BIG BURRITO

Brunch is on the up. With closing time now 10pm restaurants, cafes and bars that can open during the day are using this opportunity to get them through this tricky time. Brunch is becoming the most popular dining experience and a pretty darn great thing to come out of 2020. Tell me your favourite place to brunch on my Insta post here

Take a look at these brunches

Honeycomb and Co Edinburgh, Ergon House Glasgow and Brewdog Castlegate Aberdeen.

IF YOU’RE ENJOYING READING THIS POST, PLEASE SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI BY BUYING ME A VIRTUAL COFFEE – CLICK HERE

TARTANSPOON WEEKLY WRAP - NEWS FOR YOU TO DIGEST

Loft Apartment Edinburgh - I give you an overview of this gorgeous one bedroom loft apartment in Leith. Available for short term stays. Read my review here. To book contact Refreshing Scotland.

Midweek Uncorking - a new online Zoom event from Wine Events Scotland in collaboration with Brian Elliott (Daily Record wine writer and ex Scotland on Sunday) who runs MidWeekWines where he recommends the latest offers in supermarkets each week. Diana and Brian bring you “Uncorking MidWeek” where they will try and discuss some supermarket wines. The first one is M&S’s new range of Classics – all around £8. Tickets cost £10 to join in the class but you will need to purchase the wine. More information on the event here

Bottled Bartender - my review of these home delivery cocktails is up on my blog. Serious good.. Read it here

Old Curiosity G & Tea - Renowned Scottish craft distillery, Old Curiosity, home of the Secret Herb Garden, has released a new range of herbal teas, developed in partnership with Edinburgh-based Pekoe Tea, and inspired by its award-winning gin range. The G&Tea herbal tea range uses the same botanicals as Old Curiosity’s Secret Garden Gin, blending them with ethically sourced Ceylon Tea to create a truly unique range of 100% natural teas. The range includes three different flavours; Lemon Verbena, Apothecary Rose and Lavender, each priced at £5.95, and are a must-try for gin and tea lovers alike. They also make the perfect gift, paired with the matching Secret Garden gin, or natural hand-crafted soap. Each tea marries together beautiful botanicals including Juniper, Coriander, Winter Savoury and Angelica, producing flavour profiles that echo the hugely popular Old Curiosity gin range. Each box of hand-picked and dried tea comes with its own, organic cotton reusable tea bag so you can enjoy the loose-leaf tea in its natural form and without generating any unnecessary waste.

Balbirnie House, Fife - is celebrating as an entire brigade this week, as the hotel is named as ‘Best-in-World’ by the international Haute Grandeur Awards, who have named the hotel as the Best Function Venue and best Country House Hotel on a global level. In addition to the global titles, the hotel was also named as Europe’s Best Country Hotel and Best Wedding Hotel. The achievement comes as a well-received reward for the hotel, who have had to overcome numerous obstacles as a result of the continuing coronavirus crisis, which has ravaged the hospitality industry this year.

Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve - the latest addition to The Glenlivet’s collection of Single Malts, and the first whisky from the brand to be selectively finished in rum barrels. Caribbean Reserve breaks tradition by combining the heritage of Scotch whisky, with the flavour and soul of the Caribbean. British Summer Time officially ends on Tuesday 22nd September, and for many of us it’s been fair to say the summer has been a little different to previous years. It’s no wonder therefore, that new research from The Glenlivet reveals that 8/10 (84%) of Brits feel they’ve been robbed of their usual summer enjoyment with staycations and socially distanced meet ups replacing foreign holidays and a jam- packed social calendar. But if you are in need of beach holiday but can’t get there, watch my Instagram reel on how to make the Tartan Tiki Cocktail which will transport you straight to a beach somewhere.

