Glasgow Reviewed; Black Dove Dining

Being a fairly new South Side resident ( actually it has almost been a year- CRAZY!) there is still a list of eateries on my must visit list and up until last month the Black Dove was at the top of that list thanks to its outstanding reputation. I have been eyeing up countless Instagram snaps of their gorgeous looking dishes for long enough when an offer of coming along to try out a few dishes on the tasting menu came up and I could not say no. Alongside some lovely local bloggers we were absolutely treated by the staff at the Black Dove who are really passionate about the food on the latest menu as well as the fantastic cocktails to compliment it.

Based on the Kilmarnock Road, this is a hotspot not to be missed. Focusing on well made and thought out small plate dishes that you can order a few of and enjoy a variety of styles. I love tapas dining as I am always so undecided on exactly what I want so I love the option to try a bit of as many as I fancy. Each plate is cooked to order and they have included gluten and dairy free options to suit as many  as possible which is ideal.

Over the course of the night my favourite picks from the line up had to be the Pork Belly Scotch egg thanks to its beautifully cooked yolk, apple salad and the most incredible chorizo jam that I could hear being discussed up and down the table. A wonderfully refined Ox Cheek ‘steak pie’ that was a really tender delight that was so well presented and possibly my favourite of them all the braised Lamb belly with puy lentils and beetroot gel. I am not usually a lamb person but boy was this delicious.

On the sweet side, Black Dove Dining did not disappoint.I am such a pudding person ( in both tastes and shape!) so  there was zero issue after tasting the mains that there wouldn’t be room for the desserts. Presented to oooh and ahhs across the room was a honey and morello cheesecake with home made honeycomb and cherry coulis that was possibly the dish of the night for me ( complete with mini milkshake to enjoy), a stunning warm chocolate pudding with salted caramel and a vibrant blueberry and lavender sorbet and the impressive French martini.  No not another cocktail after an evening full of them but a dessert in a glass combining pineapple compote, pineapple custard, coral sponge and raspberry foam- it tasted just as good as it looked!!

There were empty plates all round after that feast and some very happy bloggers merrily chatting over a final drink ( yes there was still room…just.)

Talking of drinks their cocktails are renowned in the South Side and I can see why. I am  not usually a cocktail kinda gal ( simple tastes that are slowly changing) but these were the most enjoyable I have ever had. The passion for creating the perfect drinks was obvious from the team , I could quite happily have worked my way down the entire list. Among the many we got to experience I was most enamoured with the Shawlands Sling which was a beautiful blend of Brockmans Gin, Jagermeister, Cointreau, pineapple bitters and a touch of Cherry Brandy. But the big winner was their famous Drumstick Cocktail which did not disapoint- with vanilla vodka, vanilla sugar, raspberry and cranberry, I struggled to nurse this one instead of totally down it :)

 I love that they are stocked up with such an extensive cocktail list, a heap of craft beers and run good special offers too with £4 cocktails and prosecco all day Tuesday to thursday and kids eating free over the summmer- it really is the place to be. Never mind I HAVE to get back and try out the waffles with duck that I spied on the menu!

Glasgow Reviewed; The Trading House

Live music,a buzzing atmosphere and a cocktail list to die for- there is plenty to love about the newest addition to the Glasgow pub and dining scene and that is before I have even tried the food! The Trading House already has a location in London and offers a vast selection of craft beers, ales and cocktails alongside a solid menu inspired by the deli, rotisserie and bbq. If that wasn't enough to catch my eye, the dedication in here to peculiar eccentricities and curiosities could not be more up my street, there was a strong chance I would be moving in.

From the moment we arrived at the door at The Trading House, we were struck by the friendliness of the staff, unlike many a bouncer in the city centre, we were actually greeted with a smile and a hello and the door was opened to then meet the super lovely hostess for the evening. Walking in we were blown away with the stunning decor of the bar and restaurant and the absolutely buzzing atmosphere. We were shown to our seats and took some time to pore over the incredible drinks menu and specially created anthology of ale. There is seriously SO much choice when it comes to drinks here it is unreal. With an extensive list of cocktails, gins and mojito's alongside alllllllll the beers we struggled to know where to start ( don't worry, we nailed it!) I decided a mojito with pineapple and coconut cream was the way to go and Ally was instantly taken with their brewers and traders, beer and cocktail pairing option. Such a clever addition to a menu, this means you can choose from 3 sets of  popular brews matched up with a complimenting cocktail and enjoy the best of both worlds. Both were absolutely gorgeous and the perfect way to kick off the evening and to help us pick from the extensive menu.

I am a huge fan of the variety of food that they have on offer here, I love that there is
a proper mix of options and it all looked so delicious as it came past the table. Handy for us we had a real pro for a waiter who was amazing at helping us make the most of the experience and offered great tips on what to go for. Jordan was a total hoot, there is something so nice about being served by someone who is clearly really passionate about what there is to offer and not afraid to squat down and get comfy so they can fill you in on what you might like and what their personal choices are.

