was, as always, scrumptious.

Their decor is just fantastically quirky, 50's retro cafe-style, with old tables and chairs, chipped enamel dishes, tomato shaped ketchup bottles and mish mash plates.

I wish that a day would come that I could manage to have dessert here after main course. Does apple crumble, knickerbocker glory, steamed sponge pudding or deep fried ice cream not sound tempting?

enormous portions

welcoming, relaxed atmosphere

superb concept

4 a Forrest Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2QN - 0131 225 7069

Stac Polly, Edinburgh

2010-02-17T15:36:00.016Z

Stac polly is a trio of well-known restaurants in Edinburgh serving traditional Scottish food, first one opened in 1990 on Dublin street.

We had booked a table on their Grindlay street restaurant for dinner, on valentine's day. To be honest, I wasn't quite sure what to expect as I had heard many different stories of their so-so food, slow service and non-existing heating.

Amuse-bouche, vodka and martini jelly started off our meal...

and was followed by baked filo pastry parcels of finest haggis served with sweet plum and red wine sauce that was quite strong for my taste, but still an enjoyable dish.

Pan-fried supreme of salmon, fresh pea and mascarpone cake and wild mushroom sauce was a comforting combination of flavours, fish perfectly cooked.

Chocolate fudge cake and creme caramel ice cream served with coffee syrup was the course that tipped me over the edge. Yes, once again, I ate too much. So much, in fact, that I had trouble sleeping that night...

It was a very satisfying meal all in all and I would go back, for sure. Any complaints? They could probably turn up their heating a notch as I found it quite nippy and Mr Lovable's steak was not cooked the way he wanted. Other than that, what a lovely restaurant.

perfectly paced service

real scottish restaurant

old fashioned feel

8-10 Grindlay street, Edinburgh, EH3 9AS - 0131 229 5405

eteaket, Edinburgh

2010-02-13T14:29:00.016Z

'We want to make tea sexy again: we're going to start by letting it out the bag so it can do its thing', it says on eteaket's website.

Eteaket is a tea boutique/cafe off Edinburgh's busy George street with an impressive selection of teas, scrumptious cakes, sandwiches and light meals. They also sell teas, books, gifts and pretty much everything you can imagine to do with tea.

On a chilly Friday afternoon I popped in to have a bloomer sandwich with salami, rocket, mayo and olive tapenade with a bowl of homemade minestrone soup, and a cup of the sweetest, tastiest chai latte that I have ever had anywhere.

This is a place that was clearly a labour of love. For the love of excellent tea, cakes and and sitting down somewhere beautiful, warm and welcoming.

When I was paying my bill I asked why was my tea so nice and the young man serving me looked well chuffed to hear that. I then got an explanation how they prepare their tea and ended up going home with a small jar of bollywood dreams chai. The staff in eteaket could not have been trained any better! They seem to genuinely enjoy working in there, be enthusiastic about serving GOOD tea and want to share their knowledge.

helpful, passionate staff

best chai latte ever

seriously cute decor

41 Frederick st, Edinburgh, EH2 1EP - 0131 226 2982

Kro Piccadilly, Manchester

2010-02-11T15:23:00.010Z

Kro bars are scattered all around Manchester, owned by the Ruby family who come from the west coast of Jutland in Denmark. First Kro bar opened in 1999 and looks like it's been a success ever since - they now have 6 restaurants in total and offer outside catering service as well.

At lunchtime I was trying to decide where to escape from the snow blizzard and have something small to eat before heading back home to Edinburgh. Kro looked interesting and not too expensive so I stepped in and found the place buzzing with customers.

'Kro caesar salad' with grilled chicken and danish bacon, cos leaves, croutons, boiled egg, parmesan cheese and caesar dressing. Big plate of freshly put together, crunchy salad with lots of "eat me!", juicy chicken was just what I was looking for my lunch that day.

Fast and friendly service, tempting menu and Nordic decor makes me wish that they would one day decide to open one of Kro's in Edinburgh as well.

chairs form Habitat

Scandinavian concept

Bjork playing on the background

One Piccadily Gardens, Manchester, M1 1RG - 0161 244 5765

Saffy's, Ayr

2010-01-27T13:02:00.107Z

Saffy's location is funny, it took me a while to find the place as they're off the main streets and shops in Ayr. But I was determined to have lunch there, so I was more than happy when I eventually saw their sign on the street.

