Aberdeen restaurant Week 2020Aberdeen Restaurant Week is almost here, and if you're still figuring out where you to go, then maybe I can be of some assistance... As I mentioned in my previous blog, as part of my duties as an Aberdeen Restaurant Week Brand Ambassador, I was asked to review Angus & Ale, ahead of ARW kicking off. On a similar theme to last year, where I previewed the Hop & Anchor - a beer and a burger seemed to be on the cards, which having been to Angus & Ale previously, I was more than happy about. Angus & Ale can be found in the Adelphi, on the Castlegate end of Union Street, operating out of the old Adelphi Kitchen premises, following their move from Schoolhill a while back. Angus & Ale is a haven for Aberdeen meat lovers, with them promising dry aged beef, on the bone for a minimum of 28 days, which guarantees melt-in-the-mouth, juicy burgers. Inside, we were greeted by our waiter (pardon me, for forgetting to ask his name!) and we were shown to our seats; a cosy booth beside the window. The restaurant already had a few occupied tables, with people eating and chatting away, which was good to see. The restaurant has a "traditional/rustic" feel with the decor consisting of tartan cushions and up-cycled wood panelling on the walls. After giving us our menus, our drinks order was then taken and I was able to choose from an expansive beer list, brimming with local beers. I opted for M'ango Unchained from my local favourites, Brew Toon - easily one of my favourite beers brewed in Aberdeen. If I had to pick up on one tiny fault, I think that the tables, certainly our one, could have done with a little TLC - the paint was kind of all flaked off and it felt slightly sticky. But that is a minor point, and even then, I'm probably just being picky. The FoodThe menu that Angus & Ale have put together for #ARW2020 is simple, but that doesn't take away from that fact of how appealing it looks. Offering 3 courses for £20, you can also opt for 2 courses for £17, although in my mind, £3 is small change when it comes to getting one of those starters or desserts. My eyes were instantly drawn to the Smoked Scotch Egg, and the Schoolhill Special. Kerry went for the tomato & parmesan soup, and the habanero chicken burger, and we opted to think about dessert later... The starters arrived shortly after, and I could not believe my eyes. The scotch egg looked absolutely incredible, and it was HUGE! I wasted no time in getting stuck in, and it did not disappoint one bit; the outside was crunchy, the filling (haggis and sausage meat) was full of flavour, and the egg itself was perfectly runny. Paired with the smoky, fruity HP sauce, it was the perfect starter - it was almost an entire meal in itself and I can't recommend this dish enough! Kerry's soup was packed full of flavour - it was creamy, wholesome, and the starter to choose for those wanting to save room for their main course. Starters out the way, it was now time for the main course. As I said earlier, I decided on the Schoolhill Special, which is a quiet nod to the old home on Schoolhill. Consisting of the signature 28 day dry aged beef, highland cheddar, bacon, onion rings, burger sauce, mustard mayo, lettuce & tomato, all sandwiched between a brioche bun and skewered with a sliced pickle - this burger was a towering sight to behold. Wow. Accompanied with a generous portion of the house rosemary fries, they were also kind enough to throw in a side of the gigantic onion rings for us... as if we didn't have enough food already! Kerry's habanero chicken burger, whilst not as immediately intimidating as my burger, still looked great - with perfectly charred, grilled chicken breast poking out the sides of the bun. I'm normally a pick up a burger and just go for it kind of guy, but I had to be sensible here, and opted to cut it in half to tackle it - which should you decide on this yourself, I'm sure you will agree was the right choice. With so much going on inside, it can sometimes be difficult to appreciate all the flavours, but that definitely wasn't the case here; the beef was cooked perfectly, and full of flavour, the burger sauce gave the right amount of tangy zing, the mustard mayo giving a hint of heat, the bacon added a smoky layer and the onion rings added a nice crunch to it all. I'll be honest - it was hard to eat, and I didn't finish it all, but I really enjoyed it. It was delicious. I really enjoyed the rosemary fries, they tasted great, and I finished the lot. The onion rings were also excellent, but proved to be slightly too much for us - the were gigantic after all. I didn't taste the habanero chicken burger myself, but Kerry assured me it was super tasty, and thankfully, wasn't quite as spicy as the name suggested. Finally, it was time for dessert. After a mammoth two courses so