Five-star accommodation is all very nice and well, but it’s also very intimidating. Sometimes all you want are homely comforts and the peace and quiet to relax, chill and enjoy it all.
Cottages 1 and 2 – Snowberry Cottages, Onich.
And that’s exactly what you get at Snowberry Cottages at Onich on the West Coast of Argyll.
There are two cottages available for guest use. We stayed in number two, (left in pic above) which was well furnished and had been completed to an extremely high standard, yet it still felt like home!
They are located in the small hamlet of Onich on the main A82 route between Glencoe and Fort William. They are very central for anyone looking to tour the Scottish Highlands, do some hillwalking or cycling using the extensive national cycle routes in the area, fishing is plentiful as are water sports, and in winter you are equidistant from two ski centres at Glencoe and Fort William.
The cottages come with private parking and ours, number two had full disabled access with a ramped entryway. All rooms are located on the ground floor. Disabled guests should make their own enquiry however with regard to bathroom access. Cottage number two has a raised deck with outdoor furniture facing west to the distant mountains and there are large shared grounds with a small stream running through them.
Our cottage had two bedrooms, one with a double bed and the second with a king-size. Both beds are fitted with exceptionally comfortable orthopaedic mattresses. The king-size room has an en-suite shower room, while a second shower room/toilet is located right next to the double bedroom. The bedrooms have televisions, bedside cabinets and reading lights. In addition, there is clothing storage, although this is limited in the double bedroom due to space constraints.
And, in typical highland hospitality, was a welcoming bottle of wine, some shortbread and a pack of chocolates. All were very much appreciated, as were the teabags, coffee, and sugar. The cottage was also supplied with all the towels you might need, cleaning cloths, washing up liquid, and hand soaps.
The living room features two double settees, a dining table and four chairs, side tables, a fully fitted kitchen with all white goods and a breakfast bar. Be aware though that if you are going to be self-catering throughout your stay (although quite why when there are so many great restaurants available) the mini fridge only has a small freezer compartment.
In the living room, there’s a large flat-screen TV with a DVD player, and as another nice wee touch, a selection of family board games, a bookcase with plenty of reading material and a selection of DVDs for the days when the rain is horizontal! The information pack supplied for guests was extensive covering everything from local walks, things to do, places to see, takeaways, restaurants and a lot more.
As a journalist and travel writer, it’s important that reviews are factual and accurate, covering the good and the bad, as prospective guests want as much information as possible before booking.
One of my pet hates is sub-par showers. I hate those that dribble lukewarm water or only run for five minutes before running cold. Not so at Snowberry Cottages which are fitted with power showers and unlimited temperature-controlled hot water.
One other area that I am very particular about when staying away from home is beds. I know that beds, or rather mattresses are a very subjective issue, and what suits one person will be awful for another. As someone who suffers from a previous back injury, I can say that the orthopaedic mattress on the king-size bed was exceptionally comfortable, and I slept better on it than I do at home.
Even though the property is dog friendly there was absolutely no indication whatsoever that the cottage had ever had an animal inside. There was no smell or pet hair to be found throughout.
The kitchen is well stocked with plenty of pots, pans and utensils along with enough crockery to last for a few days until the dishwasher has to spring into action.
Both bedrooms have radiators, but we left them off as the house warns up quite quickly. Heated towel rails also help take the chill off the bathrooms.
The cottage is a very comfortable size for two couples, and the owner advises a cot and high chair etc can be provided if required.
The location is excellent with only a ten-minute walk to the beach, where, if you’re lucky enough you might well catch one of this area’s famed sunsets – and on a special evening you might even see the Northern Lights!
Whether it’s a short break or a longer stay you’re after, Snowberry Cottages are an ideal place to unwind without any fuss, but be prompt as they book up quickly during the high season with many returning guests, as the visitor book showed.
The beach at the cottages is a gentle 10 minute stroll along a country lane.
I fully expected it to just get better and better, and they’ve not let me down.
Central Cafe is located in a busy industrial space on the outskirts of Hamilton and is located off the main A725 East Kilbride Expressway. Not perhaps your first choice of dining locations, but just bear with me on this one folks, and don’t be too hasty.
