Earthy - News

Earthy Opens - Friday 2nd May

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:05:38 +0000

Earthy will be opening its doors to the public on Friday, 2nd May 2008. In celebration, the first 50 customers will be offered a FREE Earthy Jute bag - chic and green, in future years it may even become a collectors' item! So if you love great tasting, local, seasonal and organic food, pop-in to Earthy on May 2nd. Doors open 9am.

Opening hours:

Mon- Sat: 9am - 7.30pm, Sunday: 10am - 5pm

What a week!

Fri, 09 May 2008 18:05:20 +0000

When we first opened our doors on May 2nd, we hoped people would be pleased to see us, but we could never have anticipated the reaction we've had during our first week. We've been overwhelmed by the warm welcome and are delighted that we've already got a steady stream of regular customers. Thank you all for your support and your kind words - it's made our opening week very special and something which every one of us who works here will remember for a long time to come. We've particularly appreciated the comments and suggestions you've given us, from requests for a bike rack (now installed in our car park and certainly not like any other you've ever seen) to ideas about different products and suppliers. We can't promise to stock everything you want (we've only got limited space), but we'll do our best to keep our shelves full of the kind of foods and goods you want to buy. So please keep telling us what you like about our store and what you think we could do better. After all, it's your store too.

And just to remind you, we're holding our first Sunday brunch tasting event this Sunday, May 11th, from 12 noon until 4pm. We're closing our car park so that a few of our favourite suppliers can set up stalls there and offer you a sample of some of the delicious food they produce. We hope to see you there. Dig in!

Disability Access

Fri, 09 May 2008 18:26:37 +0000

We'd love to welcome everyone to Earthy, but the main market is on the first floor, accessed only by stairs, which we know presents problems if you are a wheelchair user or have difficulty getting about without assistance. We wanted to install a wheelchair ramp or a lift in the building, but the costs were prohibitive and, as a small start up business, meant the difference between us opening and not opening. We don't like to disappoint anyone, though, so do our best to help you if you need assistance. And to make life a little easier, you’ll soon be able to order online here at www.earthy.co.uk.

Friday & Saturday Producers Days at Earthy

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:54:24 +0000

Every Friday and Saturday until Christmas, pop along to Earthy Food Market and meet some of our hard-working producers and sample their tasty produce from our deli. On Fridays, Peelham Organic Farm will be serving up organic bacon and sausage rolls and giving you the chance to taste some of their delicious piggy delights. On Saturdays we welcome Whitmuir Organic Farm who will be bringing along the best beef in Scotland (in our opinion) along with their delicious pork. If you'd like something special for the weekend you can pre-order your favourite cut of beef, pork or lamb and pick it up straight from the people who rear it. They'll also be happy to discuss any questions you might have about their produce or how to get the best from cooking it.

At Earthy, we're all about connecting you with great tasting, local food. Pop-in and dig-in.

Thanks Viv...

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:10:36 +0000

A big thanks to Viv Lumsden, who wrote the following kind words about Earthy in Scottish Field magazine....

"Earthy Food Market in Edinburgh's Ratcliffe Terrace is a wonderland of wares. I visit it once a week at least, and I don't even live in Edinburgh. Talk about a child in a sweet shop, I run around with my cane basket grabbing at everything, like it's two minutes until closing time. There's the locally grown and seasonal veg and fruit, then there's the free-range meat and veggie products and then there's the glorious bread, delivered daily, including Sundays... and everything in between. If you live in or visit the Edinburgh area get in there. You'll leave with your recycleable hessian bags bulging."

Earthy Living Trees - for life, not just Christmas

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:28:55 +0000

Living Christmas Trees
Our living Christmas Trees are Nordmann Firs and Norwegian spruce (pot-grown in Scotland) - lovely little fellas they are too. Far too nice to kill-off at Christmas. That’s why we’re inviting you to return the trees you buy from us here at Earthy (still alive and in good condition) after the festivities, and we’ll carefully replant them out at Phantassie in East Linton. We’ll also ‘tag’ your tree with your name, so if you ever want to pay it a visit, you‘ll know which one to say hello to and hug. And to say thank you for being ‘green’ this Christmas, we‘ll reward you with a £10 Earthy Gift Voucher to spend in-store when you return your tree to us.

Here's a picture of Pete nestling in to one of our wee trees...

...and below is a wee link to STV's '5.30 Show' on Wednesday, 17th December - they did an article about our trees. We're about 5 minutes into the programme and you should be able to view this until mid-January. (Nice bloke that Stephen Jardine).

http://video.stv.tv/bc/catchup-thefivethirtyshow-part1-20081217-1728/

New Green Gardening Products - now in-store

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:31:12 +0000

We've a huge range of new herb plants in-store here at Earthy. Grown for us by local nurseries, the herbs are a great way for novices and experienced gardeners alike to start growing your own 'green' kitchen garden- and now's the time to start planting them out. We also have a full selection of seeds - even some specially created for kids, so the whole family can dig-in together. It makes learning great fun, and what better way to keep your kids occupied than teaching them about Mother Nature?

