Auld fashioned rice pudding with a pot of jam and cream

Yes this is on our dessert menu and wow does it bring back memories. With the crispy golden skin  and the luxurious  split vanilla pod enclosed it has been a real head turner in the kitchen as well as out front.  The scent of the vanilla as it slowly cooks is a real joy.Thanks mum for bringing me  and my brother Alistair ,up on this wonderful pudding! The simple things are best in life and that goes for cooking too as this wonderful dish proves.

Banana leaf wrapped cod chargrilled with pesto crumb topping

As a customer was about to devour this exciting ,and very adventurious new summer dish we had just  put on the menu on saturday she asked''Can you eat the Banana leaf?''  I was momentarily lost for words!! Which must be a first...................''I'm not sure ''I said...looking confused.''Well you better go and ask the chef then'' she said in her best school teacher voice so I scuttled away to the kitchen and discussed it with Craig. I had created the dish but I wasn't about to confess I was one of the chefs! We had a brief discussion and decided no it was best not to .I think they were pulling my leg as  they burst into laughter when I returned to the table and told them ''no''.Very amusing.............. never mind I will know the next time I get asked!!

Grilled Figs with Somerset ''Tor''goats cheese and cardamon infused honey

I love Figs. This dish is on our specials board at the moment and as there are so many people who adore goats cheese it is a clever combination.

Aubergine Burger

It is fantastic to make food fun and exciting for everyone not just for high end dining and we are really proud of this wonderful aubergine burger that we are serving in our brasserie just now. It is basically a tian (a stack) of gorgeous char grilled meditterean vegetables,artisan goats cheese,sundried tomatoes and a topping of hand-made pesto.We put it sandwiched in a garlic toasted bread bun and it is about 8 inches high!
 By the way Edinburgh has got a fantastic food festival on this coming week-end at the meadows and I think it will be really worth going to especially when the organizers have gone to so much effort to bring you so many talented chefs. It is on Friday, Saturday and Sunday the 1st 2nd and 3rd of July.I'm diffinately going to go and see the Waitross cooking school and Rachel Allen.