It's all about Flavour Flavour and more....Flavour

Flavour Love this place, and what's no to love!!!
I was doing support in a building we have over the West End, I thought I'd go and get some fish and chips because I know where a good chippy is in that part of Toon. Seen the Cafe and thought try this place it looks like the food will definitely be healthier for you....and I was surprised by the quality and range of food, good friendly banter, and it's a nice place to sit for lunch.

So what have I had to eat in here? Best sandwiches in the Toon as far as I'm concerned...you get a choice of your sandwich technician, you get a wee taste of food if you've not tasted it before, great selection of breads, baguettes and rolls....never been left wanting more after a sandwich...I mind they surprised me by adding some pesto to a sandwich and it really caught me off guard because the flavour really burst through.

I've had a few types of soup and they are all good, had lentil today and it was made the way it should be....class!!

Baked potatoes with various toppings, had chicken curry today came with a good sized side salad and coleslaw...lovely and filling.

I had a Tai Chicken Curry in there once, middle of a freezing winters day....man that made me up, just enough chilli heat, nice sticky rice, lovely sauce....really recommend that.

Flavour should have been on my blog ages ago but I have not been working in the West End for a while, a job came up today so I had to swing by for lunch....the girls are a good fun loving bunch, always better to eat in a place where there is a warm welcome and good cooking!!

They were surprised when I told them I'm taking a pic for my blog....they were quite shocked I had one and they all ran away when I started to focus up.....anyhoo I forgot to take a picture of the Cafe from outsifde....so next time???....going for some frontage girls!!! be ready!!

The Cambridge----not just for education

The Cambridge Bar  20 Young Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4JB

It's a cracking pub, I've been there on many works night out. Today I had the chance to take some colleagues, who don't know the Toon, out for lunch. I already knew... food was good, excellent in fact!!

Chips and onion rings for the table and five burgers ordered up. Buffalo Cajun burger was my choice, it was delicious. I was jealous as heck of the Breakfast burger, it looked the business and was a messy affair with a runny egg!! and then the traditional Bacon Cheese beef burgers...everyone loved the burgers they chose, great service, will definitely be back!!!

There was some class music being played in the background, I was surprised to hear some Tedeschi Trucks Band and some North Mississippi All Stars so yeah I was happy. As I've said , had some cracking nights out in there with ex-colleagues, not too far from the Haymarket Station. It can get a bit busy at night which is always a good sign but the bar area can be a bit crowded, anyway I thoroughly recommend the place.

American Diners.....in Edinburgh???

The City Cafe
Well, up by The Tron there is this gem of a place.
Make no bones about it, this place is designed to be a 50's American Diner.
By night it turns in to a pub, need to try it one night actually!! I just went there for lunch.

Big comfy booths with all the sauces, seasonings,serviettes and menus all tucked up at the wall. Encouraging as I now have the means to put what I want on...what I want....a nice juicy burger!!

Really good friendly staff, good service, good presentation and what I was really impressed with....no need to use any of the sauces for the burger, just a dod of ketchup for the chips...nice chunky chips that were cut thick like planks and everything perfectly seasoned.

I got the Californian burger, chicken breast with guacamole and the usual salad items. It was delicious and very well seasoned and cooked to perfection leaving the chicken juicy! Liked the idea of the chips being served in a miniature deep fry basket. The burger roll is specially made for the City Cafe and it was quality bread, canot stand the usual standard sesame buns you usually get.

My colleague got the Apache burger...he loved it...check out the webpage for the different types of burger on offer...I'll be slowly working my way through them. The City Cafe unfortunately my pics are a bit dark I'll get better ones next time I'm in.

How to use chopsticks....Chinese Restaraunts

Karen's Unicorn

This is a gem of a find, on the corner of Abercromby Street and Dublin Street.
Excellent service from friendly staff, nice classy decor but humble at the same time, nice relaxing place to be for a business lunch...a really nicely priced business lunch too.

First time I went there I left my jacket. Going home that Friday night, I filled my nappy.....where is my jacket??? Where is my house keys??? Aw Naw...Disaster for Scotland!!!! Ran back to the restaurant luckily it was closed but the doors were open, all the staff were having their own meal, but dealt with my panic in a calm friendly way....jacket and keys back in my possession and on the way home......week over...at last!!! Anyway, looks like my mate's wife left her scarf there too.... No feedback how that went...funnily enough no seen her since...I've heard she is alive and well!!!;p)

As I said, professional and friendly staff, prompt service....exactly what you want for a business lunch!
What else can I say? The food is top notch!! This is my second lunch in here Duck Spring rolls, succulent and with a smear of plumb sauce and a sweet chili sauce, which was very mild on the chili, but lovely!!! Now what did I say about prompt service? Spring Rolls came straight from the frier so my mate/colleague burnt his mouth...all I heard was...ooohh hhhaaaa ayeya....but then he was slabbering at the mouth like my old Alsatian mongrel thing I used to have...anyway, gave me a clue to cut them open and give them a minute to cool...spring rolls and the sauces = MAGIC!!!

