Eating out in Edinburgh: Filament Coffee

We finally got around to checking out Filament Coffee on Clerk Street last week. We walk by often and I always make a mental note to go back and take a look inside...but of course it has taken us a while to actually make that happen. 

It was quiet when we visited on Monday morning, which gave Lyra the run of the place. She loved her babyccino (warmed milk with chocolate shavings) and mini Pinnies and Poppyseeds shortbread. She also loved the tunes and danced away while I enjoyed my flat white and peanut butter blondie. 

The staff were friendly, the coffee was exactly what I needed on a Monday morning and the sweet treats were fresh. 

Filament Coffee 

38 Clerk Street

Edinburgh 

EH8 

@filamentcoffee

Eating out in Edinburgh: Pavilion Cafe, The Meadows

We love sitting and enjoying our morning snack at The Pavilion Café on the Meadows, especially when the sun is shining and there are lots of people around to watch. Lyra and I have started a little routine where once a week we wander over to the Meadows and have a good session running up, down, and all around the play park and then walk across to The Pavilion Cafe on Jawbone Walk to refuel. 

I love this place for the coffee, the date squares, and the relaxed (and very child friendly) atmosphere. Lyra loves this place for the toys. It is the perfect place to meet up with pals so the little ones have the freedom to wander around playing with bikes, scooters and toys while the bigger ones can sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee while it is still hot. 

During the nice weather there are tables and chairs set up on the grass, but there is also plenty of outside shelter for those unpredictable days as well as a cosy seating area inside. The menu is great, with loads of choices of sandwiches and salad plates, as well as soups. We usually stick to the baked goods and coffees, but have also been known to indulge in a cheeky ice cream treat (yum)! 

If you are hanging out or meeting people in The Meadows while the weather is still nice make The Pavillion Café your meeting place. 

The Pavilion Café

Jawbone Walk 

The Meadows 

Edinburgh 

follow them on facebook

Eating out in Edinburgh: Hemma

Whenever we are over by Arthur's Seat, Holyrood, or Our Dynamic Earth we love escaping to Hemma for a sit down and a snack.  They do a good range of homemade cakes/puddings, excellent coffee and are very child friendly. 

Lyra and I visited recently after a busy morning exploring Our Dynamic Earth. I had originally planned to pop in for a coffee and a sweet treat before heading home, but once we made ourselves comfortable on the chaise lounge and dragged out some toys from the children's corner we decided to have an early lunch (it was almost 11:30 anyways) and take our time. Lyra had a very generous portion of scrambled eggs on toast (with cucumber and tomatoes on the side that very quickly ended up on my plate) and a cup of apple juice. I had an open face pastrami sandwich with sweet red onions and a remoulade, with a side salad and latte. We shared a portion of chips with plenty of "kekup". It was all delicious. We (I) felt really relaxed and we just took our time eating, and chatting, and playing and reading until it was time to pack up and go home. 

I really like the children's menu at Hemma because there is a good variety of food to choose from and the prices are so reasonable. The whole brand, of which Hemma is 1 of 6 restaurant bars, really gets the importance of a good children's menu and catering to their needs (books and toys to play with) and that's why we love visiting.  

Highchairs available and baby changing facilities. 

Hemma

73 Holyrood Rd.

Edinburgh 

EH8 8AU

www.bodabar.com/hemma/

@HemmaBar

Eating out in Edinburgh: Graze Coffee and Chocolate House, Dunbar

We bought a car last month. After years and years of relying on public transportation and grocery delivery we now own a car. It has changed our lives. Ok, maybe it hasn't changed our LIVES, but it has made it so much easier for us to go out and explore areas of Edinburgh/ areas around Edinburgh that have seemed too difficult for us to get to before. 

Last weekend we pottered down the A1 to Dunbar. The weather wasn't great, we wandered around the harbour and checked out a little play park on the way to the beach and then found pretty much the only place open on a Sunday morning for a snack, Graze Coffee and Chocolate House.

Luckily, we managed to snag one of the only remaining tables (and a highchair). The place was busy, and almost totally full by just after 11 on a Sunday morning. In fact, I think the whole time we were there (which wasn't too long since service was quick and Lyra eats like a speed racer) there wasn't an empty seat to be seen. 

In the back section of the cafe there is a dividing wall display of cakes and tray bakes and anything sweet you could desire...It was amazing. I was tempted by all the sweet offerings (there is also a pretty extensive food menu) but I had my heart set on a cheese scone. 

The scone was great, and came with plenty of butter. The coffee was also good and I have it on good authority that the Malteser tray bake was top notch. Lyra had a toasted bagel with butter and jam and that went down very well indeed. 

