Tag: deeside

Snapshots

Scolty

minceandskirlie

Scolty

I’ve been making the most of the awesome spring weather over the last days and retrieved my road bike from the shed where it’s been hibernating for the last few months. I got home from work tonight and the car was still claiming a temperature of around 15 degrees in the sunshine so I jumped on the bike for a 14 mile loop round the back roads of Deeside. Normally if I take a picture of Banchory’s Scolty hill it’s from the top but cycling round the back roads gives you a great view from the west of the hill, especially when the sun’s shining in the early evening haze like it was tonight.

Snapshots

Menu tasting for my wedding

minceandskirlie

image This was one dish out of about eleven that I ate on Sunday night during the tasting session for my forthcoming wedding. This was roast loin of pork with mustard and sage stuffing. Don’t worry, I’m not giving anything away. While I loved this dish my fiance wasn’t a fan of the mustard stuffing so this one won’t be appearing on the final menu.

The new chef at Banchory Lodge Hotel really did a great job though and it’s going to be tough to decide on the final menu. Maybe I’ll just have to ask for another tasting session…

Food and drink, Uncategorized

Candlestick Maker Restaurant in Aboyne

minceandskirlie

It was Angela’s birthday last week which gave the perfect excuse (as if we needed it) to go for a slap up meal. I’ve driven through Aboyne a lot recently on my way to training with Deeside Runners at Glen Tanar and noticed a small restaurant which looked interesting. We checked it out online, booked a table and jumped on a bus heading west.

The Candlestick Maker in Aboyne is a small restaurant overlooking the village green. In previous lives it’s been a butchers and a bakers so you can see where the inspiration for the name came from. The restaurant promises a menu (£24.50 for two courses and £28 for 3) full of local produce which changes daily. Continue reading “Candlestick Maker Restaurant in Aboyne” →

Review

Quick lunch – meat board at Buchanan’s

minceandskirlie

I’m off for a couple of days which gave a great opportunity to meet my brother for lunch. He’s recently started working for Woodend Barn, a local arts and music venue. Last year it completed an extension to the main building which includes a small restaurant called Buchanan’s.

The room is bright, sometimes a little too bright should you sit by the large glass windows on a sunny summer’s day. However the views over the fields towards Crathes are worth that little discomfort. It feels very comfortable with a relaxed atmosphere and a varied range of tables. They’ve also added a long table in the centre with newspapers and books for their more casual visitors. Continue reading “Quick lunch – meat board at Buchanan’s” →

Drink

Stonehaven Real Ale Festival 2010

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Last weekend was the second year of the Stonehaven Real Ale Festival. We went along to the first event a year ago and had a fantastic night with a lot of excellent beer on tap. This year happened to coincide with my (and my brother’s) 30th birthday, it would be rude not to pay a visit really. Continue reading “Stonehaven Real Ale Festival 2010” →