I love going to the pub. Whether it’s catching up with friends, watching live sport, or just sitting quietly with a casual pint in the afternoon. Pubs aren’t just social spaces; they help create the culture and identity of a place and in Leith, where I have lived for nearly 15 years, we are lucky to have an abundance of independent bars that help mould the character of the milieu. Now, more than ever, pubs need our help to turn a profit yet alone thrive, particularly in Scotland where hospitality rates relief isn’t passed on as in other parts of the UK. So here are a few of my regular wa ..read more

I love going to the pub. Whether it’s catching up with friends, watching live sport, or just sitting quietly with a casual pint in the afternoon. Pubs aren’t just social spaces; they help create the culture and identity of a place and in Leith, where I have lived for nearly 15 years, we are lucky to have an abundance of independent bars that help mould the character of the milieu. Now, more than ever, pubs need our help to turn a profit yet alone thrive, particularly in Scotland where hospitality rates relief isn’t passed on as in other parts of the UK. So here are a few of my regular watering ..read more

I LIKE TO think I’m a man that knows what constitutes a good burger. I discovered Fat Hippo on George Street whilst out walking last week and needed a quick bite before catching James Acaster’s show at the Playhouse. Now, I’m a huge fan of Butta Burger, which also happens to reside on this street and I was interested to see how they’d compare. Hailing from Newcastle, Fat Hippo now has 14 sites across the UK with their first Edinburgh branch being a concession within Lane 7 on Rose Street. We occupied one of two banquettes by the window in what was a virtually empty restaurant; thankfully it d ..read more

Love Mexican food but bored of the usual fajita recipe? Then give my turkey taquitos recipe a bash - it'll revolutionise your Mexican dinners! I recently discovered Fresh Mex seasoning sachets in my local ASDA and, although I've had this recipe for a while, knew they'd take it up a level with their freshly ground spice blends.  I first tasted their delicious burritos in their award-winning burritos at their Lothian Road restaurant branch and was delighted to be able to get their products in the supermarket.   This recipe takes no time to prepare and the turkey mix will easily ..read more

When Michel Roux Jr. announced the forthcoming closure of his legendary Le Gavroche restaurant at the end of the summer, I went straight on their website to book a table for my upcoming 40th birthday.  With a trip to London arranged, I perused their menus to develop a short list of other places to dine in.  As the list grew and grew, a seed of doubt came into my mind that perhaps Roux’s establishment might be the wrong choice and, in one of those “close your eyes and click” moments, I hit the ‘cancel’ button and booked Trinity instead. I just hoped my instincts wouldn’t let me ..read more

I HAD BEEN out walking, which for me usually involves reading a few restaurant menus.  I had thought a cheap set lunch had been a thing confined to a pre-Covid past, but Harbour Bistro in Newhaven seems to be bucking that trend.  I was as excited as I was suspicious to see how an establishment can afford to offer such a deal in the current climate. Conveniently, the restaurant is a three-minute walk from my flat.  The site has changed owners several times in the seven years I’ve lived here. However, the reviews I had read for this incarnation were favourable. Further investigat ..read more

                                                                                        Edinburgh Food Festival 2023 Begins Festival Dates: Friday 21 – Sunday 30 July 2023 Edinburgh Food Festival 2022, photo by Tom Duffin Edinburgh Food Festival 2023 is now open, with live events taking place in the Treehouse Kitchen at Assembly George Square Gardens, as well as a fantastic ..read more

I always find that the best Indian restaurants tend to be found down little side streets or just off the main thoroughfare, and that’s how we discovered Arnero on Sackville Street last year. We had yet to visit an Indian post-lockdown and the grub here lived long in the memory ever since. The place had undergone a bit of a revamp during the hiatus and certainly looked fresh.  There was a new addition of a brightly themed outdoor terrace too, which our young server (I assume the daughter of the owner(s) was particularly proud of: “Makes us a bit more Instagramable” she proclaimed. We were ..read more

 "Risotto is the dish that keeps on giving" commented one of my Instagram followers when I posted this dish and I couldn't agree more. I've always liked butternut squash but really fell in love with it when I had it as part of a dish at Borough in Leith.  It's always an ingredient chef Darren Murray champions when it comes into season.  I've roasted the squash before hand to impart even more flavour before pureeing half of it and folding it through the risotto. The coconut milk adds to the indulgence and brings another layer of flavour.  We're going to make this the c ..read more

'A tasty comforting pie perfect for any dinner party' I'D KNOCKED ONE of these pies up using Christmas leftovers to take to a festive family buffet and it went down a treat.  With the colder days coming to an end, albeit slowly, I thought I'd make another before the better weather is here.  Who doesn't love a comforting pie? It looks like there's a lot of processes to this recipe, but it's actually pretty straightforward.  It's well worth the effort to make your own pastry and doesn't take much time at all.  Although shop-bought ones achieve good results, they are actually ..read more