Toasted goats cheese on garlic bread

We have previously reviewed the wonderful Bon Papilion, 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 Papilion 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 Papilion 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 Papilion 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 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.  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.

Head down towards Mountcastle and beside the High School lies Figgate Park. The last time we visited this gorgeous green space, it was so foggy, Arthur’s Seat couldn’t be seen, but today, the sun was shining and we got views galore.

There’s some more information on Figgate Park on the council website but we found it a great place to wander around and soak in the views, look at the wildlife in the pond (with board walk) and admire the beautiful pictorial garden. You can walk your dog here, there’s picnic tables for good weather and it connects to Edinburgh’s cycle network.

Well worth a visit, but make sure to take your camera and binoculars for all the wildlife.

Figgate Park with Arthur's Seat in the background

Pictorial Garden

Baby moorhens

The excellent boardwalk

A heron on the central island

Edinburgh residents and six Australian tourists have a ball at Camera Obscura

 

Camera Obscura entrance

Edinburgh’s Camera Obscura has a 150 year old observatory with a roving mirror that projects a 360 degree panorama of the city. The rest of the displays and interactive exhibitions drop you into a world of illusion and warped images.   

Last week, with Australian relatives in tow, we headed to this popular tourist attraction first thing in the morning.   

Our party of 9 (5 adults and 4 children) were warmly welcomed by the staff and given an allotted time for the observatory.  Everyone ran up the stairs to the very top and absorbed the views of Edinburgh in all directions.  The smaller children loved using the (free) telescopes to see as far as they could.  Wonderful views down The Royal Mile can be had here and over the Old Town rooftops.   

We were taken into the observatory where it is completely dark, but can be guided by hand rails to take your position above the image circle.  The guide talks through the history of Camera Obscura and points out everything you can see from the revolving view.  The staff member was enthusiastic as he spoke about the history of the camera and explained how it worked.  The children loved seeing the 360 degree views and were allowed a short time to ‘lift up’ people walking on the Castle Esplanade (a magic trick).   

View down The Royal Mile from the top

“Wonderful views down the Royal Mile”

You only get to experience this part once, which is all that is needed to be honest, but you are then free to spend as much time as you require exploring the other floors before leaving.   Our group as whole absolutely loved exploring every nook and cranny.  

We started at the Magic Gallery which is full of lightning tubes, plasma domes (including one of the largest in Europe) and lumiglass. Again, this floor is dark to give the best experience but shouldn’t be scary to young children as the lights lead the way through to the other section on the floor.  In this room you will find magic eye optical illusions on the wall.  There are also true mirrors which are interactive and suitable for all ages.  Some of the group’s favourite items were the kaleidoscope, an exhibit which allows you to swap heads with someone and a machine that took pictures of your shadows.      

“The new additions make this a must-visit attraction for tourists and residents of Edinburgh.”

Moving down to the 3rd floor, we came to ‘light fantastic’.  Holography was explained with numerous examples of dinosaurs, people’s heads and a giant spider so big it’s enough give an arachnophobe a heart attack. The kids were impressed, as were the adults and everything so far had been a sure-fire hit.   

Squeals of excitement were soon heard as the kids explore the new section of Camera Obscura and one we hadn’t seen before.  “Woooaaaah, that’s soooooooo cool” shouted one as another popped his face up on the ‘head on a plate’ exhibit.  We quickly ushered the kids to the morphing machine so the adults could take their turn and join in the fun.  

The amazing Ames room

On this floor is also the incredible, but disorientating Ames Room. You can become a giant or a dwarf here, which provided us with 20 minutes of fun as we took pictures of every combination of our group possible.  The youngest in the group (aged 7) loved that he became ‘bigger’ than his father and we laughed hysterically as other visitors turned their 2 year old into a giant.  This was a personal highlight for our group and full marks to Camera Obscura for allowing free photography of inside the room.  

Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, the children led the way to the mirror maze and tried to find their way through, but kept bumping into themselves.  The vortex tunnel was next and the children took great pride in managing to run through the ‘rotating’ tunnel as the adults clung onto the sides as they were disorientated completely. (Closing your eyes and walking straight gets you there, if it’s not for you).    

Put your head on a plate

Moving down to the 2nd floor sees a display of old, new and unique images of Edinburgh.   

Several pictures of how the streets of Edinburgh used look are on the walls and you can think and compare how they look today.   

There is an excellent sepia photograph of St Giles Cathedral in the 1880s with a horse and cart in the foreground and beside it sits a picture of how it stands today with a taxi – a complete contrast.    

Throughout the building, there are optical illusions on the stairways and corridor walls, continuing the visual workout.    And on all the floors, there are little kick stools for smaller children to stand upon to make the most of the exhibits.  This is a well thought-out addition and saves adults lifting their children around the higher exhibits.  

If you’re an Edinburgh resident and not been to Camera Obscura for a while, there’s an excellent selection of new additions  that make it a must-visit tourist and resident attraction.  

We spent just under 2 hours here, but were on a tight schedule with limited time.  You could certainly spend a good 3 hours here (with children) exploring every single exhibit and it’s good value for money. For adults visiting,  we recommend 2 hours to do the place justice, but of course you can whizz around as fast as you like. 

Click here for admission prices, current opening hours and to book your visit online.  

You can find Camera Obscura on facebook and follow them on twitter.  

Suitable for disabled?  Unfortunately not due to the age of the building.  There are only stairs inside.  

Views over Edinburgh Old Town

We can’t fault the place and The List and Gaby Soutar from the Scotsman agree, as does our friends over at the Sunday Brunch Club. Our food reviewer has been back several times since she dined there with us and also rates the experience highly. 