Round 2 was chicken chow mein, beautiful, in a very very light sauce...managed to knock that down with the chop sticks, I asked for the traditional eating irons just in case, they were only too happy to oblige like a top notch restaurant should. I really don't know how to describe the quality of the dish, the sauce was just right in terms of providing moisture and flavour, really brought the freshness of the vegetables out too, filling, but not so you need an hours kip, and 5 hours later I'm still not hungry...class.

My first meal was Chicken Satay and Chicken Curry, the satay was just deeelish, by the way they chopped, or rather, finely chopped the chicken for the curry, was skill to say the least. Now here is a tip, they give you the curry sauce in a big white spoon. Well....I thought it was a big white spoon...it was after a wee while I figured a jug!!! So for us males out there who represent the last of the of the REAL MEN (just think of John Wayne and Walter Brennan as Stumpy!! In Rio Bravo) it's a jug...I guess the girls would know it's a jug? They just would...but then my dear Mum always reckoned the doctors or nurses gave her the wrong baby or got the name bracelets mixed up...it's not effected me at all her saying that....much!!! LOL probably get a slap from her later....keep ya posted...

The only drawback is walking up the rather steep hill that is Dublin Street going back to the office...gotta be one of the steepest in the Toon?

Time for the pics.....hope they do it justice!!??

Whisky Galore!!!

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society  SMWS Website

Been a member for years, me and The Musketeers are in 28 Queen Street at least once a month. Many a hangover has been had here.

Whiskies...read the SMWS website I put a link to at the top of this post. They just tell it like it is...and the way it should be.

It is my bestest place to be when out in the Toon. Great bar staff, a load of whom me and The Musketeers have become really good personal friends with.

What should I write for a critique?...First time we went to Queen Street the place stank a bit of paint and turpentine, there were no door handles on the doors. We got hammered and fell in love with the place. It was early summer 2004. Its a place where I can go and relax, properly relax. It's a members club and because of that it generally keeps the twats out. So yep, looking for somewhere just to hang and have a beer and a dram? This is the place to be.

The food...it's probably one of the finest places to eat in the toon. One of The Musketeers married his wife because this was the venue for their first date. I've not eaten out of the restaurant, but there has been special occasions held there when we ordered from the restaurant menu and it's just delicious. The Musketeers usually stick to the bar food. I've never had a bad meal...honestly! The main stay regular choice used to be the Venison Burger, but I really recommend the Haggis with a side order of chips, helps quieten down a predicted hangover. The chips come cut in 2 inch x 1/4 inch planks with mustard mayo, great for getting the haggis out the bowl....since then I've moved on to sausages,mash with brussel sprouts and bacon....words cannot describe!!! I was in for lunch today and was advised to try the Rueben sandwadge and paprika chips....delicious!!

This is the place responsible for changing my palette and kicked me off in the right direction to enjoy the finer, more grown up things in life. I've tasted the finest whiskies, wines, seafood, continental and traditional British foods here. Oh yeah...even drank Bourbon here too, cask strength of course!! Now that is saying something.

This place is now part of my DNA, if you get a chance when you are in Edinburgh then ask around your pals to see if a friend of a friend will sign you in...dont ask me I dont drink with strangers....yeah....RRRIIIGGHHTTT!!!

Pics....

Greece.....Summer lovin' happened so fast....ops thats the movie Grease!!

Papii On Yelp

Colleague looked this up on Trip Adviser which highly rated the place. We were not disappointed. Really nice no nonsense food and nice friendly staff.

The dish I had was feta cheese bake with spinach in a filo pastry, I cannot remember the name, it was delicious, luckily I don't have to spell it either!!

My colleague had a soup and a baguette which he wolfed down.

We took on a desert and a coffee especially as a wee sign said everything is sourced locally! I got a scone with jam and cream. Last time I had something that delicious??? Yep...Scotch Malt Whisky Society again...Papii's came with real thick clotted cream, the scone itself was just quality, And this is a really nice find because the coffee is of a quality of Razzo and Brew Lab. Definitely going back.