You don't even have to have a garden. We also have a wide range of containers, crates and recycled, fibre clay pots - ideal if you only have a patio, porch or just a window sill. We even have the perfect compost to give your herbs and plants the best possible start in life - our Wormcast compost is made by our little wriggly friends who have done all the hard work for you. It's a totally natural, organic compost that's simply the best on the market.

So start planning your own herb garden now and dig-in.

Pete's Plant of the Month - Angelica

Angelica is a native plant to Europe and is commonly found in hedgerows and fields. A member of the Apiaceae family, it's used as an ingredient within several liqueurs and commercially in medicines and cosmetics.

Once planted out, it's best to leave it where it is as it hates being moved - so think carefully about where you want it. Also give it plenty of room as it loves to grow - so it makes an ideal backdrop against a wall or fence - or plant centrally as the backbone of a raised bed or border. It likes the shade and lots of well-rotted compost to ensure its roots are kept moist. Although the plant will die right back in winter, it's very hardy, so there's no need to protect it from frosts. Young, green shoots will sprout back again in early spring.

The Earthy Green Garden at Gardening Scotland

Tue, 05 May 2009 14:30:10 +0000

When it comes to gardening with a conscience, many people don't know where to start. That's why Earthy is hosting a special section at this year's Gardening Scotland. The Earthy Green Garden gives novices and well-seasoned gardeners alike great ideas for creating their own green space. Featured particpants include recycled furniture makers; organic gardening experts; green composters; Fairlie Organic Growers with their trio of beautiful raised beds full of organic veg; and even advice and help from experts for those adventurous enough to want to keep their own laying hens. It's a must-see area full of eco-know-how from the experts.

Earthy chef, Billy Walker will also be on hand to give sizzling BBQ demonstrations and tastings using local produce; and Earthy's own horticulturalist, Pete Jackson, will be digging-in and offering some essential tips for planet-friendly gardeners.

The Earthy Green Garden is part of the family-friendly, Big Back Garden area and is guaranteed to be something genuinely unique at this year's show. The show is on from Friday 29th - Sunday 31st May at The Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston. For tickets, opening times etc. visit: http://www.gardeningscotland.com

WIN FAMILY TICKETS TO GARDENING SCOTLAND

Please note that this competition is now CLOSED to entries. Thanks to everyone who entered.

Earthy Green Garden gets Royal seal of approval

Sat, 30 May 2009 11:14:34 +0000

The Earthy Green Garden at this year's Gardening Scotland attracted thousands of keen gardeners, including a very important visitor. HRH Princess Anne popped by and met some of the exhibitors within the garden, much to their delight.

With the sun blazing and temperatures soaring, the event has been a resounding success. The good weather brought people flocking to the show to admire the glorious flowers, plants and eco-friendly exhibits. And to top it all, Earthy's Pete Jackson met up with HRH for a chat about the event. "Princess Anne was genuinely interested in what we're doing here at the Earthy Green Garden and is a keen supporter of sustainability" said Pete. "She was particularly keen to know about creating green spaces within urban areas. She's also very knowledgeable about horticulture and sustainability - it was a great honour that she took the time to chat with us and share a little eco-know-how".

Here are a few images from the show... HRH Princess Anne meeting Pete, and the Earthy Plant Shack chock full of seasonal plants from local nurseries and growers.

Thanks to everyone involved in making it such a success - especially the visitors who turned up and supported the local producers. We hope to see you all there again next year. In the meantime, pop down to Earthy soon - we always have a great range of plants and herbs in stock, along with everything you'll need to be an Earthy Green Gardener. Dig-in.

Pete's Plant of the Month

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:11:56 +0000

June - The Hosta - Sum & Substance

This large, leafy, moisture-loving perennial is a common sight on the banks of rivers and streams. It likes full or partial shade and frequent watering - ideally in well drained soil. Unfortunately slugs also love hostas, so keep them in pots if you can. This one grows to around 75cm tall and has heart-shaped, yellow/green leaves that become puckered when its mature. It flowers in mid to late summer with an explosion of large, pale lilac buds. A great addition to any garden and easy to maintain.

Dig-in,

Pete x

Pete's Plant of the Month - Rodgersia

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:47:20 +0000

Last year, I planted one of my all-time favourite plants: Rodgersia. Named in 1865 by the legendary, 19th century taxonomist, Asa Gray, after the pioneering sea captain, John Rodgers, it was first grown in St Petersburg botanic garden in 1871. Rodgersia are herbaceous perennials, a genus of flowering plants in the Saxifragaceae family, originating from East Asia.

