Dinner at Roseleaf bar cafe

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Cooking, edinburgh, food, Gluten, Gluten Free, Gluten-free diet, Home, Restaurants, Roseleaf, Salmon, Shopping, Special Diets, The Shore

I’m lucky enough to have the Roseleaf as (one of) my locals down at the Shore, and have spent many a cosy evening in this welcoming little place with friends or the boyfriend and a glass of wine.

Last night I took my Mum here for dinner, as I’d heard they have a rather good gluten-free selection – and they do! If the cute, vintage-inspired décor and pot-tails (cocktails in teapots, of course!) aren’t enough to draw you in, the food certainly should be.

Every possible dietary requirement was clearly marked out on the menu and Mum was delighted to find Goc stood for gluten free with oatcakes. I was impressed – normally it’s a struggle to find somewhere catering so perfectly to gluten-free diets.

We both went for the Sicilian Salmon – a seared salmon loin on a bed of warm caponata salad including peppers, aubergines, olives and capers, surrounded by a creamy plum tomato and yoghurt dressing and garnished with plenty of rocket.

It took a little while for our order to come out, but when it finally did I enjoyed every mouthful. I particularly liked the crispiness of the salmon skin and the rocket and creamy dressing worked well together. This would be the perfect dish on a sunny afternoon with a crisp glass of white wine.

I loved the Roseleaf before, and now I’ve tried its food I love it even more.

The “Help me with my vegetables!” Competition

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Chili pepper, chillies, competition, courgette, food, fruit, grow your own, peppers, Plant, Seedling, Tesco, tomato, tomatoes, Vegetable, Watercress, Zucchini

Remember when you were a kid and you got to grow watercress for school then eat it? I loved it. And the idea of growing my own veg at home never quite left me, so I was pretty chuffed to find grow-your-own kits in Tesco for a bargainous (reduced) price of 24p for tomatoes and £1.28 for a box with chillies, courgettes and peppers.

Eagerly I sowed the seeds, patted down, watered and set by the window. I kept my fingers crossed – they were, after all, reduced because they were past the optimum time for planting. Still, ever the enthusiast I kept a watchful eye over them and until one day…seedlings appeared!

The first seedlings to pop up were the tomatoes – easily identifiable in their own individual pot.

The second seedlings to pop up were the…well it would seem my excitement has gotten the better of me.

I planted the chillies, peppers and courgettes without leaving a marker for which was where. Problem. As far as I’ve read, each needs to be tended to differently. Could I possibly have failed on my first attempt? Faithful blog readers, I need YOU!

“Help me!” said the unidentified seedlings.

Competition time

Time to show off your vegetable growing know how. All you have to do is tell me which vegetable these seedlings will grow into – for the first person to tell me the correct answer will win the GRAND PRIZE.

The GRAND PRIZE

I shall personally and lovingly post the first fully grown vegetable to you. Have you ever received a courgette in the post? Well, now’s your chance!

Leave a comment below and both I and my ill-fated vegetable plants will love you forever and ever and ever.

Tapa review for Bite Magazine

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Bite Magazine, Cook, Edinburgh restaurant, food, leith, Madrid, restaurant, restaurant review, Spain, Spanish, Spanish cuisine, tapa, tapas

Recently I had the pleasure of reviewing Tapa Restaurant in Leith for Bite Magazine.

A year spent living in Madrid ignited my passion for Spanish food and the food served in Tapa would certainly not have been out of place in the sun-drenched Plaza Santa Ana, where I whiled away many a pleasant afternoon with friends and a caña or two…

Keep an eye out for the July edition of Bite where you can see the review in print and read lots of other exciting foodie related stories.

Tasty lunch idea – Avocado on Sourdough Bread

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Avocado, Basil, Black pepper, Cherry tomato, healthy eating, Lime (fruit), lunch, Olive oil, Sourdough, tomato, vegan, vegetarian

Whip up this tasty lunch in minutes – not just a treat for the taste buds but great for your health too.

I love the freshness of the basil and tomatoes, combined with the creamy avocado and crunch of the warm sourdough bread.

Avocados boast 35% more potassium than your average banana and are also rich in vitamins E, K and B, so get stuck in!

What you’ll need:

1 avocado

5 cherry tomatoes, halved

Fresh basil leaves

2 slices of sourdough bread, toasted

A squeeze of lime

Olive oil

Black pepper

Simply mash the avocado roughly then mix with the tomatoes and basil, and squeeze in some lime juice. Then drizzle olive oil over the freshly toasted sourdough and spread the mixture on thickly. Season with black pepper and enjoy every tasty mouthful.

Fancy it?

Five foodie activities for the Jubilee weekend

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ale, beer, diamond jubilee, edinburgh, fynefest, holiday, ice cream, jubilee, looking glass bookshop, lovecrumbs, market, portobello, weekend

Sunshine may be looking a little dubious, but that doesn’t mean this hungry weasel won’t enjoy every minute of the long weekend. I’ll be spending it munching my way around the capital in search of new Edinburgh culinary adventures.

Queenie may favour a cucumber sarnie or two, but if you fancy something to royally tantalise your taste buds, then read on for my top five tips for things to eat (and drink!) in Edinburgh and beyond over the Jubilee weekend…

1.Head to Porty beach for an ice cream

I don’t know about you, but I still enjoy an ice cream by the seaside as much as I did as a kiddie! Just make sure you eat it before it melts everywhere. Pop along to Portobello Market on Saturday and peruse the lovely produce – from cakes and jam, to soap and crafty gifts.

2.Look into the Looking Glass

The latest newcomer to Edinburgh’s coffee, cake and erm…book scene is Looking Glass Books – an independent book shop, which I hear sells a wicked coffee and sumptuous cakes from Lovecrumbs. I’ll certainly be investigating this place soon.

3.Skip along to Stockbridge Market

Get your hands on some perfect Sunday brunch sausages from this compact little market by the Water of Leith. An Artisan Coffee is sure to blow away any cobwebs from the night before.

4.Raise a glass

On Monday I’ll be joining some ale nutters…oh I mean enthusiasts, for an epic journey across Edinburgh taking in 10 of the best ale pubs including Dirty Dicks and Brewdog Bar. You can sign up for the event right…here.

5.Feeling Fyne

Fynefest takes place on the banks of stunning Loch Fyne and offers plenty of beer, food and entertainment to keep you busy all weekend. Try some of those famous Loch Fyne Oysters, washed down with some of Fyne Ales finest…

Oh yes! And a happy Jubilee to you, your Madge! I know she loves reading my blog.

What are your foodie plans for the weekend?