Blog

PLACES TO EAT AROUND DALKEITH: Just a stone’s throw from Edinburgh is the Midlothian town of Dalkeith. Away from the hustle of the city, Dalkeith and its surrounding areas offer some pretty cool places to eat with family or friends. Whether it’s a child-friendly restaurant you’re hunting down or a romantic eaterie, here’s our round-up of the best places to eat around Dalkeith. And why. 1. THE PAPERMILL BAR & RESTAURANT Best place to eat around Dalkeith…*with friends *with the kids *with dogs *LOVE the quirky decor Overlooking the beautiful River Esk in the tranquil conservation village of Lasswade, the Paper Mill is an all-day bar and restaurant within an historic former paper mill. Reclaimed materials, screenprinted artworks and found objects create its cool industrial design aesthetic. The staff are friendly and super helpful while the menu is extensive, with lighter bar food for those evening drinks with friends. The best bit is the spacious outdoor terrace leads down to the riverbank therefore making it summer perfection. The Paper Mill 2–4 Westmill Road, Lasswade EH18 1LX www.thepapermill-lasswade.co.uk 2.THE SUN INN Best place to eat around Dalkeith for… *great fish & chips *long lunches with friends *LOVE IT for a romantic night away This old coaching inn is a five-time AA Scottish Gastropub of the Year. It’s menus comprise a delicious offering of Euro-Scottish fusion and delight on every visit. Make a romantic night of it and stay in one of the six beautifully decorated bedrooms with The Sun’s Pamper Package. The Sun Inn, Lothianbridge, Dalkeith, EH22 4TR. www.thesuninnedinburgh.co.uk 3. THE KITCHEN AT RESTORATION YARD Best place to eat in Dalkeith for…*a beautiful lunch with stunning views *family friendly *LOVE the kids menu Not quite in Edinburgh but worth the quick trip. With views to die for, plus superb shopping and a kids’ adventure park, The Kitchen at Restoration Yard, located at the heart of Dalkeith Country Park is your perfect city escape. The Kitchen’s space, which matches traditional stone and brick with contemporary glass and zinc, plays the perfect host to an authentic and modern menu. There is something for everyone. So lunch meat eaters will adore the classic steak burger, fish lovers can enjoy the delicious seared fillet of seabass and vegans will delight in the taste sensation that is the sweet potato, chickpea and spinach curry. The breakfast and Afternoon Tea menus are also thoughtfully put-together to appeal to foodies of all ages. The Kitchen at Restoration Yard, Via The King’s Gate, Dalkeith Country Park, Dalkeith, Edinburgh, EH22 1ST www.restorationyard.com 4. ITIHAAS Best place to eat in Dalkeith for…*an authentic curry *friendly staff *LOVE the vegetarian choices This multi-award-winning Bangladeshi and Indian restaurant has a big reputation, which it lives up to. The food is always excellent as is the amazing hospitality making it a local favourite for good reason. Veggies and non veggies will adore the Murghi Chatt and the Chana Massallam. Itihaas. 17-19 Eskbank Road, Dalkeith EH22 1HD. www.itihaasrestaurant.com 5. THE CAMPAIGN ROOM BISTRO at CARBERRY TOWER MANSION HOUSE Best place to eat in Dalkeith for…*family get-togethers *LOVE Eat Well Live Well menu selection This is simply excellent food, in a lovely atmosphere with an impressive feeling of history. There is a really good selection of Scottish and seasonally sourced food on each of its menus. Discover its fresh salmon tartare or the beautiful venison steak with its plentiful selection of fresh seasonal vegetables, tender and very tasty. Not driving? There’s a great cocktail list and the bar staff know their stuff. This unusual space with a lovely relaxed feel about it so lengthen your enjoyment with drinks in the garden after dinner. The Campaign Room Bistro, Carberry Tower Mansion House, Carberry Tower Estate, East Lothian EH21 8PY. www.carberrytower.com/dining/bistro

