THE DHABBA GIVES GLASGOW DINERS A HEALTHY NORTH INDIAN ALTERNATIVE

Brown rice, wholegrain bread, homemade cheese all on the new healthier menu at Glasgow's authentic North Indian restaurant.

AUTHENTIC North Indian restaurant The Dhabba is ensuring its customers stay healthy with its own cheese making facility, the introduction of brown rice, wholegrain roti bread and extra vegetarian dishes on its new traditional menu.
The award winning Glasgow restaurant, which is celebrating its fifteen year anniversary later this year, is named after the wayside diners which dotted themselves throughout the highways and roads of Northern India. It's always offered something a bit different from standard Indian fare and has even made it into the hallowed Michelin Guide alongside its sister restaurant the South Indian gluten free Dakhin, also in Candleriggs. Restauranteur Navdeep Basi who began the business in 2002 said he's always tried to push the boundaries with the food on offer, whilst keeping customers tastes very much at the forefront of his mind.
Navdeep and his chefs who have sourced quality produce from local suppliers make their own in house paneer cheese which is said to carry a whole load of health benefits (see below) and unusual chutneys like apple and ginger and they regularly visit North India to check out the latest dishes.
Navdeep who will officially celebrate the restaurants fifteenth year in December said: "In 2002 we were the only restaurant that went against normal British restaurant operations in Scotland and at that time everything we did was completely different. We were the first restaurant to use the Indian name of Murg for our chicken dishes and Gosht for our lamb dishes. Other restaurants tried to copy some of the ideas from our menu but we've always endeavoured to keep ahead of the game."
Navdeep says trends are changing and since a large number of his customers are in the 30-60 year old age bracket he's keen to offer them the healthy dishes they desire.
He said: "The high fibre in brown rice and wile grain bread helps digestion, helps to lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, blood sugar levels and is a good source of necessary vitamins and minerals. It even helps to control weight.
Because so many people are body and diet conscious we've also introduced a vegetarian street food section to the menu with dishes like Bengun Bharta- large aubergines tandoori cooked and sautéed with onions, tomatoes peppers and peas and Makai Khumb, a mild dish with mushrooms, baby corn tossed with spring onions.
The new menu also boasts Dhabba favourite dum puhkt dishes with ingredients like lamb sealed and practically steamed in the cooking vessel.
There's also a new addition of Grilled Scottish Salmon in a red pepper and mustard seed sauce.
Navdeep said: "India now has TV cooking shows and there is fierce competition to come up with something original. My head chef JD Tewari was trained by celebrity chef Imtiaz Qureshi who is now 86 and has cooked on ministerial trips so we really strive for excellence in our cooking."

X FACTOR'S GAMU GETS FAIRYTALE ENDING WITH HER MAN

Former X Factor hopeful Gamu Nenghu has found a happy ending and is celebrating after getting married to her Scots sweetheart.
The Zimbabwe born singer, who was threatened with deportation along with the rest of her family following a bureaucratic immigration wrangle walked down the aisle in the UK on Sunday.
The scene was a picture of happiness as she and her Stirling born music shop worker husband Jamie Rintoul swapped rings in an intimate ceremony.
Gamu, who lived in Tillicoultry with her family before moving to London to become a stylist and make music with her and Jamie's band Sheltrs, first hit the headlines as an 18 year old contestant in X Factor in 2010.
She lost her place to Katie Waisel in the midst of an immigration row when it was revealed her family's visa application was submitted late.
At the time she pleaded with immigration officials not to send her and her family back to the lawless country under President Robert Mugabe.
She said she feared being killed by a death squad if she returned.
Most recently Gamu made a brief return to the public eye after presenter Rylan Clark launched a nationwide campaign to find her in the Xtra Factor.
Gamu said at the time: "To be completely honest I was trying very hard to pretend that the past 6 years had not happened. If you stopped me in the street and asked me if I was 'Gamu from X factor' I 99% probably would've said 'no' . And honestly if you do it now it might still be the same."
She added: "Sheltrs is a band made up of myself and Jamie.
We possibly don't quite know exactly what we're doing. But we do know what we love.
"Air Ballons is our first installation of a three song project that will be available for download in the next few weeks. Because I've realised that worrying about what we will become will not progress us further but will only succeed in holding us back." The two lovebirds have been dating since June 2015 and got engaged in September last year.