Looking for somewhere to eat for a birthday lunch today, there was only one place that I wanted to head for and it had Mark Greenaway’s name above the door.  

Taking advantage of the Market Menu (offer available at lunch times 12pm – 3pm and dinner 5.30pm – 6.45pm) we had a most enjoyable couple of hours in the restaurant.  Two courses are £16.50 and 3 courses £20. 

Please enjoy the pictures below and be assured that the food and service was nothing short of perfection.  The Market Menu is an absolute steal for this price with the quality of food that is delivered.  Mark Greenaway is more than a man to watch now, he’s up there with the best dining Edinburgh has to offer and you should kill for a table. 

Mark's Cullen Skink (starter)

Pan Seared Cod Fillet

Half Free Range Chicken

 

Manjari Chocolate Fondant, White Chocolate Mousse and Tonka Bean Ice Cream

Information 

Mark Greenaway at Hawke & Hunter opening hours: 

Lunch: 12.00 pm – 3.00 pm
Dinner: 5.30 pm – 10.00 pm
Closed Sundays and Mondays. 

Private dining available. 

Hawk & Hunter   12 Picardy Place    Edinburgh     EH1 3JT     0131 557 0952 

Suitable for disabled?   There are a couple of steps up into the building and the restaurant is on ground level, as is the bathroom.

Market menu - changes frequently

Amazing Petit Fours

Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh

We love Arthur’s Seat and have previously covered a walk around the extinct volcano and also when it has been covered in snow. 

Today we were taking our usual walk around the path but had the sudden urge to head for the summit once we reached Dunsapie Loch. 

The summit in the distance

There are various routes you can choose to walk up to the summit, some of which are suggested here.  The easiest way to reach the top is from this point up one of the two recognised paths on the grass, which leads to a stone path and steps closer to the top. It’s really important that you use this path as the area can be slippy, especially after rain, but also to stop further erosion of this natural beauty spot. 

The stone path to the summit

It takes about 15 minutes from Dunsapie Loch to reach the summit, longer if you stop to take photos on the way up.  On a clear sunny day, you can see across to Fife and right down the East Coast. 

At the summit

It can be very windy up at the summit and today was one of those days.  It was hard to hold the camera steady to take pictures of the wonderful views. 

Looking East

Looking North

Edinburgh Castle from the summit (zoomed in)

The weather was only a few degrees at the top, so after 5 minutes we headed back down taking care to watch our step as the rocks are uneven.  We continued on our way anti-clockwise around the path and patted ourselves on the back for choosing a fit and healthy way to start the day. 

The view as we continued around the footpath

The minute we touched back down to ground level, the skies turned blue and the sun came out (just our luck) but we’ll save going back up for another day. 

Suitable for disabled? There is a road all the way around Arthur’s Seat, but not to the summit.  There’s a separate path for walkers and joggers, so suitable for wheelchairs and buggies.  There are car parks at the top beside the Loch and lay bys that you can park in and enjoy the view.

Lothian Road

Illegal Jacks continues its high standards with friendly service

By Chiara Pannozzo

‘I love Illegal Jacks’, is the phrase I hear almost every time I mention this Lothian Road eatery. Yet despite a faithful following, Illegal Jacks is still striving to become better by ensuring that they cater to their customers every whim. Alongside the delicious Mexican food, they have introduced a number of extra features, turning them into so much more than your average restaurant. The comfy leather booths are perfect for sipping a margarita whilst watching the world go by, and their new alcohol license makes this possible. The choice of freshly made quality food will have you making some nail biting decisions, but fear not, if you need some help choosing between a burrito and a steaming hot plate of chilli, you can tweet your dilemma as Illegal Jacks also has free wi-fi. And if this wasn’t enough, the restaurant’s owner Jack Grills is fully endorsing the social media revolution by allowing customers to tweet their reservation request. A simple message to @illegaljacks will guarantee that there is a table waiting for you with your twitter name on it.

Having firmly jumped onto Jacks band wagon, I thought it only fair to share with the good folks of Edinburgh the amazing meal we had at Illegal Jacks just a few nights ago.

The main event

The menu at Illegal Jacks truly is a taste of Mexico. Split into two sections, Jack’s four step plan and Jack’s specials, offers a wealth of choice. The four step plan allows you to choose between burritos, tacos or a quesadilla, with a choice of chicken, beef, sauteed vegetables or vegetarian chilli. Both the chicken and beef are marinated with Jack’s ‘so good it must be illegal marinade’, with the later being supplied by local butchers Campbell Brothers, and is farmed in Perth. The specials include a range of meat and vegetarian dishes including fajitas, chilli, nachos, salads and buffalo wings.

Humongous burrito

We started off with nachos and dips, which included guacamole, salsa and sour cream (£3.50). The chips were warm and crunchy, and the dips fresh and authentic. Then we sampled the buffalo wings, which were marinated in cajun spices and hot sauce (£5.25 small).  As a lover of all things spice, the hot buffalo wing delivered. The fiery looking sauce had a similar effect on my tongue, leaving my chilli craving satisfied. If however you prefer a milder alternative, the cajun spiced buffalo wing was equally delicious, well seasoned and moist.

Moving onto the main course, both myself and my dining partner chose from the four step plan. I had a beef burrito with black beans and hot salsa (£7.25).  My initial observation when it arrived was how large the burrito was. This is a restaurant that is certainly value for money. When I peeled back the foil and bit into it, I could taste the quality of the beef, and how well all the other ingredients complemented it. Stuffed not only with the beef, but with rice, black beans and Monterey Jack cheese, this really was an excellent burrito.

