Kokova Magazine

The anticipation is over for Aberdeen food lovers with the opening of The Chester Hotel. Aberdeen's newest high-end establishment, The Chester Hotel, which has undergone a stunning and ambitious refurbishment and extension now incorporates the IX Restaurant and IX Bar.

IX Restaurant, under the attentive eye of Savoy-trained executive chef, Kevin Dalgleish, seats 90 diners, serving the finest food Scotland offers. The less formal but equally chic IX Bar, with its classic and inventive cocktail list, enviable whisky collection and exclusive Chester Brew, seats 60 guests, dishing up classic yet contemporary bar food prepared with the same skill and of the same high quality as the restaurant.

IX and The Chester Hotel are working directly with prime suppliers such as Simon Howie Butcher; John Ross Junior Aberdeen, which has created a special Chester smoked salmon; Valrhona Chocolate, with whom IX has a unique deal; and Harviestoun Brewery, from whom IX have commissioned Scotland's newest beer, The Chester Brew.

The restaurant has two secluded and atmospheric private dining areas, individually seating up to eight people, and a larger private area for up to 30 diners leading on to the Granite Balcony, which has a super view of Aberdeen's southern skyline. The exquisite, modern venue has been designed by world-famous Graven Images, which has ingeniously reworked the large, 19th century interior of the hotel into a stylish and convivial space.

"Leading such a prestigious venue as the IX Restaurant and Bar is a great privilege for a chef, and my team and I are relishing serving our menu to guests and diners. I have spent the past year engaging Scotland's top food and drink suppliers and perfecting new techniques and dishes to ensure that our customers are bowled over. Our menu weaves together the highest quality produce from Scotland's rich larder with classic and European influences as well as inspiration drawn from my own team of talented chefs.

Our restaurant and bar ingredients include prime Aberdeenshire beef, the freshest Orkney shellfish, creamy Highland cheeses and indulgent Valhrona chocolate. Restaurant diners can pick their own red meat, fish and seafood and watch it being cooked on the Josper grill; the open 'theatre' style of the kitchen sets our guests' mouths watering as they observe their meals being meticulously prepared. Afternoon tea guests can enjoy the most delicate confections created by the hotel's specialist pastry chefs, and we have designed a menu for junior gourmets with yummy dishes such as 'build your own pizza' and 'my first steak'"

Kevin Dalgleish - IX Restaurant executive

IX Sommelier Alex Gerrard delivers a highly diverse wine list to suit new and seasoned palates, with a list of over 120 wines, some of which are well known and others which come from smaller scale and rarefied vineyards. Bottles have been painstakingly selected to match the evolving, seasonal restaurant and bar menus but are also very drinkable in their own right.

Fans of Californian wine will be delighted to see Opus One on the list. This premium Napa Valley winery produces limited stocks only and it is exciting to see it served in a Scottish fine restaurant paired with Scottish cuisine.

IX Bar has assembled a whisky, spirit and cocktail menu to suit all guests, whether they prefer a classic cocktail, a familiar comforting dram or a rarer bottle. With a full complement of Scottish blends and high-end single malts, IX Bar are also particularly proud to offer customers the rare Dalmore Constellation 1980 and 1991.

The cocktail list reflects a highly contemporary gin focus, making the most of Scotland's growing reputation as a premium gin producer. With a stock of 16 different gins, predominantly from Scotland, IX Bar have been inventing new exciting ways of mixing them.

For more information visit www.chester-hotel.com