Latest news with #Benny's
Edinburgh Live
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
We tried Edinburgh's bougie new taster menu that won't break the bank
There's nothing like dining out with a loved one in a bougie restaurant, although admittedly they can feel a touch inaccessible for a lot of us in the capital. The price of a tasting menu or gastronomic experience can often leave the eyes watering and a sour taste in the mouth. So when you find a spot which offers delicious food with warm service and a below astronomical bill - it is worth taking notice. That is exactly what my wife and I stumbled upon when we headed to check out the new dining experience 'The Court x Mark Greenaway' at The Caledonian. Situated in Edinburgh's West End, the hotel is well recognised for welcoming a plethora of famous stars through its doors, from Charlie Chaplin and Elizabeth Taylor, to the late Queen Elizabth II and former US President Barack Obama. This will come as no surprise for those who have entered the historic West End building; guests and visitors are greeted by a luxurious regal interior, and as you walk into the restaurant, you are transported back in time to when the building was home to a train station. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. Inception-like, The Court is overlooked by a building which is inside a building, and the facade from the former travel hub is visible as you sit down and tuck your napkin in. But lets get down to the brass tax, the cost of the meal: the six-course progression tasting menu comes in at £65 per person with an additional £40 wine pairing per person. Granted this will leave a bit more of a dent in your wallet than a run of the mill eatery but, in my experience, this is extremely reasonable for a tasting menu - especially when you consider the quality on offer. After taking a seat, we were talked through the experience by the amazing waiting staff who were attentive all night. My pregnant wife was offered the nosecco while I cracked on with the first round of the wine pairing in the name of journalistic research - someone had to do it. My personal marker for getting off to a good start in plush restaurants is always 'how good is your bread and butter?' and The Court did not disappoint. They have this pistachio butter that is to die for, accompanied by a lovely mound of bread. The first dish was the Scottish crab raviolo made with smoked cauliflower custard, lemon pearls, herb butter and baby coriander. I always thought I hated crab because I'd only ever tried the cheap crab sticks served at my English family's parties - how wrong I was, the dish was divine. At school I would always go for the Benny's soup and sandwich out of the now closed delicatessen on St John's road, it was an absolute bargain and the coronation chicken was a real winner. So you can imagine my joy when the next course was announced as the 'soup & sandwich.' But rather than some carrot and coriander with an overfilled cheap chicken filling from Benny's, this was something they would have served in Versailles before peasants stormed Bastille. Pea velouté, Paris Brest, blue cheese mousse and the maple gel, all came together superbly. As we awaited the third course, the pair of us were in great spirits with the first two dishes hitting all the right notes, however our excitement was rather short-lived. Like a typical Scot, a salad can often make the hairs on my neck stand up, but this was something entirely different in appearance even if similar in sustenance. The Chilled Summer Vegetable Garden dish made up of savoury squash custard, pickled celeriac, broad beans, truffle dressing and walnut mayonnaise, looked impressive - but all was not as it seemed. The contents looked like something a trust fund Hampton lacrosse bro would put in his blender to make a hangover-curing smoothie. The truffle dressing and walnut mayonnaise were the only things which saved the dish for me, but psychologically, I could not get over the feeling I was eating cold, congealed soup. We were eager for the half-time whistle at this stage, we had started first off strong but were in need of a breather and time to regroup. When the fourth course arrived, we were raring to go and hit the ground running. The Cod & Lobster accompanied by a choux bun-like 'Hot Dog' was quirky and really enjoyable. The main dish was one of the nicest I've eaten at a tasting menu. The broth accompanying the cod and lobster was other worldly and tasted like it had been crafted by the gods themselves. For me, this is the best dish on the progression menu. The fifth was another pearler, with Mark Greenway pulling out all the stops, as the 11 Hour Slow Roasted Clash Farm Belly Pork ticked all the right boxes. Biting into the pork, you had the crunch before being met by the soft, slow-cooked centre. All of it was married together miraculously by a toffee apple jus. The plate was accompanied by a tasty pork cheek pie which on its own was not up to much but was vastly improved by a dip in the aforementioned jus. Last but by no means least, and after unbuckling a couple of notches on the belt, we were treated to the sweet treat, the Chocolate 'Box.' A devilish sponge with dark chocolate and raspberry companions, it was the perfect way to end an extremely enjoyable evening. The wines were all to my liking, bar the crisp, dry white which accompanied the first dish, but the one that stole the show was an incredible German Riesling addition which hit all the right spots midway through. Throughout our evening we were not only treated to inventive, satisfying and sublime food, but also an angelic like harpist and live music from an old school duet. It is the ideal setting to impress that workplace crush or to take the breath away from your bride of many summers on a special occasion. We will certainly be back. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox On the progression tasting menu, Mark Greenaway said: 'The Court offers something very special. Since the investment within this new food and drink destination, we have been working hard, collaborating behind the scenes, and getting Mark Greenaway at The Court ready for our upcoming launch day on the first of May. 'In celebration of Scotland's new Spring produce, and inspired by my most recent cookbook, Progression, we will be offering a signature A la Carte menu, alongside an amazing six-course Tasting Menu which we will be changing every six to seven weeks, depending on what is available and in-season. The menus will be uber seasonal and utilising the amazing Scottish produce that we have on our doorstep.' To make a booking, simply visit The Court – The Caledonian Edinburgh, Curio Collection by Hilton website here.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
