Tag: Scottish

Slange Var Drink Event : Review

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26 Bell Street
Glasgow G1 1LG

V: 5th February 2019.    W: www.slangevar.com

Tonight’s event was held in Glasgow Merchant City’s new restaurant Mharsanta, which I have now added to my list to visit and try the food.

I love finding new drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic…

Over the past few years, I have dipped my taste buds in Rum, Wine and Gin and this year its Craft Beers. When I got the invite to this event, it sounded interesting and I added it to my calendar.

The event tonight was to introduce us to a new drink hitting the market, a cocktail making section, tastings and music…this sounded like a fun event and I couldn’t wait to go.

The drink is called “Slange Var” and its a fresh, zesty and alcohol-free. Tonight I got to try this drink as a mixer in several styles of cocktails and on its own.

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The room the event was in was decorated very nice, and it really complimented what tonight was about.

 

I got speaking to the founder of Slange Var her name was Sarah, she was a lovely lady and she told me that Slange Var is intended to be a sipping drink, rather than one you would finish very fast.

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Sarah came up with the idea of an alternative to a soft drink / sugary drink that you could have when you go out for the night. Sarah noticed that everyone who had an alcoholic drink would be sipping, but the people who had non-alcoholic drinks were finishing fast.

I got speaking to a few people since the event of different ages, who don’t drink alcohol and they also said this is one of their issues when they go out as they are always finished first.

During the event, I got up and took a little cocktail lesson, where I mixed a cocktail with Slange Var. I choose a raspberry one as I have a sweet tooth, and as you can see from the photo below I took it very seriously but really enjoyed making it and drinking it.

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Slange Var on it’s on is a nice refreshing drink and would be perfect for a nice summer cooling down drink. Slange Var used as a mixer, with tonight’s cocktails were very good!! there was a cocktail that had whisky and one with red wine (This was my fave).

Overall

Firstly a big thanks for my invite to tonight’s event, and it was lovely meeting everyone from Slange Var and all the bloggers I connected with.

Tonight’s event was a very good one for me, I got to chat with many different people and connected with a few other bloggers which is always lovely to do.

I learned of a new drink and liked its taste, which was good. For me, it was better as a mixer for a cocktail, but I have a very sweet tooth. On its own, I would probably have it with ice, and on a nice sunny day to cool down.

I look forward to trying this drink again soon.

Check them out www.slangevar.com

Cheers

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Taisteal (Edinburgh) : Review

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1-3 Raeburn Place
Edinburgh EH4 1HU

V: 20th October 2018      T:  0131 332 9977  W: www.taisteal.co.uk

Child-Friendly: Yes (well-behaved kids)       Accepts: Cash & Card

The guys at Taisteal were kind enough to invite me for dinner, to try the food so I made a date and visited. Taisteal is a family run restaurant, that uses locally sourced high-quality Scottish ingredients.

I visit Edinburgh probably around twice maybe three times a year, I do this every year as its nice to have a little day trip here every now and then.

Normally when I visit Edinburgh I stay in the main areas, so when I saw the address of Taisteal I had to use Google Maps to find it. To be honest here is very easy to find, and I am so glad they invited me as I wouldn’t have seen how nice this location is.

This area that Taisteal is situated in is very nice, its got a really nice look and feel to it and many nice little shops….its worth a visit if you’re coming to Edinburgh.

After a little walk about this area, now it was time to go to the restaurant.

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This was a very nice looking restaurant inside, I loved the feel and atmosphere plus there was music in the background but at a very good level where you can actually hear the people you’re sitting with.

I was given both the main menu plus the market menu to choose from….now it was time to pick something.

To be honest this was very difficult to do, as most of the main dishes sounded very good.

I opted for off the main menu…

While waiting I was brought some bread and butter. I was told by the staff that the butter was smoked, to be honest, I never had smoked butter before so this would be interesting.

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The bread was nice, and the butter was interesting.

Its hard to actually describe the taste, it was nice but I am not sure its something I would have again but it was an interesting taste.

The Food…

Starter

Caramelised Cauliflower & Coconut Soup £6.00 (Tonight £n/a)

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I am not a soup person, which is why you never really see me have it.

Tonight I saw this on the menu, and to be honest with you the sound of it sounded very nice and interesting so I had to try it.

Going by the photo the bowl is deeper, and you get a good portion.

The taste for this was so so so good!!!! it was a nice thick creamy soup with an amazing taste.

