Now open

New cake and bakery opens its doors in West Port

The ladies behind Lovecrumbs opened their shop door at West Port today. Some Edinburgh people may already be familiar with the baked goods from Lovecrumbs as they’ve been popping up at various markets around town in recent months.

Rachel and Hollie have dubbed themselves as the ‘newest ladies on Edinburgh’s cake and pastry block’ and we popped along today and fell in love with the new premises.

Lovecrumbs is a sit-in cafe that sells cakes. And lots of them. Perhaps the most unique display of cakes in Edinburgh, the ‘wardrobe’ is full of tarts, cakes , brownies and other sweet treats. Scones are presented in silver buckets and a 4-tier chocolate cake takes pride and place on the counter.

A wardrobe full of cakes

Using Artisan Roast coffee and Anteaques tea, the menu is simple at the moment but will more than satisfy any sweet-toothed customer.

We tried out the carrot cake which was deliciously moist, accompanied by a cup of lemongrass and marigold tea. The crockery is a mixture of vintage and modern and extra hot water for our tea was delivered in a thermos flask.

Carrot cake

The interior is beautiful with lots of quirky furniture items such as the drum and piano tables (a full sized one). Inexplicably, there’s a wooden donkey’s head on the counter, but this just adds to the charm of the place.

Prices are reasonable and service is friendly and relaxed.

Lovecrumbs bake to order and also do wholesale.

Wi-fi is also available.

The shop is situated on the ground floor, so suitable for buggies, but the bathroom is located down a set of steps.

It wouldn’t be fair to review the ladies in full on their opening day, but it’s safe to say we’ll be back.

Information

Lovecrumbs is at 155 West port, Edinburgh, EH3 9DP. Telephone 0131 629 0626

Website – www.lovecrumbs.co.uk

Contact page

You can find Love Crumbs on Facebook and on twitter @hellolovecrumbs

Opening hours: Monday – Saturday 9am – 6pm and closed Sundays. Hours may be extended into the evening soon.

Have some tea and cake on the piano

Situated on Buccleuch Street

A warm welcome and great home-cooking at Tea at 94

We’ve popped into Tea at 94 a few times this year and can’t get enough of this eatery for the good quality food at very reasonable prices. Situated at 94 Buccleuch Street, this is a place well worth seeking out.

It’s an old-fashioned tea room with embroidered table cloths and mis-matched crockery and a warm welcome is given to every customer that walks through the doors.

Huge bowls of porridge are offered for breakfast (£1.40), filled rolls (£1.65) and scrambled eggs on toast (£2.50).

The menu changes at lunchtime to delicious home-made soups (large bowl, £2.90 with bread and butter) and  sandwiches with all sorts of soup and half sandwich combos available. There’s also a savoury tart of the day and oatcakes with cheese on the menu. We loved the yellow split-pea soup today, but knew to leave room for the excellent sweet choices.

The owner makes the cakes and scones cakes on the premises and are a force to be reckoned with. We’ve tucked into too many slices to declare in public and recently attended the tea-tasting event that was held by one of the staff to encourage customers to appreciate the different teas on offer.

Yellow split pea soup with home-made bread

Scones are fluffy and there is normally about six choices of cake to choose from including chocolate brownies, plum tarts, raspberry delight (a twist on the Victoria Sponge),  Today’s choice for us was a mixed berry cake which was perfectly light and fluffy and extremely tasty.  Prices range from £1.50 – £3.50 per slice.

There are gluten-free cake choices available which made and supplied by the excellent Love Pure Cakes.

A full afternoon tea is available for £7.95 (pot of tea, sandwich, scone and cupcake or piece of cake) which is a steal at that price for the quality delivered.

An Americano will cost you £1.75 and a latte £1.95. Pots of tea are from the Edinburgh Tea and Coffee company and start at £1.80 (small pot/2 cups) to £2.70 (large pot/4 cups). There’s a good selection to choose from that will keep tea-lovers happy including Assam, Darjeeling and Lapsang Souchong.

Children well catered for

Handily situated around the corner from the popular Meadows play park, kids are well catered for at tea at 94.  They have their own menu featuring options that kids genuinely love: beans on toast, scrambled eggs, pancakes and smaller bowls of soup or the option of half a panini. These are served at ‘smaller prices’ as well, keeping the parents happy.

To keep little ones amused whilst the food is prepared, there are pictures supplied to colour in with crayons that are then placed on display on the wall, alongside the beautiful art work. The current exhibition is By the skin of my teeth by Katie Rowland.

Picnics can also be supplied if you want a day in the park and everything on the menu can be taken away.

Mixed berry cake

We’ll be popping back to Tea at 94 anytime we’re in the area and continue to support this independent cafe.

The cafe is only a short stroll from the newly opened Commonwealth Pool, so this can perhaps be the new ‘Bratisani’s’ for a post-swim eat!

Information

Tea at 94
94 Buccleuch Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9NH

You can cut through Gifford Park at South Clerk Street and arrive at Tea at 94.

You can find Tea at 94 on Facebook and follow them on twitter @Teaat94 . Future tea-tasting events will be announced via social media. You can reserve tables for small groups and meetings.

Opening hours:  Monday 0900-1700 Tuesday – Saturday  0830-1700 and now open Sundays 1100-1530

A selection of glossy magazines are available to read whilst eating.

Suitable for disabled? Yes, on the ground floor with easy access to tables.

Tea at 94 now appears on our Edinburgh Cake Trail.

Traditional tablecloths and beautiful crockery

Plum tart on display in the window

Heavenly cupcakes

Funny posters

Back open at Potterrow

We loved the new Mosque Kitchen on Nicolson Street, so were disappointed when we returned to the Original Mosque Kitchen on Potterrow (behind the central mosque) and were served a disappointing plate of food.

Arriving as the kitchen opened one lunchtime, we expected piping out, freshly cooked dishes. But in reality, the rice was only warm and the sag aloo tasteless and hard to swallow. The chickpea serving was delicious and bumped the rating of this review up, as did the price. £4-4.50 for a plate of curry (meat) with rice is going to please most pockets.

We weren’t allowed to order anything other than what was already on the counter which was disappointing, as was the lack of nan bread that we were told would take another 15-20 minutes.

