Week Thirty Eight
Bonjourno readers and I must apologise for the lack of entries recently. The reason for this hiatus was similar to what many other talented authors have suffered from. The thing I had dreaded since starting this blog in week 1. The wretched writers block. But fear not fans and let off a huge sigh of relief, I have overcome it and I am now back doing what I love. Entertaining through the power of words.
This week I ask you to cast your heads back to September where I had a trip up to Scotland to watch the Ryder Cup. What a weekend it was.
Special guests include: Ed Cracknell, Freddie Allen, Tom Strickland, Tom Goldwater, Jack Goldwater and Charlie Banks
Summary of Meat Bar
Name: The Meat Bar
Type: Restaurant
Location: 142 West Regent Street, Glasgow, G2 2RQ
Website: http://www.themeatbar.co.uk
Date Visited: 25/09/14
Price: Phenomenal value
Rating: 3.95/5
Review
It was the night before day one of the Ryder Cup and I had just arrived in Glasgow to meet Ed Cracknell, who had kindly offered me a free ticket to this magnificent sporting event. Before going to bed nice and early in anticipation of the following day, it was time for some dinner. While Ed had been waiting for me to arrive from London, he had been doing some research on good restaurants in Glasgow. The Meat Bar was chosen and off we went.
After getting a bit lost for a bit we eventually found the restaurant and took our seats at the highly recommended Meat Bar. This place is like the Scottish version of Bodeans and on arrival we were quickly greeted by the waiter who seated us and subsequently served us for the rest of the evening with impeccable service, the lad was very switched on. He gave us very good advice on what to order from the menu and served us a variety of craft beers which were all exceptional.
Mr Cracknell, the man responsible for my Ryder Cup weekend. Bigup yourself!
The food itself was extremely tasty and god did we order a lot of it. We had many sides and small platters, which went with our pulled pork (what else?!) burgers, which were also accompanied with 3 or 4 beers (wahey!). This meant we left the place feeling extremely full and very satisfied. In addition, the atmosphere of the place was decent and so was the decor.
The impressive restaurant although not displaying its famously good atmosphere here
Meatbar was yet another place I had been to in Scotland, which was situated in the lower ground floor (basement in my eyes) of a big town house style building. Not sure if that made any sense but this does seem to be the common theme in Scotland, as pretty much every place we went to in Edinburgh (See Week 20: http://newplaceeveryweek.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/week-twenty-trip-up-to-scotland-and-big.html) also seemed to be situated in the basement. Maybe I'm exaggerating slightly but the fact that the place is lower ground floor, I do actually think adds to the ambience and atmosphere.
Anyway enough rambling and I must say both I and Ed were very impressed with this place, as it came to roughly £30 quid a head and we had a hell of a lot of food and beer (hey hey you nutter!). Waiter was very impressive and the only criticism of the place was that we woke up the next day with what felt like a stinking hangover. This couldn't be the case as we hadn't had any more than 4 beers (child's play), so we came to the conclusion that the salt content of these dishes must be at a dangerous chelterstol high.
A lot of sides as per usual
Tidy little joint this but just make sure you regularly hydrate or you'll suffer the next day.
One of the many (3) beers I had that evening
Summary of Gleneagles
Name: Gleneagles Golf Course: PGA Centenary Course
Type: Luxury Golf Resort
Location: Auchterarder, Perth and Kinross, PH3 1NF
Date Visited: 26/09/14
Price: Can't beat free
Rating: 4.85/5
Review
Despite suffering from the worst meat hangover I have ever had, we still managed to wake up at 4.00am to make sure we were able to catch the first park and ride to the course. This was to ensure that we could get our places in the grandstand to watch the first tee shot of this years Ryder Cup. We didn't quite catch the first bus going to the ground, mainly due to a taxi driver who refused to go above the speed of 60mph on the motorway and his strange inability to read the heavily signposted 'Park and Ride this way' signs.
However we must of been on the fourth or fifth bus on its way to the course and on arrival, we jumped off the bus and sprinted to the first tee. Ed's girlfriend/wife/boss Charlie Bank's was part of the team that were responsible for organising the whole Ryder Cup. 4 years of hard planning to put on the greatest show sport has to offer? Well played.
Due to this inside knowledge, Ed knew exactly where the first tee was, so we were able to get one of the last remaining seats in the grandstand due to our raw pace demonstrated from the bus. It was 6am asd we stood there for 2 hours while the sun rose and the atmosphere built. The players then came out and it was without doubt the most electric atmosphere I have ever been part of at any sporting event.
The first tee at Gleneagles. Special stuff.
After watching all the tee shots we left the grandstand and quickly went to say hello to Banksy (Ed's girlfriend not the inconspicuous graffiti artist). She then proceeded to give us the best advice which sorted us out for the rest of the day. Her advice (take note golf fans) is to go to the viewing position at the 7th, as you can get right by the green. The other place is in between the 15th and 16th, here you will see the matches come to a close while having perfect viewing positions of both greens. It was superb.
Ian 'Mr Ryder Cup' Poulter in action at the 7th
The phenomenal setting on the 16th Green
It was truly one of the greatest sporting days out I have ever hard. The course was stunning, the setting magnificent and the whole place has been designed perfectly to ensure everything is within a short walk away. The games itself were very close and exciting which added to the occasion. We then bumped into Tom and Jack Goldwater after the final thrilling match which concluded with a stunning Garcia Shot. After that came to a close it was off to the beer tent for post golf celebrations.
