The Mull Chronicles: Mishnish Hotel, Tobermory

My stress levels had been at an all time high over the past few months.  Taking on several new things at once is usually great, until it all goes wrong at the same time too.  Being an emotional soul, I ranted at my sister one evening saying how I needed to escape people and basically my life.  Luckily, my pleas were heard, and my wonderful sibling booked us away to Mull for a spa break.

We both have a fascination with the islands, driving and general exploring.  Mull is perfect for all of these things if you find yourself nodding to the above!  Although we went in February and a lot of places were closed for the season, the views are breathtaking and we still managed to cram loads into two days!

After a merry jaunt over on the ferry and settling into our hotel, we decided that we would go out for some cuisine instead of eating in the hotel.  The two restaurants my sister had chosen were closed for the season, and hope was running low.  Luckily, I found that the Mishnish hotel in Tobermory was open for business.

We drove along, and discovered that the hotel is actually the yellow building on the seafront that Tobermory is famous for.  Upon entry, I was slightly disheartened by the place.  There was a pub to the right, and the restaurant in to the left.  The entrance way wasn't particularly welcoming or lavish to suggest good food.  There was one waitress working the place, who was lovely.  She showed us to our table at the window, looking out on to the seafront (not that we could actually see anything since it was pitch black!).

The menu for me had a few amazing choices, so I picked my meal fairly quickly.  One small observation is that their specials board is very small and we struggled to see what they had (picture above proves it).  Nonetheless, we managed to fathom out what was available to eat.

To start, Sharon and I both had pan seared Isle of Mull scallops...

What I love about being on an island is that all the food is fresh and in season.  These scallops were plump and meaty, coated in a delicious paprika and garlic cream sauce.  Nestled on a bed of crispy dressed salad leaves, this was a fantastic starter and really changed my perception of the restaurant.  The food was beautiful and presented very well too.

For the main course, my sister had langoustines in a garlic and herb butter...

Both my sister and I get freaked out by fish that still has its eyes.  Considering the utensils she was given in anticipation of this dish, we were both relieved when the langoustines came already opened with the meat bared and ready to delve into.  Sharon also got a cute little basket of fries to accompany this, as technically it was meant to be a starter from the special menu.  The langoustines were fresh and tasted delicious, although Sharon didn't taste as much garlic as she would have liked.

For my main course, I decided to have venison medallions with chive mash and a redcurrant reduction...

I absolutely loved this.  The venison medallions were cooked to order, so rare for me, and had not a lick of fat on them.  The redcurrant sauce was perfectly sweet to go with the rich meaty flavour of the venison.  The chive mash was slightly bland, but the meat was so good that I was actually not bothered.  The broccoli and carrots were served al dente and were nice and fresh.  I would definitely get this again; it was absolutely phenomenal.

Nothing goes with red meat quite like a glass of red too...

After two wonderful courses, we were full but intrigued by a dessert.  I decided to go for chocolate and drambuie mousse...

This was delicious.  The chocolate mousse sat atop the mixture of chocolate sauce and drambuie.  It was served in a teacup which I did find odd but I think any bigger a portion would have been too sickly.  I did really enjoy this dessert, but would have hoped that the drambuie was mixed into the mousse rather than it being separated.  Still amazing though!

Sharon opted for caramel apple pie...

This was a homely, sweet pie and was garnished with a summer fruits jus.  The caramel layer enveloped cooked apples and was on a bed of sweetened pastry.  Sharon absolutely loved this and I have to admit that it smelled beautiful.  A great twist on a classic!

Once we were both stuffed and officially satisfied, we decided to get the bill.  For the calibre of meal, we were expecting a fair whack of money: we paid just under £62, which is a staggering £31 a head!  For a three course meal and wine, that is amazing value for money.

Have you visited any of the isles and think there is somewhere to top this?



Contact Details:

The Mishnish
Main Street
Tobermory
Isle Of Mull
PA75 6NU

Tel: 01688 302009

Website: www.mishnish.co.uk

Wheelchair access: Yes

Roadtrip Feast - Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, Cairndow

January is infamous for being the most depressing month of the whole year.  The enticing thought (although highly cliche) of "new year, new me" wears off and you realise that, yep, you're the same person you were in 2013.

