The Mary doesn’t know this yet but for the next few
weeks we will be supporting the Scottish Italian Awards. The Mary is as
Scottish as the next Hamish but anyone who knows her will tell you that shess a
fierce critic of the Focaccia
Her highest praise so far has gone to Amore up the toon. I would love to add the link but every
time I put Amore into the search engine this American wummin starts talking about pheromones and how to have good sex! I have no interest in this whatsoever but the tenth time I visited the site I found out that they have a special offer for people over 50 so.....!
I'm thinking, maybe The Mary is after more than a bit of
carefully, kneaded bread. I seriously think I might have to check she’s
all right and I’m enough for her on a Monday.
It might take more than the ‘exquisite cooking' to 'make
this a memorable’ evening for me and The Mary. Il Capo have promised an
‘intimate atmosphere’ with ‘personal
and attentive service and great company. Well, all I can say is, with the mood The Mary’s in, that’s
exactly what we’re looking for to make this ‘an unforgettable experience’.
On arrival we are immediately taken with the cosy atmosphere and
feel of the place but then…the worst thing happened!
Had there been a sound effect to accompany this moment it would have
been the shower scene in Psycho ! They sit us at the ‘pop up’ table and I have my back to a
drafty door with the bar on my left.
Anyone who knows me will testify
that even staying for the starter was nothing short of a miracle but, The
Mary, appearing to have been sparkled with rosemary, scented, Tally dust was in
such a good mood that I didn’t want to spoil it by complaining.
Martin was very charming and remembered me from about
15 years ago. The fact that he didn’t remember me from two weeks ago did
seemed a bit strange though and made me feel like someone with a Dissociative Identity Disorder Development You
know? (The initials in that made me
giggle because they spell DIDDY…!)
Anyway, back to the food…
The Mary said the focaccia gave her a sense being near the sea in Benidorm
with a faint taste of sea salt on her lips which she started to lick in a very
sensual way; I was getting scared. She then described the
light texture of the dough as being soft and light; almost like a flurry of snow falling on Carntyne square that has crisped overnight and when you touch it has a
slight, sparkling effervescence that made her want to shove it all in her
mouth at the one time.
I suggested she
wait till the carbonara came and maybe she could just sniff the focaccia in the
meantime. The Mary took this on board and lifted the blissful bread-like goddess to her nose and breathed in the fragrant bouquet while waiting for her plate of pasta. Martin seemed perturbed by this and stayed
away from the table for a while.
I know kitchen prep is central to the organisation of the kitchen and the "miss en place" has to be very specific but make your mind up. Either the early, set menu is finished or not. I was confused about what I could and couldn't have! The set menu was finished but I could eat something from it and pay the A La Carte price...even though the dish was not on that menu! Confused but thank you and the spicy chicken was delicious.
Mary would not shut about the mussels and how freshly fabulous they were. The best mussels she had ever had in her whole life, the best focaccia and by far the most amazing carbonara she has ever tasted in her entirety!
So, in The Mary's opinion, if Il Capo does not walk away with best newcomer in the The Scottish Italian Awards she promises to wrap herself in focaccia and stand in front of Amore selling pheromones for the month of December!
Mx
