Author Archives: Melissa Volpi

Le Di-Vin Wine Bar Edinburgh Review

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ledivinLe Di-Vin on Randolph Place is very different from the neo-classical and Georgian architecture that make up the New Town of Edinburgh.The building looks half French farmhouse, half Tudor Free House. It was formerly known as the Oratory of St Anne but once you are through the iron gates and blue doors, it feels like you have stepped into a wine cellar not a chapel.

The black painted walls, with white ceiling and cornicing, give way to two entrances. Turn left and you reach La Petite Folie – the first of this restaurant and wine bar chain owned by Virginie Brouard. Look straight ahead and you see the entrance to Le Di-Vin Wine Bar.

This dark passageway leads to another wooden door with presence. There are two large wine casks on either side of the door, which act as tables to the miniature trees made from fairy lights that reside elegantly on them.

There is also a chalkboard with today’s menus on it. Le Di-Vin offers a choice of two daily food menus – one set menu and one all day menu – and two drinks menus. The set lunchtime menu is £11.50 for two courses.

After taking a quick peek of the set menu, we pull open the wooden doors and are greeted by an unexpectedly large and light space.

Wine Bar

 What instantly draws your eye is the wall of wine bins to the left of the entrance – the bins are so high that you need a ladder to reach the top four rows. It’s lovely to see so many bottles of wine on display. It makes you eager to start tasting them…

The whole of Le Di-Vin is open plan. There are seats at the bar for those who want to pick the brains of knowledgeable staff. And there are long rustic tables and quiet corners to sit at within the main street level space. But a waiter takes our coats and seats us somewhere special.

“Would you like to eat on our mezzanine level,” he says in a well-spoken Edinburgh accent.

“Yes please,” we reply.

There are only six tables on the mezzanine level and today only one other table is occupied here – making it a peaceful area from which to observe and savour.

I cannot get enough of the wine casks that are used as tables and the trees that are made from fairy lights. They are scattered about Le Di-Vin and I think it adds an authentic and feminine touch.

 Wine by the glass

 When our waiter hands us the menu and wine list by the glass, we are stunned by what we see. There are 26 different varieties of white wine by the glass and 26 different varieties of red wine by the glass – a phenomenal amount and much more than I have personally encountered before.

This is a hand picked selection of unique, quality wines. And with prices ranging from £3.65 to £10.00, they represent an affordable treat.

The three whites that interest me the most are the Macon Uchizy, Domaine Talmard – Chardonnay; the Chablis 11, Domaine Fevre – Chardonnay; and the Sancerre, Lucien Crochet 11 – Sauvignon.

Kirsty is finding it difficult to choose only one wine too and ponders over three reds: the Atacamea Carmenere; the Merlot, Domaine Astruc; and the Rioja, Dominio de Heredia.

There is another, bigger wine list too selling even more wines – this time by the bottle.

Merlot and Sancerre

 Our waiter walks up the wooden steps to our table…

“Would you like a little more time, Ladies? Or are you ready to order?”

Kirsty and I look at the menu again, then each other.

“We’re ready!”

The lunchtime set menu, served from 12 noon until 5 pm, and the all day menu, served from 12 noon until 10 pm, sells traditional French fare. There is Croque-Monsieur, snails in garlic butter, Les Tartines (toasted country bread with a choice of two fillings) and four different sharing platters to name but a few.

We decide to order a rustic board of mixed cheese and ham to share, as well as a glass of Merlot and Sancerre.

I’ve visited France many times and one of the things that I love most, is the individual family run shops that make up each town’s main street, or each cities ‘quarter.’ Tesco is handy and quick. But there is nothing like meandering down a beautiful French boulevard, with buildings that have tall windows and ornate balconies, and wandering into a wine shop, cheese shop, delicatessen and bakers. It’s so French and fun. And I like the fact that this wine bar is trying to bring all these different cultural elements together to give you an experience, rather than just feed and water you.

Mixed Cheese and Charcuterie Planchette

The wines come first, followed by a wooden board covered in chunks of cheese and slices of cold meats.

Kirsty’s Merlot tastes of black forest gateau. It is a good choice and will go perfectly with the cheese and ham. My Sancerre is a beautiful colour. It reminds me of sand at sunrise. It tastes fresh and lively –  like spring in a glass. It’s a good wine to sip by itself or to have with salads and fish. But for my palette, I think it’s a little light and bright to be having with strong cheese and spicy meats.

