Pane e Vino!

Bread and Wine!

So, I said to The Mary we were going to Pane e Vino and she hits out with;

“Does that no mean Bread and wine?”

“Yes”,

 I answered, almost politely

“But you don’t drink and don’t eat breid!  Is this about your shirts no fittin’ ye again?  FFS ye cannae sit and eat nothing and I’m no listenin’ tae ye moaning about yir fat belly again!”

She has a certain charm that’s almost undetectable to most people but it’s just as well I love her and can take it on the chin, belly, pride and spirit!

Pane e Vino is in Giffnock and run by the cheekily magnificent PiertoSarti who is the youngest son of Lucio who was the son in love of one of the founders of Fazzi’s in Glasgow. Along with his brother Sandro they keep Glasgow’s love of Authentic, Italian produce alive and offer a genuine experience of the real Italy.  Rich in culture warmth, taste and smell, they stay true to what lovers of Italy expect and appreciate.

They’ve brought an honest, red-blooded, Italian, beating heart to the community in Giffnock and my heart is pounding at the thought of turning up with The Mary and them saying they don’t have focaccia. She’s not had any for about two months and is like a dug on heat.

It’s been a lot longer for me and it’s not a dough base I’m after. What I want usually comes with a tender ego which needs to be approved and stroked constantly. Men seem to need praise and approval of every effort they make; bit like a dug actually and I already have my wee Cicca.

When we arrive at Pane e Vino we are both immediately transported back to the 80s when we used to go to Fazzi’s on Clyde street for the weekly fix of cheese, pasta, bread and wine. In my opinion the Supermarkets destroyed this experience and while all the while selling inferior products. The smell  fills with the essence of Italy and the atmosphere is charming.

The Mary asked me;

“What is it? A Deli? A Café? A Restaurant? A Coffee Shop?”

My reply was it was none of these but all of them at the same time.  An eclectic mix of all of the above; giving a welcoming sense of belonging. You could pop in for a packet of Pasta and sit for a cup of my favourite Italian Aroma Coffee. Drop in for your favourite tipple and sample un bicchiere di vino if you can’t make up your mind which one to choose.

Unfortunately we’d arrived in the evening and the two main Pasta dishes they’d made much earlier in the day were long gone. Although disappointed, I do like the fact dishes are not quickly and simply prepared. We settled for Pollo alla Cacciatore. It was served with the most delicious roast potatoes done with garlic and rosemary.

Of course The Mary had to have garlic bread instead of Focaccia and was not too happy about that so I need to rectify this next week. Thing is, we’ve found many Italian places are closed on a Monday and it’s the only day she’s allowed out.  So, if any of you out there wish to take on the 4 weans another evening in the week my job and her mood would improve immensely.

They also sell one of my favourite desserts Torta della Nonna but with my bludgeoning waistline I had to give it a miss.  

Maybe next time!

And there will be another visit!

Take it easy!

Me and The Mary!

Mx

 P.S. I actually think the Fabulously Gorgeous Natalia does most of the work but....

The Swan Inn

Swanning Around

On Saturday night I felt like a Pidgeon beside the very beautiful Peacock Natalia, who is the manager in Pane e Vino in Giffnock.

These two burds are off to reccie, and maybe have a bite to eat at, The Swan in Eaglesham. There’s a beer festival on in the village and, although the place is normally jumping, it will be off the scale, staggeringly busy tonight.

The Swan Inn is a very well-known, bar and restaurant; formerly known as ‘The Village Pub’ it’s now so much more than and could be seen as the social, beating heart of the community, thanks to Marco Sarao and his team.

Having gone through a full and very stylish refurbishment in January 2017 it showcases the building’s original features and while giving the feel of a city centre bistro it more than manages a nod to village life with cosmopolitan panache!

When we arrive the place was already full and we feel like vultures honoured to have a shelf to perch on. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. Being a townie I was overwhelmed by the friendliness and way in which people immediately struck up a conversation. Sometimes in the city you’re almost invisible with people, including staff, seeming impervious to your presence; often to the point where they give you the brush off, making you feel like an outsider in your own environment.

Even although The Swan was packed like a chicken coop I felt part of something special. It has a homely feel and original pictures on the walls reinforces the essence of village life and community but with a modern, trendy feel. Because I had to leave for another appointment we only stayed about an hour so didn’t sample the fabulous food on offer but I’ll be back soon.

As we were leaving, the place was buzzing with a bevy of larks and there was a queue of chirpy, happy canaries waiting to get in and, just like this auld burd, a canary will sing your praises if it’s happy with its diet, environment and mood. Marco has them captured and the mob of crows cawing outside in the rain waiting to enter The Swan seemed as eager as a prostitute’s beaver!

