Gandolfi Fish

Out last night for my first visit to Gandolfi Fish. The service was probably the best I have ever encountered in Glasgow, our waiter was happy to give recommendations and chatted to us through the meal. This is certainly the home of the expense-account brigade, but for a treat it's hard to see how it could be beaten.
I started with the beautiful scallops, served with crispy pancetta, avocado purée and mustard dressing (see picture). It was hard to imagine anything topping the scallops at Catch 22... but these did. It was followed by a half lobster, served with chips, mayo and salsa verde. I received a whole lobster as apparently the ones caught today was very small! Mr Gastro had squid with Stormoway black pudding, then a whole baked mackerel. Outstanding food. I will be back when I can afford it!

Catch-22

I had a fabulous birthday meal out last night at Catch 22 on Bath Street. The starter was a tian of wild crab, prawn and smoked salmon and Mr Gastro and I almost licked our plates clean. It was followed by scallops served with sauté potatoes and crisp confit of pork belly. The scallops were honestly the best I've ever eaten. Mr G had loin of venison which was gorgeously pink, and we left with full bellies. Absolutely lovely, with impeccable service. Highly recommended. GGx

Eating out at old favourites...

This week I have lived the life of a proper GastroGirl in Glasgow, and I've been eating out... but no new reviews, sadly, as I was out at Fratelli Sarti's (Mama G's favourite), and Battlefield Rest with Mr G (probably my absolute favourite if pushed...)

Sarti's (the Bath Street one) is now on my top ten, given the sad demise of the Urban Grill in Shawlands.


I am hoping to try and recreate the Penne Deliziose I had at Sarti's at some point... will post on my success (or lack thereof!) Here is the website for the new deli on Pollokshaws Road I mentioned, Gusto and Relish, they seem to have sorted out the gremlins now. I bought some pancetta and Ayrshire Bonnet goat's cheese there today as a weekend treat... looks smashing. I took this photo with my iPhone's HOLGA (lomography) application as I ate a poached egg for breakfast at Mulberry Street across the road. (The eggs were just lovely).

Another easy-peasy midweek meal

I know it's the weekend, but this is the kind of meal I often produce when I'm pushed for time. It's adapted from a recipe of Nigella Lawson's - and it can be varied according to what you have in the house.

The basics you need are pasta (preferably penne, rigatoni, conchiglie, farfalle) as well as double cream and cheese. Yes, this isn't a meal for calorie-counters...

Boil the pasta in salted water; then pour your tub of cream into a separate pan, on a very low heat grate in some hard cheese (parmesan if you have it), then add in some cooked ham. Add some frozen peas to the cooking pasta for the last couple of minutes, and then drain and combine the contents of both pans!
Delicious. And you could substitute bacon for the ham, but fry it before adding to the creamy mixture. Cherry tomatoes would be a sweet addition too.

Chickpea and tomato stew

I saw a great recipe in the Somerfield magazine (yes, seriously) this week for a cheap but filling stew that would be just the thing for a cold autumnal evening. I think I might serve it with some lamb chops, but it would be just the thing on its own (which might be how I eat it tonight!)

Ingredients

1 large onion (peeled and chopped)
1 tbsp sunflower oil, or any other oil you have to hand
1/2 tbsp chilli powder (or, in my case, a small amount of English Pomander's Very Lazy Red Chillies)
2 cloves garlic (or, again, the Very Lazy Garlic!)
can of chickpeas
can of sweetcorn
can plum tomatoes
some fresh coriander to garnish


Method
1. Fry onion in oil for 10 mins over a low heat - add chilli and garlic and fry for another minute or so
2. Add chickpeas (with their liquid), sweetcorn and tomatoes. Bring to the boil. Break pup tomatoes with a wooden spoon and allow to simmer for 20 mins, until reduced and flavours have mingled.
3. Sprinkle with fresh coriander, and serve.

I can imagine this would be gorgeous as part of a bigger meal with Moroccan lamb, with pitta bread, or with a fresh mediterranean salad. To give it a more smoky Mediterranean 'edge', stir in a little smoked paprika with the chilli and garlic. If like me, you are a committed omnivore, I'd also consider very finely chopped ham or bacon. Chicken pieces and some red peppers transform the dish into a thick casserole.

Picture from Flickr user Rooey202

'New' Deli

There's a new deli on Pollokshaws Road - the artist formerly known as Remedy has reopened under the (much better) name of Gusto and Relish.

Their website, which was working last week but now seems to be down, appeared to hint that they will be offering a delivery service before long, as well as some well-sourced deli food and light bites in their cafe.

Mr Gastro and I are househunting in this approximate neck-of-the-woods, so all new food ventures are most welcome.

I will definitely be paying a visit very soon!
GG x

Week of making do

I've blogged before on the idea of credit crunch cooking, but this week really has taken the biscuit. Using the cupboard essentials, and buying only some ham, mince, cheese and the organic veg delivery, I've conjured up:

Rigatoni bolognaise
Macaroni cheese with leeks
Carrot and cumin soup
Penne with ham, peas and cheese sauce
Homemade beefburgers with chips
...and there will be a mushroom risotto using dried porcini.

I don't have a lot of cash this week, and I do have some salmon and prawns in the freezer that I'm keeping for the weekend! But it's interesting how soup and pasta suddenly become real peasant staples. I feel like I have eaten like a Gastro Queen all week, and yet, I'm totally skint. I get paid next Wednesday, so expect a restaurant review around then!

Lunch at Sarti's

Yesterday Mama G and I went for lunch at Fratelli Sarti's on Bath Street. The atmosphere is wonderful, you feel like you could be in a trattoria somewhere in Italy. The smells coming from the open kitchen tease and tantalise the senses while you browse the menu and the specials board.

We ordered a bottle of Sangiovese, which came with two balloon glasses and was dangerously drinkable. Then came some garlic bread and two bowls of spaghetti loaded with mussels, with a white wine and parsley broth clinging to the pasta and resting in the shells, spiked with cherry tomatoes. We could barely finish the meal as the portions were huge, and we couldn't believe the amount of mussels in the bowl.

Absolutely delicious, and for a city centre lunch it is really difficult to think of a better option. Fratelli Sarti (Bath Street) is now on my Top Ten - I will have to decide which restaurant is losing out!

Picture from Flickr, user crichton2007.