The sharing platter looks colourful. There is a selection of Saucisson, Salami, Parma Ham and Terrine. And cheeses from Chaource, Brie de Meaux, Tomme de Savoie, St Agur, Comté, Pont l’Evèque and Reblochon. All served alongside gherkins, grapes and bread with butter.

Kirsty and I knock glasses before digging in to our favourites. I love Salami and Brie and quickly grab these of the board first…

Très chic

Kirsty and I both enjoyed our quick lunchtime treat. The medium-sharing platter is more than enough for two people – we are both feeling contentedly full. And my glass of Sancerre was a lovely alternative to the Italian whites that I normally drink. It’s not a wine that I would have bought buy the bottle when dining out, as apart from being expensive, I had not tasted it before. So the opportunity to buy this by the glass was most welcome.

I can’t fault Le Di-Vin. Virginie Brouard has got the location, the design and the wine right. She’s built a classy establishment that is not pretentious – no mean feat in a city.

If I were to pull up anything, it would be the choice of cheeses and cold meats in the sharing platters. The wine at Le Di-Vin is not the norm. And I think the food should not be the norm either. The cheeses and cold meats are delicious, but what you would expect. Maybe an additional sharing platter offering rare fromage and charcuterie would be a nice addition…

Kirsty and I take our last sips of wine while looking straight ahead at a wall mural that is a modern take of The Last Supper. Instead of Jesus sharing a last meal with his Apostles in Jerusalem, there’s Oscar Wilde surrounded by the great philosophers and artists of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. I like it. It’s a quirky take on Leonardo da Vinci’s work and it reminds me of a quote by Wilde.

“I have the simplest taste. I am always satisfied with the best.”

Le Di-Vin more than satisfies my simple tastes. It is one of the best wine bars that I have ever frequented. And I will be going back to sample more of these extraordinary wines by the glass.

 

Our light lunch for two:

1 x Merlot, Domaine Astruc, 250ml glass £6.95

1 x Sancerre, Lucien Crochet 11, 250ml glass £10.00

1 x Mixed Cheese and Charcuterie Planchette, small, £15.00

Total: £31.95 + tip (£16.00 per head for a cheese and ham sharing boar with bread and large glass of quality wine.)

 

We like…

 

THE LOCATION

 

THE DESIGN

 

THE WAITERS

 

THE BINS OF WINE DISPLAY WALL

 

THE LIST OF QUALITTY WINES BY THE GLASS

 

THE MERLOT, DOMAINE ASTRUC

 

THE SANCERRE, LUCIEN CROCHET 11

 

THE PLANCHETTE DE FROMAGES

 

THE MEZZANINE DINING AREA

  

THE PRICES

 

 

Contact details:

 

Le Di-Vin Wine Bar
9 Randolph Place
Edinburgh
EH3 7TE

0131 538 1815

info@ledivin.co.uk

http://www.ledivin.co.uk/

 

Prezzo Witham Restaurant Review

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photo-2Prezzo is helping to make Witham High Street fashionable. This stylish silver painted Italian restaurant opened here at the end of last year and has become a busy nighttime dining establishment.

We arrive at 7:30 pm on a Tuesday evening and are glad that we booked in advance – as there is not one table unreserved.  Karen, the Hungarian Restaurant Manager, greets us and we are seated in a comfortable candlelit booth with monochrome patterned bench seats.

Verdicchio

 Karen gives us a few minutes before walking over to take our drinks order and after asking for a bottle of San Pellegrino; my partner asks her what the most popular wine is.

“The Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is our biggest seller here,” says Karen. “It’s a medium bodied wine with a crisp gooseberry fruit flavour.”

My partner orders two large glasses of the Sauvignon for us to try. It’s a drinkable wine that I think would go well with any vegetarian, fish or chicken dish. But it’s too non descript for me. And my partner agrees. So we scan the wine list again (which has a good selection of Italian whites from Trebbiano and Frascati to Pinot Grigio and Fiano) and order a bottle of Verdicchio Urmani Ronchi DOC. This is one of my favourite whites. To me, it’s the Italian Chablis.

Baked Mushrooms

There are nine starters on the menu. From classics like Bruschetta, Tricolore Salad and Antipasto to modern melts like fried mozzarella in tomato sauce and grilled goats cheese on ciabatta bread with a balsamic glaze. The prices are excellent value, with all starters under £6.00.

We pick two classic dishes. Baked Mushrooms stuffed with grana padano cheese, garlic, onions, mushrooms and breadcrumbs. And King Prawns cooked in tomato sauce with garlic, chilli and spinach served with ciabatta bread.

