Jushi

Posted on April 14, 2015 by BKR

Juice

Juice

Fusion food concepts can be a tricky business. Often they diminish rather than augment the parts being thrust together, so it was with slightly mixed feelings that I crossed the threshold of Dundee’s Jushi.

Part juice bar, part sushi bar, this bright and lively cafe at the heart of student land certainly seemed to be popular. I thought it sensible to try both elements of the fusion, so I spotted a likely looking juice combo, involving apricot and carrot, then turned my attention to their sushi counter.

They had pre-made sets or you could mix and match your favourite combinations. I placed my faith in the helpful counter woman who put together a six-piece selection of her favourite items. This all looked rather good to me.

I sat down at one of their counter seats and tucked in. Each item was of good quality, with the salmon nigiri really very good. It was of a standard that I thought analogous to Soul Sushi, so really pretty pleasing stuff.

Sushi selection

Sushi selection

The juice was also rather tasty and nicely refreshing.

So overall, Jushi managed to pull off the juice/sushi fusion with considerable style. Everything was fresh and invigorating, with a nice sense of sunny fun about it. I’d be happy to pop in again, next time I’m in need of a quick, healthy lunch in this neighbourhood.

Exterior

Exterior

Scores
Blythe scores Jushi
3.5/5 for food
3.5/5 for presentation
3.5/5 for setting
4/5 for service
giving an overall 14.5/20

I ate: sushi selection

I drank: sunset blend (apricot, carrot, banana, orange juice, sorbet)

I wore: action footwear

Total bill: £9.75

Jushi on Urbanspoon

Posted in Dundee, Japanese, sushi | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Twelve Triangles

Posted on April 13, 2015 by BKR

Exterior

Exterior

Lovecrumbs has been a major success story since they opened their doors, a few years back. It has grown to be one of our premier cake purveyors and they make a damn fine cup of coffee, too.

It came as no surprise to hear of plans for a second shop. However, the decision for the new place to shift the focus away from cake was a surprising but welcome bonus, particularly given my more savoury leanings.

In premises on Brunswick Street that used to be an antique shop, I visited in their first week of business. Things were still settling in, but the place had a lovely feel to it, with elegant cornicing and a stylish plant feature on the wall.

Focaccia

Focaccia

Aside from bread, croissants, doughnuts, and brownies, there’s a daily changing focaccia. Today’s was an intriguing sounding roast potato, homemade ricotta and plum topped beauty. I ordered a portion alongside my requisite espresso. The coffee was to their usual excellent standard.

The focaccia was absolutely first class. I can think of few better single dishes that I’ve sampled in all quests. The flavour combination of sweet, salty and savoury, with lovely rosemary notes, was an absolute delight. I had to exercise quite some restraint not to order a second portion.

Interior

Interior


So overall, I was extremely impressed with Twelve Triangles. You have to make time in your very near future for a visit to sample their excellent wares. I’m confident you’ll be as impressed as I was.

Scores
Blythe scores Twelve Triangles
5/5 for food
4/5 for presentation
4/5 for setting
4/5 for service
giving an overall 17/20

I ate: roast potato, plum and ricotta focaccia

I drank: espresso, water

I wore: grey suit

Total bill: £5.40

Twelve Triangles on Urbanspoon

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Folk Cafe

Posted on April 12, 2015 by BKR

Exterior

Exterior

I was pleased to be back in Dundee for the first time since we’d spent the day at the Literary Festival, back in October. I took the opportunity to visit the Folk Cafe, on Nethergate, for a spot of breakfast.

In the same ownership as the Parlour, the cafe is split across a small upstairs counter with a few tables and a larger downstairs space that lends itself well to hosting events. I thought it was really rather smart.

Eggs

Eggs

They offer a nicely balanced menu of breakfast options from which I chose scrambled eggs on toast. I added an espresso which was good without hitting the heights.

The eggs soon arrived accompanied by plentiful deliciously rustic brown toast. The eggs were beautifully seasoned and wonderfully creamy. It was one of the best renditions of the dish I’ve been served, of late.

Interior

Interior

So overall, I really enjoyed my trip to the Folk Cafe. It’s a warmly friendly place serving dishes of really good quality. I’d be happy to recommend it to you.

Scores
Blythe scores the Folk Cafe
4/5 for food
3.5/5 for presentation
4/5 for setting
3.5/5 for service
giving an overall 15/20

I ate: scrambled eggs on toast

I drank: espresso, water

I wore: overcoat

Total bill: £4.85

Folk Cafe on Urbanspoon

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Mac v Pizza at McSorley’s

Posted on April 11, 2015 by BKR

Exterior

Exterior

Edinburgh’s a pretty small place and barely a week goes by without this being illustrated in fairly direct terms. Today’s confirmation came when an old school friend emerged from the kitchen to deliver my dishes in McSorley’s. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

McSorley’s is the latest incarnation of a pub premises on Clerk Street which has been there for as long as I can remember. I’d been in before, but probably not for around fifteen years.

