Burger 'n' Shake

When we go out for dinner during the week in Edinburgh, we usually head straight for a comfort food restaurant. For P, that means we go to Khushi's; for me, we head to Wannaburger. Last night, we tried out the new Wannaburger on Queensferry Street in the West End. (The first Wannaburger joint is on the Royal Mile.)

Wannaburger serves awesome shakes, just like the kind my Dad used to buy me when I was a kid. (I only wish that Wannaburger gave you the leftovers in the aluminium mixer cup along with your glass, the way they did at the Adelaide University Cellar.) An American friend told us that she comes all the way from St Andrews just for the peanut butter and banana shake. Yesterday, we went traditional with vanilla, which was really rich and frothy. (You can tastein the milk how rich the grass is at the moment.)

The burgers are as close to a summer barbecue as is possible for flat-dwelling people such as us. Usually, I go for "the classic" beef burger, which is always nice and pink in the middle. P had it this time and was not disappointed. I opted for the Bacon Guacamole burger as a salad. (All burgers are available without the bun and with extra greenery for the same price.) It was delicious, although the outside was a little "blacker" than usual. (OK, it was a little too dark, but the inside was still beautifully pink and who doesn't like a little charcoal now and then.) Calling for the bill, we finished up with the usual shot glass (or two) of peanut M&Ms. Perfect.

Wannaburger is running a competition at the moment. They're asking customers to invent new recipe combinations for their burger menu. Almost all burgers are based on their three "classic" burgers: a beef patty, a chicken breast and a bean patty, each served with salad, mayo and relish. Other ingredients - like guacamole and bacon - can be added according to choice; and this is where Wannacreate comes in. We suggested two new additions: a Surf'n'Turf (with a couple of king prawns) and a Boston Bean (with some good ole New England beans and a little Colby-style cheese). We're hoping they might make the menu, but that doesn't mean that next time we wouldn't order the "the classic" anyway.

Elephants and Bagels

Well obviously! Where else would one go on a grey Sunday afternoon, accidentally caught on Nicholson Street and not feeling hungry enough for the mosque. The Elephant House is the Edinburgh institution, but it's smaller cousin set right next to Edinburgh University is a better bet during the tourist season.

There are all kinds of bagels to chose from - Plain, Poppy Seed, Garlic, Onion, Sesame, Rye, Olive & Sun Dried Tomato, Cheese & Jalapeno, Spinach - and a whole range of toppings. Today I went for the melted mozzarella, salami, pesto and sun-dried tomato on a sesame bagel. Bizarrely, all of the 'melted' cheese bagels are made by filling little paper cups (like the ones they give you you to rinse with at the dentist) with the grated cheese of your choice, zapping this in the microwave, and then spreading the resultant goo over your toasted bagel. To be fair, if you didn't see it done, you wouldn't be able to tell. The bagels taste great. The sun-dried tomato paste spread on mine was particularly good. I think though that I'd come back for a flavoured bagel slathered with cream cheese. (Can't beat a classic.)

Elephants and Bagels is at 37 Marshall Street, Nicholson square.

Search for the Green Papaya

Recently, P and I visited Ayutthaya, a Thai restaurant on Nicholson Street. I've been craving a green paw paw salad for about two years now. So, as we were passing, P nicked in to ask if it was on the Ayutthaya menu. He came out and winked. The waitress had assured him that green paw paw was available. We usually avoid east Asian food here because nothing can match that which is available to us at home, but the thought of crunchy papaya and sweet and salty dressing already had me salivating.

Unfortunately, the salad I ordered turned out to be a sort of coleslaw with fish sauce dressing. The carrot and cabbage mix failed to satisfy, despite the tasty dried shrimps and peanuts that accompanied it. So, I'm still on the look-out for a real paw paw salad and will be eternally grateful to anyone who can tell me where to find one in Scotland.

The rest of the meal was very pleasant. P's Tom yum soup was deliciously tangy, although was lacking the fistfuls of coriander that I like. The red curry was tasty but the only true glory of the whole meal was the rice. The sweet glutinous rice was served in a small grass basket. It was sticky (but not at all gluey) and there was a slight chew left in each grain. Having been seeped in coconut milk (after cooking I think) it also smelt wonderful. Unlike other coconut flavored dishes, there was no coconut fat coating left in the mouth after eating. I think I might go back just for that rice!

Ayutthaya has a website and is at 14b Nicolson Street.