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Scotsman
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
I'm always asked where to find Edinburgh's best Sunday lunch, now I know what to tell them
Contributed You will not be disappointed by the feast at this new venue Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... I've been a restaurant reviewer for a couple of millennia now. One of the most commonly asked questions I used to get asked was, where can I get a good Sunday roast in Edinburgh? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad That doesn't happen so often now. I think this traditional meal's popularity has declined. Generation Z are too busy eating kimchi noodles. However, I still get the occasional person who asks for a recommendation. To be honest, I have always struggled with an answer. Usually, I'll say, what's that in the sky behind you, before roly-poly-ing away before they can look round again. Now, I can mention The Captain Darling, which is presumably named after the Blackadder character and is in the former premises of Hamilton's in Stockbridge. Not that Sunday lunch is all it does. This is a seven-day operation, which offers things like chicken schnitzel and fish pie, and there is a decent kids menu, not to mention a Workers' Lunch, Monday to Friday, where you can get a substantial main course for £12.50. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This new pub seems like a friendly rival to Tom Kitchin's nearby gastropub, Scran & Scallie, just along the road, and has a crack squad of cheffy talent behind it. There's Scott Smith, formerly of the excellent but recently closed down fine-dining restaurant, Fhior. As part of his new project, Blank Plate Creative, he's helping with the launch of this place, which is owned by the folk behind Oir Group, who operate Bodega as well as the fun and vibrant Lucky Yu on Broughton Street. Great pedigree, and we like the interior, with its teal walls and box-fresh mustard yellow velvet banquettes. We bagged an ideal people-watching spot by the window, though I think the passers-by were watching us rather than vice versa, especially when the Sunday lunch menu plates started arriving. The people at the bus stop had eyes as big as saucers. No wonder. I'd gone for the prawn cocktail (£9.50), which wasn't made with those retro tiny and hard commas, but five big fat langoustines. They were slapped in plenty of Marie Rose sauce, with a good whack of Tabasco and cayenne, and served with crispy strips of iceberg heart. I teamed this with an equally calamine-coloured El Sueno tequila based paloma (£10) cocktail. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He tried the haggis and smoked Dunlop croquettes (£9.50). This starter consisted of three mobile-phone-sized sea-salted bricks, but, luckily, they were lighter than they looked, with a melty liquid centre and crispy Panko cladding. They came with a ramekin of beautifully tangy and molasses sweet brown sauce, and a pile of pickled cucumbers. Gaby Soutar The main event was next. You can choose confit chicken leg (£20) finished on the barbecue, or hispi cabbage (£15), which has Smith's name all over it, since he did amazing things with this humble veg at Fhior. However, I went for the rare breed porchetta (£23), and my other half went for the dry aged sirloin roast beef (£26). I can't remember the last time I had proper crackling in a restaurant. With this stuff, you could probably hear my crunching reverberating all the way down to Comely Bank. These were on two saucer-sized slabs of soft meat, which came with all the trimmings - aka a huge pair of crunchy-seamed potatoes, perfect rosemary-injected carrots, vibrantly green charred broccoli, and the most intensely meaty and addictive, sticky and rich gravy. Gaby Soutar I'm almost entirely unique, in that Yorkshire puddings don't do anything for me. However, I handed my fluffy and chestnut dappled cloud over to my pud taster and he joyously guddled them both around in the gravy, then noshed them. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad We should've both been stretchered out at this point, since it was now very difficult to bend and we were both in the midst of a carb slump. However, we thought it'd be remiss not to sample the sticky toffee pudding (£15), since it's a classic. My most regular disappointment, with this specific dessert, is down to sauce quantity. In this case, they'd included about a pint of the warm butterscotch stuff, and there was also a scoop of Mackie's vanilla ice-cream beside the block of relatively airy sponge. So, yeah, ask me where to go for Sunday lunch, and it's obviously going to be this place. I need not distract you, and roll away. At last, I have an answer.
RNZ News
7 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Hawke's Bay Hospital put into lockdown
Hawke's Bay Hospital in Hastings. File photo. Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin Hawke's Bay Hospital and nearby schools are in lockdown after reports of a person acting suspiciously. Police were called to the hospital in Hastings at 1.20pm. The lockdowns are precautionary, police said. Health NZ has been approached for comment . - more to come Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Edinburgh Live
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Outlander stars rave about this Edinburgh restaurant after surprise visit
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 Get the latest Edinburgh Live breaking news on WhatsApp Stars of the hit television series Outlander were spotted at one of Edinburgh's most popular restaurants after popping in for a bite. Outlander, now running into its eighth and final season, has been a sensation from the outset. The historical drama series is set in Scotland and features a cast chock-full of Scottish talent. Staff at The Kitchin, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Leith, were delighted to host members of the Outlander cast, sharing an image to social media of owner Tom Kitchin with the actors. Among the stars was John Hunter Bell, who played "Young Ian" Murray in Outlander as well as Bain in two of the Hobbit films, and Charles Vandervaart, famous for his portrayal of William Ransom in season seven of Outlander Edinburgh celebrity chef Tom Kitchin is captured posing with the actors. The post's caption reads: "It's always special to welcome members of the Outlander family to the restaurants." Charles commented on the post, saying: "Amazing time! Thanks for having us!" John added: "Out of this world!" The eatery is no stranger to famous guests. John and Charles are not even the first of the Outlander cast to visit The Kitchin. In October 2023, the Michelin-star establishment welcomed Duncan Lacroix, who plays Murtagh Frasier in the series. It also hosted series lead Sam Heughan, who plays titular character Jamie Fraser, in 2024. Seemingly a favourite among Outlander stars, Sam returned to The Kitchin earlier this year to mark his 45th birthday on April 30. Tom Kitchin, owner and founder of The Kitchin, also runs The Scran & Scallie in Edinburgh and Bonnie Badger in Gullane. Another eatery, Kora, previously on Bruntsfield Place, closed earlier this year. The Kitchin, located at 78 Commercial Quay in Leith, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12pm-2.30pm and 6pm-10pm. You can find more information about the restaurant here.
