111 BY NICO DELIVERS WITH A TREAT OF A TEN COURSE TASTING MENU

A ten course tasting menu is the stuff of dreams when you’re a foodie like me and I was thrilled to try out the 

brand new menu at 111 By Nico. 

With high style, and a unique sense of whimsy, the new ten-course tasting menu which launched on Friday September 6th will only be available every Friday and Saturday in the restaurant located at Cleveden Road in Glasgow's Kelvinside. 

Each dish was suitably different but combined well to make you feel full and satisfied at the end and not overly stuffed. 

Amongst my favourites were the duck liver parfait delivered in a golden egg presented on its own nest of straw and grass which was suitably moreish.

The sole was also a must try with orange instead of lemon delivering citrusy notes on a creamy shellfish bisque. It was light and frothy. 

I also enjoyed the white polenta which was akin to a mushroom risotto with a taste of truffle and aged parmesan. It was rich but the smaller portion size meant it wasn’t overbearing. 

The desserts were delicious and special mention goes to the gingerbread and cheese combo which was classily candied with nuts and fruits. 

Chef Nico Simeone said;

"At 111 by Nico it has always been important for us to offer an affordable dining experience without compromising on taste or portion size and the new ten-course tasting menu will take it one step further, elevate our TRUST offering and showcase some extra special food for guests to enjoy every Friday and Saturday."

Dishes on the ten-course menu include Potato Terrine - Black Garlic Emulsion, Ewes Cheese; Golden Egg - Duck Liver Parfait, Yellow Peach Comote, Brioche Espuma;

 Mackerel - Cucumber, Greengage, Elderflower, Dill & Buttermilk; Beef Tartare - Oyster Emulsion, Crisp Tongue, Pickled Shallot; White Polenta - Aged Parmesan, Chestnut Mushroom, Truffle; Sole - Orange, Braised Fennel, Shellfish Bisque; 

Lamb Flank - Tomato Compote, Olive, Ricotta, Artichoke Barigole; Turnworth - Spiced Ginger Bread, Golden Raisin, Candied Walnut; White Peach - Woodruff Cream, Almond, Peach Consommé and Strawberry - Yoghurt & Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich. 

Nico continues:

"We want to constantly push boundaries with our food concepts and we believe 111 by Nico is like a fine wine – it gets better with age. This new ten course menu is a perfect showcase for our chef's creations and of course, the challenge now is that we have to deliver for our guests".

The ten-course menu offering will sit alongside the restaurants much-loved TRUST tasting menu - an immersive experience where guests choose from a list of 12 ingredients. 

Never the same dinner twice, 111 by Nico's TRUST menu begins with an amuse bouche highlighting local ingredients, then guests enjoy individual courses such as pasta, lamb, asparagus or fish - the options are endless. The six course tasting menu ends on a sweet note with a decadent dessert and available at 111 by Nico every Tuesday - Thursday and all day Sunday. 

111 by Nico has cemented itself as a restaurant brand with an ever changing innovating dining experience, not scared to make changes and cut through the noise. The ten-course tasting menu is priced at £40 per person with a matching wine flight priced at £35 and available every Friday and Saturday only.  . 

FIGO’S IS BRINGING ITS FIRST PERI PERI RESTAURANT TO GLASGOW

A brand new Peri Peri chicken place is coming to Glasgow’s South Side  - and it’s the very first of a new Scots owned chain.
Signage is now up for Figo’s Peri Peri at 178 Kilmarnock Road, Shawlands and according to owner Ahmed Iqbal, 38, it’s set to open its doors next week.
Ahmed, who previously owned Cafe Amirah on the same site, reckoned it was time to update his offering and now plans to roll out another five Figos restaurants and takeaways across Scotland over the next five years.
He said: “Over the last six months my business partner Adil Saleem and I have extensively travelled around the U.K. looking at different Peri Peri chicken restaurants and we think we have something exciting and new for our customers.
Our business is different from other chicken franchises because we have the option to change around the menu to suit our customer’s demands.  We can also be creative with our recipes and dishes and can offer specials at different times of the year. We are already looking at a second opening next year and for three to five venues around the West of Scotland and Edinburgh over the next five years.”
The flavourings for the Peri Peri chicken at Figo’s are made fresh daily which means they won’t lose their quality of taste.
Ahmed said: “Many restaurants use off the shelf flavourings which lose their quality of flavour after a few days of being opened but we use fresh ingredients every day. One of our unique flavours is our chilli, garlic and herb sauce which has been made to perfection.”
Ahmed added: “We want to create an atmosphere where people feel right at home when they come to eat here. It is not just a fast food joint and the experience is important. We have a very family friendly atmosphere and offers personal service with a bit of banter for our customers.”
Tables have been imported from France and other fittings have been specially made.
The full menu is still being finalised this week but Ahmed says there will be lots of loaded fries as well as steamed and grilled vegetable options for those who are diet conscious. All meat will be Halal.
He added: “We have our own unique style of doing things. One of the loaded fries options includes a chopped up hand crafted burger served up with a mix of our house made sauce, peppers, onions and melted cheese.
“Our burgers use locally sourced beef and are handmade from scratch using quality ingredients. We have lots of veggie options and are looking at gluten free and vegan options for the future too and our main dishes will average around the £5 to £7 mark.”
The venue seats twenty people and Figo’s will also be delivering via Uber and it’s own app on a few weeks time. (Sponsored)











