Food & drink

Edinburgh vegetarian restaurant Henderson's wins List award in 50th year

Pioneering business wins Eating & Drinking Guide's Special Award 2012

24 Apr 2012

2012 marks a notable anniversary in Edinburgh’s dining history: Janet Henderson’s first city venture dedicated to vegetarian food opened 50 years ago. In 1962 Janet, along with husband Mac, an East Lothian farmer, set up a ‘farm shop’ in the city…

Le Bistro Beaumartin adds a French flavour to Glasgow's culinary palette

24 Apr 2012

‘French’ tends to be a label that’s very loosely slapped on a restaurant in Glasgow – often truly being ‘French with a twist of this or that’. That’s changed, however, with Le Bistro Beaumartin popping onto the petite-yet-elite scene to teach Glasgow a…

The best breakfasts in Glasgow

The best all-rounders in the west, plus a few specific breakfast-item highlights

29 Mar 2012

Café Gandolfi 64 Albion Street, 552 6813, cafegondolfi.com Breakfast served: Mon-Sat 8am-noon; Sun 9am-noon. The long-standing, Scottish cuisine-focused eatery has beefed up its breakfasts in recent years, resulting in a menu with eight different egg…

The best breakfasts in Edinburgh

The finest cafes, bistros and restaurants in the capital for a morning meal

29 Mar 2012

Broughton Delicatessen 7 Barony Street, 558 7111, broughton-deli.co.uk Breakfast served: Mon–Sat 8am–3pm; Sun 11am–3pm. What does this place not do well? A great deli, healthy lunches and superb, made-from-scratch breakfasts from morning until 3pm…

Steak, Edinburgh's new meat-loving eaterie

The brash new restaurant makes no claims of subtlety with full-on flavours and pumping music

26 Mar 2012

‘Where beauty meats the beast’ is the strap-line for brash new arrival Steak, archly attached to publicity shots of ladies, puckering their lips in readiness under dangling raw t-bones – although ‘where beauties eat the beast’ might be just as apt.

Bruadar presents well-stocked beer & burger options to Glasgow's West End

26 Mar 2012

Beer and a burger – Bruadar’s is a simple enough formula, but with so many quality variables it is one which delivers genuinely satisfying results. Twenty burgers include the expected beefy standards, a few chicken and five vegetarian choices – all…

West End eaterie Delizique re-invents itself

Snacks, desserts and gourmet pizzas on offer at the Hyndland street deli

17 Feb 2012

There’s one guaranteed way to get the proprietors of delicatessens snapping their grissini in fury – and that’s to open a branch of Waitrose nearby. The upscale chain acts like Kryptonite on proximate independent operations, its economies of scale…

Bollywood: The Coffee Box

Takeaway curry stand situated on Edinburgh's Bruntsfield Links

17 Feb 2012

Inspired by the street food culture she grew up with in India, Nutan Bala left her job as a support worker and opened the hatches on Edinburgh’s first curry and coffee stand. Except for a mixed vegetable dhal, which has proven so popular that it has…

New Edinburgh restaurant The Mulroy brings touch of country-house class

Chef Damien Rolain's menu favours locally-sourced, seasonal dishes

3 Feb 2012

Not far from Spean Bridge, the Battle of Mulroy between the MacDonalds and the Mackintoshes took place in 1688. With fresh tête-à-tête daffodils on the tables blooming harmoniously with muted yellow walls, an Edinburgh restaurant bearing the name of the…

Neighbourhood Watch: Hyndland, Glasgow

Tips for hot spots in the plushest part of the West End

3 Feb 2012

What’s it like? That nice bit between the ‘proper’ West End and Anniesland, with lots of cute coffee shops, restaurants and lovely flats. Think ornate doorways, stained glass and well-pruned window baskets, going for much more than your average…

Best of 2011: Scottish food producers

The brewers, smokehouses, bakers and cheesemakers on the rise

20 Jan 2012

2011 wasn’t a fun year for small business but food and drink in Scotland continued to make advances with impressive new products, new producers, new markets, growing food festivals, and an increased awareness of the value and importance of local food…

Whole Foods Market opens in Glasgow

A trolley-tour round Glasgow's popular new ethical food outlet

13 Jan 2012

You have to hand it to the Americans – they certainly know how to create an impressive supermarket. The opening of Whole Foods Market in Giffnock has had foodies, healthy eaters and ethical shoppers from Glasgow (not to mention resentful Edinburghers…