Karen tells us a story of her mushroom picking expeditions in Hungary as she serves us our starters. The Baked Mushrooms and King Prawns are elegantly presented on white square plates. The six mushrooms, which surround a bed of salad leaves and a bowl of aioli, smell like a forest and I cannot wait to dig in.

My partner and I share the first mushroom and both gasp with delight at the texture and taste. We try them with and without the aioli and both agree that they taste best without. The combination of creamy cheese and that straight from the earth flavour is heavenly.

The King Prawns are not as spicy as the recipe suggests. But they are a good, light choice nonetheless.

Executive Pizzas

The maincourses at Prezzo are what you would expect from an Italian restaurant. There are pastas, pizzas, risottos and meat dishes with a choice of sides. But the Executive Pizzas stand out.

My partner orders the Chargrilled Chicken Breast Funghi (with field mushrooms and baby spinach in a Marsala wine sauce) and Rosemary potatoes. And I order one of the Executive Pizzas: the Queen Margherita.

There are four different Executive Pizzas on the menu. There is Posh Pepperoni, Steak and Rocket, Prawn and Lobster and the Queen Margherita. If we had not ordered King Prawns to start, then I would have gone for the Prawn and Lobster pizza. But the Queen Margherita sounds interesting. And when Karen lays it down on our table, it even looks interesting.

The Executive Pizzas are bigger than normal Prezzo pizzas. And they have a crispier, thinner base. The Queen Margherita is made up of three sections. So you end up with one pizza that has three different toppings.

What I find striking is the tri-colour design. The three sections are cleverly done and made to look like the Italian flag: green, white and red.

The green section is asparagus, spinach and basil pesto dressed rocket leaves. The white section is béchamel sauce and buffalo mozzarella. And the red section is sunblushed and cherry tomatoes.

Prezzo give you a pizza cutter for ease. So I cut each section into threes and dig in. The pizza is as good as any I have tasted in the UK or Italy. The base is light and the flavours from each different topping really come through. My favourite is the béchamel sauce and buffalo mozzarella.

I can tell that my partner is enjoying his chicken dish. As he has not spoken one word in the past five minutes. He is too busy eating.

The Gelupo Gelato Burger

“This is one of our most popular desserts,” says Karen while placing the Gelupo Gelato Burger in front of me.

And I can see why. This toasted brioche bun with a light dusting of icing sugar looks like a real American burger roll. It’s a gimmick that works and immediately transports you to the set of a Godfather inspired movie, where Italians talk with a New York accent.

This bun would never be found on the dolce list of a traditional Italian Trattoria. But I’m very happy to see it on the menu of Prezzo in Witham. This is much more than a simple dessert. It combines the two things that Italians cannot get enough of: bread and ice cream.

Our burger is stuffed with two large scoops of Amaretti and Hazelnut Gelato and the idea was to cut the burger down the middle so that we could both enjoy our favourite ice cream. But as I try the combination of warm brioche and frozen Amaretti and let the sweet taste of bread and marzipan envelop my senses, I decide that half of this dessert is not enough and end up eating three quarters of it. Sorry Mike! (My partner)

Tiramisu

I try not to order tiramisu when eating out in Italian restaurants as I was brought up on my mother’s homemade version, which no other tiramisu can compete with (in my biased opinion!). But the other desserts on this menu just don’t do it for me.

The Honeycomb Smash Cheesecake, Chocolate Profiteroles, Sticky Toffee Pudding and Milk Chocolate Fudge Cake are not Italian enough for me. And although the Panettone Bread and Butter Pudding sounds delicious (and a dessert that I will definitely try on my next visit to Prezzo) we thought it would not compliment the Gelupo Gelato Burger. That it would be a case of too much bread. So, we opt for the Tiramisu – an Italian dessert that always satisfies, even if my mother didn’t make it.

And Prezzo’s tiramisu is no exception. This square of whipped up eggs and mascarpone on espresso-drenched ladyfingers looks good on the plate. A sprinkling of cocoa around the tiramisu and three dark coffee beans pressed gently into the top layer of this dessert add the finishing touches.

It’s light and creamy and the perfect end to our meal. But this time I let my partner eat more.

Hot Amaretto

Karen must have noted my love of Amaretti because she brings out a hot glass of Amaretto for me to have alongside my cappuccino.

My partner inhales the aroma and notes how nice it is to have a warm shot of liqueur. These little details are often a rarity now. But they make a meal. And they have certainly made our meal special.

We enjoy our coffees with Amaretto and both decide that Prezzo is a great Italian restaurant for couples. The décor is minimalist with lots of wood. The pizza is as good as any you would find on the streets of Rome. And the service is excellent. Thank you, Karen and Prezzo. We will be back.

