Tagged in: dinner

Around the World, Eating Out

Market Place Restaurant, via Borsieri 21/a, Como, Italy

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We picked this restaurant from a recommendation on eating out in Como in the New York Times; sent to us by an American friend.  It is not a classical Italian Restaurant by any means but the service is very good and professional and food is definitely different.  It is intimate with about a dozen tables and for this reason it is advisable to book.

There is an  à la carte menu or two “Tasting” Menus, one “Classic” and the other  “Gourmet”.  “In for a penny in for a pound” we chose the Classic: 

Market Place Menu

This started with Marinated Bream and Panzanella, a Tuscan Salad and was followed by A pochet egg (a poached egg yolk) on spinach with chanterelles and Parmesan foam. Believe it or not it was really tasty even if the pochet was lost in translation)

Then came the really Italian course: Lasagna with potatoes, leeks and a Parmesan pesto – Yum.

There was a choice of “mains”, the meat option being a rack of pork with roasted peppers and endive cream or a Trancetto (if you can find a good translation please comment on this page – my best guess is “slice”) of barbecued Umbrian fish. We chose the pork which was delightful.

To finish off there was shortbread and chocolate and vanilla ice cream.

I have included the menu above as some of the courses are, for me, quite difficult to translate, but I am sure there are some cunning linguists who can offer an explanation.

We had a very nice bottle of Italian Red, a Trentino Pinot Nero DOC 2009 “Forte di Mezzo”, Maso Cantanghel Pinot Nero which is a very fine sounding name and probably explain the price tag of €28.

The evening was wrapped up with an espresso and a grappa as usual.

An interesting experience at €110.50 but probably a little way out for our tastes.

Eating Out

Knags Revisited

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Knaggs

Too much trouble to cook yet again so called in to Knags this evening at around 6.30.  Good job we didn’t leave it any later as within an hour they were queued up to get a table.  As per our last visit the service was great as was the Scampi (real shellfish in crisp batter – not the usual mush in a soggy stodge) and the chicken stack.  Carrots that tasted of carrot and a very nice little side salad.  No problems getting a ramekin of mayonnaise to go with the skinny chips (you really should try chips and mayonnaise).  House red is a very palatable Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon.  Rounded it off with vanilla pod Crème brûlée and an espresso.

Eating Out

At Last – Knags – the alternative to Chinese and Indian in Glengormley

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Glengormley has needed a quality restaurant that caters for tastes other than India and Chinese for some time and at last it is here. The staff are wonderful and take an interest in the clientele. The menu is varied and changes dependent on time of day and day of week so you are covered for everything from a bacon butty to sea bass and prawns with garlic and chilli. We shared mixed breads with dips to start and then cod gougons with mushy peas for my wife and sea bass and prawns with garlic and chilli dip for me. these came with a choice of potatoes, ours garlic saute, and mixed vegetables. We washed it down with a very palatable Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. Did not try the sweet menu but ended with an espresso. Bill £48.00. No complaints at all.

Eating Out, The Jacksons

Greenisland Golf Club Formal, Masked Ball 2012

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Saturday 17 November brought another year nearer to it’s end with the GIGC Formal complete with a Masked Ball theme.  Starting with champagne cocktails to get everybody in the mood we then moved in to dine.

David Alexander’s starters were a definite hit, Antipasti with a difference;  Parma ham, salami, peppers, crusty bread and not a fork in sight! Main courses offered were Steak, Cod with a herb crust or Supreme of Chicken with root vegetables and potatoes to accompany.  The sweet was a tiramisu.  No complaints from our table!  Rosie Hunter provided the music and before anybody knew it it was time to close the bar.  As usual and excellent night out.

 

Eating Out

Khayber Indian Restaurant – 373-375 Antrim Road, Glengormley BT36 5EB

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After a long time, must be over 5 years, since we last went to the Khayber we have now been twice in the past month. The décor is still similar with rather traditional red drapes, which give it a old fashioned feel, and dim lighting.  The service is efficient if not effusive and one is left to pour ones own wine from the start.

