Tag: aberdeen

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” →

Food and drink

Dim sum @ Manchurian, Aberdeen

minceandskirlie

Recently we were in Aberdeen and found ourselves near the Manchurian restaurant around lunchtime. Being hungry, it was a good opportunity to sample their dim sum menu which a friend had told me about then nip to the Chinese supermarket next door and loaded up on frozen dumplings and sriracha sauce.

Frankly it was awesome. I’m thinking of using Kwik Fit at Hutcheon Street more often just so I have an excuse to be in the area. The fried beef dumplings with a ginger and spring onion soy sauce were particularly amazing. We had about 5 portions between the two of us which was perfect for lunch.

While we were there solely for the dim sum my wandering eyes did spy some wonderful looking a la carté dishes going past. I’ll just have to go back to try those as soon as possible!

Food and drink, Uncategorized

Yorokobi by CJ

minceandskirlie

Last week I finally got to eat at a restaurant I’ve wanted to try for ages. Yorokobi by CJ opened on Huntly Street in Aberdeen after Korean Chef Jang had been operating a very successful wee sushi stall at Aberdeen Indoor Market for years. I visited the stall several times and it was my first taste of sushi. I was keen to try the full restaurant experience but for some reason I haven’t got around to visiting until now. Continue reading “Yorokobi by CJ” →

Food and drink

Homemade Butteries

minceandskirlie

I don’t normally do requests but on this occasion I’ll make an exception. An expat friend of mine demanded that I post a recipe for butteries after my snapshot post on them last week. The sight of Aitken’s finest produce on my frontpage reminded him how much he missed them for breakfast. I can’t blame him really.

Butteries or rowies are a speciality of north-east Scotland. Similar to a flat croissant, they’re high in fat and salt with a large amount of butter and lard in the recipe. This isn’t health food! They were originally developed as food that would keep for a few days on a fishing boat; hence the high salt content. Don’t be put off by their unhealthy reputation though. As an occasional treat they’re delicious. As long as they’re fresh then I’ll eat them plain but most people like them lightly toasted with butter and jam.
Continue reading “Homemade Butteries” →

Snapshots

A north east delicacy

minceandskirlie

image

It’s full of fat and has extraordinary levels of salt; but it makes a very tasty breakfast. If you don’t know what it is this is a buttery or rowie. Only found in the north east of Scotland, they’re like a salty flat croissant made with lard. Aitken’s in Torry make the best ones.

I should do a proper blog post on these sometime.