Play with the city - glasgow

Most people who enjoy a meal out on a regular basis have an opinion on which are the best places to go. But ‘best’ can mean different things to different people – ranging from wallet-busting fine dining venues, to places that just ooze character, or simple unadorned eateries. But all have at least one thing in common- good food.

A new restaurant that’s popped up and causing a stir in Glasgow is Peters on Hyndland Road, we were there to treat a workmate who is leaving us for early retirement… the cheesy burger!

Split into two parts, a cosy front bar with groups of tables, and booths in the back. The environment is suitable for a quiet cocktails as it is a three- course meal; and either will put a smile on your face. The standards are high and the service is friendly, all good for a night out eating and drinking with work buddies.

The decor is not expected of,lo the building- booths, pillars and brickwork- with nice classic touches. The food is great. Daily specials make the most out of the fresh ingredients- such as an amazing Salmon and Haddock fish cake with sweet chili sauce. Or how about a mains of Pan roast breast of chicken with borlotti beans and plum tomato ragout or for something a bit more richer the Saddle of venison, parsnip puree and honey , served with roast vegetables and beetroot jus.

You can get a lunch/ pre theatre in the restaurant costing from £10.92 for two courses or £12.95 for three! Food like this, priced like this puts a smile on the face, even in the midst of a recession!

None of our table went for a desert, simply because we were so stuffed by the starters and mains (a few of us leaving lots of the mains of our plates) however I did put a ‘tick’ to one certain desert that I am definitely going to try next time I give Peters a visit. Mixed Berrie parfait with orange tuille, yum yum yum.

Peter is the new kid on the block and it’s risky being there with so many of it’s neighbours shutting down because; dare I say it- the credit crunch. But I think Peters will do well and if not, I hope they keep me in mind when they are getting rid of their stock of  Cristal Champagne.

So anyways, The night itself was a blast. The venue was packed with a shit load of girls wanting to be spotted and the atmosphere was very ‘girly’ girls all out to have a couple of drinks and loads of laughs with their mates. We got pissed, laughed lots, bitched lots and got lost trying get home from the night. Good one, do it again?… “ooh yaa darling”.

He is dead and buried… a more-ish handful of dust somewhere in Ayrshire, but 250 years later we are still celebrating the life’s work of Scotland’s most famous womaniser, philosopher and bard; Robert Burns. A good 250 years hole in the head dead, but boy ‘o’ boy can he can still host a good party! Food, songs, drams and rubbing shoulders with some of Scotland’s finest z-list talents. It all made for a healthy hangover and some fun photos for the album on the morning after.

Held at Oran Mor at the top of Byres Road in Glasgow’s West End, my good self and a few bum chums checked out Burns night.
David MacLennan who is the man in the know when it comes to all things theatre and art, welcomed us all to the night before a choir called The Sirens of Titan held us all in a head lock with an appetiser of Burns in song and Cock-a-leekie soup.

Dave Anderson; another Scottish theatre darling waved a big machete in the air whilst reciting ‘Address to the haggis’  in  broad auld Scots using words that even I couldn’t comprehend let alone understand, before he stabbed a big bag of haggis and dished out our mains. History dictates that The Haggis is borne into the room to the screeching… I mean dullest tones of the  bagpipes and serenaded with Burns’ great paean to the stuffed sheep’s stomach, after the ceremonial piercing; the haggis is toasted with a traditional dram of whiskey. Bottoms up.

So you guess it, the main meal of the night was Haggis, neaps (swede) and tatties with a creamy pepper sauce, loved it! After dinner we had a toast to the Lassies by Jimmy McGregor, a great speech about how much Jimmy loved his women. Reminiscing to a young age when he would court them up the back close in the tenements of old Springburn with nothing more romantic than a poke of chips. Moira Kerr made a reply on behalf of the lassies; a witty speech and a wee sing-song.
Time for desert, the best bit. A Raspberry Cranachan tower with Moustarda of berries followed by coffee and traditional tablet.

David Hayman (the Trial and Retribution guy) made The Immortal Memory speech were he spoke of the charity work that some of Scotland’s finest are doing and the many Scots who have passed but should still be remembered. We of all people ended up with his business card at the end of the night and thought it would be funny sending him some text messages asking “Where do you get those shirts?”
More coffee and tablet.

The finally of the night was Karen Dunbar  her with the nostrils in ‘Chewing the Fat’ reciting what is probably Burns’ most famous poem; Tam O’Shanter. As with all things Karen is involved in, she was a great image up on the stage and got many a laughs from the tables around the room.

There was also a previewing of ten unique and strangely witty paintings, illustrating Burns’s Tam ‘O’ Shanter by the artist and author Charles Nasmyth.

So who was spotted? Robbie Coltrane, Duncan Ballantine, a shed load of the stars of Taggart and River City (I didn’t know any of them) and plenty of others just smelling of TV personality.

The man of the moment is not, as you might mistakenly be thinking, Barack Obama (we are sooo over that shizzle), but a 250 year old womanising ploughman from Ayrshire… This Year marks the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth.

