Textures of Strawberry at La Stella- bavarois, lemonade, powder, syrup, muffin, meringue & clotted cream ice cream.
1 month ago
Oysters, mussels, langoustines, scallops, monkfish, seabass, tuna, halibut, cockles & clams….on on La Stella fish specials today & tomorrow.
3 months ago
Afternoon all! And my, what a beautiful afternoon it was! You’d be forgiven for thinking it was the beginning of Spring today, definitely put a smile on this Aberdonian’s face.
With Spring in mind the new lunch and Creations menu’s for La Stella and The Courtyard are in the process of finalisation. These menus will go live very soon and I am drooling with anticipation. Keep an eye open for the updated Spring menus around the 5th March using the following links. So excited!
http://www.thecourtyardaberdeen.co.uk/menu.html
http://lastella.co.uk/menu.html
Something else quite exciting is just around the corner for all you lucky Aberdeen diners with the announcement of Aberdeen’s first pop up restaurant at The Athenaeum Bar & Kitchen. Le Petit Paris will be featured from 14th, 15th and 16th April with an authentic French theme running over the 3 days, think laid-back, vibrant and impromptu - a snap shot of the Parisian scene made famous by writers, poets, patrons and lovers alike. The venue will evoke a chic Parisian bistro bringing a taste of gourmet French cuisine to Aberdeen. This event is by tickets only (evenings 7pm-10pm) which are £45 per person including a 4 course extravaganza and half bottle of wine each. There will also be a lunch menu available (12-3pm) and will feature typical French favourites. Representing the very best of Beetroot Restaurants and bringing something a wee bit different to Aberdeen this is an affair definitely not to be missed! Tickets will be available from the venue as of 3rd March.
A great talking point over the past couple of weeks here at Beetroot HQ has been the new wine list which has been going down a storm at The Courtyard. Phil Scott our newly appointed Assistant Manager and Sommelier, formerly of Wine Importers, has written a list to match all our Creations and mirror the a la carte menu. This is great news for all wine connoisseurs and also helps out those of us with limited wine knowledge! This is something I believe to be quite special in Aberdeen and has been received with rave reviews. Again check out the website for a peek at the wine list.
Why not enjoy this beautiful weather while it lasts and book a table at The Courtyard for lunch this Saturday with a few tables still available. Go on treat yourself to a fab meal, and here are a few of the fish specials available to temp you, yummy!
SHETLAND BLUE SHELL MUSSELS
A Big Pot of Creamy Garlic Mussels cooked with, Cream, Smoked Bacon & Cider
PAN FRIED KING SCALLOPS
Sweet Potato Fondant, Smoked Bisque, Potato Lace
THE COURTYARD POSH SCAMPI:
Panko Breadcrumbed Monkfish Tail with Handcut Chunky Chips & Tangy Tartare Sauce
CRISPY SKIN SEA TROUT
Beetroot Mash, Smoked Mussel Cream Sauce & Cucumber Spaghetti
PAN FRIED SEABASS
Spiced Cumin & Pumpkin Risotto, Sweet & Sour Shallots & Chestnut Puree
POACHED HALIBUT
Purple Potatoes, Red Wine BurreRouge , Crispy Salsify
Also listen out on Original 106 this Friday and grab yourself an amazing bargain for La Stella, vouchers for £50 worth of food are available to purchase for just £25! Last week’s deal for The Courtyard sold out super fast so be sure to get up early and don’t miss out. Vouchers go on sale tomorrow morning at 8am. Get yours here,
http://www.fabfoodfriday.co.uk/
And as always folks you can call to book a table at
The Courtyard 01224 589109
La Stella 01224 211414
The Athenaeum 01224 595585
Remember you can always contact me via email with any queries or ideas for this blog mrsbeetroot@hotmail.co.uk
Speak soon!
Lynsey
3 months ago
3 months ago
If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.”
- ERNEST HEMINGWAY, to a friend, 1950
Welcome to Le Petite Paris, French Pop up restaurant taking over The Athenaeum Aberdeen.
London has enjoyed a burgeoning pop-up restaurant scene of late, and now we’re bringing the formula to Aberdeen, to launch the first of it’s kind to the city.
Headed up by Beetroot Restaurants’ multi Award winning Head Chef Chris Tonner, this event will faithfully recreate the ‘joie de vivre’ of Paris in the roaring 1920s.
Join us for three short days and nights, where you will be thrust into a scene from the wickedly sophisticated and morally bankrupt Paris of the era.
The mood will be laid-back, vibrant and impromptu - a snap shot of the Parisian scene made famous by writers, poets, patrons and lovers alike. The venue will evoke a chic Parisian bistro witha flavour of the Post-war excess, self-indulgence and sophisticated social scene-making of ‘l’Années Folles’.
Bringing a taste of gourmet French cuisine to Aberdeen, the imaginative set menu will represent the very best of the Beetroot Restaurants. The drinks lists are being completely rewritten to further immerse the senses into the artistically rough-around-the-edges Paris, with absinthe and chartreuse cocktails the feature.
Le Petite Paris at The Athenaeum will open for service on Saturday April 14th to Monday April 17th 2012. 12 noon.
The lunch menu (12-3pm) will feature a menu of typical French favourites.
Table bookings can be made either in person at The Athenaeum, or over the phone on 01224 595585.
Dinner (7-10pm) will be a gastronomic four course dinner with canapés and petite fours. Dinner service is a tickets only affair, and is priced at £45 per person, including wine.
