Velvet Elvis
So here I am in sunny Glasgow. And by sunny, I of course mean a faint trickle of light from beyond the clouds. Which is pretty much how I prefer things. I think I was ginger in a previous life. Anywho. Having been here a couple weeks I've found several places that I'll be visiting regularly. I've even tried the local haggis, and was amazed at how good it actually was. It's like Scottish escargo - it does NOT sound appetizing at first, but I seriously wanted seconds.
On my first week exploring the immediate vicinity that is my urban domain, I had heard some good things about a place that was only a three minute walk from my flat. Velvet Elvis is a casual foodie place with a small patio out front and a bar and restaurant inside. A large mural on the wall directly inside proclaims "Keep Partick Weird." Partick being my little neighborhood in Glasgow. They also host a quiz night and an open mic night, where performers drink free. I even saw a notice proclaiming a "house guitar" was available for those without one.
Considering how inexpensive everything was on the menu, I must be honest my expectations were not that high. For a starter, I ordered the pressed pork belly, and I was completely unprepared for what came on my plate.
It came with a crispy king prawn and a sauce I still can't get out of my head, but the flavor by itself was amazing. I felt a little bit high. I've seriously been dreaming about this pork for days now. A sweet crispy skin and deliciously cooked meaty center, I had to remind myself where I was. I'd had the pressed pork belly at an upscale (and fairly well-known) joint up the street and paid three times the price for food that wasn't even in the same league. As I write this, I'm seriously considering saying to hell with my plans for stir fry this evening and going back, just for this pork belly. But alas, we must move on.
For my main, I ordered the mac and cheese with crispy bacon. Again, for the price, I still wasn't expecting much. When it arrived, the portion was so generous my heart sank a bit because I thought they might be trying to make up for something. But they weren't. The mac and cheese was great. Creamy, but not overdone on the sauce, and the bacon was a nice light touch, not heavyhanded like you get some places. I probably would have enjoyed it more, were I not still daydreaming about the pork. I show:
And lastly, I ordered some sweet potato fries on the side with a bit of creme fraiche for dipping. Again, and I don't know why I hadn't learned my lesson, I expected a small portion for the price. But I honestly couldn't even finish it. That's what I get. These were fried perfectly, and the creme fraiche was a lovely touch. Observe:
So I will be returning to Velvet Elvis, a couple times a month at least, I imagine. And if you're a local cat, or just happen to find yourself visiting the west end of Glasgow, I strongly recommend popping in.
Foodies never die. That is all.