During our time in Edinburgh on our Ex.As expats in New York, our first overseas trip was packed with a jam-packed itinerary filled with lots of good eating. This post is the second of two focusing on our culinary adventures in Scotland.

On our first food tour, we stopped by Rabble—a hip bar and restaurant replete with ten stylish boutique hotel rooms—for a slow-cooked pulled pork Scotch egg that most of us enjoyed. We then drooled over the gooey smoked cheddar mac and cheese that they served to our group’s vegetarian (£5.95).

Definitely worth the stop!

During our time in Scotland, we made sure to indulge in Scotch tastings. One memorable experience was at The Scotch Whisky Experience, followed by dinner at Amber Restaurant and Bar, where we sampled a Taste of Scotland menu.

Our appetizer featured a tasting of select dishes, including confit duck and pork terrine served with prune relish, smoked sea trout accompanied by citrus and caviar crème fraîche, and a vegetarian haggis bonbon paired with smoky whisky and tomato jam.

For the main course, we savored lamb rump with crispy potato rösti and seasonal greens, chicken Balmoral drizzled with a rich whisky sauce and a lovely sea bream fillet served up with a refreshing pea and fennel salad. Each dish was a treat!

On our day out of the city, we toured both Rosslyn Chapel and Abbotsford, the home of the Walter Scott Estate, and concluded our visit with lunch at Ochiltree’s café. Some offerings included the warm giant couscous salad with roasted chickpeas, butternut squash, sweet potatoes and red onions drizzled with maple syrup and tahini dressing (£ 13.50) and a kale & quinoa superfood salad (£13) with avocado (+£2.90) and free-range chicken (+£4).

The Scotch Whisky Experience
Amber Restaurant and Bar
354 Castlehill, Edinburgh
EH1 2NE, United Kingdom
+44 131 477 8477
scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk

Rabble
55A Frederick Street,
Edinburgh EH2 1LH
+44 (0)131 622 7800
rabbleedinburgh.co.uk/

Ochiltree’s café
Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott
J62C+46, Melrose TD6 9BQ, United Kingdom
+44 1896 663962
scottsabbotsford.com/eat