BACK LIST
times, credit card information and price guide but not ‘booking essential‘ details.
The authors write well and their comments are full. unfawning and honest — as a place to eat ‘Edinburgh has more or less arrived‘ but no more. For travellers they will be useful guides. for locals they are interesting reference points. More guides— New York. Channel Ports, Italy, regions of France — are planned which could lead to force-fed filos spewing out their contents. Oh well. it will just have to be a different file for every city. Good Food Facts are available from Waterstones, InHouse. Studio One in Edinburgh and other bookshops". and John Smith in Glasgow. They can also be obtained mail order from Good Food Facts. 20 Palewell Park, London, SW14 810. They cost£2.5() each. (Nigel Billen)
SEVEN DAY WONDER
Wine wholesalers - open to the public — have been around south of the borderfor some time, but the recently opened Wine Emporium in Edinburgh is the first of its kind in
Scotland. Thanks to a quirk in the licensing regulations it looks as if it is going to be an idea which will quickly catch on.
The Emporium, run by Derek Homer and Richard Leslie in a slightly chilly (but no doubt good for the wine) ex car showroom in Devon Place. has the unique distinction of being able to sell wine on a Sunday. ‘We phoned the police and asked ifit would be OK,‘ explains Richard. and much to everyone's surprise — and the consternation of the Edinburgh legal fraternity, who on behalfof rival wine shops had been sent scampering to their tomes - the
answer was yes. ‘Could we have it in
writing.‘ ventured Lindsay. No. was the reply. ‘you only get things in writing from us when you break
the law.‘
The main stipulation attached to being a wholesaler is that the Emporium can only sell in bulk — that means a minimum of twelve bottles. A tall order perhaps. until you consider that at this time of year people begin to drink in bulk. They don‘t have to be bottles ofthe same wine. and because of the wholesale status. buyers can sample wine on the premises.
Homer. who does the buying. has the experience ofa full training with Oddbins behind him and indeed lectures at Heriot Watt University in Wine. Steeped in it (as it were). he is on hand to offer customers advice on what to buy. introducing people to some of the more exotic wines that it is hoped will become a feature of the Emporium. ‘Wine should be fun.‘ says Leslie. who admits to a slightly less complete knowledge. and insists that they won‘t just steer people to the expensive wines: ‘That would be almost immoral and bad business.‘ In fact the wine is pretty competitively priced and the Emporium in particular can make a feature ofthe bargain ‘bin end‘ wines which. available only in small
Sarah Yeoman; Wednesday
quantities are un-economic for bigger wine chains. Ironically this was exactly how Oddbins started out.
So far Leslie and Homer have been impressed with the amount of knowledge buyers have shown. picking and choosing with discrimination from the range that starts at £1 .59. Leslie. who used to work at Whighams Wine Bar. says that they have had more families (who can make use of the Children‘s Room) than New Town young yuppies. ‘Wine is traditionally a male purchase.‘ says Leslie. ‘but women are becoming more important — many couples now choose together.‘ With twelve bottles to pick maybe that‘s not a bad thing. By the way. spend over £45 on one order between now and Christmas, and the Emporium will give you a 20-bottle wine rack free. (Nigel Billen)
The Wine Emporium. 7 Devon Place. Edinburgh. 031 346 l 1 13, Mon—Sat 10am—8pm; Sun 11am—5pm. Special wine Tasting Days: ‘Clarets v Australian Reds'. 27. 28. 29 Nov; Champagne and Sparkling Wines 1 I , 12, 13 Dec.
EGON FACE
The 1987 Egon Ronay Guide is now out sans Ijgon. but plus a new sponsor. Cellnet ofcar phone fame. The publishers claim that there are more entries than usual in its 850-plus pages. but precious few of them concern Scotland in general or Glasgow in particular. In the section referring to Glasgow they manage to list all the major hotels in the city but stop short at only two restaurants — and they are both Chinese. Glasgow may not be Paris. but is is certainly worthy of better. One man who should know agrees. Raymond Gardener. Trencherman of the
0 Dance About. Try it Out
Glasgow Herald said: ‘One ofthe problems is the number of times the inspectors come as far up as Scotland.‘ He agrees that there are some glaring omissions in the book such as The Ubiquitous Chip. ‘The Good Food Guide says the Chip is the benchmark ofgood eating in Glasgow and it doesn‘t get a mention in Egon Ronay‘s guide . . . it‘s rather strange.‘ The Egon Ronay people admit that they intend their guide to be the ultimate reference book for hotels and restaurants antl say that their inspectors go to places recommended to them as well as trying to find their own discoveries. ‘We think Glasgow is on the tip and upand were there just recently.‘ said one of the inspectors. ‘and they‘ll all be included next year.‘ Here are the ones that aren‘t in it this year.
0 The Buttery 652 Argyle Street. 221 8188. Mon-Sat Noon—2.30pm and 5—1 1pm. Average price fora meal for two with wine. £50.
0 Colonial 25 High Street. 552 1923. Tue—Sat Noon—2.30pm and 5—1 lpm. (Closed Mon evening and Sat afternoon). Meal for two with wine. £40.
