Filed under: DJ, Dubstep, Music | Tags: australia, kangaroo, numbernin6, prodigy, rusko, sydney
I speak about Rusko WAYYYYYYYYYY too much for any sane person. I should probably stop. But in any case, this remix isn’t by Rusko, its just the youtube clip that makes it awesome is Rusko playing the remix at a festival in Sydney, AU. To be entirely honest, I don’t particularly like the remix that much. That was until I kept listening to it over and over again. Its not that I really enjoyed the song but I couldn’t get it out of my head and as that was the case, couldn’t stop listening to it. Now its still in my head and I keep loving it. Try it out. Lemme know if it doesn’t get stuck in yours too…
The Prodigy – Breathe (NumberNin6 Remix)
Filed under: DJ, Dubstep, Music | Tags: caspa, I kissed a girl, illegal, katy perry, rusko
SOOOOOO
This has been around for quite a while. And I’ve shown it to quite a few people. Since then, those people have enjoyed dubstep. I’m starting to notice a trend….
Check the youtube video for more. All I have to say is that no one has more than this portion of the song. I think we can all agree that this should be officially released but as of yet, it hasn’t (to the best of my knowledge). Post in the comments if you’ve found a legit download.
Filed under: Fashion, Rain Boots, Shoes, St. Andrews Style | Tags: Barbour Jackets, Fur, Hunter Wellies, Leggings, skinny jeans, St. Andrews Style, sunglasses, tights, Wayfarers, Wellingtons
It might not be what everyone wears, but there is a definite ‘St. Andrews Uni style’. The essentials of this include leggings, skinny jeans, Hunter wellies, Barbour jackets, Wayfarer sunglasses, and some fur here and there. Besides the abundance of leggings and skinny jeans I already had in my wardrobe, I did not have most of the other essential items I saw around town when I first began Uni. I must say, it all seemed just a little too brand-name oriented; it was as if most students just bought and wore these items because they were staples in most of the other students wardrobes. However, as the year progressed I found that the clothes I brought failed time and time again to protect me from the erratic combination of harsh North Sea-winds, freezing cold rain, and brief periods of bright sun. I have to say by now I have pretty much everything on the essentials list I mentioned above, and have found reasons for why all the items are must haves for this area.
Leggings and Skinny Jeans:
Despite the comfy nature of leggings, fun freedom of tights, and the sleek look of skinny jeans/trousers, they are actually all quite practical for the weather. The main advantages of wearing bottoms that hug the shape of our legs is that the ends won’t get soaked when worn out in rain and puddle ridden streets. Boots are quite helpful for this as well, and add that extra layer of warmth.
Hunter Wellies:
Besides the fact that Hunters are very sturdy and will last through the beating St. Andrews weather can give, it is more that wellies in general are a must. I them because they are sold in most of the shoe stores here.
Barbour Jackets:
I didn’t really see why people would buy a Barbour besides the classic British style it represents, but they offer so much more. The wax allows the jacket to protect the wearer from wind and rain, while most of the styles (even fitted styles) allow for layering underneath. Plus the durability of the fabrics also allow for an excessive amount of wear and tear; which is a must for those drunken nights of stumbles and falls.
Fur is one of those things that works for the cold of St. Andrews, but there are many great substitutes for that. Wayfarers are kinda like Hunters in the way that sunglasses are needed, for that random bright hour of the day, but the particular type is not necessary.
Filed under: Food Week | Tags: Cheese, Cheesemonger, gorgonzola, I.J. Mellis, St Marcellin
When I was told that the Sunday piece marking the finale of Food Week was to be a personal review of my favourite place in town, be it deli, restaurant, cafe, shop – anything, my first reaction was, of course, excitement, but closely followed by a rising sensation of fear; how could I possible single out one establishment above all the other fine harbourers of culinary delights in our dear Bubble? Between queuing eagerly for my Writer’s Block wrap at Butlers (with added blue cheese and avocado instead of mange-tout) and running into Fisher and Donaldson with just 2 minutes to spare before class in the quod to grab a cheeky sausage roll for breakfast, I had never stopped to consider which of these outlets for my appetite I actually considered my favourite.
