Kastriot's Mediterranean Bar and Grill!

Kastriot's Mediterranean Bar and Grill

The Mary and I have often discussed the lack of classy eating joints on the Upper East Side of The River and to tell you the truth, I didn’t want to say that if there were any, I’d probably wouldn't go with her.   However, due to us travelling further afield recently and our visit to the fabulous Celino’s in the East she has gained some etiquette skills and can even order her own coffee without shocking or frightening the staff with decapitation.  The Mary’s favorite tipple, as you all know, is a “Decapitated Lassie.” 

Why would you keep drinking something that you can’t say?

So today when I met The Mary for coffee and she let me see her cocktail dress for the night.  Well, I didn’t know what to say.  It was very fancy with lace, sequins and a bit of chiffon thrown in.  I had to explain; although it was Halloween, we were not going out in fancy dress and we were staying in the East End.  She looked a wee bit upset until I explained that the weans will be over in Giffnock and I had, at last , found another, really classy joint in the area.

So, tonight we’re off to a smashing eatery in Baillieston; a former mining town which is now classed as a residential area and The Mary is pure buzzin' that there’s a new Gaff practically on her doorstep. 

Kastriots Mediterranean Bar and Grill is on the Main Street and no matter what happens my expectation is to be entertained by my very funny, mad pal, eat some good food and soak in the atmosphere of the Upper East Side in my fabulously cosmopolitan Glasgow Town!

When we arrived and were greeted by the very charming Stephen I had such a good feeling about the place.  The atmosphere was very cosy and inviting.  He then showed us to a booth and me and Mary were well chuffed because we love a wee tabernacle. There we are able to rid ourselves of all the weight of the previous week.  So, I must confess, it was a fantastic start to the evening. 

I am a pure foody and take ages to order but then, all of a sudden, The Mary pipes up that she’s going to do the ordering and I was like; “Hey you, wit’s guan oan?”  She’s getting far too confident with  all this going out carry-on.  Ordering for me indeed!  Then she strikes up with, “When I lived in Greece,” Well, I’ll be damned.  Thinking she was talking a load of Baklava I asked her to haud oan and explain.  No way, was she treating me like some sort of ‘cretan dakos’ and so the rest of the orthodox confessional began.

Seemingly, when I lived in Italy, The Mary couldn’t stand being in Glasgow without me so, she got on a banana boat down at the Clyde side and asked how far it would take her for 45 quid. She landed in Greece and got a job there until she knew for certain I was on my way back before returning.  Now that's what I call true, pal, love for you!

After much deliberating and three delightful visits to the table from Mark (the good looking one) we decided on the Greek Pitta with chicken and a Lamb dish with pasta and I can tell you was the most magnificent, pasta sauce I’ve tasted since my last plate of orecchiette con sugo al pomodoro që nëna ime në ligj ka bërë mua në vitin 1998!

The décor was perfect in its simplicity and the lighting was just right to create a warm, Mediterranean  feel on a very cold and winter’s night.  The Mary was very happy and excited but I was worried when she started to dance about.  I thought she was going to the toilet but she started a very energetic scirtos and was springing, leaping, shuffling and dragging people up off their seats.  Eventually I was obliged to rugby tackle her as she made her way towards a bundle of plates.  I sensed what was coming next.  She was out of control!

So, All you Upper East Enders haud oan tae your sfakiani and get yersel up that Baillieston Main Street for a night of delicious and authentic Greek Scran!

Translations for folk from the West End;

Albanian

Nëna ime në ligj ka bërë mua në vitin 1998 – my mother in law made me in 1998

Italian 

Orecchiette con sugo al Pomodoro - orecchiette with tomato sauce

Eastendish

Guan – going

Huad oan – hold on or wait and give me a bit of thinking time

Wit – what?

Pipes – uses her mouth to convey new and unexpected information

Wisnae – wasn’t going to

Scran – food of all types

Yersel – on your own…

But I’m sure if you want to take The Mary she would gladly go with you. 

Her number is 0772431958

See you next week.

Mx

La Vita e Bella!

La Vita

Now, I don’t remember the war but sometimes, when The Mary is talking about her weekend, it sort of sounds like she’s in the middle of WW3 and that was only wee Maddie’s birthday party! 

Madison insisted on a Frozen theme and I felt as if I was in a Disney movie which was ‘begging to be transformed into an Ice extravaganza’!  The wee Maddie used her chilling powers to turn people to ice sculptures with her deathly, cold stare as soon as anyone went near the sweets.   She also threatened them with a nuclear-powered look if they asked for one.  

That wean scares the life right out of me!

So, in order to warm up after the weekend, The Mary and I are going to La Vita at George Square expecting a warm reception and some fantastic food.  

The website states that it’s “The Best Italian in Glasgow…”   Well I’d say…let others be the judge of that!

