Festival Food & Drink

OK, I seem to have written masses about the Festival already, but here goes with a final quick spin around what we have in the way of street stalls, pop-up carts, huts of various types and other things that might serve you some food and drink around Edinburgh over the coming weeks.

Senor Scoop

Pick of the crop is Boxsmall. I’ve already reviewed the very promising Pizza Geeks as well as the Street Box noodle stall, over the past couple of days. They sit alongside established favourites Jones & Son, Shrimpwreck, Daizy Delicious, and Orinoco. This is most diverse and high quality market offering we have this year.

St Andrew Square and George Square have maintained rather too many familiar faces (Valvona, Henderson’s and Bar Napoli at St Andrew; Pad BKK, Paddles & Peels, dumpling and nachos stalls at George) making them rather less compelling.

Section 33

Of the fresh stuff at Assembly George Square, I have reviews upcoming for Section 33 and The Mac Shack, and Umami Spice Girl is always worth a look. Union of Genius’s magnificent Dumbo remains nearby, as he does throughout the year.

Udderbelly has taken up residence in the other half of George Square gardens with its usual shitty offering from Laughing Stock. Thankfully Rupy’s is nowhere to be seen. In amongst the ghastliness is the Gardener’s Cottage Wood Shed, which is today’s review.

At St Andrew Square, Lov Mexican is the only new stall that appealed, so there’s a review coming up for that. The Crema Caravan is burning to order their signature creme brulee, so sweet-tooths will want to note that.

Holy Garage, Batman

The Caorunn Artists’ Garden in front of the St Andrew Square RBS headquaters has a simple offering of gin, coffee (Bearded Barista) and scran (Barnacles & Bones) and is rather lovely.

The Artisan Roast Holy Garage returns for a second year, just off George Square. Bootleggers is just nearby and is an absolute hoot so you should make sure to visit soon.

George Street has a somewhat more modest selection of options. Aside from the usual al fresco bars – this time from West, Grouse, and Menabrea – Harajuku Kitchen returns with their excellent noodles and dumplings and it’s good to see Senor Scoop trading from a hastily assembled hut.

Summerhall has two trucks in their courtyard: the excellent Rost and newcomer the Cheesy Toast Shack. I have an upcoming review of the latter.

Bootleggers

In terms of pop-ups, I’ve made many mentions of Dram & Smoke who will show you an impressive time; Milk Money Drinks have popped up again in a coffee shop (Thursday to Sunday, in the evening) but this time Brew Lab West End not Filament as last year; and speaking of Brew Lab we have Fresh Revolution at their South College Street branch. And Brew Lab also have a Victoria Street pop-up where Machina and Filament have traded in previous years.

Continuing the coffee theme, the Edinburgh Coffee Fringe starts today. It offers a range of tastings and events across the city and provides a good showcase for our increasingly vibrant and cohesive coffee scene.

Lucky Liquor Co on George Street will be hosting the Buffalo Trace High Noon Saloon, from 8-14 August. This will bring together excellent cocktails and classic westerns in a splendid location. Tickets are £15 for the movie, 2 cocktails, popcorn and tasters.

On the cocktail theme, venue 383 (Not Nightcap Bar) has a fantastic cocktail bar, coffee (working with Fortitude) and burger (working with Feed) pop-up, so make sure to swing by there.

One of last year’s cocktail pop-up hits, the Liquor Library, is a now a permanent fixture under Seasons on Broughton Street. This Festival it plays host to a Martin Miller Gin pop-up on Mondays and Tuesdays, so make sure to drop by there for that.

The Real Junk Food Project is working with smart Leith cafe Ostara to host Friday night pay as you feel suppers on the 12th, 19th and 26th, so they are always worth attending, particularly in this great new location on Coburg Street.

L’Institut Francais D’Ecosse returns with Le Bistrot, this time working in partnership with nearby Patisserie Maxime. This is a lovely hideaway space, conveniently located for the Book Festival and other city centre venues.

Oh, and keep an eye out for the regular tastings and events at the Urban Reivers pop-up shop on at 46a George Street. They have some excellent gin, cocktails and chocolate that are worth sampling while looking at their carefully curated selection of local products.

I’d love to also include some content on late opening hours but aside from some daytime into evening extensions (in fab places like Union of Genius, Hula, The Pantry and The Apiary/Educated Flea) I haven’t heard much in the way of alternative options for post-shift or post-show dining, so I’d welcome more details on that from vigilant readers.

HAVE A GREAT FESTIVAL MONTH!