FOOD ADS AND SOME HOME COOKING

After a wee flurry sampling some of the gastronomic delights from around the eastern side of the globe - it's time to get back to a few of our own homely spots in town who served up delicious delicacies for those of us who weren't too concerned about our westernized diet.

Going in date order this time - the Keiller Restaurant ad is from 1963 and is for their place in the High Street, while reminding us where their other eateries were located.

The ad for Nelson's is dated 1965 and is for their shops in Nelson Street and the Wellgate. Although it was a confectioners, I think their place in the Wellgate may have had a wee corner sitting area.

You'll all be familiar with the T-Bone Steakhouse I bet - their joint doon Union Street. The ad is from 1977 and the place would be doing a roaring trade around this era.

Raffles in the Perth Road was a nice cheery restaurant/café that had a very good reputation for it's food and service.

I just thought I'd include this basic ad from 1984 to remind you of their logo.

The ad for Shepherd's and the Baked Tattie & Pizza House is conjoined because they both shared the same address in Perth Road. It's dated 1984 - so pre Peking.

The Brooklyn Diner ad is dated 1985, and its location was on the corner pf Panmure Street and Meadowside. Typical American-style food, and lots of neon lighting as part of its look. You could also hire the place for private functions too.

The Town House ad is a 1988 one and emphasizes their pub lunches - Farfir bridies an' a' that.

But can anyone remember what David did? It says Wednesday, Thursday and Sundays were music nights, but they don't put David's appearance in that category. So what was in store for everyone - did he come up to you and smash you in the face with a frying pan, or what??

Mondays and Tuesdays to be avoided??!!

EUROPEAN FLAVOURS IN THE 80'S

The top 2 ads are for Don Quixote, the Spanish restaurant in Blackness Road.

First is dated 1981 and 2nd is from 1984.

The reason I put both up was because in the 81 ad it mentions Miguel the chef - but in the 84 one, his name's not there and is replaced by a "dedicated young staff". Well by 1984 there was a new restaurant opened up in Broughty Ferry. It's name? Miguel's. So I'm putting 2 and 2 together here!

In 1980, Le Mirage, on the corner of Ward Road and the Conshie, was indulging in European dishes every Wednesday, a theme they termed "Continental Night", with a variety of cuisine from Italy, Spain and France to choose from.

Since writing the above caption, I have been given photos of Miguel's and they can be viewed in the January 2010 Retro archive.

Here is the link - Miguel's

FOOD ADVERTS - FULL OF EASTERN PROMISE

Here's 5 local ads offering a variety of tasty grub from the East that I'm sure many of you will be familiar with.

Starting off at The Far East in Mains Loan. This was their Christmas menu they had up in December 1977. 6-course for 3 quid - not bad at all.

The Gunga-Din ad looks as if it is from the hippy 60's, but this is actually dated 1981. At one stage, this restaurant in Perth Road was considered to serve the best Indian meals in Scotland, not just Dundee!

The Hong Kong ad IS from the 60's - 1968 to be exact. A rather popular place it was too, with both food and music available at their well known spot in the Seagate.

Across the road from the Hong Kong was The Himalaya. It doesn't say so in this ad dating from 1977, but I'm sure they put on music too sometimes.

Rounding things off with the Peking in Perth Road - and an ad from 1988. I think this place is still on the go but perhaps ought to be called the Beijing by now!

PIZZA GALLERY AD - 1984

I suppose students could have gone straight from their days stint at Kingsway Tech and popped down to the Pizza Gallery in Peter Street pend to take advantage of the discounts they had on offer.
I can remember visiting it a couple of times - a pretty decent place to dine - and it had a "Famous Artists" theme for you to view while waiting to be served.
The advert is dated 1984.

TRAINEE CHEFS AT KINGSWAY TECH - 80'S

Thought I'd pop this picture up of trainee chefs trying out their recipes over at Kingsway Technical College, sometime around the early/mid 80's - just on the off chance that one of you can spot someone you know.
This was the place to go for further training in your chosen profession - or for the unemployed to have a bit of a skive - this was the era of the YTS Scheme after all!
Wonder how many of the cooks in shot went on to have a successful career in the trade?
Anyway, the other reason for the photo was to lead in to a couple of days worth of food related material.
Tasty old adverts - yum yum!

2 WM LOW ADS - 1963/80

A couple of adverts for Wm Low who had a few shops/supermarkets dotted around town - locations such as the Overgate, Perth Road, Lochee and Broughty Ferry.

Top ad is from 1963 and the other is 1980.
Their wee red logo is quite similar to the Keep Britain Tidy symbol.

TESCO IN WELLGATE - 1980

Here's a photo from 1980ish, around about the time Tesco moved into their Wellgate Centre premises.

I used to pop in here for their garlic bread in the early 80's, but I have never set foot inside a Tesco since!

Photo by DC Thomson.

WALLACE'S AD - 1973

Just thought I'd chuck on this '73 ad to finish off the local bakers theme.
Wallace's getting the final say with - FLOUR POWER!

BEATTIES & MOTHER'S PRIDE

3 ads for Beatties Bakeries, with the old style top one dated 1960 and the 2 red ones from 1973 & 74.