Mac

Mac

The interior has been given a fresh makeover and feels fairly smart, if a little generic. There was a pretty mental pub bulldog that entertained the customers by chewing in a skateboard, during my visit. Frankly the little blighter scared the shit out of me, but then I’m not much of a dog lover.

Their menu focuses on “Mac v Pizza” with a selection of macaroni cheese combos and pizzas. Although I suspected I was over-stretching myself, in the interests of research I ordered one of each, with a classic mac and their hangover pizza, which featured a full breakfast selection as topping.

Interior

Interior

These were promptly delivered by the aforementioned old school pal, Iain Sim, who has been working on various projects around the city, focussing on getting new menus up and running for places including the Jolly Botanist.

It was clear from first sight of the items that I was in for a considerable eating challenge. The mac wasn’t a looker and was presented in a modish takeaway box. It did, however, pack excellent flavour and whilst a hefty portion was surprisingly light.

Pizza

Pizza

The pizza was a notch better, with a lovely soft egg at the centre, then cubes of lorne sausage, black pudding and haggis as topping. The baked beans and hash brown on the side were probably a step too far, but did add to the general craziness. It was extremely tasty, but the last slice was a little bit of a struggle. I made it, though, for two clean plates.

So overall, while I wasn’t overly taken with the place, I was a big fan of the food, both in terms of the idea and the execution, at McSorley’s. It represents pretty good value, so I can imagine it being quite a hit with the profuse nearby student population. I’ll visit again and would be happy to point you in its direction.

Scores
4/5 for food
3/5 for presentation
3/5 for setting
4/5 for service
giving an overall 14/20

I ate: classic mac n cheese; hangover pizza

I drank: McSorley’s ale

I wore: camel coat

Total bill: £11.50

McSorley's on Urbanspoon

Posted in pizza, pub grub, Southside | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Nonna’s Kitchen

Posted on April 10, 2015 by BKR

Time for lunch!

Time for lunch!

MJ and I visited Nonna’s Kitchen absolutely ages ago, but had a bit of a peculiar experience. A warmly friendly family run place, service that day drifted into the realms of the family bust-up, which whilst in some ways quite entertaining did have a negative impact on the overall experience. We made a note to visit again, and today I finally got round to making good on that.

I was joined by Colin, who had previously quested at Jake’s Place, and Jonathan, who was joining for the first time.

Melanzane

Melanzane

Jonathan has recently started a new business, the Edinburgh Watch Company, and taking his lead from those enterprising chaps at www.tieclub.co.uk, who provide ties to Lunchquest, had asked whether we might consider something similar to showcase his watches. Always happy to help out emerging local businesses, we chatted about how this might work as lunch progressed.

Jonathan was wearing a rather fine item called a Zenith, which apparently involved a chronometer mechanism of frightening accuracy (99.994% I believe). The dollar figure for a purchase is in the thousands, so bear it in mind for next time you’re looking for some serious wrist bling or when your kith and kin are approaching milestone occasions.

Scallops

Scallops

From the extensive menu of Italian classics, with specials recounted to us by waiter stalwart Jimmy, we settled upon scallops and aubergine to start, followed by fettucini and pizzas to follow.

As the flawless mechanism of the Zenith, long favoured by the folks at Rolex, whisked its way round, our starters arrived. I was really pleased with my aubergine dish, which hit all the right notes. Jonathan’s scallop dish looked plenty bonnie enough, too.

Fettucini al salmone

Fettucini al salmone

Colin was more than delighted to see main courses arrive. Our pizzas were of the light and crisp variety, with the toppings of sausage and pepper providing all the necessary pop. The fettucini proved overwhelmingly good. When Jonathan didn’t lick the plate, Jimmy enquired whether all was well. Simply it was too big and rich a portion but a lovely dish, nevertheless.

So overall, Nonna’s Kitchen served us very nicely. It’s the premier Italian location in Morningside, so has a strong and loyal following. I’d be happy to visit this smart and friendly place, again.

Pizza

Pizza

Scores
Blythe scores Nonna’s Kitchen
3.5/5 for food
3.5/5 for presentation
4/5 for service
3.5/5 for setting
giving an overall 14.5/20

Today’s questers were: Colin, Jonathan, Blythe

We ate: melanzane, scallops, pizza piccante (2), fettucine al salmone

We drank: trebbiano, water, coffees

We wore: stiped shirt, watches by the Edinburgh Watch Company including a beautiful 18k rose gold El Primero Chronomaster Moonphase by Zenith of Switzerland, and a rather lovely Rolex.

Total bill: £65.20

Nonnas Kitchen on Urbanspoon

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Posted in Italian, Morningside, pizza, seafood | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments