Mezze Glasgow!

 Mezze  

Top of La Rotunda

So, I tell The Mary that we’re going to Mezze in Finnieston, which is the new, hap’ nin’ part of the West End.  She looks confused saying,

“I’m happy with that because that West End Is right up itself 
and they need some good, stiff competition.  
How big is the West end now?  
It’s nearly in the East End.”

This made me think about how we delineate areas of the city.  The East End is often viewed as ghettoised and a bit rough but we have the fabulous Kastriot’s Mediterranean Bar and Grill on the Upper East Side and Nakodar Grill on the Lower side in Dennistoun which, seemingly, is now part of Merchant City .  
I define a quarter based on how I dine and this area of Glasgow is right up there; with the fantastic quality of hospitality it provides. 

Also, the idea of the West End being posh is ludicrous when Maryhill and Partick are west of the Centre and Maryhill used to be classed as a scheme; it’s now very chic in my opinion. Celino’s have just opened in Partick and they call it Celino’s West.  La Lanterna will be opening soon at 447 Great Western Road but I see that part of town as still being the City Centre. The exact delineation of the West end is as vague as The Mary’s face when I’m talking about this.

I realise it doesn’t matter; my City is fabulous and I love it in its entirety without border, grid or definition.  North, South, East, West. I go where the food is best!

In 1941 the population of Glasgow was 1.000.000 and by 2012 this had decreased to 600.000.  400.000 people didn’t just disappear, there was migration, immigration and massive construction work going on over those years. I’m not a historian but it seems simple to me that the parameters of the City of Glasgow grew, as did the suburbs and the City actually became bigger.  

FACT!

If you google a map of Glasgow you’ll see Lennoxtown in the north, East Kilbride in the South, Airdrie on the East and, low and behold, Paisley in the West!  The West End is an area, not an actual place.  As The Mary would say,

“Get that right up ye!”

So, there you go, Paisley will soon be the new West End and there’ll be a boom in baby sucking blankets, Gluten free flour and quinoa.  Get ready for it Asda Govan

In the Mediterranean, sharing plates is a culinary tradition and I love this idea.  The Mary however is very suspicious and thinks I’m intending to tamper with her kleftiko but I explain that I’m more than satisfied with my saganaki.  She retorts with,

“Aye right, you’ve got a lot more sagging than your naki!”

I swear to God it’s just as well I only see her on a Monday.

The menu in Mezze consists of ‘lip-smackingly fresh, Scottish seafood dishes, daily market specials. Melt in your mouth chargrilled meats and kebabs that are cooked fresh to order’.  All their ingredients are sourced from local, independent suppliers’.  AND they use my favourite Italian Aroma Coffee!
 

I was there on Friday and had the sea bream which was white, flaky, fluffy, tasty and cooked to absolute perfection.  They bring the plates out when they are ready so they are piping hot when they come to the table.  My companion had the grilled king prawns and I had such food envy and wanted everything.  So, after sampling the fish dishes on my first visit it’s meat and sweet I’m concentrating on this evening.

The staff are so pleasant and the server Lucy remembered me from another place almost 4 years ago and she remembered how I like my coffee. Amazing! Tamara got drinks for us and was so pretty and polite it made the experience near perfect on a very wet night.  Now, I’m not advocating that ugly people can’t work in hospitality but making my way around Glasgow it must be an unwritten directive that staff need to be aesthetically pleasing.

The added beauty of this place is if you only wish to sip a cocktail you can sit in the ‘dreamy oasis’ set under the rooftop of The Rotunda amongst the olive trees, under the stars whilst listening to the pishing rain batter off the glass.  A truly Scottish version of the Mediterranean dream.   The views from here, if you can see them, are wonderful.  Or you could mix some Meds with a drink and hallucinate.  My friends and I used to sit at the Clyde side in the eighties gazing out at the rolling river while inhaling a naturally occurring psychedelic compound but that's another story. 
 

