excellent martini cocktail

after the brief walk along both banks of river ness,

we were looking for a place for simple dinner..not looking for a heavy dinner,

& since we already had excellent lunch at kinloch today…

This place famous for cocktails

walk past white house restaurant, was reading google reviews on the fly…apparently this place is especially good for cocktails….

so we settle in at the white house on 14.6.2017. ^^

excellent whisky cocktail

wife ordered a whisky cocktail. quite excellent, even for non drinker like me tasting it…

later wife ordered a second martini cocktail (top photo). it was very good too!

the best succulent west coast mussels, even better than uig = £6.50

we ordered the west coast mussels.

surprise surprise, it was the best succulent mussels we had this trip (even better than the very good ones at uig restaurant)…the white wine sauce not creamy but very tasty.

the best succulent west coast mussles, even better than uig = £6.50

this dish was really a very good order for just £6.50!.

the poorest & tiny scallop i had this trip = £8.95

unfortunately, everything went downhill after that!

this was the poorest & tiniest scallop i had this trip..about the standard of scallops at The Oyster Shed (which was not good!)

Seafood platter for 2=£15.25 really NOT good

the seafood platter was really a bad pub food.

Seafood platter for 2=£15.25 really NOT good

calamari was dry & tough.

the 3 disappearing “king” prawns were just pathetic! the preparation of it was even more pathetic..

Seafood platter for 2=£15.25 really NOT good

kippers was like some cheap stuff pulled off a supermarket rack, nothing like the consistent good ones at all the b&b. NOT good at all!

Seafood platter for 2=£15.25 really NOT good

minced salmon was at least quite tasty. but not something we could take more than a mouthful..

white house restaurant

white house restaurant

so dinner came up to £44. can consider that as just paying for the mussels & 2 cocktails.

basically the other orders we need not have bothered.

won’t take any food here except for the mussels!

inverness sunset 

after dinner at the white house, we returned to our car & drove back to our b&b the willows at kirkhill, retracing the same lakeside drive along beauty firth.

inverness sunset 

we caught the sunset, and the setting sun was just inching down the horizon.

the photos looked spectacular but actually the golden rays were just because my iphone 6 camera had a crack…no mystery!

inverness sunset

inverness sunset

a really magical moment in magical scotland!

c.h.e.f andy

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The White House

Address:

50 Union St, Inverness IV1 1PX, UK

Contact:

thewhitehouse.uk.com

+44 1463 226767

first amuse bouche

sligachan was a enchanting stop & short walk…

3-course £40 4-course £45 set lunch menu

we had prebooked for lunch at one michelin star kinloch on 14.6.2017. ^^

very good lunch…we had 3-course £40 lunch then added 1 dessert for 4-course £45 lunch,

first amuse bouche

first amuse bouche

2nd amuse bouche

& the 2nd amuse bouche=this was awesome..a pea mousse, prosciutto, caramelised onions=the best la! 🙂

kinloch drawing room

we were led first the nice drawing room with good natural light & views, to wait for the table to be set.

we had our first amuse bouche here.

kinloch drawing room

we looked at the menu, selected the order, then we were led to our table at the dining hall.

butternut squash soup very creamy buttery unfortunately too sweet!

butternut squash soup very creamy buttery unfortunately too sweet!

butternut squash soup very creamy buttery & unfortunately too sweet!

pigeon ok, good standard NOT special

pigeon ok, good standard NOT special

pigeon was ok, quite good standard just not special…

scallops excellent=duisdale standard not as good as three chimney

scallops were excellent here=duisdale standard not as good as three chimneys.

nicely seared, tender, plump, sweet scallops and wonderful sauce…

Tenderloin as good as can be..great sides

plating was faultless. tenderloin as good as can be..really great sides too…not the best beef but certainly more than competent…

hake was excellent mussels by the way

hake was excellent mussels by the way

restaurant apologised for not having cod as written in the menu. they replaced by hake.