The Herald Scotland
18-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Herald Scotland
Trendy sandwich shops, please step away from the focaccia
It's a dream for dipping, the springy texture acting as a dense sponge for whatever form of pasta sauce or salad dressing might be lingering on your plate after a meal. And more than once, I've been guilty of polishing off a slice meant for the dinner table before even making it home from a trip to my favourite bakery down the road. But dear goodness, do I wish trendy cafes and takeaway spots would stop using this characterful bread as the vessel for their sandwich fillings. Read more: From fat sandwiches to bargain steaks -find all of our Lunch Reviews here Does Tom Kitchin's £69 Michelin starred lunch live up to expectation? I tried the new Crieff Hydro restaurants and bars including 'secret' speakeasy If you're familiar with our Lunch Review series that has been running since the start of this year, you'll know that I've encountered my fair share of TikTok-famous spots and promising new openings. And while almost all of them have impressed in their own way, after a few months in the game now can't help but sigh when I see a layer of filling squashed between two thick wedges of focaccia. First up, I know fine well that there will be no dignified way to eat this sandwich in public. Most of the time, it's difficult to even get a decent bite out of these monster creations, let alone avoid bits of meat, cheese or salad spilling out onto the table below. This inevitably happens just as you've locked eyes with a fellow diner or staff member, who is now just as embarrassed about the whole situation as you are. And that slick and salty surface layer, usually one of the best bits of focaccia, becomes an unwelcome distraction when each mouthful of your lunch is saturated with oil. Heaven help you if there's not a ready supply of napkins nearby to deal with your now greasy hands. But more than that, a hill I will die on is that there is simply no need to choose a bread that will steal the spotlight from your sandwich menu. There's just too much dough for any filling, no matter how delicious, to contend with. These days, I've taken to splitting a sandwich in half and leaving the lid if I suspect I won't be able to taste the middle layer: just know that as a carb lover, that hurts me deep in my soul. Read more: Of course, food trends come and go. Before this, it was the ubiquitous sourdough, which came with its own issues. Too soft to carry any sort of mayo or sauce without falling apart, and forming a rock-hard crust when toasted. But surely it's common sense that a sandwich should be up to the task of being eaten on the go, without any risk of injuring your jaw or staining your shirt in the process. As we enter a new era of our review series, moving from strictly casual lunch spots to a mix of tasting menus and evening bookings at restaurants across Scotland, I say goodbye to sandwich shops for now with a final plea. Unless you're absolutely sure you can get those all-important ratios just right, please step away from the focaccia. Pictured: Look out for a review of The Kirkmichael Arms published on Saturday morning (Image: Newsquest) The Saturday Review: Keep your eyes peeled for our Saturday morning restaurant review, which this week takes us to the only Michelin Guide recognised spot in Ayrshire. At this traditional country pub, there are more than a few pleasant surprises in store. Missed last week's review? Read more about a rocky start for the newly opened Yakitori Shack in Glasgow here: Distracted service and food lacking oomph: A bad start for new Glasgow restaurant
The Courier
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Scottish Game Fair at Scone: Full details including what's on, tickets and parking
Final preparations are being made for the Scottish Game Fair at Scone Palace. The event returns to the Perthshire venue for its 36th year in July. Thousands of visitors will enjoy hundreds of stalls and activities over the three-day event. Here is everything you need to know for the Scottish Game Fair 2025. This article will be updated with more information as the event approaches. The Scottish Game Fair takes place on Friday July 4, Saturday July 5 and Sunday July 6. The gates open at 9am each day and close at 6pm. A range of shows will take place at the main arena. These are: A range of other activities and attractions will be on offer throughout the event site. Tickets for the event can still be bought online. Single-day entry tickets cost £32.75 for adults and £9.50 for children aged six to 15. Two-day tickets cost £57 for adults and £13.30 for children. Tickets for all three days cost £76 for adults and £17.10 for children There are also package deals for families, and children under six can enter for free. For drivers, signs on major trunk roads leading to Perth will guide traffic to the entrance. Standard parking at the fair is free, and gold parking is £22.50 – both of which can be booked online. Pedestrians should not use the main gate at Scone Palace, but instead the North Lodge entrance and down Yew Tree Walk. For those travelling by train, the nearest stop is Perth, where passengers can then catch a bus or a taxi to the event. Organisers promise a 'fantastic' range of food and drink options at the fair, featuring mainly local suppliers. Pete Gottgens will be joined by Tom Kitchin and Tony Singh at the Highland Firecage Kitchen. The restaurant will serve breakfasts for £27.50 per head, along with a range of lunch platters and feasts, with prices ranging from £60 to £80. A breakfast and lunch package will cost an extra £17.50. Tables can be booked online. Water taps around the site will give visitors the chance to fill up their bottles. Dogs are welcome in all areas of the event. A dog creche is also in operation from 9am to 5pm daily. Pet owners can leave their dogs here for up to four hours, with a donation of £5 per dog, per hour, going to Samsalin dog rescue. Pre-bookings can be made by emailing Nigel Bowler at tarkaeng@ or calling 07887 603888.