How to unlock the Dewbauchee Specter for free in GTA 5 Online May 2025 update
(Image via YouTube/Hazard) Rockstar Games' latest GTA Online update offers the players a golden opportunity. They can now add Dewbauchee Specter, the high-performance sports car, to their garage without spending anything at all. While getting the luxury ride demands no cash, it does need the player's skills. Here is how you can secure the sleek sports car, generally priced at $599,000, before the offer expires. How to unlock Dewbauchee Specter for free ? Rockstar.. LOL! The ABSOLUTE WORST WEEK? The NEW GTA Online UPDATE Today! (GTA5 New Update) The car is this week's LS Car Meet Prize Ride. To get it, head to LS Car Meet, located in the La Mesa area. Enter either of the race series—Scramble, Pursuit, or Street, by May 28, 2025, and win just one race. The event pits the players against one another in the curated circuits while keeping the emphasis on the tight corners and the straightaways, which is just perfect for the agile handling of Dewbauchee Specter. Avoid any chaotic Adversary Modes. Only the traditional races within the series count toward the prized ride. Once you have won the race, Dewbauchee Specter will be delivered to the garage. However, if you are struggling with the competition, opt for the Time Trial or the Street Race categories, which often have very few veteran players. Tune the lightweight car like Vapid Flash GT to outmaneuver the players. Your victory will unlock Dewbauchee Specter right away, bypassing the $599,000 price at Benny's. Why have the Dewbauchee Specter in the garage? Well, beyond the car being free, Dewbauchee Specter offers, Top-tier speed—121 mph, making it faster than many of the $1M+ value supercars. The precision handling is perfect for tight city racing. Stunning design that blends the aesthetics of Porsche and Aston Martin. Note that the event will be running until May 28, 2025. So, do not miss out. Even if you are not a racer, the vehicle is one of the easiest to-get-free vehicles that Rockstar Games has offered in months. So, get it. Alternate ways to get Dewbauchee Specter If racing is not your strength, you can consider, Completing the 3 Superyacht missions and gaining $100K. It will help you buy Dewbauchee Specter, even if you fail in the challenge. Taxi work can help you to earn some quick cash. It's offering 3x GTA$ this week. Shipwreck hunting is also a great move for some easy money. It comes with 2x rewards. But with only 1 race win needed to win Dewbauchee Specter, the Prize Ride method is one of the fastest means to get the premium sports car without spending anything at all. Once you have it, the customization at the Benny's can turn the car into the absolute beast. So, get it for free and upgrade it later on! Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Palm Beach's own Tan Man welcomes 'Fox and Friends' to breakfast
The Tan Man is a viral Golden Boy. Palm Beach hometown guy George Hamilton busted the internet early May 20 with an appearance on "Fox and Friends." Fox News personality Steve Doocy, who recently relocated to Florida, launched his new "Morning Walk" feature, accompanied by fellow Foxie — and Palm Beacher — Bret Baier. The two walked along the Lake Worth Pier and Baier talked about golf, his tall sons and the Middle East. As they headed for breakfast at Benny's On The Beach, they met a man who was hiding his face using the backside of three Benny's menus as a tan-enhancing reflector. 'It's George Hamilton!" Doocy said when the tan man put down the menus and flashed his pearly whites. "Did you get a little glare from the teeth?" Hamilton asked. When asked how he kept them so white, Hamilton said, "They look a lot whiter because the tan is so dark." Hamilton talked about growing up in Palm Beach, and going to high school with Burt Reynolds — "He was known as Buddy then" — and how they often discussed becoming actors. Hamilton displayed his trademark humor when he responded to Doocy's "How did the tan thing start?' "I was new in Hollywood and asked some established actors what I could do to acquire a movie star persona. Cary Grant said, 'You cahn't go wrong with a great hayercut,' and Fred Astaire advised me to 'Get a good tailor.'" But a "very drunk" Robert Mitchum told him: "Don't waste perfectly good drinking time with a barber or a tailor. Just get a good tan." Something tells us that anecdote is what one would politely describe as "apocryphal," but it's dang sure entertaining. The threesome then sat down for breakfast at Benny's On The Beach, which Hamilton described as his "favorite breakfast spot." Benny's owner Lee Lipton picked up the breakfast tab. Shannon Donnelly is the society editor at the Palm Beach Daily News. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: 'Fox and Friends' segment features Palm Beach's own Tan Man | Column
STV News
29-04-2025
- Business
- STV News
City barber in 'sad' farewell to loyal clients after almost 60 years
A barber who shaved his way into the hearts of his Edinburgh clients has said an emotional farewell as the business prepares to close its doors after almost 60 years. Benny's, on Grove Street in the Fountainbridge area, styled the hair of generations of locals since opening its doors in 1966. The shop, which described itself as a traditional Italian style men's barbers, cut the locks of locals and celebrities alike – including the Proclaimers. Benny Vettese, 81, who ran the barbers with son-in-law Tony Celini, described the closing of the shop as 'sad'. STV News Benny has cut hair in Fountainbridge for 60 years. 'It's been great to be here and I'll miss it because you know, I've been here over 59 years,' he said. 'The street has changed so much. I've been here since 1966. Sean Connery used to live around the corner. 'You build a friendship, you have a wee blether, you don't just cut the hair. You make a friendship, and that's what keeps the business going. 'It's a long, long time. It is a bit sad I would say, you know, but at the same time, well, I'm 81 years old. 'You know, my son in law doesn't want to take the shop over here. And I say, well, it's come to an end.' Tony Celini, Benny's son-in-law, added: 'It's been enjoyable. I've made of lots of friends through customers. 'It's such an amazing place, and my father in law and myself have always treated our customers properly. 'It's a bit emotional but there are certain things in life that are more important than work.' Benny and Tony will put down their combs and scissors for the final time on Wednesday, April 30. STV News Benny's will officially shut on Wednesday. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
