SCOTTISH TAPAS

Had the good fortune to be in Glasgow this weekend, and a meal @ Guy's, one of our favourites in the merchant City, did not disappoint.

One of the items on the menu is a "Trio of Scottish Tapas". I was very intrigued the first time I saw it. Not too sure about it. But when I saw it arrive to the table I knew next time I must try it for myself.

On the plate sat a mini steak pie, a mini tatties and mince and of course the Scottish of all dishes, haggis with neeps and drizzle of white sauce. So there is the trio. But nestling on the plate, making it to my mind a quartet, is a little bowl of chips. Well it wouldn't be Scottish without them now, would it?

The meat in the pie was delicious and moist, and topped with a lovely crisp pastry. Tasty mince and a nice mouthful of McSween haggis made for a filling and delicious meal. Although I thought the chips were extra to requirements, I couldn't resist trying just one, then another, and before I knew it they were gone. No big surprise there!

I always look forward to trips to Glasgow as there are so many wonderful restaurants. But this one, at this point in time, will always be on my to do list. Apart from the food, the staff are wonderful, the place buzzes with atmosphere and it has a very warm welcome awaiting anyone who passes through the doors.

So if you are in the area, look in on it, you won't be disappointed.

WHO'S BEHIND THE NAME?

Don't you feel cheated when something fails to deliver, doesn't offer what it says on the tin!

This happened to me recently when I walked into a "Maison Blanc" patisserie. The promise of something backed by the famous Raymond Blanc was very appealing. I was not naive enough to think he would actually be there, or in fact had ever stepped over the threshold. However, I did expect it to deliver his reputation for good service and good food. Sadly it failed miserably on both counts.

As we entered the shelves were full of Raymond Blanc cookbooks, most of which adorn my bookshelves, his merchandise filled the area. This it seems is where he stops and Maison Blanc takes over.

Staff were indifferent, and the food we ordered was so bad we returned it. Lettuce was brown, cucumber way past being edible and bread so thin in sandwich it couldn't be persuaded to be lifted away from the filling without falling apart.

The waiter removed the food, said he would only charge for the drinks. Very kind of him! When we explained the problem he said he would speak to the kitchen. He returned saying they were now putting out fresh salad. Since when did a kitchen need to be told by customers that it was time to put out fresh ingredients?

On arriving home I went on to the website and lodged my complaint. A message came right back saying I would be contacted within 72 hours. A week passed, nothing. I was feeling really cheated by Monsieur Blanc so decided to write directly to him at
"Le Manoir Aux Quat Saisons"

Within a few days I had a reply. I was excited to see the envelope, but the excitement was short lived, as basically what it said was "Maison Blanc has nothing to do with me!" I was shocked. How can he allow his name to be used in a way that can only undermine his reputation. Has he no regard for people who assume because of his name they will be assured of good service and good food? Obviously not in this case. He did not even make an attempt at an apology.

Apparently he sold them on in 2007. Now he acts only as a consultant in a limited capacity. And no doubt still makes money from them.

He did pass on my complaint and I received an apology from head office of new company, along with £15 in vouchers, and a promise to look into the problem. However I doubt if I will ever use them as the experience has left such a bad taste, but at least some attempt at putting things right was made.

I am sorry that my opinion of Raymond Blanc has be spoiled in this way. He has gone down in my estimation.

I know he is not the only chef who puts his name to establishments and merchandise, but surely they have some responsibility to customers who think they are paying for something they are not.

Chefs seem to have been elevated to superstar status over the last few years. Maybe it's time for them to stick to what they know best. I have no doubt Raymond Blanc is a first class chef, but sadly for me that is where he ends.

THE BLACK RAT

Yesterday my husband and I enjoyed the most delicious Sunday lunch. Not cooked by yours truly, but in a Michelin star restaurant no less.

THE BLACK RAT in Winchester has this year been awarded a Michelin Star. We were both anxious to visit, but were finding it difficult to book a Friday or Saturday evening. So I decided as a birthday treat I would take my husband for Sunday Lunch, which offers a smaller version of the evening menu.

So we set off to see what all the fuss and reviews were about. We were not disappointed. The building itself does not give anything away about what lies within. The restaurant is housed in an old pub dating back to 1700's although there is apparently stonework which could be as far back as the 15th century.

On a sunny day it was full of happy diners. A huge open fire would be a welcome site on a cold winter's night, but thankfully unlit on our visit. The decoration is interesting with an eclectic collection of prints and paintings. Anatomical prints juxtaposed with nautical themed pictures. The well proportioned wooden tables around the room gave a relaxed air to the place.

We were shown to our table swiftly by a very pleasant young man, and brought a plate of warm bread while we sipped our pre lunch drink and read over the small, but delicious looking menu. I noticed the eclectic theme went on through to the cutlery. Old pieces mixed and matched were perfect for the setting. No stuffy white tablecloths and hushed tones, instead a warm welcoming room which promised an interesting experience.

Finally I chose a ham hock terrine and my husband went for the gnocchi in a wild garlic sauce. Both were delicious. A taste of the gnocchi pleased me so much, it was soft and pillowy with the lightest of garlic flavour.
For mains we plumped for line caught sea bass with a croquette of pigs trotter and a pea puree. Mmmm fabulous. Croquette at first seemed small but the richness of it would have prevented me from eating another nibble more than I had been given.