Blantyre Ind Estate – copyright Proplist.com
Back then, some two-and-a-half years ago, I remember saying to my good friend Bryan Price who owns the garage next door and who had tipped me off about this place, that I’d be back for an updated review because I knew it had such untapped potential. And so it has come to pass. I can count on one hand the number of establishments I’ve reviewed twice!
I remember turning up on a Friday afternoon at 12 noon for a lunch, having heard about this new business. I have to say I was intrigued back then – and the thought did run through my mind as to what quality of food could ever be offered by a ‘greasy spoon cafe’ on a dull, and rather forlorn industrial estate in Blantyre.
I chastised myself at the time with that old saying ‘never judge a book by the cover’. Well in this particular case it was never more aptly applied.
My return visit, well, actually, I’ve since been several times, however, for the purposes of this review, I went back at the same time 12 noon on a Friday.
The cafe decor changes regularly giving it a fun and vibrant look and feel.
Luckily, I had the foresight to pre-book a table, on my arrival, there was a queue. And that has always been the case at Central Cafe.
The place was busy, with a number of people waiting on take-away orders at the newly installed window serving hatch, several more full tables on the patio outside, and only two tables free inside.
There was an equal mix of people in boiler suits, your standard salesman in a suit, the girls from the local offices, and some passing local custom.
Now the cafe attracts everyone from families, workmen and business execs alike.
That’s a sign immediately that this place has just got it right, for without that magic mix of good food at reasonable prices, served by staff who are happy at their work, and a business that caters for all demographics of society, they wouldn’t have lasted – but not only that, they’ve not stood still in all that time, always looking for the next dish to put on, or the next revamp. They are keeping the competition on its toes and dancing to their tune, and what a great place to be.
Central Cafe is run by the Stirling family who themselves are no strangers to the catering industry, having run mobile catering vans for close on 30 years. This new venture back in 2019 was being run by mother and daughter, Kerry and Jade, with dad Brian occasionally stepping in as the hired help. Now they have several people working for them at way above Living Wage rates.
I was delighted to learn that all throughout this global pandemic and lockdown, the business held onto all its staff and never let a single person go – that’s some achievement when one considers the food industry was hit severely. Yet, that didn’t stop this team, they rolled up their sleeves, gritted their teeth, put a covid safe plan in place and opened for take-away food using a newly installed window serving hatch.
The choice of location is excellent. Plenty of free parking, good level disabled access, and a captive mixed-business audience within the industrial estate showed that this was always a very carefully thought out plan.
Spotlessly clean and sparklingly fresh looking, it’s a very pleasant environment in which to sit and have a nice home-cooked lunch, or, perhaps a morning coffee and a slice of delicious cake from a normally large selection, although, if like me you’re late getting there, don’t be disappointed to find they’ve sold out!
And you won’t miss it either, it stands out from everything else in this estate, which is generally industrial grey in colour.
The cafe features an open-plan interior design, with a mix of tables and booths set against the rear wall. The tables seat four customers and will easily accommodate four plates. Don’t you just hate it when you are eating out and there’s not enough room for everyone to actually use a section of the table at the same time! Not a problem here.
I had a chance to speak with Kerry briefly in between serving the queue that had built up and it was pleasing to see that they were still actively supporting local businesses with their milk, meat, bread and vegetable orders all being sourced within a 10-mile radius. They have maintained their ethos of buying locally where possible as they feel they can not only get a better service but can keep an eye on the quality of the raw ingredients. Sound business practice and one many others could and should be looking to follow. But my experience in this line of business tells me it’s still very rare.
The cafe is on one level, therefore, is ideal for the elderly or infirm and has a fully accessible disabled toilet available.
I watched with interest as Brian, who appears to be the main Covid-19 safety anchor fastidiously wiped down every surface the minute a table became vacant. Nice to see they’re doing more than just paying lip service to hygiene in these uncertain times.
