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BUY A PRESENT WITH PURPOSE THIS CHRISTMAS with buy social scotland [Ad]

| Lipstick and late nights

When I use the phrase ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, I really mean it. For me, there’s no time more magical than Christmas – from the fact that mulled wine and party food become a completely acceptable meal replacement on a nightly basis, to wearing a tacky Christmas jumper and getting a little too merry at the work Christmas party, I love every single moment of it.

For me though, the part that really makes it wonderful, is the giving (and let’s be honest, the receiving) of a gift that some one has put a world of thought in to, just to make someone else feel special. There’s nothing quite like seeing the sheer joy on the face of someone you love when you’ve hit the nail right on the head and chosen a gift that speaks to their soul, and that they’ll never forget.

Here’s the thing though, we’re all just SO BUSY these days, and the lure of grabbing a black Friday bargain during a quick online trawl over your meal deal on your lunch break is just far too tempting to resist for most.

Have you ever stopped to consider how much better you’d feel about gifting someone the perfect present, if that present not only came completely guilt free, but also came safe in the knowledge that you were actually benefitting people in your very own area who actually really need help, simply by buying that present?

Fortunately for you lucky things, Buy Social Scotland are here to help you shop as ethically as possible this Christmas. They’ve compiled a fabulous gift directory that focuses solely on supporting social enterprises all over Scotland.

What exactly is a social enterprise?

“Social enterprises are innovative, independent businesses that exist to deliver a specific social and/or environmental mission. Their profits are reinvested in their mission. Social enterprise is a dynamic, ethical and more sustainable way of doing business.”

Quite simply put, a social enterprise is a small business with a goal of making the world a better place, any profits they make are reinvested directly back in to their mission, and the best part is, there are a whole host of them right on your doorstep.

If the last couple of years have taught us anything, it’s the importance of supporting local, and by buying from a social enterprise, you’re not only supporting an individual business owner, you’re supporting whole communities.

With over 6000 social enterprises in Scotland alone, it can be hard knowing where to start, but thanks to the Buy Social Scotland gift directory, you have a selection of some of the most amazing vendors just a click away. To make it even easier for you, I’ve put together a few of my top picks for all of your gifting needs, so read on for all of the gift inspo you could possibly need!

FOR HIM…

Non plastic beach – Razor with blades – £19.50

Even the most hairy men in our lives are getting wise to the fact that plastic waste is a serious issue, so when it comes to shaving, there are steps that can be taken to help us all live more sustainably.

This plastic free safety razor set non only looks classy as a shaving set (which lets face it, is a classic gift for dads/hubbies/men everywhere!), but by buying this your man can look as suave as Bond without a hint of the guilty conscience that comes with purchasing disposable razors that typically end up in land fill every time. Win win!

FOR HER…

Mara Stud Earrings by Isle Develop – £55

Is buying jewellery for women at Christmas a complete cliché? Absolutely. When the jewellery is this gorgeous do we give a damn? Absolutely not.

These absolutely stunning hand crafted fresh water pearl earrings are inspired by days of beach combing on the Scottish coast, and each pair will be unique, just like the wonderful woman in your life that you are gifting them to (cringe, I know, but true all the same).

The Social Enterprise that backs this charming producer Islewear is Isle 20, who are a directory supporting small island businesses.

FOR THE FOODIE…

The Chocolate Box by Social bite – £10.99 – £15.99.

…because which self proclaimed foodie wouldn’t want to receive a box of freshly made, gooey gorgeous brownies?! With a selection of delectable treats in flavours such as white chocolate and raspberry and chocolate orange being delivered right to your door, this is the ideal gift for, well, just about anyone really!

Born in Edinburgh, but now boasting five shops including one in our very own Aberdeen, Social Bite are a small chain of sandwich shops who’s primary aim is to break the cycle of homelessness. They provide supported job opportunities, with one in three of their employees having experienced homelessness in one way or themselves, and since March 2020 alone have provided 500,000 fresh food packs to those most in need, which if you ask me, is pretty flippin’ impressive.

