Art, paint, music and food. Perfect.

Victoria Street is open once again. Fresh, welcoming and with 

some great art on the walls.Chris Bushe - a brilliant Scottish painter. 

A fabulous Sam MacDonald picture, an artist from the Scottish islands who makes big battered copper pictures of shoals of fish and

 some Kelly Stewarts scenes of Edinburgh & Paris- all of it

 original stuff and really at home in the restaurant.

Thanks to Chris and his team in the kitchen and Jo, Karen and the front of house team...everything was put back, polished up and looking great for the opening.

Of course the usual last minute traumas occurred as count down to opening drew close. A new coat covered in paint, front door continually blowing open to freeze assembled diners, wireless music stopped so we were in silence. To be honest music is only ever used as a background in Howies, but being a Radio DJ & musician  for years it is something I am more passionate about. So rather than plug on with the antique Amp I sloped off and bought  the groovy new Sonos system which I have been coveting for myself to be honest but at least it let me get my hands on it.

Now I am not an itinerant plugger of all things but seriously this guy at Richer Sounds, Garry (with two r's) was great.  Being a woman more often than not in a place full of hi-fi, wi-fi, streaming, Mp3 players and the like I get used to being spoken to like I have had my brain removed. Garry was great though and so I left confident to go and install it myself which I did. It worked beautifully for 10 minutes then my new title as super techno geek became more useless techno gook until John Lane our super duper IT man  saved the day swooped in found an anti virus program was taking up about 70% of the hard disc sorted us out and Bob's your uncle, Fanny's your aunt. So all is good. The sounds are grooving and the place is jumping.

When  I say jumping I mean packed to the gunnels not a spare seat in the place. In fact it reminded me of the good old days in Victoria Street.

Originally it was  a Pierre Victoire and the long suffering husband Howie and I had our very first ever date there. Struck by the tangible atmosphere - there's something about being in a stone medieval room with history literally all around right next to Edinburgh Castle that stays with you. It does.
So when Pierres closed it was a natural expansion of Howies at that time to buy it and open which we did.

It is one of the best locations in Edinburgh make no mistake so when we sold up 5 years ago it was with a tear in our eye but hey ho on we went.

Who would have thought January 2012 we would be back in there. And delighted too. It's familiar territory and was like being in the company of a great old friend yesterday sitting there for lunch.

The new January menu that Chris produced was a joy from start to finish. You may think of course I am biased but not really.
Having been a judge on Iron Chef on Channel 4 last year I can't help but be critical. But the smoked salmon on a bed of leaves with Thai dressing, followed by creamed spinach & goats cheese crepe is without a doubt my new obsession. I will be in there daily eating it. I will.
The others had great food too.  Hell it's easier if I just show you the menu. And the £8.95 is not a misprint.

January Lunch at Howies Victoria Street

2 Courses £8.95 

STARTERS (all available as main courses)
Soup of the day (v)	£2.65	£3.50
Traditional Cullen Skink served with a cheddar cheese crouton	£4.15	£6.15
Traditional haggis, neeps & tatties with thyme jus	£4.05	£6.70
Bruschetta of grilled sardines with rocket salad and a lemon & thyme dressing	£4.15	£6.55
Herb crusted deep fried brie served with a homemade beetroot & horse radish relish and dressed salad leaves   (v)	£3.95	£6.15
Warm salad  of shredded beef tenderloin, julienne tomato and rocket with a honey mustard vinaigrette	£4.25	£7.05
Hot smoked Scottish salmon with Thai dressed salad leaves	£4.15	£6.05
MAINS
Homemade Scottish beef & venison burger on a toasted flour bap served with a spiced apple chutney and fried vegetable crisps: add organic cheddar or bacon for an extra 50p each and add fries for £1		£6.95
Chunky roast pumpkin chilli served with aromatic basmati rice and a fresh herb yogurt (v)		£6.15
Creamy chicken pot pie  with carrots, celery, peas and warm puff pastry lid		£6.50
Scottish salmon fettuccini with leeks and citrus crème fraiche		£6.85
Warm  spinach, roast red onion & goats cheese crepe  with dressed rocket  salad (v)		£6.95
Freshly landed catch of the day -seabass - yuml		£7.95
Casserole of the day -  It was beef yesterday - with creamy mash - perfect		£7.15
Puds include in the infamous banoffi, dark chocolate & ginger torte, afogatto, poached pear, cinammon panacotta. Nice.
I must away....Howies Waterloo is shut today ofr 3 days for a makeover too....it's never dull this business they call restaurant that's for sure....will keep you up to date....phew....