Until last week I didn’t know Mezze existed and I’ve been twice in a week.  So get yourself along, sample the menu, shimmy your Saganaki, shake your Kleftico and get on down with the Halloumi!

By the way, it was me making the sex noises this week when I ate the Walnut cake.  I was actually drooling as the moistness oozed out of the fluffy, spongy, heavenly light delight.  It only lasted about two minutes but I have to say it's the best 120 seconds I've had for a very, very long time!  I had to ask The Mary for a puff of her cigarette.  As I basked in the afterglow I was interrupted by The Mary saying,

“C’mon you.

The weans have got school in the morning!”

Back to reality with a thud!

See you the next time.

Me and The Mary

Mx

ALERT!

If that Aroma ever gave me some coffee
 I'd buy one of these 
Coffee makers !

      

Out and Proud!

Pride Glasgow 2017   

This post is dedicated to everyone who loves me exactly for who I am, faults, foibles and all!

Last week I was part of an unabashed celebration of happiness in all of its genders, forms and human brilliance, in my wonderfully, colourful City of Glasgow.  No matter what I see, or where I am, I make comparisons with my hometown and, for me, nothing comes close to the support and love I feel within this nurturing, supportive town.

The highlight of my day on Saturday was seeing the winner of Pride’s got talent perform. Rosaria Mazzone was a worthy winner and the official videos should be up on YouTube soon but the video above shows how she got there. The competition took place in Speakeasy on John Street and the buzz was amazing! It was compered by one of the most talented guys I know. The brilliant Martin Turnbull. 

Here are before and after pictures of Bella Houston!

One of the judges was the very outrageous and gorgeous Bella Houston. I pop in to Speakeasy quite often simply to see what this fabulous human being is wearing.  I tell you, that creature is a genius and the comebacks had me reaching for the Tena Ladies! There is so much to enjoy within the community that it would be a shame not to go and have, what can only be described as a Cabaret every week in this joint!

There is also a book out about the antics of Rosaria Mazzone, aka Molly Dyke, when she was a very, tricky child who never obeyed the rules because she basically couldn't understand them.  She was always asking, "Why can't I do it?" "Why can’t people love who they love?"  The innocence and purity of childhood is somehow corrupted by conventions, policies and society who dictate that we all live by the same directive.

In Scottish schools they support GIRFEC (Getting it right for every child) and this deals with the wellbeing of our children and young people by offering the right help at the right time, from the right people, when and how they need it. This dogma is all about the individual needs of the child so how can anyone contradict this when it come to sexuality. 

We don’t all come from the same place or have the same temperament, perception, colour, religion, sexuality or gender.  So can we all live by the same instructions or direction? I think not...

The history of Pride and the parade come from a more political protest born out of necessity because of events at the Stonewall Inn in downtown Manhattan.  Police would raid the club frequently causing fear and unease in the gay community who socialised in the area.

However, on the night of June 28^th 1969 the patrons decided to fight back. There were clashes and somber protests for the rest of the week. It sparked the beginning of what we now celebrate, and I adore, as a sparkling, colourful rainbow of joy which celebrates the entire LBGTQ movement in all its fabulous colour.  Pride and its marvellous parade has now been integrated, as one of the most delightful and fun days on the calendar, in many cities across the world!

This week it was Manchester’s turn and my very good friends David, Campbell, Gay David and Michael celebrated to the very best of their abilities. Come to think of it; they celebrate being out and out gays when the weekend starts every Wednesday!

The same way in which Shirley Bassey sings, This is my Life  I continue to feel a pang of raw emotion when I walk the streets of Glasgow and take in the life around me. If ever you have a lonely day and ever think, ’What good is my life?’ Do what I do and take to the streets, talk to people and realise what you have to give and tomorrow will come and find you happier!

Every human being was put on earth to BE, a part of this great world and we all have the right to be…exactly how and what we wish!

