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SIDE DISHES Market milestone
■ The bunting will be out on Castle Terrace in Edinburgh on Saturday 3 July for the tenth anniversary of Edinburgh Farmers’ Market. A notable achievement, certainly, though some would look at the previous 50 years as more noteworthy, as an odd period in the entire history of agriculture when farmers didn’t sell their produce directly to their customers.
Castle Terrace will be back in the spotlight by the middle of July, when a new restaurant under that name opens in the former Abstract site. In essence it’s a second venture from The Kitchin, but Tom Kitchin is clear that he’ll remain resolutely at the helm in the original restaurant in Leith, with long- time colleague Dominic Jack taking the helm as head chef in the new West End venue. Through in Glasgow, the Doocot at The Lighthouse is making a comeback after its closure last year. It serves coffees and cakes and so on, but not yet full meals.
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: J A N N C A H O N E Y
independent café scene. Opened by a Scots-Kiwi couple in a former florists, Spark is of the less is more school: less focus on fancy fittings as an indication of the attention paid to decent, strong coffee (beans from Union), homemade soup and savoury snacks (including Puddledub bacon rolls) and crumb-picking cakes. Despite the hill outside we’re not in San Francisco yet, but Spark illuminates the way there.
LOS CARDOS 281 Leith Walk, Leith, 0131 555 6619, www.loscardos.co.uk, £6.50 (lunch/dinner) Another example of fast food and takeaways trying to re-engage with the world of real food, this small takeaway (with basic seating for about a dozen) promises ‘Fresh Mex’. Soft tortillas are made on the premises each day, along with salsas, guacamole and tortilla chips, all on offer alongside a choice of fillings which includes ‘Red Tractor’ (ie. higher welfare) chicken, slow-roasted pork and even Macsween’s haggis. Given that even well-made Mexican food tends to err on the side of blandness, you can rev things up on the spice front with your choice of chilli- kicking toppings.
AMANI 28 Bernard Street, Leith, 0131 555 4626, www.amanirestaurant.com, £8 (lunch) / £18 (dinner) With carved black latticework, glowing panels of pink and purple, slick lighting and waiters in flowing black kurta pajama suits, new Indian about Leith Amani is out to make its stylish mark. A cocktail list, kids’ menu (albeit with fish fingers and macaroni) and chef’s special fusion menu incorporating Moroccan and Mediterranean influences alongside the underlying Punjabi base all confirm the ambition of Silvia Sanjurjo’s new venture, though familiar tandoori, jalfrezi, korma and biryani dishes are all there too.
Independent write-ups on all the restaurants worth knowing about in Glasgow and Edinburgh are available on our online Eating & Drinking Guide at list.co.uk/food-and-drink. Prices shown are for an average two-course meal for one.
AUTHENTIC KURDISH & MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT
• Open 7 days 12 noon to late • Private dining area • Outdoor terraced seating • Dedicated Shisha area • Regular special events • Fixed price lunch deal
Hitlisted: The List Eating & Drinking Guide 2009/2010 ‘One of Britain's top 5 Middle East restaurants’ – The Telegraph
3 Johnston Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2PW (just beside Edinburgh Castle) T: 0131 225 1329 or 07888 677 613 E: hanams@hotmail.co.uk
www.hanams.com
Casual gourmet food, a great bar, outside dining, contemporary décor and a smile.
0131 622 8163 www.bisquebar.com 69 Bruntsfield Place. Edinburgh
24 Jun–8 Jul 2010 THE LIST 11