A couple of months back, the 5pm Dining blog ran an interview with Rahul Randev who, along with his brother Bubbles, runs The R Group.
Oregano at The Eagle Lodge, Rasoi and Garvie and Co are all R Group restaurants.
Part of the interview centred around The Grove and The Larder, two new venues which the brothers were developing.
Last week, The Larder opened at Kirk Lane in Bearsden. We understand that, all being well, The Grove will open later this month.
Fine food, small plates, pudding
The venue can be summed up pretty neatly by its strap line: ‘Fine food, small plates, pudding’. To which we might add cocktails, coffee, fresh baking, lots of photos of Bearsden, a wide wine list and plenty of draught beers including Menabrea and brews from Drygate.
The food is designed for sharing and grazing with three plates per customer as the recommendation.
The menu is split into sections such as The Yard, The Field, The Garden and Something Sweet.
Pulled duck with mango
The Yard means poultry such as pulled duck with mango and coriander or roast chicken with corn and crispy ham.
The Field section yields dishes like pork cheek with black pudding and pear or the lamb loin with olive and tomato.
There are interesting veggie options like the avocado, sherry and smoked paprika or the carrot velouté with labnah and dukkah.
Desserts are sometimes overlooked but that’s not the case at The Larder where, among other options, guests can tuck into a caramel mousse with banana and pecan or a chocolate delice with popcorn and milk.
Ken McCulloch interview
On an unrelated note, the latest edition of Dram magazine is out today. Editor Susan Young has done a great interview with Ken McCulloch, a man who has contributed much to Glasgow’s hotel and dining scene.
Mr McCulloch is the man who started the Malmaison chain and the Dakota hotels including the shiny new Dakota Deluxe in Glasgow.
He also had a major role in famous Glasgow venues such as Charlie Parker’s, La Bonne Auberge and One Devonshire Gardens.
McCulloch was one of the first people that this 5pm Dining blogger interviewed when I was a very wet-behind-the-ears journalist.
He indulged my daft questions and gave great quotes which were peppered with fun stories – a habit which, judging from Susan’s interview, he has stuck with.