Our meal for two:

1 x Baked Mushrooms £5.35

1 x King Prawns £5.75

1 x Queen Margherita £11.25

1 x Chargrilled Chicken Breast Funghi  £12.75

1 x Rosemary Potatoes £3.50

1x Tiramisu £5.10

1 x The Gelupo Gelato Burger £4.50

2 x Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 250ml glass £5.60

1 x Verdicchio Urmani Ronchi DOC Bottle £17.95

2 x Cappuccino £2.25

Total: £81.85 + tip (£40.93 per head for starter, maincourse, dessert, large glass of white, half a bottle of white wine and a cappuccino)

 

We like…

 

KAREN, THE DINING ROOM MANAGER

 

THE 60’s INSPIRED SEATS

 

THE LOW LIGHTS

 

THE BAKED MUSHROOMS

 

THE QUEEN MARGHERITA

 

THE CHARGRILLED CHICKEN BREAST FUNGHI

 

THE ROSEMARY POTATOES

 

THE GELUPO GELATO BURGER

 

THE VERDICCHIO

 

THE PRICES

 

Prezzo

70 Newland Street
Witham
Essex
CM8 1AH

Telephone: 01376 510171

Opening Hours:Monday to Sunday:  12noon – 11:30 pm

 

The Knight Residence Serviced Apartments Review

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logo-tkr1.png.284x60The Knight Residence is a modern 6-storey townhouse on a quiet street between the two main train stations in Edinburgh, Haymarket and Waverley. There are two topiary balls in silver sparkling pots on either side of the front door. And a buzzer entry system for residents who have not yet checked in. Colin Stone MA, the General Manager of The Knight Residence, greets us from the concierge desk, situated in the lobby between the front and inside doors, and gives us a tour of the facilities and our city two-bedroom apartment.

Coffee & DVD’s

First things first: the keys. We are given a front door key and a key to our apartment as well as an electronic key ring sensor that opens the inside door of this townhouse. A nifty safety feature that I like.

The ground floor of The Knight Residence is a cosy living space full of newspapers and DVD’s. There is also a press and go coffee machine incase residents want a cappuccino to go. My partner is instantly drawn to the smell of roasted beans and makes us each a coffee before taking a seat on one of the two armchairs.

“We offer free wifi,” says Colin while calling the lift to take us to the 2nd floor. “But you can rent any of our DVD’s for £2.00 if you want a change from Netflix or Blinkbox.”

I often get lost in big hotels and forget where my room is. But that won’t be an issue here. When Colin ushers us from the lift to our apartment, we notice that all the doors have namecards on them. Ours says ‘Miss M Volpi,’ which makes us smile.

Colin opens the door and deposits our bags in the first bedroom. This apartment has a video ID entry system (incase you are expecting guests), laminate floor in the hall, one twin bedded room and one double room (each with a wardrobe, dressing table, set of two white bathrobes and slippers, alarm clock and TV),  bathroom, lounge, dining room and kitchen. Every room looks chic and clean. And there is plenty of natural light.

The Kitchen

“We’ve stocked the kitchen with a few breakfast essentials for you,” says Colin while walking into the open plan sitting room and dining area that adjoin the kitchen at the back of our apartment. “Just to make you feel at home.”

The fridge contains two large cartons of fruit juice (orange and cranberry) and there is a sliced white loaf ready for toasting in the bread bin. But what impresses me is the selection of cereals, biscuits, jams, spreads, teas and coffees all displayed in a large wire storage rack on the kitchen counter.

There is Alpen, Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, and Weetabix. Shortbread that looks homemade. Good quality raspberry and strawberry jam and orange marmalade. There is a choice of either Lurpak butter or Flora spead and teas ranging from herbal to traditional. There are fairtrade sachets of instant hot chocolate and freeze dried coffee (both strong and decaf) alongside a large 4-cup cafitiere with one pouch of freshly ground coffee. I often have trouble deciding what I would like to eat for breakfast. But The Knight Residence really does offer a selection of morning food to suit all palates.

The kitchen is fully equipped with toaster, microwave, hob, oven, fridge, sink and washing machine. There is a selection of cutlery and ceramic plates/mugs as well as plastic plates, cups and bowls for children. You could easily prepare a home cooked meal here. And we are sad that we have pre booked a table at Amarone restaurant instead.

The Bathroom

Colin shows us where the bathroom is before leaving us to get ready for our evening out in Edinburgh.

