ABBEYHILL 17 & 18th SEPTEMBER 11am – 6pm
What are you up to this weekend? Come along to our 17th annual arts and music festival!
Over 75 artists, from a huge variety of disciplines, will throw open doors to their homes & gardens over the weekend – so lots to see and discover … also visit our Campervan Brewery pop up bar, chow down food from @The Safari Lounge & listen to live music at the Hive!
Major supermarkets are scrapping best before dates and encouraging shoppers to use the ‘sniff test’ instead, but what do all of these terms really mean?
Penny pinching pros at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have shared their advice on what the difference between ‘use by’ and ‘best before’ dates are and the importance of the new sniff test.
With some major supermarkets removing the ‘use by’ labels on bottles of milk, shoppers are being encouraged to use the sniff test rather than chucking away expired food which is still safe to eat.
This is causing concern to those who are not aware of the labelling differences and are worried about consuming expired goods.
The change is being brought in by supermarkets in an attempt to tackle food waste following news of further food price increases for everyday essentials like dairy and vegetables.
When an item passes its best before date, it is not necessarily ‘out of date’ so Brits shouldn’t be too worried about this change.
In fact, this date is just a guideline for quality and freshness. It’s typically added by manufacturers and after this date has passed, the ‘best taste’ has gone.
Mitch Barnes, online consumer expert at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “With the cost-of-living soaring, selected supermarkets are adapting their product labelling by removing the best before label.
“While it can massively help with food wastage problems, it can be quite confusing to suss out when they need to be used by and how people can tell if a food has gone off at home.
“We’re advising people to check the remaining labels and to use the sniff test at home to save the extra pennies on a weekly food shop bill.”
Here are NetVoucherCodes.co.uk’s top tips explaining the importance of different expiry date meanings:
Best before dates
Most labels have the best before dates on the packaging, usually two or three days before the use-by dates – this is usually put on by manufacturers. Once you’ve passed the use-by date, it doesn’t necessarily mean the product is inedible, but it’ll just lack the freshness it once had and it will essentially lose its ‘best taste’.
While they may be lacking in taste and texture, they’re still safe to eat for a limited time and can help to save extra cash during a food shop.
Use by dates
Use by dates are often confused with Best Before dates. The labelled use-by date on a product is a recommended time for how long you should use a product by.
Meat and fish products should not be consumed after the ‘use by’ date as there is a high chance that you’ll get food poisoning if you do. What you can do is freeze the meat before the expiry date for as long as nine months if it’s raw chicken.
Sniff test
This is the system being steadily introduced into supermarkets. If a milk carton was previously labelled as ‘best before 12 Sep 2022’, it’s likely to still have a few days of safe consumption afterwards.
You’ll be able to tell if your milk is off by the foul smell, so make sure to just give it the test instead of spending a fortune buying a fresh carton each time it goes beyond the labelled best before date.
This month, speciality Spanish wholesaler Brindisa are coming to Edinburgh as part of an exclusive tapas takeover with El Perro Negro at Bonnie & Wild.
Celebrating artisan and authentic Spanish products, and of course, Iberian burgers, Bonnie & Wild in the St James Quarter, will play host to award-winning El Perro Negro and Brindisa, for an evening of delicious feasting on Wednesday 28th September..
Following on from the success of El Perro Negro’s ‘The Spaniard’ collaboration burger with Brindisa – which had Iberian beef, marrow butter, San Simon cheese, sobrasada, confit garlic mayo and chimichurri, the award-winning burger supremos decided to take the partnership one step further with a night completely dedicated to Spanish cooking and culture.
Foodie fans will love the tapas sharing feast with the menu offering an array of dishes with three standout Spanish burgers, including; Iberico pork cheek finished in a Pedro Ximenez glaze, pickled shallots and truffle mayo; Presa Iberico, chimichurri, confit garlic mayo and Galician beef with smoked hollandaise.
Sharing dishes on the menu are authentic, premium and delicious. They include speciality Iberico croquetas; smoked Nardin anchovies, Navarrico piquillo peppers on charred sourdough and olive oil drizzle; mouth-watering chorizo cooked in cider with chickpeas finished with PX vinegar and speciality Spanish charcuterie and cheeses.
The evening will be served family-style to reflect the Spanish culture of bringing people together over great food and wine.
Nick Watkins, co-founder of El Perro Negro, explains: “As well as being purveyors of imported Spanish fine foods like charcuterie, artisan cheeses and olive oils, Brindisa has two shops in London and five restaurants including one in foodie haven, Borough Market.
Gayle Swan, Brindisa regional manager for Scotland, said: “This collaboration marks a new direction for Brindisa. We have an incredible base in London, and this evening gives us a chance to showcase the quality and diversity of Spanish products that we offer.”
The El Perro Negro x Brindisa Tapas Takeover takes place at Bonnie & Wild on Wednesday 28th September with two sittings available at 5.30pm and 8.00pm.
The event is priced at £55pp (+booking fee) and includes three Spanish sliders each and seven dishes to share between two. With carefully curated Spanish drinks pairing menu options. Guests can choose between Spanish wines or Spanish inspired non-alcoholic cocktails to compliment their meal.
Places are limited and expected to sell out very quickly. Buy tickets and secure a place online HERE.
For more information follow on social: @elperronegroburgers.
The Great British Food Festival is back this year at the lovely Dalkeith Country Park on the weekend of the 10th & 11th September and it promises to be a fantastic foodie weekend.
Over 75 different traders will be in attendance, amongst them artisan food producers and award winning street food stalls.
Along with wonderful food and drink producers there will be a great line up of local bands, fantastic chef demos, foodie talks, man vs food competitions and a bake stage.
Dan Maycock, one of the organisers said ‘We have got a great mix of local Scottish produce and some coming from further afield. On the hot food front you will be able to try anything from traditional hog roast to Indian and Thai dishes, so hopefully something for all tastes!’
The Chef Demo stage hosts great local chefs and Instagram stars cooking up their favourite dishes and sharing tips, with five demos taking place each day.
One of the highlights is the ‘Great British Cake Off’, where amateur bakers compete head to head in two baking categories (see www.greatbritishfoodfestival.com for details and to enter), and best of all, if you enter a cake you get free entry to the festival!
There is entertainment for all the family over the weekend, including kid’s cookery lessons, free circus skills, and live music. The perfect recipe for a fun, foodie day out for the whole family. See www.greatbritishfoodfestival.com for advanced tickets.
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 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.”
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:
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
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:
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.
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!