Starters wise I had seen a few snaps from the launch night of the delicious scotch egg with runny centre so I had to try, but there was no way we weren't trying the pork crackling either. The one we both had instantly wanted to go for was the salt and pepper onion petals and  this was the one Jordan was first to ensure we had noticed so we just had to try it. With a new beer from the anthology book ordered for Ally and a glass of red for me, we tucked into our little starter medley and we were insanely happy with our choices. I loved that spare plates and cutlery arrived without having to ask so we could dish out and share, and what a little tapas it was. Those petals are a thing of genius, crispy, peppery, and damn delicious with the sour cream dip, I could have wolfed them all down myself. The pork crackling was a huge winner with Ally and the sweet apple sauce almost jam-like addition to the plate was a really lovely compliment. The egg with a touch of picalli was just as I hoped and felt like a fun thing to order that I wouldnt normally find or probably go for on a menu.

Another brewers and traders combination for Ally (Number 3) and a beautiful refreshing Rockport gin. tonic and fresh blueberries for me and we were ready for mains. It is worth noting that the mini cocktail of Ally's combo was absolutely incredible, kind of like an alcoholic love hearts drink that was simply unreal! My gin was pretty hard to pick from their impressive selection of 16 and 4 different tonics, it was great to try one I hadn't had before. On the advice of Jordan who was fab at going through the options and answering all our questions, we opted for the lamb hanging kebabs that come with properly seasoned chips and sauce and the pan fried sea bass fillets  with pico de gallo. I am new to actually liking fish, and it is not something I would normally ever think of ordering in a restaurant but Jordan certainly knew his stuff so who was I to argue! He did recommend ordering a side of some form to go with it and was even sure to recommend something from the deli board menu as the flavours would be a better compliment than just fries. This knowledge and attention to detail was a lovely touch and you can really see the lengths the staff go to in ensuring you have a good experience even when it is a bustling Saturday night.

The hanging kebab is a great fun order, there is something about the show of having it arrive at your table and the waiter or waitress pouring the sauce from above which just trickles down to your fries, no wonder so many people were ordering it! The lamb was cooked just as we asked and was incredibly flavoursome while the chips are exactly as described, perfectly seasoned and certainly not a tiny portion either. My sea bass was just delightful, well cooked with a slightly crispy skin and full of flavour that felt incredibly light and alongside the pico de gallo and my little potato salad, was perfect. I love to try as much as I can when out for dinner so we shared our mains too and both were super happy with what was there. The portions are satisfying without being ridiculous so they don't leave you feeling heavy which  I liked, all too often I have been left following a dinner feeling too full to actually feel like carrying the night on, which is a waste with drinks like these on offer!



I had been looking at the menu ahead of my visit all week and if there was one thing I was sure I wanted to try it was the banana and coconut kebab with vanilla ice cream and toffee sauce and Ally was right in there opting for warm chocolate fudge cake. Like the kebab mains the spectacle of the banana kebab is fun and although tasty I was left wanting just a touch more from it, maybe the banana warmed slightly and a bit more melted is all it needed, or a larger amount of sauce would be perfect. It was still very tasty just maybe not quite as wonderful as it could be. The warm chocolate fudge however was a total star, I was ready to rip it from poor Ally's hands, rich, well sized and absolutely gorgeous, thick rich and goey- I would absolutely opt for this one next time.

I couldnt resist one last cocktail to go with pudding, the cherry choc tini was just too amazing sounding to leave behind and my word was it good. A really complex tasting, not over heavy drink that was a perfect finish to the meal and I could have drank it a million times over. Really stunning work from the bar people here and they were keeping up incredibly well seeing as both the bar and restaurant were absolutely packed too!

I loved the addition of decent live music in the form of singer and guitarist who were playing newer hits and classics with their own twist. It was perfect for standing watching or as good background music and was delighted that it wasnt too loud. Not to sound like your gran, but I do get annoyed when I go somewhere and before a certain hour the music is completely blaring and you can't hear what anyone is saying. This was spot on however and really added to the already buzzing atmosphere.

I think The Trading House has a huge amount to offer in terms of Glasgow city centre restaurants and bars. The food is affordable ( and hello 25% off in October- now is the time to get in!) the music and atmosphere is spot on and for me the best part is the really lovely and passionate team they have put together. They have made somewhere that is perfect for either a full blown meal and night out, or just drinks with pals complete with a fab small plate menu and nibbles to enjoy with cracking cocktails and a spot of music too. Safe to say we have a really fantastic night here and we could tell the place was filled with people having that same experience thanks to the excellent staff and food and drink choices on offer- well done The Trading House, you can stay!

