WE love it when a new restaurant opens up in Scotland and theshowbizlion.com is going wild about the launch of Edinburgh's Vapiano.
The global restaurant biz is set to open its latest slice of the Italian dining phenomenon in the Scottish capital this October, bringing its relaxed and easy-going approach to Italian food to the heart of the capital, and creating around 50 jobs for the city.
St Andrews Square is the location of the restaurants first Scottish venue, in an 8,770sq ft. space over three floors, with Finkernagel Ross the lead architects using the classic Vapiano design.
If you've not tried it, the restaurant offers you the chance to order directly from chefs while they make up your meal right in front of you.
For control freaks and fussy eaters like theshowbizlion.com this is the perfect thing and it means customers get the freshest range of pizzas, pastas, antipasti and salads at the made fresh in front of them.
Founded on a love of honest, good and supremely fresh food; Vapiano presents a laid-back vibe, with large, long oak tables, each with their own herb garden. Classic favourites join new takes on the irresistible Italian menu, and the bar area is a natural place to enjoy the company of friends.
At the end of each diner’s visit, payment is made via the smart-card system, which sees everything added to your card as you order. Before you leave the restaurant, you’ll also be treated to a spoonful of yummy gummy bears, a sweet treat to round off your visit to Vapiano.
Phil Sermon, Managing Director at Vapiano, said: “Edinburgh has one of the greatest restaurant scenes in Europe so we’re thrilled to be joining it. This is a city that enjoys eating out and we can’t wait to welcome new customers through the door. We’re also delighted that our opening will be creating 50 new opportunities for people to develop great careers in hospitality.
“According to an Italian proverb, ‘If you have an easy-going and relaxed approach to life, you’ll live more healthily and longer.’ This is the attitude that Vapiano lives and breathes. We hope our new customers relax into our new home and enjoy the abundance of delicious Italian dishes.”
The first Vapiano restaurant opened in Hamburg, Germany in 2002. Since then, the business has developed a portfolio of 186 Vapianos in 31 countries on 5 continents, and is popular with young workers, students and celebrities alike. The new opening in Edinburgh will be the first in Scotland and the fifth in the UK, following London and Manchester.
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Other winners on the night included Scottish mindreader Colin Cloud who recently wowed Mel B on Americas Got Talent by telling her what she had for dinner, and Neil 'Wee Man' Bratchpiece who won an award for best writer.
More than 170 nominations were received from across the Scottish comedy industry in January and subsequently whittled down by a panel of 10 comedians to be judged by those those in the industry.
Alan Anderson organiser of the night said: “2016 was a stand out year for Scottish Comedy. Richard Gadd being the first Scot in 29 years to win the Edinburgh Comedy Award was without doubt the highlight. There is a great pool of talent on the stand up circuit with the likes of Susie McCabe and Scott Agnew finally reaching the potential we have all predicted. On the radio, BBC’s Breaking The News has also given a break to several excellent Scottish comedians and writers proving that we can do satire better than London. However it’s on the small screen that Scotland is experiencing a vintage period thanks to the brilliant UK wide response to Scottish shows such as Two Doors Down, Scot Squad and Still Game… not to mention the juggernaut that is Frankie Boyle."
Theshowbizlion.com met up with Fernando near his home in Valencia to give him a special present of a personalised front page of The Sunday Post before we headed to the party with him in Benidorm.
Fernando summoned all his strength to attend the birthday bash. In the days before the event, he said he had had some bad days but that the love of the fans gave him the power to go on.
In the weeks running up to the event had also asked bar owner Wilma Wallace to make everyone feel relaxed and to help raise money for his MND charity The Fernando Ricksen MND Foundation.