FOR THE LITTLE ONES…

Gift Vouchers for transition Extreme – £7.50 – £40.

Know someone small that spends more time on wheels than on their feet? Or that has always wanted to? Transition offer vouchers for everything from a skate park session to a one-on-one BMX coaching session. I guarantee your kid/niece/grandson will think you’re the coolest person ever with a gift like this.

Transition Extreme is an amazing youth focused charity, providing sporting activities to young people with the goal of reducing things like substance abuse and antisocial behaviour

FOR THE BEST FRIEND…

Christmas Goodwill Spiced Gin, 50 cl – £36.99.

Gin that tastes like Christmas? I know I’m sold! This limited edition gin produced in Dingwall is not only a deliciously spiced tipple guaranteed to jazz up a cocktail at any Christmas party, but by buying this you are supporting true community spirit.

Goodwill gin, produced in Ben Wyviss in the Highlands, is the first ever 100% community owned distillery. Drinking GlenWyvis is also just about the most eco-conscious you could feel while getting a bit boozy with the distillery being entirely powered by wind, hydro, solar and biomass energy – How cool is that?!

FOR THE VEGAN IN YOUR LIFE…

Bambu Vegan’s Dream Gift Set – £36.99.

With everything that the planet saving, animal loving, eco warrior could need to live their best sustainable life. Featuring vegan wax food wraps, a bamboo toothbrush, and even reuseable cotton buds, this is the ideal gift for those trying to live a zero-waste existence.

The aim of Bambú is simple: to make a positive impact on the environment, healthcare and community by providing wholesome foods and eco-friendly products with less packaging.

With over 200 options on the Buy Social Scotland website alone, you really are spoiled for choice, so be sure to check it out, and buy a gift that is truly unique this Christmas. Buy a gift with purpose.

Have a fabulous festive season everybody.

Until next time,

B x

*This post was created in paid partnership with Buy Social Scotland.

ABERDEEN RESTAURANT WEEK AT KOI THAI [Ad]

| Lipstick and late nights

I’m genuinely quite ashamed to admit that since the opening of Koi Thai just over a year ago, it’s taken me until this week to actually pay a visit – especially given that it’s about a minute and a half’s walk from my front door.

Sure we have lockdown to take in to account, but given the buzz that has surrounded this fabulous restaurant located right in the heart of Rosemount since it made it’s debut back in September 2019, I feel like my status as a supposed foodie should officially be revoked for having somehow bypassed it until now.

With Aberdeen Restaurant Week back in full swing and with myself returning as an ARW ambassador to help spread the good word to the food lovers of Aberdeen about where to find the best eats in town, I always make a point of visiting the places that I’ve yet to frequent to try something new – I mean isn’t that the whole point? You’d better believe that Koi Thai was at the top of my list when given the option of where we fancied heading to review for you lovely lot, needing no further incentive than that they, along with loads of other partcipating venues, have three fantastic courses on offer for just £20.

Having gazed through the windows spying the swathes of content diners’ faces whenever I have passed by, it’s always been obvious that Koi Thai boasts a pretty spectacular interior, but its’s not until you actually set foot through the door that you appreciate the extent of the effort that has been put in to the design. Giving an air of true authenticity that transports you away from the bustling but grey streets of Rosemount, to what could could be the centre of a vibrant marketplace in Bangkok.

From the tin roofs with suspended lighting and the street food cart inspired bar area giving you real market place feels, to the beautiful Asian design detailing with murals of elephants and even a giant Buddha on the walls, this really is a beautiful place to enjoy a great meal.

It’s not surprising in the slightest that when the Koi Thai owners made the move from being take away only to restaurant based that they were an instant hit with their existing following based on the merit of their food offering, but with a venue like this is also easy to see why customers were flocking in from the off.

The food…

Now it’s no secret that Restaurant Week is not only a time support your local food scene, but it’s also the ultimate excuse to over-indulge, which was clearly going to be the outcome of our visit here given the extent of the delectable menu items on offer.

