Giuliano's on the Shore, Leith, Edinburgh

By the time we reached Giuliano's, we were rat arsed.  We had a few drinks at Malmaison and then a few more at The Ship on the Shore.  Both places were lovely.  We were well oiled and in need of some tasty food to soak up the alcohol.  On our way to the restaurant we had a wee wander around Leith and spotted these cute cygnets with their parents...

When we arrived, they were fully booked but we decided to wait for a table to become free.  Luckily, after only five minutes, we were shown to our table.  The restaurant is larger than it seems from the outside, and is decorated just as you would expect an Italian restaurant to be.  Our waiter was friendly and welcoming.  

We shared Antipasto Misto (£9.90) to start.  Everything on the platter was delicious. I love a platter!  

Alan had Lasagne (£9.90).  I knew he would.  He has it whenever it's on the menu.  I love lasagne but I feel that I could easily make it at home so it feels like a waste of an opportunity to experience something new if I choose it when I'm out.  I had Paccheri di Branzino (£10.50) which was delicious.  I was surprised, but delighted, that it came with a with a great big prawn.  The pasta was the best I've ever tasted.  It did a fantastic job of soaking up the alcohol and although the dish was fairly small, it was filling.  

I was glad to have left some space for pudding though.  I ordered Tiramisu (£5.50) and it was massive.  I must admit, I like a little more alcohol in mine and a bit more of a coffee flavour too but it was still really good.  

I would return here.  It had a nice atmosphere and the staff were really friendly.  

The Newsroom, Edinburgh

We have visited The Newsroom a couple of times now, it's conveniently located just off of Princes Street.  This time we were here for a late lunch, a pint, and to escape the torrential rain.  We sat near the window and enjoyed watching the people outside get soaked as we were cosy inside, drinking beer and listening to the great soundtrack which was being played.  The guy next to us kept over-enthusiastically singing into his wife's ear, much to her annoyance and to our amusement.

Alan, as ever, had trusty old fish and chips (£12).  I must admit, I struggled to find something on the menu that I fancied.  A lot of the dishes on the menu just seemed a bit heavy for what I was after, considering we were eating quite late and would have supper in a few hours.  These are the sort of things Alan doesn't worry about.  He's always hungry, no matter what.

I settled for chicken wings (£6) with a side of chips (£3.50).  Neither of us were disappointed.  Our food arrived quickly and was hot.  The wings were tasty and juicy, covered in sticky sauce.  The chips were fat and fluffy, just as you would expect in a pub.  Good old 'pub chips'.

The cocktail menu looked really good with lots to choose from.  Next time I think we'll treat ourselves to a tipple or two.  We'll be back.

Ee-Usk, Oban, Argyll

This is a place I've been wanting to visit forever.  As I previously mentioned, we are fairly frequent visitors to the Oban area.  This restaurant is in the heart of Oban, right on the waterfront with beautiful views from the floor-to-ceiling windows of Kerrera and Mull.

I'm a seafood fan.  Alan isn't.  This is the reason we have not visited before.  I had actually convinced him to dine here last time we were in Oban but I had underestimated the popularity of Ee-Usk (NOTE TO SELF - MUST ALWAYS BOOK A TABLE IN ADVANCE).

We nipped into the restaurant prior to our wee jolly to Kerrera to book a table for when we came back.  As Monster in Law is vegetarian, she was a little apprehensive about eating here, worried that they may not have anything to offer.  In order to reassure her, we checked as we booked the table that they can cater for a hungry herbivore.  Yes, they can.  Great!

We returned from Kerrera roasting and ravenous.  I already knew what I wanted.  Seafood Platter, of course.  The £19.95 one, not the Grand Platter at £100.  I was hungry, not rich.  Although I'm sure it's probably good value especially if you get five times what I got on mine.  Also, it serves two people.  Totally justifiable.  I will bear this in mind for our next visit.  

I've never had an oyster before but had wanted to try one for years.  I was quite nervous about puking it up in front of the whole restaurant...but I managed not to!  Woohoo!  I enjoyed both oysters without either of them making a reappearance.  A great sense of achievement was felt.  