The bathroom is lit by spotlights and has a mirrored back wall. It’s a big space with a neat toilet basin and a sink big enough for two people to use at the same time. There is a bath with an electric shower overhead on the far side of the room and a heated towel rail next to the door.

The Knight Residence is big on protecting the environment. Not only are their profits from the car park used to plant native trees in Scotland (www.trees4scotland.com), their choice of toiletries are all eco-friendly and in eco-friendly packaging. I’ve never come across the ‘BeeKind’ range of products from Gilchrist & Soames before. But it’s a snazzy concept in looks, logo and logic.

“BeeKind to yourself by not using products with parabens, phthalates or artificial colours. BeeKind to your neighbours, animals, waiters and waitresses. Most importantly, BeeKind to the environment so future generations can enjoy your planet’s breathtaking beauty.”

The 30 ml bottles are all made from paper and the main ingredient in each product, whether it be shampoo, conditioner or body lotion, is honey. A portion of BeeKind’s proceeds are used to support honey bee and sustainable pollination research.

The Knight Residence also encourages you to re-use your towels instead of having them washed ever day of your stay.

The Personal Touch

“If you need anything at all, just ring down to reception,” says Colin before exiting our apartment. “We can order you a taxi for later or provide you with personalised directions and a map of how to get to where you want to go in Edinburgh on foot.”

My partner and I veg out in front of the TV for an hour to unwind, before phoning Colin and asking him to book that taxi…

The Knight Residence is much more than a home from home. It’s a haven of efficiency and environmentally friendly living. ALL your worries are obliterated from the moment you step through that door with your name on it. And ALL you can do is relax and let the pampering begin.

If the personal touch is what you’re looking for, then The Knight Residence should be on your accommodation list for that next trip to Edinburgh. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

 

*Our City two bedroom apartment was £402.00 per night. It accommodates 4 adults and 1 child.

Other prices are as follows:

City studio apartment: £264.00 per night
City one bedroom apartment: £287.00 per night
City two bedroom apartment: £402.00 per night
Comfort one bedroom apartment: £264.00 per night
Comfort two bedroom apartment: £402.00 per night
Comfort three bedroom apartment: £598.00 per night

*Rates quoted are inclusive of utilities, service and VAT. Ancillary services, such as phone, fax or newspapers, will be charged as taken.

Car Parking is charged at £7 per night. Profits from car parking are used to plant native trees in Scotland. www.trees4scotland.com

 

We like…

 

THE LOCATION

 

THE BUILDING

 

THE STAFF

 

YOUR NAME ON THE DOOR OF YOUR APARTMENT

 

THE SECURITY

 

KNIGHT KNIGHT SLEEP TIGHT TEDDY BEAR

 

THE KITCHEN SUPPLIES

 

THE ECO TOILITRIES

 

THE SERVICE

 

 

Contact details:

 

The Knight Residence

12 Lauriston Street

Edinburgh

Scotland

EH3 9DJ

United Kingdom

 

Telephone number: +44 (0) 131 622 8120

Email: info@theknightresidence.co.uk

Website: http://www.theknightresidence.co.uk/

 

Amarone Edinburgh Restaurant Review

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HPlogoAmarone restaurant is majestic inside and out. It is situated in Edinburgh’s financial district, St Andrews Square and is a former safe – known as the ‘Vault.’ The high domed ceiling and archways are the two centrepieces and the tall windows fill the place with light – albeit street lights, as we are booked in at 7 pm.

We are greeted by two male hosts near the entrance and pass the bar and open kitchen, on the way to our romantic candlelit booth – situated right at the back of Amarone, on an elevated dining area. The restaurant is completely full, with an eclectic mix of diners from students to sophisticated retirees.

The white walls compliment the dark walnut floor and the drop lighting, ceiling decorations and rows of gallery style photographs, give that contemporary look which Amarone promise on the website. Our Italian waitress offers to take our coats as we get settled in the booth and hands us the wine list and a la carte menu.

Vino e mangiare

The wine list is the best that I have seen in a UK Italian restaurant. Not only do they offer six different versions of Amarone (a rich, Italian dry red wine that is 15-16% alc/vol), their house whites and reds are better than the norm and still reasonably priced.

We ask our waitress what is most popular by the glass and opt for the house white Sauvignon – Altana di Vico Sauvignon Triveneto – and the house red Merlot – Ardesia Merlot IGT Veneto – both £18.95 per bottle and £6.45 per large, 250 ml glass.

