Loaves Of Fudge - Empty Pockets!
Sarah Merry experiences tingling tastebuds, tarot and terminal therapy in Edinburgh and comes away with empty pockets but plenty of packages!
Hot liquid fudge down the Royal Mile...
Hot liquid fudge pours onto a heavy Italian marble slab and is moulded by a man in an apron. Shavings of Belgian Chocolate are scattered across the layer of mixture, which is crafted into a long baguette as it cools.
The fudge resembles a loaf of fresh bread [but far more decadent] as it is sliced into luxurious pieces. My taste buds tingle as I try before I buy... and yes, I must confess, I do buy!
Jim's Fudge Kitchen, set right on The Royal Mile in Edinburgh, is a place where you can watch the whole process of fudge preparation - from liquid to 'ready for sale'. The resulting fresh fudge will keep for around 10 days without needing refrigeration. It can also be frozen but I doubt it will survive that long!
Shops, smells and spuds...
On Canongate I find yet more fudge, this time in piles of coloured cubes adorning the window of The Fudge House of Edinburgh. I step in for an Italian coffee and come out with fresh homemade bread from their bakery.
Meandering back along the Royal Mile to Wildwood Books I peruse Celtic crafts, candles, bongos, ornate mirrors and incense, finding I can book in for a Tarot Reading if the mood takes me.
On to Anta, opposite John Knox House, where I discover pottery, fabrics, carpets, cushions and bags. A tartan mug, a fabric bag, a brightly coloured rug, all manner of purchases can empty your purse here.
Just off The Royal Mile on Cockburn Street, Crystal Clear have Celtic jewellery, crystals, holistic books, tarot cards, chakras and jewellery boxes. Breathing in a relaxing smell of incense, I wander in and examine the goods.
The Baked Potato Shop, next door, is where I assuage my hunger with a spud smothered in veggie chilli. The baked potatoes come with veggie or vegan fillings here so if you're a 'must have meat' eater, take heed and go elsewhere.
I'm a meat eater! Get me outta here!...
Searching for a vegetarian restaurant in Edinburgh I turn up trumps with Henderson's Bistro Bar. Bruschetta, panini, focaccia, marinated wild mushroom or stromboli, the small but busy eaterie is a haven for the discerning vegetarian.
Henderson's have Gluten Free Frittata [a Spanish style potato and olive omelette with salsa], veggie tapas, pasta or curry.
Henderson's Veggie Shop in Edinburgh, on the corner of Thistle Street and Hanover Street, offers bread from their own bakery, home made soup and snacks, juices and wheatgrass.
With such delicious choice available for vegetarians, I could be converted!
Terminal retail therapy and herbal cures...
A few miles out of town and offering a break from the bustling Royal Mile and Princes Street, the Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre has a cinema, branches of Boots, Waterstones, Debenhams, Trespass, Marks and Spencers, plus lots of eateries and the Royal Yacht Britannia.
I find original and unique products at Earth Squared - Contemporary Fair Trade Products and Au Naturale / Internationale. The latter is two shops in one - offering candles, rugs, home furnishings and clothing.
'Tonify both Chi and Blood, reduce anaemia and insomnia' with Ginseng Gui Hua Chicken Soup, and 'Improve appetite' by tucking into Steamed Fish with Plum Sauce. These are just two of the options that catch my eye on the Herbal Menu of the Palace Chine Restaurant.
Situated on the first floor of the shopping centre, this eaterie combines wonderful foods with herbal medicines. They also offer a more traditional Chinese menu, plus consultations and Chinese medicine sessions in Acupuncture, Acupressure and Moxibustion.
See more pictures and information at:
www.bookaplacetostay.co.uk