Rice with vegetables

The service was friendly and the new covers over the outside area are perfect for rainy days, but the quality of the food needs to improve before this is the busy place for ‘curry in a hurry’ it was before.

Dishes are still served up on plastic plates.

Information

Open daily from 12noon. Closed Friday lunchtime for prayers (one hour).

New decking / seating area

Newhaven cafe

A warm welcome and excellent food at The Haven cafe

There’s nothing more than we like than trying out a new place for food and at lunchtime today, we visited the recently opened cafe, The Haven at Anchorfield (directly opposite the Chancelot Mill).

A warm welcome ensued as we tucked ourselves beside a radiator and started reading the papers and glossy magazines on offer for customers.

The menu has all the usual breakfast suspects with rolls starting at £1.80 (sit-in price) and £2.10 for a doubler. A bowl of porridge will set you back £1.90 and scrambled eggs on toast £2.40.

There are freshly made soups and sandwiches up for grabs, but we couldn’t see past the all-day full Scottish breakfast with tea (or coffee) included, for a bargain price of £5.95.

A steaming large mug of tea was served to the table followed by the wonderful sight of  bacon, black-pudding, sausage, haggis, free-range egg, mushrooms, beans, tattie scone and toast on a plate. We opted out of the tomato which is normally included and was impressed with both the quality and quantity that had been served.

Impressive full-Scottish breakfast

Other diners were tucking into bowls of soup and half a sandwich (£4.20 for the combo) and we also eyed up the blueberry pancakes (special of the day). All the food served is available in smaller portions for children and highchairs are available making this a family friendly place.

Despite eating more calories than we care to think about, we of course managed a slice of home-made cake. There’s lots to choose from including classics such as empire biscuits, chocolate cake and scones, but we plumped for a piece of Victoria sponge (£2.50).

We were served a door-stop sized wedge of the light and fluffy sponge which caused the neighbouring tables to comment in envy and ask if it would be finished. Of course the answer was yes.

Other warming drinks are available such as the usual coffees (£1.70 for an americano and £1.80 for a latte) and hot chocolate (£2.20) and fruit shoots for little ones (70p).

By the end of our visit (1pm ish) the majority of tables were full with lunchtime workers and pensioners as well as the local school kids coming in for a takeaway lunch.

We really can’t fault any aspect of this cafe. The prices are very reasonable, the surroundings comfortable and the food excellent.

Recommended from us.

Impressive Victoria sponge

Information

The Haven Cafe - 9 Anchorfield, Edinburgh.

Free wi fi.

Opening hours – Monday to Friday 0730 – 1700 hrs and Saturday and Sunday 0900 – 1700 hrs

The Haven are on facebook and on twitter @thehavencafe

Suitable for disabled? Yes the door and cafe is on ground level, but the bathrooms are located up a set of four steps.

The Haven features on our Edinburgh Cake Trail.

This picture courtesy of The Haven

Inside the cafe

Toasted goats cheese on garlic bread

We have previously reviewed the wonderful Bon Papillon, but returned today on a cold winter’s day to experience their warm hospitality and excellent food.

Owned by Ingrid Nilsson and Stuart Allan, their specialities are divided into Nilsson’s art on the wall and Allan’s framer’s service at the rear of the premises. The couple come together at the food counter serving up home-made soup, savoury tarts and tasty salads to hungry Edinburghers.

Today we plumped for the ‘chèvre chaud’ – a delicious combination of goats cheese toasted on garlic bread accompanied by salad (£5.25) and a ‘hot-smoked’ salmon salad with a large roll (£5.95).  Both dishes were of quality equal to be found in a bistro, but then that’s only to be expected since Stuart is a former chef.

Other savoury choices included savoury tartlets (£6.25),  BLT’s (£4.50) and a bacon ciabatta at a bargainous £2.50.

The highlight of a visit to Bon Papillon for us is the freshly made cakes on offer. At a very reasonable £2.10 a slice, we managed to devour a slice of chocolate and beetroot cake and a lime and ginger topped chocolate creation. From past exerpience, you can’t go wrong with their scones either.

Tea is a very reasonable £1.60 per pot and coffees start at £1.50 for an espresso and a latte will cost you £2.

Everything on the menu is available to take away as well.

We’ve been regular visitors to Bon Papillon since it opened last summer and regularly use it as a working space. The free wi-fi is fast and reliable and there’s such a creative energy in this arty hub, it’s hard to leave. You can take a seat by the window and watch the world walk up Howe Street, or savour your coffee and admire the ever-changing art work on display.

Chocolate and beetroot cake

The word has obviously got around town that this place serves wonderful food with a smile, as it was full by the time we moved onto dessert.

Bon Papillon is well worth a visit whatever side of town you live on and we are pleased top award it out ‘highly recommended’ award after providing us with perfect food and service for the last 8 months.

Information

Bon Papillon is situated at 15 Howe Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6TE. Telephone 0131 538 2505

Open every day except Tuesday 9am – 5.30pm (10 am Sunday).

You can have a look at their website and read their blog.  You can see what the forthcoming are here.

Bon Papillion are on facebook and on twitter and also appear on our Edinburgh Cake Trail.

Suitable for disabled? There is one step up into the gallery and ample room to move around once inside.

Another meal at Edinburgh’s first supper club

We have been lucky enough to dine at Charlie and Evelyn’s Table before. You can only imagine our excitement when we were invited by friends to a ‘chef’s table’ experience last weekend.

Since Chris and Rachel Rowley last hosted a supper club night, they’ve not only moved to a new home, but also have a new addition to the family.

Almost two years on from their first supper for the public, the husband and wife team still ooze enthusiasm, creating different menus to share with food lovers across our culinary rich city. And, there’s no catch. All you’ll find at Charlie and Evelyn’s Table is the sort of service you’d be hard pressed to find in some Edinburgh restaurants, partnered with exquisite food and served on Chris’ grandparents, Charlie and Evelyn’s, table.

The couple cater, without fuss, for dietary requirements and strong food dislikes, to arrive at a fixed menu which suits all guests’ tastes. Our party was a prime example of this with allergies, dislikes and an intolerance to wheat to take into account.

