The Anderson, Fortrose by Inverness

My partner and I went to The Anderson for dinner on a Saturday night, even though we've lived here a while it was our first time. We had heard good things about the food, bu I wasn't prepared for the variety and imagination of the menu. And our waiter later told us it changes every day. How do they do it? I reluctantly offered to drive and chose a really nice ginger beer from their "drivers menu" of drinks. My partner took the opportunity to have a bash at the long list of Belgian beers. (he promised to drive the next time...we'll see!) Wanting to leave room for a pudding, we decided to share a starter. We finally agreed on something called Mediteranean Bred & Butter Pudding, which was simply yummy, the crust and sweetness of the brioch against the saltiness of the seranno ham and creamy sauce. It was served with some delicious rolls that we were told came from a new local bakery. Moving on to our mains (and another Belgian beer for my partner) I had a guinea fowl stuffed with white pudding and a creamy cider sauce. Most of the bones had been removed before cooking, so it was easy to eat in addition to being moist and delicious. My partner went vegetarian and had an immense curried vegetable pie that included some paneer cheese that the chef had made herself. I managed to get a bite before he demolished the whole thing. The curry was very flavourful with just a tint of heat at the end, and the vegetables were clearly fresh, as they each maintained their individual texture. And thank you, chef, for baking the crust with the pie, instead of popping some dry bit of pre-cooked pastry on top! The meals came with some beautifully cooked veg and roast potatoes. Pudding time was another sharing affair with a slice of what they called New York cheesecake. It was fantastic!! Firm and yet creamy, quite different to what I understand to be cheesecake. (I guess they do it different in New York). All in all, it was a wonderful experience. The only complaint I have is that we elected to sit in the elegant Dining Room, which on a cold January night, wasn't where the action was. Next time (and there will defanately be a next time) we may try snuggling up next to the fire in the whisky bar.