With almost frantic fervour I scoured my memory for a place that really struck out and truly deserved such a title; the harbour house – THE only place in town serving the perfect chai latte (chai powder is the key – if you see your barrister pouring syrup in, my advice is to quickly flee), No.40 for its cocktails and charming staff (of whom I, as the bar tender, am undoubtedly the most charming – yet for fear of bias its probably best I eliminate No.40 from the running) or the Seafood restaurant (too obvious?)? Perhaps Bridges Butchers, for their fabulous fresh meats and tremendous banter? In my panic my consciousness began to approach utter madness: ‘maybe Empire?’ I even debated, ‘Maybe copious saturated fats and unidentifiable meats deep fried in lard are just misunderstood? Culinary triumphs in disguise? Maybe even Tesco’s has a benign side?’. Dark times indeed for a Fine Food and Dining Society co-president.
However, suddenly it struck me. The one place you are guaranteed to find me at least 4 times a week and the one place I pop into planning to buy just one item, yet consistently and utterly without fail come out with laden bags. One of the only places I dream about being accidently locked in over night to (…Marco Pierre White’s pantry is possibly the second….); I. J. Mellis Cheesemongers.
Oh the things I would do to that shop if locked in over night! Cue fantasy: The doors opening at 9am, revealing me to a surprised Cheese monger, lying green-faced and prostrate on the terracotta tile floor surrounded by countless hollowed out wheels of cheese: stilton, brie, cheddar – I am indiscriminate in my gorging of myself when it comes to this store. The selection of cheese available is truly breathtaking and the marble serving counter is dominated by towering mounds of cheesy goodness. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and there has not been even one occasion I can recall that I have been in and not sampled copious tasters of most of the cheeses there before buying (reason enough alone for a visit!). The first time me and my co-president, Katy Brill, visited the shop we left quite the impression on the cheesemongers there; having not listened to a word the cheesemonger was saying to us, engaged in stooping down in front of a particularly choice gorgonzola and literally drooling, we proceeded to request (quote) ‘the dirtiest, rottenest, smelliest, ooziest, most disgusting cheese in the shop’….I believe they thought us weird. Yet despite being really rather frightened of us the staff are still fantastically helpful and always recommend the best cheese for each personal palate.
For anyone who has not been in recently (or, god forbid, ever!) go there immediately and ask for the St Marcellin; a soft French cheese made from cow’s milk, creamy, flavoursome and deliciously odorous. This retails at only 4.04 gbp, even before the 10 % discount you get with your fine food and dining card…but shameless self promotion aside this really is my personal favourite cheese in the whole, wide world and I recommend you purchase it NOW. Or if you like your blue cheese, why not try Zak’s, one of the cheesemongers, favourite; Strathdon Blue. Slightly different to a stilton in its texture, salt content and creaminess, its ‘peppery savouriness’ is a great addition to any dinner party cheese board! Finn, another cheesemonger, rates the ‘Tomme au Marc de Raisin’ and, having sampled it, so do I! The cheese is fruity with sharp undertones and covered in must from the new season of wine-making giving it an added dimension of deep, ‘winey’ flavour. Retailing too at 3.14 GBP/100g you hardly notice the pennies slipping from your purse!
I.J. Mellis also supplies various chutneys, fabulous cured meats and antipasto items (as discussed in Tuesday’s article). Another claim to fame; the shop is one of, acclaimed celebrity chef, Rick Stein’s food heroes (http://www.rickstein.com/Cheese.html)!! Furthermore they have supplied such renowned chefs as Gordan Ramsey himself…and you know if Gordan says it’s good (or more likely, ‘f***ing good’), then it’s definitely worth a try!!
To conclude, my favourite place in the culinary world of St Andrews is I.J Mellis Cheesemonger. I love the variety of stock, I love that it’s the only place that brings the weird side of me out, I love the fruity whiff you get from it even down the street letting your stomach know that ‘yes…yes Lucy…cheese is on the way’ and I love love love the cheese itself. Pay a visit.
Courtesy of the Fine Food and Dining Society
We hope you have enjoyed Food Week and hope to see you at our Christmas run-up events!
If you’d like to hear more from the FIne Food and Dining Soc, get in contact by emailing them.
Filed under: Shoes | Tags: Bruno Frisoni, christmas, heals, holidays, St. Andrews Day, Style Bubble, Susie Bubble
St. Andrews day is upon us and that means only one thing for me: ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ is upon us yet again! Whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Quanza or any other holiday that comes around this time of year, December is a time of warmth, family, love… and presents! There is one item on my list I thought you all might appreciate! I stumbled across these shoes when I was reading Susie Bubble’s Style Bubble, and I came across these fabulous Bruno Frisoni platform sandals Susie found for the equivalent of 58 GBP, what a steal! So Santa, if your reading, these shoes are definitely on the list.
