Glasvegan Grub with Banter and Bargains

Hiya, I'm Adele and I love a bargain. I'm always keeping my peepers peeled for what's cheap, free or good in Glasgow and I can always be found rummaging in charity shops. If you fancy following my patter, I'm @bargainburd on Twitter and you can have a swatch of my blog, Banter and Bargains.

Glaswegian vegans (or Glasvegans, as I like to call them) have never had it so good. Peta named the city the most vegan-friendly in the UK and there are lots of lovely vegan restaurants to choose from. Here are my recommendations of where to go and when, for food that will please your palate and purse.

Cosy and quirky Stereo is the place to be on Meat Free Monday, when you can have five of their tapas dishes for £12. Options include sweet potato chips, tempura and spring rolls, which normally cost £3.75 each, so it’s well worth visiting for a Monday meal. Stereo’s soup and sandwich deal at £6.50 is also worth a try, as they bake their own organic bread and always have a pot or two of hearty soup on the go.

The Flying Duck is well worth a visit on Taco Tuesday and for only £2, you get two tacos, filled with homemade vegan chilli, plus some fresh guacamole, salsa and nachos. It’s unbelievably amazing value and it’s a lovely place to while away an afternoon, playing one of their many board games or having a wee read of one of their books in the homely kitchen bar.

I absolutely love Mono and their genius of a chef has managed to veganise all my old fat favourites, such as burgers and doughnuts, which many a vegan would ordinarily mourn. I highly recommend visiting on a Wednesday, as you can get a beer and burger for a fiver and OH what a burger it is. This seitan burger comes in a seeded bun, with all the gherkin, ketchup and mustardy trimmings and is served diner-style in a wee plastic basket. It is, without a doubt, THE best veggie burger I have ever eaten and is the closest you'll get to the real thing (it's actually better).

On Thursdays, The 78 hosts its weekly Dutchy Pot event, where there's a set menu of cheap and comforting food, which is full of goodness and entirely vegan. The last time I went, the menu consisted of kale, spinach and coconut soup (£2) which was absolutely delicious, followed by Jamaican bean stew with quinoa (£5), with sides of chunky chips or flatbread (£2) and some gorgeous ginger and chocolate cake for dessert (£2). The staff were relaxed and friendly and added to the pleasant experience where the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, with dim lighting, old records and comfy armchairs that wouldn't look out of place in your own living room.

I was surprised to see that the #Glasvegan hashtag didn’t exist and I was also pretty gutted to discover I didn’t invent the word. Anyway, #Glasvegans, where are you? Get involved!

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Are expensive products the way forward? The Naked Palettes with My Name is Jilly

I'm Jilly from mynameisjilly.blogspot.co.uk and today I've been given the chance to write a guest post for the ScotBlogger's page and I am so excited! I hope you enjoy!

So, I'm a bit of a saver when it comes to money. I usually save up my money in my bank account and spend it often but in small amounts (£5 here, £10 there...) At the start of 2014, I made a vow to invest in some more expensive products in order to get my value for money and to try out a little bit of luxury for a change. So I bought both Urban Decay Naked Palettes in one go. I immediately regretted it. I walked out of Debenhams in Newcastle with my head held high, but I was secretly dying on the inside. I had just spent £74 on two makeup palettes in one go. I was mad.

The next day, I had completely changed my mind. I had woke up the next morning thinking about how I deserved a treat and how gorgeous the palettes were and I realised, it's my money! I was in the situation where I could afford to spend the money and now I am so glad I did! I bought Naked 2 and Naked 3 and I use them every single time I do my make up. My favourite shade in the Naked 2 palette is a gorgeous gold colour called Half Baked and my favourite shade in the Naked 3 Palettes is a beautiful pink/purple shade called Buzz. The packaging is so luxurious and I would say that it's understandable that they are £37 each as they seriously feel expensive and look amazing too.

So if you are currently stuck in a dilemma and don't know whether or not to believe the hype; take my word for it. I may have been scared at first, but now I realise it was one of the best purchases I have made in the past year. Are expensive products the way forward? In my opinion, yes! Save up and get your moneys worth, because in the long run, it feels fabulous. Have you bought any of the Naked Palettes recently? Why not comment below? 