Welcomed to our table with complimentary prawn crackers (an instant win in my book!) and a warm greeting from our bubbly server which included a full explanation of the menu and how everything could be adapted to your preferences, we were buzzing to get stuck in. The spice lovers amongst you will be delighted to know that you can up (or lower) the spice level of any main dish depending on how brave you’re feeling.

  • Tod Mun Khao Poad
  • Spring rolls

Tod Mun Khao Poad (G,S,E)

“Deep fried sweet corn blended in red curry paste, served with sweet chilli sauce.”

It’s not an exaggeration when I say that I could eat about a hundred of these tasty little corn cakes. Differing from a classic sweetcorn fritter, these have the most more-ish crispy coating, while the filling holds on to it’s juicy sweetness. For me the dipping sauce really made this a stand-out starter; rather than sweet and sticky, it was light and fresh with just the right hit of chilli to get the tongue tingling. This is definitely a starter I’d order time and time again.

Spring Rolls (G,V)

“Handmade Thai Style Spring Rolls served with sweet chilli sauce.”

Quite possibly the tastiest spring rolls I’ve ever had? I think so! The filling was fresh, fragrant and full of classic thai aromatics and finely julienned veg that quite frankly crapped all over most of the spring rolls full of indistinguishable mystery mush that I’ve had in my time. Encased in light crisp pastry without a hint of excess oiliness, these really were a delight to eat. The same sweet chilli dipping sauce mentioned above was once again the perfect accompaniment.

Panaeng Curry (F,G) 

“The famous Thai curry cooked in Panaeng Curry paste, Kaffir lime leaves, pepper and coconut milk.”

The fab thing about all of the mains on offer at Koi Thai is that with each delicious option you get the choice of chicken, pork, tofu to customise your main. Since I had opted for the famously flavoursome Panaeng curry, I decided that veg would be the best choice to let the flavour of the sauce shine, and boy did it shine! Singing of sharp lemongrass, sweet coconut and punchy spicing (this is a two chilli rated dish), the sauce was tantalising and rich, but not overpowering. The zingy, aniseedy Thai basil garnish really finished completed the flavour profile beautifully.

With a choice of jasmine rice or noodles to accompany your dish, I had chosen noodles, which was a bit of a rooky error as the curry sauce is not a thick one and would really benefit from having some rice to soak it up, but my ingrained hatred of the scent of Jasmine held me back from making the right choice. Side-note: I tried Grant’s jasmine rice out of curiosity and it was truly tasty and not at all like that jasmine perfume that used to give me the fear. Idiot.

Anyway, this was a seriously appetising plate – my only complaint being that the portion was too big too finish!

Gaeng Massaman – Thai Massaman Curry (F,G,N) 🌶

“Mild curry cooked with potatoes and onion in creamy coconut curry sauce.”

​With a much sweeter and more subtle flavouring, the Massaman curry is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, the Korma of thai cooking if you will. Low in spice but abundant in fresh flavours, the thick creamy sauce lent itself perfectly to Grant’s tofu selection – which incidentally was also cooked to perfection. The coconut flavour was predominant but tastes of cinnamon and galangal also came through for a lovely warming flavour. As predicted following my previous tasting, the jasmine rice was the perfect addition. You live and learn, right?!

  • Sticky toffee pudding with ice cream
  • Banana Fritters with coconut milk

Sticky toffee pudding with ice cream

After the mighty feed that we had received with the first two courses, I knew that dessert was going to be a struggle, but when sticky toffee pudding on the menu caught my eye I knew I would give it my best shot. This might not be the most traditional Thai dessert, but it’s one of my absolute favourites so I’m hard pushed to resist one on any menu.

I don’t think anything could have prepared me for the sheer size of the gargantuan slice that was presented to me, what a whopper! Coated in sumptuous sweet sticky sauce, the pudding itself was moist and rich without being too dense and heavy, and even the luxuriously smooth vanilla ice cream was divine. I’m almost embarrassed to say that I near enough demolished the whole thing, it was just that damn tasty.

