Before the blog signs off for 2010, here’s the final part of our culinary round-up of the year. Happy New Year!
September
The Saint opened in the former Mamasan premises in Glasgow.
Whites, a new hotel kitchen sitcom, starring Alan Davies launches on BBC2. It’s very good.
Allan Mawn launches his Criterion cafe bar on Dumbarton Road; it’s an homage to Glasgow’s Scots-Italian caffs.
Edinburgh’s Sheraton celebrated its 25th birthday. You check the 5pm deals at its Santini restaurant here.
October
Having opened in the summer, Glasgow’s Pelican restaurant starts to make a noise for itself with a positive Joanna Blythman write-up.
Glasgow’s famous Rogano restaurant celebrates its 75th birthday.
The Birdcage restaurant in Eskmills, Musselburgh joins 5pm.
Andy Knight, manager of the Hamilton branch of DiMaggio’s, gives one of the year’s most notable Chewing the Fat interviews when he opens his heart to the 5pm blog and tells us about his Bad Ass Wings addiction.
La Garrigue appears on Ramsay’s Best Restaurants and bookings soar. Rumour has it that Jean-Michel Gauffre plans to turn L’artichaut vegetarian restaurant into another La Garrigue.
November
The Tiki Bar and Kitsch Inn opens on Bath Street in Glasgow. Could this spark a craze for Hawaiian-themed bars?
The Dining Room on Glasgow’s Bath Street shuts but Tapela, a Spanish tapas restaurant opens in its place. Jim Kerr, the former chef at The Dining Room, sets up Balthassar in the Merchant City with restaurateur Alan Tomkins.
The Anatolia Grill, a new Turkish restaurant joins Glasgow’s 5pm members.
Hyde Out bar opens in Edinburgh.
Shabu Natarajan, chef de partie at the Mezbaan South Indian Restaurant in Edinburgh is named the South Asian Chef of the Year 2010 in the South Asian Chef Challenge.
The Trip was a brilliant TV show about Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan doing restaurant reviews for The Observer. While giving the show great write-ups, many TV critics pondered just how much acting Brydon and, especially, Coogan had to do.
December
The cocktail world is turned on its head by the launch of the Sean Batty Latte, a new cocktail from the Lansdowne Bar which was inspired by the STV weatherman.
Rumours that the cocktail is to feature in the next Bond movie cannot be confirmed as we prepare to post this blog.
The papers are speculating that Jamie Oliver may open a branch of his Jamie’s Italian in Edinburgh.
Glasgow’s top curry chefs scoop the Curry Capital of Britain Award for Glasgow for the fourth time. The Glasgow restaurants chosen by the public to represent the city were Mr Singh’s India, Balbirs, Koolba and the Mother India Cafe.
The revitalised Glasgow Restaurant Awards are held. The Herald reported on the event here.
That’s all folks. Have a spectacular weekend.