Thursday 18 August 2011

Ten Eating Options during the Edinburgh Fringe 2011

Anyone who has ever “done” the Fringe will know that for the three weeks of the festival, food becomes a source of fuel rather than a gourmet experience.  Often this is little time to sit down over a preper meal between shows so substinence in grabbed on the hoof thanks to the plentiful and varied stalls that set up around the Big Four venues and vegetables sadly become relegated to the September-July months.  There was a time where deciding what to eat would be a case of which burger topping to have each night but now there is more choice so here I present my ten of the best fast-food options for Edinburgh 2011.

1.  Mussel Men
Set up in the George Square/Assembly area for the second year running, this is a fantiastic venture offering fresh local seafood.  Moules Frites with a bottle of beer will set you back a non unreasonable £8.50 and you get some great banter with the equally delicious stall holders also!  They also sell fresh and tasty oysters for those who want in need of an aperitif or a little pick-me-up taste of the sea.

2.  La Favorita Pizza
In the Cow Pasture/Underbelly @ bristo Square, there is a small outpost of the large, successful Leith Walk restaurant.  The pizzas are beyond compare and freshly made to order at around £10 for a whole one or £3.50 a slice.  On an elusive sunny day, this is perfect al fresco eating.

3.  La Creperie
This has become a mainstay of the Gilded Balloon area in recent years and offers both savoury and sweet crepes and waffles with an astonishing amount of empty nutella jars piling up each day.  Good for a light lunch or sugar hit when energy levels are low.

Okay, this is a permanent restarurant rather than a temporary stall but situated in the middle of both Festival and Student Land it does a great trade all year round.  Meals are simple, speedy and nutricious.  Choose from a variety of noodle types, meat option, up to three veggies and a sauce (chilli, ginger and garlic can be added at no extra cost) and your combination will be stirfried and served to you in a traditional box with chopsticks.  There are seats to sit in or you can take away and it is a good opportuinity to get in some elusive veggies!

6.  Pleasance Barbeque
The pleasance got in on the fast-food options some years ago and it is hard to resist the smell of grilled meat wafting through the courtyard.  Good quality burgers in different sizes with or without cheese.  This year S discovered “The Ripsnorkler” which included a haggis topping within the bun.

7.  Well Hung and Tender
I couldn’t leave out this Edinburgh institution.  Good quality beef burgers produced locally and ethically with a variety of toppings available.  S swears by the monster “deluxe burger” with bacon, cheese, onions and lots more.

8.  The Mosque Kitchen
Another Edinburgh institution and a permanent fixture, the Mosque Kitchen is and does exactly as it sounds.  Delicious Middle Eastern-style curries are served at a long counter with plentiful veggie options available along with some halal meat options.  Seating is communal and you just have to cross your fingers that one will be available once you have obtained your food.  Prices are astonishing cheap starting at just £4 for veggie curry with rice or you can mix and match meat with veggie or two diffeent kinds of vegetable curries.  Naan bread is available at an extra cost and the food is very good indeed (especially the spinach curry which is another way of packing in the veggies during the long festival month).
http://www.list.co.uk/place/102602-mosque-kitchen/

9.  Organic Juice Bar
Okay, this stall in George Square/Assemby area offers more drinks than food but a few tasty wraps and homemade organic cakes are available.  The vast menu of smoothies and juices are the star though and a welcome relif amongst all the neighbouring fried food stalls.  Supplements can also be added such as wheatgerm or guarana to give your tired and abused body more of a lift and keep you going and scurvy-free until the end of August.

10.  The Baked Potato Shop
It’s a little walk away on
Cockburn Street
but handy for those taking in the street theatre on the Royal Mile and constantly recommended by festival goers and performers alike.   Unsually this spud seller is totally vegetarian so those who can’t see past tuna mayo or coronation chicken may be better off at the equally good Tempting Tattie on
Jeffery Street
.  For those who want to try something a little different however, there is a vast array of veggie and vegan fillings served in moster sized jacket potatoes (also available as filled pitas or salad pots).  The avocado salad is the real winner in my opinion but if you are looking for something warner the veggie haggis is one of the best I have ever tasted!  Only downside is lack of seating which means you may find yourself tucking into your spud in a bus shelter or leaning on a bin.  Such is the festival!
http://www.list.co.uk/place/102318-the-baked-potato-shop/




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