Burger Meats Bun, Edinburgh:

The title of this post might sound familiar, and that's because I wrote about Burger Meats Bun in Glasgow here not four months ago.  I am (justifiably) obsessed.  BMB was the only Scottish restaurant included in a recent list of the UK's top 10 burger joints, and I couldn't contain my excitement when I heard the news that they would be opening an Edinburgh branch on Forth Street.  Of course I made sure I was there on opening night a couple of weeks ago with Craig, and my previous rave review about their amazing food still stands.

Inside, BMB Edinburgh is enough like the Glasgow premises to feel comfortingly familiar, but not a carbon copy.  The restaurant has high Edinburgh ceilings (quite a change from the Glasgow basement on West Regent Street) and large windows, making it bright and airy, which is especially nice during summer.

I was quite unadventurous on this visit and stuck to my usual Big Cheese burger (no regrets, it's still the best burger around!), but I did try the Buffalo chicken wings for the first time which were super tasty.  Dedicated fans of the BMB Glasgow needn't worry: the only thing different about Edinburgh's burgers are the buns, which are slightly bigger, so you actually feel like you're getting more for your money.  Bonus!

I had a couple of tasty cocktails to wash down my burger (their Dark & Stormy is still my favourite) and then Craig and I shared the intriguingly named Burger & Shake on BMB's dessert menu.  This turned out to be a jam filled macaron 'burger' with a baby milkshake to wash it down, which arrived with stripy paper straws - a blogger's dream!

The BMB Edinburgh staff were so friendly and happy to chat, even though they were no doubt rushed off their feet on their first day of trading.  We even got to meet the lovely Ben who co-owns Burger Meats Bun and who is partly responsible for the creation of my favourite burger.  So, essentially, my absolute hero!

Although I'm sure you've got the message by now, I can't stress how good these burgers are.  If you are an Edinburger (get it?) pop down to Forth Street pronto and try out one of these bad boys for yourself.  You will not be disappointed!

Mademoiselle Macaron, Edinburgh:

Where did macarons come from?  There we were just a few years ago, quite content with our Penguin biscuits and fairy cakes (remember when they weren't 'cupcakes'?), and suddenly this new 'must have' delicacy was blowing up blogs and Instagram feeds.  Macarons really are the most photogenic of sweet treats, aren't they?  Is it a biscuit?  Is it a cake?  Is it a meringue?  Whatever it is, the macaron is essentially the Chanel handbag of the bakery world: French, timeless and in high demand.

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Undoubtedly the first person to seriously bring macarons to my attention would have been my oldest friend, Emily.  As well as being a hugely talented artist, she is also an amazing self taught chef and baker who has actually mastered the making of delicious macarons - something that not all that many professionals can say!  In fact, those beauties in the photo above are Emily's handiwork.

On a trip to Paris a few years ago she took me to the famous luxury bakery, Ladurée, and that was where I officially jumped on the bandwagon and purchased some eyewateringly expensive macarons of my very own.  I have since discovered that the much cheaper McCafé macarons sold at McDonald's over there aren't bad either...

But there isn't a McCafé in Edinburgh, and there isn't a Ladurée either, so where does one go for a macaron fix in Scotland's capital?  As of this month, Mademoiselle Macaron on Grindlay Street is your answer.

After first learning about Mademoiselle Macaron through a uni pal (Melissa) Craig and I trotted along to the newly opened premises earlier this week to check it out.  The shop is adorable, both outside and in.  There are little Parisian touches everywhere, and being served by the lovely Caroline (of La Robe á Caro) with a genuine French accent made the experience feel all the more authentic.  Caroline's beautiful dresses are on display in the shop too, giving visitors endless pretty things to gawk at.

 You can choose to either sit in and savour your macarons with a drink, or take them to go (there are even special take away coffee cups that can house a couple of macarons on top - so cute!).  We snagged eight delicious macarons to take away - and promptly scarfed them about ten minutes later - but choosing flavours was tricky.  There are a lot to choose from!  I will definitely be back in the future for some coffee and to spend more time in Edinburgh's little slice of Paris.