Tickets will go on sale on Saturday 3rd March in The Athenaeum 11am, and can be bought either in person, or over the phone on 01224 595585.
Parisian sophistication and attire is fully encouraged!
The Athenaeum, 5-9 Union Street Aberdeen.
T. 01224 595585
e. bar@theathenaeumabedreen.com
3 months ago
Matthew Dakers, Brand Ambassador of French cult liqueur Chartreuse, is hosting a five course fine-dining experience at The Courtyard Restaurant. This age-old herbal elixir was first produced back in the 1700’s, and has inspired executive chef Chris Tonner of Beetroot Restaurants to co-curate this evening, alongside 10 Dollar Shake’s Adrian Gomes.
The set menu is £50 per head with places are extremely limited. All reservations require a 50% deposit. To book your place, please phone: (01224) 589109.
3 months ago
Good evening to you all! I can’t quite believe its February already, soon it will be springtime and these bitter cold days and frosty evenings will be but a distant memory. In the meantime to warm your cockles on these chilly nights I’m going to share a recipe for a spicy chilli con carne which can be served simply with boiled rice or why not try layering with the salsa, nachos, and sour cream to make an amazing finger licking sharing dish for all the family. This recipe comes to you from our head chef at the Athenaeum Bar & Kitchen David Pringle.
CHIILI RECIPE feeds approx 6 people
500g good quality steak mince 1 large onion finely diced
3 chopped garlic cloves 25g smoked paprika
25g chilli powder 25g ground coriander
25g cumin powder 2 tins chopped tomatoes
2 pints beef stock I raw grated beetroot
Fresh oregano/basil Salt & pepper
I tin kidney beans (optional) 1 fresh chilli
Fry the chopped onion and fresh chilli (seeds on for super spiciness) in a pan with a little oil until soft. Add the mince and cook until the mince is well browned. Add the chopped garlic, smoked paprika, chilli powder, coriander and cumin. Cook slowly on a low heat for 10-15 minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes and beef stock and cook further still on a low heat for 2-3 hours stirring occasionally until the sauce has reduced to a suitable consistency. After this time add the kidney beans, grated beetroot and fresh oregano/basil and cook for a further 10 minutes. Season to taste and serve.
I have been very lucky this past week in that I have dined out at The Athenaeum Bar & Kitchen twice. Both times, may I add, with younger diners in tow age range from 2 to teen. The youngsters were very well accommodated for and half portions of any dish on the menu were available with a choice of board games and foosball table to keep them amused. This was great news for my friend who’s 2 year old wanted to be like the grown up’s and eat and drink everything we had including coffee! The staff very happily obliged putting warm milk into an espresso cup and voila one happy child! So child friendly is definitely a way to describe The Athenaeum. On my second visit was for the launch of the new carvery Sunday Roast available every Sunday 12-9pm serving delicious chicken, lamb or beef with all the usual trimmings! Just divine!! And perfect for those who can’t be bothered with the hassle of cooking and washing dishes on the day of the week meant for rest. Get down to the Athenaeum this Sunday with the Sunday papers, I highly recommend it!
Following up from the last blog where we were off to cook in a lady’s home (Glenda) I am very happy to update what a huge success the whole evening was! We cooked for 12 lovely ladies which turned out to be their works night out. They even had a buff waiter serving drinks for an hour before dinner! Cheeky!! A great evening was had by all and this is Glenda’s lovely email to us after the event.
Hi Chris
Been meaning to email you to thank you for an absolutely fantastic evening!
Everyone loved it, and they all said it was the best food they had ever
tasted!!! I guess that was obvious based on the very clean plates after
every course!
It was a fantastic evening, the food was amazing, the presentation was
brilliant, and my kitchen has never been cleaner!!!
The girls said it was the best Xmas party they had ever been to, and it was
all down to you all, so thanks again. It was quite something to manage to
please every single guest, and to have every one of them singing your praises (and they still are!!) so thanks again, and we have all been recommending you to friends and members!
We are currently in the process of packaging up a similar deal available to purchase, so you too can experience Beetroot at home. This will involve Chris and his chefs coming to cook for you and your guests in the comfort of your own home to produce the ultimate dining experience! I will keep you all posted when this will be available.
Other exciting news this week is that one of our young chefs Gregg Williamson, Chef-De-Partie from The Courtyard is off to work staiges at Tom Kitchin Restaurant, 21212 Restaurant and Martin Wishart Honours Brasserie. Gregg is off to work a week in each Edinburgh kitchen to gain valuable knowledge, skills and understanding of the workings and magic that happens in Michelin starred restaurants. We are all very proud of him, Chris especially, and wish him all the very best. This will hopefully lead on to further employment for the talented young chef in the busy kitchens of some of the world’s top chefs when he leaves the company later this year.
Don’t forget everyone there is still plenty time to book tables for this week at either venue! Please call in advance to avoid disappointment. Why not get on down to The Athenaeum tonight for Jerk Tuesday!! available this evening (and every Tuesday) from7pm. Serving up a variety of soul food including cajun chicken wings, jambalaya, cornbread and ribs to name a few dishes. All with the soothing beats of reggae and dub music playing in the background to transport you out of Aberdeen just for one night!!
Call to book a table at
The Courtyard 01224 589109
La Stella 01224 211414
The Athenaeum 01224 595585
Remember you can always contact me via email with any queries or ideas for this blog mrsbeetroot@hotmail.co.uk
Speak soon!
Lynsey
3 months ago
Some very exciting news being released tomorrow about Aberdeen’s FIRST pop up restaurant at the Athenaeum !!!