Dunsyre blue cheese mousse on buttery oat biscuits

Arrival

Taking shelter from the fierce Edinburgh winds, eight of us were warmly welcomed into Chris and Rachel’s Comely Bank home, with a glass of champagne, and delicious canapes of spiced mushrooms and a delicious home-made buttery oat biscuit, topped with Dunsyre blue cheese mousse. This only whetted our appetite for what was still to come.

The food

Sitting at a table that could make many a mouth water, we continued our culinary experience with an amuse bouche of curried parsnip soup, garnished with an apple crisp, presented delicately in an espresso cup. It was hard to fathom how something presented so delicately could deliver such intensity of flavour.

As the starter arrived, the aroma of home-made soda bread filled the room. This accompanied a delicious winter salad of seasonal squash, served with rocket, Dunsyre blue and delicately flavoured with rosemary.

Just as we thought my meal couldn’t get any better, the star of the show arrived, venison wellington. As any food lover knows, wellingtons of any description are incredibly difficult to get right. With the threat of soggy pastry and meat that could either be over or underdone, it takes a most accomplished cook to attempt this dish. And in silence, we ate what could only be described as accomplished. Served with caramelised red cabbage and green beans, the whole dish could be summed up in one word  –  perfection!

Seasonal squash, served with rocket, Dunsyre blue and delicately flavoured with rosemary

Rounding off the savoury with something sweet is always the best way to end a meal. A dessert of baked chocolate pudding, hazelnuts and ice cream was served on stylish slate plates (which we later found out came from Chris’ parent’s roof). The combination of the warm chocolate pudding, and ice cream, with crunchy hazelnuts, left us speechless as we devoured our puddings. And it didn’t end there as we were presented with macaroons from local favourite Patisserie Madeleine, to accompany our after dinner coffee.

The cost

Considering the standard of the food served, the suggested donation of £25 per person is hard to digest. A meal of this calibre in certain Edinburgh eateries would cost a great deal more, and it’s highly unlikely you would receive the same level of service, and have your glass topped up all night long. Using only seasonal and local produce where possible (including Stockbridge legends Armstrongs and George Bowers), the best advice we could give you would be do everything you can to get a seat, at this truly wonderful table.

Contact

Email rachelandchrisrowley (at) gmail (dot) com to be placed on their mailing list and to be notified when there are new places available.  Chris and Rachel still work on trust with their diners, no tickets required to book, just a ‘donation’ on the night which is done at the end of the evening into an envelope with the coffees.

Dessert to die for

You can read their blog which also has entries on past dining events and delicious recipes.

The couple are also on twitter – @Charlie_Evelyn and  on Facebook for those that don’t tweet.

Catering

Chris and Rachel have supplied canapés for numerous events in recent months (both corporate and prviate) and even fully catered for a wedding in the summer.

If you have a special event that you would like them to cater for, drop them an email to discuss.

You can also read their most frequently asked questions.

If you are slightly nervous what to expect at an Edinburgh supper club, please read our previous post which covers arrival, seating and how it’s perfectly acceptable to dine on your own and make new friends.

Edinburgh secret supper clubs

There are several supper clubs in Edinburgh now – it certainly seems to be the new ‘eating out’ and we’re determined to get round them all. Dates vary, but spaces tend to go fast for all clubs, so don’t delay in reserving your spot at the table you want. Some hosts ask you to book tickets in advance (leaving a small ‘donation’ to pay on the night) and some require full payment.

Here are the links to the other supper clubs hosting in Edinburgh at the moment (and coming soon).

Kitchen Porters – email kitchenports@yahoo.co.uk to be placed on their mailing list and notified of new dates.

My Home Supper – you can also find the club on twitter and on facebook

Crescent Dining – also on twitter

Inside out chef –  also on twitter

Table for ten – also on twitter and on facebook

Chai Lounge – Edinburgh’s first Indian supper club. Also on twitter and on facebook

Avant Edinburgh – coming early 2012

Venison Wellington with caramelised red cabbage

Photos courtesy Chris and Rachel Rowley.

The Pommery Bar

The Signet Library plays host to the Pommery Bar throughout the city’s most celebrated season

The Signet Library is an ideal location to meet friends or colleagues during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with its impressive surroundings and beautiful architectural details.

We couldn’t wait to see inside the new pop-up champagne bar, so booked in for afternoon tea on the opening day. The venue is run by Edinburgh company Heritage Portfolio who have also struck a deal with Pommery for the venture.

We were warmly welcomed by the staff to a table with our name on a card (it’s the little things). My companion had not been inside the building before and was immediately struck with its sheer beauty and elegance. The books in this working library are subtly cordoned off and the magnificent ceiling can be viewed as you eat and drink via the mirrored tables.

Pommery reflections

The staff are extremely welcoming and took our order with a genuine smile. We opted for the full afternoon tea with champagne (£19) but held onto the menu for further perusal. A 100ml glass of Pommery Brut Royal will set you back £7 (£39 for a bottle) with a bottle of the  top of the range Pommery Prestige Cuvée Louise, 1999 at £115 a bottle.

As we waited on our afternoon tea, we noted that the hustle and bustle of the Fringe outside could not be heard at all, making the Pommery Bar a peaceful haven in the heart of Edinburgh’s Festival area. The easy-listening music set a relaxing tone as we took in the sumptous surroundings.

Our glass of champagne was poured at our table and the tier of sandwiches and cakey-treats were eyed up with delight.  Freshly-made sandwiches hit the savoury mark and were swiftly followed by a selection of tarts, cakes, brownies and cupcakes that had been lovingly made that day by Ruthvens of Edinburgh. No complaints from us as we slowly ate the treats, all of which were washed down with lashings of tea (or coffee).

Without the champagne, the afternoon tea costs £13 which is very reasonable for the location and quality delivered and is available every afternoon between 2pm and 6pm.

As the daylight fades,  the Pommery Bar is transformed into an evening venue with some simple mood lighting.  The food menu continues with a selection of oysters, seafood stands and light bites such as bread with dipping oils and marinated olives. There are 7 wines by the glass to choose from and they range in price from £3.50 for 125ml to £22 per bottle.  A selection of spirits are available as well as bottled beers and ciders. A Peroni will cost you £3.60 and a Magners £3.50 making the prices in the Pommery Bar extremely competitive in comparison to nearby pubs and bars.

