Not just about Aberdeen this time

Okay so it has been a while - funny how work gets in the way of doing anything else.

So we've been to Mango Pickle on Union Street - went there the night we went to see Barry and Stuart at the Music Hall.  Barry and Stuart were great but Mango Pickle was EXPENSIVE we settled for a bowl each of their Dal - it was good but not truly worth the money charged.

In other news I've been hitting the coffee shop - mainly due to working my summer holidays.  So Belmont Street seems to be my current favourite with two nice places: The Coffee House and Books and Beans.  The Coffee House has longer opening hours and does a few good deals on (including free stuff on your birthday) - the soup is usually great and the staff are really friendly.  Books and Beans doesn't stay open late on a Thursday (which I think is a shame) - The downstairs coffee shop is small but vibrant and it's easy to disappear amongst the books upstairs - plus they have internet upstairs.  The Coffee House also has free wi-fi.  I've also found myself hiding away in the bar at Jury's Inn - it has a temperamental coffee machine but the staff are nice and the soup is good too.

We have been away a few days and had some amazing food.  Down in Blairgowrie we found two good restaurants - Cargill's Bistro and The Dalmore Inn.  The first night we where down we went to Cargills and both had the steak and sticky toffee pudding from the bistro menu.  The food and atmosphere were good, the bistro specials were nice and by going for the menu we saved a few quid too.  However the second night we went down to the Dalmore and had the most AMAZING food I think we've ever had.  We ended up splitting both our mains - my other half isn't the biggest fan of fish but he demolished his half of mine, and his special burger (chicken breast with chill mayonnaise and schezwan pepper sauce was stunning).

We also stopped off at several small cafés and enjoyed good tea and cakes.  Including Palmerstons in Dunkeld - so much so we went twice.  There were some really good local shops as well - Blairgowrie Farm Shop being just one of them.  There were numerous gift shops and arts and craft places too.  We also went to The Watermill in Blair Atholl and had bagles and tea...Fab.

Pizza and Pasta Galore

Again it's been a little while since I posted.

We had a friend up in January and proceeded to eat at the M&S Cafe down in the Union Square Branch, Rishis, Three Lums and the Subway in Union Square - Not bad for a two day visit.  Overall good food and good company.

February was a quiet month.  Think we went to the Filling Station and that was about it.  Tried their 2 for a £10 menu.  It was okay but it's a very limited choice.  Went to Pizza Express on Union Street at the end of the month.  It was cold and the service was slow - staff seemed very disorganised.  We where sharing a pizza and they forgot the plates - had the extra thin base which was a disappointment as the pizza got cold very quickly.

March has been a bit busier.  We did go to ASK Italian with my Mum and Dad, the weekend I got my car.  And we've now tried both Pizza Express's in Aberdeen, as we went to the Belmont Branch this weekend and had a much better meal in a very nice and well staffed restaurant.

Also hit both the international market and the farmers market on Saturday.  Surprisingly busy considering the weather was much colder than the week before.  Managed to get some really nice vegetables and belts with buckles.  Picked up the P&J restaurant guide and think there is only one place mentioned in it I actually want to go to and I few I may consider - Cock and Bull, Jewel in the Crown, La Lombarda and Pavarotti's.  Places that I have been recommended recently include Amicus Apple.  Little bit pricey but apparently very nice, plus they seem to do deals every now and then.

Pre and Post Christmas Grub, and observations hence forth

So we finally made it into Blue Moon on the 23rd December.  I have to admit it was quiet but quite nice.  And pretty reasonably priced considering the time of year.  We managed  popadums, two veg pakora starters and our mains (one with rice, one with Naan Bread - which is what we normally do).


Decided not to have pudding, but we did have a drink each.  Before we left I went to the loo.  There was only one toilet.  Whilst on the loo, there was the sound of high heels then knocking on the loo door.  Then heard foot steps leaving bathroom and going round to the mens' - oh dear.....The lass must have been very drunk and desperate for the loo but she was bragging about it to her fellow workers (who had only just ordered food and where on several bottles of wine by this point).


An we hit the sales on boxing day - with a meal at Ask Italian (2 for 1 on Mains).  There was a Christmas menu but we decided this deal was too good to pass up.  Especially when the offer included our favourite -  CALZONE CON CARNE PICCANTE,  which basically is a folded pizza stuffed with meats, amazing tomato sauce, herbs and chilli...and cheese!


We where bad later and ended up in the Starbuck at Union Square.  Not my most favourite coffee house because of the price and the queue!  But the other half had been dragged round shop after shop and needed a break.  So I finally got the the front of the queue - drinking tea so got served it straight away and proceed to sip my way through about a third of a regular mug before the hot chocolate for the other half.


I did have a bit of a roll the eyes in the queue at the two quines (lassies to those of us that don't know Doric) in-front of me.  One had to ask the other what Vegan was....which the others reply was laughable then about two minutes later she asked the first quine why it was more expensive to eat in.  Now they looked about eighteen, this conversation made me drop their age down to about fifteen....


Incidentally there was also a loo incident at Union Square.  A poor bloke on a phone wandered into the ladies (probably following the missus).  Proceed to stand in the doorway, still talking on the phone for a good minute or so before finally walking out.  Think the pink wall with the giant ladies sign wasn't a big enough clue?

Italian Food

I LOVE Italian Food.

So Ask Italian in Union Square has been a big hit recently!

We signed up to their newsletter and get great deals emailed to us - all we do is print them out and take them in with us!

First time we went it we where spoiled - we even got free coffee and cake (from the Manager). We were honest and said when we went to pay for the bill but they didn't mind at all - Hey Honesty Pays!

Since then we've been back for 2 mains for £12 and the new menu deals (main with starter or desert for a tenner).....

I'd recommend this one to someone who likes Italian. The staff are friendly and chatty. Plus you can watch the world go by or watch your dinner be cooked!

Been Busy

So I've had a trip down to Glasgow again recently. And went back to OKO with my mum and dad (as well as my fiancee). My mum and dad have now tried japanese food...

A few days later our friend (and future best man) joined us in Aberdeen for the weekend. We didn't get to Yatai (its moving) and CJ's is shut on a Sunday... So off to china town for us. Normally I just have rice but the noodles are fab.

We also ended up in the Union Square Pizza Hut and it was good, food wise. The booths are cool...