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July 1, 2010
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Ruya Iridag and Stuart Anderson have got each other's back in Nargile

There’s big news brewing in Glasgow for next week (think Jamie) but, at the mo, all the goss is happening in Edinburgh.

Turkish restaurant Nargile has just re-opened on Hanover Street after a mahoosive refurb.

Named after the Turkish waterpipe also known as a shisha, Nargile is being run by Ruya Iridag and her partner and chef Stuart Anderson. Ruya is the daughter of Yusuf and Karen Iridag who founded the first Nargile restaurant in Aberdeen in 1983.

Meze, the myriad different starters popular in much of the Med and Middle East, are the big seller.

‘Our menu comprises several contemporary twists on traditional family recipes, using both local and authentically sourced ingredients, all freshly prepared on the premises,’ says Ruya. ‘And the nature of meze means that we can cater for any customers with special dietary requirements, from vegetarians, vegans, celiac sufferers and anyone with particular food allergies as it can be modified easily to suit their tastes.’

The Evening News is reporting that two former Ramsay chefs are to open their own place in Edinburgh.

Matthias Llorente and his wife Roisin, both former employees of Gordon Ramsay, are taking over the Olive Branch Bistro on Colinton Road.

The paper reports that they will continue trading under the Olive Branch name until August when they will rebrand as Bia Bistrot.

Hats off and a warm welcome to new 5pm members, Les Escargots Bleu and Blanc.

France may have made an unexpectedly early exit from the World Cup but, unlike Les Bleus, L’Escargot Blanc has not gone in the huff but is still running their World Cup promo: £20 for a three course surprise menu plus a comp bottle of the house red or white if there are four or more of you dining.

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Les Bleus may have bombed but L'Escargot Blanc and Bleu are still running their World Cup promo