Freshly baked treats

Soft drinks and coffees are also available from the 11am opening and are around the £2 mark.

Heritage Portfolio have successfully transformed one of Edinburgh’s most magnificent venues into a beautiful must-visit venue for both Edinburgh locals and visitors.

Information:

The Pommery Bar is open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 11pm and Sundays 12.30pm – 11pm until 29th August 2011.  Reservations can be made on 0131 225 0652.

More information about the venue can be found on the Signet Library website.

You can find the bar on twitter @PommeryBar and you can also now download some excellent VIP vouchers from the website.

Children are welcome into the Pommery Bar at all times.

There is no dress code. Smart-casual comfortable Fringe clothes are fine, making it a perfect venue for before or after a show.

Suitable for disabled? Yes the bar area is on the ground level and completely accessible and there is a bathroom for disabled use on the ground floor.

Inside the Pommery Bar

We do love dining out at Edinburgh Spotlight and have a whole section dedicated to eating out. Edinburgh is well served by a host of fine places to eat, drink and relax.  With more pubs and bars per square mile than anywhere else in Europe, it enjoys a varied and exciting nightlife, whilst those who enjoy all kinds of cuisine will find a restaurant to suit any taste.

And if you’re pushed for time, there is a fabulous selection of cafes and takeaways that will help fill you up if you’re in a hurry.

During the busy festival period in August, restaurants can be extremely busy and if you want to dine at a specific place,  it would be sensible to book ahead. Also take into account that the Military Tattoo runs nightly at 9pm (7.30pm and 10.00pm on Saturdays) and many people choose to dine before they head up to the castle.  Try dining around 6pm, or after 8.30pm to avoid the busiest times.

The majority of the Fringe venues have their own bars and cafes supplying food and drink between shows, but we understand that someone people want to experience good food at local places whilst they’re in town and avoid being handed flyers as they eat.

Tea Tree Tea, Bread Street

Need a drink and a quick bite to eat?

Look no further than our recommended Tea Tree Tea in Bread Street.  Drew, Jamie and the team always warmly welcome tourists amongst their regulars.  A wide selection of drinks alongside fresh soups, salads and paninis are offered with an amazing range of cakes (gluten free choices available).  They also have fast reliable wifi to check out the latest festival news and reviews.  Open early until 9.30pm every day (8pm Sundays).

Around the corner on Lothian Road, there is the excellent Illegal Jacks who offers fresh tex mex food at reasonable prices.  Allow the friendly staff to help you select your ‘weapon’ and munch your way to happiness through one of their excellent burritos and quesadillas or tuck into their sizzling fajitas. Their vintage chilli has been taking Edinburgh by storm recently.

In the centre of town we recommend Fredericks Cafe. A friendly welcome awaits for a spot of breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea at reasonable prices. Free wifi.

Looking for a curry in a hurry?   Look no further than the excellent Kebab Mehal in Nicolson Street.  You may have to a share a table as you eat their halal dishes, but it’s a foody experience not to be missed in town.  The best Malaysian in Edinburgh has to be the neighbouring Kampong Ah Lee, which also offers an informal dining experience.

Prefer a more relaxing meal?

In the town centre, we recommend Urban Angel who have branches at Hanover Street and Forth Street. They only use local, organic, free-range and fairly traded produce.

Our current favourite Indian restaurant in town is the Spice Pavilion in the New Town.  Serving excellent food with a genuine smile in sumptuous Indian surroundings, you will not be disappointed.

Indian delights at Spice Pavilion

Avoca in Stockbridge has consistently good food and a warm local feel, as does their sister restaurant near the Botanical Gardens, The Orchard.   Another Stockbridge gem is The Saint in St Stephen Street who offer top notch food at very reasonable prices.

A short walk from Haymarket sees some of Edinburgh’s favourite restaurants.  Italian food galore at La Partenope and across the road, First Coast always delivers.

A slight longer walk or bus ride from town, but well worth the journey are a couple of Leith favourites.  Tony Crolla will warmly welcome you to La Favorita for any meal occasion and in true Italian style, families are well catered for.  Their log-fired pizza is the best in Edinburgh.  The Roseleaf in Sandport Place is a bar, but their food is tremendous. They also offer ‘pot tails’ which is alcoholic drinks served in tea pots!

Fine dining

There’s a wonderful selection of fine dining places in Edinburgh and we recommend the recently opened Mark Greenaway at 12 Picardy Place. Another newbie that’s taking the Edinburgh food scene by storm is Martin Wishart’s Brasserie – The Honours.

Put simply, Edinburgh provides a feast of food and drink for locals and visitors alike.

Bon appetit!

Mark Greenaway's Dornoch Lamb

London Street

A slice of France in London Street

I stumbled across newly-opened The French Fancies during the week and could have sworn I had been transported to a cute cafe in France.

Having been warmly welcomed by the French owners, I opted to take a seat in the rear of the premises. A mixture of tables, sofas and throne-like chairs were there for the sitting and I chose the table that looks out to the leafy rear garden.

No outside traffic noise to be heard, just the traditional French music playing softly through the speakers.

The menu is basic, but does the job and as much as I would have liked to plump for the sweet crepes as a main, I had already eyed up the home-made French pastries for dessert. I finally chose the home-made soup and half a roll at £2.90 and was delivered tomato soup and a generously filled ham and cheese baguette on a lovely china tray.

My dessert choice of home-made  raspberry tart (£2.20) and blended black tea (£2.20) was served on more mix-matched china crockery and I kicked back and relaxed whilst savouring every mouthful of the French tart.

The French Fancies has a huge selection of teas including Jasmine White, Moroccan Rose and Genepi that are served in a tea pot with knitted tea-cosy and ample supply of hot water.

Tea and French Tart

A selection of coffees and hot chocolates are also served.

Everything on The French Fancies menu is available to take away (slightly lower priced) as well as an amazing selection of home made terrines, sausages, jams and macarons. I couldn’t decide whether to go for the chocolate and banana jam (£2.20 or 2 jars for £4) or the raspberry, strawberry and pastis jam. I went for the latter and have nearly finished the jar in under 24 hours.