SOOTY TURNS SEVENTY AND REVEALS BIG MOVIE PLANS ON SCOTS TRIP

THEY were a stalwart of kids’ telly in the 70s and 80s.
Now loveable puppet duo Sooty and Sweep could be coming to a giant screen near you – if plans to make a movie about their exploits get green lit to mark their seventieth anniversary.
Richard Caddell – who’s the new man behind the puppets after buying the rights to the much loved children's character ten years ago for around a million pounds said: “We're working on a full feature length theatrical movie. It's been a few years in the pipeline but we are getting there. It's a multi million pound movie with big stars. It's a tough game the movie business which we are discovering, but it is a challenge we are winning."
Richard who doesn't want to go down the route of CGI believing it's very one dimensional and would be the 'final nail in the coffin' said: "It will be a real family movie with celebrity cameos. We plan to have it ready for next year's anniversary if not make it then."
And fans could get a taste of what they’re in for – judging by Sooty and Sweep’s appearance on STV 2s Live At Five on Friday, where chaos ensued.
Sooty began the carnage by spraying Gun rocker Dante Gizzi in the face with a water pistol and followed suit by soaking presenters Susie Cormack Bruce Ewen Cameron before Sweep gave Gerry Cassidy the same treatment.
During the popular dining segment of the show, the terrible two brought out pots, whisks, brown and red sauce, and flour which they proceeded to throw around the studio.
Susie Cormack's expensive skirt ended up with marks on it while every had flour in their hair by the end of the show.
At one point Sweep even managed to throw a pot across the table almost smashing a glass in the process.
The TV favourites were yesterday performing in Greenock at The Beacon Arts Centre before meeting up with kids after the show.
Richard said: "Sooty loves Scotland and we had a Scottish breakfast this morning and Sooty's favourite a Tunnocks caramel Wafer. Next year it will be the seventieth anniversary. Seventy years since Harry Corbett went to the North Pier in 1948 in Blackpool and saw a little teddy bear in a joke shop. He was very poor harry and just wanted a little teddy bear to entertain his children and he bought it and there and then Sooty was born.
Sooty was really called Teddy and he has yellow ears and Harry entered a talent competition on children's television. The TV producer said he looks like all the other joke shop teddies. You've got to do something and hastily they blackened his ears and the TV producer said you know what he looks a bit Sooty and they said there he was. And that was it.
Sooty is very excited about reaching his seventieth birthday next year. We are going to have a big party on the north pier of Blackpool and are going back there on July 17. There'll be a big party and show."

NEW EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW EATERIE VAPIANO LETS FUSSY EATERS ORDER WHAT THEY WANT

A new Italian restaurant which will allow picky customers to choose exactly how they want their food is coming to Scotland.
As well as being able to talk to their chef directly, and choose unusual ingredients like strawberries or figs in their pasta, they can also garnish their dishes picking fresh herbs from the numerous basil and rosemary plants dotted outside and inside the venue.
Vapiano restaurant already has around 190 venues around the world and plans another two - one in Edinburgh and another in Glasgow before the end of the year.
The German owned chain which has opened restaurants in five continents since 2002 and is a favourite with Corrie stars Tina O Brien and Brooke Vincent in Manchester promises to give customers more choice by preparing fresh food according to your wishes right in front of your eyes.
It means customers won't be able to complain that something is too salty, spicey, tomatoey, creamy, cheesy or that their pasta is too hard.
Vapiano means go slowly in Italian and customers can also ask for up to three times extra portions of beef, chicken, prawns and salmon in their dishes and even put ingredients from other dishes in their pasta if they want.
With a selection of pizzas, pastas, antipasti, salads and desserts on offer it puts food control back in the hands of diners.
Eleven types of pasta and fresh pizza dough are made daily in the premises and salad dressings, bread and dolce are also made on site too.
The restaurant, which is a favourite of wrestler David Hayes who obviously asks for double portions, will shortly open a three-floor, £1 million venue in Edinburgh's St Andrews Square also plans a Glasgow branch in the old Virgin Megastore building within the next few months.
Phil Sermon, Managing Director at Vapiano, said: "The Vapiano teams in Edinburgh and Glasgow are getting ready for opening, bringing the freshest range of pizzas, pastas, antipasti and salads to diners in both cities.
"The unique concept at Vapiano sees our visitors greeting their chef, ordering directly from them, resulting in a tailored dish made just how they like it! If diners want it extra spicy, add a touch more chili. Or if they want to really indulge in their favourite prawn dish, they can ask for a double portion. Once you're back to your seat, you can then pick additional garnish for your plate from the herb crates on the table.
"Whether you're wanting to grab a quick lunch to keep you going for the rest of the working day or you're heading out at the weekend for a relaxed meal and drinks with friends, Vapiano is perfect for a brilliantly fresh italian meal."

YO! JAPANESE FOOD VENUE OPENS AT GLASGOW FORT THIS WEEK.

 HERE'S a first look at the swanky new YO! restaurant at Glasgow Fort. 

The UK’s most famed Japanese food operator, will open a second new restaurant in Glasgow this week on Thursday 7th September, 2017.

Following the launch last month of YO! GLASGOW CENTRAL, in the heart of the city centre, the wildly popular brand is now about to open the doors to YO! GLASGOW FORT, the company’s fourth restaurant in the city.

Situated at the main entrance of Glasgow Fort, the new restaurant will have an outside seating area for al fresco dining (sunshine permitting!) – this area being a point of difference to all other YO! restaurants. 

What’s more, the expansion has presented an opportunity to employ new talent from the surrounding catchment area. Along with the experience of the team already in YO!, these new appointments will ensure YO! GLASGOW FORT has a strong local connection.

