Aberdeen Restaurant Week - The Adelphi Kitchen: Review (Aberdeen)

Since The Adelphi Kitchen opened back in 2014, it has been one of my favourite restaurants, and one I always recommend to those looking for something different.

I've always loved the food there. It's homely, delicious, and focused primarily on a selection of modern, Scottish bistro-style dishes, creating incredible meat and seafood dishes, whilst also catering to other dietary requirements too. And better yet, the restaurant prides itself on using local, seasonal produce that has been sustainability sourced too.

Having been taken over by the CranberryCo Group at the end of last year - the team behind No.1 Bar and Grill, Angus and Ale, Fusion and many more - the restaurant has welcomed many loyal and new customers through it's doors.

A big fan of the food, it wasn't until I recently visited the restaurant that I realised just how much the food game had changed, and to say I was impressed with it is a huge understatement.

Every chef that has worked at The Adelphi Kitchen has always been above and beyond, creating exquisite dishes. But I have to admit, when I visited last week, it was the best meal I'd ever had there.

Arriving on a Wednesday night, the restaurant was steadily busy, with customers continuously coming in and out throughout the night. Located on Adelphi Lane, it's kind of a hidden gem, slightly out of sight of the hustle and bustle of Union Street.

I'd already had a sneak peek of the menu, and had brought along my little sister to try out the food offering. My other little sister had visited the day before and had told us how delicious her hot dog was - her only advice, stay away from the burgers if you want to go for three courses because they are massive.

Both Elise and myself were keen to try out the same starters, and after having the AK mac and cheese with black pudding recommended to us, we decided to order one portion of that, plus the buffalo style boneless chicken wings.

Equipped with two side plates we dived into the mac and cheese, scooping the creamy pasta out of the pot. Topped with crispy shallots, I made sure I got a big forkful of those too. 

The mac and cheese was incredible. It was everything mac and cheese should be, and more. It was incredibly creamy, rich with cheese and the pasta was cooked perfectly - it literally melted in our mouths, disappearing and leaving us wanting more with every forkful. We were in mac and cheese heaven. The crispy shallots contrasted the beautiful soft mac, bringing a crunchy, chewy texture to the dish. There is no mac and cheese that even comes close in comparison to The Adelphi Kitchen's.

The chicken wings were cooked in a gorgeous tangy sauce which tasted a cross between a spicy barbecue sauce and a punchy buffalo sauce. It was divine and right up my street. Not being overly keen on eating off of small bones, I loved that it was a boneless dish. It was the perfect size for a starter, and the bed of slaw it was presented on was crunchy and boasted a slightly fruity, yoghurt taste to it, which I thought complimented the dish perfectly.

Clean plates, we were excited for what was to come...

Having taken my sister's advice about the burger, I decided to order the rib of the week. A low and slow meaty pork rib with a red pepper and chilli glaze, hassle back potatoes all served on top of a big helping of southwest slaw.

Elise opted for the southern fried haddock which came with huge chunky chips, a wee side of prawn marie rose with lettuce, and a side salad. The batter for the haddock had a spicy, slightly garlic hit to it, and the fish was nice and flakey when she cut into it. The kimchi tartare sauce it was served on was amazing, and the fish itself was very light. Not forgetting the well-cooked chunky chips which were the perfect partner to the fish, being crisp on the outside and fluffy inside.

A small side of prawn marie rose was unusual to see alongside the dish, but it further complimented the meal and showed off the chef's attention to detail and flavour profile as it went beautifully. She loved every morsel.

My rib of the week was bursting with so many flavours and was cooked to perfection. The meat slid off the bone and was super tender. My knife glided through it, which made it so easy to scoop up the potatoes, slaw and grilled vegetables that accompanies the pork rib. 

The ribs were huge and boasted a lot of meat. The southwest slaw added a hint of creaminess to the dish, and the red pepper and chilli glaze the meat was cooked in was beautifully sticky. Every ingredient on the plate complimented one another, so it was clear to see how well thought out the menu was from yet another impressive dish.

After our mains we were pretty full, but somehow we were convinced into trying out a dessert. Looking to potentially share one, the choices were just too good that we ended up ordering one each and sharing both.