You can contact the staff on 0141 223 7010 or check out their facebook and twitter

Introducing; Predator Nutrition

I am always on the look out for a decent site to order some of my staple treats such as PB2, Walden Farms syrups, and Meridian nut butters, so it is a bonus for me when I find somewhere that stocks them along side good new protein options, supplements like the Fish Oil I use and brands I am used to ordering from the US like Now Nutrition.  Based in Leeds,Predator Nutrition's owner Reggie clearly puts the work in to stocking the site with hard to get health and fitness products that you usually have to pay huge shipping on as well as making sure they are always adding new and upcoming exciting products.

I follow a lot of health and fitness types on instagram and It seems like I can't go a day without seeing some of the US based ones posting pics of delicious sounding Quest Bars and I had been itching to see what all the fuss was about. With a whopping 20g of Protein but only 1g or so ( they all vary slightly) of sugar per bar alongside being gluten free, these certainly looked to be many peoples go to snack of choice or post workout fix but were they actually any good? Lucky for me the Predator Nutrition team sent me a super exciting parcel with a whole load of flavours to try out and so far so tasty! I have only tried a couple of protein style bars before and always been pretty much underwhelmed by their taste, often just chewy and either flavourless or super synthetic sweet tasting. I hadn't found anything that could actually get me looking forward to eating one ( or happy to shell out the £'s for).

Straight off the bat, before I had eve finished reading all the flavours in front of me, I ripped open the strawberry cheesecake option to tuck into. My eagerness means my first go was a little disappointing, it was a nicer flavour than ones I had tried before but it still was a little too chewy and powdery tasting. Colour me disappointed! UNTIL I remembered that on instagram I always see people talking about having them heated and let me tell you that changed everything for me. I got home and cut up the cinnamon swirl option as I knew it would float ally's boat, and with 20 or so seconds in the micro we had a tasty, soft and almost brownie like situation going on that was super tasty, filling, and definitely hit my sweet craving spot. From here on in I have tried them all warm , not heated up is still perfectly fine for a snack on the go but warm actually excites me and has me looking forward to having one after dinner on gym days. The ones I have used so far have been amazing like cookies and cream, peanut butter supreme and  I am in love with the coconut cashew. Next up I am definitely firing into the smores and the cookie dough ones! I am usually a fan of trying to meeting my proten needs in the form of whole food sources as often as possible but often at weekends I find myself not getting enought so these are totally perfect for keeping me going and being a darn tasty snack too. People often eat nowhere near as much protein as they need ( especially if exercising), so these are a fantastic option for meeting those levels easily. At £2.79 a go, they aren't cheap but these fill me up so much better than any other cereal bar I would usually be swayed by and if buying in boxes on the site you can get them for nearer £2 each, plus I would always keep my eyes peeled for deals.

With my whole workout in mind, the team also sent me some sachets of Optimum Nutrition Pre -Workout  powder to try which I am surprised to say seem to make a difference for me. I had my reservations but so far this has helped me with my workouts, very possibly due to the caffeine content ( alongside  creatine and B vitamins)and that I hit the gym pretty early in the morning. These have made me feel far more alert and up for working hard, and I have actually managed PB's  the first day I tried it so  it has been an interesting experiment for me. 

Predator Nutrition has been a really useful find for me getting most of my goodies from one site and is well worth checking out, I love that they stock a decent mix of products and brands and I am a fan of the loyalty points system too. Now if I could just get Reggie to stock my favourite liquid stevias I would be all set!

If you are interested in trying out Quest Bars I just noticed they are selling some short dated stock right now so you could pick up a mixed box of flavours for £16.99 or a few flavours for only 11.99 which is a fab deal, I have just ordered my next bundle ( which arrrived the next day!) and I happened to notice the handy code QUEST10 will get you 10% off that too- bargain! If you take advantage of the handy deal would love you to use my refferer code at the checkout 6650028 and I earn a few of those loyalty points to my next order. Happy Healthy Shopping!

Beauty Blogger Sleepover

Being a blogger has provided me with some amazing opportunities over the years from fabulous parties to trying amazing products but the best part has to have been getting to know other bloggers along the way. The number of us here in Scotland has grown massively through those years and I have met some absolute beauties in that time, so the chance to have an old school sleep over with some of them was amazing. The lovely Laura from A life with frills was super smart and organised a fabulous night in for us at the Fraser Suites in Glasgow with a host of companies taking part to make it a night to remember.

