Reviewing my blog posts from 2014 has brought back some
downright amazing food memories. The superb dishes I’ve gobbled up have really galvanised my love of the gastronomic scene in Edinburgh and it was great to visit Manchester and sample the food scene there . Accordingly,
here is my year in food.
It kicked off in style with a visit to the Michelin-starred
Castle Terrace, where Sarah and I enjoyed a stunning lunch that fully justified
the praise Dominic Jack’s restaurant has received. If the year began like this, I wondered if
such standards could be sustained.
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| The Peat Inn |
Thankfully, there are restaurants like Purslane – my stand
out restaurant of 2013 – that would see this level of cooking continue. I am so
guilty of not visiting this little gem enough, and it was a privilege to see
Chef Paul Gunning’s cooking evolve in 2014. As it happens, later in the year we
had dinner over the road at The Stockbridge Restaurant, where their classic
cooking style and excellent service truly hit the spot.
I began studying Gastronomy at Queen Margaret University this
year, which allowed me to survey some of the world-class food producers that we
have in Scotland. Inspiring visits to
Loch Arthur Creamery, Whitmuir Farm and Peelham Farm, to name a few, allowed me
to engage with extremely passionate producers and enhance my beliefs that we
have some of the best food in the world. A trip to renowned cocktail bar
Bramble allowed us to learn of the history of gin making and a jaunt to the
Queen Street bar is now a frequent event on my social calendar.
After having lunch with my brother at The Edinburgh Larder
Bistro, I found that their ethos and passion for seasonal produce really stuck
a chord with me. It has since become a regular lunch spot of mine, alongside
The Grain Store on Victoria Street – one of Edinburgh’s most established
restaurants – where I love the honest cooking, extremely professional service,
and elegant ambience of the dining room.
In the summer, we took a trip down to Manchester for a few
days. A couple of culinary heavyweights
in the shape of Simon Rogan (The French) and Aiden Byrne (Manchester House) had
been creating a bit of a buzz in a city more famed for its music scene and
industrial heritage.
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| Manchester House |
Manchester House was great because it was a totally
contrasting experience to The French. Quality produce and solid cooking really
shone through in this more modern eatery.
We sampled (a version) of Aiden’s winning Great British Menu main course
and left wishing we could have stayed for dinner, too!
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| A Room in... Leith |
Being a devotee of seafood and good beer meant that A Room In
Leith was a must visit. The simple,
unpretentious cooking was a genuine highlight of the year and I love visiting
and treating myself to some wonderful oysters and a pint (or two!).
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| Burger Meats Bun |
This year saw Burger Meats Bun arrive in the capital
following their successful Glasgow branches opening in 2013. The team here
benefit from a background in fine dining, which has allowed them to open a
burger joint that focuses on top produce.
I'm a stickler for good burgers, and BMB serves up some of the best!
It has been a pleasure sifting through my food memories of
2014, and I can’t wait to see what this year has in store.
Great work Philly
ReplyDeletethnks for sharing...
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