Oh well, it seems I will just have to go back to The French Fancies and stock up on more French goodies and whilst I’m there, I may as well try out the crepes and will report back.

The French Fancies is definitely worth a visit whilst in the Broughton Street area and I am sure that the menu will develop over the forthcoming weeks as the staff work out what their Edinburgh audience prefer.

Information:

The French Fancies

42 London Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6PT

The French Fancies on facebook.

Suitable for disabled?

Unfortunately not as it is down a set of stairs.

The French Fancies appears on our Edinburgh Cake Trail.

Soup and baguette

The table with garden view

Raspberry tart

Excellent cafe

A refreshing new cafe/gallery in Edinburgh’s New Town

It’s not often we fall in love instantly with a new cafe in Edinburgh, but as we stepped through the doors of Bon Papillon it was love at first sight.

Bon Papillon is a gallery, a cafe and a framers.  The walls are decorated with beautiful artwork and the staff are incredibly welcoming.  The framers part of this cafe/gallery is situated at the rear of the shop so doesn’t disturb those in for a light bite or coffee and cake.

We’ve been a few times in the last couple of weeks and munched our way through freshly baked cheese scones, delicious filled rolls and of course, sampled their excellent home made cake.

The prices are incredibly good value for the New Town with a pot of tea only £1.50 and a generous slab of cake at £1.75.

Bon Papillon pride themselves on freshly made rolls which  are plated up with salad and hand-made crisps (also available to take-away).

Glossy magazines are available to read every day and on the weekends, there’s papers and Sunday magazines galore.

We’ve tried their cheese scones straight out of the oven that were heaven on a plate, shortly followed by a piece of orange cake served with creme fraiche which was so deliciously moist, I wanted another. They also had a chocolate flour-free option of cake.

The poppyseed rolls filled with smoked salmon hit the mark one lunch time visit and the accompanying coffee was so good, my dining companion immediately asked for another.

There’s not many places in the New Town that offer a delicious roll, drink and piece of cake for around £7.  Bon Papillon have got the perfect balance for this cafe/gallery (and framers) right from the start and we’ll be back very soon.

Highly recommended.

Orange cake with creme fraiche

Smoked salmon roll

Cheese scone with tea

Information

Bon Papillion is situated at 15 Howe Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6TE.  Telephone 0131 538 2505

Open every day except Tuesday 9am – 5.30pm (10 am Sunday).

You can have a look at their website and read their blog.  Bon Papillion are on facebook and appear on our Edinburgh Cake Trail.

Since our last visit a few days ago, Bon Papillion now have wifi.

Suitable for disabled? There is one step up into the gallery and ample room to move around once inside.

Amazing interior

Leith’s cake heaven

Mimi’s comes up trumps again with the new menu dishes

Mimi’s Bakehouse  has only been open for 6 months, but is already a firm favourite with Edinburgh residents and tourists alike.  We’re not ashamed to say that we’re regulars, know all of the staff on a first-name basis and have had gone through several loyalty cards. 

We have previously reviewed Mimi’s and given it our ‘recommended’ award, but today was our first visit since they launched their new menu. The hearty breakfast options are still there, but new additions to the lunch menu reflect the summer season ahead.  There’s still an abundance of ever-changing cakes to choose from, but there lies the problem - which one to choose. 

The Mimi’s staff are friendly and efficient, even at their busiest times and never rush you out the door.   You are more than welcome to take photos of  the decor and cakes on display, it’s hard to resist the towers of traybakes and mammoth cakes. 

Excited over the new menu, I found it hard to narrow down my choices.  It was hard to choose between the special of the day a pear, walnut and gorgonzola salad and their range of sumptous sarnies?   I eventually plumped for their new coconut crispy chicken (£8.95) which was served with a generous portion of salad alongside mango, chilli and lime salsa.  

Coconut chicken and salad

The dish was certainly not shy in its size and filled me up, but of course, I had room for cake.  It can be traumatic choosing which cake to have when they all look divine.  The malteser slice is a favourite, as are the warm scones with clotted cream and jam. I finally opted for a portion of their lemon meringue slice and melted into my seat as the lemony biscuit hit the mark once again. 

Lemon meringue slice

There’s some excellent dishes on the summer menu and I for one, will be back to try them out.  Mimi’s Bakehouse really is going from strength to strength and deserves all its positive reviews. 

Information

You can check out Mimi’s Bakehouse website  or ‘like’ them on facebook and follow them on twitter.  Open weekdays 9am- 5pm and weekends 9am-6pm.  We recommend that you book ahead on weekends as there’s often a queue out the door. Telephone 0131 555 5908.  

You can also reserve the couch area at the rear for larger groups. 

Mimi’s also appears on our Edinburgh cake trail.  

Suitable for disabled?  Yes, ground even access (with ramp from outside) and accessible toilet. 

Mimi's Bakehouse

By Chiara Pannozzo

Having been a resident of Canonmills for nearly three years now, I can remember the numerous factors supporting my decision to finally grow up, sign on the dotted line, and jump on the proverbial property ladder. One of the draws to living in this area were the number of coffee shops and eateries, in particular the Circle Cafe. Having been a regular customer long before living in the vicinity, there was a reason I would spend my Sunday travelling in the opposite direction from home, being lured by Barry Bryson and his team’s commitment to excellent food.

After firmly establishing my Sunday brunch routine of eggs Benedict at The Circle, I had a number of reservations when I heard that Mr Bryson himself was selling up and moving onto pastures new. However, my visit last week affirmed that I had nothing to worry about, and my beloved Circle was still doing what it does best; delivering top quality, restaurant standard food at very reasonable prices.

Rump steak and chips

The choices on the menu were varied, with a good selection of cuisine, plus a number of vegetarian options. Moments after we had taken our seats, friendly staff drew our attention to the specials board, talking us through the options. With mouths watering, we both chose from the day’s specials, as they sounded too good to miss. I opted for the 10oz rump steak, served with salad and fries (£10.95). Cooked medium-rare, as I had requested, the steak was perfect. The accompanying fries were crunchy and delicious, and the French style leaves in the salad were dressed with an olive oil and mustard dressing, which elevated the salad to something so much more special. My dining partner chose the fish and chips (£8.95), which proved to be another winner. The fish flaked beautifully under the batter, with not a single irritating bone to be found.