The best restaurants in Edinburgh and Glasgow for cheap eating in January

Dining out options that won't break the bank

9 Jan 2012

EDINBURGH The Mosque Kitchen Now relocated from its former al fresco spot outside Edinburgh’s mosque, the café-style Mosque Kitchen still serves a fine range of halal meat and vegetable curries in no-fuss polystyrene dishes for under £5 including…

Neighbourhood Watch: Broughton Street, Edinburgh

A guide to Edinburgh's hip gay hub

9 Jan 2012

What’s it like? A street full of bars, restaurants and delightful eateries nestled underneath old tenement flats. Ideal for stuffing your face full of food and hitting a pub with friends just a stone’s throw from the centre of the city. Where’s it…

Four List readers share their New Year's resolutions

An insight into getting started in trapeze, cookery, ballet or capoeira

6 Jan 2012

'The feeling of achievement is amazing' Name Denise Deutsch Age 30 Profession Fabric buyer, Mandors Skill Trapeze and Aerial Arts I fell into the idea of aerial arts as a hobby after unexpectedly getting a ticket to see Leona Lewis perform in…

Curry institution Khushi's re-opens in new location in Edinburgh

6 Jan 2012

When Khushi’s was engulfed in fire just before Christmas 2008, you might have been forgiven for speculating if it had flown just a bit too close to the sun. In a few years the restaurant had shifted from being an old-fashioned curry café on Drummond…

The top books for a healthy start to 2012

Dieting and exercise books from Tracy Griffen, Mike Dow, John Briffa and more

5 Jan 2012

It’s that time of year when the season’s jollities come back to haunt you. Stepping on the scales or glancing in the mirror can be a pretty scary prospect. Fortunately, you’re never short of advice in written form come January. Edinburgh-based personal…

Paul Gunning's Purslane celebrates the small things in life

Starters and desserts a success, although mains need some work

19 Dec 2011

Below street level on narrow, quirky St Stephen Street in Stockbridge in Edinburgh is a tiny restaurant. Until recently it had been home to Redwood, in which Californian chef Annette Sprague charmed diners for a couple of years but near-enough exhausted…

Neighbourhood Watch: Great Western Road, Glasgow

Including The Captain's Rest, The Belle and Lupe Pintos

19 Dec 2011

What’s it like? One big road full of pubs, cafés and little shops. Flats are mostly old tenements above the bars, restaurants and stores which go up most of the road. Where’s it, like? In the West End, a stone’s throw from Woodlands and Byres Road.

The Hot 100 2011: 100-50

The definitive list of Scottish creative talent

16 Dec 2011

100: Gordon Ferris. Kilmarnock crime author makes good. The already packed Scottish crime writing field has finally found a bit of elbow room for another burgeoning talent. Joining the likes of Rankin, Brookmyre, McDermid and co is this Ayrshire-born…

Taste test: Christmas cake

The best Christmas cake evaluated, including Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s

15 Dec 2011

Waitrose Richly Fruited Xmas Cake. £16.99 ●●●● Nicely decorated and complete with an edible icing snowflake, this cake has a balanced and suitably delicious compliment of cake, icing and marzipan and is packed with fruit. Broughton Deli…

The Scottish vineyard making its own wine

Pioneering Scottish viticulturist Christopher Trotter on course for grape harvest

13 Dec 2011

In the spring of 2011, Christopher Trotter planted a 2.4-hectare vineyard on his Upper Largo estate on the southern coast of Fife. Facing his first winter as a pioneering Scottish viticulturist, Trotter, who's Fife’s official ‘Food Ambassador’, isn’t at…

Taste test: Cranberry sauce

The best cranberry sauces from Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s and more

13 Dec 2011

Hopetoun / Mrs. Bridges Cranberry Sauce with Port ●● This sauce from Mrs Bridges is so sweet and sugary, it’s a bit like eating your roast turkey with a side-order of jam. It does contain whole cranberries, but it just wasn’t saucy enough for our taste…

Taste test: Truffles

The best truffles from Waitrose, Peckham’s, Thorntons and more

13 Dec 2011

Seriously Chocolatey Truffles, Waitrose ●●● We like the creamy texture of these truffles from Waitrose, but sadly the taste doesn’t quite live up to the name. The flavour fails to pack a punch, though they are quite boozy – perhaps even a little too…

Taste test: Mince pies

The best mince pies evaluated from Peckhams, Tesco, Marks And Spencer and more

13 Dec 2011

Peckhams Mince Pies ●●●● Fluffy pastry and a top-notch mincemeat filling make this a tasty treat from one of Scotland’s best deli staples. Sure, the pastry may seem heavy to some, but it is Christmas, so why not indulge yourself? Tesco Mince Pies…