Culinary pleasure seekers can expect a perfect mix of YO! classics and newly curated dishes at YO! GLASGOW FORT including hot favourites such as Katsu Curry, Ramen & Miso, Yakisoba, Chahan, Teriyaki, Gyoza and Tempura, and delicious hand made cold Nigiri, Temaki, Sashimi, Rolls and Fresh Salads. In keeping with Glasgow’s ‘UK’s Most Vegan Friendly City’ status there are also an impressive 16 vegan and 29 vegetarian dishes.

 To demonstrate its commitment to Scotland, YO! is delighted to now be working with Scottish suppliers to source the best quality salmon fresh from the country’s shores. Only Scottish salmon is now 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, in open kitchens, and YO! GLASGOW FORT will be a striking scene in which to enjoy its carefully curated menu.

With its instantly recognisable bold orange YO! branding, YO! GLASGOW FORT has an urban feel, with the use of both concrete and brick wall-effect finishes, as well as ceramic tiling. Exposed end grain birch plywood to joinery and an accent of yellow running throughout the restaurant, adds warmth and vibrancy to the scheme. Booth seating following the full length of the arc, as well as full height glazing, maximises exposure to the bustling hub of The Fort. The restaurant’s industrial aesthetic is reinforced with all exposed services above and a deconstructed ceiling raft feature.

Inside, YO!’s legendary Kaiten belt snakes around the entire restaurant, allowing customers to grab the fresh dishes from their seats.

A new To Go menu will also be available in YO! GLASGOW FORT across both hot and cold dishes.

 YO! CEO, Robin Rowland OBE said,

“We are excited to announce the opening of YO! Glasgow Fort.

“We have been blown away by the response to our return to the city centre. Glasgow loves YO!...and the feeling is mutual.  

“The arrival now of YO! Glasgow Fort will be another fitting statement for the city and YO! fans can expect to enjoy all their popular favourites, as well as exciting new food offerings, and all set against a striking new design aesthetic.”

 Phil Goodman, Centre Director at Glasgow Fort, added:

“We are delighted to be welcoming YO! to Glasgow Fort in its fantastic custom-built unit.

“With a delicious menu and fun atmosphere, it is sure to be a hit with our customers visiting for our leading shopping and leisure offering.”

STILL GAME'S JACK AND VICTOR GIVES SCOTS PATIENT SPECIAL SUPPORT

A Scots hospital patient with a rare genetic disease was thrilled to bits when she received a get well message from Still Game's Jack and Victor.
Sharon McNeilly, 43, from Cumbernauld suffers from the rare condition Von Hippel Lindau syndrome, an inherited disorder causing multiple tumours, both benign and malignant in the central nervous system.
Only 4-500 people in the Uk suffer from it and symptoms of the condition include headaches, problems with balance and walking, dizziness, weakness of the limbs, vision problems, and high blood pressure.
Sharon who has already had four brain operations to remove rumours as well as spinal surgery is due to go in for adrenal and whippes surgery on Monday.
Her husband Andrew who is recovering from cancer himself bumped into actors Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill as they filmed around Glasgow this week and asked if they would send a special message to her.
The lads went one better by videoing themselves in character delivering a humorous get well message that looks like an excerpt from Still Game.
In their message Greg says: "Hello Sharon we hear that you are recovering from a major operation."
Ford adds: "We're here to say we're wishing you all the well in your recovery and we hope that you're Still Game."
Greg then continues: "That's right Make sure you get lots of rest and that this dumpling makes all your teas and all your dinners and all your breakfasts. Get your goonie on, your telly on. Get well soon darling.
And Ford who then jokingly breaks his walking stick in half chips: "Otherwise I'll be snapping the stick.
Sharon who managed to get home for a few days from hospital before the big op said: "I can't stop smiling about this. Ford and Greg are absolutely fantastic and I've been a fan of Still Game ever since it first was performed as a stage show years ago. I'm absolutely over the moon that I have a personalised Jack and Victor message."
Sharon's husband Andrew added: "The lads were only too happy to put a smile on her face in between filming. I've had a similar operation to my wife's when I had cancer and I know it's a big op. She had to take time off her job at SSE Scottish Hydro as a result of her illness and had been trying to stay positive throughout this. Ford and Greg really managed to make her smile with their unique message."
From Scotland with Love - theshowbizlion.com
Excerpts of this article have since appeared in the Sunday Post.

STYLISH TERRACE OPENS UP AT GLASGOW HILTON GROSVENOR HOTEL

GLASGOW'S Hilton Grosvenor has revamped it's lounge area to offer the elegance of yesteryear combined with a contemporary twist.

The Terrace is the name of the elegant champagne, afternoon tea and cocktail lounge at the famous hotel where you can experience the unique character of the West End. 

And the stylish Terrace will be opened on Fridays and Saturdays from 5pm onwards with afternoon tea being served on Saturdays from 12 midday till 5pm.

There are private pods where you can cosy up for a romantic date, hold an important apres work business meeting or fun party  with friends. 

The hotel can even close off one of the rooms if you want an extra special private party. 

A live pianist also adds it the sophisticated charm of the traditional venue while a DJ will ramp up the sounds at dusk. 

Champagne and cocktails are very much encouraged the later it gets and cakes and tea are also served up along with sandwiches and minced pies. 

It's the perfect place to unwind after or during a crazy day and next month - October - it will be open every day from 10am.