My husbands roast chicken with a black pudding mash also delivered on taste.

We were now full but couldn't leave without at least a small dessert. Unusually we both went for the same one, a rhubarb fool. This was the lightest imaginable and was sitting on a rhubarb jelly with little pieces of still crisp rhubarb. It was served with turkish delight. A coffee later we were very happy by what we had eaten.

The staff were were polite and had a great knowledge of the food.They chatted easily and interested interested in your opinion. There were plenty of them around but not overwhelming. They wore casual clothes which once again was the perfect choice for the ambiance of the dining room.

Lunch was reasonably priced at £23 for 3 courses but I am eagerly awaiting the opportunity to try it out in the evening.

Great having a place like this practically on your doorstep.

FOODIE WEEKEND

I have just returned from a wonderful weekend away. My husband is now back to fighting fit after hip surgery, and with a very busy time ahead work wise for him, we decided to give ourselves a nice treat to set us up for the busy months ahead. We booked a B&B in Dorset and planned to discover the Jurassic Coast. Lots of walking during the day and treating ourselves to nice eateries at night.

First on the list was Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage. I have watched him on TV and was excited at the thought of visiting his HQ restaurant. I am still looking forward to it! Hubby managed to book his Canteen place in by mistake. Not that this was a problem as it was really good. A lovely relaxed atmosphere, excellent service by a team of young staff who all knew their stuff.

An amuse bouche of mutton heart croquette was served to us. Not something I have ever eaten but have to say it was very tasty. Very much the texture and flavour of kidney I thought. Starters of mushroom soup and fish chowder went down very well. For mains we both chose an indulgent duck confit with the creamiest mash I've ever eaten. Greens always are tough and didn't really work for me, but everything else was delicious. I had to back away from desert as I was full, but hubby had a plum compote with homemade vanilla yogurt. Of course I had a spoonful, mmm! A great success and would recommend it to anyone.





Next night we headed to Hix Oyster and Fish House. Wish I'd had a look at the position of it before I put on the high heels! I knew it was on the coast, what I hadn't bargained for was the taxi being unable to drive down to it, leaving us with a very steep walk down. The heels were very high, the hill very steep, so it was a precarious walk, or should I say stumble down, but nothing was going to keep me away.

Another relaxed and informal place. Menu reflects seasonal and local produce, mainly fish. Who can resist local hand dived scallops, sweet and succulent. Mackerel with squash sounded interesting, and the fish was really delicious but unfortunately squash was way undercooked, however staff acted well when I pointed this out, and after dinner drinks were brought to us with chef's apology. I looked on as my husband tucked into a beautiful sea bream. Worth the effort of it being on the bone. Messy but not a problem.

This time I couldn't resist a jelly made with cider and blackberries. It was so good. A bread and butter pudding was also really yummy but step too far for hubby as he just couldn't finish it..

So all in all another successful night. Pity it was dark as Hix's has the most wonderful views over the water. Note to self, go earlier next time.





Third night saw us head inland to a beautiful 13th century coaching inn. tuckersarms.com. It came with thatched roof and inglenook fireplace. A classic English pub with a beautiful traditional interior.
We had been recommended this by the B&B and they were not wrong.

The food choices were mouthwatering. But by now we were down to one course. The past few days had taken there toll. Especially when you factor in the cream teas and lunchtime crab sandwiches, well you have to don't you? Fish pie sounded good and hubby settled for that. I had scampi which was good, but on reflection should have opted for a seafood salad, I think I had just overindulged all weekend. But hey it was fun doing it.

All in all a successful weekend. Relaxed, fun and of course full of delicious food. What can be better. We justified all the walking offset some of the calories, not.

ANGRY TROUT CAFE

Yes, I know this is a strange title for a blog, and you are probably wondering what it is all about, well let me enlighten you.

Last weekend my husband, myself and an aunt, visiting from Scotland, took a trip up to the north shore of Lake Superior. Although summer has arrived here in Minnesota it certainly hadn't arrived where we were. In fact it actually snowed on Sunday, ever so briefly but snow it did. It was during this time whilst browsing in a store that my husband came across a cookbook called, yes, you've guessed it, ANGRY TROUT CAFE NOTEBOOK. It was a signed copy, and obviously local. We made enquires as to where it was and it turned out we could actually see it from where we were standing.

Cold and getting colder by the minute we hurried over to warm ourselves with some hot coffee. What a treat lay in store for us. The building was nothing more than an old fishing shanty. Inside was a simple but comfortable eating place, and we were met by very friendly staff. As we read through the menu we realised that we had stumbled over something special.

The fish they serve is caught on the lake, all the food is sourced locally. The furniture, also made by a local, even the mugs are from a local potter. It seems the whole town in some way has made it's mark here. From wood carvings to stained glass, the list just goes on.

