This festive season, you might choose one of Scotland’s most splendid historic venues for a celebration lunch with family or friends. The stunning stronghold of Edinburgh Castle offers a fairly unique Christmas dining experiences for lovers of good food and great surroundings.
From 1st to 24th December, Edinburgh Castle’s elegant Queen Anne Building has a three-course Christmas Lunch for only £35 per person. And with free entry to the castle included, you can make the most of your visit by exploring all of the historic highlights of Scotland’s leading heritage attraction at no extra cost.
The menu comprises a selection of cuisine to suit all tastes. Starters include a trio of smoked, cured and fresh Loch Duart salmon, and cream of courgette and rocket soup with foccacia croutons; mains include roast turkey with all the trimmings, and mushroom and leek strudel, and desserts include pistachio meringue with mango and passion fruit, and Tobermory truckle with Selkirk bannock and plum chutney. Coffee and mince pies finish off the great menu.
There’s also a chance to experience two exclusive Wine and Dine Lunches at Edinburgh Castle on the 12th and 19th December. In the imposing Queen Anne Room, these events offer Scottish cuisine in a carefully-designed four-course menu featuring what are claimed to be the very best locally-sourced ingredients, with specially selected wines to complement each dish. The cost is £52 per person and again, free entry to the castle is included in the price.
Dishes include poached Loch Duart salmon with brandade, show roasted cherry tomatoes, spinach, confit leeks and horseradish cream, roast goose breast with balsamic braised figs, potato fondant, crushed sprouts, roasted carrots and cranberry jus, and rhubarb and custard tart with tablet ice cream. A vegetarian menu is also available on request.
The selection of fine wines includes a 2009 Chateau Bonnet Reserve entre-deux-mers Bordeaux and a 2007 Dinastia Vivanco Rioja Crianza. To enhance diners’ enjoyment of these special Wine and Dine lunches, the chef will describe the content and production of each course, and the sommelier will talk about the wines accompanying each dish.
To book Christmas Lunch (from 1pm) or a special Wine and Dine Lunch (from 12.30pm) at Edinburgh Castle, call 0131 220 4833 or email edinburghcastle-events@benugo.com
Historic Scotland Catering Contracts Manager Elizabeth Strain said: “Our festive lunches at Edinburgh Castle are ideal for anyone looking for a special venue to treat family, friends or colleagues. They combine outstanding dining with the fantastic surroundings of one of Scotland’s best-loved castles for a really enjoyable and memorable experience.”
For more information on Edinburgh Castle have a look at the website
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