(via Style Bubble)
Filed under: Food Week | Tags: Glasshouse, Russells, st. andrews, The Fat Duck, The Seafood Restaurant
The St Andrews student is a curious breed. A barber-toting, welly-wearing bizarre sort of species, the likes of which is extinct in such venerable Universities as Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham. We, like any common garden student, prowl the streets in search of food on a budget, yet snub the likes of the ‘McDonalds’ and ‘Wimpy’ that usually form the foundation of collegiate diets, in search of finer fare. A quick kebab for lunch? Nay – in the land of the bubble we opt for gourmet Lebanese Khobez flatbread wraps, shipped from London, filled with mounds of oozing brie, fragrant harissa and lovingly assembled by Butler and Co.! It is only in such a climate as this that such celebrated (and consequently not budget friendly) establishments as the Seafood Restaurant, Peat Inn and Russell’s hotel Supper Room (to name but a few) could flourish when supported almost solely by the student population. We may as well admit it; – the proof is in these restaurants survival – we at St Andrews have a taste for quality.
For those seeking to explore these establishments, to try somewhere new or simply to broaden their culinary horizons, we at the Fine Food and Dining Society have compiled a short list, with reviews, of our favourite (more…fine) places in and around our beloved town.
The Seafood Restaurant has long held the reputation as the best restaurant in St Andrews, but does it deserve such an illustrious title? With this question in mind I approached the almost other-worldly glass cube, perched over the sea with a stunning 360 degree coastline view, notebook and appetite at the ready and eager, quite frankly, to stuff myself! On this occasion I dined in the evening, but I would definitely advise people to go for lunch instead– since you can actually see the ocean without the cover of darkness – and the set menu itself is less pricey (although both are definitely worth the money!). The dinner menu has the options of both the £25 Winter Menu, and the £45 one. The £45 menu does have a lot more options on it, as well as amuse-bouches and pre-desserts, but I found the Winter Menu perfectly satisfactory, despite there only being 2 options per course.
The food, quite simply, is delicious. Dishes like honey and soy braised pork belly with pea puree and heady truffle oil and grilled cod fillet with sautéed langoustines dripping with garlic butter adorn the menu. The food is always seasonal, fresh and prepared beautifully. The deserts are average but this can more than be forgiven in the aftermath of perfectly moist, flaky seafood…and besides- who goes to the Seafood restaurant for dessert?
Beautiful location, beautiful food and pretty beautiful prices: little glass cube, best restaurant in St Andrews? Definitely up there!
Sangsters is about 20 minutes drive outside St Andrews in the picturesque town of Elie. I shall not dally too much on this restaurant, being outside the bubble, except to simply state: fantastic. One chef cooking alone in his kitchen (no commis chef, no pot wash…nothing), preparing food that has won him one Michelin Star and simply the most divine food I have sampled in a long time. Book now.
The Supper Room at the Russell’s Hotel is situated on the scores about 3 doors down from Ma Bells and contains without question one of the most skilled kitchens in St Andrews. Acclaimed particularly for its regional Scottish fare it sends out delicious steaming plates of haggis, seared highland venison and hearty game pies; all cooked with a critical eye to fine dining standards. This cosy restaurant, full of character in its design and ambience has already been awarded 1 AA Rosette and numerous other accolades and deservedly so. The wine selection is fantastic and there is a snug, separate bar area with an excellent whiskey selection for pre or post dinner drinks. The society rate this restaurant so highly that we are threw a ‘Taste of Scotland’ banquet there on Thursday 19th November and left so gorged with delicious food that we could hardly stumble home!!
The Glass House: Although this definitely more comes under the category of mid-range than fine dining and although this choice may be controversial to some food snobs- snubbing even the mention of the dreaded word ‘chain’, I cannot lie: I do love the Glasshouse. The lunch and early bird dinner deals at 5.95 and 11.95 (plus wine) are almost TOO reasonable and as long as you don’t go in there expecting ‘The Fat Duck’ you can expect fast, tasty food with the promise of rewards (free meals and alcohol) if you participate in their loyalty scheme.
And there you have it…our favourite restaurants around our dear town of St Andrews – each of them perfect for a dinner out with friends or family and a each definite trump card for a ‘hot date’.