The Registers Club Afternoon Tea, Edinburgh - Super excited about this Afternoon Tea. I was one of the first people to try it and its outstanding. Known as one of Britain’s most famous gourmet traditions, Afternoon Tea at Cheval The Edinburgh Grand invites guests to dine within the spectacular surroundings of The Register Club and indulge in a traditional Afternoon Tea, with homemade scones and Scottish jam and sweet treats as well as a savory selection using the finest seasonal produce from artisan suppliers across Scotland. Afternoon teas start from £28pp, and champagne afternoon tea, which includes a glass of Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve, starts from £38pp. Afternoon Tea will be served between 3.00PM – 5.30PM from October 1st. In addition to the afternoon tea a new look food and drinks menu is available. Guests will enjoy an array of light bites, nibbles, and sharing plates with a Scottish twist. All food on the menu is locally sourced and seasonal.

Foreplay Golf, Edinburgh - Scotland’s most Instagrammable golf course, opens the doors to its new home in Edinburgh today (Friday, October 2nd) from 4pm. Taking up a yearly residence in the former Steak Restaurant on Picardy Place, the new, exciting over 18s venue has been completely transformed and puts the fun back into going out. Guests can enjoy two stunning bars, street food traders and tee off on a spectacular Auld-Reekie inspired crazy golf course aptly named - Wee Bobby. Spread spaciously over two floors and packed with fun and bold Instagrammable features, the cool new space offers a safe, comfortable and socially distanced experience for friends or couples to get competitive on their course. Seating up to 126 guests throughout the venue, guests will love the vivid and industrial interior of Fore Play Crazy Golf, teamed with the bright and colourful umbrella-covered ceiling installation in a nod to golf and Edinburgh’s dreich weather. There’s also an impressive neon graffiti mural by the infamous Scottish artist Barry the Cat whose work is infamous across the country. Book your tickets here

Chef Barry Bryson at Jupiter Artland, Edinburgh- Chef is staging a three-week pop-up dining experience in the cafe at the contemporary sculpture park and art gallery. This is the first time that the family-friendly attraction will be open to visitors during the October holidays, offering over 100 acres of meadows and woodland for people to safely explore nature and art, alongside the final Allan Kaprow reinvention of Jupiter Artland’s 2020 season by Andrea Büttner, and some of the best comfort food in the Lothians. Lovers of art, the great outdoors, and tasty food and drink can look forward to a heart-warming autumn menu featuring the best local and seasonal produce, including St Brides warm roast chicken Caesar salad; braised borders beef croquettes; salmon, ginger and scallop dumplings; pumpkin and cauliflower curry; Great Glen Charcuterie and Barry’s tomato chutney, as well as homemade soup of day and freshly baked bread. A children’s menu will also be available, along with a selection of hot beverages, soft drinks, cakes and scones.

Pink Afternoon Tea at Waldorf Astoria, Edinburgh - From 1st to 31st October, The Caledonian will be serving a pink-themed afternoon tea created in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness month and will donate £5 from each afternoon tea to Pink Ribbon Foundation. Featuring freshly baked rose macarons, berry & chocolate spheres, madeleines, scones and a selection of finger sandwiches, the Pink Afternoon Tea remains at the usual afternoon tea price of £35 per person for Traditional Afternoon Tea and £45 per person for Champagne Afternoon Tea. This year celebrating their 20th anniversary, the Pink Ribbon Foundation is a grant making trust with a mission to fund projects and provide financial support to UK charities which relieve the needs of people who are suffering from, have been affected by breast cancer, or who work to advance the understanding of breast cancer and its early detection and treatment. This limited edition Pink Afternoon Tea is available as traditional, vegan or free from gluten afternoon tea, daily from 12 - 5pm in Peacock Alley.

Spice Pots - An entrepreneurial curry-loving mum of three from Gullane in East Lothian in Scotland has secured a UK-wide listing with Aldi for her Spice Pots brand. Spice Pots, a range of dry spice blends designed to make cooking curry easier, will hit the shelves of 1,050 Aldi stores across the UK and Ireland from Sunday 4 October, in time for National Curry Week, which takes place between 5-11 October. The Spice Pots collection going on sale at Aldi features four curry powder blends: Korma (mild), Bhuna (medium), Tandoori (medium) and Goan (hot). Each blend of spices, which come in 40g (RRP £1.49) pots providing eight servings, is 100% natural and vegan-friendly. The nationwide Aldi listing is the latest step in a journey which began with a trip to India in the 90s and came to life a decade later in the kitchen of an isolated house on the West Coast of Scotland. I’ve used these lovely spice pots alot and they are super; so a massive congrats to Mel on this acheivement.