Looking in on the kitchen, not something I often get the chance to do as a reviewer, but this one is still a testament to the high priest of health and safety and every environmental health officer’s dream of a kitchen design. Fully kitted out in stainless steel – from work surfaces to cabinets, sinks to service areas, there’s not a chance a germ would ever survive the daily cleaning regime in operation. Remarkable to think that way back in 2019, we had never heard of Covid-19. How life changes so quickly…
So, you’ll remember I said earlier to bear with me. Now you know why – this is as far removed from a greasy spoon cafe as you could ever possibly find north of Watford Gap.
The menu is still as extensive ranging from an all-day breakfast priced at an absolutely stunning cut-price £4.20 consisting of an egg, potato scone, bacon, pork sausage, a slice of steak Lorne sausage (for my American followers, that’s square sausage), black pudding, beans, toast, and tea or coffee. I’m going to stick my neck out here and challenge you to find one cheaper in the whole of Scotland offering the same quantity and quality of ingredients. Don’t fancy a full brekkie, then there’s beans on toast for £1.60, scrambled eggs on toast for £2.50 or a simple bacon roll at £1.40.
It’s a cheap and very filling breakfast for the price.
The lunch menu features daily specials, but generally always has fish and chips; lasagne; steak pie; macaroni cheese; steak ciabatta; or breast of chicken curry – all priced at a very reasonable £4.20. Remember, this is all home-cooked grub. None of this is pre-packaged and frozen rubbish. They have a selection of filled toasties or ciabatta all served with salad and crisps as a lighter alternative. However, one of their specialities has to be the burgers. Prime beef on top of a proper Scottish morning roll, with a selection of toppings that include, bacon, cheese, onions, tomato and lettuce with a selection of sauces or dressings.
However, that was last time, now we have a menu and a selection of specials that causes a hiatus in the waiting hordes as you have to read the various cards printed above the hot-serve area. Bear in mind, as long as you don’t mind the tutting behind you because you’ve not had the foresight to decide in advance what to eat, then you should cope just fine.
The one overriding feature that I have to admit threw me then, and still does now, is the pricing structure. I still say they are simply too cheap and are underselling themselves, because, put simply, the quality and portion sizes are such, that I am struggling to try and work out how they are making a profit, but they obviously are. Still, on the positive side of that argument of underselling, they could so easily have gone in the opposite direction as many others do – and found it was their downfall – when, with a captive market, bumped the prices sky-high. To Kerry and Brian’s credit they haven’t done that.
The cafe is open six days a week, from 7.30am until 2.30pm Monday to Friday and until 1.30pm on a Saturday. I am surprised that my prediction of them holding an alcohol licence hasn’t come to fruition, but then again, all things considered, it’s maybe been for the best!
Anyway, back to the food. I decided to road test a couple of their lunchtime specials.
But before I did that, being a sucker for a good lentil soup, I just had to try a bowl. Out it came, steaming hot, and in a bowl that would have served two people, but I’m really not complaining, I like my soup. This was pure delight, a soup lovers manna from heaven. Did you know it’s not that easy to make a proper tasty lentil soup? For a start you need a good ham hough to get the stock first, then do you wash the lentils or not? That’s a debate for another day. Anyway, this was a very fine soup, the blend was great, a nice ham taste with little bits of ham through it suggested it was made with a bone or two which had been stripped of their meat after cooking. There was no splitting of the soup which is my pet hate for lentil soup. Go on, try it, see for yourself.
The lentil soup was delicious – one of the best I’ve had.
Starting with the chicken curry which I had last time around too. This is cooked in a Chinese curry sauce along with onions. Served with a portion of well-cooked white boiled rice, which retained a loose texture and hadn’t been boiled to the point where it becomes gelatinous and lumpy. The chicken was irregularly shaped proving it did indeed start off as a chicken breast and not some mechanically-recovered muck. I estimated my plate had a good 8oz of chicken pieces, enrobed in a light yellow sauce, which had that taste you’ll only find at your favourite Chinese takeaway. It was mild, yet still had an afterbite to it, and should easily suit most palates no matter how picky they might be. The ones you hear with “I can’t take hot food”, even they would be hard pushed to find fault. The chicken was perfectly cooked. It was succulent and tender, juicy even. My suggestion to consider serving this with a small bowl of prawn crackers and adjust the price accordingly obviously fell on deaf ears, although I can confirm the portion size hasn’t changed – it’s still huge.