My foxy family had a bit of a low Christmas experience, so January rushed in without most of us particularly noticing.  Desperately needing to escape, my sister and I left the dreary realms of Motherwell and headed for the hills.

Loch Fyne is such a beautiful place, and we had always discussed going to the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar which sits facing out into the loch and mountains.  

We were shown to our table by a very nice waitress.  The atmosphere is really idyllic, so you immediately feel relaxed and comfortable.  I loved the place mats that they had too:

Blogger is being annoying and not uploading the picture the way I took it, so sideways will have to do.  Basically, all the place mats had different quotes on them from famous stories, each to do with the sea and seafood.  Really clever and interesting idea!

The food was truly fantastic.  To begin, I had the salmon selection...

Two different types of smoked salmon fillet, simply served with a fresh lemon, capers, red onion and a salmon mousse.  I loved that the lemon came in a gauze pouch, meaning you got all that amazing fresh citrus juice without the worry of seeds and bits all over the meat.  The salmon mousse was my favourite actually, slathered on to bits of bread that we got when we were seated.  It was a light, fresh starter and the quality of the fish was incredible.

My sister decided to go for the chowder...

Thick chunks of haddock, potato and leek served in a rich and creamy sauce.  The bowl was also huge, to the point I'd to grab a utensil and help... and even I was at a loss.  It was so beautiful tasting: not too fishy, with a nice smoky undertone.  Be cautious if you are out for a big meal though, as this in itself is really comforting and filling.

For the main event, both my sister and I went for the Gigha halibut...

Now I'm not a big fan of chorizo, but this was amazing.  Chunks of chorizo mixed in with chickpeas in a tomato and basil sauce.  The fillet of halibut crowned the mixture, with it's own parsley butter garnish.  This was a really hearty meal and warmed me right to me toes - perfect for January!  It wasn't too heavy to eat either, so I felt satisfied when I finished it.  This was my first time eating halibut and I can definitely say I'll be eating it again - should it be to this standard, of course!

Loch Fyne is definitely somewhere you would go for a special occasion, or a blow out.  As the seafood is so fresh they are pricey, but I would say worth it.  For the two of us to have two courses each and a couple of drinks we were £70.  A delicious meal, but a big hit to the bank card if you're not prepared!



Contact Details:

Loch Fyne Oyster Bar & Restaurant
Clachan
Cairndow
PA26 8BL

Tel: 01499 600264

Website:   http://www.lochfyne.com/

Wheelchair access? Yes

The Definition of Rustic Scotland - The Kilberry Inn, Kilberry

I have a couple of posts now based in and around Argyll.  My family and I visit Port Ban annually, as we have always done, for the entirety of my life.  It's one of my favourite places in the whole world, and as soon as I hit Inverary I get this overwhelming sense of calm, that only increases the closer I get to Port Ban and further away from the hustle and bustle of reality.

As a child, I remember visiting The Kilberry Inn and the owner would talk to my sister and I in a Daffy Duck voice.  Disappointingly, as a slightly older child, we did visit and the ownership had changed.  I ordered one of my favourite dishes, macaroni cheese, but was absolutely horrified to taste some type of wine flavour throughout it.  That was the last time we visited the place, until this year.

The Kilberry Inn is set just off a single track road en route to Tarbert.  It depicts a traditional Scottish inn, with the famous red telephone box landmark outside.  We went on a cold October's night, so I borrowed this picture from Trip Advisor to do it justice!

We were welcomed into the quiet restaurant, which has changed massively from what I could remember.

 It still had all the amazing structures visible, such as the beams and stone walls, but the decor was elegant and timeless.  It had a really cosy atmosphere, with a small fire burning and being peaceful.

We had discussed the menu prior to arrival, however the menu had slightly changed from what was online.  This made it so much more difficult to decide what to eat for each course.  After making deals with each other, i.e. "if you get that, I'll get this and we can swap a bit for a bit?" we had settled on our mouthwatering choices.

My dad chose Queenie scallops toasted with a herb and mull cheddar crust...

