Friday, 13 April 2012

Edinburgh's Farmer's Market


It was cold, it was windy, and it looked like it was going to rain or snow any minute.  But that didn't stop me from checking out the Edinburgh Farmers' Market on our recent weekend getaway to Edinburgh.

Farmers' Markets are my catnip.

Every Saturday, rain or shine, The Market is held from 9:00-2:00 on Castle Terrace in down town Edinburgh with the impressive Edinburgh Castle looming in the background.

On the day we visited, there were about 30 vendors lining both sides of the street.  It was jam packed with customers despite the nasty weather.  Halfway along, shivering in the cold, I asked two local men  if the weather was typical for this time of year.  They laughed and replied that I mustn't be from Scotland.  Apparently it was considered a balmy, rather pleasant day by the natives. They were both wearing kilts.

Root vegetables, baked goods, breads, fruits, chocolates, meats, whisky, and excellent cheeses where on offer.  As always when I visit Farmers' Markets I wished I had a kitchen  in my hotel room so I could cook up and enjoy some of their products.

Whisky and oatmeal.  Who knew?
If I had to chose my favourite vendor, it would have to be the Stoats Hot Oatmeal stand where you could chose among 12 different flavours of hot oatmeal, "Balvenie Double Wood Whisky and Honey" being one of them. How cool is that?  I bought two boxes of their plain oats to enjoy at home.  Close second was the Standhill Cheese Stand where we sampled and bought some of their skilfully made, buttery cheeses.

Hubby's favourite was the Pig's Nose Whisky stand where curiously, he lingered for quite some time, tasting all that they had on offer.   We bought one of their mugs when he couldn't decide which of their whiskies he preferred.

A close second was The Chocolate Tree stand, specialists in hand crafted, organic chocolate, where we shared a  delicious, creamy hot chocolate.

After about an hour or so, we could take the cold no more and quickly made our way to the Scottish National Gallery to warm up and take in their fabulous collection.

I hope to visit Edinburgh's Farmers' Market again or hopefully another one of Scotland's Farmer's Markets but I  think I'll wait until the weather warms up!


The Edinburgh Castle as a backdrop
A wee dram on a cold day

Sophie and her smokin' squeeze box












The Chocolate Tree
Stoats' excellent oatmeal





2 comments:

Heather Robinson said...

I loved Edinburgh!! I thought the people were just fabulous and welcoming, cosmopolitan too. I ate so well and would go back in a heart beat. I loved this post even though it made me verrry hungry. :)

Hannah said...

A flavored oatmeal vendor- Too cool! I would be lost without my daily oats, so I could really get into something like that. I wish they had an outpost in the states!