Chinese chicken curry served on a bed of fluffy white boiled rice
Moving onto the shredded honey chilli chicken, served with either chips, rice, or, as in the case of my daughter half and half. As any good reviewer will tell you, it’s an impossible task to write about food without actually eating some. And therein lies the reason I nearly ended up in A&E with a fork-stab incident. The things I do for my career!
This isn’t fine dining, and you need to remember that, but what it is, is damn fine dining, there’s a very subtle difference in that statement. I’ve tried shredded chicken at home myself, dusted, seasoned, slaked in cornflour, fried – nope, not a bit like this. The chicken was tender and soft, hadn’t been overfried, and wasn’t greasy or oily. Drizzled with a sweet chilli dressing with peppers and onions sitting atop a platter of chips and boiled rice. It almost beat the youngster into submission, but she gamely kept going until the plate was cleaned. This was that good, I’ll move across from my chicken curry favourite next visit for this instead.
Shredded honey chilli chicken served with both rice and chips
Now the chips, while they are of the frozen variety, they were cooked fresh to order, so were piping hot. A nice golden colour they had a crispy outside while the inside was still light and fluffy, just as a chip should be. Cooked in fresh oil too so weren’t oily or with that horrible taste you get when a chip has been fried in oil that’s been used so often it makes them almost inedible.
Mrs M, the boss, was with me on this visit and opted for the steak stew. This time I was warmly welcomed into trying the stew. Lovely large chunky pieces of steak, so well cooked that you could tease it apart with a fork. Soft, tender, tasty, and all served with a lush beefy gravy. Never mind chips, get this on a plate with a dollop of mash – it’ll be a best-seller.
Beef stew in a lush thick gravy served with chips.
Unfortunately, when it comes to desserts, you’re limited. I did manage to bag the very last of a new cheesecake range the café is now stocking. A white chocolate and coconut version. Sometimes you just have to tell it the way it is, so rather than go into all the superfluous descriptors of smooth, lush etc, I’m going to say – try one. That is all!
This is a cafe – not a Michelin restaurant, although it’s fair to say it is at the highest pinnacle of the cafe industry, and many would do well to emulate the sheer genius of their business plan.
These dishes, along with the other specials are available as takeaway dishes in a medium or a large portion, as well as on a meal deal which provides a canned soft drink.
I’d recommend it wholeheartedly if you’re looking for a lunch or light snack comprising good home cooking at very reasonable prices. In fact, I’d go further and say it’s the best local cafe in Lanarkshire, offering cracking food and huge portions in comfortable and clean surroundings – what more do you want?
As a result of coronavirus, my previously booked secret trip to Mauritius to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary was no longer going to be possible after BA cancelled all flights in December 2020.
Taking a risk back in January 2021 when cross-border travel was still not permissible under government regulations, I booked a week in the Yorkshire seaside town of Whitby by way of a ‘consolation’ trip.
Luckily late April saw restrictions starting to ease and our trip, booked for the first week in May, was now officially on.
I‘m fairly certain it’s on most travellers bucket list, but a trip to the winter wonderland that is Lapland offers so much more than just the hope the Aurora Borealis makes an appearance.
We travelled with a specialist travel agent based in Newcastle who is renowned for Northern Lights trips – The Aurora Zone. There are a number of specialist providers in the market for trips like these, and although you can organise a holiday like this yourself, I’d highly recommend using an agency who have many years experience rather than having to try and put all the necessary components in place yourself.
For a start, Lapland is not an easy place to get to from Scotland, and like us, you’ll probably have to fly south to start your journey. We flew via EasyJet departing Gatwick on a direct non-stop flight to Rovaniemi.
Six million Jews were butchered during the Nazi regime
1.5 million of those were children
1.1 million were murdered in Auschwitz and Birkenau death camps
The camp watchtower. For how many would a sunset like this have been their last view?