Since it was back to work for both of us, we stayed on the soft stuff, and each had a glass of apple juice with our meal (£2.00).

Unfortunately we were both too pressed for time to stay for dessert, but it was a real effort to leave without smuggling some of their spectacular looking cakes, which adorn the front bench, ready to tempt you.

There are very few places in Edinburgh where you can go, eat restaurant quality food and spend under £30. The Circle is one of those exceptions, where standards never falter and I have yet to leave disappointed. With an array of multicultural dishes to choose from, the Circle ensures it provides a range of options, making the hardest decision being which one to choose.

Suitable for disabled? Yes. There is one small step into the restaurant and all the tables are on ground floor, as is the bathroom.

Fish and chips

Zazou Cafe on the Union Canal at Harrison Park

Zazou Cruises is a narrowboat that is moored on the Union Canal in Edinburgh and has recently opened as a daytime cafe.  

Tea and muffin

We think this Harrison Park boat is pretty much the cutest cafe in Edinburgh and definitely one of the most unusual places you will find in town.  

Zazou Cafe has only been opened a month or so, but is perfect for stopping off at after a walk  or cycle along the beautiful Union Canal. 

The cafe is very much a work in progress and will be offering a wider range of foods in the coming weeks.  At the moment, there is a good range of drinks at very reasonable prices:  Columbian coffee (£1.60), pot of tea (£1.40) and soft drinks start from 75p. 

Home-baking is planned (including gluten free options) but in the meantime, the cafe is offering delights such as Lichfield muffins (85p) and Borders biscuits (45p) as well as other popular treats. 

There are 6 tables of 2 inside, but it’s also suitable for groups as the tables are close together.  We had tea and cake here and it was a lovely atmosphere watching people cycle by from the window seat. 

The staff member on board is really friendly and happily chatted away as he printed out more colouring-in pictures for children who visit.  Completed artwork is displayed on the walls of the boat.  Other handy items on board are a couple of bike pumps should you need to inflate your tyres on your journey as well as copies of the excellent Innertube Map. 

Completed drawings

Zazou is open Thursday – Sunday

Unfortunately, due to Council licences, there are no seats outside the boat.  Boat trips and group bookings can also be arranged. Details will be announced on their website soon. 

We’ll always pop into this cafe when we’re walking and/or cycling along the canal and look forward to seeing it develop. 

Update May 17th:  Now serving home made soups and cakes from Lilas Cupcakes. 

Info: 

There is a small bathroom on board. 

Opening hours: Thursday and Friday 10.30am – 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am – 6.30pm. Closed Monday – Wednesday. 

You can also find Zazou on twitter. 

Suitable for disabled?  Unfortunately not as the entrance is small and down some steps at the front of the boat. 

Half of the cafe area

Opening hours

Picture courtesy of Zazou Edinburgh. You can take your dog on board, but a horse is one step too far!

Cafe Connect on Comely Bank Road

The card and coffee shop premises on Comely Bank Road (opposite Waitrose) has been taken over by Nell Nelson and we were excited at the prospect of finally having good cafe in this prime spot.

Cafe Connect is an interesting combination of people popping in for a cuppa whilst others pick up a birthday card and cute gift.

We headed along this morning for tea and cake, but were met with a poor selection of treats – chocolate krispie cakes and empire biscuits anyone?  I have nothing against these sweet stalwarts, but was hoping for slightly better home-baking from the owner Nell, a foodie through and through.

The last spare table I had my eye on from the queue was snapped up by a couple behind me as they split up whilst one remained in line to order.

Scone with no creme fraiche

I happily shared a table with a local OAP who blethered away about the Royal Wedding .  She said her coffee was good, but was disappointed in the size of her shortbread.

Plumping for a scone, (£1.75) I was unimpressed that the creme fraiche advertised on the board wasn’t available (there’s a shop opposite that’s full of the stuff ) and it wasn’t served warm.  The butter was rock hard and unspreadable, but the jam was delicious and scone very tasty.

A pot of tea for one comes in at a very reasonable £1.50 (2-3 cups) but the till service is a pain if you want to linger and keep adding to your order.  Despite sitting and reading, I couldn’t face standing in the queue for another tea and/or light-lunch. In a premises this size, I don’t why there isn’t table service (or at least the option to pay after eating)

The sandwich choices and soups  looked quite impressive at the neighbouring tables, but this place doesn’t have the food wow factor yet.  Much  improvement on the selection of cakes is needed to entice locals inside.

Information:

Cafe Connect, 153 Comely Bank Road.  Phone: 0131 315 2003

Opening hours: Mon–Sat 9am–4.30pm; Sun 11am–4pm

No changing facilities and limited room for buggies.

Suitable for disabled? Yes, it’s on ground floor level, but bathroom is too small to be accessible.

New branch

Porto & Fi open a branch in the centre of town.

On Sunday 17th April 2011, a second branch of the popular Newhaven café-bistro Porto & Fi will open in the centre of town. 

Situated at 9 North Bank Street, this second branch of Newhaven’s secret is bound to be a popular choice for residents and tourists alike. 

We have previously reviewed the busy original branch but can’t wait to try out the new premises.  The menu is already on the window and looks extremely tempting. 

Breakfast is served until 12pm and all day on Sundays. The Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon or bacon at £6.95 is firmly on our hit list, but then so is the Stornoway black pudding and beef tomato roll at £3.75. 

For lighter bites or main choices, the wild boar patties with chilli jam and salad (£6.95) caught our eye, but then so does the stuffed pork belly option at £10.95.  Smaller portions of classic dishes are available for little ones and an excellent choices of sweet treats and desserts. 

Information 

Opening hours: Monday – Saturday 10am – 10pm and Sunday 10am – 6pm. 

Porto & Fi on the Mound, 9 North Bank Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2LP 0131 225 9494.