Taste test: Champagne

The best champagne evaluated, from Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Moet And Chandon, Tattinger and Waitrose

13 Dec 2011

Sainsbury’s Blanc De Blancs Champagne ●●● This is a light, if slightly forgettable offering from Sainsbury’s, but as a reasonably priced bottle of fizz, it’s decent enough bang for your buck. Morrisons Champagne Brut ●● There’s something a tad…

Historic Scotland has Christmas all wrapped up

Edinburgh and Stirling castles set to host festive events this winter

1 Dec 2011

Looking to get into that Christmas spirit good and early but seeking some festive inspiration? Sometimes we forget about the very best things on our doorstep – maybe it’s because we associate them more with tourists than as places to visit ourselves but…

Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle: Alternative Christmas dining options

Two iconic venues now taking bookings for your Christmas meal

23 Nov 2011

Stuck for somewhere decent to have your Christmas lunch? Need a venue that’ll please a range of tastes but won’t be another run-of-the-mill pub grub standby in the city centre? Have you considered going for something a bit more... iconic?

Bar Crawls: Edinburgh - No Sleep Till Leith

From central Edinburgh and Leith the best way possible – by the bars

18 Nov 2011

Determining the point at which Leith Walk starts has baffled philosophers, locals and postal workers for decades. Haddington Place and Leith Street have (understandably) become subsumed within this long, iconic thoroughfare that joins Edinburgh with…

Bar Crawls: Glasgow - The Subcrawl

A truncated version of Glasgow’s infamous subway circuit

18 Nov 2011

The Subcrawl – a circular navigation of pubs nearest the 15 stops of Glasgow’s underground – is an institution not strictly for all. Many stations on the route of the city’s beloved Clockwork Orange, particularly south of the Clyde, emerge in locations…

Bar Crawls: Glasgow - The Sauchiehall Street Saunter

Making the most of Glasgow city centre drinking

18 Nov 2011

Both ‘pub crawl’ and ‘Sauchiehall Street’ can evoke images of large groups of revellers staggering from one ropey watering hole to the next, the night hurtling towards a climax of kebab sauce and lost cloakroom tickets. Well this route aims to redress…

Bar crawls: Edinburgh - The Prudent Student

A cheap and cheerful crawl from Marchmont to Grassmarket

18 Nov 2011

I have a confession to make. I’ve never really been much of a bar crawl sort of gal. The idea of systematic drinking (vb. to lash, I suppose) with a bunch of overgrown rugby boys, with their girlfriend’s underwear on as outer wear, has never really…

Glasgow Subcrawl – directions to the bars

Maps and walking directions to help you find all the bars on our List-endorsed Subcrawl

16 Nov 2011

So you're off on our (shorter) Subcrawl? We realise that you might need some clear directions (especially as the night wears on), so here are directions and maps showing the routes from the subway stations to all of our listed bars. Enjoy.

Neighbourhood Watch: Stockbridge, Edinburgh

A guide to the village-like Edinburgh suburb

16 Nov 2011

What’s it like? Architecturally lovely and quite picturesque, the area is still pretty bohemian despite the influx of more affluent shops in recent years. Where’s it, like? To the north of the city, between the New Town and Inverleith. It’s about…

Christmas 2011 events in Glasgow and Edinburgh

Our round-up of some of the best festive fodder including markets, fairs and carol concerts

15 Nov 2011

Shopping To find prezzies with an individual feel or just some tasty treats, head out to a Christmas fair near you. In Glasgow, there’s the St Enoch Square annual market (from 20 Nov) and Country Living Magazine’s Christmas Fair, with homemade food…

Taste test: Christmas Pudding

We track down the best from M&S, Lakeland, Coles and Tesco

28 Oct 2011

Marks & Spencer Classic Christmas Pudding £3.99 ●● This pudding does the job, but won’t make you too jolly. It has the bitterness of peel running through it, giving it the flavour of a fruitcake, is densely packed with raisins and there’s not a lot…

Christmas food ideas with a difference

Try something different this Christmas with these alternative festive recipes

28 Oct 2011

Alternative Christmas food ideas Instead of mulled wine, try something slightly different: mulled cider or perhaps add mulling spices to some crème de cassis for an extra special mulled Kir Royale. Try using Pedro Ximenez sherry to deglaze your…