I already can't wait to go back.

Kerrera Tea Garden, Isle of Kerrera, Argyll

Today we went for a jolly to the Isle of Kerrera, which is just a very short ferry journey away from Oban.  There's not much on this wee island, but thanks to my Monster in Law's obsession with scones, she knew there was a wee cafe at the other end of the island and so we made this our objective.

The ferry itself was, I felt, quite expensive at £4.50 each for a return journey, however, the two chaps running the show were friendly and welcoming and I really enjoyed the short trip.  It seemed busy both times, mainly packed with folk like us, aiming for the cafe.

Oban from the ferry

The journey was quite spectacular.  We had been blessed with a temperature of 22 degrees, which is rather unusual in Scotland in the month of May...or actually, any time of year.  We got a few lovely photos of the scenery.

I had been assured that the cafe was roughly two miles from the ferry.  I enjoy walking, but I do prefer to be on the flat.  Unfortunately for me, the journey seemed to be mainly uphill.  In the heat, I was struggling!  I would normally be able to walk two miles in roughly half an hour, but this took us quite a bit longer, I think it was roughly an hour, even the dog was flagging.

The tea garden itself was nicely set out with quite a few tables in the sun, surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers.  You can't actually go inside the bigger house as this seems to be a staff only area.  Luckily it was a nice day, otherwise, I'm not sure where all of the customers would sit.  The inside area, in the steading-like building, only had three small tables, all occupied.  

I ordered a lemonade and a lemon drizzle cake, both sounded refreshing - I was clearly in need to some zing!  Monster in Law ordered a scone, but unfortunately they had none left.  The friendly hap who served us explained that this was due to a walking group having ransacked the place earlier.  Alan said that he thought that some staff members and many of their customers looked 'a bit vegan', and 'as if they might wear hemp shoes'.  As terrible as this is to say, I must admit, I knew what  he meant.  

The lemon drizzle cake arrived.  It was a good sized slice and very tasty.  I was pleased that it was, as I felt it was quite expensive at £2.50, however, I can understand that not only do they have a captive audience, but also have to struggle with the logistics of getting ingredients to stock the kitchen from the mainland.  We had a wee nosey in the bothy before we left.  It was nicely set out and looked well equipped with everything you might need.  Monster in Law vowed she would stay next time she visited, although I think she'll maybe bring ingredients for scones with her as a backup plan.

I was pleased that our return journey was shorter due to it being downhill, because I could feel I had been sunburnt on our way there.  I hadn't been prepared for sun in Argyll seeing as Aberdeenshire was a cloudy 13 degrees.  Lesson learned.  

Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary, Oban

We were lucky enough to receive a 'Breakfast with Seals' experience at the Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary near Oban as a wedding present from an old school friend,, David, and his lovely lady friend, Claire.  We have both been very excited about this.

We visit this neck of the woods a few times per year as Alan has family near Oban.  Granny Marie lives in Benderloch, and Auntie Mo and Uncle Colin are in Taynuilt.  Mo and Colin kindly let us stay at theirs when we visit.  It's a beautiful part of the country.  Unfortunately, the past few times we have visited it has been a bit dreich.  However, this weekend was a scorcher - 22 degrees at one point!  It was great to have such lovely weather as it meant we got a few good pictures of our wee trip.

There are four seals at the Sanctuary, three ladies, Lora, Pippa and Macey, and one gent, Boo.  Each of them have different conditions which mean that they would not manage to survive in the wild.  We were able to feed them their breakfast of herring and they did some wee tricks for us, including giving us both a big smooch on the head.  Alan likened them to 'sea slug dogs' and I think this summed them up quite accurately.  

We had cereal and a bacon roll for breakfast in the cafe, and then had a wee wander around the rest of the Sanctuary.  The whole experience was fantastic and I'd definitely recommend a visit.  The staff seemed very informative and it was mentioned to us that they are currently refurbishing many of the zones.  I'll look forward to seeing the progress on our next visit.  

Thanks David, Claire, Mo and Colin!