My dining partner had the haggis quesadilla (£6.80).  Originally added in a to the menu for burns night, it has proved so popular it is now a permanent feature on the menu, and it is clear to see why. She raved about how delicious the quesadilla was, stuffed with haggis and cheese. This also came with pinto beans, mild salsa, guacamole and sour cream.

Haggis quesadilla

The meal was perfected thanks to two accompanying 5am saint and punk IPA BrewDog beers (£3.65).  If wine is more your thing, a decent selection of whites and reds are available.

Social venue

Although there were only two of us dining at Illegal Jacks, with seating for over 100 people, there’s more than enough room for you and your friends. You can also reserve whole areas of the restaurant for events. Currently there are areas being used for gaming nights and social meet-ups. Illegal Jacks is also very family friendly, with baby changing and under 12s eating for half price, it’s not quite as taxing on the family wallet. Before you know it, the whole family will be sporting Jackaholic t-shirts, available for purchase in the restaurant.

You can find Illegal Jacks on Twitter and Facebook, and you can also watch some of their excellent videos on YouTube.

We have previously reviewed Illegal Jacks.

Opening hours:

Mon – Thurs: 1200 – 2200
Fri – Sat: 1200 – 2300
Sun – 1200 – 2200

Suitable for disabled? Yes, ground level access with adapted bathroom.

Now with alcohol license

Punjabi Women’s Kitchen

Real Punjabi cuisine in the heart of Leith

The Punjabi Women’s Kitchen in Leith is an all-round interesting dining experience in Edinburgh.

My first visit here was back in May 2010 and fully admire Sikh Sanjog for setting the business up in the first place.

This community enterprise has helped many Sikh women in multicultural Leith with their skills and confidence, which has ultimately led to paid work after training.  The women that work here volunteer for a few weeks at a time and learn from the skills of the regular staff members.

It is open from Wednesday – Saturday from 11.00am – 8.00pm (closed Sunday – Tuesday) and we thoroughly recommend you have a meal here and experience the Punjab Women’s Kitchen for yourself.  Fine dining it is not, but I love everything about the place.

From the ‘opened’ sign on the door and the welcoming smiles from women in national dress to the authentic music in the background. The premises are light and airy and have a mixture of tables for two and four, but can be pushed together for small groups.

The menu is actually quite varied and starts at 10am with the Punjabi breakfast consisting of aloo prantha, yoghurt and Indian Masala tea. Available for £3.95 until 11am only – it makes a refreshing change from the full Scottish breakfast.

Special Thali selection

The food then switches to standard Punjabi fayre and ‘snacks’ such as pakora and poppadoms are available at very reasonable prices. Vegetarian, fish and chicken curries are the mains here (£4.50) but I normally plump for the Special Thali combination for £6.95 which includes a soft drink of your choice.

Included in this mini-feast is curry (meat or vegetarian), daal, yoghurt, chapatti, rice, salad and a poppadom.

No complaints from me on any of the items, but you may be slightly perplexed as how to eat it all.  Any way that suits you!  I’ve put it all on the tray before and scooped the curry and the daal up with the chapatti and other times I’ve eaten out the little bowls, dipping into the dishes and adding rice.  However you eat it, the food is good and trays are always left empty.

Service can be mixed, but you have to remember everyone is learning here.  The one thing that is guaranteed is a big smile from the staff who always check to see if you’ve enjoyed your food.

Gulab jamuns and other desserts are available as well as a dessert of the day.  At around £2 each, this makes a full lunch here around the £10 mark.

Go and experience it for yourself and be glad that you’re helping Sikh women in the community at the same time.

Punjabi Women’s Kitchen – 122-24 Leith Walk, Edinburgh.

Suitable for disabled?    Yes, on ground level with accessible bathrooms.

Update January 2011.  We visited again today and found the food to be as good as ever!

Finished tray

King’s Theatre

Andy Gray makes a triumphant return to an outstanding production

We do love a bit of pantomime at Edinburgh Spotlight (oh yes we do) and were extremely excited to attend this year’s Jack and the Beanstalk.

Allan Stewart takes on the role of Dame McTrot and Grant Stott is super-baddie Fleshcreep.  Alan Gray makes a welcome return to the Edinburgh stage as Lord Crumble and he’s still ‘no very well’.

Jo Freer returns in an unrecognisable role and the  six-foot beauty that is Moko Akande returns as the fairy, with Andrew Scott-Ramsay playing the hunky Jack McTrot.  Jack and the Beanstalk is director Paul Elliot’s 9th production in Edinburgh.

This review is by a 10 year old mini-Spotlight member who was briefed not to tell about surprises in the show! 

Review

I know the story of Jack and the Beanstalk really well but loved this panto version.  I knew a lot of the songs because they’ve featured in Glee and X-Factor so it was good to be able to sing along.  Fleshcreep was a real baddie this year and scared a little boy in the audience.  I loved booing him everytime he came on stage.  The giant also scared me a bit, he was the size of the whole theatre.

My favourite part of the panto was Daisy the cow who was really funny when she was dancing.  Dame McTrot made me laugh lots and I loved when she ‘appeared’ over the audience a couple of times.

I laughed so hard when they (Stewart and Gray) did an impression from Britain’s Got Talent, I thought it was the real people!

The children on stage were really good at dancing and screaming when Fleshcreep had stolen them for the giant.  I thought that the beanstalk going up into the sky was brilliant and was really happy when Jack managed to get to the top of the so he could kill the giant and marry Princess Apricot.

All of the singing and dancing was amazing and I loved all the costumes.  The girls looked amazing in their dresses.

I really loved the happy ending and cheered when Daisy the cow came home.  I loved  the singalong and I had the best night ever!