and the hake was excellent, firm, sweet, tasty… mussels were just by the way…

parfait competent really not my kind of dessert…

we added one dessert just to try.

the parfait was competent but really it’s just not my kind of dessert…& both of us not so dessert persons to start with…

taste-wise total experience-wise, this far far below the standards of japanese parfait.

for the price of £40, this 3-course lunch was really very good standard, and if i am back in isle of skye i will definitely come again for lunch…quite superb!

kinloch grounds..a serene wilderness …

kinloch grounds..a serene wilderness …

kinloch grounds..a serene wilderness …

kinloch grounds..a serene wilderness …

kinloch grounds..a serene wilderness …

kinloch grounds..a serene wilderness …

kinloch grounds..a serene wilderness …

after the excellent lunch at kinloch, we walked around the grounds..a serene wilderness …nice!

c.h.e.f andy

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

smoked salmon, scrambled eggs & buttered bread 

woke up looking forward to a nice breakfast this morning on 14.6.2017.

of course if you take the same old stuff for full cooked breakfast everyday, you get tired of it. so we skipped kippers the other day.

for this morning’s breakfast, we had the usual “help yourself” cereals, cold cuts, juice, toast etc. & coffee was served at the table also as usual. 🙂

smoked salmon, scrambled eggs & buttered bread 

for the main selection, we had a choice of smoked salmon, scrambled eggs & buttered bread.

nothing much to talk about, just the salmon was lightly smoked & good.

smoked kippers

smoked salmon, scrambled eggs & buttered bread 

it was kippers again for the other choice.

wife finished one piece with my help. it was good too, but i did not want to take a second piece.

pleasant dining room, pleasant host & servers & a nice breakfast – what we needed to start our journey to inverness (later in the afternoon).

c.h.e.f andy

cereals – breakfast at uig lodge 

had another hearty breakfast at uig lodge on 13.7.2017. ^^

this £120 b&b fraction of the cost of duisdale & skeabost (like 1/3), is better located near quiraing, kilt rock & mealt falls, brothers point, lealt falls, old man of storr & HAS strong wifi..whereas other 2 (duisdale & skeabost) basically did not!!!

yesterday, we came to take refuge  when it was pouring at quiraing, and i needed to dry my jeans, boots & socks. luckily we could get the room early just waited 45mins…

used hairdryer to blow dry jeans & shoes. changed to new socks & then we were in business going out again – & we had my best hike at quiraing.

while waiting for the room, we had wonderful mussels in 2 flavours – golden ale & wine sauce, & very good onion rings.

breakfast at uig lodge 

this morning, we had the usual cereals, coffee, juice & fruits.

breakfast at uig lodge

full scottish breakfast 

we were tired of kippers & decided to both ordered full scottish breakfast.

& really all the b&b/hotels, from £120 at uig lodge (and as i said far better location for our hikes), to the >£300 for duisdal house hotel & skeabost, the full scottish breakfast were just about same.

equally good, and equally satisfying…feeling good for a good hike.

c.h.e.f andy

++++++++++++++++++++++++

UIG Lodge

Address:

excellent mussels pot at uig lodge

after the really joyous walk at brothers point,

we drove to quiraing hoping to do the hike on 12.6.2017.

we parked at the carpark & waited as it poured outside, drinking coffee from our hot tumbler & taking shortcakes & snicker bars (for me).

when the rain was lighter, we attempted the hike.

fortunately we turned back soon enough, after like 50m, as it really poured & my jeans were wet through.

the heavy rain stopped our first attemp to hike quiraing

view from uig lodge restaurant – raining heavily

defeated, we decided to retreat to our next hotel, uig lodge, to seek refuge, on 12.6.2017.

bored, nothing to do, so we sat in the restaurant & ordered some food. 🙂

excellent mussels in golden ale at uig lodge

to our pleasant surprise the mussels were super good.

there were 2 sauces.

we ordered the mussels in golden ale & it was so good. we decided to order the other one, which was the regular white wine sauce.