Banana Fritters with Coconut Milk

Expecting the batter covered bananas soaked in syrup that you often see in Chinese cuisine, we were pleasantly surprised to see something a little different emerge. The chef who came out to chat to us after our meal (always a lovely touch) explained that these were a special variety of Thai banana, which explained by they kept their shape and bite beautifully. The texture was satisfyingly chewy thanks to the candied outer, and the coconut sauce that surrounded them made this just a dream to eat.

We can’t thank Koi Thai enough for our amazing meal here. The combination of outstanding food and immaculate and genuinely friendly service left me sure that it won’t be long before we return again.

Don’t forget that the Restaurant Week menu is available right through until the 15th November, so I would advise booking in right away if you want to snap up a table this week. Head to the Koi Thai website or give them a call on 01224 478900 to get booked in. They are offering two lunch courses for £10 and three dinner courses for £20.

You can check out the rest of the amazing eateries also taking part in ARW, along with some fabulous reviews from my fellow blog squad members by heading to the ARW website here.

Until next time,

B x

P.s. This review was part of a partnership with Aberdeen Inspired. The meal was gifted, but all wiews as always are my own.

New menu at The New Greentrees [Ad]

| Lipstick and late nights

Over the last few years The GreenTrees pub has become something of a regular haunt, mainly due to the fact that the BF worked there for many years, and so we often pop back so that he can catch up with friends and regulars.

A favourite of many Dyce inhabitants, the Greentrees is one of those good old fashioned locals, with a bar, lounge, restaurant and function room all in one. While it’s always an enjoyable visit, sinking a pint or five over a few games of pool, I’d be lying if I said that it was the food menu that kept us coming back time after time when in the mood for a bit of gastronomy; it’s always been good hearty pub-grub. For many years now, the menu has been exactly what you’d expect from a traditional bar such as this, with classic crowd-pleasers such as fish and chips, steak and ale pie and lasagne, and the ever popular carvery on a Sunday, so when I was invited along to try out the newly revamped menu, I wasn’t expecting major transformation, but boy was I wrong!

Vegetarian food at The New Greentrees Aberdeen

With the promise of an expansive new vegan and vegetarian menu, I was more than a little intrigued to see what was in store for us. For me the test of any good eatery is always the merit of their, usually solitary and often bland as hell, veggie option, but thankfully it looked like we were going to be spoiled for choice here.

The new menu comes courtesy of Argentinian head chef Javier who has taken charge and dreamed up a more exotic and varied menu featuring dishes that wouldn’t be out of place in a high end restaurant, mixing British ghastro pub classics with dishes from around the continent. You can tell instantly that this is a man who is truly passionate about food, and has travelled the world to learn his trade. Having lived on a vegan diet himself for some time, I’m delighted to say that the vegans/veggies out there have been well and truly taken care of.

Javier has also made it a top priority of his to source as many ingredients as possible locally, tracking down top quality beef from Aberdeenshire, and veg from local suppliers. He understands the importance of supporting local businesses, but also the incredible quality of foods home grown in Scotland.

Even the bar snacks menu is seriously impressive, with a selection of baskets on offer, featuring the likes of ‘Battered scallops with chips and garlic mayo’ (drool!) and ‘pate with pickles and bread and butter’. They have seriously elevated the standard greasy and usually beige bar snack!

The food…

It’s safe to say that we were thoroughly spoiled with our trip to the Greentrees, getting to sample not just a couple, but SIX different dishes to allow us to fully explore the menu – and yes, I had to be rolled home afterwards…

Of course we we went entirely veggie; it was an absolute treat to have so many genuinely enticing meat-free options on offer, but the rest of the menu sounds equally delicious, with dishes likes of ‘Chicken Shnitzel with wild mushroom sauce’ and ‘Scottish lamb cutlets with mustard and rosemary mash’ on offer.

Here’s what we thought about each and every fabulous bite.

Vegan & Vegetarian food at The New Greentrees Aberdeen

To get our bellies warmed up for the main event, we began with the soup of the day, a delicious and aromatic sweet potato, coconut and chilli soup.

Subtly spiced and silky smooth, this was the perfect introduction to the feast that lay ahead of us.

