A firm defence of quiet material pleasure is the only way to oppose the universal folly of Fast Life. Our defence should begin at the table. - Slow Food Manifesto, 1989
Below are lists of restaurants and shops/cafes in Edinburgh recommended by members as the best local examples of Slow Food principles in action.
Local Slow Food members are welcome to endorse existing recommendations or suggest new additions by emailing recommended@slowfoodedinburgh.co.uk
Slow Food Edinburgh Recommended Restaurants 2007
Atrium 10 Cambridge Street, 0131 228 8882
Andrew Radford's stylish dining was ahead of its time and is still among the best in Edinburgh. Under head chef Neil Forbes the sourcing policy frequently includes Edinburgh Farmers' Market, just across the road. www.atriumrestaurant.co.uk
blue 10 Cambridge Street, 0131 221 1222
Contemporary, informal eatery on the floor above the Atrium - same owners. www.bluebarcafe.com
Centotre 103 George Street, 0131 225 1550
Victor and Carina Contini's large, vibrant caffe-bar focusses strongly on quality Italian produce served in a strongly contemporary atmosphere. Good pasta dishes, many wines by the glass, tasty deserts. www.centotre.com
Creelers 3 Hunter Square,0131 220 4447
A city-centre seafood restaurant with strong connections to Arran -- where the family run a small creel boat and smokery, and Kintyre, where they have a seasonal 'seafood shack' selling locally gathered fish and shellfish. www.creelers.co.uk
David Bann's Vegetarian Restaurant 56-58 St Mary's Street, 0131 556 5888
Stylish modern vegetarian restaurant which has done much to move veggie food far from the lentils and sandals image. www.davidbann.com
The Dining Room Scotch Malt Whisky Society, 28 Queen Street, 0131 220 2044
Classy, upmarket dining using good Scottish produce located in the classy New Town members' rooms of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, which bottles distinctive single-cask malt whisky from distilleries all over Scotland. www.smws.com
La Garrigue 31 Jeffrey Street, 0131 557 3032
A very pleasant restaurant just off the Royal Mile focussing uniquely on traditional rustic dishes and wines from chef Jean Michel Gauffre's home region of the Languedoc. Look out too for the unusual tables and chairs by artisan Scottish wood craftsman Tim Stead. www.lagarrigue.co.uk
Henderson's 94 Hanover Street, 0131 225 2131
Scotland's original vegetarian restaurant, established by East Lothian farmers Janet and Mac Henderson. Forty years on it's still run by their sons. Original self service restaurant and wine bar is complemented by street-level shop and and a separate bistro round the corner. www.hendersonsofedinburgh.com
The Kitchin 78 Commercial Quay, Leith, 0131 555 1755
The most talked-about restaurant in Edinburgh in 2007, chef Tom Kitchin's first solo venture came on the back of his experience working for Alain Ducasse and Philip Koffmann in London, Paris and Monte Carlo. The Kitchen earned its first Michelin Star within a year of opening. Cooking clearly focusses on interesting, top quality Scottish produce, with unusual cuts, unfashionable meat, sustainable fish and well-sourced vegetables prominent. Atmosphere less stuffy and formal than many other high-end venues. www.thekitchin.com
Petit Paris 38 Grassmarket, 0131 226 2442
Edinburgh's most enthusiastic champion of the Auld Alliance - Scotland's links with France that go back to the thirteenth century. Classic French dishes (some using produce source from small Scottish farms) in two Edinburgh locations: the other is at 17 Queensferry Street. www.petitparis-restaurant.co.uk
Skippers 1a Dock Place, Leith, 0131 554 1018
NOTE: UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP AS OF FEB 08. One of the original seafood bistros which were so emblematic of Leith's renaissance 25 years ago. An intimate venue serving fish and shellfish, much of it landed or sourced in Scotland. www.skippers.co.uk
The Stockbridge Restaurant 54 St Stephen Street, 0131 226 6766
Compact basement restaurant run by a young husband and wife team which has been proving a popular place for mid- to upper-range Scottish dining among Stockbridge locals. www.thestockbridgerestaurant.com
Valvona & Crolla VinCaffe 11 Multrees Walk, 0131 557 0088
A more recent sister venue to Valvona & Crolla's deli and caffe on Elm Row, the VinCaffe is a sleek, stylish spot located on Edinburgh's swishest row of big-name boutiques. Menu centres on upscale Italian produce, most of it quite simply prepared and served in a relatively casual way. Wide choice of excellent Italian wines by the glass. www.valvonacrolla.co.uk/html/vincaffe.html
Vintners Rooms The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith, 0131 554 6767
An upmarket, Scottish-French restaurant with the most venerable dining room in Edinburgh, a former wine auction room dating from 1785 with delicated plaster work that's lit only by candles. Technically skilled, but not fussy, cooking by chef Patrice Ginestiere matched by experienced front-of-house and wine choices from Silvio Praino. www.thevintnersrooms.com
Whighams Wine Cellars 13 Hope Street, 0131 225 8674
Atmospheric and often busy wine bar and casual bistro located in a series of New Town cellars. Offers well-selected wines, many by the glass, alongside a wholesome, wide-ranging menu which specialises in local seafood. www.whighams.com
Zanzero 14-16 North West Circus Place, 0131 220 0333
Described as Centotre's slightly wilder younger sister, Victor and Carina Contini are aiming to offer serious Italian food to the Stockbridge area in a casual, youthful atmosphere. Good for fresh, lighter food and drinks. www.zanzero.com
Slow Food Edinburgh Recommended Shops and Cafes 2007
George Bower 75 Raeburn Place, 0131 332 3469
A traditional butcher specialising in beef and game.