On an Sunday Dunbar is a little bit sleepy but still worth the trip for a beach walk and a lovely coffee and scone treat. In fact, I'd say it is worth the drive just for the treat! 

Graze Coffee and Chocolate House 

65 High Street 

Dunbar

East Lothian 

EH42 1EW

www.grazedunbar.co.uk

@GrazeDunbar

Eating Out in Edinburgh: Starbucks, Quartermile

Although I try to frequent Edinburgh's independent coffee shops Lyra and I do enjoying sharing toasted fruit bread at Starbucks in the Quartermile. 

I know not everyone is a fan of this big brand, and their business ethics, but the Quartermile location has plenty of seating, loads of room for buggies and at least 8 high chairs. Say what you will about Starbucks as a big bad brand...they really know how to cater to parents with little ones. 

Starbucks

32 Simpson Loan 

Quartermile 

Edinburgh 

EH3 9GG

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Cake Talk: Oatbake With Berries from The Nordic Bakery Cookbook

It is no secret that I am obsessed with anything Scandinavian and also no secret that given the opportunity I will happily bake for guests (or just myself) Scandinavian treats.  I have yet to master the art of the cardamom bun, but I am adding more and more cakes to my Scandi repertoire. 

I made this loaf cake way back in January for a gathering of the Edinburgh branch of the Clandestine Cake Club.  The theme that evening was comfort cakes; Cakes to Feed the Soul, and I felt that this oatbake from The Nordic Bakery  fit the bill perfectly. It is basically a warm bowl of oatmeal with berries in loaf form...perfect for any time of the day or year! 

I love this loaf cake. It is dense from the oats that have been soaked in hot milk, and the fruit gets really squidgy and sweet when it is baked. I imagine it could be sliced once cooled and then frozen in individual portions making the perfect grab and go breakfast bar. 

I've managed to find a link to the recipe on the Fuss Free Flavours website so you can try for yourself! 

Cake Talk: Jamie Oliver's Savoury Roulade

In February I attended a meeting of the Edinburgh branch of the Clandestine Cake Club at the lovely Patisserie Florentin in Stockbridge. 

I can't even remember the theme of the evening...it might have been spring is in the air or something like that...the cakes were lovely and I managed to have a small taste of each one.  

I decided to go a bit wacky this time and make something savoury.  I don't know what possessed me to, and trying to find a savoury cake recipe was actually pretty difficult (even Pinterest struggled).  It finally dawned on me that I could make a savoury roulade, since a sweet roulade is a totally acceptable cake...a savoury one must fit the "cake only" Clandestine Cake Club rule.  

I settled on this recipe from the Jamie Oliver website.  It is a lovely roasted squash roulade with a spinach, ricotta and goats cheese filling.  The original recipe is made with gluten free flour and is actually intended as a vegetarian main corse for a Christmas Lunch.  I used plain all purpose flour instead so it wasn't gluten free in the end. 

I made all the components of the cake the evening before and assembled it about an hour before the event started. I left the cake, wrapped, on the counter over night and it was totally fine the next day (although it did crack slightly). 

While nothing spectacular to look at (compared to the other cakes at the meeting) it tasted absolutely divine. The goats cheese added a slight tang to the filling and the cake itself actually tasted like squash and parmesan. 

This was a seriously delicious SAVOURY CAKE.  

Eating Out in Edinburgh: Apiary

Instead of cooking a big Easter Lunch this year we decided to treat ourselves (and Nonna and Grandad) to lunch out at Apiary Restaurant in Newington. We had not visited before, but had heard good things from some friends who had attended a meeting of Edinburgh's Scran Salon there a few months ago. We often walk by and I kept on meaning to try to find a reason to check it out...so Nonna and Grandad's visit was just the ticket! 

children's mac and cheese

We went along for a VERY late lunch/WAY TOO EARLY dinner (either way you look at it, it was 3pm).  It wasn't busy, but there were a couple of other larger parties in...and it was Easter Sunday anyway. Regardless, the restaurant is lovely and bright and we had a nice table right in the centre with plenty of room for SOMEONE's high chair and in prime view of all the comings and goings from the kitchen (perfect for us nosey lot). 

ham hock hash and egg 

The lunch menu is nice. Not extensive, but a really nice selection of meat, fish and vegetarian...all with a little added spice.  There is also a brunch menu, and a fabulous desert menu and the best part is that it is 2 COURSES for £9.50...seriously. The portions aren't HUGE. I'd say they are just right...like I was able to walk away feeling satisfied without needing to secretly unbutton my jeans. 