We say:

This production of Jack and the Beanstalk was nothing short of excellent from start to finish with amazing special effects.  All the usual panto suspects were present – silly jokes, comedy routines, flamboyant costumes and a bit of ad-libbing.  It’s clearly apparent that the whole cast enjoy the performance.

All the songs and music are current, with characters from television being poked fun of at every opportunity.  Moko Akande’s voice is superb as ever and it really is good to have Andy Gray back – it’s like he’s never been away.

Of course the story culminated in a happy ending, it wouldn’t be panto without one.   As usual, the cast ended on their sing-a-long Status Quo encore which had every member of the audience standing up and joining in.

Jack and the Beanstalk is a glorious way to spend 2 hours and is suitable for all ages (including adults).  This year, the stage production and special effects are nothing short of outstanding and we highly recommend you exchange your magic beans for a ticket as quick as you can.

You can read our interview with the lead cast members and director Paul Elliot here.

Jack and the Beanstalk runs at the King’s Theatre until Sunday 23 January 2011.  Tickets can be booked on 0131 529 6000 or online here.

The Shore

Hearty meals and cakes galore at Mimi’s Bakehouse

All the recent snow in Edinburgh has not stopped me from visiting Mimi’s several times since we first reviewed the new addition to Leith.  

It’s hard to resist a call from friends and family who ask me to join them at Mimi’s for a ‘wee something’.  Small does not feature on the menu.  Run by a family (and extended members) this new eatery is a haven in which to relax with the papers, or kick back and chat over great tea and coffee.  

I have now worked my through many items on the menu such as their ‘Terrifically tantazlizing French Toast’  (£6.95) and have watched my dining partners much their way through the ‘vivacious vegetarian breakfast’ (£7.95 including toast and tea or coffee).  

Last Saturday saw me return and sample the thai chicken flatbread, with freshly tossed salad and Mackies crunchy crisps, £5.95.  The sandwich was generously filled with succulent chicken in a beautiful Thai mayonnaise that certainly hit the mark.  The freshly tossed salad had an abundance of fresh peppers and the Mackies crisps rounded the lunch off nicely.  

Thai chicken flatbread

I enjoyed a pot of teapigs winter spiced red tea, £1.95 as my dining partner had a coffee, £2 and declared “they’ve got this completely right, one of the best I’ve had in Edinburgh”.  

I started eyeing up the cakes at the counter as I couldn’t possibly miss out on the wonders baked on the premises.  Just as I thought I would settle on a chunk of malteser slice, the chef walked through from the kitchen armed with freshly baked strawberry meringues destined for the fridge display.  I couldn’t resist the masterpiece who was calling out “pick me”.  The waitress offered me some pouring cream to top it off and since my calorie count for the week was about to be exceeded in one dish, I smiled as I said yes please.  

My dining partner laughed as my face lit up as it was presented on the table and caused neighbouring diners to chuckle at its sheer size.  I delved in and savoured every mouthful, content in the fact that the fresh strawberries were one of my five-a-day.  

Strawberry meringue

Tables around us filled up quickly and by the time we left, Mimi’s was full.  Word has already got around town that this place is a wonderful dining experience amidst its cute interior and cakey displays.  

I’ve still to try Mimi’s luxury homemade stovies and savoury tart as well as working my way through the rest of the cake choices.  Their afternoon tea at £12.95 includes their delicious homemade scones and jam.    

 It’s a tough job working my way through the menu, but I will battle on complete my mission.  

Families are warmly welcomed and highchairs are available for little ones.  You can phone ahead and reserve a table.  Don’t forget to pick up your loyalty card and make sure you look at the pictures on the wall outside the bathrooms with the staff and their cakes!  Mimi’s gift vouchers are available and would make a perfect Christmas present.  

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.  Mimi’s appears  on our Edinburgh cake trail.    

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

Tantalizing French toast

Cute decor

Clerk Street

Kampong Ah Lee – Malaysian delight in Edinburgh

We have previously reviewed the excellent Kampong Ah Lee but thought it was worthwhile to remind our readers how fabulous this Malaysian restaurant is.

My friend and I dined here last night for the third time in two weeks and took our seat and perused the extensive menu once more.

The vegetarian choices are excellent and if for some reason, there is not the combination of food you desire, the staff will put it together for you.  Make sure you clarify how spicy you wish your dish, as medium spicy can sometimes be too hot for the average pallete.  I have seen my friend sweat buckets before when he voluntarily chose a ‘spicy’ dish much to the amusement of the staff.

My dining partner plumped for a beef noodle soup whilst I chose the Mee Goreng which is meat with spicy noodle and bean sprouts.  Dishes are all around the £6-7 mark, making this excellent value for something quick to eat.

Soft drinks were ordered at £1 per can of coke and our food was delivered within ten minutes of ordering.

Beef noodle soup

No complaints from me for my choice, with an abundance of meat amongst the noodles that more than hit the mark on a cold October evening.

My friend’s dish was generous in size with succulent beef, lashings of vegetables and noodles.  It was such a big bowl, that once I had demolished my dish, I helped to finish it off.

We were in and out within 30 minutes and our table was immediately occupied as we left.

£14.30 for two dishes plus two cans of juice is an excellent value meal, that is also quick.

No website, but telephone number is 0131 662 9050.  Be prepared to wait at peak times, but table turnover is really quick.  28 Clerk Street, left hand side when facing South.

Suitable for disabled? The restaurant is on the ground floor, but the bathrooms are down the stairs

Mee Goreng

Open Thursday - Sunday only

Step back in time to enjoy tea and cake at Anteaques.