Restaurant review: Calabash

Pan-African dining with a unique atmosphere

21 Sep 2011

A year or so ago Glasgow’s African dining options encompassed much of the continent’s varied cuisine, but a rash of closures left only Egyptian and Moroccan restaurants standing. Now the Calabash has filled the gap, offering traditional dishes from…

Cafe Fish

The latest incarnation of Richard Muir's seafood restaurant has its own pros and cons

21 Sep 2011

Despite its relative success since opening in 2009 beside The Plumed Horse in Leith, Café Fish upped sticks earlier this summer and moved into the former Zanzero site in Stockbridge. Hoping to bring the restaurant to the notice of a larger audience…

Neighbourhood Watch: Shawlands, Glasgow

25 Aug 2011

What’s it like? The unofficial hub of the Southside. Young, bustling and almost completely tenement-bound, packed with pizza places, big bars and some excellent independent shopping, Shawlands also benefits from proximity to the lovely space of Queen’s…

Restaurant review: Tanjore

Tamil restaurant's menu uplifted by fresh, appealing food

24 Aug 2011

Regional cuisine isn’t just the preserve of Tuscany or Andalucia, as Donald Reid finds in an engaging new Tamil restaurant in Edinburgh. It isn’t hard to find an Indian restaurant in Edinburgh or Glasgow, but it can be hard to find one with a…

Restaurant review: Punjabi Charing Cross

Venerable Glasgow curryhouse finally opens a sister restaurant

24 Aug 2011

After keeping Southsiders happy for decades at its Paisley Road West original, Punjabi have brought their quality North Indian cuisine to Charing Cross. The new restaurant is in a rather tricky spot, teetering on the edge of the M8, where various pubs…

A tour of Scotland for food-lovers

Fresh seafood, locally-sourced game and top-notch tourism in Scotland

22 Aug 2011

Standing in the Scottish drizzle at the heart of Monachyle Mhor, a dramatic vista greets us. In front, a stunning Loch Voil. Behind us, bounding black Labrador, Betty, a relatively new addition to owner Tom Lewis’ family. The air is fresh, the…

Hidden Glasgow

Undercover activities, city secrets and grassroots organisations

17 Aug 2011

Parks, gardens and tours So, you think you’d like to get to know the city a little better? Glasgow City Council’s website offers a number of downloadable heritage trail guide packs. We particularly recommend following the Bridgeton Tour, which takes…

Restaurant review: Glasgow's Barolo Grill

Unflashy elegance and a fine choice for Italian food in city centre

16 Aug 2011

It is an indication of the institution that L’Ariosto had become in Glasgow that even a month after being replaced by Barolo Grill the phone is answered with a cheery ‘Hello, L’Ariosto’. It also a reminder that the staff – some of whom have been around…

Best Edinburgh Festival street food

The ten best pop-up food stalls to be found at 2011 Edinburgh Festival

11 Aug 2011

Mussel Men Seafood George Square walkway (east side), 11am–1am The guys in the stripey Breton shirts are actually London-based Scots, serving up fresh mussels and oysters from the west coast near Oban. Steaming hot moules come in a wee box sturdy…

Restaurant review: The Honours

Superbly engineered Edinburgh brasserie from Martin Wishart team

10 Aug 2011

Despite downturns and austerity times Martin Wishart and partner chef Paul Tamburrini have opened the doors on a glittering, superbly engineered brasserie, as Donald Reid reports In a city packed with restaurants and a respectable array of upmarket…

Foodies Festival at 2011 Edinburgh Fringe

3-day food and drink in Holrood Park runs 12 to 14 Aug

10 Aug 2011

For many years, the missing Edinburgh food festival was a void waiting to be filled. After all, it was festival season in August and lots of food was being eaten. And, of course, everywhere else in the country was running food festivals. Five years ago…

The best soup and sandwich places in Edinburgh

Where to find a quick, fresh and tasty lunch in the Scottish capital

3 Aug 2011

Making the most of a small space, Appetite Direct is a deli kitchen serving soups and salads alongside their speciality range of hot takeaway dishes, including fish pie, Vietnamese flavoured mince with rice and home-made hamburgers. Broughton…

Restaurant review: Glasgow's Riverside Museum café

Stunning setting but uninspiring food

3 Aug 2011

Dining out in with a view of the Clyde is so rare that the new Riverside Museum’s café is an attraction in itself – let alone for the spectacular building housing the expanded collection of the old Museum of Transport. Zaha Hadid’s realised design…

