For our monthly Whatever the Weather Girls catch up, we decided to head to the famous Maray Liverpool, and it was just the two of us, as our friend Trish was spending the month in her holiday home in Turkey. Much to our surprise, we discovered, via Facebook, that she had taken herself off on a cruise! Nice one, Trish!
What we chatted about
When we arrived we grabbed a couple of Monkey 47 gins and got down to business; the gossip: Here’s what we chatted about:
- Current health issues, well there’s always something at this age. Anne has problems with her neck and I’m having problems with back pain. Both of us have resolved to do something about it….finally.
- How the menopause can cause dizziness, news to me, you live and learn.How the menopause lasts well into your sixties, terrifying news for me!
- How I have volunteered to do a firewalk for the animal rescue I volunteer at, and Anne agreeing to sponsor me.
- How Anne’s niece, who is a deputy director for Sky Atlantic, is coming to Liverpool soon. We’re hoping for a viewing of a film set, I have always had a secret craving to be a walk-on, in ANY film.
- How heavy Anne’s dog, Meg and my Granbabe are. How both of them are as cute as a button. Lots of grandbabe and dog talk as I have dogs too, three of them.
- How expensive it is for gay women to have children, and how doners are policed and the ethics/safeguarding around siblings meeting up. Well, we are all former social workers. Trish is still grafting away.
- Anne’s newly installed log burner, and how I love mine, it’s the best thing…EVER!
- How Anne’s neighbour, who is 89, is managing at home, alone, after a hip replacement. Anne goes round to change her stockings and wash her feet….bless her little cotton socks.
Of course there was much, much more, but these were the main topics.
What we thought of the food at Maray Liverpool
Maray is renowned in Liverpool for it’s gorgeous Middle Eastern Levantine cuisine – but we’d describe it as more ‘modern day Mediterranean with a spicy twist.’
We enjoyed the spicy Berber Bowl, broccoli, chips and cauliflower. Anne also had the lamb. I’m vegan: Anne eats meat, but is finding that it disagrees with her these days.
The food was utterly delicious, we simply couldn’t fault it – especially the cauliflower, who knew cauliflower could taste like that.
How we rated Maray Liverpool…
Drinks: 10/10
We downed, with ease, the Monkey 47, a gin with fevertree tonic with lemon and Rosemary. Costs a tenner, so not cheap but my, how it glides down.
Service: 8/10
Service at Maray was a little slow. Also the manager was unaware of several dishes that were unavailable, which is why Anne had to have the meat, she was hoping to be vegetarian on this gathering. There was also a bit of confusion re:the one plate serves two, some of the plates were huge and some quite small.
Ambiance: 8/10
Busy, relaxed, and informal with a good atmosphere. Catering for a wide range of people, covering a variety of ages. Given how busy it was we’d advise people to book ahead.
My bench seat, against the wall, was far too high and quite uncomfortable, the space was also a little crowded.
Cookbook? No. We suggest that the Bold street restaurants get together and compile a Boldstreet cookbook. You heard it here first! We really want to know how to cook that cauliflower!
Overall score
9/10 – we’d definitely visit again!
Trish, Anne and Dina are ‘Whatever The Weather Girls’; three women in our fifties on a mission to explore the restaurants and vibe of Liverpool each month – whatever the weather, whatever our circumstances.