Big Phil.
The live band playing in the middle of this marquee was a band fronted by Eddie Jordan from Formula 1. I kid you not. It was quite an interesting experience. Eddie was loving it and worked the crowd like a pro.
The main man Eddie Jordan.
It was a fitting way to finsih a truly great day. Gleneagles golf course/resort, what a magnificent beast it is, even if it is in the middle of nowhere. Thanks Miss Charlie Banks for not only giving me the free ticket but for sorting us out all day. Magnificent.
Summary of Tony Macaroni
Name: Tony Macaroni
Type: Italian Restaurant
Location: 133 West George Street, Glasgow, G2 2HG
Date Visited: 26/09/14
Price: Decent
Rating: 2.6/5
Review
I am not going to be able to give this an absolutely glistening review as we only came in here for a quick pizza before bed. Strickland and Freddie Allen had joined us, as they were watching day two with Ed, while I was shooting off the following day back to London. Strickland had chosen the restaurant, as he fancied an Italian and he picked a restaurant with a name which sounds like something straight out of the Sopranos.
Ed and I were relatively shattered. Walking around for 18 holes 4 times, does take it out of you I tell thee. We decided to skip starters, order pints of coke and a pizza each. The pizza I went for was the Tirolese, which is tomato sauce, mozzarella, italian sausage and french fries. Chip pizza basically. Perfect.
Unfortunately the pizza wasn't perfect. It was ok but I felt the chips were slightly undercooked. Everyone else seemed fairly content with their and the place itself, although lacking atmosphere, was nice.
It is your classic average italian. Nothing spectacular, even if it did have a pizza involving chips on top. Inspired.
Summary of Fratelli Sarti
Name: Fratelli Sarti
Type: Traditional Italian Restaurant
Location: 133 Wellington Street, Glasgow, G2 2XD
Website: http://fratelli-sarti.co.uk/index
Date Visited: 27/09/14
Price: Well priced breakfast
Rating: 3.2/5
Review
After spending the night on the concrete floor of the hostel we were all staying in Glasgow, I woke up early and relatively hungry. The reason I was on the floor, was because the personnel in my 12 man communal hostel room was questionable to be polite, so I stayed on the other lads room concrete floor. I woke up the following morning with a back problem and a few hours to spare before my train home to London. I decided to set off and find myself some breakfast.
Eventually I found one which wasn't too far from the station and the menu looked relatively half decent. This cafe was again situated in the lower ground floor (standard!) and had a very Sicilian feel to it. The waitress was very pleasant and I ordered the scrambled eggs and italian sausage. This wasn't the best, as the sausage had been cut up to a similar size to hundreds and thousands. That said the Latte, which was with it, was very nice and the food wasn't too bad.
Dining alone selfie. New craze I'm starting
The whole meal came to under £10, which I did find impressive. Despite tragicallly eating on my own, I did actually really enjoy my visit to this place and the Sicilian feel to it along with the nice atmosphere made this lonesome visit far from awkward. Well not that awkward.
Special Shoutout
Winner: Charlie Banks
No contest this week. I mean who else was going to bag themself the highly coveted award of special shoutout. Not only does Charlie deserve to be in this section for being part responsible for organising the phenomenal Ryder Cup itself, but she sorted me a free ticket for too! For that alone I am extremely grateful. However on top of that she gave us advice on where to watch the best golf, she provided us with a free goody bag (included commentary link, flag, programme, etc...) but she topped it off by getting us free lunch. Well done Charlie and thank you very much for a great weekend. Ed, also it must be mentioned, thanks very much for the invite too. Congrats Mr and Mrs Cracknell. x
Winner: Charlie Banks
No contest this week. I mean who else was going to bag themself the highly coveted award of special shoutout. Not only does Charlie deserve to be in this section for being part responsible for organising the phenomenal Ryder Cup itself, but she sorted me a free ticket for too! For that alone I am extremely grateful. However on top of that she gave us advice on where to watch the best golf, she provided us with a free goody bag (included commentary link, flag, programme, etc...) but she topped it off by getting us free lunch. Well done Charlie and thank you very much for a great weekend. Ed, also it must be mentioned, thanks very much for the invite too. Congrats Mr and Mrs Cracknell. x
Poem Advice
Are you in Glasgow
Searching for a Bodeans style place
Meatbar it is then
Although the salt levels make your heart race
Are you in Glasgow
Searching for a Bodeans style place
Meatbar it is then
Although the salt levels make your heart race
Golf or a sporting fan
Then Gleneagles it must be
The best atmosphere I've been too
No word of a lie from me
A Classic Italian restaurant
Tony Mascaroni is another
The pizza's ok
from Tony Sopranos brother
Fratelli Sarti for breakfast
for that Sicilian feel
Perfect place to eat
If its just you having the meal
Ladies and gentleman, thanks again for reading and especially to those who have read this week who don't like sport or don't like Scotland. I am back in London next week and the writers block appears to have disappeared. Well lets hope so. Your support during this dark time was noted.
Thanks folks.
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