So thank you to ScotBloggers for giving me this amazing opportunity and I hope that you've enjoyed this post too! Why not follow me on twitter @mynameisjilly too to keep up to date with my work with ScotBloggers!

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5 Places to Go for a First Date in the 'Burgh With D&A

Going on a first date can be incredibly stressful; sometimes the stress of preparing for a date can last longer than the date itself. The prospect of having to impress someone new is daunting and going to a place with a comfortable atmosphere can make everything a little bit easier. Considering that quite a number of people now meet their dates via social media outlets (like OkCupid and the oh so wonderful Tinder), we think it’s also probably best to meet in a place with a lot of people so you don’t end up on the BBC’s nightly news (just in case).

Edinburgh’s a city with a large number of great places to get to know someone new. Depending on whether you want to go out for coffee, drinks or a fun activity, the following options are our top picks.

Coffee Date: Fredericks Coffee House

(30 Frederick St, Edinburgh, EH2 2JR)

With its open and airy atmosphere, Fredericks Coffee House sets the scene for the start of a budding romance. Choosing a non-corporate chain gives you major street cred, and saves you the trouble of having to speak over noisy children and whirring barista gadgets making blended ice coffee drinks. Located between Princes and George Street (not tucked away in an obscure part of the city), the café’s location offers the option for a) a quick escape if the date is a dud, or b) various nearby venues to continue the romance. With an abundant selection of coffee and tea, in case espresso gives you too many jitters, the beverages are sure to please.

Drinks and Dinner: The Holyrood 9A

(9A Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8AE)

Choosing a restaurant for dinner can be stressful- if you choose a place that is too extravagant, you may set the bar too high, but if you choose somewhere with poor service and a cheap atmosphere, you run the risk of dooming the date from the start. The Holyrood 9A is a perfect solution to the restaurant selection crisis- the restaurant boasts an upscale atmosphere but a reasonable price point. The burgers are great, the salads are great (if you don’t feel like devouring a cow in front of your recently-made acquaintance), and the beer and wine selection is even greater. The volume is perfect for conversation, without feeling like the table next to you is hanging on to your every word. The lighting may be a bit dim at times, but why not? It’s in the name of romance, right? And if you spill ketchup on yourself, maybe your date won’t see.

Just Drinks: Dragonfly Cocktail Bar

(52 W Port, Old Town, Edinburgh EH1 2LD)

Edinburgh is not a city short on selection of cocktail bars, but Dragonfly stands apart from the crowd due to its quirky atmosphere and unique crowd (both of which are great conversation starters). The bar staff here has created a well-curated menu, allowing you to partake in one of our personal favourite activities- evaluating your compatibility via cocktail choice (which we don’t recommend as the primary means of choosing a significant other). Dragonfly is relatively small, but is located near Grassmarket, in case you want to continue your barhop to other venues, or if you care to meet up with your friends post-date.

Lunch: Chez Jules

(109 Hanover St, Edinburgh EH2 1DJ)

Upholding the French legacy of romance and a refined culinary tradition, Chez Jules is a taste of Parisian ambiance in the heart of Edinburgh. The restaurant has a decent lunch special from 12pm-4pm, with a casual café atmosphere. This is the perfect place to impress your date with any French skills you may have (but please, don’t try to fake it, you’ll only embarrass yourself). Another positive note- the house red wine is an enjoyable selection over which to unwind and start a stimulating conversation.

Something to do: The Stand

(5 York Pl, Edinburgh, EH1 3EB)

If strictly food or drinks isn’t quite your thing, try checking out The Stand Comedy Club. With its reasonable prices and (hopefully) funny comedians, going to The Stand can eliminate the awkward silences that a first date can bring by giving you a set time to get to know each other over drinks before the show, and something to talk about afterwards. The comedy club does not have a drink minimum, but remember to bring cash, as card is not accepted. Be sure to check the line-up and ticket bookings at The Stand.


