Author: minceandskirlie

Writer, poet, musician, and sometime IT professional in the North East of Scotland.
Food and drink

Courgette Hash

minceandskirlie

We’re deep into courgette season now and after the dismal haul of last year we’re now being over-run by masses of the things. Which just means I need to think of new ways to cook them!

I came home from a run this morning and wondered what I could eat for lunch. Cupboards were pretty bare but there was a couple of courgettes in the fridge, some old spring onions and I knew we had a few tatties ready in the garden. All those ingredients were just begging to be turned into a hash. Out came the frying pan and half an hour later I had a pretty awesome weekend lunch. Continue reading “Courgette Hash” →

News

Rock & Oyster

minceandskirlie

Last week I was invited along to the opening party for another new restaurant – lucky me! This time it wasn’t the opening of a new outpost of a national chain in a large shopping centre, but an independent, local seafood restaurant situated on Union Terrace, in the centre of Aberdeen. Now I bloody love seafood so I had to go check it out. Continue reading “Rock & Oyster” →

Snapshots

Stumbling across some local honeycomb

minceandskirlie

On a long bike ride through sunny Deeside I happened to pass a house with a hand painted sign outside simply saying “For Sale Comb Honey”. Well you have to stop to check it out don’t you? I pulled up to the side of the house to find an elderly gentleman who keeps a few bees and when he has an excess of honey (didn’t happen for him last year but this year has been a bumper one apparently) he packages up a few sections of honeycomb and sells it for a fiver from his house. Continue reading “Stumbling across some local honeycomb” →

Snapshots

Tom Kitchin’s Saffron Poached Monkfish

minceandskirlie

I haven’t sat down and looked through my recipe books for something nice to make for a wee while. Instead I’ve stuck to well-worn recipes I know in my head or referring to dishes I’ve already blogged in the past. Having a flex day to use up meant I had a bit of time to pick something a bit special to cook.

Browsing through the weighty tomes that lurk in my kitchen I ended up flicking through Tom Kitchin’s excellent Kitchin Suppers and this fantastic looking poached monkfish dish with saffron , broad beans and peas. A special looking dinner that happens to be healthy? Perfect. Continue reading “Tom Kitchin’s Saffron Poached Monkfish” →

News, Thoughts

Carluccio’s opening and some thoughts on chains

minceandskirlie

I popped along to the opening party at Carluccio’s in Union Square this week. It’s the first time I’ve been invited to an event like that and was a marvelous opportunity to experience how the other half lives. The world of fizzy top-ups and canapes being far out with my normal day.

The restaurant itself looks great. The food we sampled on the night was all excellent (the prawns wrapped in prosciutto and rosemary were awesome) and there’s also a well stocked, if expensive, deli on site selling fresh pasta, sauces, meat and cakes. While the deli is pricey the stock looks superb so although I wouldn’t go there every week I could imagine nipping in for something nice as an occasional treat. Continue reading “Carluccio’s opening and some thoughts on chains” →