He was a well-dressed officer with shining boots who uttered eight simple short words, articulated well although quietly, and without any emotion. Eight words which determined whether you lived or died — “Men to the left, women to the right.” It was as simple, and callous as that.
Those words exemplify the utter futility and absurdity of the Nazi plan to exterminate the Jewish race. It has been 74 years since the liberation of the death camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau in January 1945, where six million Jews were butchered mercilessly – including 1.5 million children.
The Alpen Hotel, Munich has been providing hospitality for more than 120 years, and rather remarkably, even before the trend for a green and healthy lifestyle, the hotel had Munich’s first vegetarian restaurant!
Now owned and operated by the fourth generation of the Bauer family, the hotel has been brought right up-to-date to cater to the needs of a modern guest.
The hotel still prides itself on its eco-friendly credentials, with the green range of bathroom toiletries, towel changes only on request, an extensive bio-food range on the breakfast buffet along with other touches such as low energy lighting and under-floor heating.
For those who like to inject a shot of festive spirit into December, there’s nothing like a trip to the Christmas markets in Germany, Austria or Switzerland to do just that!
This year it was Munich for us. Having previously been in Basel, Vienna, Berlin and Cologne. Read on for an honest account of how we found this European city’s festive offering.
We flew from Edinburgh to Munich via EasyJet after having originally booked flights with Lufthansa from Glasgow airport. Unfortunately, Lufthansa changed the route advising they were dropping the Glasgow to Munich direct service for the 2019/2020 winter season They then expected us to fly via Glasgow – Düsseldorf – Munich instead. Needless to say, when you’re only visiting for a long weekend you just don’t need the hassle of changing flights so we cancelled.
It wouldn’t be unfair to say, that from the outside, The Old Inn at Appin is not much to look at. In fact, if it were not for the name on the wall you’d probably drive straight past.
However, I’ll say it now, nice and early on in this review, don’t drive by otherwise you’re missing out on something very special indeed!
Located at the bottom of Appin Brae, I know the area well, having been brought up in Ballachulish for the first 23 years of my life. I’ve parked in what is now the restaurant car park more times than I can recollect while photographing Castle Stalker in Loch Laich.
Castle Stalker sitting in Loch Laich.
Located in an old renovated stone-built building which dates from the 1700s, the front door is actually around the back of the building, which is just as well because the building is located right on the roadside with no pavement. And remember that brae I mentioned, it’s a 13 per cent gradient drop, and the pub is slap bang front and centre at the foot of it.
There’s a large off-road car park area with space for 12 to 15 cars from which a solid path underfoot leads to that rear (front) door. Because there are no steps I regard the restaurant as being disabled-friendly in terms of access.
Once inside, like the exterior, look past the interior design elements. It’s fair to say it’s functional and not going to be winning any London Design Week Awards anytime soon. I immediately thought of a converted cow byre for some reason but could be completely off in that regard.
It’s one large room with a vaulted wooden ceiling adorned with Christmas fairy lights. Formed by an open plan design with approximately 12 tables. The walls are original stone upon which hangs an eclectic mix of swords, antlers, oil paintings, and other assorted paraphernalia. The tables and chairs are of a similar odd mismatch assortment, including four wooden church pews and two slabs of cut oak which have warped with use/age so are no longer flat! It’s a rather unique take on restaurant dining. But this critic rolls with the punches and goes with the flow – and absolutely loved its quirkiness.
The interior of the restaurant.
Despite the many eccentricities, and I haven’t gotten onto the female I very nearly became ‘good friends’ with yet – it’s a fun place, with no need for jackets and ties, stuffy pomposity or fussiness. It’s one of those places – a bit like Marmite I expect – you either walk in and sit down or simply turn around and walk straight back out. I was in for the long haul.
But more are sitting down than turning around, and you’ll have to book a table as it is now very popular indeed. Open on a Tuesday to Saturday only between 4 and 10pm it serves as both the locals watering hole and providing food for those travelling from further afield.
We visited on a Tuesday night and in the good old Scots vernacular – “It was going like a fair.” On arrival, the bar was busy with several locals enjoying an after-work drink, some in boiler suits, while around 12 covers were seated and/or being served. Soon that number was up to around 20. They were literally piling through the door.
