Category Archives: restaurant review

When I visit a restaurant, I will make some comments about the place.

Oxford – Brasserie Blanc

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Decided we’d not been to Oxford for a while and there were a couple of shops R wanted to look in.  We found ourselves looking around the Museum of the History of Science which was very good as well as parts of the Bodleian Library.

R got what she wanted (amazing) including pheasants from the covered market and we finished by going to Brasserie Blanc for lunch.  We seem to always have this as a treat in November.  It’s £11.50 for two courses (we had the three for £14.50) including a glass of wine.  Brilliant prices & food (R had eggs Florentine, risotto with roasted autumn veg & pear, choc sauce & hazelnut ice cream; Steve had pork rillet; grilled fillet of mackerel, creme caramel) and lovely ambiance.

The Great Man, Raymond Blanc, came in!  He shook hands with some customers (including us!! (R’s exclamation marks)) after introducing himself, which R thought very endearing.  She was pleased to note his hair had been cut since the TV series of The Restaurant & she was even more pleased to note how he looked very dishy, French & suave.

 

The Plough and Anchor or the P&A

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I have been in the office the last few days.  Now working on some development projects concerned with Single Signon.  Very odd not being out on customer sites, and alas not chargeable, so no bonus from this work.  Hopefully will get up to speed on the project, and then will work from home to complete the work.

Went to the local pub last night to have one of their cheap meals. First had a drink with George and Annie who were surpised to see us on a week day.   Afterwards Rosemary and I dined in the resturant.

I am pleased to say that the meal was actually very good, and not outrageously expensive.  We went for the mid week value meal, and had three courses.  The amount of food was just right, and each dish was well presented.  The French waiter, Cyril, was very helpful with the wine selection and offered excellent alternatives to our original selections.

For starters Rosemary selected Ceasar Salad, while I had Salmon Terrine.  The Terrine was lovely, and was served with a sauce and topped with a salady/pickle made of strips of cucumber.

Both of us ate the Sea Bream on couscous.  We both were very happy with this.

For the finals, chocolate for me and creme brule for Rosemary.  My chocolate pudding was delish.  A dark chocolate on a white chocolate moose. 

Scotland and the Mai Thai

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Well I finished the week in Chicago, and arrived back on Saturday.  Looks like I won’t be back for the conversion weekend.  That day was delayed and now coincides with my holiday.

Had a week in the office doing some support for the Polish, since then £ signs always seem to display as some other odd character on my PC.  Must look at my keyboard mappings.  After a nice week going home every day I felt rather spoilt.

Weekend at home, meal with John, Carol, Anne and Chris (& their two dogs).  All stayed over night.

Monday back up to Edinburgh for a final bit of development.  The Mai Thai restaurant was closed, the chef was taking a four week break back to Thailand.  So I went elsewhere to eat, the Siam Thani on Broughton Street.  I am afraid it was no cheaper, and the food was not nearly as nice as Mai Thai.

Ate one meal at the Petit Paris.  Have not eaten in the Grass Market one for a long time.  The waiter commented on not seeing me for such along time.  Had a nice meal of duck and lentil casserole.

Met Ed and Jo for a curry at Zest.

The past week the weather has been pretty good.  Sunny, but was quite cold in the evening.

Thursday in Edinburgh

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It is already Thursday.  I have been staying at the Holyrood Hotel.  I have eaten in the Mai Thai three nights running.  I really must go and find somewhere else to eat for a change.  It is though so easy to go there and eat.  Good food, and the Carlsberg Special is only £2.50.  (Do you hear that, Jake, £2.50!)  Free Internet access and a friendly bunch who run it.  Last night football was on, and some celebrations from the Scots who won their game.  Hey and so did England, smashed the Russians 3 – 0.

Well I thought this might have been my last week here, but it does look that I may be here for a couple more weeks.  Should be good for the bonus. 

Weather wise, the sun has shone every day, no rain.  Today is the worst day, a bit on the overcast side.  Some of the thousands of Americans packing out breakfast and being their usual painful Americans selves, commented that it was going to rain in Glasgow, and might make it to Edinburgh.  Hope not as I walked into work in short sleeves.  Ah, and North Bridge was closed, I assume by another jumper, so had to walk down into the rail station and out the other side.

Tried to log on to the site selling Led Zeppelin tickets, http://www.ahmettribute.com/, does not seem active yet.  Little chance I will get one of the 20,000 tickets priced at £125.  But I will give it a go.

Mai Thai and back home

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Managed to eat in the Mai Thai every day.  Wonderful food, brilliant ambiance.  And good Internet access.

