Tag: food and drink

McKirdy’s Steakhouse is on the market

A popular Edinburgh city centre steakhouse has been brought to market by DM Hall, one of Scotland’s leading firms of chartered surveyors, as a result of the owner’s impending retirement.

McKirdy’s Steakhouse, located at 151-155 Morrison Street, and close to Haymarket and Edinburgh’s economic hub, has traded for 24 years.

Offers over £450,000 are invited for the business which is supplied by McKirdy Butchers, which has been active in Edinburgh and East Lothian since 1895.

Morrison Street, a busy one-way thoroughfare which connects Lothian Road with Haymarket Terrace/West Maitland Street, carries a substantial volume of traffic on a daily basis being one of the main arterial routes out of the City Centre towards the West.

The area is mixed residential and commercial in nature and adjacent to it there are a number of other restaurants and public houses. The Edinburgh International Conference Centre and various hotels are located a short walk from the premises.

McKirdy’s Steakhouse, which has recently been re-furbished, is arranged over the ground floor. The frontage incorporates large display windows providing good natural light to the restaurant.

The restaurant business, which has a reputation for the very highest quality meat available and trades from Wednesday to Sunday, is reluctantly being brought to the market as a result of retirement, its success is reflected in its profitability.

Margaret Mitchell of DM Hall who is overseeing the marketing process, said: “This is a great opportunity to acquire a successful, busy and readily managed restaurant with an established reputation.

“Its location, on the edge of the soon to be completed Haymarket Edinburgh development, an impressive £350m mixed-use development which will include hotels, retail space and offices will bring further investment and buzz to the area. As a result, any future owner will benefit significantly.

“Our client is seeking offers over £450,000 including goodwill, fixtures and fittings. Trading accounts are available upon request to seriously interested parties. Viewing is strictly by appointment and arrangements can be made by contacting me, Margaret Mitchell MRICS, Surveyor, on 07919574184 or Margaret.mitchell@dmhall.co.uk.”

With 24 offices and over 250 members of staff including 24 Partners, DM Hall this year celebrates 125 years since its foundation in 1897.

Aldi donates 8890 meals to Edinburgh charities over school summer holidays

Aldi supported charities in Edinburgh during the school summer holidays by donating more than 8,800 meals to people in need. 

The supermarket paired its stores up with local charities, foodbanks and community groups via community giving platform Neighbourly to donate surplus food to good causes.      

Since the partnership with Neighbourly began in 2019, Aldi’s UK stores have already donated more than 25 million meals to over 3,600 local causes.     

Liz Fox, Corporate Responsibility Director at Aldi UK, said: “Our food donations scheme with Neighbourly operates year-round, but we know that school holidays are a particularly hard time for families, especially as many continue to experience greater hardship due to the cost-of-living crisis.     

“This is why we committed to supporting even more amazing causes in Edinburgh over the school holidays, helping them to provide meals to those who needed them most.”    

Steve Butterworth, from Neighbourly, added: “School holidays are often a time when demand on charities and foodbanks drastically increases, particularly during summer when children are at home for six weeks or more.

“This push in donations from Aldi was therefore essential in helping these organisations support families during this time.”  

Andrew Fairlie Scholarship seeks aspiring chefs in Scotland

Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland has announced that the Andrew Fairlie Scholarship is again seeking applications from aspiring chefs working in Scotland. Eligible applicants can find out more information by visiting https://hitscotland.co.uk/scholarships

Positioned as the ultimate scholarship that any aspiring chef in Scotland could receive, the Andrew Fairlie Scholarship is a fantastic opportunity for any chef looking to grow their knowledge and gain experience within renowned establishments.

Sponsored by HIT Scotland and The Gleneagles Hotel, and supported by Restaurant Andrew Fairlie and Perth College UHI, the Andrew Fairlie Scholarship is now in its 3rd year.  The scholarship launched in 2019, with the late Andrew Fairlie spearheading the initiative in partnership with HIT Scotland – an industry charity he was closely associated with.

The recipient will gain industry-wide recognition as an Andrew Fairlie Scholar and experience once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to continue their culinary education, such as a practical stage at 2 Michelin star Restaurant Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles, and 3-star restaurant Core by Clare Smyth in London.

Last year, two scholarships were awarded to Josh Wilkinson and Amy Stephenson.

