Tickled salmon pink

Pan fried salmon with wasabi and soy

Nyeh, you've gotta try this ... as the fat-tongued Oliver boy would say.

I think I got part of this recipe from Gordy, part from a noodle packet and part from my imagination.

Mix some wasabi paste with about an equal amount of light soy sauce, the juice of half a lime and some brown sugar (white sugar will do if you don't have brown). I don't know quantities, but it's best to start with about three dessert spoons of soy sauce and go by taste and judgement from there. Place two salmon fillets in the marinade and leave it to soak for a while.

In the meantime, finely slice some salad onions and fry them gently in a wok with some ginger and beansprouts. Add some ready-to-go rice noodles (I prefer thin ones) and splash in a dessert spoon of mirin, a drizzle of sesame oil and a bit of soy sauce.

Once the noodles are more or less ready, prepare a griddle pan over a very high heat and fry the salmon for about 2-3 minutes on either side (without oil, if your pan is non-stick enough). Serve the salmon on top of the noodles straight away, with a wedge of lime on the side to make it look like you've made an effort!

Tasty summer festivals

Hurrah - the Taste festival is approaching!

If you've never been to or heard of this festival before, it's well worth a look. Leading restaurants each have a stand where they sell small 'taster' portions of three of their popular dishes - one of each course. The festival has its own 'currency' - Crowns - so you pay for everything beforehand and carry your vouchers around as if they're golden tickets!

There are also stands with free samples of cheese, wine, chocolate, fruit juice and other goodies, plus things to buy and read. I've only ever been to the London festival before, which is held in Regents Park and has a lovely summertime picnic feel.

It's a great way to learn more about restaurants you don't know and eat good food from those you already know and love. But beware the free alcohol if the sun's out!

Not a misteak

I expect you have all been dying to know how I got on at the Albannach. What do you mean, not really?

Well, it was quite a while ago and I can't entirely remember but I know it was pretty good and I wasn't disappointed by the food. I didn't much like the table we were given or the atmosphere, and the wine list was a big let-down. A restaurant serving hearty meals such as haggis, lamb shank and venison steak should offer some decent full-bodied red wine (preferably French) under £35 a bottle.

So, the food was by far the strongest point, which I suppose is fairly crucial for a restaurant! I ate a trio of cured fish for starter (mackerel pate, tea and whisky cured salmon and sardines), then the rib-eye steak with Dauphinois potatoes. The fish was amazing and tasted 'properly Scottish', while the steak was classic and unfussy in its presentation and flavours. I'd find it hard to choose something different from the menu if I went again!

Oh yeah - pudding. I can't honestly remember what I ate or whether it was nice, so perhaps I didn't have one. I suspect it was the cheeseboard, because I know I drank a lovely glass of port with it!

I'm glad I tried this restaurant and I commend the chef for the thorough 'Scottishness' of the menu. Would I go again? Hmm ... we'll see. Perhaps in the winter.