Foodies Festival Edinburgh returns in 2011

27 Jul 2011

Celebrating the finest food, drink and culinary talents, Foodies Festival will celebrate its fifth anniversary when the event returns to Holyrood Park on August 12, 13, 14. Having launched in Edinburgh five years ago and enjoyed unprecedented…

Neighbourhood Watch: Leith, Edinburgh

A beginner's guide to the capital's port town

21 Jul 2011

What’s it like? It’s Leith. If you’re an Edinburgh List reader, it’s very likely you live there. Glossy bars, Michelin-starred restaurants and warehouse conversions squaring off against cobbles, pint’n’pie pubs and Hibees. Vibrant, community-focused (it…

Restaurant review - Heavenly

The newcomer to Glasgow’s vegan scene is a gift from above

21 Jul 2011

Glasgow’s vegetarian and vegan dining options are hardly extensive, so a new arrival such as this city centre café-bar is something of a godsend. Heavenly joins the city’s small but established vegan/veggie scene, offering a similar philosophy of…

Restaurant review - Limelight Bar and Grill

A Victorian building that once housed the city’s first power station

28 Jun 2011

Much has changed for Glasgow in the last century. It lost claim to being the UK’s second city as the Clyde’s tide of industry became a trickle, yet successfully reinvented itself as a place of culture and commerce (OK, shopping). Encapsulating this…

Red Squirrel takes perfected beer ‘n’ burgers formula to west Edinburgh

Owners of Holyrood 9a open new premises on Lothian Road

28 Jun 2011

Red Squirrel 21 Lothian Road, West End, Edinburgh, EH1 2DJ 0131 229 9933, redsquirreledinburgh.co.uk Daiy 10am–late; food is served until 9pm. Ave. price two-course meal: £10 (lunch/dinner) What many folk discovered and liked about Old Town bar…

Top ten ways to get in shape – and stay there!

27 Jun 2011

1. Go slow Whatever your goal, whether it’s losing weight, toning up or eating better, start slowly, says diet and fitness expert Laura Williams. “Wearing yourself out by overdoing it is unlikely to get results. You need an exercise routine and diet…

Edinburgh's Porto & Fi opens new premises on the Mound

New café-bistro on the Mound makes the most of a great location

30 May 2011

It’s a nice spot – for a former mortgage office of the Bank of Scotland. Just off the Royal Mile, with its views over the New Town and beyond, you can imagine over-stretched buyers being given a tantalising vision of Edinburgh below, Last Temptation…

The best places for barbeques in Edinburgh and Glasgow

Barbecue recipe alternatives to burgers and sausages

27 May 2011

For the more discerning al fresco cooks and diners, here's The List's lowdown on how to spark up your barbecue summer.

VisitScotland invites you to surprise yourself in the country’s finest cafés, as recommended by visitors and locals alike

24 May 2011

To celebrate Scotland’s Year of Food & Drink in 2011, VisitScotland have launched Cafe Days - a way of encouraging people to visit the best cafes and coffee shops around the country. Voted for by visitors and locals, the venues can be used as a central…

A food-lovers journey along the River Tweed

Borders-based writer Sandy Neil on the food of south-east Scotland

10 May 2011

For 100 miles from source to sea, the River Tweed drains the Borders’ 18,000 square miles of landmass, collecting waters from the upland valleys of the Ettrick, Yarrow and Teviot, meandering across the fertile fields of The Merse flood plain, and…

Border bannocks - The Scottish flatbread

The bannock wasn’t always just a tea-time treat

10 May 2011

From a flatbread that was an everyday staple, the traditional Border bannock changed its character over the years. The rich cakes that bear the name ‘bannock’ owe little to their ancestry but their round shape. When Burns talked of southern Scotland…

Food and drink highlights of the Scottish Borders

The best producers, hotels, cafes and farmers' markets

10 May 2011

Cocoa Black. By her own admission, Ruth Hinks has the best job in the world. ‘I get to mess about with chocolate all day,’ she says. ‘Can you think of anything better?’ Her enthusiasm comes in handy at her Chocolate and Pastry School in Peebles. Behind…

Discover the Scottish Borders landscape and food

Travel by foot or two wheels for the best food in south-east Scotland

10 May 2011

Geology is the key to under-standing the diverse terrain and the food it produces, so let’s begin our adventure with the Borders’ story in stone. The Borders rose from the Iapetus Ocean floor 4.5 million years ago as the American and European tectonic…