La Vita is run by the Arcari family.  The business was started by Mario Acari who was born just after WW2 in a small village called Picinicso nella provincia diFrosinone in the Lazio region of Italy.  Mario arrived in Scotland with a poor understanding of English and initially struggled to get work but through determination and hard graft he eventually opened his own restaurant.  This is now a flourishing business run by Antonio and Marco.

Picinicso was where D.H. Lawrence once lived and was inspired to write “The Lost Girl”.

I can totally relate to that story because I, myself, was lost in Italy for a while but that was another time and place.  I’ve been the Lazio region and it’s encircled by mountains where families worked on the surrounding lands in order to make a living.  Because of the damage caused to the area in wartime  many people left to build better lives in other parts of the world.

Last night The Mary and I decided to give it a shot.  Not actually going to other parts of the world…just Up That Toon to George Square to try out La Vita!

The first person we met going through the door was Yorick who was very enthusiastic and quickly showed us to our table.  We choose from the early, pre-theatre offering because, alas, I felt a theatrical theme coming on!  I started to talk about Hamlet and The Mary asked if I wanted a “shot” of her vaporiser?  I was confused, she was confused and ‘Alas poor Yorick’ stood and stared as we tried to control the hysterics. 

The Mary ordered the lemon sole, fish and chips and I ordered fried chicken with fancy coloured mash and we were very excited.  Mary did not order the Focaccia because she cannot see how anyone can possilbe beat Celino’s.  She feels she’s reached a Focaccia Plateau!  

When the food arrived I had the worst case of food envy I have ever had in my entire life and The Mary was delighted with the fact that she had, by far, the superior dish.  Actually I gave the chicken a bad rep but it was actually very good and well seasoned.  I'd been so disappointed at not selecting the fish but that wasn't the poor chicken's fault.  I'm sure the chicken did it's very best to please me as they do.  I really do love chicken but...I will have the fabulous fish the next time.

The Mary conceded and let me taste the fish.  I started to cry hysterically and again poor Yorick, not realising I was crying, misunderstood and came over and started to join in with a fit of the giggles.   

I gave him the Maddie stare and he quickly moved away. 

We finished off with Nonna’s apple crumble which was baked to perfection and was served with ‘drizzles of delicious custard’.  Well, we had to drizzle it ourselves but it was fabulous just the same.

The Mary asked me who’s Granny had made the cake and said I wasn’t sure but it might have been the owner-like Italian guy’s who turned up and gave a few instructions to the staff, looked at the takings, then left again.  He’s obviously a very busy man.  

Me and The Mary had wanted to congratulate him on making it to the finals of The Scottish Italian Awards; in the Best Family Restaurant category but...

 “Well may it sort that this portentous figure comes armed through our watch; so like the king” ... 

that it might just lose that friendly, family feel! 

Or maybe that delicious fish and crumble will see them through.

“We doubt it nothing: heartily farewell.”

William Shakespeare

Ci Vediamo!

Mx

(For the sake of the infidels; Lines from Hamlet are in Italics)

Celino's!

Celino’s

So this evening I had to blindfold The Mary so she wouldn’t realise we were still in The East End.  Now, it’s not that she doesn’t love those weans, she really does but on a Monday she likes to get as far away as possible.  Luckily in the darkness of the two eye patches… (I didn’t actually have a blindfold), she thought it was bedtime and fell asleep so she didn’t know how long we had been in the car.

Lo and behold The Mary thought I’d taken her to Italy!

Memories of 1982 came flooding back and I remembered the year my daughter was born and moving into my first, wee flat just off Alexandra Parade.  Natalino’s enthusiasm and charm enticed us into the Italian Delicatessen Café frequently and The Mary and I often met there for a chat over the prams, bottles and sick.  I’ve moved on from that but I do my best to babysit, look after the kids,  do some shopping and cleaning for The Mary.

Sorry…that last sentence made me laugh so much I nearly choked to death.

Family run since 1982 ‘Celino’s is a much loved resident of Alexandra Parade and is a family business which offers ‘tutto per tutti’’.  The place is charming and whatever you choose to make of it; a bustling café, a restaurant, an Italian deli or takeaway.  In essence, they are all of these things and much more.

OK, so, The Mary is quite contrary and has now decided that the focaccia she had tonight is the best she has ever tasted in her life, up until now!  I even ate two slices and had stopped eating dough based products about a year ago.  It was quite obviously baked in a stone oven and the bottom was crisp and delicious giving it a very rustic taste.

The Chicken Cacciatora I had was so fresh and tasty I’m sure one of the staff caught it after passing me with a gun, wearing hunting boots this morning in Alexandra park.  At first I though he was after my dog.