I have pondered for some time whether or not to share one of my ultimate Edinburgh hideaways – Anteaques in Newington.   

Step back in time and enter this magical shop full of antiques and astonishing range of teas.  I have lost count of how many times I have been here for  tea and cake, but I can’t hold onto this Edinburgh secret any longer. 

I took a friend who has lived in Edinburgh for years, but did had never experienced the delight of Anteaques before.  Her reaction was ‘wow’ as we entered and took a table at the rear of the shop amongst chandeliers and bagatelle boards. 

One of the staff members handed us the extensive tea menu and we set about choosing our pots.  There is only a small selection of cakes, but what they do have is exquisite and most definitely home-baked.  A selection of the Chocolate Tree’s truffles are also available to accompany your tea choice. 

Afternoon delight

My friend opted for a pot of almond tea with a couple of truffles, whilst I plumped for a pot of cherry chocolate tea and a fruit scone with lashings of raspberry jam and clotted cream.  A large pot of tea is £2.90 and the scone, a bargain at £1.60.  

Our cups and saucers were delicate china the cutlery ornate alongside the 3-tier stand on which our food arrived. 

We took in the wonderful aroma of the teas before tasting and soon melted into the moment as we relaxed to the classical music playing.  No ‘antique shop’ smells here, despite literally rubbing shoulders with racks of coats, vintage tea seats and other curios. 

The scone was nothing short of perfection with the jam and clotted cream hitting the mark.  The Chocolate Tree truffles were savoured with the tea as we relaxed with some good conversation – there is never a need to rush in Anteaques. 

We stocked up on some loose leaf teas as we settled the bill.  Excellent advice is available with all of the teas in sample pots so that you can smell them for yourself.  Past visits has seen the staff recommend me some teas such as white pomegranate and genmaicha which I would never have thought trying myself. 

There is no hard-sell here, just an abundance of tea advice from friendly staff. 

A wonderful place to relax for an hour and enjoy one of the most unique tea experiences to be found in Edinburgh. 

Opening hours

There are only a handful of tables inside, so book ahead or be prepared to come back.  Unfortunately there are no bathrooms in the shop, so time your visit well! 

Anteaque’s appears in our Edinburgh Cake Trail.

Suitable for disabled?  Yes, it’s on ground floor and there is enough access to the tables as you enter the shop.

A new Edinburgh eatery offers private communal dining.

Chris and Rachel Rowley are behind a fascinating new eating experience in Edinburgh – Charlie and Evelyn’s Table. It’s not a restaurant, but a private dining club hosted in their Comely Bank home.

The husband and wife team are creating quite a buzz through their blog as well as on Twitter and Facebook – and have been receiving glowing reports from the national press and glossy magazines.

If you are anything like me,  you’re probably wondering how it actually works when booking a space at this popular table. Well, let me enlighten you.

The reception room menu

I had booked two places at the table for November – but a last minute tweet announced they had two spaces left and had me moving faster than Usain Bolt to snap up the seats for this unique dining experience.

Polite emails were exchanged asking if we had any food allergies or aversions to particular foods, but apart from my allergy to shellfish, myself and my dining partner eat anything that’s put in front of us.

A confirmation email arrived with their address, what time to arrive, a reminder that it was BYOB wine and that payment would be in the form of a donation (recommended £20).  We were also sent a copy of the menu they had planned and another chance to declare our foodie dislikes (none).

Four courses plus canapés for that price on a Saturday night in Edinburgh is practically unheard of so we definitely wondered what we were letting ourselves in for.

What to wear Coming from Australia where there is no dress code and shorts and thongs are acceptable for evening dining, my dining partner wondered what to wear for this setting.  Not in a Gok Wan way, but just so he wasn’t under or over-dressed.  Settling for dark jeans and a shirt for him and casual dress for me, we set off to Comely Bank.

Arrival We pressed the buzzer and heard “welcome to Charlie and Evelyn’s table” and made our way up the stairs, still a little apprehensive. Rachel introduced herself and showed us through to their lounge which had been transformed into a reception room for the evening.  First to arrive, we took a seat on the couch and took in our surroundings.  The flat is beautifully decorated with stunning pictures and photos on the walls, yet has a homely feel and nothing like a restaurant.  We felt as if we were in a friend of a friend’s home.

All our fellow diners arrived within the next five minutes and we introduced ourselves to one another and did what all British people do best – discussed the weather. Rachel explained to us how the evening would progress and that Chris (‘Chef’) was busy preparing canapés.

The drinks we had brought were taken away to be chilled or placed at room temperature, complete with name tags on the bottle necks to avoid confusion.

Pre-dinner, Rachel opened a bottle of bubbly (included in the price) and filled a glass for all of us as we toasted the evening and whatever may lie ahead.  Chris made an appearance with the first round of canapés and answered question after question from the inquisitive guests.  “Where did you train as a chef?”  and “why did you decide to do this?” were asked and answered.

The homemade oatcakes with salmon mousse were a delight on the taste buds, followed by button mushrooms with butternut puree and oatcakes with avocado mousse.  The conversation turned to the food, and this simple pre-dinner selection revved my foodie excitement further.

Seating

Rachel called us through to their dining room and Charlie and Evelyn’s table (formerly owned by Chris’ grandparents) had been set for eight.  No seating plan, but everyone gravitated towards their friend/partner as you would expect.  All alcohol had been placed on the sideboard with our choice of white wine sitting in an ice bucket.  Rachel poured everyone water and filled their wine glasses with the drink they had brought.

The star of the show - venison

Course Two

An interesting combination of beetroot, buffalo mozzarella and orange served with salad alongside home-made fresh hot rolls with lashings of butter. Again, not something I would normally choose, but the combination worked well and there were soon eight empty plates.