The judges include some of the country’s finest chefs, who all knew Andrew Fairlie well.  Joining Stephen McLaughlin, Head Chef at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, is fellow 2 Michelin starred chef Tom Kerridge, Masterchef winner and National Chef of Scotland, Gary McLean, Lorna McNee, 1 star Head Chef at Cail Bruich, and Andrew’s former mentor Keith Podmore.

Stephen McLaughlin, Head Chef at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, said: “I’m delighted that we are starting the search for another Andrew Fairlie scholar, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Scotland’s future stars have to offer this year.

“I’m excited to see what the applicants design as their dish to be cooked if they make the Final skills test.  We’ve put some conditions on what that should include, but we want the chefs to use their knowledge and creativity to come up with something to showcase their personality, and impress us.

“The Andrew Fairlie Scholarship is a fantastic opportunity for chefs that want to push themselves to be the best they can be, to learn from and be inspired by other talented chefs, and to continue their personal development in this industry that we love.”

To apply, potential candidates will complete an online application exploring their thoughts on why they’d like to win this scholarship, their hopes for their future career as a chef, and who in the industry has recently inspired them. 

They will have to show their knowledge and creativity by creating a dish to be cooked and served on Finals Day in November, using their choice of wild furred Scottish game in season, with 2 garnishes (1 must include fruit), accompanied by a poivrade sauce.  From this, up to 6 chefs will be chosen to take part in the Grand Final in November.

The finalists will take part in a skills test at Perth College UHI which will focus on their skills, knowledge, and creativity, with the winner showing the right mix of personality and professionalism to be named an Andrew Fairlie Scholar.

Eligible applicants can find out more information by visiting:

https://hitscotland.co.uk/scholarships

Healthy Heart Tip: Sandwich Month

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: Sandwich Month

August is officially sandwich month! The first sandwich became popular in the 18th and 19th centuries and has been a staple part of our diets ever since.

Whether you’re grabbing an egg sandwich for breakfast or a turkey BLT at lunch, sandwiches are convenient, quick, and easy. Here we share some ideas to make your sandwiches healthier.

Choose nutritious wholegrains

Your basic sandwich is generally made with bread, on a roll or in a wrap. If you’re going to choose one of these items, boost the nutrition of your sandwich by choosing whole grains. Whole grains are a more nutrient-dense, less processed, and healthier option compared to refined grains (like white bread).

Healthy filling

Add a healthy sandwich meat or other lean protein. Freshly-cooked lean meats such as roasted turkey or chicken breast, canned salmon or tuna, or for vegetarian options; eggs, nut butter, tofu, smashed cooked beans and reduced-fat cheese are good healthy options. Additionally try using low-fat butter or a vegetable spread if you normally use full-fat butter.

Add in some colour

An easy way to make any sandwich or wrap a bit healthier is by adding vegetables as they can add a whole host of benefits to your meal. Veggies add nutrients, freshness, and flavour. Any mix of roasted veggies, fresh tomatoes, fresh greens (the darker, the better), sliced red onion, sliced cucumbers, and sliced peppers are all good choices.

Give these healthy sandwich tips a try and get creative!

Serve with a piece of fruit and a high-protein snack as a side, and you’ll score a lot of nutrition and satisfaction all at once.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at

www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website:

: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers:

https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.

Edinburgh distillery launches new cherry blossom gin for under £20

The brand-new cherry-flavoured gin is exclusively available in all 103 of Aldi’s Scottish stores 

Aldi Scotland has partnered with The Old Curiosity Distillery once again to launch Eidyn Cherry Blossom, a new, small-batch, cherry-flavoured premium gin that is available for just 19.99.  

This new gin from Eidyn (pronounced ee-din), which is named after the Scottish Gaelic for Edinburgh, is exclusive to Aldi Scotland. The cherry blossom produces a fresh floral note, underscored with angelica root, winter savoury and coriander botanicals, which gives way to a light juniper finish. All the botanicals used are grown, hand-picked, and dried from the distillery’s garden in Edinburgh.  

This new gin makes for the perfect artisan tipple and the Old Curiosity Distillery team recommend Eidyn Cherry Blossom to be served over ice with your preferred tonic, a sliver of lime and a black cherry garnish. The team are really pleased to be working with Aldi once again to create a new version of the Eidyn gin.  