SurGE magazine:

If you're out and about in Edinburgh or Glasgow in the near future (or have been over the last week or so) you may well stumble across a copy of the magazine pictured above.  I'm really proud to say that SurGE magazine was created and produced purely by my uni class in just over two (short and stressful) months.

SurGE is loosely themed around the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer.  As the least sporty person I know, I wasn't expecting to get on board with this theme as much as I did.  In the end, it worked out perfectly.  We managed to create an interesting and well rounded publication that covers the human and cultural sides of the Games, as well as the sporting element.  I really think that there's something for everyone in SurGE!  But maybe I'm biased.

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It started as a class assessment, but became a way of life.  We did everything you might expect journalism students to do along the way (i.e. writing and editing copy) as well as quite a bit that you wouldn't expect.  Fundraising, diving and wrestling (for research purposes, of course), sourcing advertisers and distributors, wrangling with alien programs like Photoshop and InDesign to construct the individual pages of the magazine...  You name it, we did it.  SurGE even has its own website with extra content, from interviews to videos.

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My main role on the team was Culture Section Editor, but I also did various other bits and bobs to help out.  The most challenging of these was arranging a sportswear fashion photo shoot for the magazine.  I don't claim to be anywhere near an expert on sport or fashion, but I can organise the hell out of anything, and that's exactly what I did.  Somehow - with a lot of help from friends and classmates - I manage to rustle up a photographer, two models, two make up artists, top of the range sportswear, props and both an indoor and outdoor location for the shoot.  The day went really well in the end, and we even avoided the rain for the most part!  My partner in crime Nicola and I filmed a behind the scenes video of the shoot which you can watch below.




Seeing the magazine in print makes all the hard work worth it, and I'm so proud of all of us!  Last Thursday the majority of the class went out in teams to distribute SurGE across Edinburgh and Glasgow before celebrating our official launch with a party at The Voodoo Rooms.  The French Quarter Bar there has an amazing light up dance floor, which we all pulled our fair share of shapes on during the course of the evening.

It feels good to say I helped to make a magazine, but it also feels good to say that we've finished it!  Now please excuse us all while we take a two week holiday to recover...

Growler Beers UK:

A few months ago, a new shop front appeared on Morningside Road, not far from my flat.  From the signage, I assumed that there would be a new pub in the area soon, but the idea behind Growler Beers UK is actually much better and much more unique than your bog standard bar.

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Growler Beers sells craft ales, lagers and ciders, bottled on site, and intended to be enjoyed at home.  The shop is set up like a bar (without any seating) and you can choose from over ten varieties on tap.  Some of these options are seasonal, but this gives you chance to try something new every time you visit!

To briefly explain the unusual name, historically a 'growler' is a container used to take beer home from craft breweries.  Owner and mastermind, Stuart Dinning, decided to modify this idea (as some American, Canadian and Australian businesses have done already) and give customers the ability to enjoy freshly poured pints from the comfort of their own sofa.

When I visited for the first time this week, Stuart was there to give me advice and fully explain the Growler process to me.  You can either purchase your very own glass growler to keep forever for £8.50, or you can pay a deposit of either £5 or £10 (depending on size) to borrow a bottle.  Stuart then talked me through all of the ciders and beers available, and gave me the option to taste a small sample of anything that tempted me before I made a decision.  Although Growler Beers only has an off licence and can't legally sell alcohol to be consumed on the premises, they are allowed to give free tasters, which is both generous and a really good idea!

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It might be playing it safe, but I'm not much of a beer drinker, so I decided to opt for a one litre bottle of Jaggy Thistle cider, brewed by Thistly Cross.  Stuart described it as apple juice with a kick, and it certainly lives up to that claim!  I would eventually like to buy my own growler to keep, but with the promise of special edition Christmas bottles going on sale in the near future, I've decided to wait.

I love the concept behind Growler Beers, and would highly recommend visiting if you're passing by.  The experience was so much more fun than standing in front of a measly supermarket selection and choosing a pre poured bottle of the same old cider that I always plump for.  Plus, it's good to support local and independent businesses - it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!  That might have something to do with the Jaggy Thistle, though...