Course Three
Before the third course, our glasses were re-filled with water and wine and both Chris and Rachel answered questions fired at them as they were working away.  We were informed that the venison is served at its best medium-rare but given the choice of how we would prefer it cooked.  All eight of us agreed we would take it as suggested, which must have made Chris’ job a little easier in the small adjoining kitchen where he had been producing the delightful dishes.

As this course was served, a smile was instantly put on my face due to the imaginative presentation of the food and the fact the meat looked absolutely divine.   The venison medallions had been exquisitely cooked and were nothing short of perfection with the black pepper and poppy seed seasoning working well alongside the port wine jus.  The sweetcorn puree and Chantenay carrots complemented the dish without a clash of flavours.

Course Four
A dessert of pears, green ginger wine, blackberries and creme fraiche was served and promptly demolished by all the diners, who agreed that the food had exceeded everyone’s expectations.  Murmurs of “as good as The Kitchin” were heard and I certainly can’t recall a better quality meal I have had in recent times (and there’s been a few).

Post-dessert and payment
We were offered a dram of whisky from the Isle of Jura distillery, who had provided the Rowleys with the drink for their new venture.  Orders for tea and coffee were taken (also included in the price) and I plumped for chai tea which came in a large teapot, whilst my dining partner had a coffee. This provided a simple finish to a seriously impressive meal.

Rachel placed ‘donation’ envelopes on the table for payment and these were passed around and filled with pleasure (with a litle extra as we felt £20 wasn’t enough).  There was plenty of time to linger and continue the conversation and more questions were fired at the Rowleys about their favourite dining experiences.

My dining partner and I had finished every morsel on the plates served to us, so thanked our hosts profusely and bid our fellow diners goodbye.

Sum up
The Rowley’s chef skills are on an even level, but the roles they adopt on the night are the preferred ones.  Rachel’s service is entirely charming and efficient and the food that Chris cooks is presented imaginatively and is of excellent quality.

There is clearly great passion behind the ever-changing menu and I have no doubt that Charlie and Evelyn’s Table will continue to be a success as it brings something unique to the current range of Edinburgh’s eateries.

Don’t be frightened of this style of communal dining – it really is a great way to spend an evening with other food lovers who are also looking for a ‘different’ experience. Dates are chosen a couple of months in advance and I’m extremely happy I am already booked in again for November.

Extra info
You use their bathroom, the rest of the flat is out of bounds and it’s not just couples who attend.  Single diners and groups of friends are made to feel more than welcome and I wouldn’t hesitate to attend on my own and make new acquaintances.

For groups of four or more,  Rachel and Chris are open to hosting mid-week meals and other special occasions.  They recently catered for a wedding and can also recreate the experience in your home (minus Charlie and Evelyn’s actual table)  using your kitchen. Tourists coming to Edinburgh can also be catered for in advance, just drop them an email.

All diners are sent an email with a link to pictures of our meal  that they had post on their blog.   You can also find Charlie and Evelyn’s Table on Twitter and Facebook.

Don’t delay in booking for this hot table in town.

November 2010 update

We have just eaten here for the second time which was even better than the first (which I wouldn’t have thought possible).  Our friend over at Scotland for the Senses wrote an article about the evening.

Suitable for disabled? Unfortunately, their flat is up two sets of stairs, with no lift.  But you can arrange to have the Rowleys come and cook in your home.

Delicious dessert

There are many places around Edinburgh to get a great view of the skyline, but one of the more unusual ones is from the 7th floor roof garden at the National Museum on Chambers Street.

Edinburgh skyline and roof garden

The roof garden is open from 1000 -1645 hrs every day, yet is often missed by visitors to the museum.  The garden tells of the Scottish landscapes in the middle of the city: coastal plants face the Firth of Forth, summit vegetation as you look up to Edinburgh Castle and a sunken platter displays typical bog vegtation.

Sunken planter and bog vegetation

There are signs and pictures telling you what the buildings are in each direction, but if you’re an Edinburgh resident, you should know most of them without looking.

Rooftops of Edinburgh

You can access the 7th floor garden by lift or from the 5th floor you can walk up via two outdoor staircases. Well worth a trip to the top even if you don’t have time to spend in the museum and best of all, it’s free.

A unique 360 degree view of Edinburgh city centre and its wonderful skyline.

Eye level with McEwan Hall

Over the Old Town to Calton Hill

Arthur's Seat

Close up of the Castle

And to finish this article off, here is one of Keith’s excellent shots from the roof garden.

Museum roof garden

We have previously reviewed Patisserie Jacob and you can read our findings here.

I love a good bakery and as part of my work (vital component of my job description) is to thoroughly check that the food establishments we have awarded our ‘recommended’ award to – continue to come up to scratch.

I take this aspect of my work very seriously and felt the need to visit Patisserie Jacob twice this week as a kind of ‘spot check’.  I paid a visit last Tuesday with guests from out of town to stock up on Jacob goodies for a picnic.  We bought sourdough bread, spinach and feta pasties, a quiche and a small vegetable pizza.  For dessert we purchased a raspberry danish, a chocolate croissant and an apple and custard tart, all for around £7.50.

We were on the end of some very envious looks amongst fellow picnickers in Perthshire and a dog was not amused at the absence of leftover crumbs from our table.

Raspberry, pear and almond tart

Saturday saw me conveniently (on purpose) in the Gorgie area again, this time to stock up for Saturday lunch at home.  Beautifully fresh baked rolls, a chicken curry pie and a beef pasty were purchased alongside the  pièce de résistance of pear and raspberry tart and their Belgian double chocolate cake.  I protected the baked goodies with my life in the windy conditions – as I transported them through the streets of Edinburgh to my home.