This was about the only time the bar was free for a shot!
I’ll give you a wee tip – take a duvet with you, at a push a good down jacket would suffice. There’s a wood burner in one corner and if you’re sitting near it then I’m sure it’d be fairly comfortable. Because we hadn’t booked, it was a case of ‘beggars can’t be choosers’ and we were in the church pews near the bar which was much colder. Probably because it’s next to the door, which could easily have just been a revolving one!
Notwithstanding, I was happy to forego that extra level of comfort to try one of their steaks – you only need to look at Tripadvisor to see they are doing something exceptionally well indeed. The restaurant is currently sitting at number one in Appin, but when you consider another local hotel restaurant is listed as having: Cesar Award Best Luxury Hotel in Scotland – Good Hotel Guide 2020; Best Scottish Luxury Hotel of the year – Hotel Awards Scotland 2019; Best Fine Dining Restaurant 2019 Luxury Life Awards and listed with Relais and Chateaux, this wee nondescript place is doing remarkable things locally.
I was even prepared to ignore that local lady I mentioned earlier, who, I suspect having enjoyed more than a few sherries almost landed in my lap as she bounced around like a pinball!
We foodies will put up with a lot to eat at the next “in place”.
The blackboard menu with its limited choice offering.
Don’t expect a menu of four pages with 60 choices. You’ll be very disappointed. The choice of food is marked on a blackboard and on entering you are told to consider taking a photograph of it before sitting down. I told you it was a quirky wee place! There are extremely limited options. Primarily offering steak, two fish and two veggie options. There is also a choice of three starters and two puddings on offer. The one bonus with this system is that you’re not still trying to choose 45 minutes after arriving at The Old Inn.
Drinks orders were delivered by the very cheery and helpful waitress/barmaid who was also taking orders from customers.
It was a pate starter for me which I have to say was very definitely home-made and delicious. There was a hint of alcohol along with a fruitiness normally associated with a quality chicken liver pate, but which was also creamy and with a nice earthy aftertaste. Much rougher in texture than a parfait, it was a perfect slab of pate served with a side salad, a chutney and home-made oatcakes. We were off to a fine start for the evening.
Highland T-bone steak (22oz), served with fries, salad and a peppercorn sauce – £32
I then opted for the Highland T-bone steak weighing in at an advertised 22 ounces. You may recollect me mentioning it was a limited menu, so when I asked what the steak was served with – I got the answer chips, salad and sauce!
So, bold as you like, risking life and limb perhaps, I requested no salad, fries, mushrooms and a blue cheese sauce along with some onion rings. I was given a withering stare as if I had had the temerity of asking for a half Loch Laich lobster topped with caviar to be served sitting proudly on top of my steak. I was advised, in the nicest possible way, that The Old Inn doesn’t do options. You can have a salad, fries and a peppercorn sauce, or indeed any combination from those three items, but that’s it! No discussion needed. fair enough folks, your place, your rules, I can easily live with that.
So there you have it then, it’s a take it or leave it scenario and I for one, having viewed some of the acerbic responses left on Tripadvisor to negative reviews was not going to chance my arm and appear as some smart arse city boy let loose for a day trip on the expenses charge card. No sir, there was no way I was going to lose out on what everyone else was telling me was a damn fine steak, cooked to perfection.
Daughter number one had the rump steak.
Okay, a wooden platter borne on high containing a lump of meat that first looked like it might actually have been a small cow arrived at the table! Served with enough chips that would have fed a small community for a week during a failed harvest, accompanied by a decent-sized pot of peppercorn sauce, this meaty vision of delight (which could possibly involve some sweating) was laid in front of me. I had requested that the steak be cooked rare. Always in my view, the test of a good chef.
Anyone can cook a well-done steak, even my good old mum, God bless her, only had two steak cooking settings: Cremated or slightly less, the three-year-old shoe leather option, but the proof of a chefs ability lies in their competence at cooking meat to other standards. To be fair, my steak was cooked absolutely perfectly. Slightly charred and sealed on the outside while it was rare and pink on the inside. Although the menu states this is a 20-ounce piece of meat, I strongly suspected this was closer to a good 30 ounces it was that large. But not wishing to enrage the owner/proprietor/chef or whoever leaves the withering comments on Tripadvisor, I wasn’t going to ask them to weigh it for me.