Browsing the starters, we see classic favourites like minestrone, crostini, homemade chicken liver pate and beef carpaccio. I like to eat locally sourced food where possible and choose the Capesante con Pancetta – seared Scottish king scallops served with grilled pancetta ham, with a sun dried tomato and chilli dressing. My partner opts for seafood too, to allow space for a carbohydrate-laden maincourse, and picks the Cozze Vapore  – mussels with white wine, flat leaf parsley, garlic and olive oil.

I can’t visit an Italian restaurant and not have a pizza or pasta dish, so we decide to share the pizza verdi – fresh spinach, rocket, ricotta cheese and shaved parmesan with garlic and chilli oil – and the Petto d’Anatra all’Amarone – pan seared duck breast, served pink, with an Amarone wine sauce, braised Savoy cabbage, sautéed potatoes, pancetta and confit of figs.

Focaccia

As our waitress walks off with the food and drinks order, another appears with a focaccia. We look at this pizza plate of Italian bread, topped with Parma ham, parmesan shavings and rocket, and wish we had not ordered a pizza for maincourse…

Our second Italian waitress sees the ‘I don’t know how I’m going to eat all of this’ look on our faces and provides some encouragement.

“Compliments of the house,” she says. “Mangia, mangia!”

 ’Mangia, mangia!’ is my most treasured Italian phrase and the first word that I could truly understand without translation when I visited my father’s family as a child – it means ‘eat.’ I have not heard it for some time now though. My nonna (grandmother) used to repeat this during every meal that we spent together in Florence and you could see the joy in her emerald eyes as we tucked into her four lovingly prepared courses with enthusiasm. I smile at the memory and look at the focaccia. It smells too good to waste, so we each take a slice.

I am not easily impressed when it comes to Italian restaurants in the UK – after being brought up on my father’s and nonna’s cooking – but this bread is exceptional. It’s lighter than traditional focaccia, but the dough is flavoursome and the consistency is just right. I try not to eat half – as I want to enjoy the rest of this meal. My partner, however, cannot restrain himself and ends up eating three quarters of it himself.

Antipasti

The scallops and mussels arrive in large white bowls, with an extra bowl set aside for the empty mussel shells.

There is a handful of spinach and rocket separating my four scallops and each one has a teaspoon of dressing on top. It’s a simple arrangement that works. I have a tendency to overcook scallops – a cooking trait that I get from my mother, who overcooks most food – so it is a real treat to eat scallops that slide down the throat just like oysters. Yum.

My partner is almost finished the mussels by the time I have eaten two scallops – my nonna would be proud of his enthusiasm – but manages to show me a novel way of eating them before they are all gone. He uses an empty shell to pick out the rest of the mussels. It’s a unique idea that’s much easier than using a fork – and one that I must remember.

Pizza e carne

I’ve been looking forward to the maincourse – as I’ve not tried duck in Amarone sauce before. But when our waitress places this plate of carne in front of me, I notice how thin the sauce is. Instead of allowing it to simmer into a heavy reduction, which I like, it looks like the chef has just splashed some Amarone straight from the bottle onto my plate.

I keep an open mind though and tuck in. The sauce does not stick to the meat, like I thought, but the duck is tender and tasty nonetheless – and the sautéed potatoes are addictive.

Happy, contented sounds come from my partner’s side of the booth – making it obvious that he is enjoying the pizza verdi. But he gives up after two slices – this selection of Italian food has defeated him. I taste a slice of pizza and immediately fall in love with the soft ricotta cheese. It’s too good to leave.

“Could you box this up for us,” I ask our waitress. “We’ll have it tomorrow for lunch.”

Dolce

Being used to large portions of carbohydrates, I have left just enough room for il dolce.

There are 7 desserts on offer in Amarone and all are traditionally Italian. The prices are reasonable, with the most expensive being the Formaggi Misti at £6.95 – a selection of Italian cheeses served with oatcakes and honey. The Tortino di Formaggio – mascarpone, honey and ginger cheesecake on a crushed gingernut biscuit base – sounds unusual and delicious. But I opt for the pannacotta – as it’s light.

Pannacotta con Lamponi

Our waitress puts down the plate in front of me – but leaves two spoons, which makes my partner smile. This is a simple dessert, arranged simply on the plate. No fuss or embellishments – just the vanilla pannacotta with 5 large dabs of raspberry compote surrounding it. My partner puts his spoon in first.

“Mmmm,” he says with closed eyes.

I scoop a piece of pannacotta – and do the same.