It’s all about print… A new season of fabulous fashion has finally arrived in the Store and we couldn’t be more excited to share our favourite pieces with you! We’re loving the plethora of print and colours for Spring/Summer ’19 – fresh greens, soft blues and pops of brights from coral pinks to zings of yellow. From shell tops and blouses to wrap dresses and light throw-on trousers, expect garden florals mixed in with Dutch Delft and ethnic influences. Sisi Gibreel, head of retail at Restoration Yard, said: “This season is all about print. The store is full of beautiful colours and we love it all, from the English Country Garden vibe to the more tropical prints.” Here’s a peek at some of our favourite styles of the season… Dress, blank, £195; Necklaces, £29:95; Rings, £25 each; Bag, Red Cuckoo, £45.50; Sunglasses, I Zippi, £34.95. A growing favourite in-store is Spanish brand Vilagallo (pictured below). This season its blouses, shift dresses and jackets feature abstract art prints, jungle inspired animal prints and urban-scapes with a slightly 1960’s edge. Dress, Vilagallo, £145; Necklace, £29.95; Bag, Red Cuckoo, £31.50; Glasses, I Zippi, £34.95. We adore One Hundred Stars with its lush offer of kimonos and accessories (pictured below) in beautiful prints of passion flowers, storks in flight and blown-up fruits. . . . and its sellout city map print scarves have returned too – yes the Edinburgh map scarf is back in store! Dress, Masai, £82; Headband, One Hundred Stars, £11.95; Jeans, Salsa, £115; Bag, Red Cuckoo, £49.50 Danish brand Part Two knows what women need in their wardrobe and gets it spot-on for Spring/Summer ’19. Soft muted knits with décolletage-framing V-necks will become every woman’s staple. Add in dresses in plant inspired prints (pictured below), nautical stripe Breton-esque tops, and a beautiful soft grey car coat and this collection has us head-over-heels. Dress, Part Two, £139:95; Necklace £42:95; Bag, £39. New to Restoration Yard is Designers Society (pictured below) offering simple staples that feature fun little design quirks like a tie here or there. Dress, Designers Society, £99.95; Shirt, Designers Society, £85; Glasses, £34.95; Espresso cups, £5.95; Teapot, stylist’s own. Blue and white striped shirt dresses (pictured below), boho tie-detail tops and sleeved tops with touches of Broderie Anglaise all add to the nostalgia of summers of the past. Top, Designers Society, £39.95; Dress, Designers Society, £105; Skirt, Designers Society, £87; Bag, £39; Boots, stylist’s own. Another new collection to the store is the gorgeous ottod’Ame (pictured below). Expect beautifully made closet must-haves – an over-sized shirt dress, a soft layering shell top and easy throw-on shirts, all in a muted palette of toffee, duck egg and white. Shirt dress, Ottod’Ame, £119; Bag, £39; Sweater, Part Two, £89.95. The new blank collection has nailed the laidback Bohemian summer vibe with its beautiful beach cover-ups, kaftans and striking jumpsuit (pictured below). Each flowing piece comes in a beautiful print from natural to abstract. Jumpsuit, blank, £160; Headband, Kew Gardens for One Hundred Stars, £11.95; Necklaces, £34.95; Bag, Red Cuckoo, £31:50. Thank you to the amazing team who worked their magic on this shoot! Photography: Blue Sky Photography, Stylists: Laura Russell @Satisfashion and Caroline @ Love Rose Lingerie, Model: Erin @ Colours Agency

With a CV including stints at Gleneagles, Edinburgh’s The Caledonian Hotel and as Nick Nairn’s executive head chef, Colin Halliday arrives at Restoration Café with as much pedigree as the produce he cooks. We caught up with the new head chef at Restoration Café to discuss passion, produce and provenance… FIVE MINUTE INTERVIEW: COLIN HALLIDAY When and why did you first find yourself in a professional kitchen? I studied food and nutrition at high school and felt an unbelievable sense of achievement when I immersed myself in the cooking. I was always making soups, casseroles and Sunday roasts. Then, aged 15, I started as an apprentice chef at The Caledonian Hotel and I’ve been in the kitchen since. Which chefs have you found most inspiring in the time since? I’d have to say John Webber, who I worked with at the Nick Nairn Cook School. John has been awarded a Michelin star on two occasions in his career and has a depth of knowledge that’s second to none. When we were teaching, he would relay information to the customers about the produce they were going to be using and I would think, wow, I never knew that! I learnt a fantastic amount just listening and