REVIEW : EAT - Cask Smugglers and The Peruvian, Edinburgh

With so many great street food vendors out there, it’s those that are creating something different that get noticed. I first met Carlo Carozzi, owner of The Peruvian Street Food Stall at the Scottish Street Food Awards that I helped judge earlier this year at The Pitt, Edinburgh.

Two exceptional dishes were sent to our table for judging, the cow hearts and the fish ceviche. They blew us away and The Peruvian entered our top three street food vendors and has remained on my radar and top street food recommendations since.

Atop Princes Mall, in plain sight, is Cask Smugglers; an everyman’s cocktail bar. It’s a massive bar serving a good range of whiskies, spirits, cocktails and beers. They have live music nights and serve up, you guessed it, Carlo’s amazing Peruvian street food alongside some fab cocktails!

The Peruvian now has a permanent home which means that you lucky people don’t have to wait for a pop-up opportunity or the next Pitt St Market to get your Peruvian fix; and from what I could gather Cask Smugglers is here to stay too.

Seated in a booth, TartanSpoonie Lotte and I chatted and chatted whilst oo-ing and ah-ing over the menus. Apologies to our servers who had to come back several times before we eventually figured out what we were going to order. In the meantime, they brought us some typical Peruvian snacks - Cancha Salada which is roasted salted corn.

First things first however, we needed some cocktails. The cocktail booklet lists their cocktails and spirits but they also have a great selection of craft and mainstream beers on tap or bottle too.

Review of The Peruvian at Cask Smugglers Edinburgh

Over the Wall - Cazcabel Repesado tequila and grapefruit shrub topped with Prosecco and soda (£8.00)

Served in a highball glass, this cocktail is soor - it’ll draw your cheeks in but then give you a lovely wee zing at the end. Very refreshing!

Reverse Curse - Dead Mans Coconut Rum, Amarula, coconut syrup, a shot of espresso and chocolate bitters (£7.50)

This is like an Espresso Martini on vacation to a tropical island. Packed full of coconut flavours, it’s quite thick and creamy.

The Rhubarb Sour - Cocktail Special, not on the menu. Made with Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb and Ginger.

Fairly sweet, with a hint of the ginger and a whole lot of rhubarb on the back note.

Food arrived quickly and I have to say the portions are decent, so it looked like a lot of food and it was alot of food. But we ate every last bit as it was all so delicious.

Tequenos - pastry wrapped cheese sticks deep fried and served with Peruvian style guacamole (£7.00)

All bow down to the cheese gods, these little parcels are heaven sent! Between the tasty crunch of the pastry and the oozy gooiness of the melted cheese in the middle, I’m not sure what you’ll love more.

The guac is more-ish with lime, coriander, red onions, chilli all mixed in! Lush.

Pan Con Chicharron - Peruvian style pork belly, fried sweet potato and salsa criolla served on a crispy roll (£8.00)

Every single flavour on this plate I love. Sweet red onions. Slight hint of chilli that heats up rather than burns. Succulent unctuous fatty sticky pork belly. Coriander. Lime.

We shared this dish, picking it apart but by golly gosh, wrap your hands around this and shovel it into your mouth. You’ll thank me.

Papa Rellena - large potato croquette filled with beef mince in a tomato sauce and served with salsa criolla (£10.00)

Essentially the Peruvian twist on mince and tatties that’ll keep you coming back for more.

The coated croquette holds inside light fluffy mash that surrounds deep rich beef mince. Served once again with those flavours of Peru - red onions, lime, coriander etc, this is a dish that fills you up and most defo for sharing.

We had to try out the Chicken Wings. They have a special on : 6 for £8.00 or 12 for £12.00.

Peruvian Chicken Wings - deep fried chicken wings tossed in a Peruvian spice blend and served with a dip of your choice

• Huancaina - chillis, cream and ricotta

• Salsa de rocoto - chillis, mayonnaise and mustard

• Huacatay - mint, garlic, lime and huacatay paste

• Peruvian style guacamole

These bad boys are large chicken wings and coated with some tasty special spices. They are messy, but they are finger-licking good.

The menu is small, but you don’t need to have a large menu when your food is this good.

The Anticuchos - skewered cow hearts and the Leche de Tigre Ceviche - white fish cured in lime juice, which are fabulous, are on the menu too along with two to three other dishes.

Cask Smugglers drinks and The Peruvian food work well together. The flavours of the food are a refreshing change and addition to the Edinburgh food scene - spicy, fresh, zingy, hot, mild, creamy, sticky, finger-licking scrumptiousness.

The cocktails are fun and creative; the bar has a warm laid back vibe from a speak easy.

They are centrally located, right next to Waverley Station on Princes Street, so there is no excuse not to dine and drink here. You honestly won’t regret it!

Cask Smugglers, Waverley Mall Rooftop, 3 Princes Street, Edinburgh. Tel : 0131 5570129 www.casksmugglers.com

My Spoon Award : Gold 9/10

I was invited by Cask Smugglers and The Peruvian to review their menu. Food and drink were complimentary but the views are very much my own.