FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Happy New Year to you and yours!

We are back to work today 3rd of January after a wild and wonderful festive season.  It's never dull and as we pack away the sparkles, drag the droopy tree out for recycling and gather our thoughts at the beginning of another year we just wanted to wish you and yours a great 2013.

On a more sober note.

It's aye sad to see a restaurant close and sadly the last twelve months has seen the closure of some cracking restaurants in Scotland. Some perhaps weren't up to the mark but equally some of them were excellent, the fact is the combination of high rates, taxes and supplies make it damn hard to keep your head above water. Such losses just serves as a reminder that local restaurants need your support now more than ever.

There are some great chains, don't get me wrong, but it's that wee guy on the corner it's easy to forget about especially when it's blowing horizontal rain and you rush past wrapped in your woolies and waterproofs without so much as a backward glance on your way home to the couch for your beans on toast. I urge you to spare a moment to think about that guy. Chances are he is in there right now, paying for his heating to keep his place cosy for you his potential customer to come in out of the cold and enjoy a meal. Yeh if it's bad value, badly run or Basil Fawltys at the helm I don't blame you I wouldn't darken the dorostep either but on the other hand, if it is a great local spot - go go go.

In January a lot of food selling emporiums can get a touch of the blues.

LUNCH & LAUGH ON REGARDLESS

It's certainly a time when customer is King and to coax you out of your thermals - well not in a Carry On Up The Restaurant way but in a drop the cosy coats at the door and come on in for a relaxing scoff sort of way. At Howies we have dropped our lunch 2 course prices to £7.95 for all of January and February this year. I know, I know -  it is less than a large coffee and a panini at an international coffee shop and is as far from being mass produced, cellophane wrapped as is possible. Howies food is aye fresh, seasonal, traceable, Scottish produce. You choose from the whole menu too none of this
'Here's the menu Sir, but to get the deal you must order the dry stick and the sludge pie or pay a £45 supplement' sort of nonsense.

Are you suspicious?
Well please don't be.
At this time of year these deals are not a profit making exercise but we simply have to offer incredible value at this time of year because:

A) That's what we look for when we go out
B) We want to tempt you over the threshold to remember why we have been here for 21 years.
C) It really wouldn't be the same without you.

So despite the wintery weather we are still working incredibly hard at it, sourcing local food and cooking and presenting it to you with minimum fuss and maximum taste with a big smile as are many others.  I understand if you can't check Howies out but this is a plea for you to just consider the idea and to urge you - support your local restaurant! I will guarantee you will be welcomed warmly and may even make a friend for life. After all this time next year you don't want to turn up and find out that it's gone or even worse become another Sainsbury's/Tescos' local.

Here's our Edinburgh  lunch voucher and if you pop in you can grab a dinner one too £14.95 for 2 courses Sunday - Thursday. Pop into Aberdeen too prices differ slightly.