BIG BURRITO

Edinburgh Hogmanay has been cancelled it’s famous Street Party due to the pandemic. Edinburgh Hogmanay will provide us with more information and an update at the end of August on if and how an alternative Hogmanay may take shape.

TARTANSPOON WEEKLY WRAP - NEWS FOR YOU TO DIGEST

FOOD

Neighbourgood Market, Edinburgh - they’ve set up camp at The Grange in Stockbridge Edinburgh and its packed with yummy street food/food vans like @mimisbakehouse @theperuvianscotland @screamingpcock @donttellmamacoffeebar and @manapokebowls to name a few. You'll also find refreshments from @edinburghgin @lostorchards @innisandgunn_ and @theproseccoboysofficial.
@romaine_calm_ed will fulfill all your fruit veg and Smoothie needs, ideally located at the entrance exit so you can collect your food when leaving and @tribeyoga are also hosting yoga classes on the green.
Shew! I love this market as there is ALOT of space for easy social distancing and they've marked out white social circles on the grass so you and yours can stay safely in your 'bubble'. Food and drink can be ordered via @deliveroo on the pickup tab and you'll be notified when your food or drinks are ready to collect. How easy is that. The market runs until the end of August, open Wednesday to Sunday. Weekends are super busy with long queues so do yourself a favour and go during the week. They are open until 8pm. There is also a £3 entry fee on weekends.

Saltire, Edinburgh - have adapted their Lunch to You website to now cater for At Home Celebrations. Their website is super easy to navigate and you can order a range of buffet, finger food, sandwich and sweet platters as well as any of their bakery offering. 10% DISCOUNT on your first order, use CODE WEAREBACK www.saltirehospitality.co.uk/at-home-with-saltire/

Harvey Nichols, Edinburgh - Forth Floor dining will return on Wednesday 29th July. Customers will once again be invited to dine and experience fine food, cocktails and delicious wine, whilst enjoying the spectacular rooftop views across the capital city. In order to provide a safe and comfortable environment where the health and safety of both guests and employees is ensured, Harvey Nichols has implemented a number of new measures to enable everyone to dine and drink with confidence. There will be fewer tables, ensuring an appropriate physical distance between dining parties. There will be a one-way system across the dining areas to help with social distancing when moving through the space. Customers will have a choice of virtual, or single use, recyclable menus to order from. Sanitiser stations will be located at the entrance, exit and restrooms. Enhanced cleaning schedules and extra staff training is being carried out by the team instore, who will also take details from one member of each table to assist with the Scottish Government’s Test and Protect programme.

Perk Coffee and Doughnuts, Inverness - if you live in Inverness, you lucky, lucky person. These doughnuts are made by Nicola McLennan who launched her coffee shop in 2018 and has now branched out into doughnut deliveries. There are some amazing doughnuts to fall in love with. Order direct from the website. www.perkcafe.co.uk/doughnuts

Street Food Pop-Up at the V&A, Dundee - Street food entrepreneurs Chris Heather and Melodie Paterson, in partnership with V&A Dundee, are now serving takeaway food and drink from a three-wheeled Piaggio van and converted horse box set up outside Scotland’s first design museum. Specialising in serving seasonal Scottish food and drink at outdoors events and festivals, Heather Street Food will be positioned outside V&A Dundee from 11.00am till 7pm every Thursday to Sunday offering a selection of bagels, gelato and hot and cold drinks. A menu of five bagel choices, including a plant-based vegan option and a V&A Dundee weekly special, are offered with prices from £3.50 to £5.50. Coffee prices start at £2.50 and the artisan gelato comes in a variety of flavours served in a cone or tub with free toppings. For those looking to enjoy an alfresco drink, a bar menu is also available from 12 noon serving locally brewed 71 Lager, prosecco, gin, cocktails and mocktails with locally foraged garnishes.

