Taste Of Edinburgh 2010

Sis In Law and I have been going to the Taste Of Edinburgh for the last few years to sample the delights of local producers and restaurant's.  This year we felt it was a bit light on as far as representation from the local restaurants but we still did our best to increase the old waist lines and the ever present Pimm's Bar ensure our disappointment wasn't too long lived!

After getting ourselves a lovely Pimm's cocktail, we made our way to the chef's theater to watch Rachel Allen make the most yummy raspberry cheesecake.  She also made a main meal with crab but to be honest the Pimm's had me distracted at that point ... and because Jean-Christophe Novelli was being interviewed no less than a meter from where I was sitting.  I kid you not ladies!  There was but a mere meter between me and that accent!!!!!!!  Swoon.  Nick Nairn was there too but he has lost the novelty factor for me owing to the fact that he is at everything food related in Scotland ... and he doesn't have a french accent ;0)

Anyway, the real reason we were there was to sample some food!  This year I was determined to have a 'balanced' meal.  Every other year that has been a distinct leaning towards the desserts so I was pleased to discover that my favourite meal of the day came from Amber and was their starter of Choux Bun filled with Mushroom and Sloe Berry served with a Scottish Cheese Fondue.  The flavour of the mushrooms was intense, rich and earthy.  The wild garlic was maybe a bit too strong and would have overpowered the flavours of the mushroom and cheese fondue had I not left them till last though.

Hotel du Vin also had a pretty amazing starter on offer of Uig Lodge Smoked Salmon Fish Fingers, homemade Tomato Ketchup and Chips.  The tomato ketchup was the stand out element of the dish, sweet and spicy at the same time,  the fish fingers seemed to have more potato than Uig Lodge Smoked Salmon which was a great pity.

Now time for the sweet treats!  There were probably 7 or 8 desserts that I would have liked to sample but in the end Malmaison cheated by bringing out a great big tray of freshly made Creme Brulee while sis-in law was waiting for her burger.  What was I to do?  The caramel was still setting on the top that's how freshly made they were and I am a total sucker for Creme Brulee.  I'm not sorry I tried it, it was a nice dessert but in hindsight I maybe should have pushed the boat out and tried one of the more unique desserts on offer from some of the other restaurants.  Oh well, there is always next year ;0)

Above is Miss KS and sis in law enjoying a Seared Sashimi Selection each from Yo! Sushi who are soon to open up a branch at Harvey Nics here in Edinburgh.  Miss SK really did enjoy her selection despite what the photo says.

There were some fantastic local producers there too.  We sampled everything from cheese and biscuits to Edinburgh Gin and cold cuts.   The ice creams on offer from Stewart Tower Dairy was amazing.  I sampled the Raspberry Ripple which was lovely and fresh without being overly sweet but in the end I gave in to my true heart's desire (in ice cream steaks at least!) and had a small tub (yes that really is the smallest tub they do!) of Mint Chocolate Chip.  Mmmmmmmmmm.  A proper mint flavour instead of the artificial peppermint taste you get in most ice cream.

I also making its way home with me was a bottle of cold pressed rapeseed oil from Summer Harvest Oils.  It has a wonderful nutty flavour, not unlike hazelnuts which I will be using in place of olive oil from now on.  Not only is it locally produced and therefore cheaper than olive oil, it is also healthier too.  Aside from that, I don't like olives and find the taste of olive oil sometimes a bit too overpowering in some dishes.  Still on the savory side of things we discovered the most delicious chunky dips made by Dip Nation.  I just had to buy The Sundried Tomato (which seems to have made its way into my tummy already!) and the Roasted Red Pepper, everyone else opted for two tubs of the Butternut Squash which was equally as delicious.

Coming from a little further afield but just as equally welcome in my shopping basket is a bottle of Praline Welsh Creme from Condessa Welsh Liqueurs.  Similar to the Irish version but with a lovely nutty tang.  And just to prove that there is still a sweet side of me, not one but two bags of fudge from Yum Yum Tree Fudge. The passionfruit is still with us but the Belgium White Chocolate disappeared not long after the Sundried Tomato Chunky Dip!

Not bad for a days work.