BACKLIST
FOOD & DRINK
The new Bar Gui: ‘warmer, more relaxing’
mum: GLASGOW
I Bar Gui ltalian Centre. lngram Street. 552 609‘). The former Caffe Qui has undergone something of a transformation. The ltalian Classical look has been stripped away and vast expanses of marble and panelled wood have been removed to make way for a warmer. more relaxing decor. The cold. hard stone is out and rustic terracotta is in. Adding to the sunny ambience are murals and earthenware pots painted by Danielle Seitz who has done a lot of work around various Edinburgh hostelries including the Rutland. O‘Ryans and the Beehive.
The bar is offering the cafe menu as usual during the day but come January there are plans to introduce a bistro menu in the conservatory. offering value-for-money dishes with none of the main courses costing much over £5. There will be a heavy emphasis on fish dishes but the more traditional pastas. pizza and foccacia will not be forgotten.
()n the drinks front you can make a tentative step towards immersing
/
i yourself in Italian culture
; by nestling down with a
' chilled Perroni and. pending the go-ahead for
I an entertainments licence.
I acoustic bands will be on
; hand to serenade you as
l you sip.
I W
I I Theakston Folk Festival 16-18 December. ()ld Fruitmarket. Candleriggs. Noon—midnight. £2.50 including souvenir glass. Probably not strictly a drinks item this one. but then it‘s not strictly a music item either. However for the purposes of this page we will concentrate on the liquid refreshments available for those who need their thirst slaked after a hard fiddling session.
The T & R Theakston Brewery has been producing ale in Masham. Yorkshire since 1827 when a certain Robert Theakston teamed up with his friend John Wood. Generations later the brewery is still going strong and continues to use the same methods and ingredients as when it started out. While many breweries have switched to using metal casks to hold their ales. Theakston
I still uses a number of I wooden barrels and
employs three of the remaining eleven coopers in Britain. Come Friday evening you can try your hand at coopering under the watchful eye of Alastair Simins. a qualified cooper.
Those who prefer drinking beer to getting involved in the production process can indulge their tastebuds with the full range of Theakston‘s cask ales including Theakston Traditional Mild. not usually available in Scotland. If your tastes are more Caledonian. the range of McEwan's and Younger‘s ales on offer should sate any cravings. I [cite Blonde Scotland has always had a reputation as being an enthusiastic launch-pad for new alcoholic tipples. For some reason we welcome new brews with open arms and throats. enveloping them in a warm embrace which our quafftng cousins south of the border don't always extend to previously unknown beverages.
Being the guinea pigs for experimentation can have distinct advantages. In this case. selected outlets around Scotland. with a concentration in the more salubrious drinking spots of Edinburgh and Glasgow. are playing host to this golden coloured. draught beer from Belgium. Leffe Blonde is what the Belgians refer to as a mere dc t/égttsratimi. one to sup and appreciate rather than to throw over your throat in vast quantities. At 6.6 per cent alcohol by volume this is not a beer to be taken lightly. although the taste is smooth. warm and spicy. not overwhelmed by the alcohol.
The ale is to be served in half-pint chalice glasses and is worth trying. as the glow which it imparts to your body will be handy as winter sets in. (Jonathan Trew)
Le Sept
7 Old F ishmarket Close Edinburgh
lunch and dinner Monday to Thursday all day Friday and Saturday Sundays dinner only
telephone 031 225 5428
41 west nicolson street edinburgh EH8 98D (near university and festival theatre)
(0131) 667 6676
for opening times and reservations
Ie cochon noir
simple good taste
BAR 91
91 CANDLERIGGS, GLASGOW (opposrre TlCKE'I‘ CENTRE)
\“ \\\
. .‘\\
OPEN MON - SAT IO-MIDNIGHT, SUN IZ-MIDNIGHT
FULL MENU AVAILABLE UNTIL 8PM
7 NIGHTS A WEEK
LATE OPENING OVER FESTIVE PERIOD
in
\/Esr. 1840
quitous Chip MACALLAN RESTAURANT
SCOTTISH WINE MERCHANT
/ unit an
.LASGOW, SCOTLAND
OF THE YEAR
OF THE YEAR
TEL: 041-334 5007
\e
The only place to recover from Hogmanay!
Breakfast served all day °:‘ Full Lunch Menu Finest Teas & Coffees °3° Breads & Confectionery from our on-site Bakery
1st January: 11am - 7pm °¢° 2nd January 9am - 8pm
NoitMAi. ()l’t-ZNINt; llot'tts
Monday - Wednesday: 7.30am - 8pm 6’ Thursday - Saturday: 7.30am - 10pm 4° Sunday 9am - 6pm
4 South Charlotte Street, (off Princes St.). Edinburgh.
The List 16 December l994—l2 January I995 107