watching. Describe the creative process of bringing a Restoration Café menu together… I start with random scribbles, to be honest! Then I look at seasonality, current trends, customer feedback, social media, cost, balance of dishes and, of course, I take input from the team. How important is local produce in that process? Very. Using local ingredients adds a real sense of provenance to Restoration Café and shows customers we’re supporting local businesses. What are your dreams for Restoration Café? I’m passionate about making this a destination restaurant, one that offers the best dining experience and exceeds the expectations of our customers. That’s the level I want to achieve across all the eateries we have here, as well as our growing Restoration Yard events and wedding business. Do you find it easy to switch off from the kitchen when you’re at home? No, I’m forever scribbling down ideas, watching cookery on YouTube and reading Saveur and The Staff Canteen. I’m travelling to London this weekend and, even then, I’ll be spending a couple of hours in Borough Market. Are you a reserved diner or a ‘go for it with all three courses’ type when eating out in or around Edinburgh? I prefer savoury dishes and always go starter and main – though occasionally, I’ll have the cheese trolley. What are your musts for a successful dining experience? The company is the most important thing. The food has to be good, cooked well and seasoned correctly, and everything on the plate needs to be there for a reason. The ambiance has to be one in which we feel relaxed too, meaning the service needs to be friendly, attentive and not overbearing. Restoration Café serves breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea seven days a week, as well as offering special evening events and private dining options. For more information, visit restorationyard.com or search @restorationyard on Facebook and Instagram.

For the magpie… These exquisite fine jewellery pieces by London designer Alex Monroe are high at the top of every woman’s wish list this year. Each and every intricately crafted piece is inspired by nature and we’re particularly fond of the dainty bumble bee collections (hint hint). Long bumble bee necklace by Alex Monroe, £178. Shop more jewellery here. For the mixologist Toast your romance with something a little different this Valentine’s. . . Old Curiosity’s Secret Garden Gin not only tastes divine, it also changes colour adding a whole new element of fun to cocktail hour! Colour changing gin by Old Curiosity, £45 For the stationery addict… Why not get creative and add a handwritten love note on the first page of a beautiful journal? They’ll think of you and smile whenever they write. Assorted notebooks and journals by Matthew Williamson. Shop here For the fashionista… Wear your heart on your. . . hip! We’re completely obsessed with this fluffy heart handbag by Alex Max. Not only is it beautifully soft and cuddly, it’s also incredibly spacious – so they can throw in all those essentials and still make a style statement. Heart handbag by Alex Max, £49.95 For extra brownie points… Sometimes the most thoughtful gifts are the best, and if your loved ones are in need of a little R&R, take a look at This Works’ collection of miracle magic potions. We love the deep sleep range, guaranteed to have us in a zen-like state within minutes! Sleep remedies by This Works, from £18. Shop more here. For the hostess with the mostess… Our prettily-wrapped hand soaps make the perfect gift for those of us who’ve been swept away by the recent ‘Mrs Hinch’ homecare craze – our bathrooms have never looked so pretty! Individually wrapped hand soaps by Restoration Yard, from £4.95. Shop here. For the fragrance connoisseur Miller Harris’ evocative scents bring memories alive and each individual scent is completely unique. Lyn Harris trained at Robertet in Grasse and still sources aromatics from the same company in France, the country of love! Fragrance by Miller Harris, from £75 For the chocolatier Where words fail, chocolate will always prevail and our foodhall is bursting with every shape and flavour imaginable. From luxurious Champagne truffles to fondant cremes, Holdsworth’s decadent boxes are particularly delicious, wrapped in