Having said this the food leaves nothing to be desired. I chose the Lamb Tikka Garlic Chilli Masala and was  offered a choice of the lamb cooked tender or from the tandoor which leaves it, whilst not tough,much more “solid”. I prefer the tandoori version and was not disappointed.  It is classed as hot and lives up to this with plenty of onion and chilli and a really tasty sauce.  Josephine, who prefers the milder spiced dishes, took the Chicken Dopiaza which comes with cubed onions and green peppers. Our usual sides are Aloo Gobi and Tarka Dall, lentils in spiced sauce, or Chana Bhagee, the chick pea version.  One boiled rice and a nan bread completed the meal.

We washed it down with the house red, which at £12.95 takes a lot of beating.

A really enjoyable meal with pleasant service and, at under £50 including wine, a brandy and a coffee, pretty hard to beat.

The Jacksons

Captain Coroner and Sir Ronnie top the bill

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Yet another golfing year coming to an end so time to don the penguin suit yet again for the annual Greenisland Men’s Dinner Night.  This is the occasion for the outgoing captain to say a few words and introduce his guest speaker. The vice captain gets to run about, ring bells and generally make sure things happen. Of course one has to indulge in a couple of warmers into the bank and “suffer” the usual high standard of catering that is the norm in the club.  And so it was again. The Sirloins were perfect, the apple crumble crumbly and the Stilton decidedly cheesy and of course the wine flowing copiously.

Our incumbent captain is John Lecky LLM, well known Northern Ireland Coroner, and his guest was non other than Sir Ronnie Flanagan GBE OBE QPM MA , of RUC/PSNI and other prestigious law enforcing appointments fame. He just happened to breeze in from Abu Dhabi, or maybe Dubai for the occasion.  He is an accomplished speaker and, as a contemporary if not a neighbour of a number of the club members there was scope for giving it an intimate flavour. He was not  helped by the PA system, which failed spectacularly, so no brownie points for Mr Vice, but a natural ability to be heard everywhere without electronic assistance overcame this minor obstacle.

Altogether a very successful evening which continued for some time after the formalities were over.

Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I so not have any photos of the event so this is a little dull by comparison to previous posts.

Eating Out, The Jacksons

Black Tie Bash at Greenisland, 19 November 2011

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Saturday 19 November brought the GIGC annual Formal Dinner Dance. One the shrinking number of occasions at which one can break out the black tie and drink too much in an orderly fashion.

As is usual the maximum number of participants had been reached within hours of the booking sheet going on the board. The reason is simple, guaranteed excellent food and Rosie Hunter providing the dance music.

We dully arrived at 7pm for the sherry reception and were fortunate to get a table in the corner before the bulk of the members arrived.  There was a photographer from, I assume, the Carrickfergus Times to capture us for posterity, or something of that ilk.

We were called in to dinner at 7.30 and following a welcome from John Lecky, the Club Captain, Norman Walker said grace and dinner commenced.

As one would expect from David Alexander the meal was outstanding and finished with a selection of cheeses, of which to my mind the Stilton was  away the best, and a glass of port. Memories of Sergeants Mess Dinners popped into my mind.

This left the Club Captain and Lady Captain, to take to the floor for the first dance. The great  strength of Rosie Hunter is that she knows the music that will get the members on the floor, and keep them there. This is exactly what happened and the floor was fully occupied for the rest the night.

Due to licencing laws the bar closed at 1am and the company duly dispersed in various levels of euphoria.  A great evening having been had by all.

Thanks to Margaret McKeen and Derek Cosby for the photographs


Eating Out

Scalini, 85 Botanic Avenue, Belfast

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First time we have tried Scalini’s Italian restaurant on Botanic Avenue.  They do not accept bookings for parties under 8 but as this was a pre theatre meal we arrived at 6 to find plenty of room.  Beware that you may have to climb a few staircases to your table as they are set out on a number of floors. The service is friendly and efficient, they whisked our coats away which is something that is sadly lacking in a lot of restaurants. Having seated us and provided menus we were not immediately hassled to give in our order.  We were accompanied by Linden and Amy and all four of us settled on the pasta as main course.  My Fusili Milanesi, smoked bacon, chilli, mushrooms and peas was not to be faulted and as I got a share of Linden’s Carbonara and Josephine’s meatballs I can also vouch for the standard of these dishes.  Amy did not give me a chance at her Linguini Pescatore, but as the plate was bare except for mussel shells we can take it that it met with similar approval.  The house red is an Italian Shiraz which goes very well with pasta and is a snip at £13.45.