The menu is simple, fresh and delicious. These people are really serious about recycling and sustainability. The menu covers are from cardboard boxes in which produce has been delivered, the napkins a mere 6"x11" to cut down on water, energy & detergent needed to launder, and of course they are made locally, and support organic cotton farms. Take out mugs are proper mugs bought at a second hand store for a dollar each.



No commercial sodas here, they make there own from locally made maple syrup and seltzer water. I could go on and on. I was so impressed by the effort which goes into this place, and how unpretentious and welcoming the place is. I know many of you reading this will never have the opportunity to visit but I felt I wanted to include them in a blog, to tell everyone how good it was. I hope business continues to grow.

You would have problems eating fresher fish than served here. It is served by happy staff who are paid fair wages for the work they do. It was a whole experience and I hope I get the chance to visit again sometime.

And the name, well it was the result of a doodle the owner's boyfriend used to scribble on his letters. A simple thing, but a great name for a wonderful cafe.
So check it out on www.angrytroutcafe.com it is worth a look.

A DISAPPOINTMENT

A drive down the Mississippi to enjoy the Autumn Colours took us to Alma WI. Alma is a small town situated right on the banks of the river. A few years ago this was a regular trip for us and we were always happy to see the place getting better with each visit. New cafes and restaurants and many art galleries and gift stores were starting to occupy old empty buildings. It is always good to see this kind of regeneration. On our last visit, which was almost two years ago, we got chatting to someone who was in the middle of refurbishing an old building into an Ice cream Cafe. But it was obvious this was no ordinary update. The two gentlemen undertaking the project were turning this cafe into something special. They had imported antique fixtures and furnishings from Europe and had installed a tin ceiling. The cafe had a very old European feel about it, and with the gardens at the back also being brought back to life this seemed to me like a little gem in Alma's Main Street. On our return visit we stopped in for coffee for me, and ice cream for my husband. I saw at once the place was just as beautiful as before and with the addition of an amazing large brass coffee machine I thought I was in for a rare treat, really good coffee in small town US. There were beautiful ice cream dishes piled behind the counter, and nice mugs and cups. Then things started to go wrong. Both the coffee and ice cream were put into takeout cups, although we had said it was not to go. My coffee did not come from the beautiful brass coffee machine on the counter but instead from a pump vacuum. It was then put into the microwave. "It's not very hot" the server informed me, so nuked it was. I asked for a proper mug and it was poured into one. The "dark french roast" which I had ordered, and looked forward to with anticipation, was merely a cup of warm, not sure the microwave had warmed it much, wet tasteless liquid. How disappointing. When I inquired about the beautiful shining brass coffee machine I was told it was broken.I wondered if indeed it was purely ornamental and had never worked. The ice cream? Passable but nothing special.
I can't help but wonder when there was obviously so much love and attention put into creating the cafe why some of that care and attention had not been put into what was being served. Yes, the place looks beautiful, but sadly did not live up to it's promise. I'm afraid if they can't even serve a good cup of coffee, and how difficult can this be, then business will never pick up. A freshly prepared french press would have made me see the place in a completely different light. I would have been spreading the word. Sadly I cannot do this at this point. Maybe things will improve, I do hope so.
You can see from the photos how beautiful and inviting the place is so let's hope in the future it will live up to it's promises.

BIG BOWL

Wanted to tell you about a restaurant that we love to go and enjoy some good Chinese food. BIG BOWL. It is not strictly Chinese in the traditional form but a contemporary Chinese, Thai fusion cuisine. It is small, but expanding chain and hopefully some of you reading this blog will have access to a Big Bowl. If you haven't tried it out I would strongly advise a visit soon.
On our last visit my husband and I shared the chicken lettuce wraps. This is a delicious dish of finely diced chicken, celery and onion with a hoisin sauce. It is served with crispy noodles and bibb letuce leaves. It is more than adequate to share and could be eaten as a small main dish. I followed this with sweet ginger, shrimp and sea scallops. A wonderful combination of the scallops, shrimp, mushrooms with a sweet vinegar glaze. It was delicious. My husband chose a crispy orange chicken dish. It compromised of ginger, scallions, red pepper and a fresh sweet and sour citrus sauce. Both dishes were served with plain boiled rice, a perfect accompaniment to the dishes. I drank a passion fruit and ginger ale, and my husband had a green tea and ginger ale. The ginger ale is made on the premises and makes for a delicious drink. The chicken dish had a lovely fresh flavour and might well be something I will try on a future visit. We were too full to enjoy a dessert but perfectly happy with what we had just eaten.

Big Bowl has made a commitment to use local and seasonal produce. They use fresh antibiotic free chicken raised on small local farms, and heirloom pork. The sauces are made from scratch, and the dipping sauces are made daily. They have even taken the step of printing the menus on on paper from a small family run paper mill. The paper is made from 100% recycled product and the mill is powered by hydroelectric energy which is 100% clean and totally renewable. They even serve up organic fair trade coffee. At a time when we are all thinking more about what we are eating and where it comes from and also with concerns over energy I think it is commendable that a restaurant make this commitment to it's customers. Not only can I go there to enjoy some wonderful food but also I can feel a little better about choosing a environmentally friendly place. So two good reasons for you to go out and try Big Bowl. Hopefully in the future more restaurants will take this step.