Mark Boswell, Head Distiller, said: “The way we produce our gin means that our carbon emissions are incredibly low, which is something that is very important to us. With the launch of the new Eidyn Cherry Blossom gin, it is really encouraging to see Aldi support both the craft gin industry and sustainability.” 

Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “We at Aldi have thoroughly enjoyed working alongside The Old Curiosity Distillery since the launch of the original Eidyn gin back in 2020, which has proven to be incredibly popular and has gone on to win multiple awards.  

“Scotland has such a rich abundance of fresh ingredients, so it’s great to partner with a supplier that works so hard to bring them to our shelves.  

“We are extremely proud to be able to introduce another premium Eidyn gin to our customers, this time in a deliciously floral cherry blossom flavour. I am proud that our competitive prices mean that our customers can still enjoy premium, high-quality products such as Eidyn Cherry Blossom.”  

Aldi Scotland prides itself on working with a wide range of Scottish suppliers who are passionate about bringing the best of Scotland’s vibrant food and drink industry to its customers. 

You can find your nearest Aldi here.  

Today: Fresh Start Meet & Eat

Join Fresh Start today for a lunchtime for Meet & Eat!

This is a free lunch time get together between 12-1.30pm at our Kitchen at 28-30 Ferry Road Drive, EH4 4BR and will run every week.

Everyone is welcome to pop along and have their lunch free of charge.

We will have a set menu, with one hot dish and pudding available.

No need to book, just turn up, hope to see you there 😀

It’s a great way to get to meet new people in the local community and have some delicious food!

Edinburgh-based drinks innovators now available in prestigious local establishments

Latest prestigious listings for drinks innovators Buck & Birch

Gleneagles Town House and Johnnie Walker Experience among Edinburgh establishments impressed by wilderness foragers

Discerning drinkers at some of Edinburgh’s most prestigious establishments now have the chance to savour Buck & Birch’s uniquely curated spirits and liqueurs.

The wilderness foragers and flavour alchemists specialise in capturing the essences of the Scottish countryside, conjuring them into innovative, award-winning drinks.

Now their distinctive brand, famed for its ingredients sourced from the forests and hedgerows around their East Lothian distillery, is available in Edinburgh’s Gleneagles Town House, Virgin Hotel and the Johnnie Walker Experience amongst others.

They are the latest establishments to stock the East Lothian-based innovators’ drinks which include: Ana Birch Syrup Caramel Liqueur, a warm buttery caramel with undertones of birch syrup and toasted nuts;  Birch Wild Botanical Spirit, pure spirit married with raw sap and seasoned with wild birch flavours harvested throughout the seasons; Aelder Wild Elderberry Elixir with the flavour of dark stone fruits and hints of bitter chocolate and spice; and Amarosa Rosehip Rum Liqueur, ripe with the taste of green apples, honey and herbs, spiced vanilla and molasses.

Buck & Birch Creative Director and co-founder, Tom Chisholm says he’s delighted such prominent establishments are recognising their unique take on the countryside’s natural bounty:

“We go to enormous lengths to do justice to the ingredients we use, layering the flavours to achieve the depth and texture and balance we’re looking for, but it’s a real labour of love.

“We’re so lucky, our job is an absolute joy, and to know that more and more people are sharing our enthusiasm for Scotland’s wild harvest and our products, through these latest stockists, makes what we do even more fulfilling.”

Head Bartender at Johnnie Walker Princes Street, Miran Chauhan has said: “At Johnnie Walker Princes Street, our aim is to pair our liquids with those who also share our storytelling, environmentally conscious and flavour focused ethos.

“The Buck and Birch liqueurs fit in perfectly and help drive our creativity and innovation within cocktails.”

To view the full selection of drinks available for purchase, visit:

 www.buckandbirch.com

Feed your kid on a budget during the summer holidays

 With food prices rising amid the cost-of-living crisis, parents are being provided helpful ways to feed their children during the summer holidays.

The penny-pinching experts at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have looked at affordable ways to plan family meals throughout the summer break.

As supermarkets and fast-food chains increase their prices at the highest rates in over a decade, many parents are worried about the cost of feeding the kids during the holidays.

