Photo of
January 3, 2020

If you have spent the last two weeks living on gin, turkey and Celebrations chocolates, then re-applying the old nose to the grindstone may not be easy.

To help pass the time until the weekend, here are a few food-related bits and bobs which we found down the back of the internet.

First up, we see that Ting Thai Caravan has expanded from its original Teviot Place home and opened a second branch on Lothian Road.

For many, the original Ting Thai offers the most authentic Thai food in the capital and the new branch appears to be cut from the same cloth.

From miang pla (seabass) to khao moo daeng (slow-cooked pork) and, of course, the classic som tam Thai (green papaya salad), all the old favourites are on the menu.

Vegan sashimi

For those who are thinking about doing Veganuary, you may be interested in the new vegan sashimi which the Kcal Kitchens in Glasgow and Edinburgh are introducing.

From Wednesday, customers will be able to order up zalmon and no-tuna sashimi. Main pic is from Kcal Facebook.

We have no idea what it tastes like - it's made from tapioca starch and seaweed - but it looks pretty convincing.

Sticking with the vegan theme - it's all the rage, doncha know! - Greggs has doubled down on its vegan sausage roll and launched a vegan steak bake.

Some 1300 Greggs around the UK are stocking the Quorn-based product and it will be rolled out nationwide in the coming weeks. You check which branches currently have it here.

Food crazes of the last decade

Right, we're going back to bed to read this LA Times article on the big food crazes of the last decade.

From bone broth to cronuts via cold brew coffee and avocado on toast, they are all there.

Edinburgh's oysters

And if you are looking for something to listen to on Saturday morning (4th Jan), your blogger pops up on The Kitchen Cabinet, the Jay Rayner-led panel show about food.

The BBC Radio 4 programme recorded an episode in Edinburgh last month and I did a short spot talking about Edinburgh's old love affair with oysters.

It is broadcast tomorrow at 10.30am and then, I guess, it will be on the iplayer/Sounds app.

Jay Rayner working The Kitchen Cabinet crowd.

Jay Rayner working The Kitchen Cabinet crowd.