Grazing by Mark Greenaway, Edinburgh - they reopen on 7th August with some alterations to their menu. Gone are the sharing dishes and say hello to relaxed fine dining. Some of Mark's most famous signature dishes will now be on the menu, as such Crab Cannelloni, Roks and Moss and more… fear not Sticky Toffee Pudding Soufflé lovers, this very popular dessert will still be on the menu!
The sharing part of our menu will be replaced with Mark’s surprise 6-course tasting menu with additional wine pairings to delight all foodies who have been dreaming of that unrivalled restaurant experience! To book, visit www.markgreenaway.com/grazing-restaurant

Gannet and Guga, Edinburgh - When you crave something packed with flavour, light and Summery but that'll fill your tum ~ think about heading to @gannet_guga for their Vietnamese Spring Rolls.
They are a fantastic gluten free/ no bread option. These are made fresh to order and you can make your own but here's three of their on menu rolls.
El Classico ~ rice noodles, prawn, Coriander, mint, chive, pickled carrot and daikon.
Koreuben ~ rice noodles, pastrami, Kimchi, Coriander, mint and chive.
Rising Sun ~ rice noodles, avocado, pickled ginger, pickled onion, mint and chive.
Topped with seeds and served with dipping sauces.
I found the Classico and the Koreuben where enhanced by dipping it in the sweet chilli sauce but the Rising Sun was defo the fav. The ginger shone through here with the mint and the chive lingering on the back note. If you're after a beautiful looking lunch and want to eat a taste of Summer, head to Gannet and Guga at the Waverley Arches, Edinburgh, just along from the train station on Market Street.

Cafe 1505 Surgeons Quarter, Edinburgh - Cafe 1505 Al Fresco on Friday 24th July! Guests at Café 1505 Al Fresco can enjoy pizzas, nachos and tapas boxes, as well as a fully stocked bar, in our spacious outdoor venue. The large clear marquee will keep a turn in the weather from dampening guests’ spirits and can seat up to 100 guests for food and drink. Visitors are not required to book ahead but will be asked to leave their contact details as part of the Scottish Government’s Test and Protect programme.

Bo and Birdy, Glasgow - reopen on the 1st August. They can't wait to welcome you back and we cant want to go back. Whether it's for one of their signature cocktails, a speedy lunch or a blowout dinner; book you and your pals a table here: https://bit.ly/30tes8Z

PRODUCTS

Scotty Brand - Strawberries, Raspberries, Cherries and Tatties. Scotty Brand has added Scottish cherries to its seasonal berries range for the first time and has secured a listing with Asda, which will see the fruit stocked in Asda stores across Scotland. Already renowned for its seasonal Scottish strawberries and raspberries, Scotty Brand has added cherries to its range following a rise in homegrown production and good growing conditions. More than 25,000 packs of Scottish cherries have been grown for Scotty Brand by Peter Marshall & Co at West Jordanstone Farm and Muirton Farm, close to Alyth, Perthshire. The lusciously sweet juicy cherries, which are ideal for snacking, adding to desserts and cakes, will be on sale in 56 of Asda’s Scottish stores. The home-grown cherry season has enjoyed a purple patch this year thanks to a warm spring. In June, the trade body Love Fresh Cherries reported the UK could expect a strong British cherry season harvest, following a similarly successful crop in 2019. The Scotty Brand Scottish cherries are grown on the Marshall’s family farm, which is run by Rowan and Jennifer. The farm has been in the family for four generations and the fertile lands of Perthshire combined with the long summer days in Scotland are perfect for growing cherries and mean that the Scottish growing season is later than the English Season and fills a gap in the cherry growing world market. Peter Marshall & Co, which uses industry-leading fruit farming methods and cutting-edge technology, is one of the longest established commercial cherry growers in Scotland and has been growing cherries since 2012.

Rora Dairy - They make Simple Pure Scottish yoghurt on their family farm in Aberdeenshire. It is made from non homogenised fresh milk collected from the farm the day it is created. For their flavoured variety they add in local fruit or honey. They have no additives or nasty ingredients and aim to give you a simple natural, nourishing yogurt. I love these yoghurts and you’ll find them in Morrisons and Sainsburys.

