Glasgow Reviewed; Dinner at the Tempus Restaurant

I had not been feeling particularly festive just yet but thanks to the lovely Laura from A Life with Frills that is all changed now! She organises the funnest events and this year a group of my favourite Scottish Bloggers were treated to a slap up meal at the Tempus restaurant in Glasgow's Grand Central Hotel.

There couldn't be a more central spot to stay in whilst in the city, and the hotel looks so incredible on the inside. We were shown to the private dining area that the team at the Tempus had set up so we could enjoy a fun evening to get in the Christmas spirit. We were spoiled from start to finish and they had paid so much attention to detail in terms of telling us about the food and keeping on top of any special requirements we had, which is always so welcome.

Typical blogger scene when it comes to food- photos and PURE JOY

We were met with fizz and an amazing array of canapes that were gone in seconds, I was mad for the butternut squash bon bons, and most of the room were desperate for more smoked paprika popcorn. I was determined to keep space for the full 3 courses though and I am so glad I did. We had such a nice menu to choose from and as a first time visitor to the restaurant, I found it pretty hard to pick ( no seriously, it took like 3 attempts to actually pick a pudding.) I opted for the goats cheese starter which was a delish combo of little crackers, cheese, walnuts and caramelized onion and was in all just utterly divine. I am always disappointed when a starter is tiny but this was perfect for my hungry appetite. Next time I would totally go for the foragers salad though which a couple of the others had, as the staff actually come to you with a small table and all the ingredients and make it right in front of you, to exactly your taste! Now that is a service I have never experienced before and was such a nice touch.

I was all set for Duck for the main as its something I never normally have, and I swear the more I watch Masterchef programmes, the more I want it!!! It certainly did not disappoint at all, what a massive delicious portion and the meat was cooked to perfection. The berry sauce and was utterly divine and I was so delighted with it.

Now pudding was giving me far too much to mull over as the choice was fab but I settled on the Salted Caramel and chocolate tarte. It was far too heavy considering how much else I had put away but my word look at the shine on it! I polished it off with a gorgeous virgin strawberry daiquiri and it was the icing on the cake.

The staff and set up in Tempus was amazing, and it feels so nice to be in such beautiful surroundings bang in the city centre. I can't thank them enough for showing us such a wonderful time! Thanks to all my partners in crime ( Lynsay, Ayden, Amanda, Lis and Lori) and especially Laura for organizing the nicest night ( and even beautiful goody bags to boot!) 

Christmas has officially begun!

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

Destination Dining: The Tullie Inn

A couple of Saturdays ago I had one of those days that just sticks out in my mind as being perfect, knowing the sun would be shining me and the man decided to pack up our troubles and head for a relaxing day out in Balloch.  Situated on the  banks of Loch Lomond there are so many fun things to do here and it is a relaxing spot that makes you feel a million miles from the bustling city centre. I am always kicking myself for not coming here more often as it is only 50 mins away from Glasgow and about £6 on the train.

We spent the day sunbathing,  walking around the all the gorgeous boats and investigating Loch Lomond shores which is a fab shopping complex with lots to see. The main event though was always going to be dinner and we were so excited about it as the minute we got off the train we could see where we were going, and it looked GORGEOUS.

Sitting right next to the train station, The Tullie Inn has just re opened following a major £700 000 refurbishment  and it is now the absolutely perfect destination spot for dining  after a long day exploring the loch. I was amazed when I walked in the door and  was greeted with the truly gorgeous and fresh, nautical cape cod theme. Bright ,airy and perfectly thought out, I was a huge fan of the look and would pretty much LOVE a house that had a similar feel. The little touches tied in beautifully with the outside surroundings and the whole place was buzzing with groups from families to parties enjoying big meals and relaxed drinks. I loved the different areas on offer, there are big comfy booths, a gorgeous separate bar with a fire place, outside seating to enjoy a summer drink  and their new amazing glasshouse built on to the front of the building. Ally and I were lucky to be seated here for dinner and it was just so nice and made us feel really special and like we were on a proper holiday!

We were served by Danielle who was the loveliest waitress I have ever had, more than happy to fill us in on the Tullie Inn and surrounding places to see while providing tip top service.  We enjoyed delicious breads and flatbreads with oils while we poured over the stunning menu. What I loved about here was the variety in on offer, without being overwhelming or too diverse they have just pinpointed  good foods from a variety of cuisines. From morrocan stew, to risotto or pasta to steaks from the grill, they cater for everyone and I was honestly so pushed for what I wanted to have.

I opted for the chicken tempura to start, crispy on the outside, incredibly tender on the inside and with a dip with just the right amount of kick, it was heavenly and one of the best starters I have had in a very long time. Ally went for Cullen skink which although not up my street- he was in his element and uhhhmed and ahhhd throughout. For main I plumped for a beautiful terayki chicken, perfectly cooked and coming with rice and wilted greens and sauce on the side the flavours were excellent and it felt filling but not too heavy.  Lamb Stew was the winner for Ally and he adored it, stunning mix of flavours and served with flat bread and cous cous it was something totally different that he wasn't expecting to be on the menu.

After trying to persuade ourselves we couldn't possibly have pudding- we of course ended up ordering two anyway and man am I glad we did! On the recommendation of Danielle it was the sticky toffee pudding and chocolate brownie that won the fight and they were outstanding. I would go back just for dessert in a heartbeat. The sticky toffee was my winner, moist and juicy and a healthy serving it was just sensational and a fab end to such a gorgeous meal.