excellent mussels pot at uig lodge

very tender, sweet, perfect texture NOT overdone! 🙂

the white wine sauce was great.

excellent mussels pot at uig lodge

excellent mussels pot at uig lodge

i guess we were cold & hungry & bored!

still, this was a really good mussels pot.

superb onion rings

wife ordered the onion rings, and they were really good too!

so nicely crisp, a very good batter. we liked it very much, a pleasant surprise!

vista from mountain road quiraing to uig lodge

vista from mountain road quiraing to uig lodge

vista from mountain road quiraing to uig lodge

leaving quiraing slight drenched, we drove the mountain road to uig lodge. took some photos at vista points on the way.

lamb

lamb in the headlights

at a vista, caught some lambs gracing, literally caught like a “lamb in the headlights”

c.h.e.f andy

+++++++++++++++++++++

Restaurant at the Uig Hotel

breakfast at skeabost 

breakfast at skeabost was good too on 12.6.2017.^^

about same good breakfast as duisdale. 🙂

i guess full cooked breakfast always good anywhere in england, wales or scotland. lol! 🙂

breakfast at skeabost dining room 

a nice, spacious, bright dining room.

breakfast at skeabost 

there was buffet spread for cereals, cold cuts, cheese, juice, toast, cut fruits etc.

cold cuts & cheese 

prosciutto & salami were average. cheese ok too!

i guess if quantity is the reference, this would be better than duisdale since food about same & you can take more if you wish.

but nothing, & i mean nothing beats the breakfast at the gantocks fort williams by allan!^^

scottish breakfast 

the backgamon, farm sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes, eggs all about same as duisdalee.

kippers

kippers 

the kippers were nice too, nicely smoked & flavourful. we were getting tired of smoked fish though after 3 consecutive days!

c.h.e.f andy

freshly shucked oysters – 6 for £6

as we were driving by loch harport on the way to fairy pools @ glenbrittle on 11.6.2017,

we saw a sign pointing to the oyster shed…we thought “that’s our next stop”…

as it was, after leaving fairy pools, it started to rain, and quite heavily, so we might as well have a rest stop…

the sign led us past talisker distillery, and shortly the oyster shed.

we did not see many cars on the road, but evidently they all had the same idea, and the small carpark was literally full as we parked.

a short dash in the rain to the shed!

we ordered the freshly shucked oysters – 6 for £6. it was good – fresh, sweet, no  lingering metallic taste. we ordered a second serving.

half lobster = £8

we were also attracted to the chilled 1/2 lobster.

generally we are not so attracted the this preparation of chilled lobster, crab or seafood platter as they are usually quite tasteless.

half lobster = £8

this 1/2 lobster though was sweet, juicy, tasty.

grilled scallopsr = £6.50

it was still raining and very cold, so we decided to order the grilled scallops, 4 for £6.50. it came with the thai sweet chilli dip (like the lobster also), a lettuce & couple triangular toast.

scallops not great as we expected, still passable.

rested & quite satisfied, we got back to our car in the rain, and drove to our next hotel, skeabost hotel & checked in.

c.h.e.f andy

+++++++++++++++++++++++

breakfast @ duisdale house hotel

we had a good breakfast the next morning on 11.6.2017. ^^

though not as good as breakfast at gantocks, a fraction of the price!

duisdale is a nice luxury boutique hotel of course. nice room, nice view etc.

the wifi totally sucks, but that seems to be the general case all hotels & B&B during our stay in isle of skye with the exception of UIG lodge.

for me i think the tariff for a night stay with dinner & breakfast is quite ridiculous at £428!

breakfast @ duisdale house hotel

anyhow, since we already booked & paid, might as well enjoyed it!

for breakfast, we both picked fresh fruit salad. & the toast & juice came. service was ok,

but be it food or service, they were just nothing like what we had at the gantocks (at <<< than 1/2 the  price)!

given a choice i would NOT stay here….