Edinburgh on film:

 I absolutely love seeing locations that I've visited on TV or in films, maybe you're the same.  Then again, maybe it's genetic.  My parents used to watch Friends every week with my sister and me just to obnoxiously shout 'Been there!' when a two second clip of Central Park or the Empire State Building appeared on screen...  

I get the biggest kick out of seeing fictional characters in my own town, wandering through the same places I go to on a regular basis.  Living in Scotland's capital city means that I get the opportunity to see my home soil on the big screen fairly regularly, but it never gets old!  Here are my top three films set in good Auld Reekie:

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1. Ask the average person to think of an Edinburgh based film, and I'm willing to bet that nine times out of ten they will choose Trainspotting (1996).  Controversial as the film's (and original novel's) subject matter may be, Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor) and his on screen pals do make a fairly loveable gang of drug addicts and petty criminals.  If I'm ever running for a bus or train in the centre of town, I usually can't help but imagine Renton and co. jogging along Princes Street beside me, with Iggy Pop's Lust for Life blasting.  The majority of Trainspotting was actually filmed in Glasgow, but Princes Street is such an iconic Edinburgh location (and still looks virtually the same today, well over a decade later) that it's unlikely you'll notice. 

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2. Like Trainspotting, Filth (2013) was originally based on a book by Edinburgh born author Irvine Welsh.  Filth paints a similarly dark picture of the capital, and this movie actually shows a great deal more of real Edinburgh than its big brother.  Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, the Grassmarket, the Cowgate - if it's a part of central urban Edinburgh, it's in the movie.  Even though Filth was also partly filmed in Glasgow, Stirling, Hamburg, Belgium and even Sweden, it captures an admittedly somewhat seedy side of Edinburgh that I recognise.

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3. The most accurate portrayal of Edinburgh on film that I've seen so far wasn't made by a Scot, and doesn't actually feature the real city at all.  Sylvain Chomet's The Illusionist (2010) is a beautifully hand drawn animation, set primarily in Edinburgh in the late 1950s.  A surprising amount of the city still looks almost identical today, and anyone who is familiar with modern Edinburgh won't have any problem recognising famous landmarks like Waverley Station and Jenners department store.  What is now The Cameo cinema in Tollcross (just down the road from me) features quite a lot, and I actually saw the film for the first time there.  It was quite a surreal experience!  

The Illusionist incorporates the stunning natural landscape of Edinburgh that Trainspotting and Filth ignore in favour of man made buildings and monuments.  It's nice to know that even though Chomet's interpretation of Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat looks like a dream, the real view is just as lovely.

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Best burgers (Edinburgh edition):

My 100th Inferior Design blog post is dedicated to something very special and close to my heart: the burger.  When my sister and I were younger, my parents always used to make fun of us for going to different restaurants all around the world and ordering... a cheeseburger.  What they didn't realise is that - as all good scientists do - we were simply using the cheeseburger as a control in our big burger experiment in order to properly judge the food quality between establishments.  Or maybe we just really liked eating cheeseburgers.

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Either way, I do really like eating burgers, and finding new places to eat them.  Along with Craig and our friend Steven, I'm on the hunt for the best burger I can get my hands on, and Edinburgh has a few strong contenders.

Bar Kohl, 54 George IV Bridge

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I walked past Bar Kohl approximately forty thousand times before I finally decided to go in for lunch one day.  It's in a really central location, very close to the Royal Mile and the Grassmarket, and I've eaten there before gigs at the nearby Liquid Rooms a couple of times.  
There are a few other food options on the menu here, but - just as they should be - burgers are the main focus.  Most recently, I've had the New Jersey chicken burger for a change, and very much enjoyed it, but I've been known to go for the Kohl and the good old Cheeseburger in the past.  There are beef, chicken, lamb and even salmon burgers in their repertoire, as well as more than one vegetarian option (something that some burger joints fail at miserably). 

