FOOD : Review of A Wee Taste, Edinburgh
The art of grazing is not a new concept but it is one that in modern day society is hard to master and also a rarity to find. Many restaurants want you in and out, to turn tables as quickly as possible but here at A Wee Taste it’s all about lingering longer, taking time out to enjoy the company you’re in, taking time to look, smell, taste, eat and drink the colourful platters put in front of you and enjoy the long drinks of gin cocktails and Tinto De Verano (similar to sangria just better).
Don’t get me wrong, Karly the owner has to make money and will turn your table but there is no initial rush to get you out the door as soon as you’ve taken a seat.
REVIEW OF A WEE TASTE RESTAURANT, EDINBURGH
On our visit, I chatted to Karly, the owner of this gorgeous wee wine and grazing board bar nestled in between Tollcross and Bruntsfield, Edinburgh.
Initially, A Wee Taste of Edinburgh, was a food and drink tour company that Karly run when she wasn’t teaching. She was due to develop the tours full time when the pandemic hit and so back to teaching she went.
But there is always a rainbow after a storm, and post pandemic Karly has opened A Wee Taste in a permanent spot and specialises in the art of grazing boards and wine. Karly spent 6 years living in Spain and the food and culture have rubbed off on her, and so A Wee Taste is all about her love and appreciation for food that’s high-quality, local and international.
Their scrumptious and vibrant food platters are all handmade with love, care and precision using the finest, high-quality, ingredients. They stock cheese, meat, vegan and dessert individual and shared platters as well as their amazing add ons that include an assortment of scotch eggs, mondatido open sandwiches (slices of sourdough cheese, meat and adorned with fruit) and baked camembert.
They believe it’s important to support as local as possible hence why they stock some of the most fabulous food and drink products from suppliers such as; I.J. Mellis, Aye Pickled, La Barantine, Baked by Pippa, Edinburgh Company Butter, Scotch & Co, Rose & Ammi, Wine Importers and Drinkmonger to name a few.
Their wines have all been handpicked lovingly by Elise from Wine Importers ensuring that they pair really well with their platters. They think it’s important to have some funky stand out wines as well as a few well known staples on their small but compact wine list. They also do a wee range of season cocktails too!
We tried the Tinto De Verano (£4.00) which Karly made for me as a non-alcoholic cocktail (I was driving) but it’s made with red wine with summer fruits and orange fizz. (£7.50 for the alcoholic version). Absolutely divine and such a large glass!
The Pink Gin Spritzer Raspberry (£7.50) . Again so delicious it disappeared all too quickly!
We choose the Meat and Cheese One (Individual £18.50 | Shared £37 (2-3 People) and the Chorizo Scotch Egg (£5.50).
The grazing board is stunning. If we eat with our eyes, then I’ve been starving for a long time. This was sensory overload - the aroma, the colours, the tastes….pure 100% foodie heaven. And the Scotch Egg stands proud too, with its vivid yellow yolk and golden crumb. There is absolutely no way you will leave here hungry!
The grazing board:
Selection of three fine I J Mellis cheeses - I wish I could remember what they were, but they were all delicious, decent portions and there was nothing left when we finished!
Three cured meats - my absolute fav was part of this trio - venison salami. {insert love hearts}
Aye Pickled slaw - crunchy and downright yum
Aye Pickled chilli hot roots - tad spicy for me but for those that love a bit of heat, perfect.
Chutney - lovely and sweet.
Quince - you cant have a grazing board without quince.
Fresh & dried fruit - grapes, strawberries, passionfruit, blueberries, blackberries, oranges. All perfect to accompany every bite.
Assortment of nuts and nasturtium leaves.
Olives & cornichons.
Miller's Damsel cranberry & raisin toast breads & buttermilk firecrackers. I had tried the cranberry and raisin toast breads a week earlier at another restaurant but didn’t know where they were from. My gosh these are super tasty - on their own or with anything and everything on this board.
La Barantine sourdough bread with Edinburgh Company butter. Soft and chewy with soft, salty butter. Delicious.
A could prattle on about A Wee Taste all day, but in the end it all boils down to one action that you need to take and that is to go. Book. Book yourself in for lunch and enjoy their special. Get a group of you together and go enjoy an early sharing board before heading out for cocktails.
This is an absolute delight and I encourage you all to try it!
Things to note:
Parking is available close by but not directly outside
They cater for vegetarians and vegans with a Vegan One board
Disabled access - the entrance is ground level but the w/c is downstairs
A Wee Taste, 36 Leven Street, Edinburgh. www.aweetaste.co.uk
My Spoon Award : Tartan Spoon 10/10
I was invited by A Wee Taste to review their menu. Food and drink were complimentary but the views are very much my own.