The first dessert that had caught our attention was the peanut butter pound cake. Served with toasted marshmallow and a jug of melted dark chocolate, it looked like deconstructed smores when it arrived. On first glance, we knew we'd made a strong decision, and salivated at the thought of devouring this sweet masterpiece. Having a try of each component of the dish, I gave Elise the honours of drowning the cake and the toasted caramelised marshmallow with the indulgent sauce.

With hits of orange coming from the dried pieces which were sprinkled across the plate, it was the peanut butter pound cake - which reminded me of a brownie - that sold it for me. That, partnered with a piece of the toasted marshmallow was like no dessert I'd tried before. It was so soft and compact and didn't crumble when we scooped it up. It was lovely and buttery in my mouth and I wish it had never ended.

The marshmallow was light and fluffy, and of course, super sweet. The toasted caramelised part of it was by far my favourite, and the rich, slightly bitter dark chocolate sauce levelled the dish out.

The lemon meringue pie was the complete opposite of this dish and was great for cleansing our palettes and providing a refreshing, zesty finish to our dining experience.

The sharp, tart raspberry sorbet complimented the flavoursome lemon pie which sat on a base of very thin, light filo pastry. The crunchy petite meringues brought a sweetness to the dish, as did the caramelised blowtorched top of the lemon pie, and the abundance of textures within the dish truly made each flavour stand out. I was very impressed with both desserts and would definitely recommend sharing them both if you get the chance.

Having consumed what felt like our weight in food, we sat enjoying each others company and watching the sea of dishes emerging from the kitchen. We eventually decided to call it a night and retreated home.

Having found her new favourite restaurant in Aberdeen, I'd done my job in educating my wee sister about another awesome foodie haven in the city, and to say she loved her experience is an understatement.

With a fantastic menu on offer throughout Aberdeen Restaurant Week, it's no surprise the restaurant is already fully booked for the whole week for dinner service. So if you want the chance to try out some of the offering The Adelphi Kitchen will have available during Aberdeen Restaurant Week, I suggest you book fast, because once all the tables are gone, they're gone.

And if you're unsure about what dish to try out, trust the servers in there - they really know what they are doing and everything that was recommended to me was incredible.

You can check out all of the menu's online at www.aberdeenrestaurantweek.com or you can visit my Facebook page and view the Aberdeen Restaurant Week menu's too.

Happy eating out guys!

   For Now...

Just Julia

The Marcliffe (Aberdeen): Review

It was my graduation that first introduced me to the mesmerisingly enchanting hotel that is The Marcliffe. I had heard so many wonderful stories about this picturesque place, somewhere that comments like 'outstanding quality' and 'undeniably the best food in Aberdeen' seemed to be common place. As a treat, we'd booked to go for lunch after my graduation from RGU just a few years ago, and I can truly say that  it was the first time I had been totally blown away by any food offering.

Flash forward a few years now, I was lucky enough to be invited for an overnight stay with dinner and breakfast - working with a lifestyle magazine from time to time definitely has its perks - and to say I was bursting with excitement is an understatement.

Aberdeen's only five star accommodation, I knew I was in for a treat at this prestigious North Deeside residence.

Packing our bags (yes, the trusty old boyfriend was coming along) we headed along to the hotel around 3.30pm to check in for the evening. As always, the staff were extremely friendly, and the concierge even helped us with our bags. We were directed to the The Floors suite, a spacious haven with lounge chairs and a huge bed with slippers and robes awaiting our graces. Not only was the room gorgeous, I immediately fell in love with the bathroom tiles. A deep, dark marbled green, I felt myself drowning in its beauty.

Relaxing in the room a while, we spruced ourselves up and headed down to the dining room conservatory restaurant. Initially, we were seated in the drawing room and invited to place our drinks orders whilst browsing the dinner menus. 

It's hard to miss the baby grand piano nestled in the corner of the room, showered in photographic memories of VIP guests who have graced these halls over the past 25 years. Cocktail and beer in hand, we toasted to an evening of good company and excellent food.

Leading us past the open-kitchen and into the dining room we settled at our table and decided on our choice of breads. Moments later our first course was served. Succulent West Coast scallops for me, and Ribble Valley Scotch quail's egg for my other half. The food melted in our mouths and tasted extremely fresh. Never have I tasted scallops quite like those, and to this day, they are still the best scallops I have ever experienced.