On Saturday 19^th August 2017 the sun didn’t need to come out because 5000 humans were out and proud under the pouring rain and, no one, was going to dull their vivacity under the beautiful, bright colours of the rainbow which enfolded the Glasgow Green and everyone in it!

See you next time!

Mx

   

Celino's West!

Celino's Ovest!

The Mary had cabin/wean fever and hadn’t been out for two weeks and when I went to pick her up she asked to be taken ‘as far away as possible but, not any further that the West End’!
As this was an unplanned OUT I hadn’t booked anywhere but remembered Celino’s had finally opened at 235 Dumbarton Road. 

It's Monday and on our last night out we were the only two people in The Place That Will Never Be named! When we got there we were greeted by the very charming, handsome and jovial Claudio. They are not taking bookings at the moment and soon will be but for the time being it might be better to give them a call or make sure you have a plan B.

The place was buzzing and the smell reminded me of a past life; Lewis’s and Fraser’s food halls, Harrods Fresh Food Market and nearly every street in Italy where there is a salumeria, deli or café. Italy always has been and always will be my second home and I felt right at home in Celino's.

Per me Celino’s Ovest  è come un  contemporaneo remake di Il Milanese Caffè Bar Motta aperto nel 1928 e tornato dopo molti anni d’assenza nel luogo Mercato Del Duomo da cui è partita la sua storia. Mx

Likewise Celino’s Italian Delicatessen Café was established in 1982, the same year my daughter was born and a time when I frequented both Celino’s on Alexandra Parade and Bar Motta in Milan; spending my time between the two countries. They both fa parte della mia storia and here they are, both of them, going back to their roots in creating a truly, authentic, Italian experience.

Natalia Celino was the founder of the business and his charm, vivacity and enthusiasm shines out of the walls…literally, as you can see from the picture. His belief that Celino’s products will never be cheapened by substandard ingredients holds as firm today as it did 35 years ago. For me it was like walking into a Cathedral of taste and panache. The Mary actually dipped her finger into an ice cream and blessed herself on the way in. She said it was ‘almost biblical in its magnificence’.

You see, she’s on these pain killers for her knee and, besides being pure spaced oot, her life has been psychedelic for a week. She’s in a lovely place just now, at least as long as the Tramadol last! She even kept pointing out how hot Giuseppe was and it’s usually me doing all that shit. Her usual erotic, noisy, slurping also went up a gear when she was eating the focaccia. It was like a scene from When The Mary Met Doughball!

Some of the staff wouldn’t be out of place during Milan Fashion Week and they were so enthusiastic and efficient that there will be nothing to get in the way of success for this new Italian Metropolis. I wouldn’t need to be Septic Peg to predict more awards for them in the future. As early as 2013 they won the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.

Since then they have gone from Forza alla forza and won additional awards. Too many to list here.

In my opinion these industry accolades can be gratifying but the real reward comes from customers walking through the doors, time and time again. Me and The Mary will be back very soon and if I’m not so full I will try the wonderful array of pastries, meringues and cakes which had my slavering on my way out.

It was the first time for years I've been out and not finished with a coffee, that's how satisfied I felt. On enquiry I found out that the coffee they use has been created by Claudio and Italian Aroma Coffee who have collaborated and have given birth to, what I'm hoping is, an aromatic delight to go with the cake I'll be having on my next visit. 

We had a fabulous evening, meeting some friends, Tony, Jennifer and George who had come all the way from their own fabulous restaurant at The Redstones Hotel in Uddingston to experience the hospitality and gastronomic delights invented in a kitchen of kings on the Lower West Side of the city I love.

Ci Vediamo Presto!

Me and The Mary

Mx

To book a table click the link below!

http://celinos.com/menus.html

My favourite coffee and boxed set are only a click away!

  

Mean Streets!

Mean Streets!