Oran Mor is holding a mixed night of music from Moira Kerr, Jimmy McGregor and the Sirens of Titan Choir, comedy from Karen Dunbar and actor David Hayman performing ‘The Immortal Memory’ to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Burns’ birth, complete with a traditional Burns supper… AKA Haggis, neeps and tatties!

The Burns’ celebration night is on Saturday 24th of January at 7pm, the event will will also be previewing 10 unique and witty paintings illustrating Burns’s epic poem, Tam ‘O’ Shanter, by artist and author Charles Nasmyth.

Oran Mor, meaning the ‘great melody of life’ or ‘big song’, is a cultural centre and meeting place in the heart of Glasgow’s West End. Inside are two bars, two restaurants, a nightclub and stunning private event space available for hire in a fab looking converted church, formerly Kelvinside Parish Church.

The Place is going to be in full swing by 12 dark with a Ceilidh bringing us into early Sunday morning! Im thinking, tartan skirts… men in kilts… and plenty of drams-a-drinking.

Anyone joining me?

Found in Partick just off Glasgow’s West End, I can easily argue that The Rio Cafe serves the best coffee in Glasgow… I mean Scotland… ok The Planet!

Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a night time tipple The Rio Cafe caters to a mixed crowd of students, young families, wealthy couples and scaffy shoegazers.  The Cafe brings together the kind of global- home cooked food (yes there is such a thing)  and drink influences you would expect to find in any city eatery, but in a low- key, unadorned environment.

With its retro stylings and traditional exterior, the Rio – part pub, part café – has a great 1950s vibe.

The cafe itself reminds me of my Grandmothers house back in the eighties. Flock wallpaper, brown lamp shades and strange pictures of freaky kids with big heads and wide eyes hanging on the walls.

The menu ranges from- eggs Benedict to pie, beans and chips. My favorite would have to be the fish cakes with mango sauce and the winning Rio salad. Drinks go from the child friendly milkshakes to the adult cheeky,  Jack Daniels.

The Rio holds a range of events at night such as cabaret nights, poker events and jazz sessions. The poker nights are a great laugh and there is a chance to win a ‘poker seat’ down in London and in Las Vegas.

But, and it’s a big but… The Rio Cafe is at its best on a Sunday morning. Then you can seek solidarity with all the other hungover Glaswegians’ soothing our sore heads with a pile of news papers and a cup of the finest coffee in town!

The nights have drawn in, television specials have started and there is a distinct smell of mulled wine in the air. Hmmm… must be Christmas. So when you’re feeling the chill and your stomach is shouting on you to fill it with something  lovely, where should you go?

My ever expanding waist line would like to thank with a gold star sticker, The Bothy restaurant for adding a few more notches on my belt. Situated just off Byers Rd in the fashionable West End of Glasgow. The Bothy is a Scottish restaurant that attracts the tourists as much as the locals, as a result the restaurant tends to be bustling and loud with conversation and laughs from a well mixed crowd.

Now when I say Scottish I don’t mean deep fryed Mars bars and Irn Bru, The Bothy has a menu that serves the modren classics but with a little bit extra. Mains ranging from marinated crispy pork belly with black pudding, roasted root vegetables and spiced apple compot to a massive plate of Linguini wild mushrooms, cairnesmore wafer, roasted garlic and basil… belly is rumbling now.

The Bothy combines modern design with traditional touches creating a look somewhere between a country hotel sitting room and a trendy city centre wine bar.  Mixing leather couches with thick pile cushions, warm teak tables with sleek modern table wear. Guilded famed pictures hung on expensive flock wallpaper and a glass and walnut bar framing the bottles and the waiters wearing kilts behind it. The Bothy is a must for anyone wanting to impress on a first date.

What to eat- For a starter I always go for the traditional. Haggis, neeps and tatties served with a whiskey sauce. There is a vegetarian haggis option for those sandle wearers out there.

What to drink- Has to be a Bombay with cranberry.

What not to miss- You can never miss a desert even if you couldn’t finish your mains, there is always space for a pudding… no argument. Try the Cranachan with Raspberries and Glayvaent. It is basically a giant glass of cream. Cream; and you guessed it even more cream with a few raspberries thrown in there for luck. If this doesnt make you feel like a pig rolling in mud, nothing will.

The Bothy offers a few eating options within its restaurant. If you want to hold a dinner party but not have the dishes at the end of the night then you can hire out the private dinning room. This is perfect for that special dinner, coporate meal or for your very own private affair. Its free to hire and can hold 22 people.  But if you want to hold a very private meal, you can hire The Snug. As the name suggests, it’s a place not to be shared with your hairy bummed mates but with that special someone in your life. The Snug can hold up to 8 guests but it is known better as “The Ring Room” ;as many a gentleman has proposed to their good lady in there!

If you’re ever swayed to eat anywhere other than the Bothy, just think… men in kilts serving your every whim… mind made up?

Sweet.