Side Dishes
News to nibble on . . .
I Side Dishes admits a certain weakness for Kentucky bourbon and Tennessee sour mash. The recently opened Chinaski bar on North Street in Glasgow [pictured] joins Gazelle (under renovation on Argyle Street) with an admirable range of American whiskey (the Yanks spell it with an ‘e’, you know). Some of the more interesting bottles include Pappy Van Winkles 15- year-old, Wild Turkey Rare Breed, Elmer T Little Single Barrel and Johnny Drum. The bar, named after 3 Charles Bukowski character (who served as the grizzled LA writer’s alter ego, too), serves food straight through the day, as well. The menu includes a range of dishes such as chicken BLT or steak and onion sandwiches, bangers and mash or jerk spiced chicken, Italian sausage pizza or penne with courgettes. Tune in next issue for a review. Chinaski, 239 North Street, 0141 221 0061.
I The UK's Fairtrade food fortnight concludes on the weekend of 17 March and Mono. Scotland's only vegan restaurant. will be offering visitors samples of Fairtrade foods on Saturday 18 March from 1—5pm. It's free. Mono is at 12 Kings Court. Glasgow, 0141 553 2400.
I Bavaria comes to the central belt with the opening of the West Brewing Company, a new bar, restaurant and micro-brewery in the landmark former Templeton Carpet Factory on Glasgow Green. All beer made on site will comply with the notoriously strict ‘reinheitsgebot’ purity laws of Germany, where the company’s brewers were trained. German artisans were hired to help design the 300- seat premises, which includes a viewing platform of the copper brewing kettles. In addition to the beer, food will also have a German flavour, from Bavarian sausages to schnitzel and strudel. West Brewing Company, Glasgow Green, 0141 550 0135.
EAT&DR|NK
World of Interiors
It may not offer literally the world, but in sheer Chutzpah it goes much of the way. The New Town’s latest gives Barry Shelby a feast for the eyes.
f you‘re going to open practically anything new on Edinburgh's George Street. it cannot be plain. if you‘re stuck between a Hard Rock (ale and a place called the Dome. however. keeping tip with the neighbourhood tneans lilting the bar even higher. Saltire Tavern's £12 million investment in the bar. restaurant. nightclub and hotel Le Mondc certainly seems to have risen to the challenge. ()nce. not so long ago.
this sort of style and interior decor
bling was the preserve of Stefan King‘s GI Group in Glasgow and its hybrid venues such as Corinthian and Arta. But they no longer hold an exclusive franchise: Le Monde mines the same. slightly ()TT vein.
Between ground and first lloors. three separate areas have been inspired by a trio of iiuropean cities. First. just past the entrance.
comes a compact. modern café/bar (open from 7am) in honour of
Milan. Past that is Venice with a large island bar (and another snug one tuck'ed at the rear). sumptuoUs booths and arm chairs. [p the modem frosted glass and steel stairs — next to an exterior wall. which is now completely glazed across the two storeys — Paris completes the triumvirate.
Here one is first met by a huge mural with bucolic scenes and amply endowed nymphs bathing amid lily pads. In the front room is
the cocktail bar/brasserie. an
admittedly impressive melange of
belle epoque and art nouveau in a space that the company says is based on a 'Moulin Rouge theme‘. That would be more Bill l.urman‘s stylish interpretation of the Montmartre landmark than the tnore tawdry reality.
Tall brass taps adorn another
island bar that is covered in canopy that resembles those over Metro entrances in the lirench city of light. \"ermilion walls match red illumination. Semi-circular booths with black leather upholstery
IT'S EYE CANDY, AND AN IRIS- FILLING ARRAY AT THAT
envelop ebony marble tables. Squat fluted columns and coffered ceilings. their cornicing gilded. hardly match anything else but neither do the plasma screens with abstract swirling lights. it is all eye— candy. alter all. and an iris-filling array at that.
While Milan has a fairly narrow
selection of food. one menu of
reasonably wide ranging brasserie- sty'le fare is offered in Venice and Paris. Reading right to left. there are ‘gourmet sandwiches‘ (such as teriyaki beef). 'locals‘ (familiar dishes such as fish pie). pasta dishes
inclttding penne arrabbiata. 'elassies' (haddock and chips). some salads and another set of sandwiches called Viva. which the menu says is a Le Monde speciality using “Yemen layered sottr dotlglt'.
While the Vegetable spring rolls may be courtesy of ubiquitous fro/en foods supplier Brake Bros (sorry. saw the bo.\l. something such as a venison burger appears fully hand crafted: a meaty ball cooked to order and llecked with herbs. Prices are New Town. by and large (£4 fora pint of Baltika). with some bargains thrown into the mix.
Saltire's boss Billy Lowe waxes lyrical abotlt his new. bold addition. ‘()ur driving theme has always been “inhale life" and that has shaped this project from day one] he says. ‘Wc want our customers to feel exhilarated. surprised and stimulated by what they lind inside.‘
Le Monde is certainly a giant leap tip from Frankenstein or the (iolf Tavern. among Saltire‘s ten holdings — and this feature hasn‘t room to get into details about the basement Tokyo nightclub or the iii-suite hotel. 'Most of all we want customers to have fun.‘ Lowe continues. 'l.e Monde is a dream come true for me.‘
Le Monde, 16 George Street, Edinburgh, 0131 270 3900. Open from 7am to 1am (club until 3am).
16—30 Mar 230‘; THE LIST 101