Transferred to Wordpress

I have decided to switch to wordpress (and to be a bit more conscientious in updating the blog). New blog is now here.

J. Baker, York

A chance fine, this so-called Bistro Moderne was a chance find on a business trip to York. Absolutely excellent meal - starter was Tongue and Cheek - Ox cheek ravioli with ox tongue, followed by Glouceser Old Spot pork with black pudding. Pud was apple sponge, apple sorbet and apple cream. About £40.

The Tolbooth, Stonehaven

The Tolbooth is a fish restaurant overlooking the harbour at Stonehaven in NE Scotland. Excellent meal - crab soup to start followed by roast monkfish and a pine nut tart, most of which was eaten by my daughters. About £35 each, including an excellent bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, glass of dessert wine and coffees.

Centotre, 103 George St, Edinburgh

Centotre is a classy Italian recipe where the food is simple, but with excellent ingredients. I started with wild mushroom and cheese bruschetta which was disappointing - good mixture of tastes but rather soggy bread. Followed by pasta - with sausage, rocket and cream. Not a combination I would have thought of but it really was excellent. Expensive (£30 each with house wine) for bruschetta and pasta but a great atmosphere.

Restaurant Itri, Gilmore Place Edinburgh

An unremarkable looking restaurant near our apartment in Edinburgh which has started to get very good reviews. Sicilian style food - unpretentious (like the decor). I had ravioli with ricotta and pancetta to start, followed by swordfish, with potatoes and cauliflower. Unusually, I had a pudding - ice cream with hot chocolate sauce. Unusual Sicilian white wine. It really was like being in Italy - friendly but not fast service, good, simple food and a lively atmosphere. Better than VinCaffe which is more celebrated and more expensive.

The Manchurian CausewayEnd, Aberdeen

Saturday lunch with Chinese friends from Australia, so it was mostly Dim Sum. They ordered so not sure exactly what we had but all was excellent and reasonably priced. Introduced to Chinese porridge (Congee) with fish. I had never liked the look of this but it was really tasty. Resto is definitely recommended

The Angel, Hetton, Yorkshire

Lunch in this celebrated gastro-pub in a Yorkshire village. Two starters - excellent fish soup then their own black pudding. Excellent, along with the local pale ale. If it wasn't so far away, we'd be back there for dinner.