Not everything in Amarone is as perfect as the focaccia, seafood, pizza, duck breast and pannacotta. The red wine list, however good, is pricy when you opt for something other than the three house reds. The restaurant could do with an Italian host at the door who oozes my nonna’s love of food and wine. And the Amarone sauce that drenched my duck, could have had more substance…

BUT, Amarone is all the more charming for a couple of imperfections. It is the only Italian restaurant that I’ve tried in the UK so far – bar my father’s – that is worthy of my nonna’s cooking. Most Italian restaurants have front of house charm. Fewer have food with charm.

Amarone’s food is made with love and is the perfect place to take your love. Well done to owners, Mario Gizzi and Tony Conetta. As they say in Italy, a dopo (see you later)…

 

Editors note: We did eat the pizza for lunch the following day – and it was just as good cold.

 

Our meal for two:

1 x Focaccia di Parma £7.95

1 x Cozze Vapore £6.75

1 x Capesante con Pancetta £7.95

1 x Pizza Verdi  £10.25

1x Petto d’Anatra all’Amarone £16.95

1 x Pannacotta con Lamponi £5.25

1 x Altana di Vico Sauvignon Triveneto 250ml glass £6.45

1 x Ardesia Merlot IGT Veneto 250ml glass £6.45

Total: £68.00 + tip (£34.00 per head for two people having starter, maincourse and dessert + one large glass of house wine each)

 

We like…

 

THE LOCATION

 

THE BUILDING

 

THE ITALIAN WAITRESSES

 

THE WINE LIST

 

THE FOCACCIA

 

THE SEAFOOD

 

THE PIZZA

 

THE PANNACOTTA

 

THE FOOD PRICES

 

 

Contact details:

Amarone
13 St Andrew Square

Edinburgh

EH2 2AF

Telephone number: 0131 523 11 71

Email: info@amaronerestaurant.co.uk

Website: http://www.amaronerestaurant.co.uk/edinburgh_amarone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Adamson Restaurant Review

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The Adamson Restaurant reviewThe first thing that strikes you on walking towards The Adamson are the words ‘Post Office’ carved into the stone structure of the building, above the entrance door. (It used to be the main post office in St Andrews from 1907 until 2012) The second thing is the fairy lights that can be seen through each south-facing window.

The inside is different from what I expect – but in a good way. The tables, chairs, ceiling lights and artwork are contemporary and have that trendy city vibe going on. The wooden floor, brick work walls and natural foliage add a rustic element, which I like.

Lindsey Kirk, the house manager, is the first person to greet us. She guides us through the small bar at the restaurants entrance and seats us at a table near the open kitchen. Our waitress, Adrienne, offers to hang up our coats in the cloakroom before handing us the menu.

I take a quick glance and know immediately what I’m ordering – Pittenweem crab with lime and chilli butter on toasted sourdough bread to start, then char-grilled fillet steak with peppercorn sauce and skinny fries for main course. Pittenweem is a coastal village near St Andrews that is famous for fish and it’s nice to see their crab on the menu. My mum opts for the crispy calamari with pomegranate, satsuma and watercress, followed by Atlantic sole with kale, pine nuts and root vegetables.

Some of the dishes are pricey – The Adamson sell chateaubriand for two, with hand cut chips, roasted garlic mash, green beans, and peppercorn & béarnaise sauce for £59.95 – but it is evident that they are trying to cater for all budgets, as one of their signature dishes is The Adamson burger with bacon, gruyère cheese, skinny fries & house ketchup for £11.50.

Starter

Sipping my virgin mojito and looking around the dining room, I spot snazzy looking deer antlers with a crystal-embellished skull on the wall.

“That’s Austin,” says Mike Lewis, the General Manager here at The Adamson, as he passes our table. “He was handmade by a friend of my wife’s.”

Mum and I say a toast and tuck into our starters – under the watchful, sparkly eye of Austin. My crab is just right, temperature wise – not too cold – and the lime and chilli butter adds a delightful Mexican kick. My mum, who is not normally a fan of whole calamari, has finished her starter within seconds.

“It’s melt in the mouth,” she says.

The only downside to this feast is the techno pop style background music – which really does not go with the surroundings.

Main course

I’ve been eating fillet steaks with peppercorn sauce since I was 5 years old – and it’s safe to say that the combination not only brings back childhood memories, but would also be on my ‘last supper’ list. That pairing of lightly pink meat with ladles of cream based peppercorn sauce is heavenly – in my opinion. So I am a little sad to see a gravy based peppercorn sauce arrive on my plate. That aside, the presentation is spot on and the steak is cooked just the way I ordered it – medium rare.