Served in their perfect shells, this was a beautiful starter and I would definitely consider ordering it on my next visit.  The scallops were soft and of a perfect consistency, whilst the cheese was melted but solidifying into a beautiful crust around the edges.  The combination of strong cheese, herbs and the fish was amazing.

My sister and I both ordered the crab cakes...

I usually am disappointed when I order anything to do with crab, because the portions are small and you just get a taste for it once it's over.  I was pleasantly surprised to get three decent sized crab cakes, served with a slightly spiced mayonnaise.  Crab meat is one of my favourites; salty but not too fishy that it gets sickly.  The cakes were lightly browned to add a crunch, but the mixture inside was still soft and easy to eat.

My sister's fiance didn't want a starter, so had olives...

Juicy, bitter and still containing their stones.  I do love olives, but I was too content with my crab cakes!

After the starters, we were raring to go for our main courses.  My dad ordered the shin of veal cooked in white wine with tomatoes, carrots, mushrooms and celery, served with buttery mash and gremolata.

I do love veal, although I don't agree with the whispers I hear about how it comes to be.  I tried a piece, and it was beautiful.  I do hope that it's journey from farm to plate was humane though!  The mash was as described, both smooth and buttery.  It really did taste amazing and my dad cleared the whole thing.

My sister and I both had the beef with porcini and red onion butter, parmentier potatoes and crispy gem salad...

I am a fillet steak kind of girl, as I like the meat to be as lean as possible.  The lovely owner assured me that because it was hung for so long, there was barely any fat in the meat.  I'm really glad I listened to him, as it was perfect.  I had mine cooked medium rare.  The butter on top of the steak was really tasty and complimented the juicy, tender meat perfectly.  Parmentier is a fancy name for the way the potatoes are done: cubed and shallow fried.  They were really nice though, and a nice change from the usual chips offered as a side.

Just on a side note, I've always wanted the coloured Laguiole cutlery... I took a wee snap of my steak knife because it was so pretty.  This place was made for me!

Mark had the pork belly braised with orange and cardamom, with a side of vegetables and caramelised macadamias.

The smell emanating from this dish was intense.  The pork was so tender it fell apart, and the rich sauce seeping into the meat created the perfect accompaniment.  A hearty main for a cold Autumn's eve!

Alongside our wonderful dishes, we ordered the following sides:

Top to bottom is Heston's cauliflower cheese, honey mustard parsnips and dauphinoise potatoes.  These were stunning and it was hard not to gorge myself on these on top of my hefty steak.  I would definitely recommend getting all of these sides.  You won't regret it!

We were full, however as we had decided to have a gourmet weekend, it was only customary to have a look at the sweets menu.  Needless to say, one thing led to another...

Myself and Mark had the mocha walnut cake, served with chocolate ice cream, chocolate sauce and fresh raspberries.  This was a really nice cake and it was nice to not have a chocolate fudge cake option, which is very common & a safe option for restaurants.  The fresh raspberries added a fruity tang to each bite, and I could have done with some more as I enjoyed the combination so much.  The chocolate ice cream was rich and moistened the cake up too.  A delicious dessert, and something a bit different.

My dad ordered sticky toffee pudding, a favourite of his...

Look at that cake glisten!  Enveloped in a sticky, melted toffee sauce, this cake was super sweet.  Served with a dod of vanilla ice cream to add a bit of mellow, this was again scoffed and not a trace left on the plate.

My sister ordered panna cotta for her dessert...

Served with a deep fruit coulis on top and a biscotti for dipping, this was a light dessert, perfect for rounding off a luxurious meal.

What is a luxurious meal though, without a glass of vino?!

A light, sweet zinfandel that matched the fish in my starter, the beef in my main and the nuts in my dessert.  It was a perfect all rounder, considering I'm not a wine connoisseur!

Once we had finished our meal, we asked for the bill.  It was a total of about £250, which works out at around £60 a head.  Considering that we had a three course meal each, including wines and beers, I do feel that it was a decent amount to pay.  It's not something that you would pay just off the cuff, but it's a great place for special occasions, or if you want to treat yourselves (like we did).

So, here is the plan:
1) Book a caravan at Port Ban.
2) Book a table at The Kilberry Inn.
3) Phone me to let me know when we are going.