Wee bit cozy, comfy enough with light decor with cupboard doors hung on the walls....what that about??
Nice friendly staff...just like all the other Greeks I know..top notch food!!

The more POSHER parts of the Toon for Luncheon

Howies Website

Down that street that was used in the Anne Hathaway film, the one where she chucks her knickers at a guy and they just cuddle in bed...now is n't that nice! One Day I think it was called....

Anyway, had Cullen Skink which was class, and a pulled pork sandwich with red cabbage and chips. Really enjoyed that and was on the lunch menu, so good price.

Nice spacious rooms, nice art on the walls...yep I noticed, the waitresses knew all the specials of the day and  we were really nicely served by all the staff.Definitely highly recommended.

I have to say the best Cullen Skink I have had so far in Edinburgh is from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Howies is a really good challenger. If Anne Hathaway decides to take up my Cullen Skink challenge then she should feel free to get in touch...a man can live in hope and I promise to pick up the tab and eh....I'll be gentle coz I know she has feelings....

The leaning tower of Pizza....Italian joints and wise guys

Valvona and Crolla Website

 Mulltrees Walk, where the old bus station used to be. This part of toon is definitely for the snobs that need drop kicked. If you want to reminisce about the old Bus Station, watch Restless Natives where two lads try to be Dick Turpin and use a 125cc Honda motorbike as Black Bess and hi-jack tourist buses. Big Country done the soundtrack...cracking movie.

Anyway...the critique.....

Up it' s own backside, all I have to say here. Went in, was told the restaurant was busy please sit at the bar. Sat at the bar and we sat at the bar...and we sat at the bar. The two bints next to us got chatted up by the waiter who took their order and we were completely ignored....just goes to show what Boobs, Ass and black tights does to an Italian waiter.....now I have to ask why do women want equality? It's a rhetorical question by the way and I dont want any feminista replies.....walked out not going back.

Martone Website

On the point of Leith Street and Wellington Place, cracking restaurant. Normally have the pizzas from here as I just love a good pizza and their calzone is the biz!

Nice friendly staff, service can take a wee minute as good food should not be rushed....it's worth it. Nice friendly staff and it has WiFi just in case you have to look up my blogs!

Cafes and Greasyspoons......thousanads of them....

Beetlejuice  On Yelp

Get the impression this used to be someone's living room. It's across the road from The Blind Poet and The Pear Tree pubs and a stones throw from Edinburgh University.

Staff are friendly and up for a laugh, comfy enough even though a bit cozy Student prices so quite cheap. Good home made soup and a panini. So no nonsense kinda grub, especially if you are a student with your backside hanging out your trousers and strapped for cash.

Pig In A Poke On Yelp

Along Rose Street you will see a roasted pig in a window and the meat is teased in to pulled pork.
Fairly basic really, only one choice of food...pulled pork....but a few choices of what bread and accouterments you want. No nonsense grab and go lunch, just beware if you are a jet setter with a posh suit, the more you put on your pork sore fist, the more likely it is something will dribble down that precious silk tie ruining that all important first impression.....I had the toasted wrap...pretty good actually and would recommend if you want something immediately due to a raging hangover or lack of time!! Good selection of drinks in the cooler.

Le Cafe Royale On Yelp

On the Saturdays when I'm going out with "The Musketeers" to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, I take the train to the Toon and go my Tai Chi Chuan Class. Since this place is at the back of The Waverley Station and on the High Street/Royal Mile. I thought I'm starving I need breaky! Anyway Good Haggis and a good linked sausage roll eaten on the walk to training.

Thought I'd try it for lunch, got a nice kebab my colleague got some nice soup and a panini. All went pete tong when I went there alone and got the fish n chips!!! Glorified fish finger it was! Not impressed!! Fish from a box from a freezer. I also made a mistake of getting a smoothie, advertised on the table by some company I cannot remember the name of. I got a frozen smoothie from a bag in a freezer mixed with apple juice....NOT HAPPY!!

Stick to what does not obviously come from a freezer.

McDonald's

Don't usually go to McD's I have to say. But...if you want a breakfast and a surprisingly decent coffee the one on The Waverley Steps is actually really quite good. As I said not an every day occurence but...when you have a hunger on....breakfast wrap and a couple extra hash browns...now we are talking!!!