It was worth the trek. Saffy's is cafe/bar/brasserie and their menu has got pretty much everything at very affordable prices, even the fussiest eater would find something for sure.

I chose baked crispy pork, couscous and cheese wraps with sour cream and guacamole from their lunch specials and oh my god it was super yummy. So good that I was hoping I could just keep eating and not become full ever...

Their sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream was just a perfect dessert and for once there was enough sauce on my plate. Saffy's is just simply great food made with love and whenever I'm next in Ayr, I know where to go for a meal.

Ayr's best kept secret

really excellent food

very affordable

2 Dalblair road, Ayr, Scotland, KA7 1UL - 01292 288598

Illegal Jack's, Edinburgh

2010-01-25T12:55:00.115Z

Illegal Jack's is Edinburgh's new promise for Mexican food, 'Edinburgh's only contemporary Tex-Mex hangout where food quality and service experience are our goals', it says on their website.

Me and my partner in crime, Mr Lovable, had extremely high expectations to get decent fajitas at last, after we have had so many disappointing meals in Mexican restaurants. Maybe this would be the place that would change it all?

The decor took me by surprise, as it is very plain and very modern with long tables and benches, this really is more takeaway place than a restaurant. There is no real cutlery either, just paper cups, plastic forks and soft drinks dispenser that you can help yourself for drinks refill.

Marinated chicken breast, four small flour tortillas served with sour cream, salsa, cheese and guacamole on the side is what we both hopefully ordered. After the first mouthful we both just looked at each other and kept eating. Because we were hungry.

Once again, it was just an OK meal. I really don't get it with Tex-Mex food, people seem to adore this place and we both thought that it was below average. Don't get me wrong, there was nothing wrong with the food: just one little thing missing and that is FLAVOUR. Maybe I should shut up and cook my fajitas at home from now on?

Oh, and there is no desserts on the menu. Why is there no desserts, Jack? Why?

heating that was on

super fast and friendly service

chef that came out of the kitchen to walk around and ask if everybody's food was OK

113-117 Lothian road, Edinburgh, EH3 9AN - 0131 622 7499

Hamilton's Bar and Kitchen, Edinburgh

2010-01-19T13:07:00.094Z

Hamilton's Bar and Kitchen has got a feel that it has been in Edinburgh's Stockbridge for ages, so I was quite surprised to hear that it was only opened in 2008.

Open 7 days a week, from breakfast time until past midnight with a menu that changes monthly it's a place that you can pop in for drinks or coffee, proper meal or for a sandwich, like we did on a Sunday afternoon.

Grey painted walls, comfy sofas, warm atmosphere, lots of corners to chill out and pop art on the walls makes Hamilton's so cosy that nobody ever seems to be in a hurry in here.

Oven roast vegetable ciabatta with goat's cheese and sun blush tomatoes, served with home cut parsnip fries and salad, served up on a wooden board was very good, big portion of food.

This is such a cool, welcoming local bar and it has got recently opened sister bar on broughton street, Treacle, that I've only heard good things about and want to try next.

yellow cuckoo clock

funky food presentation

parsnip fries in a wee bucket

16-18 Hamilton place, Stockbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 5AU - 0131 226 4199

Cranachan, Glasgow

2010-01-15T12:00:00.016Z

Cranachan is a cool, modern cafe located in Glasgow's Princes Square They serve breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, 'coffee & modern Scottish Fayre', in a very welcoming atmosphere.

I had a look at their website the night before and the place seemed really interesting. My decision to have late lunch there was made as soon as I saw their purple colour scheme amongst all the other restaurants.

Chicken breast filled with haggis on a bed of new potatoes, with pink peppercorn sauce was one of the dishes on their specials menu and I really enjoyed it. Juicy meat, tasty haggis and sauce full of flavour, you can't go wrong with chicken and haggis put together!

Cranachan is their signature dish, 'fresh raspberries topped with toasted oats, heather honey and whisky bound in luscious thick cream served with buttery petticoat tails'. It was what it said on the menu, creamy and delicious but just a bit too big of a portion for greedy me.