Cheers!



Contact Details:

The Kilberry Inn
Kilberry
Tarbert
PA29 6YD

Tel: 01880 770223

Website: www.kilberryinn.com

Wheelchair access: Yes

Every Cloud Has A Grey (Gull?) Lining - The Grey Gull Inn, Ardrishaig

Suffering from a virus and breaking up with someone at the same time should definitely fall into the 'multi-tasking' category.  Feeling a little sad, alone and unwell, my father very kindly arranged for me to be in quarantine in the picturesque Port Ban (where I visited every summer for twenty two years).  You can learn more about them here.

If this view doesn't sell it to you, nothing will.

The Grey Gull Inn is a beautiful white building, situated on the shore of Loch Fyne, and a simple stones throw away from the Crinan canal.  Even in the torrential rain this place is stunning, however my wee rain jacket was soaked inside and out, so I found a sunny photo for you:

Courtesy of Travel Scotland

As I could still be deemed as 'contagious' and have to limit the amount I talk, I required an eating establishment that was modest, quiet and relaxed - the Grey Gull Inn was perfect for me on a rainy Monday evening.  It's also the first time I've ever eaten out alone, so the tranquillity of the restaurant created the perfect atmosphere.

The menu serves a whole host of different treats, but what really caught my eye was the two courses for £15 menu.  The food available on this menu is popular (soup, garlic mushrooms and steak pie for example) but can be very easily messed up.  I'm pleased to confirm that not only was the food phenomenal, but the overall experience was outstanding.

In need of something familiar and comforting, I ordered the pate de campagne with oatcakes to start, and the macaroni cheese with garlic bread for my main.  I would expect the portions to be decent for the price paid, considering in Di Maggio's I can get two courses for £9.95. Well...

Campagne pate with oatcakes and chutney

The portion sizes are quite clearly adequate!  Campagne pate, or 'country pate' is a blend of both chicken and bacon into a smooth pate.  It was bursting with a rich meaty flavour and a hint of spice.  Usually, I'm not a fan of oatcakes, but these were really something.  There was a slight nutty taste with the crunch, and combined with the smoothness of the pate and the sweetness of the chutney, it was an absolute winner of a starter. The menu doesn't specify what the chutney is, although it tasted like ginger.  What I loved about the salad was that it was very fresh and crisp, coated in a light vinaigrette dressing.  There were slices of red and yellow pepper, which made it a bit more exotic than most side salads.  I was ultimately very pleased with the size of the portion, and recommend that if you do take a visit, to try it!

Macaroni cheese with garlic bread

The main. Oh my. Well, the dish that it was served in was just about a foot in length!  The macaroni cheese was laced with red onion, topped with sliced tomato and a layer of melted cheddar cheese crisped on the top.  Served with another beautiful salad, and two slices of home made garlic bread, this was really not what I had anticipated!

The home made cheese sauce was thick, creamy and delicious.  Giant macaroni shells were coated in the sauce, and shared a bed with the sweet and juicy chunks of red onion.  The cheddar layer was gloriously golden and strong flavoured; When combined with the roasted tomato slices, it was heavenly.  A baguette sliced into two bits formed the garlic bread, and had a delicious crunch to it.  Toasted perfectly to a rust colour, the loaf absorbed the glorious garlic butter.  If you order this, dip it into your cheese sauce - thank me once you've done it.

I was so devastated that I couldn't finish my meal, but the portion was literally so big that even if I went with an empty stomach I would still have rolled out.  The bill came to a total of - wait for it - £15!  This 'single' malarkey is proving to be a lot easier on my bank balance.

The waiting staff were friendly, kept their distance until necessary and were always visible if you needed another drink, or anything at all.  The bill, needless to say, won't allow the moths to inhabit your wallet/purse and the view from the hotel is stunning no matter where you sit, and no matter what the weather is.

In all my twenty two years of heading west, this was my first visit to the Grey Gull Inn - I can be certain that it will not be my last.



Contact Details:

The Grey Gull Inn
Glenburn Road
Ardrishaig
Argyll
PA30 8EU

Tel:07920 409051

Website: http://www.thegreygull.co.uk/

Wheelchair access: Yes