It’s Dusk, in my big, ridiculously fabulous city.  The Mary and I are heading out, unsure of what the evening holds in store for us. The pishing rain has moved on but it’s still beautifully damp, driech, dark and cold towards the end of another August day. We see a marvellously drunk guy splashing and we revel in the sight of him relieving himself in a sparkly puddle. We carry on navigating the dogshit and giggle at our loss of balance; supporting, saving each other from the indignity of a fall. It's as if we are in a Film Noir!

Life is Beautiful!

I hear a Pidgeon coo and look up in wonder and at that very moment, it shits in my eye and, for once, it goes straight in as I’m not wearing my sunglasses. In an instant, I feel very lucky to be alive. It’s both refreshing and wonderful that nature is alive, well and seems to be flourishing on the remnants of lunches, long discarded, by the city dwellers.

Let Glasgow Flourish indeed.

Unexpectedly, we were lured by flashing, repetitive, hypnotic symbols dragging us into a doorway where two foreign bodies greeted us with a forceful invitation to sit, before hitting us with a mountain of propositions. I looked at The Mary and she stared back at me as if to say, “save me from this toil and tribulation!’.  I frowned apologetically before ordering something to drink in order to make the zombie move away so that we could fathom out what had just happened!

The array of offers was overwhelming and we decided to go for a main course; something quick at 50% off as the other options involved more calculations and manipulation and we wanted out of there before one of us disappeared into the ether in a whiff of soya. I was shitting myself and ventured down to the dungeon of terror only to be instructed to…

WET FLOOR!

I’m far too polite, even in a hostage situation, to do this so used the cubicle. Then, on the way out I spilled a handful of water for fear of not following orders. When I got back to the near empty Sala there was another victim waiting for something to take away.  Obviously too scared to move away from the door she sat ridged looking at her light saber.

Just as The Mary tried to pass her a note the child portions of food arrived on miniature dishes but that was OK, as we could eat, in one fell swoop and head back to the street.

The sustenance had obviously given me courage, so I broached the subject of the discount. I asked the antagonist;

"If we had paid the full price would we have got the same amount of food?" and the server replied, with a ghastly giggle,

“No, you would get double that amount…!

“So, it’s not really 50% off is it, if we only get half the food?” I replied

“Do you want to complain to the chef?” she asked, gesturing towards the blood-stained maniac standing at the kitchen door with a sword like thing in his hand.

“It’s fine, my ability to calculate has never up to scratch…it's not your fault, it's mine, all mine!”

The Mary had already sussed the situation and was already outside with five fags in her mouth, puffing away. We both started to run to get back to the motor as quickly as possible. Then, suddenly, standing right there in front of us was a vision of hospitality, handsomeness and heroism in the form of Super, Street, Food, Hero, Usha’s very own Kieran Cannon. Although he was too late to save us from the nemesis’s deceitful cuisine he did calm us down, stating we could visit him again, soon and everything will be wholesome and safe again!

As we venture home to the eastern metropolis we were comforted in the knowledge that one bad experience helps you to appreciate the better things in life. We will never, ever be seduced by unusual, persuasive signage and I promise to make sure I do some research before entering uncharted territory.

Before long we were safely treading the dull, dank, dangerous streets of our quarter of the city and had learned a valuable lesson…

There is no such thing as a free lunch and you really do only get what you pay for!

Unless it's free...that would be good!

See you the next time!

Oh, smoking is BAD for you...to keep calm try the green stuff or vape!

Me and The Mary

Mx

      

An Offer I Couldn't Refuse!

Glasgow Girl on Tour #2!

Holidays can be exhausting; the heat, the getting ready in the heat, the queues at the airport, all the eating, the swimming and of course having to rub on sun protection. It’s exhausting.  However, at 12.10pm on Friday ‘morning’ I had The Mary banging on my door excited to hear about all of my shenanigans. I’d only had 12 hours sleep for goodness sake!