children's ice cream

The children's menu is simple...2 courses for £5 with a choice of soup to start (Heinz Tomato) and then bangers and mash or mac n cheese and then 2 scoops of ice cream with sprinkles for dessert.  There are some who would bang on about offering kids smaller portions of adult food and sometimes I do cringe when all I see is fried food and chips on offer...but for Lyra the mac n cheese and ice cream was JUST RIGHT. 

ice cream slider 

All in all we were very happy with the service and the food at Apiary and have already made plans to return when Grandma Cherry comes to visit next month.  The food is delicious, and totally reasonably priced (there is a pre theatre dinner deal too).  If you are in the area and haven't had a chance to visit Apiary yet...DO! 

Apiary Restaurant 

33 Newington Road 

Edinburgh 

EH9 1QR

www.apiaryrestaurant.co.uk

@apiaryedinburgh

Eating out in Edinburgh: The Edinburgh Larder Cafe

Tucked off The Royal Mile on Blackfriars Street is the lovely The Edinburgh Larder Cafe.  When we first moved up to Edinburgh I often walked from our old flat in Stockbridge over to the Old Town and loved stopping in at The Edinburgh Larder for breakfast...the porridge is perfect on a damp Edinburgh morning.  I've not been since Lyra arrived, partly because it is a small cafe making it difficult with the buggy, and partly because I rarely find myself wandering up and down The Royal Mile these days.  Earlier this month, however, I took Lyra to an early morning storytelling session at The Scottish Storytelling Centre and decided to pop into The Edinburgh Larder for a snack afterwards.

I had thought about sitting with Lyra in the window, so that she could sit beside me on the banquette, but one of the lovely staff told me that there was a highchair so we ended up pulling that up to the large communal table.  The cafe was quiet so we had the table to ourselves, which was nice, but I'm sure Lyra would have happily entertained anyone who chose to sat with us. 

Lyra snacked on half of a decent sized sone with butter and jam (and also ended up having some of the sausage from my breakfast roll) and happily gobbled it right up.  The coffee is good, the breakfast list is extensive and the staff are very friendly.

The Edinburgh Larder

15 Blackfriars Street

Edinburgh 

EH1 1NB 

www.edinburghlarder.co.uk

@edin_larder 

Open Mon-Fri 8-5, Sat-Sun 9-5

Eating Out in Edinburgh: Mademoiselle Macaron

I don't get into town very often, but when I do I like to treat myself to a selection of Macarons from Edinburgh's resident macaron-ess Mademoiselle Macaron. Tucked away off of Lothian Road on Grindlay Street (across from the Lyceum Theatre) Mademoiselle has created a Franco-Scottish enclave where you can enjoy a coffee and a macaron (or two) with a dash of friendly chat and laughter thrown in for free.  

On Christmas Eve I braved the crowds to take Lyra to a toddler's thing in town and as a reward (for us all) we wandered over to Mademoiselle Macaron en route back home.  Ok, it was a sleight detour...but the weather was nice and I really had a craving for some macarons with my prosecco on Christmas Eve.  

I picked up a selection of macarons (8 for £7) to savour/devour including an oh so festive GINGERBREAD one...perfect with a glass of bubbly...and a EARL GREY TEA one that I saved for Christmas morning breakfast (again with something fizzy).  

If, like me, you can't get enough of these gorgeous Parisian treats make sure you pay Mademoiselle a visit in her shop, or at the Grassmarket Market on Saturdays.  Of course you could also LEARN TO MAKE THEM at one of her classes and make them for yourself...but it is so much more fun buying a little bag to take home and devour.  

Mademoiselle Macaron 

22 Grindlay Street 

Edinburgh 

(Closed Monday)

www.mademoisellemacaron.co.uk

@mlle_macaron

Cake Talk: Verdens Beste (Norwegian World's Best Cake)

In December I attended the first meeting of the Edinburgh branch of the Clandestine Cake Club...think AA for cake-a-holics. At these events everyone brings along a cake to share with the other attendees and then you all sit around eating cake, drinking tea and chatting (how wonderful)! It really was wonderful; a lovely, intimate and joyous pre-holiday evening out with other local cake lovers.  

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, I chose to try my hand at something Scandinavian for this "festive" themed evening.  Not exactly a Christmas cake; the Verdens Beste Cake was voted by the people of Norwary as their NATIONAL CAKE. It literally translates as WORLD'S BEST CAKE (if that doesn't scream CELEBRATION I don't know what does...except maybe one of those traditional Danish Cake parties).  Layers of Sponge, Meringue, Custardy Cream and Almonds definitely make me feel indulgent, so I thought it would be just PERFECT for this event.  