The Mary had Pollo Milanese, made with proper breadcrumbs, and scoffed it so quickly I thought she’d ordered a children’s portion by sheer habit.  Both of us were so full and satisfied that we could not have a sweet but still scoffed the mini cannoli with our coffee.

Every single item was served with enthusiasm and Jane our server was both delightfully cheery and discreet at the same time.  Our experience tonight was more than enough to keep my pal happy for the rest of the week; with enough culinary fuel to last her till next time!  For both of us the Chicken was delicious.

Although The Mary thought she was in Italy this evening I was reminded of one of my favourite places on Second Avenue on the Lower East Side of Manhattan called Mimi's where the singer is called Chicken Delicious.  The atmosphere in Celino's is so cosmopolitan and welcoming that I forgot where I was and got lost in the food and atmosphere of one of the most welcoming and chic places to eat in Glasgow!

Sometimes I take my dog for a walk and sit outside Celino’s for a coffee.  Not long ago, on one of these visits Natalino was sitting outside.  I thought about going over to say hello but he looked so content and happy, sitting alone, watching the customers enjoying the ambience I was afraid of spoiling his moment and I thought better of it.  No one needs to be reminded of the times they might have struggled to juggle family, work and dealing with everything that comes with developing a new business in order to create a haven for others to enjoy.  So I sat in the sun with another from a long time ago, enjoying the Scottish weather and the marvelous atmosphere of Celino’s Italian Deli in the East End.

So go along to meet Claudio with his brilliant team and savor Natalino’s heritage through traditional fayre; whether it be Stornoway Black pudding in your full Scottish Breakfast or the fresh calamari and langoustine in your Spaghetti allo scoglio Celino’s will strive to create the best for all their customers. 

So thank you Celino family and good luck as one of the Finalists in the 2016 Scottish Italian Awards!

Eusebi Deli!

Eusebi Deli

East goes West!  

Although the Eusebi story started 40 years ago; me and The Mary’s story with them started in 1995, in the East End of Glasgow.  A Saturday would not have been complete if we hadn't bought pane Italiano, salsiccia e vino per la cena Domenica.  Gina and Eddie welcomed us with such charm and so much knowledge about the products they sold.  They were the most loving couple you could ever meet and always made such a fuss of me and my girls!  Gina still does a hefty shift in The West End Deli as well as spending time with her nipoti!

Sarah, my elder daughter, went on to work with them in their Deli in the East end twenty years ago  and her experience there helped to mould her into the person she is today.  A girl with integrity and a great work ethic mirroring the woman Giovanni Eusebi is today.

Bringing an authentic taste of Italy to Scotland is what they do and what they love. At Eusebi's you will discover the best, seasonal produce on offer.  For Giovanna and the team, it’s all about producing the best, freshly prepared dishes; you can also take the love home with you.  

The Eusebi family, story continues ‘by importing unique products, by small artisan makers and specialist produce from across Italy’, something they are still passionate about to this day and they work tirelessly to source the very finest Italian Food and Wines.

Like the Eusebi family, food, family life and passion have always been a priority for both myself and The Mary.  So, tonight The Mary and I are going to Eusebi’s in the West End.  

When I told her The Mary had to get off the phone sharpish because she nearly wet herself which I have to say is becoming a bit of a problem for both of us.  So, septic Peg here predicts that, sta sera, when we experience La Pinsa Bianca, The Mary’s love for Focaccia might fade into insignificance. 

Let’s see if I’m right and I have to say I’m not very often wrong! 

9.15 pm

Here I am back in the East End after a wonderful evening.  We sampled the best, authentic, and most marvellously,  measured Pinsa outside of Italy.  The Pinsa Bianca Puglese is better than any I ever tasted in my many years visiting Puglia in Italy.  It was made to perfection.  The staff were all attentive and charming and The Mary even got a gift of cake for her 'dear weans'.  Thank you very much to Giovanna and the fabulously, good looking and charming staff!  

It's no wonder they won Best Deli two years running in The Scottish Italian Awards 2013 and 2014.  Good luck with this year's awards.

After we left The Mary was full of questions about the West End like... 

"Why do the weans suck manky blankets?" I explained that it was to build up their immune system to germs.  I don't really get the comfort blanket thing myself, so I made that up!  

Then she says, "Whit's the matter wi' them jist playing' in the muck in the garden?'  I explained that property in that End of  town is very expensive and not many people have gardens so they buy them a wee blanket and trail it about the park for a while before giving it to the children and it works just the same.  

Then she says..."Why is it the buildings are called tenements in the East End and in the West End they're called flats and apartments?'  So again, making it up, I told her it's because they have to make them sound more attractive to try and justify the price. 

So lastly she pipes up wit.."So why the f... do they no all move to the East End?"  I tried to shut her up by saying that they'd probably heard about her and the weans.

"Fair enough!" she replied!

She makes me laugh The Mary...so she does!

See you all next week.

Mx