Three cherry tomatoes on the vine rest on top of my chargrilled meat and a mound of vibrant green rocket sits alongside it. The peppercorn sauce sits behind this meat and salad centrepiece in a small steel ladle. I’ve never seen this sauce presentation method before, but I like it – a lot. The idea may look minimalist, but as I start drenching the steak with sauce, there is more than enough to go around – even for a sauce lover like me. The skinny fries are served separately in small metal buckets and a choice of sauce options is available.

My mum’s Atlantic sole is browned nicely on top, creating a crispy coating that reminds me of pork crackling. But what is most innovative about this presentation is how the chef has served the lemon. He has covered half a lemon in muslin cloth and positioned it on the plate like a wedding favour – a brilliant idea that stops your fingers getting wet when seasoning the sole.

“How are the main courses,” asks Mike.

“Delicious,” we reply.

Dessert

We are handed a narrow piece of card with a selection of six desserts and a choice of dessert wines on one side and a coffee list on the other. The dessert is always my favourite part of the meal – and I always make sure and leave room for it. But, this list is not exciting me. There is The Adamson sundae, apple trifle, sticky toffee pudding and a selection of ice cream and sorbet. It’s a ‘what you’d expect’ list of desserts, rather than the original – and innovative – starters and main courses that we have just enjoyed. I’m about to order a cappuccino as dessert when Adrienne walks over.

“We have a very special dessert available tonight. It’s haggis spiced brûlée with oat crumble and rhubarb,” she says with a smile.

Now, that’s more like it! I immediately order the haggis spiced brûlée and persuade my mum to try the apple trifle with vanilla custard and nut crumble – as it sounds the most interesting. She is not a fan of nuts and hesitates for a moment, but Adrienne comes to the rescue – again.

“The nut crumble is made with pistachios and sprinkled on top of the cream,” she tells us. “ But we can easily leave that out for you.”

Haggis spiced brûlée

Nothing can prepare you for the look or taste of this special dessert. It is beautifully presented on the white plate and the colours instantly draw your eye – it’s a picture of pink elegance and I feel guilty about tucking in.

The brûlée looks like dulce de leche and is surrounded by small clusters of oat crumble. A quenelle of rhubarb sorbet rests neatly on top and a few thick drops of rhubarb compote, and rhubarb strands itself, decorate the sides. I give my mum a little smile before tasting my first spoonful…

I’m used to haggis, neeps and tatties, but this is something else. The unique flavour of haggis really comes through – it couldn’t be anything else – but the strong notes of perfume in the aftertaste make it seem like you’re eating a soft version of Turkish delight. I love it.

A coffee for the road

We finish off this three-course meal with a coffee each – my mum orders a black Americano and I a cappuccino.

Taking a bite of the complimentary ginger shortbread that is served with the coffee, we both feel completely and utterly satisfied – not disgustingly full. Normally after a three-course meal, I feel like I’m carrying twins in my belly! Thankfully, that is not the case now.

The portions were just right, with each course filling a hole but still leaving you a little hungry for more. And I think the same could be said of The Adamson itself. It’s a restaurant and bar that excites the senses of taste and sight and makes you want to come back for more.

Our meal for two:

Virgin mojito x 2 @ £3.50 each (£7.00 in total)
Tanqueray gin £3.35
Slimline tonic, 200ml, £1.50
San Pellegrino, small, £1.95
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Fox by John Belsham, 250ml glass £10.50
Pittenweem crab with crème fraiche and lime and chilli butter on toasted sourdough £9.50
Crispy Calamari with pomegranate, Satsuma and watercress £6.95
220g Fillet steak with skinny fries and peppercorn sauce £26.95
Atlantic sole with kale, pine nuts and root veg £15.50
Side of skinny fries £2.95
Haggis spiced brûlée with oat crumble and rhubarb £5.00
Apple trifle with vanilla custard and nut crumble £6.50
Cappuccino £2.75
Americano £2.25

Total: £102.55 + tip (works out at around £50.00 per head for three courses plus drinks)

 

Best bits about The Adamson

ORIGINAL RECIPES USING LOCAL AND SEASONAL PRODUCE

WARM, INVITING DINING ROOM THAT’S BOTH RUSTIC AND CONTEMPORARY

AUSTIN – DEER ANTLER AND SKULL WALL DECORATION

COCKTAILS

PLEASANT AND ATTENTIVE WAITERS

SPECIALS BOARD

 

Worst bits about The Adamson

SMALL BAR

BACKGROUND MUSIC

DESSERT MENU

CAN BE A BIT PRICEY

 

Contact details:

The Adamson, 
127 South Street, 
St Andrews, 
Fife, 
KY16 9UH
Telephone number: 01334 479 191
Email: info@theadamson.com
Website: http://www.theadamson.com/