The Verdens Beste is a pretty easy cake to put together and is essentially thin layer of uncooked sponge topped with thick meringue and slivered almonds and then baked.  You bake it as one rectangular cake and then cut it in half to create the two layers and then sandwich it with thick vanilla cream.  Having never made it before I was somewhat nervous and kept checking and rechecking the cake while it baked...the next time I will just relax. 

I used this recipe from Sweet Paul Magazine for the cake part but mixed 1/2 a tin of Devon Custard with 1/2 a pint of whipped whipping cream for the cream layer...only because in other recipes I had read on-line they had suggested using Vanilla Jell-o Pudding mixed with whipping cream (which sounds totally amazing). 

The recipe instructs to bake the cake/meringue inside a rectangular cake tin, but instead I used the method from Passion for Baking and spread the cake batter and meringue on a baking tray.  Who know which works better, I just didn't have a cake tin large enough! 

I could easily have eaten most of the cake myself, it was light and creamy and the meringue was perfect.  The few bits that were left came home with me and lasted well for the next couple of days in the fridge.  

So, if you are looking for something a little bit different but not too difficult give The Verdens Beste a try.  

And if you are interested in Scandinavian cake culture drool over this article about a traditional Danish cake table in South Jutland SIIIIIGH. 

Eating Out in Edinburgh: IKEA Cafe

I'm not sure what I look forward to more from a trip to IKEA...all the crap I'll buy or eating in the cafe.  Since we have had Lyra we've been to IKEA a lot...a lot, a lot.  Before Lyra I could easily make my way through the store and arrive at the end of my mission having only bought those things that were on my list...now it is a different story...and our trip always involves stopping to have something to eat. 

The children's menu is good value and there is a really good selection of hot and cold foods.  We usually share an adult portion of meatballs and mashed potatoes, though.  She can only manage about 2 meatballs at this point so it isn't like she is putting  a huge dent in my mountain.  I personally would rather fries...but...oh well.  

Breakfasts are equally as yummy and easy to share, but if we go first thing in the morning we've usually had breakfast at home so just stop for a cinnamon bun (of course) and a drink.  

Even when it is busy there is somewhere to sit, highchairs aplenty and for the most part everything is cleaned very quickly.  There is a really great station for warming baby bottles and baby food, plastic plates and cutlery are also provided...and bibs.  On a Tuesday there is a breastfeeding clinic run by local midwives.  PLUS there is a chance to load up on all that crap I just NEED for the house...gotta love IKEA.  

Eating Out in Edinburgh: Peter's Yard Cafe Quartermile

It is no secret that I am obsessed with everything Scandinavian. I don't know exactly what it is that attracts me to the culture, nature, style, dramas, food...but there is something so beautiful about it all. When David and I visited Edinburgh the summer after our wedding I was determined to visit Peter's Yard, a Swedish Bakery, right smack in the middle of the city's Quartermile development on the edge of the Meadows Park not far from the Royal Mile. 

That first visit was during the festival and the cafe was jam packed so we sat outside and enjoyed a slice of pizza and a coffee.  I remember it was good, but I remember how windy it was more. 

When we moved to Edinburgh and lived in Stockbridge I watched with anticipation for the 2nd (and smaller) location to open and enjoyed a relaxing flat white and cardamom bun during the first week of  trading. Shortly after that we moved to the south side of the city (so much closer to the Quartermile) and now that we have Lyra it is easy to find reasons to "just grab a coffee and bun" before hitting the swings in the park.  

You really can't go wrong at Peter's Yard with pastries, bread baskets with cheese and jam, soups, open sandwiches, salads and pizzas to choose from.  The coffee and tea are also excellent, as are the cold drinks.  

Late last week I treated Lyra and myself to a coffee and a pistachio cardamom bun (yeah I know).  We sat in the sun in the outside seating area and enjoyed the last of the summer weather.  I ate my portion of the bun too quickly to really savour it, Lyra gobbled her's up and was moaning and groaning and pointing at what was left of my plate and I just didn't want to share any more so down the hatch it went.  I can tell you that it was gloriously cardamomy and the pistachio was a nice addition to their basic cardamom bun.  I could have done with more pistachio but none the less it was deeeeeelicious.  

They also do ice cream...

