Scottish Food News – July 2014
Having been undermined by Glasgow's Commonwealth Games, the city of pandas and insanely-priced public transport systems hits back with burgers, street food, and beer made by students
We know what you’re thinking, people of Edinburgh. Your noses are somewhat out of joint due to Glasgow stealing your mantle of ‘Scottish City Noted For Lengthy and Expensive Summer Event’ for this year. Well, we have something to make you feel a bit better, something from Glasgow.
Burger Meats Bun, the Glasgow burger joint beloved for its tasty burgers and quirky yet chummy aesthetic, opens up shop in Edinburgh’s New Town this month. For the uninitiated, expect dense but delicious burgers, typography Wes Anderson would be proud of, and the kind of cool vibe that Edinburgh people find very unnatural for some reason. 1 Forth St, from 4 Jul
From burgers to beer, and the annual collaboration between Stewart Brewing and students from Heriot Watt’s Brewing and Distilling course. The students unveil their Mutiny on the Beagle IPA in the opulent surroundings of Summerhall, having spent the best part of six months crafting, slogging, and stopping occasionally for a cup of tea. Seems only right to head down and help them destroy the evidence, and the prospect of barbecue street food and some nice background music only sweetens the deal. Summerhall, 1 Summerhall Pl. 9 Jul, 6pm, tickets £5
Speaking of tea, it’s time for tea-based cocktails. Yes, you read that correctly, tea-based cocktails. Glasgow’s Dormouse Tea offer up a twist on the standard cuppa with a night of tea cocktails and mixed drinks, but manage to keep things traditional by promising cakes to go with the tea. A sensible choice in our minds, as the alternative of putting out a tray of biscuits is just asking for trouble. Good Spirits Co, 23 Bath St. 10 Jul, 7pm, tickets £20
The real reason that Glasgow has the edge on Edinburgh this month is the variety of events on offer in the west. If only there were some multi-faceted celebration of food that might help pull things around. Wait, what’s this? The Scottish heat of the British Street Food Awards? Yes, we suppose that’ll do.
Some of the top street food vendors from across Scotland will convene on central Edinburgh for a day of cooking and chowing across 12 categories of on-pavement grub, following the well-contested and saliva-inducing Manchester competition featured in our Northwest edition last month. Well played, Edinburgh. You may not have seen off Glasgow 2014, but you’ve set things up nicely to get your revenge next month. Grassmarket, 20 Jul