Now I hear you asking “but what kind of beef”. That’s easy – check this picture out. Forget your Aberdeen Angus or even the ridiculously overpriced Wagyu beef, if you like a good quality Scottish steak reared outside in all weathers, then Highland beef is an absolute must. Seek it out – I implore you, it’s not widely used by restaurants, and more’s the pity.
Highland Beef, one of the very best available.
It’s an earthy flavour with a rich, almost iron taste but with an overall sweetness in the chewing and aftertaste. It’s remarkable meat and my cut – the T-bone had just enough fat that had partly rendered down. I say partly because, to get the very best flavour out of a cut like this “on the bone” it needs a longer time on the grill to fully cook out its fat content, and I’d recommend a medium-rare for this type of steak. For me, this has always had to be a trade-off between how I like my meat cooked and being true to the beef itself. I flagellate regularly on a Friday evening around 6pm to try and teach myself the error of my ways!
Did I mention the peppercorn sauce or the fries? No, then I’m sorry. The wee pot of creamy goodness absolutely filled with cracker peppercorns, and nothing else, was a right mouthful of heat, and when added to a chunk of meat, provided that essential extra to the overall balance of the dish. The fries – well they are those wee finger-like potato bites the French call frites. You might have seen something similar in a certain fast-food restaurant with ‘golden arches’ as a logo – still at a loss, aaw OK, Micky D’s then. But you know what, we critics can get right cheesed off with duck fat basted, triple-cooked, skin-on chips. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a wee simple fry.
To have found such a quality cut of beef in such an unassuming little restaurant on the West Coast of Scotland, essentially in a village where, if you blink while driving past you’ll miss it. This was a recommendation by more than one Facebook friend and what a lucky find. One of those moments when nothing else matters other than the piece of beef on your plate, or in this case on a wooden board.
Sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream – £6
Dessert, in this case, was a sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream. Oh my. A delicate and light sponge base sitting in a butterscotch toffee sauce, topped with a good-sized blob of vanilla ice cream. This is sticky toffee pudding at its absolute best. The number of times I have reviewed this dish and written how it’s been too heavy or claggy and nothing like it should be – a light and delicate finish to a meal – and which should never be swimming in a pool of sickly sweet sauce. It’s a 10/10 for the dessert as well. Or here in the highlands is it just a pudding?
The Old Inn doesn’t have a website but you can find them on Facebook at: The Old Inn or call them directly on 07725 409003.
As I mentioned earlier we foodies love finding the next best place and, I urge you to get yourself to the Highlands and to visit The Old Inn at Portnacroish in Appin. But don’t leave it too long as I forecast you’ll soon have to ‘take a ticket’ and wait your turn for a table.
I once wrote about a seafood restaurant telling readers I didn’t think it could be bettered – well read on, because Loch Fyne Seafood and Grill in Edinburgh has just stolen the crown!
The restaurant, located in the old fish market at Newhaven Harbour in Leith has just undergone a complete refurbishment from the flooring to the ceiling. And, boy does it look good now.
I’ve no idea who the designer is but, like me, he or she has obviously done some travelling down the coast of Maine in the USA. The pastoral greens and blues, the light wood accents on the floors and in the tables/chairs, the large floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the harbour – are all very reminiscent of the many lobster and crab shacks all along the eastern seaboard.
There are certain events in life that should feature on a bucket list – and for me, visiting an attraction that I’ve been trying to get tickets to for more than three years – The Enchanted Forest in Perthshire, was just one such event.
And the reason it’s taken me three years to obtain tickets to this sound and light open-air spectacular is only down to the fact it sells out the moment tickets go on sale every year – and I’ve always been too slow!
However, this time around I was lucky enough to ensure that the moment they opened up the sales desk I was there faster than many sprinters, no easy task for someone like me, and got hold of four tickets for the family.
Grub and Travel Guides 