I really want to go back there, this would be an ideal place to take somebody who want's to try 'something Scottish', maybe bring Mr Lovable for afternoon tea. Or do men do afternoon tea?

homemade scones and cakes

super funky interior design

awake and chatty staff

Princes Square, Glasgow G13JN - 0141 248 6257

Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Edinburgh

2009-12-31T17:35:00.016Z

Gourmet Burger Kitchen is a restaurant chain that started in London 2001 when three kiwi's wanted to create a new type of burger restaurant, they now have restaurants all over UK and few in Europe.

We went for a lunch in the Gourmet Burger Kitchen on Edinburgh's George street, this being a place we have wanted to try for quite a while, just for the love of burgers.

Their menu offers something for everyone, 100% Aberdeen Angus beef, chicken, lamb, vegetarian, even buffalo and wild boar burgers as well as salads and the usual selection of side orders.

I ordered a kiwi burger that had beetroot, egg, pineapple, salad, cheese and relish, while Mr Lovable went for Mexican burger that had sour cream, avocado, spicy kidney bean salsa and salad. We then shared our burgers and both liked the kiwi burger better, but were a bit disappointed how little beef there was. For me, a burger is all about the beef and always feel that there should be lots of it.

"You could get a burger just as nice or even better in a random pub", said Mr Lovable as we stepped out and I agree. The food was nothing spectacular and the service was a bit so-so. Also, seeing the waiting staff's knickers is not perhaps what one want's to be looking at when having lunch?

towers of onion rings that everybody seemed to be ordering

menu that has got something for everyone

open kitchen

137 George st, Edinburgh, EH24JY - 0131 260 9896

The Townhouse, Melrose

2009-12-22T11:17:00.009Z

This was our second visit to the Townhouse Hotel, a small hotel in an attractive town called Melrose, in the Scottish Borders.

Last time we visited it was summertime so this time it was nice to see the town all dressed up for winter, Christmas lights lighting up the high street and all the mountains covered in white snow.

I had goats cheese to start with as did Mr Lovable and it sitting on a bed of red onion marmalade, drizzled with balsamic dressing it was a perfect start for Sunday lunch.

My main course was pork fillet stuffed with chili and mozzarella, served with fettuccine. The pork was full of flavour but sauce had something missing, like the chef had just opened a tin of tomatoes and chucked it on a plate.

To finish off I couldn't decide from the very tempting dessert menu so I chose the 'Townhouse Assiette', combination of three small desserts, panna cotta, parfait and something lovely in a tall glass, all delicious and very beautifully presented.

superb presentation

no fuss, friendly service

homemade, yummy bread rolls

Market square, Melrose, Scottish Borders, TD6 9PQ

La Cremaillere 1900, Paris

2009-12-17T08:28:00.104Z

La Cremaillere 1900 is a busy, busy restaurant in bohemian and arty part of Paris, Montmartre. It is located in a square that is packed with at least a hundred artists selling their paintings and offering to paint your portrait.

On a freezing cold Sunday we climbed too many steps and admired the view from the top of the Montmartre hill and then sat down in this lovely, warm restaurant and enjoyed the best meal we had in Paris.

Lightly grilled goats cheese on toast with salad started off this lunch, 'can't go wrong with goats cheese' is our motto and it didn't let us down this time either. Yummy, no nonsense dish.

And then, to my horror, it was duck with potato gratin for main course. Duck. But, oh my, what a tasty duck it was, melt-in-the-mouth, tasty meat that just fell off the bone, lots of dark gravy and creamy potato. Match made in heaven, I say.

Dessert was iced nougat with almonds, served with red fruit compote, delicious dish but a portion so big that there was no way for me to finish it.

yummy champagne

real french restaurant

made me change my opinion about duck as food

15 Place du Tertre, Montmartre, 75018 Paris, France

Bateaux Mouches, Paris

2009-12-16T15:16:00.015Z

On our weekend in Paris we had dinner on a boat on Saturday night. Compagnie des Bateaux-Mouches is a company that has been operating on the river Seine for over 50 years. They have nine boats in total and five of them have got restaurants in them.

Smoked scallops on toast with olive oil was the starter and it was quite nice, maybe just a tad too oily and I think it would have been miles better served warm.

Roast lamb loin served with pan-fried winter vegetables tasted like lamb always tastes to me, like an old sock. I think it was beyond overcooked and chewy, the raw courgettes and couple of slices of carrot were not much better. And yes, that is a raw cherry tomato on top of it all.

