I’ve just read the journal I sent in January 2009, and my main objective then was to be able to write a journal in January 2010!! Well, we did it, just, but we did. This year if I write a journal from the same office in August I will be a very happy and lucky man. No, I am not pessimistic, just things are looking very tight and we are going to need all the support we can get to get through it...but with your support we will!!!

The big thing for us in 2009 was of course the opening of L’Artichaut, Edinburgh’s newest vegetarian restaurant. The opening was a slow and painful experience, but a lot of friends helped me to eventually get the project off the ground. So far the feed back has been very positive and I hope that in time, more people are going to give it a try as I really think that Belinda the chef and Catriona the manageress as well as the rest of the “veggie” team are doing a pretty good job. I, like a lot of people, am not fully converted yet and I still enjoy a piece of meat then and again, but I must admit to enjoy more and more the experience of eating a healthier lunch or dinner, especially at this time of the year when the excess of Christmas festivities are only too obvious...

The start of 2010 as been on the slow side, I like to think the weather has not helped, so I had plenty of time to makes plans for the first few months of this year and the calendar of events is looking good; I hope you will join me in some of those events.

The first one is going to be an homage to Robbie Burns in the evening of the 25th at La Garrigue with a four course £30 menu with a strong Auld alliance theme. At L’Artichaut, during the last 2 weeks of January the “ripe Time “menu will be replaced by a vegetarian “Burns” celebration.....vegetarian haggis on the menu of course but a lot of other exciting dishes as well ...now this is a challenging task.....

This will be followed of course by the inevitable Valentine’s day in both restaurants so there is a treat for your loved one.

Of course by then we will have had our first Rugby international between Scotland and France. La Garrigue will be open that Sunday to accommodate all those supporters of the truly beautiful game... may the best team win....again...

The full calendar of events is on our website for more information, there are a few wine events, a spring celebration dinner, a 14th of July event and in the middle of all this a Mother’s day lunch, one of the most important dates in the yearly calendar.

La Garrigue will be open specially on theses days and L’Artichaut will open every Sunday from the 14th of February so there are no excuses not to think healthy eating at least once a week from now on.

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention that L’Artichaut is now accredited and certified by the vegetarian society and has passed successfully all the tests required.

I am told that the weather is really getting cold so I am afraid I am going to leave you for now and take the road towards the hills of Fife, I hope the bridge is clear tonight.

A bientot,
J-Michel