Staying in holiday rentals and settling into a place for a while offers opportunities to get close to people in ways that a hotel can’t. Often the hotel concierge is there to get a kickback from that restaurant he has an ‘arrangement’ with and doesn’t offer much more. Don’t believe us? These are some of … Read more
There’s no dish that reminds me more of my childhood than porridge. This humble and often much-maligned breakfast of oats, soaked and cooked in milk or water, was a winter favourite for my family when I was growing up in Australia. Turns out that oatmeal porridge in Edinburgh is quite a thing, so much so … Read more
When I put out a call on Twitter for ideas as to what I should cook while we were in Edinburgh for my series The Dish, about the quintessential dishes of the places we settle into, Scottish chef Gary Robinson, former personal chef to Prince Charles and chef of Mezzanine, one of our favourite restaurants in … Read more
We must admit that we were pretty spoilt for good local produce to cook on our stay-at-home nights in Stockbridge, Edinburgh. When we checked into our elegant apartment the owner told us there were a few speciality food shops worth visiting in our neighbourhood, as well as a Farmer’s Market held beneath Edinburgh Castle every … Read more
We’ve resisted using mainstream guidebooks on our grand tour this year, choosing instead to rely on local people for advice. However, wherever possible we’ve sought out local guidebooks written by residents of the places we’ve visited, like Owen from Edinburgh. In Venice, we used the illustrated My Local Guide to Venice, and in New York City … Read more