The dessert, chocolate truffle with light coffee custard, was nicest dish of the bunch but so rich that I could not finish it.

It was such a good night overall, food was not the most amazing but the whole experience with spectacular views of Paris gliding by when having dinner will be a nice memory to have.

friendly, extremely helpful staff that nothing

seemed to be too much trouble

offers a gorgeous view to the city

a night to remember

Port de la Conférence, Pont de L’alma, the Rive Droit, Paris, France

Chez Clement, Paris

2009-12-16T14:37:00.007Z

Chez Clement is a restaurant chain with restaurants all over Paris. On a Saturday we had lunch in their charming and very French branch in Champs Elysees, right opposite the Lido Cabaret.

We stuffed ourselves with a three course meal, the starter being mini crab raviolis in seafood and marjoram sauce. I really liked it but I was lucky to have it served warm, the rest of our table had it cold and were not too happy about it...

Next was assorted roasted meats for mains: duck breast, pork spare ribs and chicken served with mashed potato and oops, there were random bits of meat missing from everyone's plate... mine had no spare ribs but the mash was lovely as was the sauce that was packed with flavour.

To finish off the meal we had caramelized crepes that looked very promising until our waitress came and poured rum all over them. She was being more than generous when it came to my plate and I was left with my poor pancake literally swimming in rum!

Chez Clement is for sure worth a visit, we were just unlucky with wee errors happening during our meal. The interior of the restaurant is just too cute and it's fairly big with different style sections so there is a table for everybody's taste.

really cosy and relaxed atmosphere

fast service, even though they were busy

decorations made out of forks

123 Avenue des Champs-Elysées, 75008 Paris, France

Lido, Paris

2009-12-15T08:01:00.034Z

Lido is "the world's most famous cabaret" located in Champs Elysees, Paris. It is an amazing show that has been going on since 1946, with 70 different artists and 23 different sets, real ice rink, dancers, acrobatics, amazing costumes put together into an amazing show that lasts for almost two hours.

Our starter was shredded skate and vegetables in a light cream sauce, served with steamed girolles and I have to say that it was a very strange dish. It was like the chef had just opened a tin of fish in oil and emptied that into small glass bowl, not nice.

Main course was chicken fillet glazed in lemon and bay leaves with caramelized chicory tatin, again not the nicest plate of food. The chicken was quite dry and had no taste whatsoever and whatever was on the plate next to it just had a random biscuit on top of it. Eek.

Dessert was all right,' home-style paris-brest' said the menu and it appeared to be baked almond-topped choux pastry filled with praline-flavoured butter cream.

Food in the Lido was nothing spectacular, quite the opposite than what I expected, but I suppose the main focus would be on the show. And for the show I wish I had bigger and better words to describe it, all I can say is that it was just breathtaking.

bare boobs and a real horse on stage

once in a lifetime experience

great service

116 Avenue des Champs-Elysées, 75008 Paris, France

Junior's, New York

2009-11-23T22:59:00.020Z

Our last night in New York we were on a hunt for cheesecake and asked the hotel's concierge for recommendations for the best cheesecake in Manhattan.

We were advised to go to Junior's that is just off Times Square. They started in 1950's in Brooklyn and now have four restaurants, three in New York and one outside the city, in Foxwood casino, Mashantucket.

The place is huge, with additional seating on a patio as well and it was busy when we stepped in, but managed to get a table for five with no waiting at all. Their menu has got everything from salads to seafood, steaks to burgers, pastas and sandwiches, all very reasonably priced.

I wanted a burger so I got a juicy cheeseburger with onion rings and chips, burger so huge that I could not fit it in my mouth but I had to use knife and fork, and the portion so big that there was no chance of finishing it all.

Mr Lovable's meatballs were size of oranges!
And the cheesecake then... we ordered the no.1 original cheesecake to share and it was delicious, thick and creamy. To our surprise it had a sponge base instead of a bisquit one, maybe this is what they do in America?
And you guessed right, the slice was huge and we were struggling to finish it...
They have a shop next door where you can buy more cheesecake and other desserts.

If you go to New York you must have dinner in here, it's an experience and they say that "you haven't really lived until you've had cheesecake from Junior's".
proper american diner with nice atmosphere

'hall of fame', pictures of famous customers

super efficient waitress

West 45th st. between Broadway and 8th ave, New York