Summer has arrived at The Waldorf Astoria in Edinburgh.
More specifically, at Grazing by Mark Greenaway, who have just launched their new 100 Mile Menu. Inspired by the seasonal flavours of summer, you can find all the ingredients in each dish within (you guessed it) 100 miles of the restaurant.
From Arbroath smokies sourced 72 miles away to honey from just 2 miles up the road, the whole menu takes you on a journey through Scotland and we couldn't wait to experience it.
Erin and I were very kindly invited along to try the new menu, and we are very happy to report that it met our expectations and so much more. If you love trying new food & drink experiences and are always on the hunt for a new place to celebrate your big moments, keep reading.
After a very warm welcome from the team at the Waldorf Astoria, we were shown through to Grazing by Mark Greenaway and presented with a special plantable menu, complete with a sprig of Lavender (which will grow after planting the menu in the ground). Throughout our evening we noticed lots of small details like this, linking back to the reason we were all there, to celebrate sustainable and locally sourced ingredients. This alongside the incredible food made the experience so memorable.
Chef Mark Greenaway presented each course to us, explaining the inspiration behind the dish, the key summer flavours we would be tucking into and where each of the ingredients were sourced. It's clear that a lot of thought and experimentation went into the creation of this menu, and we hear they are already working on the next seasons.
We started with a selection of canapés of tartare three ways; beetroot, halibut and beef. All delicious and unique in flavour. Then we were presented with the first course, a dish (almost) too pretty to eat, the Arbroath Smokie tart with broad beans, peas and curried cauliflower custard. This was paired with a fresh martini with Nc’Nean Wild Botanical Spirit, pea & mint vermouth and topped with a drop of mint oil. A dish so light and fresh, it set the tone for the rest of the evening.
Next up was that Perthshire lamb loin, accompanied by our favourite cocktail of the night, the Amarosa made with Sweet Vermouth, Pinot Noir and rosemary. The flavours complimented the perfectly cooked lamb and shepherd’s pie stuffed onion, an element that Mark created as a reminder of his favourite childhood meal.
Erin and I enjoyed each and every dish but we definitely had our favourites (no surprise they were both sweet). Erin's top pick was the Raspberry sorbet scented with Kingsbarns whisky, with Edinburgh honey meringues and Perthshire cream. The real showstopper of this dish was the honey meringue sticks. The dish was a great palette cleanser after our main, and seamlessly transitioned us into our fourth and final course.
They saved the best for last for me. I absolutely loved the Summer strawberry and elderflower cheesecake with a gin infused crumb, strawberry parfait and jelly. The biscuit base melted in your mouth and I could have eaten a bowl of this alone - I'll definitely be trying to re-create this at home for the rest of the summer!
We ended the night feeling completely satisfied and not at all too full (which in my opinion can really ruin a beautiful meal). If you're looking for a romantic meal in the centre of town, or celebrating a special day, this is the perfect place to go. They also have their normal evening menu and a lovely kids menu to choose from if you're planning an evening meal with family.
It's a huge recommendation from us, we couldn't fault what the team have created and would encourage anyone to give it a try, season after season.
The 100 Mile Menu is available Tuesday - Saturday, and includes 4 delicious courses each with a cocktail pairing for £75pp. Find out more and book a table here.
We were very kindly gifted a copy of Mark's cookbook, 'Perceptions', which you can grab a copy of here. Stay up to date with all the brilliant things the Grazing team are working on and give them a follow on Instagram.