Broughton Delicatessen Barony Street, 0131 558 7111
Charming compact deli with a small café area at the rear. Excellent range of cakes, salads and daily dishes cooked on premises. www.broughton-deli.co.uk
Clarks Speciality Foods 202 Bruntsfield Place, 0131 656 0500
Suppliers to the trade and now also a small shop in Bruntsfield with good range of artisan, farmhouse cheeses from Scotland, British Isles and Europe, as well as fruit and veg from Rungis market in Paris. www.clarksfoods.co.uk
Demijohn, 32 Victoria Street, 0131 225 3265
A "liquid deli" selling oils, vinegars, liqueurs & spirits, all displayed in huge glass containers and sold in various attractive bottles. Many drinks and vinegars sourced from small UK producers. www.demijohn.co.uk
Edinburgh Farmers' Market Castle Terrace, 0131 652 5940
Takes place 9am-2pm every Saturday in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. Has around 40 stalls covering meat, fruit, veg, fish, cheese, bread and beer. Most stallholders are farmers or small producers from the Lothians, Scottish Borders, Fife and Central Scotland. Both FARMA and Country Life magazine rated it the UK's best farmers' market in 2006. www.edinburghcc.com/farmersmarket
Falko Konditormeister 7 Bruntsfield Place, 0131 656 0763
Bakery specialising in handmade continental breads and superb cakes, tortes and brezeln (pretzels). Falko is a German qualified Konditormeister – master of anything made with sugar. www.foodwithlust.com
Findlay's of Portobello 116 Portobello High Street, 0131 669 2783
Findlays is a traditional family-run butchers renowned for its exceptional haggis that was served at Slow Food UK's inaugural Congress, and is also a favourite of Rick Stein's. www.findlayofportobello.co.uk
Henri's 376 Morningside Road, 0131 447 8877
A neighbourhood deli specialising in French products, including charcuterie, cheese and meat as well as bread from Edinburgh's excellent Au Gourmand bakery.
Herbie of Edinburgh 1 North West Circus Place, 0131 226 7212
Well-established deli-cafe particularly known for its range of cheese, bread and wine (South African a speciality). On-site kitchen produces excellent sandwiches, pates etc. Also a smaller shop not far away at 66 Raeburn Place. www.herbieofedinburgh.co.uk
Manna House 22-24 Easter Rd, 0131 652 2349
A small artisan bakery patisserie making a wide range of interesting breads, pastries, muffins, desserts and other treats. A couple of tables are squeezed in and coffee/hot chocolate served. www.manna-house-edinburgh.co.uk
IJ Mellis Cheesemonger 30a Victoria Street, 0131 226 6215
Cheesemonger (and affineur) for the discerning, with Edinburgh's best range of Scottish, British and Irish farmhouse cheeses. Has 3 shops in Edinburgh: also at 330 Morningside Road and 6 Bakers Place, Stockbridge. www.ijmellischeesemonger.com
The Store 13 Comely Bank Road, 0131 315 0030
An upmarket deli closely linked to the Booth family's home farm and farm shop in Aberdeenshire, which produces finest Aberdeen Angus beef and grass fed lamb. Describes itself as "the farm shop in the city". Also sells a good range of well-sourced Scottish deli items. www.thestorecompany.co.uk
Valvona & Crolla 19 Elm Row, 0131 556 6066
World class Italian deli, run by various generations of the Crolla and Contini family on the same site since the 1930s. All the finest Italian produce along with a few select Scottish items and bread from their own local bakery. Probably the best range of Italian wine in Britain, and there's a daytime caffe at the rear of the shop. First stop in Edinburgh for famous foodies such as Antonio Carluccio and Nigel Slater. www.valvonacrolla.co.uk
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