A couple of Edinburgh’s veteran restaurants are celebrating significant birthdays this year.
Mamma’s pizza joint on the Grassmarket is 25. They marked their quarter century by inviting customers to devise a new pizza which would be introduced to the Mamma’s menu.
The winner was David Waugh whose red onion marmalade, goat’s cheese and basil pizza won out. He named his creation Gusto Del Pappa (meaning Pappa’s Taste) to celebrate the fact that he had just become a grandfather for the first time.
Among the runners-up was Jayne-Leigh Thomas who had suggested the All American: an intriguing combination of cactus, artichoke, fried egg, prosciutto and garlic.
More venerable than Mamma’s is Vittoria’s on Leith Walk. Something of an Edinburgh institution, the Scots-Italian cafe has been running for a whopping 40 years.
It is run by Tony Crolla who took it on after his parents, who founded the business, retired.