far, we decided that we'd probably only just about manage to share one dessert between us. So we opted for the Banoffee Sunday - because that was right up our street. It arrived fairly promptly, and looking rather delightful - a mason jar, filled with layers of whipped cream, caramel & vanilla ice cream, banana sauce, sliced banana and shortbread, topped off with a sprig of fresh mint. It was absolutely as delicious as it looked, but ultimately it was too much for us, and we never quite managed to finish it off... We were offered a tea/coffee/hot chocolate to finish the night off, but we politely declined and decided to be on our way, after a fantastic meal. Thanks to Angus & Ale for a great evening! The VerdictOverall, I was really impressed with what Angus & Ale had to offer. For £20, I think that their menu is absolutely phenomenal value for money - with huge portions, and great flavours, combined with a fantastic selection of local beers. As far as burgers go, Angus & ale are right up there with the best in the city, and in my opinion, they are well worth parting with your hard earned cash for. Be sure to check out the rest of the ARW Brand Ambassadors blog posts and get yourselves booked up! #ARW2020 #comedinewithus https://aberdeenrestaurantweek.com/
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Guess Who's Back...Like Phil Mitchell making a dramatic return to Albert Square, Aberdeen Restaurant Week is back, and better than ever for 2020. I had SUCH a blast being part of the Aberdeen Restaurant Week Brand Ambassador team last time, and I was absolutely delighted to be asked back again this year to be part of such an awesome team of bloggers. I'm sure most of you know the deal by now, but in case you have a foggy memory, and need reminding - I am here to give you all the details. There's also some new aspects to ARW this time round, so if you were planning on stopping reading here... then think again! What?Easily one of the most anticipated events of the Aberdeen City social calendar, Aberdeen Restaurant Week (ARW) is back for its fifth iteration. Coordinated by Aberdeen Inspired, ARW is a week long celebration of the amazing food scene that we have here in Aberdeen (don’t try and tell me we’re not spoilt for choice!). The restaurants that chose to take part, offer up specially curated menus at discounted, affordable prices throughout the week. When?ARW will run from Monday 24 February to Sunday 1 March 2020 - so there's still plenty of time to invest in a new pair of eating jeans... Who?With almost 50 venues taking part, you really are spoilt for choice. Regulars such as Cafe Boheme and Chaophraya are joined by newcomers such as The Esselmont, Mac's Pizzeria and Namaste Delhi. There really is something for everyone. You can check out the full list of restaurants taking part here. How Much?Menus will range from £10 for a two course lunch, and £20 for a three course dinner - so everything is extremely affordable. There are also tasting menus and afternoon tea options available. What's New?You may have seen a sneak peek of this on my Instagram last week, but in a new addition for 2020, ARW has teamed up with Grampian Escapes & Tours to bring exclusive food tours to the event. These tours will offer a unique insight into Aberdeen's street food scene, as well as offering up a little of Aberdeen's food history. Each tour will last around two hours, and will cost £34, and will need to be booked in advance. Check out the ARW website for more info, as well as tour times and dates. Also new for 2020 is cookery classes. Alongside established favourites such as Chaophraya and Namaste Delhi, Pasta at Aberdeen Indoor Market are also offering you the chance to hone your pasta making skills. The prices, and times for these prices vary, so head on over to the website to grab all the details. Any Recommendations?Last year, I had an awesome meal at both The Hop & Anchor, and McGinty's Meal an' Ale and both of their menus are looking just as good this year. For a bit of a twist, the Hop & Anchor have gone full plant based with their £20 menu, which is again paired with a flight of beers. I also really like the look of Melt's menus, and you can't go wrong with pizza at Mac's. Shahbaaz Tandoori and Shri Bheema's are also both sure to offer up fantastic Indian meals too. I'm going to be eating at local favourite Angus & Ale, which I'm rather excited about because their menu looks great. Keep an eye out on my Instagram this Thursday for a sneak peek, as well as my full review next week. So there you have it - everything you need to know about #ARW2020 in bite sized chunks. Do you have any more questions? If so leave them in the comments below. Feel free to let me know where you're planning on eating too 🍽
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