Chocolate heaven from Patisserie Jacob

The savoury dishes were heated gently in the oven and wolfed down quickly to enable us to get to the stars of the show.  I was shaking with excitement as I divided the two cakes pictured (in my favour, 60/40) and not a word passed my lips as I savoured a piece of the tart, a piece of cake and then both at the same time.  I don’t know if chef Jacob would approve of the mixing of cakes, but it sure worked for me.

Exceptional quality is what you get with the baked goods from Jacob, at exceedingly good value prices.  All the products I have tried (and there’s been a few) have hit the mark and I will continue to get my cakey-fill in Gorgie.  Patisserie Jacob continues to be highly recommended from us, but rest assured, I will keep checking on the quality for our readers – it is after all, part of my job.

You can now purchase Patisserie Jacob goodies at Cafe Montagu at Goldenacre and more recently at Fredericks Coffee House in the town centre.

Suitable for disabled?  Yes, the bakery is on ground level.

We reviewed the Spice Pavilion Indian restaurant last month and was so blown away with the quality of food and service, that we immediately booked in a group meal for last Friday evening.

We contacted the friendly owner, who helped devise a suitable menu for our party of 14  and negotiated a very reasonable individual price.  We opted for a buffet-style dinner and had the semi-private section of the restaurant to ourselves for the duration of the evening.

Our table for 14

We were all warmly welcomed by the staff and took our places at the beautifully decorated tables and tucked right into some fresh poppadoms and chutneys whilst submitting our drink orders.

Our starter of mixed pakora was so perfectly cooked (and non-greasy) that all of the diners were excited to see what was being served up for the main course.

Huge trays were presented on the buffet tables of vegetable karai, chick-pea rice, lamb curry and chicken tikka masala.  We soon filled up our plates and in addition were served some plain and peshwari nan bread.  There was more than sufficient food for all of us, despite our ferocious appetites.

A feast fit for an Indian king?  Definitely.  All 14 of us remarked that we couldn’t fault the succulent lamb or the bold-flavoured masala.  The vegetable karai completed our taste bud workout and soon we were all completely and utterly full.

Hot towelettes were supplied by the efficient and unobtrusive staff after our mains and enough time passed by before offering us a choice of dessert.  All but one person said yes, despite 20 minutes previously stating they couldn’t eat another thing!  Desserts were devoured and the good conversation continued over tea and coffee with mints.

Our experience of having a group meal here was nothing short of a perfect evening in comfortable surroundings with exquisite Indian food.

We can’t recommend Spice Pavilion highly enough and now present them with our  ‘Edinburgh Spotlight recommended’ award with great pleasure.

3A 1 Dundas Street, New Town

Gorgie's finest

Gorgie is perhaps best known at the moment for its football team, Heart of Midlothian, but is slowly welcoming people from all over town to Gorgie’s finest patisserie – Jacob.  Locals are well aware of this hidden gem, but I am happy to make the 4.1 mile journey from my home to experience the food here.

Open since December 2009 – Jacob’s is my current favourite bakery in town due to its quality and extremely reasonable prices.  The shop is compact, but manages to produce the most amazing of both savoury and sweet treats.

I could swear I heard the window display calling my name as its offerings lured me inside again last week.  This is truly a wonderful place where patisserie magic is made in front of your eyes –  as a man I presume to be Jacob bakes at the rear of the shop.

Selling excellent sourdough bread and loaves (with quality equal to any other I’ve tasted in Edinburgh) and other savoury options such as quiches, small pizzas and sandwiches – you can buy a whole meal here to takeaway.  Jacob’s is in a different league to the nearby Greggs and Baguette Express- in fact a completely different world away.

This review covers my most recent visit with my mum as we made the trip especially to Gorgie to stock up on goodies.  There were samples of the sourdough bread on offer which was not long out of the oven.  The small buttered piece was enough to confirm to my mum that she needed to purchase a loaf immediately (£1.30).  We hummed and hawed over the choice of quiches and opted for 2 mushroom and 1 brocolli  (£1.60 each) as well as one of their small pizzas, £1.30 which is perfect for lunch and is generously topped with vegetables.

Jacob mushroom quiche

Other savoury options included a chicken curry pie, beef pasties and an interesting pork and black pudding topped pie.  One of the sandwiches on offer was chilli chicken with garlic but these regularly change.

The staff member chatted away and never rushed us in our choices.  She explained how long the quiche would keep in the fridge, but obviously didn’t realise it is impossible to hold off eating anything purchased from here for more than an hour. 

The sweet options included apple tart, baked lime and lemon cheescake, almond croissaints and fruit tarts.  I chose a slice of the double belgian chocolate cake, £1.80 and an apple custard pastry at only 65p.  Jacobs also do biscuits and I fell for the eye level display of cute vanilla biscuits in a bag at 85p.  If there is the option of banana and toffee cake when you visit, then snap it up quickly as it is to die for, as is the mango cheesecake – in fact, everything sweet on offer is extremely satisfying.

Jacob's double chocolate cake

The cost of this patisserie haul was £10.25 which is outstandingly good value for 3 quiches, a pizza, a loaf  of bread, 2 pieces of cake and a pack of biscuits!

We split our goods and headed our separate ways but conferred that everything we bought was faultless.  The chocolate cake was perhaps the best I have tasted this year.

Full marks to Patisserie Jacob which comes highly recommended from us.  Just make sure you leave me some goods on the shelves for my next visit!

Jacob’s also do wholesale supplies just contact them for details.

