Good and Proper Deli: new kid on the Stockbridge block

11 April 201811 April 2018 by Nell Nelson

A new deli – another one?

You may ask has sprung up in Stockbridge. It opened on 10 April and I was in to have a snout. It looks perfect as if Good and Proper has always been on this spot on the heart of Raeburn Place. It has in fact replaced a rather tired Chinese take away.

It is all white shiny with fresh salads glistening, fat scones asking to be eaten and a chocolate orange cake still to be cut into. Tables will fill up fast as quite small, I had a selection of three fab salads and as I was in rush to get to my safari at 12, I had them boxed up in a very robust box – which kept the salads in good condition till I managed a chance to enjoy – post safari.

Typical dishes are soup- Sweetcorn Chowder, salads such as Honey roasted pumpkin & kale, dal pea and coconut salad quinoa tabbouleh salad , a bacon & ricotta frittata and a hot dish such as chicken, parsnip & tarragon casserole.

Welcome to the neighbourhood!

Good & proper deli c°

74 Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, , Eh4 1hj

https://www.gandpdelico.co.uk/

Lazy Jazz Saturday Afternoon @ The Barony

5 April 2018 by Nell Nelson

The sun shone, the beer, cider and wine flowed and the jazz band played on….at The Barony Bar, 81-85 Broughton Street, EH1 3RJ last Saturday.

The Barony Bar offers jazz on Saturday afternoons 3-5 pm with various guest bands. I was lucky enough to catch the Martin Kershaw Trio on March 24.One of the leading musicians on the vibrant Scottish jazz scene, alto saxophonist Martin Kershaw played again at The Barony joined by Graeme Stephen (guitar) and Brian Shiels (bass).

There is trad music on Tuesdays 6-8 pm and blues on Sunday eves. There is also a new menu – I was back at The Barony on Tuesday eve for some fiddle and some very good goulash with egg noodle and sour cream. My friends took advantage of the two burger deal for £15 and the fish and chips – looked like a small whale had been battered and deep fried as it lay on its final resting place of chips with skins on – I exaggerate – but v generous fish portion!

These new changes at The Barony along with fresh flowers and candles mean its worth booking a table for food and music. Telephone: 0131 556 9251 to make a reservation.

Fresh Lemon and Ginger Tea -the perfect afternoon lift

22 January 201822 January 2018 by Nell Nelson

At temperatures hovering around zero, a freshly whizzed veggie fruit juice is never going to hit the spot, but this bottomless cup of fresh lemon and ginger tea at Hyde and Son at the west end of George Street definitely did. Priced at £2.60 you get a pale green, gold rimmed cup with slice of fresh ginger and fresh lemon, topped with boiling water and a lid to keep the heat in. Once cooled to drink and drunk, the staff will happily refill – so sit quite near the bar – for speedier water replenishment.

Hyde and Son has boutique bedrooms attached, but for the casual shopper and person in need of a hot drink from 7-11 then this airy bar cafe is the perfect stopping off point – good coffee, great sounding cocktails and 12 Triangle pastries

Hyde and Son

127 George street,Edinburgh, EH2 4JN

Tel: 01312852050

OPEN Monday – Saturday: 7AM – 11PM Sunday: 8AM – 10PM

Hot Syrian pastries to go

17 January 201817 January 2018 by Nell Nelson

After an hour circuit training at Diamond Gym just off Newhaven road, and with calories at my disposal I smelt the tantalising smell of baking bread. I followed my nose to Taza Bake.

I ordered a few cheese and parsley pastries to take away and before I finished floundering in my gym kit for my purse, the baker was rolling out dough, and filling little circles of pastry with cheese and parsley, then onto a giant shovel and into the oven. Five minutes later, I was tucking in!

Taza means fresh in Arabic and the Syrian bakery has been going from strength to strength since it started rolling out this traditional Mediterranean flat bread four years ago. The machines were imported from the Middle East and the bread is not only baked on the day but within minutes. Many shops will sell the flat breads pre packed, but nothing beats the fun of turning up to the shop and seeing dough turn into savoury bites in minutes and buying for immediate consumption.