Innovative approaches on traditional farms in the Scottish Borders

The new ideas lighting up the local food scene in south-east Scotland

10 May 2011

The old woods and hedges of Peelham Farm shelter fields that have been brought back to life. After decades of exploitation under an earlier owner’s intensive arable regime, Denise and Chris Walton, and their business partner Amanda Cayley have invested…

The Borders’ culinary heritage is well documented

The early Scottish cookbooks

10 May 2011

The Scottish Borders may not have been the only cradle of the Scot’s cuisine but they did play a role in establishing the canon of Scots cookery. Elizabeth Cleland’s New and Easy Method of Cookery of 1755 was one of the first cookery books published…

How the sheep and lamb from the Scottish Borders earned its reputation

Some of the finest meat available in Scotland

10 May 2011

Sheep have been grazing on Border hills since at least the 12th century, yielding wool, milk and meat – mostly eaten as braxy when the animal died by disease, old age or accident. While in the Highlands sheep were farmed for subsistence, in the Lowlands…

How the woman behind Stichill Jerseys maintains high food standards

Brenda Leddy on cows, cheese and clotted cream

10 May 2011

It takes quite a woman to take one Jersey cow and make it into an award-winning transatlantic enterprise, but then Kelso’s Brenda Leddy, of Stichill Jerseys, is not just any woman. A recent runner-up in BBC Radio 4’s Food and Farming Awards, those…

How Eyemouth is clinging to centuries of fishing heritage

The Scottish fishing town on the North Sea coast

10 May 2011

There’s a part of the Borders that’s seafaring, with a direct link to the fish of the North Sea. Catches from Eyemouth’s last dozen boats are packed in ice or landed live on the harbour by 6am, and on the fishmonger’s counter by opening time at 9am in…

A guide to the pop-up and alternative dining scenes in Glasgow and Edinburgh

The guerrilla restaurants in people's front rooms

5 May 2011

The List’s annual Eating & Drinking Guide – as comprehensive as it is – does overlook some interesting dining options in Scotland: those that take place irregularly, or in unusual places – often somewhere as informal as someone’s living room. There are…

Neighbourhood Watch: Partick, Glasgow

A guide to your local neighbourhoods

13 Apr 2011

Partick, Glasgow What’s it like? The bit of the salubrious West End that still feels properly Glaswegian: cool café bars, delis and boutiques sitting tooth by rough-shaven jowl with classic boozers, betting shops, greasy spoons and pound…

Martin Wishart - Interview transcript

The Scottish chef on his new restaurant and 10 years on from Edinburgh's first Michelin star

1 Apr 2011

Tell me a bit about the new place. It was owned by the Murray Group, and fortunately enough we’ve secured the property in North Castle Street. It will sit 75 covers in one sitting and there will be dining at the bar as well. Team wise we’ve got Paul…

Martin Wishart to open new brasserie in Edinburgh city centre

Michelin-starred chef to open premises on North Castle Street

28 Mar 2011

When Martin Wishart’s modest but ambitious restaurant on Leith’s Shore picked up a Michelin star in 2001, Edinburgh breathed a sigh of relief. It had caught up with Glasgow, where Andrew Fairlie’s kitchen at One Devonshire Gardens already had a star and…

Five things: The best Easter eggs in Scotland

Some particularly special chocolate eggs for the discerning chocolate fan

24 Mar 2011

Dark chocolate and raspberry from Coco of Bruntsfield One of a wide range of decadent eggs, this one is also filled with your choice of champagne truffles. Truffle from The Chocolate Tree As well as this swirly patterned design filled with…

The rough guide to Portobello, Edinburgh's seaside

Neighbourhood Watch: The best bits by the beach

24 Mar 2011

What’s it like? An utterly charming, slightly wonky area of Edinburgh, characterised by the city’s only beach and a very distinct, anti-corporate local community ethos. Formerly the holiday destination of most Central Belters, a lack of investment in…

Keeping it in house: The best takeaway and home delivery in Glasgow and Edinburgh

We are looking for top tips and recommendations from your area

15 Mar 2011

We at The List are looking out for your top tips and recommendations on takeaway and home delivery options in Glasgow and Edinburgh for a special feature for both the magazine and online on 25 May. Let us know your top local tips for take-out Indian…

Cooking Up Talent

Ingr3dients, a new 3D mural by Alisdair Gray, to be revealed at Ubiquitous Chip

9 Mar 2011

Here at List Towers, where we love food and adore Alasdair Gray, we were heartened to hear that the two are set to complement each other this month, with a new Gray mural set to be revealed as part of Glasgow’s Ubiquitous Chip’s 40th birthday…

