Cookies & Shortbread from Dublin and Scotland

Shortbread cookies from Edinburgh

The brand at the top is Campbells (which I haven't seen in Canada) and the brand below is Walkers (which I see in Canada - but I thought I'd try in Scotland to see if there's a difference). 

Both were good shortbread cookies - but they weren't exceptional (and I was hoping to find some amazing shortbread in Scotland). 

Another amazing find from Marks and Spencer in Dublin

I love pistachio and almond - so these are like my dream cookies. The only downside was that these were hard cookies rather than soft cookies. Otherwise, these cookies were delicious! 

Edinburgh Aspire Airport Lounge - Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle

Airport Lounge

Pasta, rice, tomato and mushrooms

Soup 

Decent airport lounge food compared to my other airport lounge experiences. 

Website: https://www.edinburghairport.com/prepare/services-and-facilities/lounges

Elephant House - Edinburgh

 

 

Elephant Shortbread cookie

Elephant House Breakfast

Haggis, egg, tomato, roll, sausage and ham

Haggis is great! I've had a good experience eating haggis everywhere in Scotland.

Website: https://elephanthouse.biz/ 

Greyfriars Bobby's Bar - Edinburgh

The eating tour continues! 

Greyfriars Bobby was a Skye Terrier who became known in 19th-century Edinburgh for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner until he died. There's a statue commemorating the terrier right outside the bar.

Cullen Sink

Smoked haddock in a creamy veloute sauce with potatoes and parsley

I wasn't sure if this smoked haddock was going to have a strong smoky flavour (especially after I tried the peat-mossy smoke flavour of Scottish Whisky), but I was pleasantly surprised. This was delicious and the farmhouse bread and butter were great too! 

Website: https://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/scotlandandnorthernireland/greyfriarsbobbysbarcandlemakerrowedinburgh

Amber Whisky Bar - Edinburgh

I usually don't drink alcoholic beverages, but when in Scotland - you've got to try Scotch Whisky. 

Apparently there's a wide range of flavour notes, including a "peaty" flavour - which is really strong. 

 

Eventually I found one that I liked: 

It was aromatic and not too sweet - delicious!

Website: https://www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk/restaurant/bar

Cafe at the Palace - Edinburgh

Holyrood Palace

It's so cool to have afternoon tea in the same place as the official Scottish residence of Queen Elizabeth II.

 

 

The tea set is so pretty! 

 

Fragrant tea

Really yummy scones with clotted cream on the first tier

Sandwiches, carrot cake, eclairs and tarts - all really delicious on the second tier

Savoury treats like quiches, canapes and sandwiches on the third tier

Loved the experience here and the food was pretty great too! 

Website: https://afternoontea.co.uk/uk/scotland/edinburgh/cafe-at-the-palace/

Edinburgh Larder - Edinburgh

Carlton Hill in the morning

 

Scottish Breakfast, here we go! 

Full Breakfast with black pudding, sausage, bacon, potatoes, mushrooms, baked beans, fried egg and toast. 

It's so pretty and it was tasty. The black pudding was interesting - strong-flavoured and kinda crumbly (I'll probably skip this experience in the future). The beans were also different. 

Website: https://www.edinburghlarder.co.uk/

Mother India's Cafe - Edinburgh

Chicken Tikka Makhni, Chana Daal, Lamb Mussalam, Chicken Curry and Pita bread

Everything was really tasty and delicious - there were a few dishes that were really spicy, which is why we ordered chai tea: 

Masala Tea

So yummy! 

Website: https://www.motherindia.co.uk/index.php/mother-indias-cafe-edinburgh-home

The Last Drop - Edinburgh

The Last Drop is a historic and popular pub in Edinburgh. The name of the pub is a reference to the public hangings conducted in the Grassmarket nearby in the eighteenth century.

Haggis, Neeps and Tatties appetizer

Mutton, oatmeal and mixed spices with mashed neeps (rutabaga/turnip) and tatties (potatoes)

It was my first time trying haggis and I actually really liked it! It's pretty tasty with all the mixed spices and the texture was pretty interesting with mutton and oatmeal mixed in. I would definitely try it again! The mashed neeps were a little grainy, but mashed potatoes are always a plus in my books. 

Cranachan

A Scottish dessert with whipped cream, oats, whisky, raspberries and honey - yummy!

Website: https://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/scotlandandnorthernireland/thelastdropgrassmarketedinburgh

Edinburgh Christmas Market - Edinburgh

The Edinburgh Christmas Market is located at the Princes Street Gardens across the railroad tracks from Edinburgh Castle. The Christmas market was in the heart of the city and was really pretty with lots of festive lights. There were a lot of fun things to do at the Christmas market, but not as many yummy food options as the other Christmas markets I went to (i.e. Glasgow and Belfast). 

iCafe Merchant City & Gregg's - Glasgow

Early morning Christmas market at St. Enoch Square!

I wanted to check out Merchant City and Cafe Gandolfi, but unfortunately, a lot of things weren't open and we weren't able to sit down and eat since we had to catch our train to Edinburgh - so we stopped by iCafe Merchant City for a quick grab and go breakfast/lunch. 

iCafe Merchant City
70-72 Ingram St, Glasgow 

Chicken sandwich - toasty and tasty!

We passed by a Gregg's before we walked into the second one on W Nile Street for pies!

Gregg's 

28 W Nile St, Glasgow G1 2PF, UK

Yummy pies!

Gregg's is starting to be my new obsession in the UK.