Just down the road (Literally) from The Fife Arms is a bar and kitchen called Farquharsons. It is the kind of place that doesn’t have a website, and the only information you might find is on ‘Facebook’ or from word of mouth in the area. I must admit It took a few attempts to agree to go here, as no website makes me nervous and leaves me wondering what level of cookery we are going to get… I had no reason to be worried because the food was seriously comforting, locally made with character. We had a bit of a party the night before and we all had drunk quite a bit, so in Farquharson’s favour this type of food was perfect to make us feel better and to enjoy some guilty pleasures.
Exhibit A- Being a loaded bowl of chips, piled high and covered in cheese sauce, bacon bits and Jalapeños. They were not ideal to eat on a ‘normal day’ but today they made themselves at home, we all dug in and couldn’t stop. There was plenty of cheese inside and out and everything melted together. It was just what we needed. They were not bad at all on the cookery side- Rustic but perfectly acceptable.
The menu was covered in the classics, and I decided to go with the traditional beef cobbler- A slow cooked beef stew seasoned with herbs and topped with a cheese scone. On the side were some boiled green peas, carrots, and mash potatoes. The mash had a few lumps which could be forgiven, the beef inside the cobbler was soft and tender with a good flavour in the stew. The cheese scone finishing off the dish. This was simple but delivered what I was requiring- Warming and comforting delicious food. The carrots might not be prepped to the exact size like in a Michelin kitchen, no, they didn’t look well presented but the taste was here, and that is the most important in the end.
Normally in a lot of restaurants when you ask for a gluten free burger, the waiter looks at you in disbelief because of the very fact you asked this question, as if to say, “how dare you, of course we don’t make gluten free buns!” (Normally in lovely London) Making you feel like you are the most annoying diner in the world. Not here at Farquharsons… It was a question they were used to. “Of course we can make it gluten free, it is no problem at all” the waiter replied. I was surprised, here we were in a small local pub, in a quiet village, the last place you would expect to get one. We chose the highlander burger-Aberdeen angus beef patty presented in a brioche bun (In this case the gluten free version) with haggis, bacon, baby gem lettuce, onion, and tomato, served with hand-cut chips and their creamy whisky sauce. This burger was good and bringing in the Scottish touch with its haggis and whiskey. The chips were homely- Rough around the edges but bringing that comfort you need and desire.
Being Braemar’s local pub, the regulars come here often with space for visitors and tourists alike. Don’t expect every vegetable to be cut at the exact same size and a smooth pomme puree worked on at all hours of the day (Like in Joel Robuchon) It is not that kind of standard here- But in its defence, Farquharsons has food that works for them and you, whether you just want some normal, simple plates or to work off a big night out, you will be sure to be happily satisfied after walking out of here.