Suitable for disabled?  Yes, ground floor even access.

Hosted by Kevin Bridges

Waverley Care comedy gala has now sold out  

The Edinburgh Fringe 2010 Comedy Gala tickets have recently gone on sale via the Edinburgh Festival Theatre website.  This performance by all the best comedians in town for the Fringe is always a sell out, so buy your tickets now.  Tickets are £25 and all proceeds go to Waverley Care.

This year, the show is being Hosted by Kevin Bridges who had his festival debut last year.  Michael McIntyre  has hosted this event in previous years, but his bouncy hair and talk of trams will be replaced by the near-local boy Bridges.

The line-up is never known until the night, but previous appearances have included Adam Hills, Rich Hall, John Bishop and Rhod Gilbert.  Around 12 comedians do a short stint on stage, normally of their funniest material.

This is always my comedy highlight of the Fringe and I have been checking the EFT website on a weekly basis waiting for these to come on sale.  I have purchased my tickets and I suggest you grab yours sharpish as well. 

On slightly later this year in August, the show will also give you a glimpse of individual shows and allow you to buy tickets for their full shows before the end of the Fringe.

Highly recommended from us.

*updated 12th June with full performers list*

-David O’Doherty
-Andi Osho
-Jack Whitehall
-Sean Lock
-Holly Walsh
-Shappi
-Andrew Lawrence
-Jon Richardson
-John Bishop
-Simon Evans
-Jason Byrne
-Adam Hills
-Justin Moorhouse
-Mark Watson
-Tom Wrigglesworth
-Mick Ferry
-Seann Walsh
-Carey Marx
-Phil Nichol
-Stephen K Amos
-Tom Stade
-Jimeoin

Jean is easy to find

Greenyonder tours are conducted by Jean Bareham, an Edinburgh born and bred resident.  I recently attended her ‘Hidden Gardens of the Royal Mile’ tour along with my Australian friend - which runs every Friday morning and Sunday afternoon from April through to October (with a few exceptions) and 6 days a week throughout the Fringe in August.

You can book in advance, or just turn up on the day and it’s easy to find the start point of the tour as Jean stands outside John Knox’s House with a clear sign.  This tour is not just for tourists, but for residents as well.  There are many gardens that you have probably walked past many times as you didn’t know about them and Jean points them out and explains the history behind the stories of the gardens.

Hidden green spaces

I’m not going to spoil the locations of the gardens in this review, but I was pleasantly surprised – I thought I knew the Royal Mile well before being shown around by Jean.

Great buildings and gardens

The tour is approximately 90 minutes long and there are various walls and benches that you can rest on as you go and only a few steps to negotiate.  Jean was very helpful in checking that everyone (of varying ages) was managing fine and helping us across roads where necessary.

We visited garden gems, including public ones, looked at some private gardens and discovered interesting community gardens which are popping up on the smallest of available green spaces.  Edinburgh residents might not associate the Royal Mile with gardens, but they are there for the viewing.

Jean has a picture book to hand to show various gardens from years ago and you only need to look around to see how they have changed to their current state today.

Although I have a fascination with gardens, I don’t know much about the actual plants, but again, Jean is on hand to explain all the names and how often and when they flower. Although not a historic or architectural tour, Jean explains the basics and points out wonderful buildings. Ample time is given for photos of the gardens and flowers, but once the tour ends, you can of course re trace your steps and spend more time in your favourite gardens.

Bamboo in Edinburgh

Jean is an encyclopedic knowledge of Edinburgh’s gardens and I was surprised how much new information I gained in 90 minutes. A thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a morning and my Australian friend now looks at the Royal Mile in a whole new light. Every time I am in the area when the sun is out over the summer, I will be popping back to my favourite garden and escaping the hustle and bustle of the High Street with a good book.

Dunbar's Close Garden

Other tours are available, such as By Leaves We Live, Hidden History and Healing Herbs by medical herbalist Julia Cook.  All tours for this season can be found here.  Have a look at the short BBC video on Jean’s tours.

Beautiful flowers

Greenyonder tours are highly recommended by us.

Suitable for disabled?  On the whole yes, despite some sloping paths and a few steps.  The tour could be slightly modified to allow you to experience the hidden gardens.

We have already highly recommended the Edinburgh Science Festival and another visit today with a mini Spotlight member proved to be a roaring success.

We had pre booked 3 events, but managed to drop into a few others which require no booking.  First stop was in the ER workshop where the helpful staff explained all about cysts, keyhole surgery, cleaning wounds and taking blood.  The excellent nurse Kate talked the mini surgery team through the various procedured and then everyone was allowed a turn to try them out for themselves.

Using an endoscope in the ER workshop

After deciding she definitely wanted to be a surgeon, she attended the excellent ‘Unwrapping the Mummy’ workshop where she learnt about ancient Egypt and preserving bodies.

Unwrapping the mummy

Once this workshop was finished, she wanted to be ‘someone who wraps up mummies’ followed by another swift change of career after visiting the Jungle workshop.

Once our chosen 3 workshops were over, we dipped in and out of various places, including the excellent blood bar where she learnt to make scabs and gooey blood.  All of them are hands on activites and really good fun.

Gooey blood

We had our lunch in the picnic area on the first floor before making a DNA bracelet and inventing a chocolate cake making machine on the ground floor.  We were there for 5 hours in total today before she was too tired to concentrate any more, but was enthusiastic for returning another day.

The events at the City Art Centre finish on Saturday, but I really urge you to attend before this excellent festival finishes.

Making a DNA bracelet

Full details on the Science Festival website and in our previous article.

Suitable for disabled?  Yes, building is completely accessible.