the most beautiful packaging and guaranteed to set hearts a flutter. Pink Prosecco Truffles by Holdsworth, from £5.50 For the newly engaged… With so much love in the air at this time of the year, it’s no surprise that lots of lucky couples are putting a ring on it! Help get the wedding prep off to the best start possible with this beautiful – and oh, so chic – Moleskine wedding journal. Wedding Journal by Moleskine, £28.95 For the ultimate gesture… If you’re looking to make an impact this year, it doesn’t get much more romantic than your very own love seat! We could while away hours whispering sweet nothings on this plush velvet style. All we need now is someone to share it with… Pink two seater sofa, £2,150

The Scot was the first person to ever feature on a commemorative bottle of Coca Cola. Legendary artist Bob Dylan revealed that ‘A Red, Red Rose’ by Burns is his source of greatest creative inspiration. It is claimed that Michael Jackson’s smash hit Thriller was inspired by the Tam O’Shanter poem. One of Burns most famous works, Auld Lang Syne, has appeared in over 170 Hollywood films including The Apartment, It’s A Wonderful Life and When Harry Met Sally. Burn’s popularity stretches much further than Scotland. At pedestrian crossings in Japan, the sound indicating that a walker can cross is a rendition of ‘Coming Through The Rye’. One of the most famous US presidents Abraham Lincoln could recite Burns’ works by heart. Burns fathered at least 13 children by four different women. His wife, Jean Armour, gave birth to nine of his children, but only three survived infancy. Burns’ oldest child, Elizabeth was born after he had an affair with his mother’s servant and his youngest son Maxwell, was born on the day of his funeral. John Steinbeck took the title of his 1937 novel ‘Of Mice and Men’ from a line a Burns poem ‘To a Mouse’ which reads, ‘the best laid schemes o’ men an’ men/ gang aft agley’. American designer Tommy Hilfiger claims to be a great, great, great nephew of Robert Burns. Astronaut Nick Patrick carried a miniature book of Burns poetry on a two week long space mission with him in 2010. It completed a 5.7 million mile trip and 217 orbits of the earth. There are more statues, monuments and memorials dedicated to Robert Burns than any other non-religious figure, after Queen Victoria and Christopher Columbus including one in New York’s Central Park. CELEBRATE BURNS NIGHT AT RESTORATION YARD Say ‘Slangevar’ with friends, family or book in for a unique date night! We are ending (dry) January by toasting Scotland’s bard with a delicious three-course dinner in our beautiful Restoration Café. Most importantly, for this special evening opening, chef Colin Halliday has created a menu comprising such culinary delights as haggis, neeps and tatties with whisky cream (of course), Scottish salmon with Crowdie cream cheese, pickled cucumber and radish salad and Scotch Lamb with root vegetables and fondant potatoes. Team your choice with some delicious whisky from our drinks menu and it will be a celebration worthy of our nation’s favourite poet. We’re taking bookings from 6pm to 8.30pm. For more information or to book, give us a call on 0131 322 2572 or book online using the OpenTable app below for 25th January. BURNS NIGHT MENU STARTERS Truffled celeriac soup – croutons – chives Haggis neeps ‘n’ tatties – whisky cream – parsnip crisps Smoked Scottish salmon – Crowdie cream cheese – pickled cucumber and radish salad Mull cheddar and Ayrshire ham hock croquettes – salt baked beetroot – tomato and chilli jam MAINS Oven roasted chicken supreme – clapshot – wild mushrooms – kale – Arran mustard cream Char-grilled rump of Scotch lamb – root vegetables – fondant potato – barley broth Scrabster cod fillet – butter poached leeks – baby spinach – skirlie potato cake – caviar cream sauce Char-grilled Scotch sirloin steak garni – hand cut chips – bearnaise sauce DESSERTS Warm marmalade steamed sponge pudding – vanilla custard Drambuie pana cotta – macerated winter fruits Cranachan parfait – raspberry purée – heather honey shortbread Isle of Mull cheddar – chutney – oatcakes – grapes – celery 3 courses £35 Steak supplement £5 Cheese supplement £4 For more quirky facts on Scotland’s bard read www.scotsman.com