Although some of my friends have found the portion sizes of Bar Kohl's sides a little stingy, in general I would say that the burgers are pretty good value for money.  The other upside to Bar Kohl is their extensive cocktail menu, which has something for everyone.  They have plenty of seating, play good music and the staff have always been very friendly when I've visited.  Horrifyingly, however, they don't have a dessert menu!  Hopefully that won't put you off popping in for a burger, though.


Gourmet Burger Kitchen, 137 George Street

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Gourmet Burger Kitchen is the only chain restaurant that made it on to my best burger list, and for good reason.  If I'm honest, the first time I visited the Edinburgh branch after a recommendation from a friend, I was a little underwhelmed.  I remember the portions being small, the food being lukewarm by the time it got to us, and the bill being quite high at the end.  That being said, I've been back on several occasions since then and was pleasantly surprised at how much the quality of the food had improved.

On the very west end of George Street, Edinburgh's Gourmet Burger Kitchen is easy to get to if you are shopping on Princes Street, and quite roomy despite its deceptively tiny exterior.  A creature of habit, I usually order the Blue Cheese burger (essentially the grown up take on the default cheeseburger of my childhood) but there is a reasonably large menu to choose from.  Again, there are fish and vegetarian options on offer, as well as some more exotic meats.

Fries and other sides must be ordered and paid for separately, which I always think is a bit of a cheat.  Who wants a burger without chips?  Drinks are also a little expensive, but these are the perils of choosing to eat at a chain.  The actual burgers themselves are not extortionate in comparison to the others on this list, and they don't taste mass produced, which is a must for a really good burger.


City Cafe, 19 Blair Street

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Although City Cafe is usually my go to choice for hungover breakfasts (which I highly recommend, by the way) their extensive menu also includes burgers.  They don't have as many to choose from as some other restaurants, but not only does this make it easier to decide, it also gives you a higher chance of receiving an expertly cooked burger.

The last burger I sampled at City Cafe was the California, which was hands down the messiest thing I've ever tried to eat in my life.  There was guacamole everywhere.  Maybe I should have attempted to be civilised and used a knife and fork, but where's the fun in that?  According to the menu, everything about your burger is home made, even down to the bun.  I can't remember the fries clearly enough to comment, but they are included in the price of your burger which is always a plus.

City Cafe is decked out like a 1950s diner, and the place is definitely worth a visit, even just for a milkshake and a look around.  It's just off the Royal Mile or the Cowgate, depending on which direction you're coming from!


The Cambridge Bar, 20 Young Street

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The Cambridge Bar is a little off the beaten track, but easy to find if you know where you're going.  Tucked just behind the west end of George Street, the bar and restaurant is a hidden gem.  Disguised as a bit of an old man pub, it's actually home to some of the tastiest burgers Edinburgh has to offer, and unfortunately it isn't a secret.  If you want to guarantee yourself a table, make sure to book in advance, even on a week day!

The Cambridge's burgers are getting on the expensive side, especially as they don't come with any sides, but taste and quality are definitely worth the extra cash.  Their Blue (cheese) burger was a little too strong even for me on my last visit, but I have previously enjoyed the MOS (mushrooms, onions and swiss cheese), and they even do a Breakfast burger with a fried egg! 

The bar serves Thistly Cross cider, which is an excellent burger accompaniment, and I can also recommend their peanut butter and banana milkshake.  The Cambridge always has a great atmosphere, and is a cosy place to try one of Edinburgh's best quality burgers!


The Holyrood 9A, 9A Holyrood Road

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I'd heard that Holyrood 9A did a great burger long before I actually made it there, and I'm pleased to say that it lived up to the hype.  Unsurprisingly located on Holyrood Road, the restaurant and pub isn't far from the centre of town, and is easy to find.

Staying true to myself, I went for their Cheese burger (which comes with Swiss) and upgraded from standard fries to the sweet potato version.  Everything was delicious, and the sweet potato fries were a good decision, as Craig's string fries were nothing to write home about.  This was easily the tastiest burger I've had in a long time, and at the moment it definitely takes the crown for Edinburgh's best!