26 St Mary's Street

Jo Jo’s Danish Bakery and Cafe opens in Edinburgh

There’s a new cafe and bakery in Edinburgh and it’s the rather excellent Jo Jo’s Danish version.  Jo Jo has been selling her Danish pastries around town and at farmer’s markets, but finally has her own place in St Mary’s Streeet. 

The light and airy premises in the centre of town offers soups and wraps, alongside an array of Danish pastries and delicious cakes. 

A breakfast tea is priced at £1.80 and cappuccino £2.20. 

Families are more than welcome, to this little haven amongst the cobbled streets and we’ll be sampling the food as soon as we can.  You can also purchase the food to take away, which is what we’d be doing most days if we worked in the area. 

You can find Jo Jo’s Danish Bakery and cafe on facebook and on twitter. 

Information 

26 St Mary Street, Edinburgh, 

Opening hours.  Mon – Fri 9.30am – 6pm. Sat 10am – 6pm and Sundays 11am – 6pm. 

Interior at Jo Jo's

Edinburgh's finest

A family affair at The Breadwinner Bakery School

We were delighted to visit the excellent Breadwinner Bakery yesterday afternoon and meet the McVey family, who have run the business for years.  They supply bread and baked goods to business all accross Edinburgh and were Edinburgh’s first ‘open plan’ bakery.  

Sean McVey, The Breadwinner’s most senior Master Craftsman Baker, with a whopping 50 years of baking experience behind him leads the one-to-one masterclasses at the Bruntsfield premises but there’s a whole team of talented bakers behind the Breadwinner name.  

Since we have experience in eating cake and not making it, we took along local celebrity baker Lea Harris (the only Scottish contestant on the Great British Bake Off) and watched her and Sean produce some amazing breads and a chocolate fruit strudel.   

Making bread by hand

There’s no doubting the skills that Sean has in the kitchen – it’s like a professional performance watching him knead the bread to perfection. “I love what I do”, he tells us. “It’s not about making money in these classes, it’s about passing the skills I have to people in Edinburgh so the art of bread-making by hand is not lost”.  We can see the kitchen is full of hi-tech machines and a Rolls Royce oven that allow Breadwinner to supply hundreds of loaves on a daily basis, but in these classes, it’s all about using your hands.  

Lea picks up new tips right away as Sean’s son Kris pops in to say hello.  It’s very much a family business now, but Kris is sticking to the business side.  “I don’t want to bake, but love being involved with all our customers”  says the former bank worker.  “I feel like I’ve got the best job in the world as it just doesn’t feel like work“.  Lesley McVey (Sean’s wife and Kris’ mother) also pops in to say hello and the atmosphere transforms to one akin to a family kitchen with lots of chat and banter.  Other Breadwinner bakers pop in and are treated like family and are all in a hurry to declare their love for the job to us.  We would love working here too!

Making Strudel

“I don’t want the old skills to disappear”

The conversation continues to flow as Sean demonstrates to Lea how to make sourdough with Polish sausage and caramelised onion.  We feel confident we’ve learnt several baking skills in a couple of hours that we could attempt a loaf ourselves.  

We’re personally salivating at the mouth as the cheese, chilli and walnut sourdough bread is baking in the oven and trying not to laugh as Lea proclaims her strudel dough “looks like a string vest”.    

Sean makes it look easy, but within minutes, Lea’s pastry is also “thin enough to read a newspaper through”.  The juicy fruit mixture of apples and cranberries is placed on one end of the pastry and the strudel is rolled thanks to the ancient form of ‘apron rolling’. Sean says: ”some of the old ways are still the best and I don’t want these skills to disappear”.   

It’s not a cooking class with lots of pupils, this is one-t0-one teaching from a Master Baker who will tailor the class to your needs.  £90 for a few hours and whole lot of baked goods to take home is a bargain.  Book us in!  

The Breadwinner Bakery supplies wholesale goods only.  You can also find them on facebook and on twitter.  We have reviewed several of Breadwinner’s clients in our food and drink section.

Chocolate fruit strudel

Polish sausage and caramelised onion sourdough bread

Healthy cakes come to Edinburgh

Healthy gluten-free cakes have arrived in Edinburgh

It may seem too good to be true, but ‘healthy’ cakes have well and truly arrived in Edinburgh.  Love Pure Cakes offers a delightful range of gluten and wheat-free cakes suitable for those with various food intolerances or for those that just wish to eat cake guilt-free.     

Love Pure Cakes is the brainchild of Lorna Pellet, the former owner of Patisserie Florentin and has seen her return to the food industry with style.      

Chatting with Lorna over coffee, her passion for cakes is evident.  “I absolutely love my job” she declares before churning out many reasons on why she doesn’t mind getting up early to bake every morning.  On questioning her on how the cakes are healthy, she tells us ”we use fresh ingredients and organic stone ground flour, organic eggs, organic butter and organic raw cane sugar”.  She continues “where possible, we cut back on the sugar by using fresh fruit juices with natural sweetener, without ever compromising on taste”.  You can read more about the unusual ingredients here.     

Carrot and Wheatgrass Cake

The cakes are proving very popular with Edinburgh people so far, with a variation of the gluten free, wheat Free, vegan, dairy free, egg free, flour free, reduced sugar, reduced fat options flying out the doors of current stockists Loopy Lorna’s and Earthy Foods. A range of cakes and muffins are soon to be stocked at the family favourite in Ocean Terminal – Molly’s Play Centre.  

Parents can sigh with relief as they relax with a slice from the Love Pure Cake range as their children play. That is, until they come to re-fuel on healthy creations such as carrot cake and assorted muffins themselves.  

“Food artistry for the soul”

Slightly skeptical of how good a carrot and wheatgrass cake can actually taste, we dive straight into a slab and would never have known it was gluten and wheat free. There is no compromise on taste here. The cake is moist throughout, full of flavour and a sure-fire hit with the tasters. Lorna is keen to point out that the mileage from oven to plate is as short as possible, ensuring that the cakes are delivered to the stockists in perfect fresh condition and with a low carbon footprint.  

Bakewell slice, heaven on a plate

It’s clear that an abundance of love goes into making each cake, with a lot of experimentation along the way. “I feel like Heston Blumenthal at times” she tells us, “my kitchen is one big cake laboratory, always trying out new recipes and getting the consistency right.” Lorna is currently working on a new dairy-free cake and perfecting more vegan recipes. “I will cater for any one’s needs, I just want everyone to enjoy cake suitable for them”.  You can see a range of cakes offered here.
  