To support parents in the UK, restaurants and garden centres are offering discounted meals for kids to eat out, but there’s also simple methods to save money when cooking for the family at home.

Mitch Barnes, online consumer expert from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “We wanted to give parents a helping hand this summer, as many will feel the pinch of rising food costs in their weekly expenses.

 “There are numerous schemes available this summer with a wide range of pubs and supermarket restaurants offering special discounts for kids to eat out. 

“But we also wanted to provide simple ways for parents to save money on making meals at home for their children during the holidays.”

Here are NetVoucherCodes.co.uk’s budget-friendly ways to feed your kid on a budget this summer:

Picky bits for dinner

A classic British summer favourite which many households are familiar with this summer. To make the most of the leftover meals, leave them in the fridge overnight and get creative about which bits can be used for dinner. This tip will save you from making a last-minute trip to the supermarket.

Batch cooking

Many parents use this effective way to make batches of school lunches in the week. Use this tip throughout summer by freezing your food and allocating which days the kids can tuck into a delicious meal without going out to buy more ingredients.

Shop around for summer deals

If the local supermarkets are near one another, don’t be afraid to venture out to each store to work out which has the best offers. Most shops will be near the end of summer discounts, which means the chances of finding even better deals are at an all-time high.

Discounted pub meals

Local pubs are providing a variety of discounts for kids to eat cheaper this summer, from half price fish and chips to chicken nuggets for a dime. Head down and find out which are available.

A trip to the garden centre

Taking the family to the garden centre is the perfect summer day out, with fresh flowers, gardening tools and this summer – discounted meals. Lots of centres are taking on the helping kids this summer initiative, so look up your local garden centre to see what offers are available.

Cheap meals at supermarket restaurants

Throughout the summer holidays, many supermarket chains are offering further discounts on kid’s meals to help with the rising food costs. Have a look at which ones are offering free meals, with many promoting a £1 dine out option.

‘Once a week’ rule

Set some time aside for a family meal out by using the ‘once a week’ rule where you either dine out weekly or you get a takeaway of your choice as a family treat. This way you can plan around your food shops so less food will be wasted, which will also help to prevent overspending allocating food budgets.

Social media budget recipes

Everyone has a favourite social media recipe which has become a weekly make. But if you’re unsure of any meals which can be added to your cookbook, explore social media apps for simple recipes which will cost less than a fiver to make.

Family pizza making

Instead of the Saturday night takeaway, it can be a proper family get together making your own homemade pizzas. While the children are off school it’s a perfect initiative to use this to spend quality time with them, without having to splash a fortune on takeout.

Yellow stickers before scheme ends

The best before scheme is phasing out, so it’s important to make the most of a late minute dash to the shops for reduced labelled food. Have a look in the evenings and on a Sunday afternoon to have the best chance of securing food on a budget.

Family meal plan

It’s best to be organised when planning meals to save the extra pennies. To make this more creative, mark each day with a different colour pen and decorate with stickers when it’s time for a special dish or a day when you’re dining out. 

Try veggie days

Meats typically cost the most on weekly meals. If you decide to swap the meat for veggie choices it can save around a third on select meals during the week. Have a look at meals which don’t involve meat or try out some delicious veggie options for half the price.

For budget-friendly ways to feed the kids during the summer holidays, head over to NetVoucherCodes.co.uk.

Eat When You’re Hungry!

Eating when you’re hungry is better for your psychological and physical health, new research comparing eating styles indicates

People who eat when they are hungry tend to be more satisfied with their body and generally have higher self-esteem, a new international study suggests.

Published in the British Journal of Health Psychology, the study indicates that, contrary to popular ideas that it is important to ‘control’ hunger, paying attention to hunger and fullness cues appears to be linked to maintaining a lower weight.

In contrast, those who rely on food as a source of comfort or avoid certain types or amounts of food are less satisfied with their bodies and have lower self-esteem, says the research which involved more than 6,000 young adults in eight countries.

Lead researcher Dr Charlotte Markey, professor of psychology at Rutgers University (NJ, USA), said: “Cultural messages constantly suggest that it’s important to ignore our bodies’ hunger and satiety cues, but trusting our bodies and eating when we feel hunger – in other words, eating intuitively — seems to be better for both our psychological and physical health.”