Peter's Yard Cafe 

Quartermile

27 Simpson Loan 

Edinburgh 

EH3 9GG 

Stockbridge 

3 Deanhaugh Street 

Edinburgh 

EH4 1LU

www.petersyard.com

@petersyardcafe

Day Out: Gorgie City Farm

Tucked off Gorgie Road just south west of the city centre is Gorgie City Farm.  We recently visited for the first time and I have been kicking myself for not going sooner. The farm, itself, is small enough to keep young children entertained for an hour or so.  There are chickens, goats, cows,pigs and sheep as well as guinea pigs, rats, bunnies and lizards.  In addition to the animals there is a small play park (with the tallest slide Lyra has ever seen) and a lovely cafe.  

Entry is FREE and donations are happily accepted.  

Gorgie City Farm 

51 Gorgie Rd 

Edinburgh 

EH11 2LA

www.gorgiecityfarm.org.uk

@gorgiecityfarm

Eating Out in Edinburgh: Burger

I love burgers. I know they are, like, super trendy right now and everything, but I have always and will always love going out for a burger.  

A couple of months ago we finally managed to visit BURGER  on Fountainbridge for lunch.  It was a pleasant accident that forced us into Burger that day (festival cues at neighbouring Loudons and the rain)...and I could not have been happier with the experience.  On that trip it was a simple burger and fries for me...so so so delicious. All through the meal we kept on saying to each other "this is so good" and "next time I'm going to try...". 

Next Time came a few weeks ago.  

I was already to try a hot dog (yeah, they do hot dogs too) but then I spied the SPECIALS board, which changes weekly, and saw they had POUTINE! Poutine? You say...YES! POUTINE! As a Canadian it fills my heart with joy any time I have the chance to douse my fries in gravy and cheese curds.  It isn't quite the same with grated cheddar and gravy...it is the curds that elevates it.  In Canada you get all kinds of GOURMET poutines now (I had a particularly awesome breakfast poutine last summer with corned beef, spring onions, cheese curds, gravy and a fried egg) but the site of it here in the UK is so...rare...I couldn't resist. 

It didn't disappoint.  

There is a children's menu, but I tend to bring Lyra a small lunch whenever we go out and then offer her bits and pieces of my meal (although she didn't get any poutine...her dad kindly shared his burger and bun).  Oh and nifty high chairs too (swoon-worthy Baby Bjorn)!

BURGER 

94a Fountainbridge 

Edinburgh 

EH3 9QA 

91/93 Shandwick Place 

Edinburgh 

EH2 4SD 

www.burgeruk.co.uk

@burgeredinburgh 

Eating Out in Edinburgh: Bon Papillon

One of our hands down favourite places in Edinburgh for a decaf latte and slice of cake (or scone or bacon roll) is Bon Papillon on Howe Street. Run by Ingrid (the artist) and Stuart (the Sconemeister/framer extraordinaire) this gallery cafe is our go to place for a wee break when we are in the city centre.  Snuggled in surrounded by an ever changing array of paintings you can enjoy both sweet and savoury treats and good, GOOD, coffee (and tea, and hot chocolate, and cold drinks).  

Try out the scones (rated amongst the best in Edinburgh...if not THE BEST), have a goats cheese salad, enjoy a latte and relax.  

Bon Papillon 
15 Howe Street
Edinburgh
EH3 6TE

www.bonpapillon.com
@bonpapillon

(Closed Monday and Tuesday)...I know...how dare they!

Day Out: National Museum of Scotland

When we first moved to Edinburgh 3 and a half years ago the National Museum of Scotland was undergoing a major revamp.  I can't speak for what it was like before the renovations and new galleries (although I have heard that there used to be a fish pond in the vaults) but it is a great place to spend the day, or even an hour.

There are loads of interactive displays and hands-on learning areas throughout the whole of the museum.  For little little ones (0-2) the best place is the Imagine Gallery on the first floor. It is a great interactive space dedicated to world cultures.  There are instruments to play, costumes to try on and artefacts to handle.  The gallery opened in 2011 so some of it is showing signs of wear and tear already.  This is a shame but, positively, an indication of its popularity.  

On the 5th floor is another hands-on area with loads of fun stuff to get engaged with about the natural world, dinosaurs, rocks and minerals and life cycles.  This area is good for older children, but there really isn't much to hold the attention of a toddler, other than the Dino dig (which Lyra couldn't reach into). 

Both the cafe and the brasserie are nice and are very accommodating to those with small children in tow.  We often wander over for a play in the Imagine Gallery and then a treat in the cafe, especially on dreary, wet days. 

10 new galleries are due to open in 2016 and I hope that the museum continues to offer high quality hands-on learning experiences, including some geared towards younger children and toddlers.


National Museum of Scotland
Chamber Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1JF

www.nms.ac.uk

Open daily 10-5