Latest news with #Pomelo
Listly
07-07-2025
- Health
- Listly
5 Reasons to choose Phuket for a wellness vacation
Phuket promotes many wellness, organic and healthy meals. Several of these are in line with the hotels and resorts there. Healthy meals with an emphasis on organic and locally produced products are served at several wellness retreats in Phuket. Such places generally avoid ingredients like sugar, MSG and excessive sodium. They bring delicious flavours through spices and herbs instead. If you have a taste for such healthy food, seek dishes like Som Tam (green papaya salad), Yam Woon Sen (clear glass noodle salad), Pomelo salad, Yam Talay (spicy seafood salad), Khang Liang Goong Sod (herb vegetable soup), and steamed whole fish.
Edinburgh Live
10-06-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh chef who started own restaurant at 23 now one of 'Scotland's best'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An award-winning Edinburgh founder chef has discussed the difficulties of being a young restaurateur in the capital's vibrant hospitality sector. Jun Au, from Polwarth, admits he was never any good at school when it came to academics and so he knew he wanted to do something more 'physical.' At age 18 he set his sights on becoming a chef and honed his art working in the kitchens on Castle Terrace and the Green Store on Victoria Street before its closure. After earning a degree in hospitality, he ventured into the world of PR, representing several businesses in London. But when the Covid pandemic hit, the PR firm lost all of their clients which led to him moving back to Edinburgh with some saved up cash. Feeling there was nothing to lose, he decided to launch Pomelo at the age of 23 on Strathearn Road. Now in his current location on Sciennes Road, the 27-year-old has tasted success, earning an Acorn award as well as being named "Best Asian Chef in Scotland' by the Asian Catering Federation and one of CODE 30 under 30 in 2025. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. 'I would say it was the best time for us to start out,' he said. 'Lockdown started relaxing and people were allowed outside again, and with us being a new eatery, we drew them in. 'We rode that wave of enthusiasm but I was quite naive having never run a business before. It was a steep learning curve. You have a lot to think about as a small business such as staffing costs, taxes and your bills." It has not been all plain sailing, with Jun arguing more needs to be done to help the sector during a period of rising costs. 'The biggest difficulty of running a restaurant in Edinburgh is monetary,' he said. 'Prices are skyrocketing and on top of that you have high rents, taxes and growing wages. 'I know they have to find a difficult balance but hospitality is one of the largest employers in the country. They have put a burden on restaurant owners and small businesses have a lot of pressure on them." 'My advice to anyone starting out is be flexible and nimble so you are able to switch things up when costs rise.' Jun does not feel his youth has held him back and credits his staff and family for helping making the venture a success. 'For me I was never a party person,' he said. 'I liked to be by myself and now I like to be with my wife and dog. 'The people around me made a lot more sacrifices. My staff work long hours to support the business and my wife is my biggest supporter. 'She is my front of house manager who handles all the admin which I don't have the capacity to deal with. She sacrifices so much which means a lot to me. 'My parents have also put so much effort in, with my mum continuing to help out with the accounting. My chef team is also amazing. It is so hard to find competent people who really want to work and have a passion for that work.' Winning an Acorn and being recognised by his peers was important for Jun as he admits he suffered from impostor syndrome during the early days. 'When you are as young as I am, you can be a little scared or concerned you are doing the right thing,' he said. 'You definitely have to be really passionate about when starting out as you work a lot of hours. 'I am very not calm at all. But I see my anxiety as an advantage, I never switch off and I do not know if that is a super power however if it is, then it is the worst one you can have.' Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox Jun describes Pomelo as creating a menu inspired by the three chefs' heritage. At present there is a Chinese, Filipino and Maltese chef who all borrow from their own life experiences and childhoods. Jun grew up in a Chinese family who explored their culture through food, whether it was his mother cooking in the kitchen or his grandmother passing down recipes. He believes has created a space where diners can have fun exploring fusion cuisine. Things like the Pomelo chicken sandwich, which is made using a pineapple flavoured brioche style bun with a cookie-like crust on top, filled with fried chicken, encapsulates perfectly what Jun and his staff are all about. 'I would say we are fun,' he said. 'The menu is really inspired by our childhoods and our heritage while also focusing on produce that is in season.' Pomelo is open for brunch and dinner bookings. To visit Pomelo's website, click here.