full scottish breakfast

the full scottish breakfast was wholly competent,

but then again, just looking at the photos of the breakfast at gantocks & here at duisdale (& even the plating & presentation), it is quite evident the gantocks is better la… 🙂

loch fyne kippers

the kippers was a large serving, and wife liked it.

it was not too salty, and nicely flavourful smoking. among the better kippers i had. very well done.

after breakfast we checked out. we had already decided on our itinerary – the first visit was to fairy pools at glenbrittle. 🙂

c.h.e.f andy

starters – amuse bouche

our stay package at duisdale house hotel included a £55 5-course dinner at duisdale restaurant on 10.6.2017. ^^

duisdale restaurant 2 AA rosette, so ok place…5-course dinner price looked ok too depending on the quality of food…that turned out to be very good!

the b&b stay though was ridiculously expensive but the alternatives are equally expensive in this sleat peninsula location..there is no need to stay here though as a lot of cheap b&b in isles of skye eg broadford near the straits…

starters – amuse bouche

the amuse bouche of salmon bruschetta, a croquette & a beetroot foam was quite good.

bread & brioche

bread was nice, but nothing great…

#1 beetroot ensemble

the beetroot ensemble was fantastic, very exciting!

quite special, all differnt texture from crisp to a mousse & very tasty! all the different presentation of beetroot.

#1 beetroot ensemble

since jaan days i have never had such a great beetroot dish!

#2 pan seared scallops

scallop was excellent…very good standard…

#2 pan seared scallops

of course i have taken good pan seared scallops in many places, but this was still very good. & very large scallops too. a great side of asparagus…

#3 pigeon breast

pigeon breast was good too. tender, probably sous vide, and sweet.

#3 pigeon breast

again a very good standard!

#4 halibut was excellent

& i loved the halibut!

#4 halibut was excellent

halibut is among the top quality fish, and this was a good preparation.

fish texture was firm, nicely seared, sweet & tasty, and good vegetable sides.

#4 sous vide duck breast

the other choice of main was duck breast.

#4 sous vide duck breast

it was very well done.

seems odd to have pigeon as appetiser & duck breast as main. anyhow, duck was very tender & flavourful.

#4 sous vide duck breast

the fat did not feel oily & gave the meat a very smooth and flavourful taste.

#5 dessert

#5 dessert

dessert was less our thing.

can’t really recall now..this one looks like some fig, ice crea, and perhaps a mousee.

though presentation was great, the overall experience was a nice ok dessert. nothing special..

#6 dessert 

this one looks like some strawberry, terrine & ice cream.

#6 dessert

both dessert were competent.

for  £55, i would consider this 5-course dinner very good standard, and very enjoyable & worthwhile dinner.

terrace outside restaurant

the service was a little less so.

we came for the later session at 8pm, and though we have booked the table & time & obviously we had prepaid for the dinner at the time of booking, we were taken to an inner table in a small hall with poor ambience. fortunately some diners vacated & we were able to get a good table by the window looking out to the terrace. still bright at 8.15pm

c.h.e.f andy

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

duisdale restaurant

dining room

we were at three sisters carpark contemplating if we should hike the lost valley.

weather was unpredictable & it looked like we just about having some sunshine, and we were uncertain of the weather the next day & whether we should just get on with the hike. but it was 3.30pm & the return hike would take us 3-4hrs.

so we picked the easy option & decided to drive on to the falls of glencoe down the road A82,

and then to glencoe lochan to take a leisurely lakeside stroll before moving on to fort williams where we booked a bed & breakfast at the Gantocks for the evening.

after glencoe lochan, we arrived at the Gantocks about 5.30pm. earlier in the day, sandra had messaged us if we could arrive earlier so they could leave for a dinner evening out with i think her sister. once we decided that we were not hiking the lost valley, we messaged that we would be early. sandra greeted us and informed that she decided to stay & greet us & not to go out for the evening in any case should we be late. 🙂

the room and ensuite toilet was good size & comfortable, and facing loch linhe. i think they only have 3 rooms including ours & they were all taken this evening.