The Snack Van Buchlyvie

On the road from Stirling to Loch Lomond, there lurks Polis speed traps and if you survive them, a wee Snack Van in a lay by. This snack van has been proved to set you up for a hard days fishing catching heehaw on Loch Lomond. I noticed yesterday they do an all day breakfast too, I  am partial to a Stornoway black pudding and egg doubler roll, or a haggis and egg doubler roll with a cuppa cha....then its off to fight nature in a big wave with torrential rain or a flat calm with bright sunshine ready to go topless. Good place to get a bite even if you are out for a wee run in your motorized vehicle of choice. it's located here....Buchlyvie Burn Snack Van

Popadomadingdong....lets eat Indian food

My man Rob likes his Indian food and rumour has it he is doing yoga in a leotard with a room full of wumins all giving it the lotus potion on a mat...anyhoo I digress.....

Every so often Rob throws in the "you fancy Indian food" or "We are all going for Indian food but you can choose something not spicy hot" low and behold the man has me eating some delicious meals!!

Rewind to last summer and Rob says "Glen Miller tribute band playing at the Festival Theatre" so we got tickets and Rob decided Mother India was the place to go, he was not wrong. The show was blooming marvelous too....

Anyhow I cannot remember the names of the dishes or how to spell them..so here's are what I remember...

Baked haddock...lovely and nicely seasoned with a hint of sweet herbs and citrus
Chickpeas
Samosas, they were class
Lamb and spinach, very succulent
chicken curry, curried just enough succulent meat

Service is very prompt from nice friendly staff who will help you get what you want if you are unsure.
Might be best to book for an evening meal...my colleague recommends the Glasgow version too. For lunch we walked in and got seated without waiting. Remember it's an Indian Tapas bar so order a couple of dishes.

In a previous post about Brew Lab I mentioned Aston Martins...one was parked outside...Brew Lab is just the other side of the main road...where is Black Bess when you need her???

Middle Eastern Treasures

Palmyra

22 Nicholson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DH http://www.palmyrapizza.co.uk/

This is a cracking wee place. Looks like nothing special on the outside but the magic happens when you walk in. Really pleasant and friendly staff. Decor is entertainment posters and some Persian rugs and menus all around you with some posters of the middle east thrown in. Utilitarian seats and chairs...everything is pretty decent actually. If you like your music and are a bit eclectic, then you'll love some of the Eastern beats coming out the boogie box, some damn good tunes and rhythms.

Now...the food..the mains....I've had a chicken keebab, chicken shawarma (shawarma=wrap but not anything like a fajita!!) and I also tried the Kofta shawarma

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawarma

...as a starter the Hummus and the Eajah.

The Hummus is excellent, served with a drizzle of olive oil,black olives and pitta bread...you cannot refuse this!!
The Eajah is a type of pakora, it's gooey, with a lovely deep fried crust and is cracking with the chilli sauce and mint yogurt..oh yeah that works baby!!!,it just works...comes with a salad and citrus dressing...MAGIC!!

The Kebabs and shawarmas are just to die for really are, succulent meat with the right weight of eastern seasonings...oh the kofta is lamb...it's a bit hot spicey wise, but keep the mint yogurt handy and give it a wee dousing now and then you should be fine. The first kebab I had was skewered chicken...it was melt in the mouth with a real nice salad and pitta bread on the side. Fast becoming a regular joint for lunch.


Some pics....

Seafood diet any one??? See food and I'll eat it more like!!!

The Mussel Inn (Edinburgh)  On the WWW

Ok..something went fubar with my last post...so here we go again.

I really dont usually eat seafood, ask my Mum if you don't believe me it's driven here nuts over the years!!
Anyhoo my colleague suggested that we go there for a seafood lunch one day....Mussels are their specialty he cries...

I've not had mussels since I received a dose of food poisoning from a wee Italian restaurant off Regent Street in London. I was down on a training course and went out for a walk one night, spied this we place and thought...ach go in there...mussels having that!!! Was seriously ill for days after that and man...you don't want to feel that bad on the London-Edinburgh shuttle....

Anyhoo I'm talked in to going...my colleague was like a 5 year old because he loves this place....1kg of mussels for him and a large seafood chowder for me...all I heard was slurp slurp slurp as my colleague buried his face in a pot of mussels. I swear he needed a bib....so...the mussels are good!!!
Seafood chowder is too...take the bay leaf out though...anyway I now have the chowder regularly for lunch, it is good and nice and creamy, warming on a winters day.

I met up with my sister and brother in law there before the Scotland V England 6 nations rugby game ( aka The Calcutta Cup) less said about that game the better.....anyway I had steak...it was class!! Nice grilled flavour succulent melt in the mouth beef...it was class and I thoroughly recommend it...followed by delicious cheesecake....