We could hardly believe our eyes when shortly afterwards, three stunning plates of food arrived in front of us – this was going to be a challenge alright, but one that I was going to do my bloody best to rise to! Straight away I was struck by the artistic presentation, these were some seriously gorgeous plates of food that sang of careful consideration and pride of plating.

Vegetable Grill Stack

This artfully arranged stack of gorgeous grilled aubergine, courgette and baby potatoes layered with oozy melted brie and drizzled with a tangy tomato compote really hit the spot. Bursting with flavour thanks to the herb oil and balsamic glaze garnish, this dish wouldn’t have been out of place in a high end restaurant. It was almost too pretty to eat…but not quite, and boy was I glad I ate it! With dishes as flavoursome as this, it’s easy to forget that meat was ever on the menu.

Grilled Goats Cheese Salad

Though simplistic in nature, this salad was possibly my favourite dish of the night. The generous round of freshly baked goats cheese was perfectly offset by the sweet delicious pear and tart raspberry dressing, with none of that more-ish goats cheese going to waste thanks to the soft brown bread served alongside it. This really is a dish that I could eat over and over again.

Wild Mushroom and Pea Risotto

I’d like to take a moment here to just say YUM.

All to often risotto’s are the easy way out when it comes to imagining a veggie option, but this one arrived here with a purpose. With the fully present earthy woody flavours of wild mushrooms and the sumptuous texture of a lovingly prepared risotto all pulled together with spot-on seasoning, this dish is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Elevated comfort food at it’s finest. Can I eat this all over again please?

Greentrees Halloumi Burger with Chilli Sauce

No sooner than we had just about managed to polish off the first four dishes (diet absolutely starts Monday…) Javier appeared once again brandishing a lethal looking halloumi burger, insisting that we just HAD to try it. Well, it would have been rude not to, right?

With a more than generous hunk of halloumi grilled to perfection between a sweet brioche, it was crisp on the outside, and soft and chewy in the middle, just the way it should be. The chilli sauce was sticky and sweet, with a decent kick, and offset the salty savoury halloumi perfectly. Complete with the classic burger serve of homemade slaw, fries and salad, this was a triumph of a burger offering, and one I’ll be ordering time and time again when we next visit.

For all of the non veggies out there, the beef burger is sure to satisfy, hailing from Inverness and 28 days hung it’s bound to be super tasty, and offers a variety of awesome toppings to choose from.

Churros.

Need I say any more? I mean just Churros – if you’re not a fan then we need to have serious words.

Actually I do need to say more, because not only was this sweet, doughy, crisp Argentinian classic fried to perfection and drizzled with delicious chocolate sauce, there was also chocolate INSIDE the churros. I don’t know what kind of voodoo this is, but I’m 100% here for it.

The New Greentrees have seriously outdone themselves with this new menu thanks to Javier’s inspired input, so for all us city dwellers looking for somewhere different to dine out now and then, the short trip to Dyce to check out ‘The Trees’ as it’s usually referred to by locals is well and truly worth it. Family friendly and with something for everyone, there really is no excuse not to pay a visit and try out the incredible new menu.

Head to the facebook page to check out the full menu for yourself by clicking HERE or give them a call on 01224 799990 to book a table.

Serious thanks once again to The GreenTrees for inviting us to try out their fabulous new fare, we’ll be back again soon for sure!

Until next time,

B x

*** EDIT – this meal was gifted pre-lockdown, so menus and menu items may now be different to those shown in the review, check out the facebook page or get in touch with The Green Trees directly for any queries! As always, all views are my own.

SUMMER STYLING WITH LITTLE LIES [Ad]

| Lipstick and late nights

Shopping small with independent brands has never been so important, now is absolutely the time to be championing new and local companies who like most of us out there, will still be struggling to readjust and recuperate from the effects of lockdown. Amongst the seas of fashion conglomerates firing out fast and disposable trend based garments more rapidly than you can keep up, it’s easy for the little guys to get left out and fall behind – they have to work ten times harder to make a success of their businesses because let’s face it, it’s a dog eat dog world out there.

