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?

Sunday sausages at Stockbridge Market

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cheese, edinburgh, farmers market, food market, local produce, organic, sausages, sunday dinner

It was a blustery day down in Stockbridge on Sunday, but the Stockbridge Market stallholders remained enthusiastic with smiles on their faces and canopies flapping frantically above their heads.

“The sun’s going to come out later,” one lady beamed, as she offered me some samples of her free-range, organic sausages. But who wouldn’t be optimistic surrounded by so much delicious produce?

The Stockbridge Market has been running since September last year and you can find it on Sundays between 10am to 5pm, close to the Water of Leith.
Already the market has become something of a Stockbridge institution and the number of producers present seems to grow week upon week.

What immediately hits you is the welcoming aroma of freshly brewed coffee and jazzy sounds coming from the quirky Artisan Roast campervan. Wandering around the market there was plenty to see – and try – from cupcakes to curry.

I loved the garlic or raspberry infused balsamic vinegars, tempting, freshly-baked bread, cinnamon swirls and plum tarts, and the interesting Mojito jelly (which goes well with oysters, apparently).

I treated myself to some creamy but strong tasting Scottish Crowdie – a cow’s milk cheese made in Lanarkshire and lovely with oatcakes. The goat’s cheese rolled in ash caught my eye too, but was a bit pricey.

My best buy were the Toulouse sausages, made from free range pigs who had led stress-free, happy lives and been well fed. The meat was mixed with a little all-spice and coriander, and they made a yummy Sunday dinner. At just £2.95 for five I’d be tempted to eat them for dinner every Sunday night…

Tasty adventures in Portugal: A trip to the market

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food, foodie, healthy, market, mercado do bolhao, oranges, portugal, sardines, travel

During our stay in the northern city of Porto we visited the colourful daily market – Mercado do Bolhão. It’s a glorious place to explore and a great way to get a taste of local life.

The market was pretty quiet when we visited in the afternoon, but I imagine mornings are the busiest time when the produce is at its freshest. Mercado do Bolhão was everything you might picture a Portuguese market to be – from glistening sardines to bountiful displays of fruit and veg, stalls bursting with colourful flowers to traditional handmade ‘azulejos’ (those ceramic tiles you see practically everywhere in Portugal).

We treated ourselves to some enormous green olives which we munched away on whilst exploring the stalls, and couldn’t resist buying some juicy oranges for the train ride back to Lisbon.

It’s no surprise that the med is so famous for its healthy diet and long life expectancy – the food on offer here was nothing but nutritious and bursting with goodness. Next time I go to Portugal I’m going self-catering so I get the chance to cook some of that delicious looking fish for my dinner.

The boyfriend even managed to get himself a lucky Portuguese cock, bought from a tiny, gentle Portuguese lady who made up for her lack in height with boundless enthusiasm for her collection of cocks.

Unfortunately Portuguese cocks don’t travel well, but lucky for Rob I’m a dab hand with the superglue…