we got some details of dining places & drove the short 2mins drive to lime tree restaurant & fort williams town centre,

and managed to dine at the lime tree restaurant, among the best dinner we had during this trip at fort williams & isles of skye.

dining room

next morning we had among the best breakfast i had in b&b in uk on 10.6.2017! ^^

dining room is nicely appointed & has many books.

breakfast at the Gantocks

2 other couples joined us later, a younger couple from germany & another older couple from liverpool if i remembered correctly…great folks & we had nice chat during breakfast..

freshly baked scones, bread & shortcakes

allan made excellent scones & bread, and i may say everything else! 🙂

freshly baked scones

scones were great with butter & homemade jam.

quality museli

& very good quality museli which i took.

oven grilled red grapefruit

wife took the oven grilled red grapefruit. it was truly excellent. warm, just slight sweet combining well with the naturally sour taste.

raspberry mousse palate cleanser

& we even had a palate cleanser – a raspberry mousse…this truly restaurant standard.

scottish full breakfast

& an excellent scottish full breakfast- good quality back bacon, good farm sausages, and musrroms & potatoes. great stuff.

i have had good breakfast in cornwall & exmoor b&b, average 0r above ones at conwy. this one is really good, and the additional touches of grapefruit, palate cleanser, & freshly baked scones & bread would make it the best!

=============================

we were kind of not high in case, and had wanted to pay for the b&b stay with credit card. allan said there was a charge of 5% or £7 added to the  £140 tariff. he said they were ok if we pay later using debit card when we were back in london! as we were travelling to iceland the next day upon arrival in london, we somehow forgot to do this & we did first thing immediately upon return to london 2 weeks later. good folks, allan & sandra, and great hosts.

c.h.e.f andy

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gantocks

Buachaille Etive Mor

after a 1hr+ scenic drive of glen etive,

we drove further down A82 (in the direction of fort williams) to the Buachaille Etive Mor viewpoint on 9.6.2017. ^^.

Buachaille Etive Mor viewpoint

from Buachaille Etive Mor viewpoint 

we sat on a bench facing the mountain & relaxed & took pictures. 🙂

Buachaille Etive Mor

there’s some hikinhg trail up the mountain.

from Buachaille Etive Mor viewpoint

from Buachaille Etive Mor viewpoint

road leading to Buachaille Etive Mor viewpoint & lost valley

road leading to Buachaille Etive Mor viewpoint & lost valley

we took a short stroll along the road.

bridge leading to Buachaille Etive Mor viewpoint & lost valley

to the bridge across the stream.

from Buachaille Etive Mor viewpoint

Buachaille Etive Mor on the other side.

this the landmark we saw driving up A82 towards glen etive. now it was ahead of us.

the 3 sisters viewpoint

we drove a short distance down the road A82 to three sisters viewpoint.

the 3 sisters viewpoint

the 3 sisters viewpoint carpark is the start of the lost valley trail head.

the lost valley Coire Gabhail is supposedly a popular short walk (around 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) each way, ascent 230 metres (750 ft)),

for our standard of hiking, that would probably took us 3 to 4hrs…haha!

it was like 3.30pm. the weather had cleared after the early afternoon drizzle. we were uncertain of the weather the next day & whether we should just get on with the hike.

still we had all the excuses, so we decided to go for a lakeside stroll at glencoe lochan instead. haha! ^^

the 3 sisters viewpoint

The Three Sisters: Beinn Fhada, Gearr Aonach, and Aonach Dubh are three steeply-sided ridges that extend north into the Glen.

3 sisters & lost valley

3 sisters & lost valley

a popular spot indeed!

falls of glencoe

we drove further along A82 & came to the falls of glencoe.

falls of glencoe

another tiny falls, and good for a few pictures.

falls of glencoe

falls of glencoe

after the falls, we drove on to glencoe lochan for a leisurely 45mins round the lakeside stroll. quite fun too la!

c.h.e.f andy

A82, Ballachulish PH49 4HX, UK