Ahead of opening Edinburgh’s first social-dining restaurant this summer, chefs Dale Mailley and Edward Murray (Ed is on the left in the photo!) are bringing their innovative concept to the Edinburgh Farmers’ Market. The pair plan to shake up the Edinburgh food scene by introducing a new way of dining – the chefs decide on a set menu, the diners enjoy a fluent combination of the very best seasonal ingredients in an inclusive, open setting.
In the run up to the launch of The Gardener’s Cottage, Dale and Edward are hosting a series of pop-ups at the Edinburgh Farmer’s Market on Castle Terrace – the first of its kind at the market. Serving brunch and lunch at an open-air communal table, all food served on the day comes from the markets’ stallholders. On Fridays, Dale and Edward are visiting producers to source ingredients for the next day’s menu and writing about the experience on their website.
Edward commented: “The stallholders at the farmers’ market are growing, farming and making world-class produce right on our doorstep. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to get to know the suppliers and to understand and explore the huge variety of local, seasonal produce available.”
A RESTAURANT WITHOUT A HOME
Until the doors to The Gardener’s Cottage open, Dale and Edward are taking full advantage of their homeless status by making their concept mobile. On Saturday 19 May 2012, the chefs will be cooking at the fourth sell-out Burgher Burger event in the capital.
THE FOOD
The Gardener’s Cottage will be committed to creating and serving the best seasonal, local produce while nurturing sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships with the local community and local producers. Each sitting will consist of a set menu devised to showcase the best produce available on the day with diners being seated at one of three communal dining tables seating ten.
Dale commented:- “We hope The Gardener’s Cottage will have a strong sense of place, with unfussy seasonal food connecting chef, diner, producer and landscape”
The chefs also plan to make the most of the restaurant’s surrounding garden by growing as much fruit, vegetables and herbs there as possible. In better weather, outside dining and picnic baskets will be available.
THE RESTAURANT
The site is an unusual one which we wrote about last year when it was up for rent and is best shown on these photos from the council’s Flickr page.
The restaurant will be housed in an historic building located in Royal Terrace Gardens at the foot of Calton Hill in the heart of Edinburgh World Heritage Site. Originally the cottage for the gardener, the B-listed building was designed by William Playfair and constructed in 1836. The gardens, planned by Playfair, were originally laid out to include a path for the exiled King of France Charles X to walk along on his way from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to church.
The building, which has been empty for several years, is currently undergoing major refurbishment. Combining his experience as an architect with his love of eating with friends Edward has developed a design which brings together diners and chefs, making the most of the limited space while remaining sensitive to the buildings historical and cultural importance. Three communal dining tables are being hand-crafted from reclaimed teak decking from Glasgow-built SS Olympia, and will be dressed with antique silverware and vintage crockery.
