SCOTS ITALIAN RESTAURANTS BEAT ENGLISH FOR TOP HONOURS

Two Scots Italian Restaurants have beaten their English counterparts by being nominated for the Italian food Oscars. 
Glasgow’s own Oro restaurant in Kilmarnock Road joins Edinburgh’s Locanda De Gusti in being nominated for a trophy at the Melius Ristorante awards -rewarding the top 100 restaurants outside of Italy. 
And while Scotland has two nominations, England only has one - in the form of restaurant Beck at Brown’s in London. 
Scots chef Domenico Crolla said: “Every time I’ve competed in the U.K. for the past ten years Scotland has always done better than England whether it’s a pizza or restaurant contest. Scotland has always beaten England.”
Domenico reckons Scots restaurants are better rated because they are owner run.  
He said: “We have a culture of owner run restaurants here including Indian, Chinese and Italian which are all operated by the owners who offer an authentic experience. 
Other restaurants from Dubai and China are one the list so to be on the same list as them is quite an honour.”
Domenico can’t wait to represent Scotland when he visits Rome on October 29 for the awards ceremony. 
He said: “I don’t have the legs for a kilt but I’m looking forward to it. All the restaurants are of a high standard and it’s going to be close competition.”

GLASGOW PIZZA RESTAURANT WINS AWARD FROM ITALIAN GOVERNMENT

Scots Italian restaurant ORO has been named as one of the top seventy restaurants with pizzeria in the world by the Italian Government.
The stylish South side restaurant at 85 Kilmarnock Road is owned by Glasgow restaurateur Domenico Crolla. 

The name means Gold in Italian and it’s particularly fitting now that Domenico and his wife have been awarded a gold True Italian Taste award by the authorities in Rome. 

Domenico who has hit the headlines around the globe with his pizza portraits and use of gold leaf in his cooking, always planned to set the gold standard in Scots Italian food and he’s thrilled to make the list alongside some of the world’s top Michelin starred restaurants. 

Domenico who has just returned to Scotland after picking up his award at a prestigious ceremony in Rome’s three Star Michelin restaurant Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria over the weekend said: “We are now officially recognised by the authority and ministers of economic development in Italy and are in the top seventy pizzeria restaurants in the world out of an incredible 32 countries.  I’d like to thank all our customers, staff and chefs. Without them we wouldn’t have made it.”

Restauranteurs from as far afield as New York to Tokyo, from Dubai to Oslo were presented with their prize by Italian TV presenter Fabrizio Nonis while Michelin  Three-Star Chef Heinz Beck prepared the winners meal.

Domenico said: "Gold plays a large part in our interior design and of course we use some gold leaf in pizza toppings and other dishes but the name choice is more because our food is to a gold standard.”

The difference is our ingredients. Our chefs are brilliant but I do the buying of ingredients like the chicken and veal so I can guarantee the quality of our meat and that it's additive free.
ORO is my baby and I eat here, and my children and family eat here. If it's good for my family it's good for your family.  That's the definition of a family restaurant."

AMERICAN PIE SINGER AND YOUNG LOVER SETTLE FOR PIZZA IN GLASGOW

FORGET American Pie - it was pizzas all round as US singer Don McLean showed off his 24 year old girlfriend during his trip to Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The legendary 72 year old is dating Playboy model Paris Dylan who is 48 years his junior and they looked loved up during their Scots visit.
Don told his crowd at the Royal Concert Hall that love was the most important thing before he emerged from the building with Paris by his side.
Don chaperoned Paris to his awaiting Phoenix tour bus before deciding to go on walk about for his awaiting fans.
A smiling Paris got hold of some pizza that had been delivered to the bus minutes before and made sure she watched Don every step of the way.
As she tucked into her cheesy slice at the side tour of the bus a cheery Don joked with fans about how much he loved Glasgow.
As he reached the far end of the queue Paris strolled through the tour bus to the drivers end to keep watch on her man.
Asked if he was enjoying his new romance, Don declined it answer but it was clear to see they both only had eyes for one another.

Excerpts of this article have since appeared in the Daily Record

XFACTOR HOUSE TOO HEALTHY FOR RYAN AND EMILY

Exclusive
Beverley Lyons
Emily Middlemas and Ryan Lawrie admit they are fed up with healthy eating in the X Factor house and just want some junk food.
Asked if they were cooking for one another in the house Emily revealed: "No we don't cook dinner for one another. We have a chef.
Ryan quipped: "Thank God."
But he added: "It's all too healthy. We don't have any fried stuff or anything. We want a big chippy from Glasgow.
Emily laughed: "Yeah, we want a big burger. We need pizzas."
Emily said of her time in the house.
She enthused: "It is amazing honestly. Every single contestant is so nice and there for each other. Everyone is so lovely and we all get on really well. I was expecting it to be cat fights but it's not like that at all. Everybody is so nice and we are really enjoying ourselves. It's good."
Ryan added: "It's amazing. We just support each other and focus on what we are here for which is to perform every week and do the best we can and when we get some spare time we like to chill out and spend some time together which is nice and is a bonus".
The new Jukebox feature will see the song themes for the following week being decided via a spinning wheel on the show. Themes up for grabs include Oscars, Boy Band vs Girl Band, Disco, Motown, 80’s, Divas and Louis Loves (the Louis Walsh collection).
Emma said: "It's crazy cause you never know which theme it's going to land on so it's really exciting."
Ryan admitted it concerned him adding: "It's scary cause all the genres are not something I would do. It's not really my kind of music. It'll be a really big challenge to try and adapt to what it is."
Ryan added: "It feels so amazing we wanted Scotland to get everyone behind us and hopefully get the votes in so we can stay a bit longer. It doesn't usually happen to someone like me. Coatbridge is not one of those places you get a lot of opportunity. I'm just holding it with both hands and hopefully am not going to let it go for a while."


- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com