Although there are 2 different addresses in the 70's ads, I'm guessing it may be the same premises or possibly had an extension built on because these locations are in virtually the same spot on the map - the corner area where the 2 roads join the Kingsway.

Below is an old TV ad for Mother's Pride.

It's in black & white but most of you will recall the original red & white packaging that crops up at the end of it.

The tune also reminds me of a guy called Lance Percival, who performed improvised comedy calypsos on telly in the 60's & 70's.

BURNETTS BAKERY ADS

The top ad is dated 1974, the one under it is from 1981 and Burnett's Bakery was up the Cleppie.

Just wonder if the writer who devised the top ad meant to put "I use my loaf..."?

"I use my roll..." doesn't make any sense to me.

I get the drum roll visual pun ok, but the character is such a freak, he'd put me off buying Burnetts!

NICOLL & SMIBERT - NETHERGATE SHOP

Here is a photo of the Nicoll & Smibert shop in the Nethergate, taken sometime in the late 60's.
Big thanks to Peter.

NICOLL & SMIBERT - NETHERGATE ADS

Another bakers in centre of town offering snack/restaurant facilities was Nicoll & Smibert who were in the Nethergate.

The top ad is dated 1968 and the red one is from 1974.

Nicoll & Smibert had baker shops all over Dundee back then, and the ones listed in the 1974 directory are as follows - Overgate, Union St, Hilltown, Albert St, Strathmartine Rd, Lochee Rd, Princes St, Craigowan Rd, Lochee High St, MacAlpine Rd, St Giles Tce, Blackness Rd, Fintry Rd, Whitfield Dr, Whitehall St, Clepington Rd and Brook St in the Ferry.

ANDREW G KIDD - SUNBLEST AD - 1973

Here is an ad from 1973 for Andrew G Kidd's Sunblest.

THE LIGHT BITE - LATE 70'S

The advert is dated 1978 and lists all the Light Bites that were on the go at the time - Reform Street, Overgate, High Street, one in Lochee and one in the Ferry.

These wee cafe areas were part of Andrew G Kidd's baker shops who's Sunblest depot was in Lytton Street.
The winter shot, dating from around the same time as the ad, shows the Light Bite in the High Street.

MORE PLEASE!

Some of you may think that just before I tucked into my meal on Christmas day, I snapped this picture of it on my mobile, but no, this spread of Scottish cuisine dates back to 1984.
Tasty treats on offer include Keillers marmalade, butterscotch sweets, OVD rum, pies plus a few other delights in the mix.
This leads nicely into the fact that it's time once again for me to whet your appetite and serve up a feast of goodies on Retro, with lots of Dundee morsels placed tantalizingly before you to chew over! Some of the items on show may make you want a second helping and the odd one might induce bile, but at least there will be the usual variety brought over to you on the Retro platter.
Having said that, 2011 will be my final year dishing up the local fare. Fun that it is, I haven't actually got a bottomless pit of material to delve into, and having made a recent assessment, I reckon that the quantity I have remaining will run out this year. I definitely do have loads of stuff to keep going for many months and will likely go beyond summer before I reach the end of the line.
Retro Dundee will of course remain on the net, so all the items that are on will stay on for you to rewind over, as and when you fancy.
For now though, better get back into the time machine and set forth on another weird & wonderful journey into our past!!

Happy New YEEEEEEEEAAAaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....... (enter time warp portal for 1980's).

UNIVERSAL GARDEN AD - 1974

Back to 204 Perth Road where we were a few days ago when it was the Underworld Cafe, only this time, a decade later, it has become the Universal Garden Chinese restaurant.
Plenty music to munch along to it seems, and a 3 course meal for 40p must have surely been the cheapest in town!
The ad is dated 1974.

HOT POTATO HOUSE AD - 1984

An ad from 1984 for the Hot Potato House in the Overgate.
Yeah I remember staggering into this place a couple of times at 2 o'clock in the morning!
I seem to recall it was located approximately opposite the Marketgait/Overgate steps.

THE BOULEVARD AD - 1988

This ad from 1988 is for French restaurant, The Boulevard, who were based at 10-12 Crichton Street.
I don't know anything about this place but I guess it must have been a rather upmarket joint judging by it's 7 course meals on offer!

THE RUSTY KETTLE AD - 1988

Whether you just fancied a cup of tea & a scone or you needed a full meal, The Rusty Kettle at 304 Perth Road would serve it up for you.
This ad is from 1988, but a wee slogan they had going in the mid 80's was - "The Best In The West"!

THE UNDERWORLD CAFE - 1960'S

The Underworld Cafe, on the go in the 60's, was to be found at 204 Perth Road, sharing the building with the Shakespeare Restaurant.
Owner was Alf Paladini, the guy in the picture.
Not sure if the interior designer had a split personality, but there seems to be a bit of a bizarre clash going on between a Swiss chalet look and a tropical island hut!
I like the tree trunk seats mind you.
By 1970, the place had changed to the Gold Lucky Chinese restaurant.
The advert is dated 1965.