The cakes are currently undergoing a series of tests to work out their exact food and calorific content to back up the statement that they are indeed healthy.  “I’m working with a nutritionist  so that we can demonstrate that some of the cakes include one of your five-a-day recommendations.”      

Moving onto  a piece of Bakewell tart, we devour it far too fast.  Not only is the cake visually appealing, it’s also deliciously light with a nutty almond flavour and a perfect jammy centre.  You can taste the quality of the ingredients hidden within, in fact, this cake couldn’t get any better.     

Cakes that are good for you?  Count us firmly in.     

Information     

You can check out the Love Pure Cakes website and find them on facebook and on twitter. You can also subscribe to Lorna’s blog and be kept up to date with all things Love Pure Cake.     

You can order whole cakes from Lorna via her stockists, or phone her to discuss your requirements.  

Lorna bakes out of Catherine Di Placido’s premises in Queen Street.

Coffee Angel

No office to work from in Edinburgh?   Why not try one of these places in town.

Part of our job at Edinburgh Spotlight is to bring our readers reviews and interviews from around town.  Although we primarily work from home, we do venture outside every day to see what’s new on the streets of Edinburgh and have meetings with people we’re featuring.    

Edinburgh has an amazing selection of food-related workspaces to choose from, but here are some of our favourites.  All of the suggestions have fast secure wi-fi, a relaxed working atmosphere and most importantly, decent food and drinks.  Each place mentioned is link to its full review.   

Great working space

Tea Tree Tea, Bread Street, Fountainbridge   

A firm favourite of ours. Jamie and Drew  welcome anyone that chooses to spend time in their cafe. Tourists and locals are greeted with a smile for hearty breakfasts, lunches, tea and a dose of banter. Downstairs can be reserved for groups and/or meetings whilst the upstairs tables are perfect for laptop/iPad working. Tea Tree Tea is very much our in-town headquarters.   

Coffee Angel, Brandon Terrace   

The excellent Coffee Angel is our local ‘office’ and one we just can’t get enough of. The staff provide excellent customer service as they serve a delicious range of drinks and food. Tables and chairs sit at the right height for working over lunch, or relax back and catch up on reading in one of the leather chairs. Be warned though – trying to resist a sweet-treat to go with a coffee is impossible.   

Fredericks Coffee House, Frederick Street   

A relative newcomer, is the wonderful Fredericks Coffee House. Grab a window seat that looks up to Ramsay Gardens and watch the world go by in Frederick Street. Housed with perfect sized tables for working and meetings, it’s a relaxed atmosphere to get on with some work as you tuck into a range of salads and hearty soups. Thanks to their recent hand-made cake additions, this is fast-becoming more of an interviewing place for us. Perfect for sinking into their Chesterfield sofa and catch up with your online feeds.   

Loudons

Loudon’s Cafe and Bakery, Fountainbridge  

Another newcomer, Loudons Cafe and Bakery is light and airy and already a busy place for workers with its capacity of 70 people. Serving an excellent menu throughout the day (with goods all baked and made on-site) this venue goes that one bit further and allows you to print documents.      

So the next time you read one of our articles, or  look at a photo on facebook, there’s every chance that we’ve published them whilst sitting in one of the above cafes.  All of them all feature on our Edinburgh Cake Trail.   

If you’ve got a favourite workspace in Edinburgh, please let us know in the comments below.

View out of the window seats

A city centre cafe with friendly service and a new range of cakes

We have previously reviewed Fredericks Coffee House, but four months on, we are finding ourselves in here at least once a week.  The lovely staff  welcome everyone that comes through the door with a smile hello and give you time to peruse the menu before taking your order. 

It’s  a lovely light and airy space to eat in and/or work in, using  the excellent free secure wi-fi.  We’ve had several business meetings here over the last few months and just can’t get enough of the place. 

From the breakfast menu, through to the delicious afternoon tea, it really is a place suitable for any time of the day.  Local craft group Granny Green’s Night Out use the premises on a Monday evening as the venue is available for out of hours hire.  Increasingly popular is groups of friends booking the Chesterfield sofa area and relaxing for the afternoon. 

Th owner  uses the best coffee in Edinburgh – Artisan Roast and knows how to serve it.  The range of herbal teas are from Pekoe Tea and include Dikom Assam Second Flush and White Peony and the usual herbal infusions such as camomile and peppermint.  Pots of tea (2 cups) are from £1.60 which make it good value for the city centre location.    

Bread and dip selection

Lunch choices vary from  toasted paninis and pittas, freshly prepared salads to platters of  breads, olives and dips to share.  

Fredericks has recently teamed up with the excellent Patisserie Jacob and are now serving a fantastic range of handmade cakes. 

We just happened to be in the cafe when the first delivery arrived and couldn’t resist trying a piece out despite the early hour of the morning. 

We weren’t the only one to be enjoying the cakes first thing, another customer was tucking into a full afternoon tea (£10.95) at 11am.  The chocolate creation was sublime and tasted as good as it looks below.  Chef Jacob certainly puts a lot of love into making his cakes, so we made sure we loved the slab of chocolate heaven as we ate it.  The carrot and cinnamon cake also looked divine and will be devoured next time we’re in. 

A full range of Jacob’s cakes will soon be on sale, with its own separate menu, making this an excellent cake destination to enjoy with friends. 

Jacob's chocolate cake, lovingly hand-made

Considering that Fredericks is only a few months old, it’s certainly made its mark in the central area.  Prices are very competitive and we’re going to keep on returning. 

Fredericks also appears on our Edinburgh Cake Trail. 

Address:  30 Frederick Street (1st floor) 

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am – 6pm and weekend 10am – 6pm.  There are plans to open later in the summer. 

Loyalty cards can be stamped and after 4 drinks, your 5th one is free.  You can find Fredericks on facebook and on twitter. 

Suitable for disabled?  Unfortunately not as it’s on the first floor with no lifts.  Also not ideal for parents with buggies, but if you make it up the stairs, there is ample room to move around in.