DRINK

Jose Cuervo - celebrate National Tequila Day (Friday 24th July) they are launching a ‘Push for Tequila’ button to mark the day - a competition on their UK social media channels to be in with a chance of winning the ultimate prize, instant tequila gratification. Tequila-lovers will be able to win a button and year’s supply of Jose Cuervo to mark the annual celebration. Simply push the button and it automatically orders a bottle of the best Mexican spirit in town sent directly to your door. It’s as easy as enjoying a refreshing tequila cocktail without lifting a finger (well, so to speak). To support the launch of the ‘Push for Tequila’ button, Jose Cuervo have created an adventurous Push the Button cocktail especially for National Tequila Day. This refreshing, vibrant and colourful serve is a take on a classic ‘El Diablo’ cocktail recipe that can be made easily at home, showcasing Jose Cuervo’s versatility in long cocktails. Simply shake together 50ml Jose Cuervo Especial, 15ml Cassis and 25ml freshly squeezed lime juice with ice and strain into an ice-filled glass, before topping up with ginger beer. Enjoy!

Scottish Whisky Awards - The national competition for Scotch Whisky is assisting distillers in finalising their entries for the second annual competition which will be assessed by a world class judging panel next month. Businesses have three weeks to register for the 2nd annual Scottish Whisky Awards and should submit entries in the wide ranging business and taste competition which celebrates the Scotch industry. Enter here www.scottishwhiskyawards.org.uk/swa/enter-now/entry-guidelines

Scottish Gin Awards - Just 3 weeks remain until the deadline (12th August 2020) in the 2020 Scottish Gin Awards and distillers in the best gin producing nation in the world are preparing to submit their work in the most challenging year remembered. Since April, Scottish gin producers have focussed their efforts towards the off-trade, learnt the art of making hand sanitiser and polished their broadcasting skills for online gin tastings. Enter here www.scottishginawards.co.uk/sga/enter-now/entry-guidelines

Edinburgh Gin - has announced that its distillery and visitor experience at 1A Rutland Place will reopen to the public from Saturday August 1st after being awarded VisitScotland's 'We're Good To Go' stamp of approval. This stamp of approval confirms that Edinburgh Gin is adhering to the respective Government and public health guidance, a COVID-19 risk assessment has been carried out and the required processes are in place to reopen safely and with confidence. Tickets for visitor experiences must be booked in advance and visitors will be asked to wear masks on arrival and while moving around. A video showcasing the revised measures is available here and tickets can be purchased here.

Hebridean Pink Gin - new product alert. Made using juniper, raspberries & sweet peels, Hebridean Pink Gin is distilled and bottled on the Isle of Tiree, the outermost of the Inner Hebridean islands. Now available to pre-order for delivery from 27th July 2020 with an introductory offer of £29.99 + P&P. www.hebrideanpinkgin.com

Ardbeg DJ Collaboration Series - Ardbeg Whisky is joining forces with DJ BBQ this summer to bring big, smoky flavours to your BBQ. Fuelled by their shared obsession with smoke, Ardbeg has partnered with the ‘catertainment’ star to create The Smoke Sessions – an online series which offers a guide to barbecue dishes and smoky whisky cocktails. The Smoke Sessions will see DJ BBQ (aka Christian Stevenson) apply the fundamental laws of smoke, wood and heat to perfect BBQ dishes and drinks created using Ardbeg Ten, An Oa and Wee Beastie. Ardbeg and DJ BBQ will kick off the series this month by hosting the UK’s smokiest virtual barbeque on Instagram Live. The cook will share one of his favourite recipes, paired with a whisky cocktail, before spinning the decks. You can tune in to Ardbeg’s Instagram Live on Friday 24 July at 8pm to watch DJ BBQ kick off Ardbeg Smoke Sessions with the virtual BBQ. You can also order DJ BBQ’s Maple and Bacon Old Fashioned for delivery across Scotland and the UK, via Mothership on the Drinks At Home platform, for a limited period from 21 July. The Ardbeg Smoke Sessions will launch on Ardbeg’s social channels (YouTube, Instagram and Facebook) from 21 July.