Not so good going home, bit of a delay on Easyjet.  Flight was a little rough, and coming into land we were in cloud with the spoilers on for over 5 minutes, and the occasional 360 turn.  Probably going deaf now because I had to turn the MP3 player up loud to counteract the noise from the vibration caused by the spoilers.  I really must catch an earlier flight home.  Getting home at 9 on a Friday is a pain, especially now it is getting dark.

Edinburgh

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Back up in Edinburgh, starting my third day now.  Travel up was easy, plane left early, arrived early and in the office by 9.30

Not staying in my usual hotel but down in the McDonnald by Holyrood.  That means I will be eating at the Mai Thai, and will be eating breakfast as well.  Breakfast is included in the price of the room.  Not included means I go hungry, included means I eat. Been eating fish for breakfast, loading up on healthy omega fats.

Last two evenings in the Mai Thai.  I have now updated their website, changing their menu and updating the gallery.  Just leaves the reviews to do, and maybe add a special news page.  The site had not been updated since it was created over a year ago, and all that time it says, ‘Taking bookings for Christmas’  Ah well. 

I also complained about the Plough and Anchor website, how that was never updated, how they should be changing the menu when the menu changes, how they should announce all the bands on the site as soon as the booking is made.  Maybe they should have a review section with some pictures etc.  I think they thought I was looking for business.

Oh the food at the Mai Thai was the usual Very Good.  First night I did not order duck.  This choice was commented on by the Thai waitress. Not the usual duck, sir

Edinburgh Festival about to start

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This week is the Jazz Festival, and the most wonderful day in recent history.  Sunshine all day, though a little cold.  The Easyjet flight left almost on time, and now I am pre-checking in on the Internet and the zero security queues at Luton, I get an extra 30 minutes in bed at home.

Lovely meal at the Mai-Thai.

TOM YUM GOONG

Hot and sour soup of prawns flavoured with lemon grass, kaffir lime and chilli

YUM NEUA

Char-grilled sliced sirloin steak dressed with chilli, cucumber, Thai celery, tomato and red onion

Another week in Edinburgh

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Not so wet this week.  Walked to work in shirtsleeves most days.  Very brave thing to do when in Scotland.

On Monday met up with Jimmie and had a few pints and a Chinese Meal in that Edinburgh Establishment of Jimmie Chungs, a Chinese buffet chain throughout Edinburgh.  After eating there a visit for another drink and entertainment at the Burke and Hare. Finally Whistle Binkies for a nightcap and some life music.  Must admit Jimmie Chungs was not that bad and quite cheap.  The Burke and Hare also was selling pints of Stella at £3.00 which is not too dear.

Tuesday met with Ed and Mary, where we had some pints at the Doric, and a bite to eat.  Haggis tatties and neaps for me.  Why is there always a drunk trying to tell you there are better places to visit in Edinburgh; the real Edinburgh.

Wednesday was liver rest day.

Flight back on Friday was better than usual, only 30 minutes late, so home by 21.00.

Another new resturant in Edinburgh

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One of those days when it rains, then hot sun and rain again.  Lots of those at the moment.  Managed to miss most of the showers, but was caught in one when on the way to lunch at the Café Royale for a pint of IPA with Mary and Ed.

In the evening I decided to try Shaws.  I had been given a flyer the previous day.  Shaws says they provide Scottish Cuisine with a Mediterranean influence.  They also provide three course meals of good quality for £12.95.  This cannot be bad, especially as I had gone over budget the previous day at the Indian resturant.

Started off with a duck salad.  Small slices of duck breast served with some leaves and reduced balsamic vinegar.  The duck was cooked so that it was very slightly pink.  A good starter.

The main course was chicken breast stuffed with haggis, served with  cream sauce, potatoes carrots and neaps.  Again this was very good.

Finally ate a sticky toffee pudding.

Shaws must be new, it is slightly off the beaten track in that you would not walk past it.  It is on 21 Old Fishmarket Close which is a very narrow alley running between the Royal Mile and Cowgate.  I would recommend the place.  They do the set three course dinners Monday through Thursday, and a cheaper lunch time menu.  There are five or so choices on the set menu.  They also have an A La Carte menu.

Their website is http://www.shawsrestaurant.com

Back in Edinburgh after our holiday

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We spent a couple of weeks camping in the South of England and in the South of France.  Got back on Saturday and then rushed over to Ely for a reunion with some Cambridge colleagues.  More information to follow on both these events.  Rosemary will be writing up our fabulous holiday in France, and I will be putting together the website pictures.

Now back in Edinburgh working for the bank.  Arrived in absolute torrential rain.  The evening turned out good though.  Ate at an Indian resturant and had a very good meal indeed.  The place was dry, so no alcohol today. The resturant is called Khushis, located in Victoria street and was established back in 1947 and has a website, though of course not from those dark days.