Many thanks and enjoy dining,
Courtesy of the Fine Food and Dining Society
If you’d like to hear more from the FIne Food and Dining Soc, get in contact by emailing them.
Filed under: Bmore, DJ, Dubstep, Events, Live, Local, Music | Tags: bassface, concrete streets, dan matthews, loops haunt, lots of bass, professor purple
For those who don’t already know, Bassface is tonight. This being the third bassface, it is promising to be the most packed and sweatiest to date. Full of dubstep and drum and bass, I’m absolutely positive catch is going to be sold out (not to mention the fact that I’ve seen the ticket sales so far). In all honesty, get there early to avoid disappointment. As a special preview, check out Loops Haunt’s mini mix. They’re gonna to show their goods tonight:
Loops Haunt Mini Mix
Tracklist:
-beat + MJ–+ the trick, —loops haunt
-untitled track demo —loops haunt
-tunneling through rotten harps —-loops haunt — demo,
-rubber sun grenade—–loops haunt—(fortified records)
-proton pack—loops haunt (fortified records)
-untitled track –loops haunt demo
-art of noise beat– loops haunt
-untitled track—loops haunt
-huarache—(fortified records)
-mad bob—loops haunt — demo
joplin——- loops haunt (Black acre)
Filed under: Fashion, Hosiery | Tags: Anthropologie, Hansel From Basel, Hosiery
As I’m sure you all have felt, St. Andrews has been getting quite chilly lately. I’m also sure you all have learned to stock up on the fashion essentials of winter: tights, gloves, hats, etc. especially since we posted on hosiery earlier this season. I just thought you all should take a look at Hansel From Basel (featured in the picture above) and Anthropologie for fun, funky tights! Good luck staying warm!
Filed under: Food Week | Tags: alcohol, cointreau, eton mess, fish, meringue
For most people, the closest link between food and alcohol is stumbling into Empire at 3am, incoherently mumbling for a while and then munching on cheesy chips as they wander home.
However, there are tonnes of better ways to incorporate alcohol into recipes: sometimes for depth of flavour, to increase textures of sauces, or else just to give that festive kick to your favourite puddings. I’m going to offer my favourite methods of using alcohol in food, and finally some tried-and-tested hang-over cures for those who’ve had a little too much the night before.
We all love a portion of fish and chips on a Friday night, and for those days when Anstruther is just is just a little too far away, why not make your very own beer-battered fish and chips? You can buy fantastic cuts of fresh fish from A. Keracher on South St, and for this recipe you’ll need: 50g plain flour, 50g corn flour, 1 tsp baking powder, some turmeric, a good sized can of lager and about 1 litre of oil, preferably sunflower. I love Peroni, but any good quality lager (or whatever you have lying in the back of the fridge) will suffice. Sift all the dry ingredients into a large bowl, season and then gradually incorporate the beer using a whisk until you a left with a smooth, lump free batter. Pat the fish dry and dredge it in a little bit of flour, then dip it into the batter and wipe off any excess on the side of the bowl. Carefully lower the fish into hot oil (check that a little bit of batter sizzles before you put the fish in) and fry for around 6-8 minutes until golden and crisp. Serve with plenty of salt, vinegar, tartare sauce and a heap of chips! Affordable, delicious and quick to make.
I love using Cointreau in my cooking, whether as a secret ingredient in a salad dressing or in my version of the classic Eton Mess. This recipe is a sure-fire hit at dinner parties and takes no time at all to prepare; you will need: icing sugar, cinnamon, double cream, fresh raspberries, and an orange. If you’re feeling particularly energetic you can make your own meringue, but I’m always happy just to buy some ready-made nests. Whip the cream with a little bit of cinnamon, a dash of Cointreau and some orange zest. Crush the raspberries in half and fold them into the whipped cream. To serve, simply layer a meringue nest with some of the whipped cream, another meringue on top, some more cream and then top off with some whole raspberries. I like to dust the top with a bit more icing sugar and cinnamon, and drizzle a bit of liquor around the plate for added affect. Enjoy!