From Scotland with Love Theshowbizlion.com

CELEBRATE THE FULL MOON WITH A CHINESE BANQUET FROM GLASGOW’S JIMMY LEE

I had my first taste of moon cake to celebrate the Chinese full moon festival at Lychee Oriental on Tuesday.  
(Please don’t confuse moon cake with space cake - they are both very different things! and the moon cake was sweet like a pastry made of tablet.)
I enjoyed a full five course banquet prepared by telly chef and all round good guy Jimmy Lee at the restaurant.
It was a real delight with everything from an incredible Ginger Broth Congee (like savoury porridge but so moreish) , to Crispy Wontons with Soy Butter Dip, Five Spice Beef Flank Stew with Pak Choi and Steamed Rice, and sweet dessert of Hong Kong Peanut Butter French Toast with Banana Fritter.
Jimmy is a a real whizz when it comes to cooking - and I’m so glad he quit his job in financial services to become a master chef.

This September, people around the world will celebrate China's Mid-Autumn Festival, or Moon Festival. As the last days of late summer fade and the leaves on the chestnut trees begin to turn a golden brown, families come together in the cool, crisp air to enjoy a feast under the glow of the full moon. Red lanterns strung with riddles dance in tree branches, while the sweet fragrance of osmanthus flowers wafts through the evening air.

Lychee Oriental Head Chef, Jimmy Lee has created an impressive five-dish 'Chinese Moon Festival' menu that includes, Ginger Broth Congee, Crispy Wontons with Soy Butter Dip, Five Spice Beef Flank Stew with Pak Choi and Steamed Rice, Hong Kong Peanut Butter French Toast with Banana Fritter and finally, Chinese Tea served with traditional Mooncake.  

It is available at £30 until October 25 and theshowbizlion.com gives it a massive thumbs up.

YO! GLASGOW CENTRAL FLAGSHIP STORE WILL PLEASE EVERYONE INCLUDING BOOST SCOTTISH FISHERMAN

JAPANESE food lovers will be in their element with the brand new flagship YO! restaurant in Glsgow City Centre - and Scottish salmon suppliers will be thrilled to bits too.
With 72-covers in a historic listed building at 85 West George Street the Yo! Glasgow Central restaurant will serve a perfect mix of YO! classics and newly curated dishes including hot favourites Katsu Curry, Ramen & Miso, Yakisoba, Chahan, Teriyaki, Gyoza and Tempura, and delicious hand made cold Nigiri, Temaki, Sashimi, Rolls and Fresh Salads.
The restaurant which has just opened its doors this week also serves up a brilliant 16 vegan and 33 vegetarian dishes.

Theshowbizlion.com has always loved a bit of the exotic and we will be first in line to try the amazing range of grub on offer.

Is it just us who gets excited at watching the endless conveyor belt of food? We feel like we're playing a game we always win when we eat at YO!
We'll let you know how we get on with the latest dishes shortly.  We've always loved the salmon sushi dishes but can't wait to try out some of the new hot food on offer.
 To demonstrate its commitment to Scotland, the restaurant is working with Scottish suppliers to source the best quality salmon fresh from the country’s shores.
In fact from July 2017 only Scottish salmon will be served in YO!’s 78 restaurants across the UK.
YO! is one of the only high street restaurants that freshly prepares its dishes on site, and this year is celebrating twenty years of being in business.
 Set within a prominent historic listed building, the new Yo! retains, and indeed showcases, much of the original cast iron frames, both internally and externally.
A striking new glass facade will overlook the bustling hub of Nelson Mandela Place along with a further glass impression running the length of the building on the West George Street adjacency, and leading to a bright welcoming main entrance.
We managed to spot some of the original signage for the place while it was being refurbished.

Inside, YO!’s legendary Kaiten belt will frame the central theatre kitchen and snake around the entire restaurant, allowing customers to grab the fresh dishes from every seat.
Elsewhere, standout design features carrying distinct Japanese references include a stunning Origami-inspired ceiling as well as ‘Shoji’ screen-inspired cladding to the internally illuminated belt.
A new To Go menu will also be available across both hot and cold dishes.
YO! CEO, Robin Rowland OBE said: “We are thrilled to confirm YO! is returning to Glasgow city centre. YO! fans can expect to enjoy exciting new food offerings, as well as all their popular favourites, enjoyed off YO!’s legendary signature conveyor belt, and set against a cutting-edge restaurant interior.
“YO! Glasgow Central will be a fitting statement for a city we have a fantastic history with.