Roosevelt's Bar and Kitchen!

Roosevelt's Bar and Kitchen!

Who would pick a daisy in a field of roses?

Me neither!

Nor would I pick a vegan burger in a den of meat but go to Roosevelt’s Bar and Kitchen at 144 Park Road in Woodlands Glasgow at least you have the choice.

The meaning of Roosevelt is ‘Field of Roses’ but Brothers Scott and Graeme or, taking into account the origins of their names I’ll call them God and Gravel, are packing them in with juicy, fleshy, brawny burgers and with the help of some ‘Vegan Burd’ called Adele they’ll also offer mortal free options.

Vegans eat a wide variety of plant foods such as lentils, beans, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables. Their preference is for anything that’s not derived from livestock. Personally, I think plants have feelings too and would never forage a flower, from the earth, to die in a vessel, on its lonesome.

Me, like most of the men I know, would always pick moist lamb, slender venison or a lean cow to take up the road.  Nothing like a bit of fresh, young meat to sully the bulbous nerve endings on your tongue and get your ravenousness juices flowing.

The bothers Mclean, as the name implies, are sons and servants of the city and I applaud them for their dedication to great scran. Even if it means munching with bush fondlers.

The boys use the freshest of ingredients from local suppliers such as S. Collins & Son in Muirhead (Butchers Extraordinaire) and they have my favourite, Glasgow based, Italian Aroma Coffee. I choose the ‘Eleanor’, beef patty burger with bacon, lettuce, tomato, pickle and burger sauce topped with Jalapenos. It was hot and meaty just like big Scotty Boy!

I was reading yesterday that Eleanor Roosevelt died of cardiac failure and on the way home I felt as if history might repeat itself because I’d scoffed everything on my plate. Fortunately, the meat was so lean and the bun so light and fluffy that I didn’t meat my end...not yet anyway and could still touch my toes without bending my knees.

Just saying!

So, get your hin’ end up to that West End or call right now and book a table on 0141 339 9124 and sample an 8 oz. Rump for a mere £16 quid or a Clinton Sausage for a tenner. Remember though, Bill’s schlong nearly cost him the presidency, so be careful of how you masticate your mutton.

I would have loved some of the Sticky toffee pudding, drizzled with hot, toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream but I’d been well satiated. Also, I’m quite a clumsy eater and didn’t want to mess up my dress then have to explain myself at the cleaners!

“Yes, I did have, messy, sensual relations with a steamy, sticky pudding!”

Maybe they could create a Lewinsky Hotdog with cream cheese, runny mayo and Jalapenos then serve it with a discount voucher for the local Johnson’s the Cleaners!

So, everything in the Roosevelt Garden is Rosy and although you can’t grow flowers in gravel these guys are nourishing their business with great food, a fantastic selection of drinks and honest hospitality along with diversity, imagination and vigour!

I wish them all the luck in the West End!

See you next time with The Mary!

Mx

Mharsanta!

Mharsanta!

(Gaelic for Merchant)

Had the Merchant of Venice been from Glasgow he would have been called Mharsanta de Glaschu (pronounced ‘Var-Santah de Glassie-coo)!

Not easy to say after a few drams I’m sure!

In Shakespeare’s masterpiece poor Bassiano borrowed money from his pal Antonio to woe the classy Portia and in doing so put his friendship and his friend’s life at risk. There are many lessons to be learned from this story. Firstly guys, if have to buy a girl’s time and favour, is it worth having? Secondly, you should never put anything; love, lust or money before friendship.

Love, they say, should last forever and we all know it is but a promise. There are vows and contracts but no guarantees. True friends love you for who you are, not what you have. I’d much rather be ‘in like’ with someone than in love with an ideal!

All that glistens isn’t gold and lust can make you blind but lovers can’t see the ‘pretty follies they, themselves, commit’. Sometimes judgement can be ‘blinded by young limbs’ and a fool and his gold can be easily parted. We all know fancy is bred in the groin and not the head. All I want is mirth and laughter to deepen my lovely lines then my worn face will be my legacy.

I got a bit carried away there and, ‘in one fell swoop’ have paraphrased some of the bard’s wisdom. ‘In my mind’s eye’ Shakespeare was the king of the cliché and we loved him for it. As stated in Othello ‘I wear my heart on my sleeve’ and I don’t care if the fabric is new or vintage; what matters is who wants to be on my arm and who loves me for who I am and if not, then ‘good riddance’!

The Mary and I are off to exact a pound of fleshy sausages in Merchant City and we’re looking for a bargain so as we don’t need a Shylock. When the going gets melancholy this Glasgow Girl reaches out to her friends in much the same way Bassiano did with Antonio, and my girls, especially The Mary, are always there to lend me an ear!

Mharsanta has opened on the former site of Pancho Villas on Bell Street and they promise; ‘the very best experience from the moment you walk through the door’. Of what I’m not sure but I am, none the less, excited and we’re choosing from the Pre-theatre menu.

I decided on the Wild mushroom delight which was drenched in gorgeous garlic and creamy sauce with shaved Grana Padano, served on toasted soda bread. Oh, my Lord it was indecently salacious! If you order this be careful what you have for seconds because it’s quite filling and I was devastated because I actually left some food on my plate for the first time in about 15 years!

I then had the scrumptious steak and sausage pie with buttery mash and seasonal vegetable and it was absolutely, Scottishly perfect. The Mary opted for Shetland Mussels then Mince and tatties.

She had a problem with this dish in that it had a Poached, Hen’s egg perched on top. She looked scared when it arrived and said it reminded her of an old boyfriend who only had one eye and he always loved how she cooked her mince. She thought, in some way, he’s come back to haunt her. Seriously, what a load of mince!

I explained to The Mary how it might be because in the old days they could have tried to add extra protein or maybe Mharsanta had an overenthusiastic hen in the back yard. I also hit out with loads of other theories about ‘the evil eye’ and how an egg might protect us from vampires and witches.

After this full-on discussion about this I asked the lovely server Eilidh why it was there, to which she replied;

“Not sure actually!”

So, there you bloody well go hen!

No rhyme nor reason for the egg!

As my auld pal Wullie S. would say;

“All’s well that ends well!”

See you the next time!

Me and The Mary.

Mx

Cutting It!

Cut!

Don’t you just love going to restaurants where they have photos of previous customers on the walls?

Juniors in Brooklyn have signed pictures of Barbara Streisand, Bill Clinton, Frank Sinatra, John F. Kennedy and many, many more. To think I’ve probably sat on the very same seat as some of the Rat Pack fills me with awe and gratitude. Food is an equaliser and brings people from different worlds and backgrounds together, at all levels

Juniors, founded by Harry Rosen in 1950, is on Flatbush Avenue and was also the ‘venue’ for Carrie Bradshaw and Big’s wedding reception in Sex and The City. I usually visit for brunch before buying theatre tickets at the Metro Tech when I’m in New York; much better than queuing for hours at Times Square.

 

Yesterday, as I wandered around Cut in Bothwell looking for a familiar face I came across their gallery. Most of the art consists of fabulously, colourful cows. I’m sure this is in no way representative of the clientele. Although, I did witness tender loins, mature T-bones and ‘hung’ meet hanging around in the bar area.

Some folk like skirt or flap which benefits from a good marinate, best cooked medium but I prefer mature, thick, beef which has dangled for at least 10 to 14 days. Ageing improves flavour, is a bit nuttier but more importantly, has much better quality and taste.

Inspired by the herd of ‘coos’ I greedily choose both the burger and the beef. Nothing better than a good roast on a Sunday afternoon with juicy meat pate in a soft, steamy bun on the side. One dish is never enough for this Glasgow Girl. Variety, they say, is the spice of life and mine is very zesty at the moment.

The Cut burger was tasty and scandalously moist. It was accompanied by a spicy, sharp, Russian dressing along with perfectly seasoned, skinny, fries. The Roast Sirloin of Beef was beautifully presented with seasonal vegetables, creamy, smooth mash, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and beef gravy.

The Sunday menu is on offer at a very reasonable £12 £15 and £18 for 1,2,3 courses respectively. The staff are very friendly, knowledgeable, observant and attentive.

After a very satisfying meal and my favourite Italian Aroma Coffee my companion asked me to his place to look at his etchings. Unfortunately I was in a bit of a hurry but I’m sure they are very well hung and beautifully presented. Ideally they should be at thigh level, not too high, not too low and hopefully not less than three feet from the floor!  

See you the next time!

Mx