That sounds rather rude but I can assure you all birds and animals are safe in the village!

When we got outside I remembered I’d left my car key on the shelf and when I went back for it there were 5 sets of keys next to them. That’s another thing about Eaglesham…
The natives are very friendly!

See you the next time!
GG
X

Please click this link to vote for Marco and his team in the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards!

Country Pub of the Year 

Coming Of Age!

Coming of Age!

I got married on The Mary’s 21^st birthday on 24^th March 1979!

I was living in Italy and missed my family and friends very much.  My life had always been unconventional and my wedding was no different. None of my family were there and I was leaving Italy as soon as the wedding was over; without my husband but with my new name!

For nearly two years I had immersed myself in Italian culture, food and language with gusto and dedication to la mia nuova famiglia.  At the age of 21 I returned to Glasgow on a mission to educate my Gorbals ‘village’ about good food and healthy eating. Going from the calmness and tranquillity of Deliceto back to the chaos of my home town created feelings of excitement and apprehension but it was exhilarating to be back all the same.

As soon as my mum set eyes on me she said;

“Oh hen, what’s happened to you?  We need to get you sorted; you look like a wee, fat, married, tally wummin!”

Hitting the streets of Glasgow at nearly twelve and a half stone I began to think maybe the Mediterranean lifestyle hadn’t suit me after all. There’s nothing like an honest Glesca ‘telling off’ to bring you back to reality and give you incentive to bolt, like a rocket, towards a bowl of salad.  Albeit iceberg and large, beefsteak, tasteless tomatoes with tinned, Heinz coleslaw and potato salad!

Deliceto click here to see the live Webcam!

Finding authentic Italian food in Glasgow nearly 40 years ago was limited and although they were very good; for the average punter they seemed quite posh, and a tad expensive.  Even a trip to the local Chinese was viewed as a ‘treat’.  Before I got married when I was asked on a date my places of choice were Rogano or L’Ariosto and I honestly don’t remember one dish I had in either of these places. Well maybe the oysters but to tell you the God’s honest, they gave me the boak, although I do love them now!

The choice of ‘Italian’ restaurants in Glasgow today are immeasurable and although you can find authentic, fresh cuisine, with a homemade essence, a lot of places have bastardised dishes out of recognition to please a popular, hipster, transient and contemporary audience of taste deprived, indifferent food photographers.  

In fact, some of it fails to represents the roots of an Italian kitchen in any shape or form. 

The best plates of Pasta in town are still,*** Eusebi’s, Sarti’s, La Lanterna, Mediterraneo, Tarantino, The Italian at Redstones (Uddingston) and, of course, Guy’s in merchant City.

In my humble Opinion of course!

Next week I’m hoping to add one to my list. Me and The Mary heading to the Scottish/Italian TwentyOne in Hamilton.  Owned by Tony Almiento and his family.  They are said to use the best, locally sourced, Scottish produce to prepare dishes with and Italian Flair. I like them already as they’re not claiming absolute, Italian aptitude and authenticity so it leaves room for displays of cosmopolitan panache!  Billed on their website as being, modern and stylish with a relaxed atmosphere they profess to offer a very low key professional service. 

This should suit me and The Mary to a tee because we both hate the pretentious, over attentive, patronising, bullshit we’re sometimes confronted with in corporate, deluded ‘diners’ and overrated ‘cafes’.  What they lack in expertise and good food they try to make up for with uniforms and contrived ambience.  All we are interested in is good food at an honest price with a bit of sincere service and a warm, friendly atmosphere.

I’ll let you know how it goes next week!

Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government are pricing family owned businesses out of town and these are the places we love because they care about us, the customer. Staff are part of the family and they know how to make us feel welcome without pretension. Places like previously mentioned *** and I’ll add Kastriot’s in Baillieston as a great example this are good people, passionate about food, at a reasonable prices, who treat customers like friends and seem to actually want to see again.

The City is being taken over by corporate monstrosities who expect staff to behave like robots and stick to a script which is both impersonal and insults both the punter and the pallet, in equal measure.  It’s getting to the point whereby food is secondary to the experience.  We are now paying over the odds for dishes, such as toasted cheese, to simply update a photo to Instagram in order to say;

“Look where we are?

On the Rooftop of a concrete Lego structure!

Eating a snack!”

Let’s get a grip and make Glasgow’s food miles better again by supporting family owned, independent businesses and give power back to the individual before we are swamped and absorbed into a quagmire of tasteless, expensive appetisers which might diminish our reverence and reputation for good food once and for all!

In the end; what we accept is what we deserve!

See you the next time!

Me and The Mary

Mx