Edinburgh's Hawke and Hunter unveils new signature restaurant

Polished, relaxed, and the food is absolutely fabulous

7 Mar 2011

Put on those designer threads and shiny new shoes, the new restaurant at Hawke and Hunter has landed. It’s polished. It’s relaxed. And the food is absolutely fabulous. This elegant townhouse with its chic cocktail and whisky bars has been working the…

Glasgow Far East-themed Opium experts in dim sum

Modern laid-back lounge feel with a slickly designed interior

7 Mar 2011

This smart new city centre restaurant mixes traditional dim sum with fusion dishes from Malaysia, Singapore, China and Thailand. It has a modern laid-back lounge feel achieved through a slickly designed interior of dark neutral tones, clean lines and…

The best breadmakers (and sellers) in Edinburgh and Glasgow

Au Gourmand, Patisserie Dujardin and McGhee's Family Bakers

7 Mar 2011

The appearance of more small artisan bakeries points to an increasing awareness of and demand for proper bread, both from the public and the operations serving them. Around the sandwich shops of the capital Au Gourmand, the Gorgie-based but…

Frank Larkin, owner of Cafe Sejuiced, shares his soup-er philosophy

‘Sometimes I’ll give away free soup. You’ve got to love what you do.’

7 Mar 2011

‘Making soup is like any other activity,’ says Frank Larkin, cook, café owner and occasional philosopher. ‘The purer your intentions are, the more love you put into it, the better the outcome.’ Café Sejuiced is his bright daytime café hidden behind…

Art installation at Ubiquitous Chip restaurant offers '3D dining'

Ingr3dients in Glasgow unveils Alasdair Gray’s first digital mural

7 Mar 2011

The Ubiquitous Chip likes to see itself at the centre of the cultural life of Glasgow’s West End. So no surprise that it has come up with something unusual to celebrate its birthday. Famously, Alasdair Gray painted his original murals on the walls of…

Win a Winter White getaway for 4 people to the Isle of Harris!

23 Feb 2011

Escape to a world of scenic Winter White beauty with a luxury break for 4 people at the stylish Hotel Hebrides. This intimate 4-star boutique hotel nestles on the harbour front of Harris’s capital, and offers sparkling white sea views at the front, and…

Area guide to the Glasgow Film Festival

Kirstin Innes helps you bring the movies to life with our GFF-themed area guide

17 Feb 2011

If you're interested in the Beyond Bollywood, Superheroes in Glasgow, Ceol's Craic or Fashion in Film strands, this is the Glasgow guide for you.

Edinburgh's Atrium closes its doors and Hawke & Hunter opens a new dining room

Scottish food news February 2011

17 Feb 2011

Surprise and sadness fell over the Edinburgh restaurant scene last week with the news of the closure of Andrew and Lisa Radford’s Atrium and blue restaurants in Saltire Court, above the Traverse Theatre. From stylish, avant-garde beginnings 18 years ago…

Point Hotel's stylish new monthly pop-up Sky Bar opens in the Penthouse suite

Lounge with the best views, live music and expensive drinks

17 Feb 2011

No, not the shoogly restaurant on a crane that cranked up the hype during the Festival last summer, but a penthouse suite in the recently re-energised Point Hotel that turns into a pop-up lounge bar on the last Thursday of every month. At the top of the…

A guide to some of the best restaurants in Edinburgh

The Scottish capital has some of the best restaurants for Scottish cuisine

16 Feb 2011

Some visitors may come to Scotland with a sense of dread that they’ll be force-fed salty porridge or be obliged to eat everything deep fried in fat. It’s true that the more adventurous may well encounter food here they’re unlikely to find elsewhere…

Where to explore the world of Scotch Whisky in Edinburgh

The best single-malt whisky tastings, tours and shops

16 Feb 2011

The purpose of Scotch whisky is to give pleasure,’ says Charles MacLean in his Whiskypedia: A Gazetteer of Scotch Whisky, and Edinburgh is the place to pursue this principle. You can literally immerse yourself in a whisky barrel at the Scotch Whisky…

Ubiquitous Chip chef Ian Brown strikes out on his own

New venture always fully booked despite the economic climate

16 Feb 2011

Aestled in an affluent Southside enclave, Ian Brown Food and Drink is a small and thoughtfully formed new restaurant. Inside the refurbished former Greek restaurant, wooden topped tables are arranged in a close and cosy fashion. Scottish landscapes and…

