Fine Dining !

A windy wet grey day saw us off to Stirling for a lunch in the Gallery Restaurant in Forth Valley College where some of the students have chosen to learn the ins and outs of catering and service. The quality was such that these guys and girls will not end up as burger flippers.

The food, setting and the welcome were all truly superb. The service excellent. (lovely view over the river, watching the storm clouds rolling down the hills towards the Wallace Monument)

Confit Duck (big enough for a main course) and a baby onion tatin for starters, followed by a pea risotto for Mrs FP and pork belly for me (I also had a glass of a lovely Vina Lupina, not shown in the collage as I was driving, £2.30 a glass – I've just googled it and it's £25 a bottle!). Quality scran, had I a hat it would be doffed towards the student chefs.

Was this a secret hidden gem? Apparently not, every cover was taken and people were being turned away. Booking is essential and I am not surprised – all this superior scoff (starter and main) cost us a paltry £7.50 each! Throw in a pudding and it is a miserly tenner. You'd be lucky to get a starter of this quality in Edinburgh for that. The choice is not broad, three starters, three mains and a couple of puddings but you can check out their menus on line, I expect they could be a bit random but that was all part of the very enjoyable experience.

Hurrah. Replete and well chuffed. This evening will be spent on the interweb looking for more colleges. We may never cook a lunch again.