For those of us who like to indulge a little too much from time-to-time, we all have our favourite hangover foods. I swear by a fried egg in between two soft pieces of thick white bread and plenty of ketchup. Depending on how much of a perfectionist you are, I think this is the perfect way to fry an egg. Crack the egg into a tea-cup and separate the white and the yoke. Heat up your best frying pan until a generous knob of butter foams in about a minute. As if you were caressing your first born child, gently lower the whites into the pan and using a spatula make sure they form a perfect circle the size of a cricket ball. After 2 minutes add the yoke to the top of the still-gelatinous whites and season with a little sea-salt and crushed white-peppercorns. Cover the pan for 3 further minutes, and meanwhile butter your bread and pour yourself a cup of scalding hot tea. Finally, place the egg on top of one of the pieces of bread, add ketchup (or, if you’re from the north, Brown Sauce) and top it off with another piece of bread. The crucial trick is to always eat this with a knife and fork, and to follow it with a single tin of beer at roughly 10.30 in the morning. Always works a treat.
Courtesy of the Fine Food and Dining Society
If you’d like to hear more from the FIne Food and Dining Soc, get in contact by emailing them.
Filed under: Food Week | Tags: bridges, butlers, christmas, fisher and donaldson
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You know that when the middle-aged woman in the queue at Tesco’s, who had moments before been perfectly calm, shoves past you with a manic glint in her eye, that she has suddenly had THE revelation. No, not that Tesco’s is painfully bulging with idle students blocking the aisles in their quest for more vodka. But that, My God! Only 5 weeks to go until Christmas!
And because we all despise Tesco’s too, it seems a shame to waste our time there hunting for out-of-stock stuffing with the culinary delights of the festive season approaching. I mean, come on, with all the time saved you could be getting embarrassingly drunk under the mistletoe. Yes, Parties, Dinners and yet more parties are nigh upon us. These are bound to involve some tempting treats, from festive nibbles all the way to whopping great big turkeys.
But if you are hosting these Christmas get togethers this season, it needn’t have to prove expensive. St Andrews is home to some of the most delightful and scrumptious delicatessens and local producers, that are offering Christmas deals so that your waistline can expand, but your overdraft need not!
If it is just finger food that you need to prepare, or you just want to buy ready made treats look no further than Butler and Company. For mince pies, a jar of luxury mincemeat stands at just £2.75. Similarly, a large 625g jar of Christmas chutney stands at just £5.95. Canapes are also available for purchase, and remember, as an esteemed member of the fine food and dining society you are entitled to 10% off all these goods.
For that all-important Christmas pudding, Butlers also offers this delectable festive sweet for just £7.95. Or for an even more mouth-watering experience they are selling hampers from just £15. In one of these you can expect pates, chestnuts, chocolates, and even panettone for the more Italian version of our seasonal favourite. Not a bad pressie for the folks either!
No Christmas dinner would be complete without a turkey. Here Bridges Butchers can do you some fine deals. For a free range whole turkey the price stands at just £6.25 per kilo. And of course, chipolata sausages wrapped in bacon are a must at Christmas. At just over a pound for 100g of Ayrshire dry cured bacon, and only £8 for a whole kilo of chipolata sausages St Andrews resident butchers makes Christmas a lot more affordable. But if your purse strings tighten at even these conservative prices, fear not. With your fine food and dining society membership card you will receive a further 15% off everything.
With the meat sorted, vegetables can now take prime position on your Christmas shopping list. And love ‘em or hate ‘em sprouts are a traditional must. At the fruit and veg shop fresh sprouts can be bought for only £1.30 per/kilo, followed closely in value by the Christmas stalwart, the parsnip, at just £1.60 per/kg. Fully stocked with cranberries and maris piper potatoes too, this should be the only stop for you if you are seeking fresh and reasonably priced produce.
To complete this merry tour of St Andrews it seems fitting to end at my personal favourite, a cake shop. If you are going to indulge you may as well do it properly. Bearing this in mind, Fisher and Donaldson’s scrummy Christmas yule log is only £8.72. Not full? Try their gingerbread santa biscuits at £3.12…for 20!
No one is denying, my dear foodies, that you can probably go to Tescos or Morrisons and pick up some of these goods for similar prices. But when, fresh, locally sourced, and high quality products are standing right on our doorstep it seems pure madness to endure torture at Tesco’s. As much as I’m sure you all love to make forced conversation in the queue with “that person you don’t wanna speak to ,‘cos you were sh**faced, and got with them the other night”, alternatives, and bloody good ones at that, do exist.
So go out there and explore St Andrews this Christmas, you may not find Santa, but you may save yourselves time and money…
Courtesy of the Fine Food and Dining Society
If you’d like to hear more from the FIne Food and Dining Soc, get in contact by emailing them.
Saintandre.ws 