Researchers examined three types of eating style and related factors rarely studied together: intuitive eating, emotional eating (eating in response to internal emotional signals, for example in response to feeling stressed) and restrained eating (also known as dietary restraint, where consumption is rigidly restricted with the aim of losing or maintaining weight).

A total of 6,272 young adults with an average age of about 21 completed the study survey. They were based in Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Italy, Japan, Spain and the United States.

Young adults were chosen because they experience social and psychological transitions and research shows they appear to be at risk of being dissatisfied with their bodies. In addition, this development period is linked with an increase in weight as well as changes in lifestyle habits. However, the findings are consistent with some research that suggests they are likely to be true of all adults.

The study found that the more people ate intuitively, the happier they tended to be with their body. They also had higher self-esteem and lower weight.

However higher levels of restrained and emotional eating were generally associated with lower body satisfaction and self-esteem, and being heavier.

The researchers conclude that the results suggest that eating styles are likely to be associated with how people feel about their bodies and how they feel in general.

In addition, ‘we can deduce that these eating styles may affect individual’s actual consumption, given the association sometimes found with weight status’, the study says.

Dr Markey suggests: “This research is in sync with evidence that dieting is ineffective for both weight loss and body satisfaction – and often counterproductive. We should aim to be more in tune with our own physiology than the latest trendy diet or eating plan.”

Some cultural differences between countries was noticed, the authors state, and this would be worthy of further examination.

The perfect foodie day at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Enjoy the 75th Edinburgh Festival Fringe by experiencing a variety of incredible shows and sampling the delicious food on offer at some exciting venues around the city.

From breakfast to lunch all the way to dinner, with a pitstop for a delicious snack and tipple or two on the way, here is a full itinerary for the perfect foodie day at the Fringe, courtesy of Edinburgh University Students’ Association’s (EUSA) unique city venues.

Breakfast

Begin your day bright and early and head out to catch an early bird show. The glorious Gilded Balloon at Teviot, located in the heart of the fringe, is the perfect venue for a morning performance.

Why not grab a coffee and a light breakfast at Linton&Co? Then head to the Gilded Balloon’s Garden which is completely sheltered and the perfect place to sit at to shelter from the famous Scottish rain. Enjoy your delicious breakfast while flicking through the Fringe magazine and choose your shows for the day.

Lunch

During the fringe visitors will be spoilt for choice with delicious lunch options. If you don’t want to venture too far from the Gilded Balloon at Teviot, then head to nearby Charles Street and enjoy a delicious Bross Bagel or try the best macaroni cheese on offer in Edinburgh at Mac Love. If you are looking for a lunch option that is perfect for both meat lovers and veggies, then look no further than the Screaming Peacock, where you can enjoy a mouth-watering selection of meaty and veggie burgers.

If you’re heading to watch a show at Potterrow Plaza, maybe you’re braving the two new interactive simulation performances installed by the Pleasance Theatre Trust? The perfect post-show lunch stop is Mint Falafel to pick up some delicious flatbread wraps for lunch.

Snacks

If the mid-afternoon hunger hits, head on over to Chunks Ice Cream on Charles Street outside the Gilded Balloon. The best place to satisfy any sweet tooth with yummy churros, ice cream and coffee, from the team behind one of Scotland’s most successful street food vans, Crema Caravan.

Dinner

After a full day at the fringe enjoy bite to eat before heading for a late-night show. Choose between a large selection of options including Edinburgh favourite Pizza Geeks, located at The Pleasance Courtyard, and sample some of the capital’s best pizza on offer. If you’re in the mood for pasta try a dish from the Barnacles & Bones delicious pasta menu, also found at The Pleasance Courtyard.

Luxford Burgers (which was founded by an Edinburgh University student) is also on hand to serve up the freshest, delicious burgers.

Drinks

Grab a lovely refreshment on your way to the show and choose between a selection of drinks from Scottish-based Stewart Brewing or Sea Change Prosecco, as well as Coors, Prahva, Carling, Staropramen, Guinness, Rekorderlig ciders, Johnnie Walker, Gordon’s Gin and Fever Tree, all found at Gilded Balloon, Pleasance Dome and The Pleasance Courtyard.

To get the latest news from EUSA’s venues, follow:

https://www.instagram.com/thegardenatteviot/
https://www.instagram.com/courtyardanddome/