Curry was much in the headlines in the final part of the year.
In Edinburgh, The Kismot restaurant made news around the world when its Kismot Killer curry hospitalised diners taking part in a curry scoffing competition.
While the story was covered everywhere from New York to New Zealand, the best headline was thought up much closer to home. Congrats to the Evening News sub editor who came up with: Dial naan, naan, naan.
On a less happy note, at the beginning of November, Glasgow just missed out on the Curry Capital of the Year Award to Bradford, an event in which the city has a great track record.
The final quarter of the year saw the UK Michelin Guide being published in October rather than the usual January. The new guide was mixed news for Scotland.
][4]Castle Terrace was awarded a star as was Glenapp Castle in Ayrshire. Martin Wishart at Loch Lomond was also garlanded with a star which will sit nicely with his existing star for Restaurant Martin Wishart in Leith.
Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles maintained its two stars and Stravaigin in Glasgow was awarded a Bib Gourmand for good food at a moderate price. The Plumed Horse and Champany Inn lost their stars. Scotland now boasts seventeen Michelin stars.
][7]In Glasgow, Viva Brazil hosted a glitzy launch with samba dancers and many, many cocktails. Converted from a former post office, the 240 cover restaurant is based on Brazilian churrascaria or barbecue restaurants.
Kuta, named after a Balinese Island replaced Tapela on Bath Street. Pan-Asian food and cracking cocktails are the draw at the stylish new hangout. The latter part of the year also saw Vespbar, a retro Italian caffe bar, open on Drury Street and Mackintosh’s bar on Cambridge Street had a revamp before relaunching as Jackson’s Drinkmonger.
Stepping away from the bar for a moment, Gandolfi Fish opened Gandolfi Fish To Go which promises seven different kinds of fish supper. We also saw the launch of Little SoHo in Jordanhill. It’s the newly arrived little brother of the city centre SoHo pizzeria.
December saw the opening of the bungo bar and restaurant in the Southside. It’s the brainchild of the team behind the two figs and the left bank in the West End.
On St Vincent Street in Glasgow city centre, Martha’s a new fast casual restaurant opened. Inspired by new openings in America and, more recently, London, the fast casual concept aims to combine high quality produce with fast food speed and convenience.
Although not a restaurant, perhaps one of the biggest food stories in Glasgow was the arrival of Whole Foods Market in Giffnock. An American supermarket which aims to have a rigorous ethical sourcing policy, they make big efforts to work with local producers.
In Edinburgh, Tony Singh’s Oloroso celebrated the 10th birthday of his rooftop restaurant and several new restaurants launched. Already established as part of the curry landscape in Glasgow, Kama Sutra opened its first Edinburgh branch on Lothian Road.
Just as welcome was the return of Khushis. Their old premises on Victoria Street were badly burned in a fire three years ago but their new outfit on Antigua Street is going great guns.
At the other end of town, the Restaurant at the Rutland became Kyloe, an upmarket steak restaurant and, just around the corner, Edinburgh’s first branch of Wagamamas opened.
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