][1]All being well, today should be the first day’s trading for the Edinburgh Larder Bistro.
The latest venture from the people behind The Edinburgh Larder deli on Blackfriars Street, the Bistro promises an adventurous Scottish /Nordic menu.
For the last few years, any place promising ‘an exciting new concept’ or ‘new way of eating’ has inevitably meant a rehash of tapas but the menu at the Edinburgh Larder Bistro looks genuinely new and thrilling.
You can see the full thing here but your blogger was taken by the idea of starters such as the crispy lamb, broad beans and mint or the crab with sweet cicely, apple and tomato and shellfish oil.
From the main courses, the soused mackerel with new season potatoes in a sorrel butter, wood sorrel and pickled vegetables appealed as did the more meaty veal with veal kidneys, wild mushroom and onions in white wine with summer herbs and peas.
Every chef will tell you that their menu is seasonal and locally sourced. A lot of the time, this means that the ingredients were sourced from the local cash and carry and, by seasonal, they mean that it didn’t come from the deep freeze.
I’m not going to cheerlead for them for too long but The Edinburgh Larder deli and Bistro walk the walk as well as talking the talk. They make a point of naming all their suppliers and it’s like a roll call of Scotland’s top artisan producers.
The Edinburgh Larder Bistro is on Alva Street in the premises once occupied by Howies.
It looks like it could be a hit. I’ve just tried to book a table for tomorrow and they are fully booked until Monday.