I loved the portion sizes and found it to be good value for money for quality food in such a lovely place. We moved through ( more like rolled given how much we had eaten) to the bar area which was buzzing for a Saturday night. With a  live DJ providing excellent motown and soul it was really hard to leave for the last train, I just wanted to stay and try out their pretty darn good looking breakfast menu too!

 I am so impressed that they offer a two courses for £10 during the week, which I really hope to get to one day as I think that it is fabulous value for what is being offered. I cannot recommend a day trip to here enough, there is so much to do in the local area that you can make a real mini holiday of a trip and finish it off with some mouthwatering food and drinks.

Thanks so much to The Tullie Inn for having us- everyone was so nice I cannot wait for my next visit.

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!

Edinburgh Reviewed: Champagne Pamper Package with The Bonham and Chamomile

Edinburgh is somewhere I love to go for days out only 50 minutes away on a train from Glasgow and it feels like a proper mini holiday with a whole new array of salons, spas, shops and café to try out. You really are spoiled for choice! Myself and the lovely Mairead decided a day of fun was just what we needed so when we heard of the new Champagne Pamper Package being offered between the Chamomile Sanctuary Spa and the beautiful boutique hotel The Bonham we knew it was perfect for us!

The Chamomile Sanctuary Spa is set in a  gorgeous west end location, even though it is right off of a very busy Princes Street, it feels a million miles away. Looking quite unassuming from the outside, the minute you walk through those doors you are hit with sheer bliss, a really luxurious feeling haven. We were shown into the waiting room to fill in our client forms, it is certainly the most stunning waiting rooms I have ever spent time in-  I would have moved in if they would have let me!

We were then led down stairs to the bottom floor which is a haven of tranquillity. Being down below ground level just added to the feeling of peace for me, totally cut off from the hustle and bustle of day to day life, even though you are just  a stones throw from thousands of busy shoppers! We were shown our lockers with slippers and the plushest robe I have ever put on, got ourselves ready and then moved through to the relaxation room stocked with delicious Tea Pigs herbal teas, little nibble snacks and some gorgeous mood lighting. We made ourselves comfy on the loungers with our books and  made ourselves right at home, until it was time for our treatments.

What I loved about the massages here was how attentive our therapist was, after both plumping for a back massage it was nice that we both had completely different massages by the same person. I was looking for a fairly hard pressure to get the massive knots out my back, and Mai wanted a lighter relaxation based experience, and we both got exactly that. Mairead was really impressed with the tips she was given to alleviate any problems she had, and I loved the detail that was put into explaining the treatment. Afterwards we were allowed to take our time and relax for a little longer with our tea and loungers, which was perfect for a spa package for two- a chance to unwind and have a giggle together.

I absolutely loved the atmosphere at Chamomile and cannot wait to go back, they have a superb array of treatments and packages on offer and just this month they are even launching a range of treatments for the man in your life, available on Mondays they can choose from a mani, pedi, massage or facial- such a good idea!

After such a luxurious massage we had both certainly worked up a hunger so within minutes we were picked up in a complimentary taxi to take us to the beautiful Bonham hotel for the second part of the experience! I love this aspect of the package, being swept away in a taxi adds a real element of luxury that I have never experienced at a spa before. It means you stay in this blissful fuss free bubble the whole time, and takes any effort away from yourself. I also love the flexibility of the package,you can choose to have the lunch or afternoon tea followed by your treatment or do it the other way around, you can tailor the package to suit you which is great.

Greeted by the friendly staff at the Bonham we were led through to be seated in the gorgeous 2 AA Rosette Restaurant- with the sun shining in the large windows it was such a welcoming atmosphere. The staff were absolutely second to none, everyone was really attentive and certainly made you feel pampered. We were given our glasses of champagne which went down a treat while we perused the stunning market menu which left us spoilt for choice. Deciding both to go for the goats cheese and wild garlic  risotto, which was delicious delicious and then a main of Braised Beef Cheek on a bed of crushed burgundy potato for me, and the Grilled Sea Bream with sea food spaetzle and bisque sauce for Miss Mairead.

The food was incredible, buttery soft meat that melted in your mouth and generous portions that didn't leave you so full you couldn't get on with your day but not teeny tiny fancy restaurant portions that break your heart leaving you wanting more! To me it was presented beautifully but without an air of pretentiousness, which is something that just makes the experience even more relaxing. The attention to detail was amazing and for the quality of food and the luxury of the surroundings the prices on the market menu are absolutely superb. This pamper package-which is one of the best days out I have had in a long time- is £75 person, or if you just fancy going for an amazing meal the market menu at the Bonham is £18 for two courses or £22 for three which is incredible value for you what you are getting.

I am all about sharing the best deals with H2T readers, so when I noticed in the Bonham  also do a 'Boozy Snoozy' lunch deal I just had to share it too. Costing £80 for a table of 4 with a 3 course meal and 2 courses of wine- I just had to share! I think it is a mega steal and well worth looking in to if there are a group of you.

You can peruse the incredible array of treatments at the Chamomile Spa here and the take a look at the stunning Bonham Hotel Restaurant here. This beautiful champagne pamper package can be booked by calling 0131 274 7444 or by emailing reserve@thebonham.com