After the excitement of Friday night, we’re up sharp for a train to York. To catch the train to Edinburgh. For once, we’re travelling 1st. Fortunately, we’re not going to Blackpool.
Lots of space. However, it is slow. There’s works on much of the North England stretch and it deviates to Carlisle.
In Edinburgh I use some freebie points for a night in a Holiday Inn. We receive an upgraded room (thanks), have a power nap (well I am 40) then meet our friends Abe and Morag downstairs around 5ish.
Bus down to Leith for a quick half then into Martin Wisharts. We haven’t been here for over two years and are vaguely worried that, given our improved cooking abilities, the food won’t be quite as phenomenal as previously.
We’re wrong. As soon as the amuse bouche (via a kir royale) appears we know we’ve still several years of practice ahead.
Anyway here’s the breakdown:
CEPE VELOUTÉ
Chestnut puree
VIVALDI NEW POTATOS AND BABY LEEKS
Malt, pumpernickel and truffle textures
PICKLED ORGANIC VEGETABLES FROM PHANTASSIE FARM
Cucumber and vegetable nage
EMMENTAL SOUFFLÉ
Soubise spinach
RISOTTO OF SPELT GRAIN
Roasted artichoke and truffle jus
PINK GRAPEFRUIT AND PASSION FRUIT CREAM (Therese)
Charentai, melon sorbet, honeycomb tuile
Or
CHOCOLATE CROUSTILLANT (Stephen)
Valrhona caramelia crémeux
All with matching wine. Most impressive. Portions were smaller than last time – which was good as it meant no struggle as the later dishes arrived.
We collected a taxi and asked for a decent bar near the top of Leith Walk. We were deposited outside somewhere …. inappropriate.
Moving down a couple of streets we found somewhere serviceable, managed another couple of glasses then agreed it was time to end the night. All before midnight. A true test of “middle age” is passed.