0 Poachers Ruthven Lane. 3390932. Noon—2.30pm and 630—] lpm. Lunch £20 for two including house wine. Dinner £36.
0 Rogano Exchange Place. Noon—2.30pm and 7—1 lpm. Dinner for two £50 including wine.
0 The Ubiquitous Chip Ashton Lane. Noon—2.30pm and 530—1 lpm. Evening meal for two £35 including excellent wine.
FILL IN WHAT WE HAVE MISSED OUT. SEND IN YOUR SUGGESTIONS OF NEW PLACES TO EAT.
CITYLIST
This is a new listings section primarily for classes and workshop activities as well as lorclubs and societies wishing to advertise regular meetings etc. Initially and subject to space this will be a tree listings service. Ideas lor new sections are very welcome. Please send all your inlormation to The List 10 days belore publication date. Political, spiritual, literary and women's events will be listed on the Open List in the usual way.
0 Screen Printing Workshops Theatre Workshop. 34 Hamilton Place Edinburgh. Box office ()31 226 5425. Two day workshops every Tues and Wed till 10 Dec. l0am—5pm. Per day: £4 (employed) £2.50 (students) £2 (unemployed). Must be booked in advance.
0 Mask and PuppetWorkshops The Garret Mask and Puppet Centre Trust. 39b Otago Street.
Kclvinbridge. Glasgow. 041 33‘) 6185. Courses and workshops for adults and children inevery aspect of puppet theatre. Also Saturday play days for children. This seasons activities run till 18 Dec but the whole ten week season is repeated in the spring. 0 359 Gallery 233 Cowgatc. Edinburgh 1illl.03l 225 3013. Class prices range from £ 1 0-26 for the term. Daytime classes continue until 13 Dec. Tues am: Rose Frain‘s Drawing and Painting class. Thurs pm: Life class — materials provided. Sat pm: Geoffrey MacEwan‘s Ilistoric Old Town buildings sketching class. Alsoevening Drawing Class (Tues) and Life Drawing and PaintingClass (Thurs).
In the new year'I'uesday am Drawing and painting. Thursday Life Class and evening Life Drawing and Painting. as well as the Sat atn Art Club continue. Other classes are replaced by three new classes: Tuesday 7.30—9.30pm. Art History Workshop. the techniques and styles of l9 and 20th century artists. taken by
llam—noon. Scottiin Architecture. slide lecture course on Scottish Architecture from Middle Ages to Mackintosh given by Linda Reynolds: Wednesday 2.30-3.30pm Gallery Guides. an opportunity to visit ten litlinburgh galleries exhibiting contemporary work.
369 Art Club for 8— l 2 year olds every Sat. 10.30am—noon till Christmas.
0 Men's Keep FilCraiglockhart Sports Centre. 177 Colinton Road. Iidinburgh. Fridays 7-9pm 90p. 031 4430101. Supervised keep fit.
0 Women’s Keep Fit .lack Kane Centre. Nidrie Mains Road. Iitlinburgh. 031 6690404. Classes available a various
times.
Edinburgh District Council. Assembly Rooms. 54 George Street. Edinburgh 03] 225 3614 (Kate Craik ). The very popular try out dance classes continue till December. lnthe next fortnight: Mon 1 and8. Contemporary and Creative: Tues 2. High Energy and Contemporary; Wed 10. Contemporary. All classes
£1 .50(50p). 5.45pm. ()pen to Men and Women.
0 Yoga Broughton McDonald ()fficcs. Union Street (near Playhouse). Edinburgh. £1.75 (single class: termly reductions available) ()31 5540037. Beginners class. men and
0 West End Youth Theatre Randolph Centre. 7 Randolph Place. Edinburgh 031—225 4379.
CITYLIST IS FREE!
PLEASE SEND DETAILS OF CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE LISTED.
Saturdays. 10.30—noon 50p per session. Acting tuition and chance to take part in productions.
0 Steps Out Dance Classes 261 West Princes Street. Glasgow. £2 (£1 cone. £ l .50childrcn)all classes. Wednesdays 6-7.30pm Adult Contemporary; Tuesdays 6—7pm Teenage Contemporary: 7. 15—830 Adult Jazz.
0 The Salisbury Centre 2 Salisbury Road. Newington. Edinburgh [£111.03] 667 5438. Wide range ofcourses designed for the ‘rcleasc and maintenance ofcreativc human potential'. Current term ends 12 Dec. Classes include Zen Meditation. Raja Yoga Meditation. Tai'chi. voice workshops. I lomeopathy. pottery. Also weekend tlaysand special courses: Sat 6 Dec Christian Retreat. Daon Guided Prayer with Sister Mary Cavanaugh. 10am-—5pm. £7 (suggested donation); Sun 7 Dec Brother Sun. Sister Moon. 10am—5pm. £12 (£8). Gordon and lilspeth Strachan explore the points ofeontact between primative Christianity and ‘Mother Earth.
The List 28 Nov — 11 Dec 51