I have used these suites a few times in the past to accommodate both work colleagues and also my own family as I love that the rooms are not just beautifully put together but incredibly practical too with their own little kitchens to allow you a little bit of home whilst staying right in the city centre. They were the perfect spot to host a gaggle of excited bloggers indulging in a little bit of pampering and a big bit of snacking :)

We were treated to some amazing snacks from Dominos ( including some bloody gorgeous macaroni cheese bites that I am still burning off), nifty little cake pops from Cake-Cetera and a really beautiful berry cake from Whole Foods in Giffnock to top it off. We washed it down with an amazing punch laura made and some Fentimans botanical flavours- whilst gabbing away about all things beauty and blogging ( and possibly tearing up at numerous christmas tv adverts too....!)

 Fit to burst in my pj's we were lucky enough to have some of the fab Glasgow Benebabes with us to sort out our brows and soothe our skin. I have met the amazing Heiman before and she is a real waxing pro and sorted my messy brows right out with the signature benefit brow mapping, and then the super lovely Lynne treated me too a relaxing facial which ended up with a surprise sneak peak at a brand new Benefit product not out until next year! Puff Off! is an eye gel that can be used under OR over makeup to help fill in fine lines and of course de puff the area- it even has a little iron as an applicator- how cute is that!? It is going to be the niftiest addition to your make up bag come January.

We were delighted to be given a Shearers candle to take away with us which was amazing considering the rooms had all been scented with them which created such a lovely atmosphere. I love a good candle and the burn time on these beauties are seriously impressive.

Thanks so much to Laura and the rest of the gals for a really unique event that going into the mad party season was just what I was needing.

Getting to know: Real Foods

Getting up in the morning is certainly not something I am usually looking forward to, this week however I am actually excited about it! That makes me sound totally crazy I know, but it’s because all this week I am trying out different types of muesli thanks to the lovely team over at Real Foods and they all sound so delicious it is impossible not to rush out of bed.

 

I mentioned before that I am doing an open university short course in nutrition right now as It is something I have become super interested in the last couple of years, I love looking up healthy recipes and alternatives to food and discovering new things to try. I came across Real Foods when hunting for various products I was keen to try at a decent price and based in the UK as I had been previously having some things sent over from the US and thanks to custom charges and long waits it really wasn't ideal. When I came across the Real Foods site I was thrilled, they have all the things I have been looking for, and so many more ( my wish list is MASSIVE!) and even more exciting is that they are based right here in Scotland, with fab looking stores in Edinburgh. Coming across them was definitely fate as over on their facebookthey were looking for people to try out some products so of course I jumped at the chance!

So as of today I am enjoying a different one of their mueslis every day for the week, I will be posting up some pics on my instagram and twitter so make sure you come and follow me!

I can already tell you Day One has been a huge success- I am utterly stuffed after a bowl of the healthy start muesli with hemp milk. Chocked full of  bran flakes, raisins, honey banana chips and toasted coconut and it is an excellent source of fibre, vitamins and minerals and felt like a really healthy boost at the start of the day.

I can’t believe I am looking forward to getting up tomorrow already!

This is not a sponsored post at all, muesli is being sent for my review but all opinions are my own and just wanted to share as I know there are lots of other readers really interested in healthy eating who would love these products!

Glasgow Reviewed- Chaoypraya Restaurant

Chaopraya ( pronounced Chao-Phra-Yaa) is the newest addition to Glasgow's list of incredible restaurants to visit. Based in the absolutely stunning Townhouse building on Buchanan Street, Chaopraya is Europe's largest Thai restaurant and is not to be missed! 

 I went along with my best friend to try out the Thai Tuesday deal which is the perfect mid week treat that is easy on the pocket. For 9.95 each you get the Asian platter for two to share and a free classic cocktail (or beer) that are usually £7.50. Being the greedy beast that i am, I thought that a platter to share would be really small and not enough for my post work appetite but as the tray was brought over I was really impressed! we each ordered a portion of rice to go alongside and that made it the perfect sized meal - not so much we were left feeling ill afterwards but plenty of delicious food to satisfy us. The platter comes with  a selection of chicken satay, prawn tempura, chicken spring rolls, marinated pork with honey and herbs and a crispy duck salad- YUM! I love that with a platter like this you can try out different things and it is perfect for someone like me who can never decide what I want!

The cocktail list was excellent and I was blown away with how big it was. Sometimes in cocktail bars I feel you pay a lot for you what you get but certainly  not here. I had my first experience of a long island ice tea and I LOVED it, I would definitely go back for another. The main menu in Chaopraya is extensive but also quite pricey ( by my standards ) however with how stunning the restaurant is inside and the quality of the food I would definitely consider it for a fancy meal out. The other half was so jealous of the sound of the food I will have to take him back for a Thai Tuesday and I would love to get some friends together and get dressed up to go for cocktails in their Palm Sugar Lounge bar.

If you are ever coming to Glasgow or live in the city I would absolutely recommend checking Chaopraya out, I had such a good time there.To take advantage of the deal  I enjoyed you just need to quote #ThaiTuesday to your waiter.

Enjoy!