Taza Bake 17 Stewartfield, Edinburgh EH6 5RQ Tel 0131 629 3833

Open every day 9am -5pm, closed on Sunday

Fantastic Middle Eastern Food this side of the Forth

14 November 201717 January 2018 by Nell Nelson

Baba opens properly on November 15th @Babaedinburgh. I tried all these dips as a starter – I did share! Love the menu and the colour of the walls – deep teal very restful. On the corner of George St and Charlotte Square. Great dining area and also attractive bar area

130 George St, Edinburgh EH2 4JZ Phone: 0131 527 4999

Walking tour with fab hot choc and top view

4 October 201717 January 2018 by Nell Nelson

Just had the best hot chocolate and the best view: I am always telling guests on my New Town food safari how the New Town was designed to be a massive improvement from the Old Town with its narrow closes and high buildings and use examples of London Street’s incredibly wide street – you could easily turn a horse and carriage – whereas in the Old Town we could be talking a nine-point turn!

Today I took a free Little Fish walking tour of the Old Town – starts 10.30 opposite St Giles http://www.littlefishtours.co.uk/ and was hugely taken with guide Ben’s humorous and interesting tour with snippets of history but not bogged down with too many dates, we started at St Giles and went down Barrie’s Close – a new one for me to the Cowgate where cows were driven to market, then up through Greyfriars, and great views from upper Victoria Street to end up in the Grassmarket. To warm up after our two-hour walk, Ben recommended Mary’s Milk Bar for ice cream – too cold for me – and real hot chocolate – Mary of the Milk Bar has worked as a chocolatier for the last five years and she trained in Bologna, Italy. The hot choc was fantastic really rich and creamy and perfect after two hours on the cobbles. Also if you sit in the front of the shop you get the most fantastic view of the castle – my top tip of the day for hot chocolate with a view

Littlle Fish Tours
59/5 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh, EH11BS http://www.littlefishtours.co.uk/

Mary’s Milk Bar
19 Grassmarket
Edinburgh
EH1 2HS

The Ivy will definitely flourish!

20 September 201717 January 2018 by Nell Nelson

The Ivy on the Square (St Andrews Square) opens tonight – 20 September – I went last week to an opening – lovely balmy night – and we found ourselves after several truffle rice balls and steak on a stick at the end of the evening sitting outside in Parisian style terrace with a glass of Ivy fizz and to keep off the Scottish September chills a lovely aqua IVY embroidered blanket.

The Ivy, West Street in London opened 100 years ago. This Edinburgh edition will be open seven days a week. The brasserie will offer all-day dining and an extensive cocktail list and always have some unreserved seats so you can be spontaneous – if you feel a espresso martini on the Square mood come upon you.

The Ivy on the Square’s brasserie style menu will offer something for all kinds of occasions, serving breakfast, elevenses, weekend brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, light snacks, cocktails and dinner. Dishes include the iconic shepherd’s pie and the chocolate bomb with hot salted caramel sauce. Definitely worth staying on the tram for – which is just across the Square.

The Ivy on the Square – Edinburgh
6 St. Andrew Square,
EH2 2BD,
Edinburgh

CALL: 0131 526 4777

Edinburgh Food Studio

12 September 201717 January 2018 by admin

The Edinburgh Food Studio

on Dalkeith Road does not fail to amaze with its eight-course taster menu – here is one unusual highlight: Peach passion and beeswax – the ice cream has a haunting sense of honey – but not sweet – but a dish that demanded more and more tasting.

Do go – open three nights a week – and menu changes constantly

T: +44 (0) 131 258 0758

E: info@edinburghfoodstudio.co (not .com nor .co.uk)

158 Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, EH16 5DX

Fab brunch at Gardeners Cottage

8 March 201717 January 2018 by admin

Meatloaf brioche with hollandaise sauce – fantastic combo

Beetroot Bloody Mary – amazing zing on a Saturday morning for this combo of: vodka, sherry, beetroot juice, red wine vinegar, house fermented chilli and celery salt. After one of those you feel ready to take on the Pigs head – no not with an apple stuck in mouth – it is in fact a delicate disc of distilled down pig – like amazing shredded bacon – sorry not doing justice to it – you must try!