For a week day lunch we normally try our luck at the door,so far we have always been seated. For a pre-match rugby meal I would book as early as you can, the toon is always bumping when the rugby is on in Murrayfield. When I phoned I was almost refused as the table beside the kitchen was deemed to be unacceptable by the chap on the phone, and it was the only table available...I said it would do and it was fine. You can book via the website too, give them time someone will call you back to confirm your web booking.

It's a no nonsense restaurant, utilitarian tables and chairs. Always found the staff approachable with good service even though they are run off their feet most of the time. This place is always busy and that is a good sign in my opinion...seafood lovers enjoy...you'll love it.

Rose Street, Edinburgh

Lets do breakfast....

Gourmet Grub     Facebook Page
Now here is the thing....sometimes you just want a fry up in the morning...Haggis, eggs, bacon..maybes a sausage?...maybes not even in the morning...how about for LUNCH!!!!

Well this is the place to go!! Gourmet Grub on Rose Street...the food is class. Simple no nonsense food with quality ingredients...

I've worked my way through the fried breakfasts, they are all good.
My favourite is the the Ultimate Breakfast..... any how creamy scrambled eggs on a muffin,bacon, venison, sausage and Haggis(best in the toon breakfast haggis)

It's a dinky wee joint with a basement too. The wire chairs can be wobbly and I think it's best to try for a bench seat...which cannot be had all the time since you have to wait to be seated...Frankly the food and the service makes up for all that...the burgers and sandwich ranges just give you a sore fist carrying it from the plate to your mouth....just good grub!! all I can say really....now who wants to see some pics....???

Hey there babe my name is Johnny B hows about having a coffee with me?

Razzo Coffee  
On twitter at Razzo-twitter

Oh it's just a wee goldfish bowl in St Andrews Square but it serves good coffee!!
Had a cracking Latte and blueberry muffin and a wee sit in since it was raining...cracking snacks and the lunches look good too although I've not had lunch in there yet.

Good service the staff always bring your order over to your table which is a nice touch.

Coffee...their coffee can be bought in bean or ground to whatever you are gonna brew your cup of Joe in be it stove pot or cafetiere...and its cracking coffee!!

Found out today that Razzo does have guest coffee blends, and that the standard blend has Mexican,Guatemalan and Indian coffee in it...I'll take a pic next time I'm in..

Good bacon rolls
Good Muffins
Good home made tablet for a sugar rush when you hit that low energy point in your working day!! Just like Gran made!!

Brew Lab

http://www.brewlabcoffee.co.uk/

My quest for a decent coffee started at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,of all places, a staff member advised me his mate worked in here....thought I'd give it a try.

Never tasted a real coffee until I had my first latte out of here, it was like drinking warm coffee flavoured carnation milk...so I always stop in for a latte if we are doing lunch up that end of town..

The staff are pedantic as hell as they make your coffee, the house blend is a closely guarded secret. They will not tell you what is in the blend, and they must have taken an oath from the knight templars themselves not to reveal anything about the bean blend or where they were grown. There must be a mad scientist, like Christopher Lloyd from Back to the Future, hidden away somewhere because it works... it really does. They do guest coffees that they will grind to what ever caffeine fixing tool of choice that you have. And they will sell you a rather expensive tools from their display rack...but I just drool over the packs of guest coffees that they have....they will never sell the house coffee in case someone steals the formula.....

It's a student place...not just any old student...but the upper crust ones that have Mummsy and Daddsy or Pappa, looking after them...You get the idea, the ones that you really want to slap in the coupon because they just get up yer nose...Now that being said, you could make a fortune doing an armed raid on the place and stealing all their Apple-Mac laptops and other Tech Device must haves....and because they will have their thesis on them...hold the Tech for ransom and sell it back to them!! From the amount of Hi-End tech on display they must have WiFi...I've never used it so ask the staff.

The odd Aston Martin parks outside and that really gets me jealous!!!

Anyway they do good cake, and I had a Pecan thing that I'm sure was crossed with almonds,dates and figs...full on sugary gooey stuff...narcotic like substance...(I would Imagine)

Anyway don't let the spoiled students and Aston Martins put you off this place. Just imagine yourself as Dick Turpin walking in to the place shouting "Stand eh ok...sit and Deliver...Your Apple Mac or your Life!!!" and you'll be fine....Imagine Black Bess standing taking a dump on an Aston Martin....now your feeling good when you drink that latte....