Portion Size : 5
Flavour : 5
Presentation : 5
Value for Money : n/a tonight

Main Course

Pan-Fried Hake, Crab Cannelloni, Courgettes, Brown Butter Crumb £16 (Tonight £n/a)

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As I said at the start of this review, I found it very difficult to make a choice for my main as a few dishes sounded so good…..but I opted for the fish.

Fish is something again I don’t really go for, so I thought let’s have a change and try it.

I started with the Crab Cannelloni, the flavours were good and it was nice and tender.

Next was the Hake, normally I avoid fish due to bones but I didn’t have any in this. The fish broke apart with ease, and had a nice hint of lemon and was very nice.

Everything was cooked perfectly about this dish.

Portion Size : 5
Flavour : 5
Presentation : 5
Value for Money : n/a tonight 

There is always room for a dessert…

Dessert

Salted Caramel Baked Alaska £6.5 (Tonight £n/a)

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On arrival, I noticed it had nuts sprinkled around it, which I can’t take so I pushed them to one side and dug in.

Mmmmm this was so good and a perfect end to a perfect night.

Portion Size : 5
Flavour : 5
Presentation : 5
Value for Money : n/a tonight 

Overall

Well, I am very happy I got tonights invite, firstly I found a part of Edinburgh that I never have been to and really liked and also found a great restaurant! Just like always guys even though this meal was free, its a 100% honest review.

I really liked here, the prices are ok if you consider the quality of the ingredients used and how good it tastes. As I also mentioned at the start, if the main prices are a little too costly for you….they do have a market menu which is a great price for this amazing food.

For me, Edinburgh has many places to eat, but most are just ok. Taisteal is now on my top spots to eat in Edinburgh and I will be recommending it to everyone when they visit Edinburgh.

Thanks again Taisteal for the invite!!!

See you soon.

Review Scores – 

  • Atmosphere : 5
  • Staff : 5
  • Menu Choice : 5
  • Service : 5
  • Food : 5
  • Value for Money: 5
  • Overall : 5

 

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One Cove Road Cafe Bistro (Gourock, Scotland): Review

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1 Cove Road
Gourock PA19 1RS

V: 24th June 2018      T:  01475 637 336  W: www.onecoveroad.co.uk

Child-Friendly: Yes (well-behaved kids)      Accepts: Cash & Card     WIFI: Yes

I was very kindly asked by One Cove Road if I would like to visit them and have a brunch. When I saw it was in Gourock, I had to research what the best way to get there was before I could accept. Please remember my review is 100% honest, and not influenced in any way just because it was free.

After a little Googling, I found I could get the train from Glasgow Central to Gourock but get off at the second last stop (Fort Matilda) and from there it was only a 10 min walk which was perfect so I accepted the invite.

The walk from the train station to One Cove Road, was very nice as you have an amazing view of the sea and the surroundings.

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Inside was nicely decorated, with a black and white theme. Even the staff’s uniforms were black and white, which was a very nice touch and looked very smart.

 

The Food…

Full Scottish £8.95 (N/A Today)
Two slices of bacon, square slice sausage, black pudding & haggis, fried egg, potato scone, mushrooms & tomatoes

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I was very hungry so I thought let’s get the full breakfast……

First impressions were this was a good portion, and smelled really good….now it was time to taste.

Everything was perfectly cooked, and mmmm mmmm mmmm mmmm the sausage was really!!!! good. It had the thickness of a burger but the flavour was mmmm this was the best sausage I have had in a long time.

Overall this was very filling, and I enjoyed every mouthful and as you guess LOVED the sausage. I would visit again just to have the sausage 🙂

Portion Size: 5
Flavour: 5
Presentation: 5
Value for Money : 5 (n/a today)

Overall

Firstly I would like to thank One Cove Road for the invite, I had a lovely visit and a lovely day in Gourock.

The staff were all very friendly, and very helpful with my visit today.

I would recommend One Cove Road to anyone that takes a visit to Gourock, you can either sit in or take away. If you take away you can enjoy a lovely walk, with a lovely view.

Check it out you won’t be disappointed, and try the sausage!!!!

See you again 🙂

Review Scores – 

  • Atmosphere : 5
  • Staff : 5
  • Menu Choice : 5
  • Service : 5
  • Food : 5
  • Value for Money: 5 (n/a today)
  • Overall : 5

 

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