Farmers’ markets in Edinburgh offer the best Scottish foods

Do as the locals do and head to Edinburgh’s weekly farmers’ market

16 Feb 2011

Farmers’ markets have been held in Scotland for over ten years, and have become a mainstay of any serious foodie’s calendar. Edinburgh farmers’ market, in the shadow of the castle, is so popular it takes place every Saturday, allowing locals to make it…

Modern day Leith is now home to Michelin-starred restaurants

Port outside Edinburgh shakes off long-held seedy reputation

16 Feb 2011

Vibrant, colourful Leith has shaken off its long-held seedy reputation in recent years to establish itself as an area of stylish urban regeneration and a must-visit destination for foodies. A world away from the seamy side of Edinburgh life…

Top five Michelin-starred restaurants in Edinburgh

The Kitchin, Martin Wishart, The Plumed Horse, Number One and 21212

16 Feb 2011

1: The Kitchin The menu here reflects chef/owner Tom Kitchin’s passion for locally-sourced Scottish produce with French interpretations. One of Edinburgh’s A-list restaurants, it won its accolade just six months after opening in the summer of 2006…

Pho Vietnam House - Restaurant review

Vietnamese cuisine represented well in west-end of Edinburgh

1 Feb 2011

Vietnamese cuisine is hallowed by returning backpackers and adventurous tourists, but it’s poorly represented locally compared to other Far Eastern cuisines. David Pollock found a tiny outpost in western Edinburgh

Some simple suggestions for a special Valentine's in Edinburgh and Glasgow

Poetry, song, food and hotel break options for February 14th 2011

1 Feb 2011

Special Valentine-themed events seem to fall around but not on the day in question this year: Club Noir (O2 Academy, Glasgow, Sun 11 Feb, below) have their sexy burlesque-y Valentines Masked Ball slightly early, while Aidan Moffat hosts his Valentine’s…

The best free and cheap things to do in Glasgow and Edinburgh

Visit a library, go for a walk, bake a cake or see some cheap theatre

21 Jan 2011

Beat the January blues with these guaranteed pick-me-ups, suggested by our writers and some friends of The List. They’re all free, or cost just a few quid, so you’ll come out of winter with your bank balance intact and a smile on your face

The best places for hot chocolate in Glasgow and Edinburgh

The cafes and chocolatiers who serve up the sweet stuff

20 Jan 2011

Temper Chocolates 148 Woodside Terrace Lane, Charing Cross, 07886 215209 This tiny café-cum-shop-cum-factory makes for a pilgrimage for hot chocolate lovers. Chocolatier Kirsty Shepheard’s own blend of 70 per cent organic dark chocolate with chilli…

Glasgow curry house Green Chilli Café explores pot-style home cooking

Succinct menu is dominated by Indian tapas or small plates

19 Jan 2011

Glasgow does love a curry. Recently crowned Curry Capital of Britain for a record fourth time, the city’s passion for the spice has yielded a long and illustrious history of curry houses. What began with Green Gates and Taj Mahal in the 1950s, exploded…

How to learn Indian cookery from the comfort of your own kitchen

Rachna Deer of Ladyfingers Cooking in Glasgow comes round your house to teach you

12 Jan 2011

Everyone’s got one. The book you’re going to write, the film you’re going to make, the restaurant you’re going to open. And round about the beginning of January, you might think about actually doing it – briefly, for a couple of weeks. Maybe you even…

Edinburgh restaurant Café Marlayne relocates second branch to top of Leith Walk

One of Edinburgh’s much-loved French restaurants has relocated its second branch to a radically diff

12 Jan 2011

If you’re familiar with Café Marlayne’s cosy Thistle Street restaurant, the barn-like proportions of their latest venture on Antigua Street may come as a surprise. High, white-washed walls, supersized glitterball and bold Ikea lampshades mean the new…

Lunch hour legends - the best soup and sandwich outlets in Glasgow and Edinburgh

Looking for food recommendations from your lunchtime eating habits

12 Jan 2011

We're looking for nominations for the best lunchtime soup and sandwich bars around Glasgow and Edinburgh for a special food & drink feature appearing here soon. We're relying on your in-depth knowledge of the eateries around your workplace that you…

Café No 9 - New Edinburgh café off Leith Walk steps out usual gay hub

‘I think people are a bit sick of big chains and their coffee is a bit rubbish sometimes too . . .’

30 Nov 2010

For a new LGBT café owner in Edinburgh, straying away from the pink-tinged pavements of Broughton Street may be a bold move, but one which Innes Drummond believes is necessary. Drummond’s venture Café No 9 recently opened in Croall Place off Leith…