Julie Di Toro and Sam Barker are closing Mistral, a popular wine bar located on Leith’s Bonnington Road. The bar, which has gained a strong following of chefs, restaurant owners and other food industry professionals over the years, is having its final service tonight. I’d advise heading over, it’s sure to be one hell of a party.
Mistral’s closing is not without a silver lining; Roberta Hall McCarron and her husband Stuart are taking on the premises. In the bar’s place, they plan to open Ardfern, an all-day dining venue.
Both Roberta and Stuart seem particularly excited about the opportunity to serve breakfast and have plans to plate up thick-cut bacon alongside homemade haggis and tattie scones. Lunch and dinner menus will also be offered. These will be more playful than dishes served at The Little Chartroom and Eleanore (the couple’s two other restaurants), as exemplified by a fish finger sandwich served with mussel curry sauce and kohlrabi slaw.
After 40 years, Peggy’s Café in Morningside is set to close at the beginning of April with rising costs to blame. This business has been an integral part of The Open Door’s charitable work which is focused on supporting the elderly. The charity has highlighted that all core day-care services will still be offered after the café’s closure.
As one café closes, another one opens. Coffee Cabinet, Edinburgh’s latest caffeine-centric venture opened on Thursday, 21 March. Here, sandwiches filled with the likes of spiced cauliflower, chickpeas and slaw are served alongside coffee sourced from Santu, a local roastery that buys direct from specialty farmers in Brazil. The café is located at 49 Broughton Street and is open seven days a week.
Finally, Mara’s Picklery - which boasts a name only one ‘r’ away from perfection - opened its doors for the first time on Tuesday, 12 March. Located on 21c Strathearn Road, this new venture serves both lunch and dinner and spotlights all things fermented, pickled and preserved.
Now, a recommendation: Valvona & Crolla
Any city as old as Edinburgh is bound to have a few food institutions. However, few a re home to institutions as impressive as Valvona & Crolla. This is Scotland’s oldest delicatessen and has been open in the same premises since 1934. Given the building’s history, it's no surprise that at Valvona & Crolla, customer loyalty is measured in generations, not years.
The front of the building is dominated by the delicatessen. Wooden shelves all but buckle under the weight of premier produce, including local cheeses and Italian wines. Valvona & Crolla’s caffè bar & restaurant is found in the back of the shop. Here, well-executed, Italian fare is available from 09:00-18:00, six days a week. The Fritto Misto, a platter of delicately battered and fried seafood is a wonderful choice. Gnocchi served alongside Gorgonzola dolce and radicchio is another firm favourite. Order the recommended wine pairing.
Haven’t been to Valvona for a while, thanks for the reminder
But I love Mistral!!! 🤣