We wish you the best of luck in your romantic endeavours, and remember, there are plenty of fish in the ‘burgh.


For more recommendations of where to go and what to do in Edinburgh, check out our blog at expatyourself.tumblr.com 

Glasgow Food Geeks Top 5 Restaurants in 2013

Pam here or you may know me as the Glasgow Food Geek. I started my blog about 6 months ago when I moved from the suburbs to the West End of Glasgow and started to eat in some incredible restaurants in the city. I started to take notice of the amazing food blogging community in Glasgow and decided I wanted to get involved - and never looked back.

My Top 5 Restaurants in 2013

Sometimes it can be a little overwhelming deciding where to grab a bit to eat in Glasgow, there are so many outrageously delicious restaurants that you just don't know where to start. Here is a quick guide on my favourite eating spots of 2013.

For Weekend Brunch - All Star Brunch
All Star Brunch is exactly what you’d expect from an American brunch bar – it has a small open kitchen area and the seated area is small but not overly cramped. It’s not designed to linger for house but it is more than perfectly pleasant and lovely surroundings to hang out for an hour or two eating and catching up with friends.

They make an absolutely cracking Caramel Latte and the OJ is squeezed fresh to order. Food wise my favourite dish from All Star Brunch has to be The Eggs Maryhill - it is 2 mammoth doorstop slices of brown bread topped with sliced cheddar cheese, potato scone, black pudding, poached eggs and lashings of hollandaise sauce. You only need to use one word to describe this dish Delicious!

For Steak on a Saturday Night - The Butchshop & Grill

Located at 1055 Sauchiehall Street The Butchershop it is a fairly unassuming restaurant from the outside the interior however has a very masculine edge. The pure white tiled walls, dark wooden floors and brown leather booth make the restaurant feel quite vintage. The lighting is very industrial looking which is very on trend in West End eateries. Like I said very masculine & quite a sexy little restaurant which made me feel like I was in Downtown Manhattan.

I could rave about the food here endlessly and have never had anything bad from their menu - word of warning tho if you and your date don't like steak this is not the place for you as non-steak options are limited. Also, if you can try to persuade the deliciously hot staff to make you a Parma Violet cocktail - It is one of my personal favs.

For Saturday Lunch - Bread Meats Bread

I was so obsessed by the food here that I barely took notice of my surrounding, I can however tell you that the interior is very on trend with reclaimed wooden booths, neon signs and metal stools. My absolute favourite feature is the giant windows looking out onto the street – they add a really lovely buzzy urban city vibe to the restaurant which I loved.

The food here is absolutely sensational and pretty reasonably priced. Some of my favourite dishes here include the House Blend Burger, Sweet Potato Fries (best in the city), The Triple Cooked Chips and absolutely anything that comes on one of their Potato buns which are incredible. I have also heard very good things about the Poutine too.

This is a must try restaurant for me.

For a casual unplanned meal - The Richmond

I visited here in my first few days as a west end girl and I loved the vibe of the bar instantly. You can tell that some serious money has been spent creating the cool American 1920 swinging style. With its gorgeous floors, comfortable seating and glass bar I can imagine walking through the door wearing a gorgeous bejewelled flapper dress and ordering a Southside Cocktail during the prohibition.

I have eaten so much of this menu already and could name a lot of must try dishes. In the lead however is probably the sensational mac n cheese which is without question the best in the city, it's the perfect combination of light, cheesy and creamy goodness. Also worth a very noble mention is the sweet potato chips, the Chicken Cesar Salad and their Burgers.

For a Burger - Ketchup on Ashton Lane

Located on the uber cool and trendy cobbled Ashton Lane it is situated perfectly for a West End bite to eat. Inside is a homage to a cool modern American Diner with a black and white checkered floor, red booths and high tables dotted around.Now if you’re not into burgers this is absolutely not the food spot for you. There are beef burgers….chicken burgers….lamb burgers…fish finger burgers….burger…burgers..bur…. you get the idea! Now what really really peaked my interest was that you can upgrade any beef burger to a Kobe beef burger, I love Kobe steak so this was a must for me - and was seriously tasty.

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