One such small business that’s out there thriving and making serious waves right now, and one that I’ve had my eye on for a very long time is Dundee based boho brand Little Lies. This is one badass company with a ‘hell yeah!’ attitude and the spirit or rock ‘n’roll at heart.

“Little Lies is inspired by great tunes and beautiful things. We love seventies boho style, anything to do with Led Zepplin and all things festival. Our name comes from the classic Fleetwood Mac song, which cements our brands musical influences. Stevie Nicks in the seventies is our classic Little Lies customer. Amazing boho style with her own stamp. “

Little lies is a brand for all the rebels out there. Those who don’t conform to the masses and who take no bullshit in life. It’s a brand for all the free-spirited wild things out there, and it has music at it’s core. Think band tees, Glastonbury essentials, floaty dresses and fabulous sunglasses. If ever there was a brand that catered to about 90% of my wardrobe must haves, this is it!

Needless to say I was buzzing off my wee chops when they got in touch about working together. Their collection of carefully considered and curated pieces is an everything that a rock ‘n’ roll gal needs in her life, so choosing just a couple of pieces to feature was a near impossible task, because I want EVERYTHING on their site.

The Little Lies philosophy is one of sustainability and showing the garments you choose to buy the love and care that they deserve. It’s all to easy to get sucked in to throw-away culture that fast fashion encourages these days, but with these timeless pieces you’ll be wearing them for years to come, and feeling like a fucking rockstar every time you do.

With this in mind, I eventually picked two pieces that spoke to me about the spirit of summer, and ones that I knew I could style in a million different ways , and which would continue to give a totally awesome and unique vibe every single time.

Songbird Kimono Sleeve Top – £36

If there was ever one single staple item that could get you through any possible summers day scenario, it’s this little beauty right here. Festivals? Hell yeah. Beers in the sun? Absofuckinglutely. Sunday dinner with the in laws? Sure, why not, the dads will love it.

With gorgeous intricate crochet detail and the most dreamy floaty sleeves, this top is just a perfect little slice of boho pie, and I adore it.

This top is one size, but thanks to a draw string under the bust you can pull it in for a more shapely fit.

Think About Me Wrap Dress – £44

Another floaty sleeve number? Me? Never……

Ok so I have a thing with sleeves. Is it any wonder when the dress they’re on is as gorgeous as this little floral ditsy number?

This would be just as perfect dressed up with a pair of heels to a boozy brunch as it would styled with a pair of chunky boots and a hat at a gig shaking your thing . It’s got EVERYTHING.

Sizing on this one runs from 8-10, 10-12 to 12-14. I chose the 10-12 which leaves a bit of wiggle room, but the great thing about this is that it also has a drawstring to cinch the waist.

There is absolutely no doubt that these variations of these outfits will be on repeat steering me through the rest of the season for as long as the sun shines. We’ve simply GOT to start loving more and wasting less when it comes to the garments we choose to invest in.

Psssst…did you know that Little Lies have a Plus size range too reaching a size 28? Hell yeah to making every babe count!

Not only do Little Lies curate the most awesome collection of rock ‘n’ roll badassery when it comes to your wardrobe, but the also do a whole bunch of other cool stuff too. Homeware, accessories, jewellery, you’ve got it babes.

Here are a few of my top picks for from the site…

Metal Bison Skull Wall Decor – £34

Western style is just bloody cool, right? I’m dying to bring a little bit of the West in to my home too and this incredible silver anatomical bison skull is the ideal was to do it. It’s very firmly on my shopping list!

Straight To Hell Studded Biker Jacket – £98

Got a problem? Nah, didn’t think so. Trust me when I say that no one is going to fuck with you when you’re wearing this insane jacket! The best part? It’s faux leather, so the vegans can be badass too.

Available in sizes 8-22.

Sand Concho Fedora – £22.

Because I need another hat like a need a hole in the head…but boy is this one pretty. The perfect neutral to go with absolutely anything, and just look at that straight up cowboy detail on the trim. Swoon.