The Herald Scotland
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
A chef's favourite restaurant for Chinese food in Edinburgh
It was named "Restaurant of the Year" by the Asian Catering Federation in 2023, and Au was named "Best Asian Chef in Scotland" by the Asian Catering Federation in 2024. At only 27 he has been identified as 'one to watch' by the industry, making Code Hospitality Bulletin's 30 Under 30 list for 24/25. This week, he answers our chef Q&A. Pictured: Jun Au, chef patron at Pomelo in Edinburgh (Image: Supplied) What was your first kitchen job? The Grain store in Edinburgh. It was such a great place to start out as a young chef. Carlo Coxon taught me quite a lot, and had lots of patience with me. Where is your favourite place to eat out? Casually? China Bowl in Newington is a great Chinese food spot. If we are celebrating something, either Fhior as I think Scott Smith is a great chef or Fazenda on George Street. It's such a good deal, I love all you can eat restaurants. What is your guilty pleasure meal? Chippy steak and chips! It tastes so good, but for my health? I can compare it to putting diesel fuel in a petrol car. Can you share a memory of your worst kitchen disaster? I was in charge of making roasties when I was younger at a pub and used sugar instead of salt. It was so brutal, I had to throw away around four gastro trays. Hand-ripped noodles! I don't think I would be doing what I'm doing without this dish. Who would you say is your biggest inspiration? It's a cliche, but my parents. In the industry? It's Calvin Eng, author of Salt Sugar MSG and Brandon Jew from Mister Jiu's in San Francisco Brandon Jew or Calvin Eng. They are the people I aspire to cook like. What is one of your pet peeves working as a chef? Making a mistake, then trying to hide it or make excuses. If you messed up or made a mistake, own it. If you weren't a chef, what do you think you'd be doing with your life? Something to do with sports, I loved playing sports at school and being in a competitive team environment. Pictured: A selection of dishes from Pomelo in Edinburgh (Image: Supplied) What's your favourite trick for making cooking at home easier? When making sauces, take time to reduce stocks a little more than you think. It increases the depth of flavour of the dish What has been the one highlight that stands out in your career so far? Probably being named in CODE's 30 under 30 this year, or being in the OFM awards 2023.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Baby boom' at London Zoo with six new additions
London Zoo is in the middle of a baby boom with the addition of six endangered small mammals. Two golden lion tamarin twins and a critically endangered gentle lemur are among the latest newborns at the central London attraction. Daniel Simmonds, zoological operations manager, said: "Each of these births is a big moment for their species - many of which are under real threat in the wild. "These new arrivals help safeguard the future of their species as important advancements in the European breeding programmes for these animals." A 10-month-old white-faced saki monkey called Fia and two eight-month-old golden lion tamarin primates, male Pomelo and female Clementine, have all been named by zookeepers recently. The twins were born last spring at the zoo and join their older brother Kumquat - with each sibling named after orange citrus because of their striking orange fur. Their father Fabio took on much of the carrying duties for the little ones - which is typical parenting behaviour for the species - periodically passing Clementine and Pomelo one at a time to their mum for feeding. Meanwhile a two-month-old Alaotran gentle lemur has taken its first tentative jumps beyond the safety of its mother Hazo and father Rocky, making its first trips across an outdoor paddock to nibble on leafy greens. In the zoo's otter holt two vulnerable Asian short-clawed otter pups were born last month to mother Midge and father Siyam. First-time mum Midge, who arrived at London Zoo last year from Newquay Zoo, has been busy nursing the newborns inside the warmth of their nesting box, while Siyam plays a protective role for the young family. The pups, who are yet to be named or sexed, will begin emerging from the den at around three months old before taking their first exploratory swims. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Primates' tiny teeth treated at London Zoo Stocktake of London Zoo's 10,000 animals begins Rare blood-sucking leech bred at London Zoo London Zoo
BBC News
19-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
London Zoo: 'Baby boom' under way with six endangered additions
London Zoo is in the middle of a baby boom with the addition of six endangered small golden lion tamarin twins and a critically endangered gentle lemur are among the latest newborns at the central London Simmonds, zoological operations manager, said: "Each of these births is a big moment for their species - many of which are under real threat in the wild. "These new arrivals help safeguard the future of their species as important advancements in the European breeding programmes for these animals." A 10-month-old white-faced saki monkey called Fia and two eight-month-old golden lion tamarin primates, male Pomelo and female Clementine, have all been named by zookeepers recently. The twins were born last spring at the zoo and join their older brother Kumquat - with each sibling named after orange citrus because of their striking orange fur. Their father Fabio took on much of the carrying duties for the little ones - which is typical parenting behaviour for the species - periodically passing Clementine and Pomelo one at a time to their mum for feeding. Meanwhile a two-month-old Alaotran gentle lemur has taken its first tentative jumps beyond the safety of its mother Hazo and father Rocky, making its first trips across an outdoor paddock to nibble on leafy greens. In the zoo's otter holt two vulnerable Asian short-clawed otter pups were born last month to mother Midge and father Siyam. First-time mum Midge, who arrived at London Zoo last year from Newquay Zoo, has been busy nursing the newborns inside the warmth of their nesting box, while Siyam plays a protective role for the young family. The pups, who are yet to be named or sexed, will begin emerging from the den at around three months old before taking their first exploratory swims.
