Edinburgh Festival Fringe is right around the corner and although the focus is firmly on the arts, we're of course thinking about where we're going to be eating pre- and post-show. Here are our picks for some Festival fare this August.
Darcie Maher's Stockbridge bakery opened its doors on Saturday and was immediately met with snaking queues for her signature bakes. From custard slices, yum yums and iced buns to lemon meringue tarts, dauphinois pastries and crème brûlée danishes, Maher's creations have gained a cult following and we expect Lannan to be a hit this Fringe. It's open Thursday to Sunday, 8am to sell out but if this weekend is anything to go by, we'd recommend stopping by early to avoid missing out.
There's a lot happening at The Palmerston this August. At weekends you'll find us at the bar, which exclusively for the Fringe will be open from 10:30pm to 1am for post-show revelry and sustenance. There'll be bar snacks from Lloyd Morse's kitchen team, and word has it that James Snowdon will be opening some pretty special magnums from the cellar and offering them by the glass. Then, on 13th August, Manteca's Chris Leach will join forces with The Palmerston for 'A Very Pig Lunch': a 4-course nose-to-tail feast celebrating and using all parts of a pig. Secure your spot now as this is sure to be a popular one.
Like the rest of Edinburgh, we were gutted when Elliott's announced that it was shutting its cafe doors last month - but very much placated when we found out that it was Pomelo who would be taking over the Sciennes Road site. A little away from the epicentre of festival chaos, head to Pomelo for hand-ripped noodles, pineapple fried chicken buns and some of the best char siu in town.
We're partial to a sarnie or two so were delighted when Alby's opened its second site in Southside earlier this year. Much closer to the Fringe hubbub than its Leith counterpart, grab a Big Hot Sandwich picnic to eat on the Meadows before hitting Underbelly at George Square. Our favourite is the Fried Chicken Caesar with garlic bacon butter and caesar mayo, and you must get some prawn toast on the side - made on focaccia with hoi sin sauce, it's a fancy take on a Chinese takeaway classic.
If the Fringe chaos proves too much, we'll be taking a trip to Fife for lunch at Alethea Palmer and James Ferguson's pub The Kinneuchar Inn. The daily-changing menu champions Scottish produce, from dry aged ‘Pekin’ duck with duck fat and potato gratin to Jura scallops with 'nduja and vermouth - and each Bank Holiday Monday they open their doors to serve up epic fried chicken buns. But don't just take our word for it - it was recently named Scotland's 'Best Local Restaurant' in the Good Food Guide awards.