Led Zeppelin ’77 Band Tee – £25.

Every good rock chick needs a good band tee, and they don’t come more rockin’ than Led Zeppelin. Wear with literally anything, or better still, wear with nothing.

Availlable in sizes S – XXL.

Gold Snake Earrings – £16.

Don’t be a snake in the grass. Wear them on your ears and make a real statement instead. I’m a sucker for gold jewellery and this pair has got me all rattled up.

Not only do Little Lies have an incredibly cool website where you can browse for what seems like forever getting some serious style inspo, but you can also visit them at their store at 17 Union Street, Dundee. Road trip anyone?

Click HERE to check out the range yourself!

Until next time,

B x

*PRODUCTS IN THIS POST WERE KINDLY GIFTED, BUT THE VIEWS AS ALWAYS ARE MY OWN!

ABERDEEN INSPIRED NIGHTS IS BACK!

| Lipstick and late nights

If you didn’t hear about Aberdeen Inspired nights last year, first of all, where were you hiding?! Down at the Green in the heart of the city centre, groups of friends and families flocked down in their droves to enjoy some of Aberdeen’s finest local catering in the sunshine. You can read all about the first instalment in my previous post here.

The little used area, slap bang in the centre of town, provided the perfect location and became a hustling, bustling, hive of activity, art and good times, and I whiled away many a weekend eating and drinking way too much there across the summer.

Also playing host to the Nuart walking tours, the Green will once again be transformed in to a hub of cultural and gastronomical goodness for one weekend every month, and I can’t really think of a better reason to get out of the house and enjoy our ever improving city.

Becca and boyfriend Grant enjoying Nuart at Inspired Nights at the Green, Aberdeen.
Image by Snap Digital.

The first event of the season in April which coincided with the launch of Nuart saw an outstanding 15,000 people descend upon the Green across the weekend, and with good reason. The BF and I took part in a wee promo video for Aberdeen Inspired, which not only means that you’ll see our mugs popping up all over the place for the next few months (lucky you!), but also meant that we got to enjoy some of the culinary delights on offer on the opening night, and boy, we were not disappointed!

  • Sourdough toast with halloumi from Avo
  • Images by Snap Digital

If I had one criticism of the event last year, it would be that the veggie options were pretty limited, or in some cases non-existent beyond a bag of chips, but I’m very glad to say that Aberdeen Inspired have fully remedied this, and the line-up this year is going to be stellar!

  • Roots Catering Southern Fried Chick’aint burger
  • Inspired Nights
  • Popsey’s pancakes
  • Roots Catering Loaded Fries

I was particularly delighted to see that Roots Catering were taking part – if you haven’t heard about their mouth-wateringly tasty vegan junk food offering, you can read about it in my post here. If you’re going to eat one thing during your visit, make it the loaded fries, you will not regret it!

The next event taking place from the 24th – 26th May features the following vendors bringing you all manner of delicious street food and drinks:

Food

Roots Catering, Shree Bheema, Muchacho , So Aberdeen…On Fire Pizzas, Bistro Verde, Edelwurst Catering, Eat Van Drink, Popseys Pancakes, Cute Cones 

Drinks 

99 Bar & Kitchen, McGinty’s Meal An’ Ale, Soul Beer Pop Up, Thanks a Latte 

  • Fresh doughnuts from Popsey’s Pancakes

Burgers, pizzas, tacos, curry, doughnuts, you name, it, Inspired Nights have got you covered! The line-up will vary from one month to the next throughout the season, but if you ask me, this one will be hard to top. Entertainment will also be provided in the form of the finest disco classics and laid back tunes thanks to All Night Passion and Let It Bleed.

Admriing the latest Nuart addition by street artist, Smug. Image by Snap digital.

So get out there folks, immerse yourself in the smells and sounds of sizzling street food in the sunshine this summer, take in all of the latest art making our city look that little bit more interesting, feel inspired, and just have a bloody good time.

Don’t forget to follow Inspired Nights on Instagram to keep up with all of the latest too.

If you see me there, probably with a mouth full of tacos, come say hi!

B x