Oliver Bonas, Edinburgh:

If you've never heard of Oliver Bonas, don't worry, you and I were in the same boat up until a week ago.  The stores are primarily based in London, with a few scattered across England, but the brand new Edinburgh shop is the first one to reach Scotland.  I was invited along (by the lovely Emma!) with a few other bloggers to celebrate the Hanover Street store's grand opening, and I had a fantastic time!

I was very excited to find out that Oliver Bonas sells a huge array of clothes, jewellery, homeware and even beauty products.  I was especially excited about the homeware!  Apparently Oliver Tress, the founder of Oliver Bonas based the idea for the business on 'his love for buying unusual gifts for friends on his travels'.  This means that the stock is hugely varied, and there is something for every price range.  The Edinburgh shop is laid out beautifully, with attractive displays and plenty of space to browse.  Think Anthropologie, but a little younger and with more neon colours!

I love the cardboard stag heads in the photo above, they're the most decorative ones I've ever seen!  My favourite has to be the little birdhouse on the far left, though.  Wouldn't that be a cute addition to any home?

This necklace is one of many stunning statement necklaces on display at the back of the Edinburgh store.  Normally I would be totally intimidated by jewellery like this, and I would never even think about trying to pull it off myself.  However, one of the lovely staff members at the event was wearing this necklace as part of her uniform, and it looked amazing!  She told me she was planning to wear it with her graduation dress, but it looked just as good with a simple black collared shirt.  It turns out it's a surprisingly versatile piece, and it just goes to show that it's worth trying these things on!

These ornate iron chairs in various pastel colours are a big part of the shop's window display at the moment, and I think they do a great job of summing up the feel of Oliver Bonas as a store.  They are also so summery!  If I had a patio, or even a balcony (sigh, a girl can dream) then I'd be in great danger of purchasing a few for myself!

Sofas, chairs, stools and benches from The Velvet Chair Company are dotted all over the Edinburgh store in a huge variety of colours.  I even tried one out, although the price tag made me a little bit nervous!  If you're looking to make a quality soft furnishing investment, however, the chairs look great and are obviously sturdy.

Just to add to the excitement, two barmen from Candy were on site to mix us up some delicious fresh cocktails (my favourite of which was served in a jam jar!) and we were all given a hand decorated Bibi's Bakery cupcake to take home with us.  Some of the best butter icing I've ever tasted ensued!

So, what did I buy?  Well, I honestly could have bought almost everything in the entire shop.  Lianne and Gillian kept (nervously) laughing every time I picked something up off a shelf and announced that I didn't just want it, but needed it, but that's really how I felt!  In the end, I was quite sensible and went for a Korres lip butter in jasmine (above) and two glass neon bottles that I had been eyeing up all night (below).

I had a lovely time at Oliver Bonas, and was extremely excited and grateful to be invited along.  I will undoubtedly be back in store to have more of a browse, and I would recommend it if any of the stock in my photos seems up your street.  If you're more local to Glasgow, you might be happy to hear that an Oliver Bonas is due to open on Byres Road soon.  If not, there is always the option to shop online, and there are literally thousands of products available there.  My poor bank balance!

Sunny Scotland:

It's pretty ridiculous weather for May.  As I'm typing this, the sun is streaming through my window, but only a few days ago I was listening to the heaviest rain I've ever heard batter down on the roof above me at work.  It always surprises me (and I'm sure you'll understand if you too live in Scotland, or really anywhere in the UK) how truly stunningly beautiful my home country can be when it isn't raining.

A few weeks ago, Edinburgh was treated to a roasting hot day of blue skies and sunshine and (very unusually) it was my day off work.  I had lunch in Princes Street Gardens and then made the surprisingly short ten minute walk up the road and to the top of Calton Hill.  I was astounded by the beauty and peace just five minutes walk above the city centre.  I took all of the photos in this post on that afternoon.  It's nice to have photographic proof of sunshine for those grey and torrentially rainy days.  Hopefully they can make you feel a little sunnier, if the rain and clouds have got you feeling down, or encourage you to get out and enjoy your surroundings while you can, if you have good weather.