Innis and Gunn - are set to open their second bar in Edinburgh and this time it’s down at The Shore in Leith. They hope to take over the premises that Finn and Bear Cafe occupied until March this year. It’ll be a welcome addition to the Shore, and hopefully they are the ones to make a success from this site.

Calmac - are delighted to increase booking periods and with a decrease in physical distancing measures on public transport, so they can once again, take more of you to the wonderful west coast of Scotland. A change of scenery and an island adventure is the perfect way to enjoy travelling again. Scottish islands are eagerly awaiting visitors. From 22 July their bookings will be open on a rolling 7 week-window, meaning that from this point, customers will be able to book travel up to 8 September. A guide to booking periods and their capacity is available on their website.

Bowhouse - The East Neuk of Fife’s innovative food and drink hub Bowhouse will be hosting the Bowhouse Link Open Collection Day on Saturday 8th of August. During lockdown the Bowhouse Link was formed by the Bowhouse team, as a weekly online “alternative” market on the Open Food Network to connect people with local food and drink producers based both at Bowhouse and across the region. Customers will be able to pre-order from Monday 3rd of August using the Bowhouse Link website, then have priority access to collect their food and drink between 9am - 11 am. A time slot will be emailed beforehand to have plenty of time to collect ordered goods and browse for any additions. Between 12 - 4 pm Bowhouse will then welcome in visitors to browse and purchase from the producers. But once it is gone, it’s gone! Find Bowhouse Link on Open Food Network at https://openfoodnetwork.org.uk/bowhouse-link/shop

Afternoon Tea and Age Concern - Have you been stirring your tea wrong all this time? The all-important afternoon tea etiquette recommendations are revealed. Afternoon tea is a British tradition loved by Brits and more often than not, features on the to-do lists of millions of tourists visiting the UK each year. For a period of time now, there has been a number of etiquette questions surrounding afternoon tea and the recommended ways it should be enjoyed. With the help of Age Co and the afternoon tea expert Eileen Donaghey, the answers to these questions can now be revealed.

It’s the question which divides the country; but is it jam or cream first? The afternoon tea expert shares her thoughts. Age Co’s survey revealed that 64% of respondents opt for jam first, but is there really a correct way? “A cause for huge debate, the correct answer is that it is actually a personal preference. The only exception to this however, if I was in Cornwall I would definitely add my cream last out of respect for their tradition. Everyone has an opinion on this one!”

How much of an afternoon tea expert are you? As well as conducting a survey to find out how the British enjoy their afternoon tea, Age Co created an interactive map showing some of the best venues across the UK to enjoy afternoon tea and displayed the results in a quiz, which puts your etiquette knowledge to the test. To find out how strong your etiquette knowledge is, take the Age Co afternoon tea etiquette quiz to discover your results and share them on social, using the hashtag #TeaTimeEtiquette.

MY TOP PICKS FOR THE NEXT WEEK

Mamasan, Glasgow - my review will be up soon, but its 100% delicious.
Kylesku Hotel, Scottish Highlands - if you’re up that way, stop by for lunch with incredible views.
Buy a bottle of wine from an independent wine shop like - Bellisimo Vino in Edinburgh, Valhallas Goat in Glasgow and L’art Du Vin in Fife
Buy some Scotty Brand Scottish Cherries, strawberries or raspberries from Lidl or Asda and enjoying in the sunshine
Visit your local fishmongers and eat more fish and seafood. Try Welsh Fishmongers in Edinburgh, David Lowrie Fishmongers in Fife, or FishBox deliver across the country.

That’s all for this week folks!

Adele x

Weekly Wrap - July No 4