Foodies at Holyrood

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The 2011/12 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

This review is taken from the current (2011) edition.

The Foodie Company is a gourmet food-box business that, well, thought outside the box. Their open-plan café/deli sells and serves the best of Scottish: Stoats porridge pots, sandwiches with bread from Edinburgh’s own Breadwinner, and Inverawe salmon platters. The Scottish ploughman’s is a greedy spread of thickly sliced honey-roast ham, wedges of Mull cheddar, Dunsyre blue and brie with a tangy tomato chutney. ‘Stromboli’ toasted flatbread sandwiches are a meal in themselves, especially when stuffed with haggis and sweet potato. Cakes, scones and traybakes are brought in daily from the Portobello HQ, while the ‘Monster’ hot choc is a masterclass in child bribery topped with half the candy store. If that doesn’t root little people to the spot, you'll find crayons, books and toys in the corner. High chairs and enough space to swing a buggy make this a baby-friendly place, too. Pleasing both park-bound families and the office lunch crowd seems to be working, as Peter and Kirsty McLean, the brother and sister behind the Foodie Company, are planning another café.

• High point: Great range of Scottish produce and deli items
• Low point: Fairly utilitarian space, despite efforts to make it cosy