Polishing the first course quite promptly, a quick wine top up was executed and then we were straight into our mains. We had both opted for fillet steak (medium rare for me, and rare for Calum) with the addition of a tiger prawn cooked in garlic butter nestled on top of my perfectly cooked steak. Accompanied with a side of fries, salad and peppercorn sauce, there were clean plates all round - a sign of two very satisfied diners.

Eyes bigger than our bellies, but recognising we were full, we decided on something light to finish. One scoop of homemade sticky toffee pudding ice cream for me, and affrogato al caffè for Calum.

Hunger pangs no more, we waddled back to the room, ready to spend some time enjoying the tranquil surroundings in our soft robes and slippers, before drifting off to sleep.

The most enjoyable part of being in a relationship with a man who works offshore, has to be the early rises. With Calum booked to be heading up North the next morning, it was an early start for us both. As much as I would have loved to indulge in the breakfast offering, we were up so early the breakfast wasn't even open yet - not to mention we were still full from the evening before so any additional food would probably been wasted on us. Waving The Marcliffe, and the friendly staff goodbye, we headed off into the horizon (seriously, it was that early) leaving the warmth and beauty of The Marcliffe behind us...

  

  For Now...

Just Julia

Wine and cheese tasting: No.10 foodies club (Aberdeen)

In good wine and cheese tasting fashion, looking down at my glass of Passopisciaro with Bonnet goats cheese on a homemade olive and rocksalt bloomer, my senses we all over the place. An explosion of flavour, my tastebuds were put to the test, pushing through notes and tones of unique, unexpected tastes, trying to figure out what flavours the wines, cheeses and breads all boasted.

Why certain foods are best paired together has always intrigued me. Understanding why these certain wines were paired with these specific magnificent cheeses was extremely interesting, and thanks to wine sommelier, Gordon Davidson, we were guided through a rollercoaster or flavours, learning how and why these pairings were so well suited.

My first wine and cheese tasting experience, I wasn't sure what to expect, especially when I don't like red wine. No.10 Bar and Restaurant went up and beyond regarding finding the right cheeses and breads to accompany the wines, and due to their outstanding attention to detail, kept guests on their toes, pushing our senses to the next level.

With five wines, cheeses and breads to indulge in, and experienced, knowledgeable staff guiding us through the flavours, we were in great hands.

Connage dairy crowdie with spelt and fig crispbread accompanied by an extremely light, almost transparent Riseling Lonely Vinyard, Eden Valley Australia, 2015

Bonnet goats cheese with olive and rocksalt bloomer accompanied with Passopisciaro, Tenuta Di Passopisciaro, Sicly, Italy, 2011.  Out of the two red wines we were served, this one was my preferred choice. 

Lock Arthur farmhouse cheddar with five seed loaf accompanied by Crozes Hermitage a  Vielles Vignes, Tardieu - Laurent, Northern Rhone, France, 2013.

Clava brie with classic french flute accompanied by The Gathering a light, refreshing Sauvignon/Semillon, The Lane, Adelaide Hills, Australia, 2012. The No.10 chefs also made a stunning homemade truffle honey to drizzle across the brie and french flute. This was one of my favourite pairings of the evening.

Last but not least was a Lanark blue cheese with spelt and honey bread accompanied by Sticky Mickey, a stunningly sweet Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, Michiel Eradus, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2014. The best dessert wine I've ever tasted. Sweet and smooth, it was the definite stand out wine for me.

A big thanks to No.10 Bar and Restaurant for inviting me along, and a huge thanks to wine sommelier Gordon Davidson of Corney and Barrow Wines, as well as I. J. Mellis for the delicious cheese and The Bread Maker for the beautiful range of homemade breads we were served.

If you're interested in joining the No.10 Foodies Club and want to be the first to know about the restaurants upcoming foodie events and news then you can sign up to the club by emailing info@no10aberdeen.co.uk . Until the next foodies club, have a good one folks!

  For Now...

Just Julia

The Butchershop Bar & Grill (Glasgow): Review

Anyone who knows me well enough (or follows me on social media), knows I am absolutely obsessed with good food and drink. For me, eating out and going to local bars sampling artisan gins or creative cocktails is probably more of a hobby to me. Scotland is home to an outstanding larder, offering up some of the very best local produce, and with a talented array of chef's coming through the industry, our chef's are killing it in the kitchen, becoming more food savvy than ever. Scotland's food game has never been so strong.

