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).

Dinner with Mr Gastro, lunch with Mama Gastro

Not much food excitement this week on the home front as things have been a bit chaotic! Bought a tub of sun dried tomatoes, some antipasti, crackers, bread and cheese and have been grazing most nights.

But, on Thursday night, Mr Gastro treated me with a trip to one of my Top 10 restaurants in Glasgow, the Battlefield Rest. It was such a joy - as usual. I have honestly never been disappointed with a meal here. After my failed attempt a week or so ago, I started with their crostini bonco (just wonderful), continued with panfried duck, with figs anda mustard, honey and port sauce; which was so lovely and sweet, and then a Roy's Cup sundae. All of this washed down with Prosecco and it was just divine. Mr Gastro had the smoked fish crepe and the Chicken Montenara, and couldn't resist the Roy's Cup... all in all another wonderful night at a Glasgow jewel.

On Saturday, Mama Gastro and I had macaroni (as you can tell, I'm a fan of macaroni cheese in a pub lunch context!) at Sloans', the pub down the lane between Argyle St and Buchanan Street. They were run off their feet, and the menu was huge - but the macaroni was hot, gooey and filling - just exactly what the doctor ordered. So much so, that there was no room for a sweet. 

Hoping to cook a bit more in the coming fortnight! 

Picture from Flickr user juliebee.

Mr Gastro on late nights

As Mr. Gastro is currently working late nights I'm trying to give him a nice meal when he comes in  (this may sound horribly 1960s, but he does all the cleaning...!)

I went out for a walk today as I had the day off and I've bought some croissants. I'm hoping to recreate the lovely Caramel Croissant Pudding of Nigella Lawson's that she made in her Express series. Here's the recipe:

Serves 2 greedy people

2 stale croissants

100g caster sugar

2 x 15ml tbsp water

125ml double cream

125ml full-fat milk

2 x 15ml tbsp bourbon

2 eggs, beaten

1 Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4.

2 Tear the croissants into pieces and put in a small gratin dish; I use a cast iron oval one with a capacity of about 500ml.

3 Put the caster sugar and water into a saucepan, and swirl around to help dissolve the sugar before putting the saucepan on the hob over a medium to high heat.

4 Caramelize the sugar and water mixture by letting it bubble away, without stirring, until it all turns a deep amber colour; this will take 3 to 5 minutes. Keep looking but don’t be too timid.

5 Turn the heat down to low and add the cream – ignoring all spluttering – and, whisking away, the milk and bourbon. Any solid toffee that forms in the pan will dissolve easily if you keep whisking over a low heat. Take off the heat and, still whisking, add the beaten eggs. Pour the caramel bourbon custard over the croissants and leave to steep for 10 minutes if the croissants are very stale.

6 Place in the oven for 20 minutes and prepare to swoon.

I think to precede this sugary, doughy feast I will make a cheat's crostini bonco, a meal I first ate at one of my Top 10 Glasgow Restaurants, Battlefield Rest. I have never been able to get even my deluxe version to taste anywhere near as good. So instead, I make a variation. I make some crostini under the grill, and make a garlic and white wine cream. The mushrooms and bacon are fried in a little butter, the sauce added, then the fish at the last minute. If I have it, there will be green parsley snipped on top, though I think the Battlefield version uses coriander. If you're making this a main course, add a little tagliatelle in with the mix and pour on the crostini. Excess. Lots of pepper, but no parmesan.

The picture is by Lis Parsons (2007) and is featured on the Times Online page to accompany the above recipe.

Restaurant Reviews

I will be posting restaurant reviews whenever I visit a new restaurant (not just in Glasgow!), and hopefully keeping up to date my Top 10 Glasgow Restaurants.

Based on previous visits, I will post my Top 10 now, and hopefully they will move and change when I visit somewhere new and exciting.

GastroGirl's Top 10, as of 7th September, 2008 (in alphabetical order):

Battlefield Rest (Battlefield Road) , pictured on the left by weejames on Flickr. Wonderful, family run neighbourhood restaurant. Setting is spectacular, but the star is the food - packed full of flavour. The specials board never disappoints. Leave room for one of their amazing sundaes for dessert!
Blas (Argyle Street) Scottish produce, Scottish food. The new trend for locally sourced produce doesn't feel trendy here; it feels traditional - the practices our grandmothers would have had before the dawn of the supermarket. The courgette rolls with Ayrshire bonnet goats' cheese are to die for. They have also opened a new deli on Hyndland Street where you can buy the produce.
Cafe Gandolfi (Albion Street) A Glaswegian institution. The gravadlax is so good, you could close your eyes and be in Gothenburg. Try the pastrami and sourdough plate. Poilane is not just for toast! Have yet to sample the much-praised Gandolfi Fish - hope to get there soon!
Ichiban (Dumbarton Road) Their lunch menu is such good value it is almost ridiculous. The bento boxes allow you to try little pieces of everything, along with an avocado-green blob of choking hot wasabi. The Miller Street branch is just as good.
No. Sixteen (Byres Road) Tiny, poky wee place that oozes character, and the food is brilliant. In an area where restaurants seem to change every two weeks, this wee gem has stayed put. Their fish dishes are particularly good.
The Sisters Kelvingrove (Kelvingrove Street) Unassuming place above a noisy pub, which on first glance makes you wish you'd gone to the superb Mother India across the road. But once inside, the room is glamorous and comfortable. The food is simply but beautifully cooked, with mint infused summer greens not detracting from a well-rested, beautifully pink piece of lamb resting on top.
Tinto (Battlefield Road) Not the most glamorous of surroundings this, but what a find. The sangria is wonderful, the tapas varied and fresh, and the little liqueur before the journey home is always welcome. They don't accept credit cards yet, so be warned, but do go - and try the whitebait!
Two Fat Ladies (Dumbarton Road) Another perennial favourite. I've picked the Dumbarton Road branch over the newer incarnations of this chain because of its charm, the kitchen in the window tempting passers-by. The seafood is out of this world, and on the occasions where there are lobster specials - don't pass them up!
Urban Grill (Kilmarnock Road) Part of the chain that owns Urban on St Vincent Street and Gamba on West George, this Southside star is a really beautiful place for a special meal. The cocktails are beautifully mixed, the service is impeccable, and the food at its best can defy description. (It's hard work to make a prawn cocktail taste special, but they managed it).
Wee Curry Shop (Buccleuch Street) One of three Wee Shops dotted round Glasgow, these places are out of this world. My favourite (yes, I'm a regular!) is the Chicken Mahkni Masala, which is so bursting full of sweet almond tastes that you don't mind that it's mild. The aloo saag is rather wonderful too. Don't pass over the pakoras, either - they are wonderfully crisp, not even barely resembling those on-the-way home treats we've all enjoyed at one time or another.

I've noticed that in putting this list together that I have gone to the West End, Southside, City Centre and Merchant City, all in the Top 10. That can only say something about the decent quality of restaurants in Glasgow! I want this list to change, though, and I have a few recommendations from pals for places I should try - Nanakusa, the Japanese place near Charing Cross; Mise en Place in Pollokshields, amongst others. No doubt I will eventually give you my cafes list and maybe even a pub list, I certainly feel qualified to discuss the latter.

GGx