You see, she lives her life vicariously through me and it’s very hard to make things seem more interesting than they really are but I do my best. 

The Beauty of Savoca with 

One of my favourite tunes

Speak Softly Love!

One of the highlights of my trip was a visit a to Savoca inSicily.  This is the location where scenes from The Godfather, were shot. It’s been restored beautifully by the owner Lorenzo and they will soon be opening a boutique hotel on site. The Mary asked if I met Al Pacino but I said he was away foraging. She chortled because she thought it was a sexual thing and I had to explain, in simple terms, that he was ‘hunting’ for herbs and mushrooms.

“Changed days,” she said, “from his Dear hunter days and that time he killed awe they gangsters.” 

Oh dear Lord, even talking about the bloody holiday is very tiring.  It was going to be a long morning.

Savoca is in the Province of Messina in the Italian region of Sicily and is about 170 kilometers east of Palermo. We were staying in Messina and no matter where you looked the views were so inviting and tempting. From one terrace in our apartment you looked up to Taormina and from the other the view was of Etna was magnificent. So, even although we wanted to relax and lounge at the beach we were seduced by the beauty and power of the landscape.

Savoca is perched high above the sea and has the most authentic atmosphere which gives a taste of the past a world away from the tourists and bustle of its overdeveloped neighbor Taormina. I was there to visit Bar Vitelli and after the stress of the hairpin bends on the steep, narrow, winding road up it was a relief to get out of the car.

Bar Vitelli is situated in an old, Sicilian, neoclassical, two story building dating back to the 1700s. It’s located on Piazza Fossia and you can savour an aromatic coffee with one of the best Cannolo I have ever tasted on one of the most famous film sets in the world. The lightness of the filling in the sweet was a delight and Lorenzo explained to me how they did this but I’m afraid if I tell you I might get garrotted.

After going for a stroll we went back for a light lunch which consisted of fresh and cured meats, light fluffy mozzarella and a mixture of local cheeses and a variety of sott’oglio.

The present owner Lorenzo and his wife have restored the building with love and care and he, very kindly, took me a tour. There is the most beautiful wine cellar and an enchanting terrace looking over the mountains which they use for private parties. The rooms upstairs will be open by November and I’m hoping to be one of the first visitors to stay.

When I look up The Mary’s mouth is dripping and she looked as if she was about to lick my face. I decided on Monday we would not be going to any Italian place. I couldn’t risk the thought of having to painfully relive my holiday.

I decided book Ushas West at 2 Byres Road which does Indian Street food and what a delight it was from the minute we stepped in the door. The very charming Mac greeted us at the door and it was me drooling this time. He is both handsome and charming and said my name properly.

We ordered, lamb bhuna, lamb saag and buttered chicken with a portion of rice and naan bread. Our order was taken by the equally handsome and very efficient Dylan. He was so nice, as was Ashu who cleared our cleanly licked plates.

What I really liked about this place was that the staff seemed genuinely interested in us and made us very welcome.

After we had finished eating the owner Kieran cannon came over to say hello and he actually hurt my eyes he was so dashing and, I must say, the best groomed dude I’ve come across in a long time. When I asked him where he came from, guess what?

He only said his family were originally from Sicily and that set The Mary right off. “Tell him about your holiday!” she said.

Although Taormina is touristy it is also very chic and has designer shops on every little, quaint niche and I thought Mr. K. Cannon would fit right in!  The streets are narrow and it’s the type of place where the very rich go to party and the tourists go to gawp at the Mafioso with gilt shoes. No kidding…I saw a guy with Gold Brogues and a facelift so tight his diamond earrings were nearly in line with his eyes.

Anyway, if you’re looking for great food and want to gawp at the staff then then Usha'r is the place for you. In the meantime, I need to think about my next holiday and choose somewhere with history and culture in order to keep The Mary entertained.

It’s a hard life right enough!

Till the next time.

Glasgow Girl!

Or you could try making your own!