Of course we couldn’t pass up the sweet menu. Try the Affogato, a scoop of vanilla ice with biscotti served with a shot of expresso and the same of Amaretto on the side. Moorish.

Lovely meal well served and all in including wine £69.50 – who could ask for anything more.

Eating Out

Café des Amis, 11-14 Hanover Square, London WC2P 9JE

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Café des Amis

The Café des Amis is tucked away up a very narrow side street, designated as Hanover Square, between the Long Acre and Floral Street.  We had come across it on the Top Table website where they were offering half price on food which seemed too good to miss.

It has a downstairs bar and the restaurant is at ground level. We arrived fifteen minutes early and were shown directly to our table. Eeven at 5.30 it was beginning to fill up! A waitress brought menus and the wine list and asked if we would like a drink.  Beware if you order shorts and mixers.  We are not used to the bulk dispensers, common in London bars, so did not think to ask for the whiskey with just a splash of ginger.  Josephine got a full glass.  It was not a problem with my gin as I would always use the full bottle of tonic.

We ordered starters, Josephine the French onion soup, whilst I opted for the classic steak tartare, which is not something one sees too often these days.  These arrived with astonishing speed. The soup was thick with onions and topped with cheese on toast and very satisfying.  The steak tartare was served with crisp toasted french stick, salad and a drizzle of dressing.  It is chopped with onion rather than minced which gives it a smoother texture that I have had before.

The house red was Le Bosq Rouge, which was from a variety of grape types and would suit just about any palate.  Definitely a good choice.

Our main courses were sirloin steak with a pepper sauce, served with chips and vegetables for Josephine and calves liver with smoked pancetta on a bed of mash for me. The only complaint would have been that, compared to Irish mash or champ, it was a little watery.

Service in general was very good and the waiters efficient and smiling.

All in price including the now mandatory service charge £72.00.

Eating Out

Veeraswamy, 99 Regent Street, London

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Veeraswamy Regent Street

The oldest Indian restaurant in the UK, Veeraswamy’s has been in the same location in the Nash Arch, Regent Street, since 1926.  It has recently been refurbished and is far more open-plan than I remember from my last visit back  in the ’60s. There is still a doorman, but he no longer the enormous turbaned Sikh.

We had joined up with Les & Dot Jones for an evening out on the town and as we are all Indian food fanatics had booked a table for 4 at this famous hostlery.

Having passed coats, etc. on to the concierge, we took the lift to the first floor restaurant.  Our table had been booked months ago and even then we could only get a 7.15 time slot.

The service is smooth and unobtrusive. We ordered the “non vegetarian” platter all round for starters. This consisted of a spiced lamb kebab, a beef “burger”, and chicken accompanied by a dip.  Exceptionally tasty all round.

We picked a variety of main courses, sea-bass wrapped in banana leaves, a chicken chatpatta, paneer in a fruity sauce and for me a duck Vindaloo.  It would be hard to pick a favourite as they were all so different.  The duck vindaloo was outstanding and not, as one might have expected, fiery. The sea-bass was firm and the complimentary spice brought out the favour perfectly.  Too often fish curries are mushy and the fish is lost in the sauce. It was all accompanied by a bowl of simple rice and a basket of breads.

For wine three of us had an Italian Bardolinowhilst Dot tried their ginger cooler, which she assured us was delicious, and gingery!

It is not the cheapest place to eat in town but the quality of the food and the service certainly compensates for this. The cheapest bottle of wine is £24.00 The overall bill, including service which is automatically  added at 12.5%,  for the two courses, a bottle of wine and the cooler was a little under £220. I have paid more for a less satisfying evening.

If you are an Indian cuisine fan it is a must.

Well Fed!

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