A couple months ago when I was down in Glasgow for an impromptu visit I decided to pay a certain butcher shop a visit. This was not any old butcher shop, this was THE Butchershop. 

I'd heard whispers that this is one of, if not the best place to get steak in Glasgow and knowing my other half's love for a good well-cooked steak, it was necessary I booked in to try out this well recommended steak house located on Sauchiehall Street to put their steak expertise to the test.

Turning up on a busy Saturday night, we arrived a little ahead of schedule to prop ourselves up at the bar and get a few cocktails in before embracing much anticipated meat sweats. After waiting patiently at the bar, conversing with the charming barman who managed to entertain us providing he was extremely busy at the time too, we patiently awaited our waiters much-anticipated arrival. On his approach he addressed us formally and led us to an intimate, cosy booth in the corner of the restaurant. The perfect set up for our celebratory date night.

Contemplating on what we were going to have, I had planted the seed at the bar that I was really keen for us to try out the Tomahawk steak. A cut above the rest, this Flinstone cut of steak was like no steak we had experienced before.

A stone's throw away from Glasgow's place to be, Finneston, The Butchershop Bar & Grill is home to some of the best cuts of beef in the city and quite possibly the region. At 1.2kg, the Tomahawk is a huge steak presented on the bone and should not be consumed single handedly. However if you're up to the challenge then be my guest...

My first cocktail at the table was the showstopper of the drinks menu that evening in my eyes, bringing me straight back to my childhood all those years ago. The Parma Violet, a vodka based cocktail with Pincer, violette liqueur, lemon, sugar and egg white (£7.95) was by far my favourite drink, tasting exactly like the parma violet sweets you used to get whilst out trick or treating. A sweet and sassy drink, it suited my tastebuds perfectly and kept me preoccupied whilst browsing through the mouth-watering menu.

After discussing our dining options, and debating if we should or shouldn't dare take on the monstrous Tomahawk, starters were now a distant memory and the idea of facing the infamous steak cut grew ever so predominant. We were committing. Tomahawk for two please.

After finally taking the plunge and ordering our 45 day aged steak, it was time to turn our attention to our side dishes. A portion of onion rings, two pots of steak chips and two jugs of peppercorn sauce later, we had successfully ordered our mammoth main.

The restaurant was filled with intense smells from the kitchen and everyone seemed in good spirits. The staff were ever so joyous and when questioned about anything, seemed very educated in the produce the restaurant had of offer which was very refreshing.

On arrival our mouths dropped as we realised the huge, possibly impossible challenge we had signed up for. I don't know if you've ever imagined what a 1.2kg heap of perfectly cooked medium-rare meat would look like placed forgivingly in front of you, but ladies and gentlemen, this right here is what any meat lovers dreams are made of.

Tucking into the steak which was oh-so succulent and cooked to perfection (medium-rare for us) I drowned some of my meat in the rich, creamy peppercorn sauce which tingled my tongue as the steak and sauce melted in my mouth. The chips were also cooked to my liking and I enjoyed that they still had the skin on the outside supplying another texture to our meal. Good chips alongside a beautiful steak is very much appreciated in my books. Obviously after consuming half of 1.2kg of steak, dessert was off the cards. Nevertheless we both managed to tuck in to a few more cocktails, slowly continuing our way through the menu.

Our experience of The Butchershop Bar & Grill was that of an epic meat lovers love story. With all of the meat locally sourced, locally butchered and locally grilled it is clear The Butchershop Bar & Grill takes its offering extremely seriously. Home to the biggest, the baddest and the best steak in Scotland, this restaurant goes up and beyond to ensure guests are well looked after, whilst offering up some of the finest Scottish produce I have tasted.

A cut so extreme it's named after a deadly weapon, the Tomahawk is a cut that conquers all. I would highly recommend The Butchershop Bar & Grill to anyone looking for the perfect steak and would also recommend it's fantastic cocktail offering too. With cuts available both on and off the bone, The Butchershop Br & Grill caters to all tastes and offers a number of sharing steaks too for those looking for a more of a romantic experience.

Mouth wateringly tasty, I cannot wait to visit The Butchershop Bar & Grill again, and now that I'm moving to Glasgow I will definitely be returning without a doubt. Well done you absolutely fabulous steak cooking rascals, impressed is an understatement.

  For Now...

Just Julia