Latest news with #CaféAndaluz
Glasgow Times
17-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Glasgow Times
I tried Glasgow's new viral TikTok food - but what is in it?
Lately, internet users cannot get enough of acai bowls. This is a Brazilian snack made of the puree of acai berries mixed with other frozen fruit and served in a bowl, topped with your choice of toppings. Essentially, it's a fancy mix between a smoothie and a bowl of granola. (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) READ NEXT: We tried the al fresco champagne bar at Glasgow Central - and our fear came true The Acai Parlour opened at St Enoch Shopping Centre last month and I decided to put it to the test. On my way to the office, I walked in. The stall was very easy to find from the Argyle Street entrance. A big, glowing sign invited me right to the counter. Glancing at the menu, I was a bit nervous as I had never eaten this dish before - but I know myself and I wanted something with strawberries. The Chocolatey One caught my eye immediately. It contains acai, strawberries (check), Nutella and cacao nibs. I ordered from the smiley worker and we got to chatting as she cut up the fresh fruit. She told me most of their customers are young women who come after seeing videos on TikTok - just like me. (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) READ NEXT: Glasgow restaurant Café Andaluz revamps its menu and we tried it Only a minute or two and my medium bowl - for £8.50 - was ready. I took a wooden spoon and a napkin from the counter and continued my journey to the office, where I could eat in peace. Sitting down, I was delighted to see that the sun did not melt the ice cream-like consistency and the strawberries were fresh and juicy. Scooping up a bite, I enjoyed the cool, smooth texture with the crispy cacao nibs. My verdict? This is the perfect breakfast food! Sweet, moderate portion, filled with fruit and gives you a needed boost for the day. Is it worth it for the price? Let's think about it. The medium portion fit comfortably in one hand and was a filling meal. But I would never justify this as a daily purchase. If you need a bit more sustenance, a large one will set you back £10.50. You can also create your own bowl - with plenty of choices including honey, coconut flakes, blueberries, raspberries, banana and much more. But at least I got a great TikTok out of it!
Glasgow Times
10-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow restaurant Café Andaluz revamps its menu and we tried it
Café Andaluz, which has restaurants in the city centre and West End, have unveiled a host of new tapas dishes on their new spring/ summer 2025 menu. Tony Conetta, director at The DRG, says the new menu was developed after research which took the company to Spain. READ NEXT: The story behind Glasgow's own tequila liqueur company Bread, olives and sangria (Image: Newsquest) He told the Glasgow Times: "We usually have a tweak of the menu but this year we had a full revamp. "We have some nice new suppliers from Spain, we went to Madrid to research our menu and we also visited some tapas bars in London just to see what they were doing. "The food has had a real upgrade. "We're very proud of our new product." Croquetas de setas y trufa, pollo rebozado con miel and ensalada de radicchio (Image: Newsquest) The first Café Andaluz opened its doors on Cresswell Lane in Hillhead in 2022, bringing a taste of the Mediterranean to the heart of the West End. More than 20 years later, the restaurant still draws in large numbers of diners there and other locations, including on St Vincent Street. Tony says he believes part of the reason it has remained so popular for 23 years is because no matter what, people will always get something they enjoy. Chirpirones fritos (Image: Newsquest) He said: "The thing about Café Andaluz is everyone comes out and has multiple dishes. "It's hard to get it wrong because there'll always be something on the table you like. "It's great to share, it's a nice form of eating. "The small plates revolution is upon us but that's the way the Spanish have always eaten." He added: "Café Andaluz just goes from strength to strength." READ NEXT: Meet the team behind Glasgow's new escape room which has an exciting twist Carrilleras de cerdo (Image: Newsquest) One new addition to the menu is pollo sofrito which is a new version of pollo marinado which was removed from the menu to some uproar last year. It features chicken marinated in paprika and lemon juice with tomato sofrito sauce. Tony said: "We've put that back on so you get the pollo marinado with a nice sofrito base. "That dish is back which is a big relief and fans will be delighted to know." Arroz de mariscos (Image: Newsquest) The Glasgow Times was invited to come and try dishes from the new menu at their Cresswell Lane restaurant. As well as ordering a couple of old favourites like the patatas bravas we tried the croquetas de setas y trufa (woodlands mushroom and black truffle croquettes with Manchego), ensalada de radicchio (a salad of bitter radicchio, chicory, orange, Manchego pomegranate, olive crumb and honey dressing), carrilleras de cerdo (pork cheeks braised with red wine, woodland mushrooms, chickpeas, rosemary and garlic), chipirones fritos (crisp fried baby quid), and arroz de mariscos (king prawns and mussels with rice, tomato and parsley). My friend and I enjoyed every dish, noting the presentation along with the flavour. Patatas bravas (Image: Newsquest) A favourite of both of ours was the chipirones fritos which was served alongside a spicy aioli. I'm a fan of calamari but really enjoyed these much smaller pieces of squid which were crispy on the outside and not at all chewy the way it can sometimes me. We were both surprised by how much we enjoyed the ensalada de radicchio, both saying it's something we normally wouldn't order. The salad was light and fresh but packed with flavour, especially from the small orange segments. A favourite flavour combination of mine is mushroom and truffle so the croquetas de setas y trufa were something I was really looking forward to and they did not disappoint. The arroz de mariscos, especially the prawns which were large and cooked to perfection. I don't normally order pork dishes but I tried a bit of the carrilleras de cerdo and was pleasantly surprised by the flavour of the pork which was so tender it easily separated with my fork. My friend and I were both very impressed with everything we tried and now have some new favourites we'd like to order next time we dine there. Café Andaluz is located on 2 Cresswell Lane and 12-15 St Vincent Street in Glasgow.