Mackies Ice Cream - Scotland's most popular ice cream brand has recorded a year-on-year increase in sales of 35% during lockdown. Despite the closure of cafes, bars and theatres Mackie's of Scotland saw demand for "take home" tubs soar between April and August. The demand amounted to over 70 million scoops of ice cream and with the 90 strong Aberdeenshire team going "above and beyond" to stock the freezers. Salted Caramel became the fastest growing ice cream with sales up 86% on last year. The fourth-generation family farm is in North East Scotland – and Mackie's still produce all their ice cream using fresh milk and cream from their dairy herd on the farm.

Sip and Support Edinburgh - Edinburgh Cocktail Week – Scotland’s biggest cocktail festival - has launched a ‘Sip & Support’ campaign to support Edinburgh’s hospitality sector and help protect jobs as bars face tighter trading and social restrictions because of the Coronavirus pandemic. The ‘Sip & Support’ campaign, which runs between 1st October – 30th November, will champion what’s happening in bars and venues around the city, with the Edinburgh Cocktail Week social media channels and website becoming a beacon of bar information to inspire customers to visit bars and safely socialise with friends and family. Over 60 bars across Edinburgh will take part in Sip & Support, each creating something special and delicious for customers to enjoy. Some bars will be running special drink promotions - some will even offer £4 cocktails! Others have partnered with brands to create exclusive Sip & Support cocktail menus, while others will host pop-ups and bar takeovers, open new outdoor spaces, offer takeaway and delivered cocktails, and serve cocktail themed afternoon teas.

Participating bars include House of Gods, Lady Libertine, Hawksmoor, The Lioness of Leith, Fingal, Raging Bull, Cold Town House, Tigerlily, the Rose Street Secret Garden, The Bon Vivant, Uno Mas, Harvey Nichols, Kin, Candy Bar, Malmaison, Nauticus, Tonic, Last Word Saloon and The Raeburn.

Details of what’s on offer at each bar during Sip & Support will be shared on Edinburgh Cocktail Week’s Facebook and Instagram channels, website and weekly newsletter. No wristband, ticket or voucher is needed to enjoy Sip & Support but reservations in advance are recommended to secure a table in bars.

M&S Festive Caterpillar - yes Colin has gone festive! Marks and Spencers full festive range is available online now and instore from now until Christmas.

Harvey Nichols, 4th floor, Edinburgh - is officially marking the start of the new season and is delighted to be launching their new autumn menus on 1st October. The three brand new menus include a sumptuous À La Carte menu featuring the finest new season ingredients, a Prix Fixe menu offering three warming and wholesome courses for just £24, and a wonderful cocktail menu with a tantalising selection of drinks created by new Bar Manager, Isaac Sanz-Roney.

To mark what would have been Edinburgh Cocktail Week, for one weekend only, customers who book the three course dinner menu and quote ‘Sip and Support’ in their online booking will receive one complimentary round of drinks for their table from the new cocktail menu. The offer will run for a limited number of nights only, from Thursday 15th to Saturday 17th October.

Aldi Scottish Beer Festival - it’s back featuring a line-up of 31 craft beers from 15 local breweries across Scotland. Available in stores from Thursday 1st October, the 22nd Beer Festival will take place in all 92 Scottish stores in a deal worth over £90,000 to the breweries involved. Aldi shoppers will have the chance to try a range of award-winning craft beers created by some of the country’s best-loved breweries from as little as £1.49. From sour ales to stouts, this season’s line-up includes craft brews produced by Edinburgh’s Barney’s Beer, Aberdeenshire’s Brewdog, Isle of Skye Brewery and a brand-new festival addition, Cross Borders Brewing based in Midlothian.