Thanks to my good friend and supplier, Gillian, grower and owner of Border Belles Nursery in East Lothian, I managed to take along some Rodgersia plants to the Earthy Green Garden at this year's Gardening Scotland show, where they went down a storm. They were the first plants to sell out - snapped up by eager gardeners.

Rodgersia make magnificent backdrops and bring life to a border. They thrive in rich, moist soils, in sun or partial shade and dislike earth that dries out or becomes waterlogged in the winter. They're also happy in a container, grown as a focal point. One visitor to The Earthy Green Garden thought they were horse chestnut trees, and if you glance quickly at it, you can see why. The flowers are big, bold, upright blooms of frothy, dusty, white clusters, gracefully towering above the foliage. They make a great statement in the garden - try planting alongside Irises and Astilbes for a beautifully dramatic effect.

Dig-in.

Pete.

Earthy Gallery Now Open

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:07:06 +0000

At Earthy, we believe in nurturing and supporting local talent. That’s why we’ve decided to join in with the festival spirit and provide a space for flourishing artists to exhibit some of their work.

From Saturday, 8th August until Sunday, 27th September, the newly formed Earthy Gallery will exhibit work by local artists Ruth Addinall, Pat Rambaut, Hugo de Verteuil, Jay Wardrop and Lucinda Withinshaw. Their styles vary enormously - from photography and pop art to stylised illustrations. Entry is free, so drop by soon and see their work.

Knobbly veg article for Edinburgh Evening News

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:37:30 +0000

The following article, written by Earthy Director, Dirk Douglas, appeared in the Edinburgh Evening News on 3rd July 2009:

Tuck into some wonky fruit and knobbly veg

For the past 20 years, the EU-wide marketing standards have restricted over 36 types of fruit and vegetables – with only the "finest" looking produce being permitted to sit on our grocery shelves. This has resulted in around 20 per cent of perfectly edible produce being excluded from general sale and wasted.

Now, Brussels seems to have come, at least partly, to its senses and from 1 July, knobbly carrots and bendy cucumbers will once again be on display. However, the ten most popular types of produce – from apples and strawberries to lettuce and tomatoes, which account for 75 per cent of EU fruit and veg trade, will still be the under scrutiny of the bureaucrats.

With over half the world's population going to sleep hungry or starving, the immorality of food waste should be higher up the political agenda. A couple of years ago, I toured a Scottish veg processor, who supplies the main supermarkets. I was intrigued by a non-stop conveyor belt loaded with carrots, which was taking the produce out of the building and dumping it into huge skips. It transpired that these "imperfect" carrots were simply not up to scratch and did not meet the supermarkets' buying criteria. They were destined to be used as cattle feed.

At the time, I was horrified at the waste of such a huge amount of perfectly good produce. But as I have since discovered, this was simply the tip of the iceberg lettuce. When you add restrictive "use by" dates and the vast amounts of perfectly edible food thrown out by consumers into the equation, the real volume of fresh produce wasted each year in the UK is closer to 40 per cent of produce grown.

For too long, we've been brainwashed by both Brussels and the supermarkets into thinking that a misshapen tomato, an apple with a blemish, or a knobbly carrot are somehow freaks of nature. We're encouraged to think that they will not only taste bad, they may even be bad for us: that they are in some way "unnatural".

When Spanish friends of mine visited Edinburgh and saw row upon row of perfect peppers, each the same size, shape and colour; they were amazed and asked me if the peppers were real. In Spain, they explained, peppers of all shapes and sizes, and of varying degrees of colours and hues, were commonplace, even in supermarkets.

It seems that in the UK, our supermarkets have taken the EU standards to a new, obsessive level. This is accentuated through advertising – when was the last time you saw an imperfect piece of fruit or veg in an advert?

To my mind, this 'fake' produce is more freakish than any naturally grown piece of fruit or veg.

As any gardener will testify, the true quality of fruit and vegetables lie not in their appearance, but in their taste. A misshapen strawberry can still be deliciously sweet. A pronged carrot will taste great if it's the right variety; grown in fertile soil; tended to properly; and picked when at its best. Its taste will not diminish because it does not meet the uniform ideal of a bureaucrat's ruler.

We've become accustomed to "inexpensive" food, much of it imported from poverty-stricken countries, and at the same time, we're more ignorant of how our food is grown, the seasonality of produce and the enjoyment of fresh, local fruit and veg at its best. We've also become obsessed with the aesthetic of our food – how good it looks, rather than how good it tastes, or how nutritious it is.

Having worked on an organic farm, grown my own produce, and now as co-owner of an independent food retail business, I know that the veg that comes naturally out of the ground and the fruit that's plucked fresh from the bush is delicious, regardless of how it looks. Like everything in nature, including people, it comes in all shapes, sizes and colours.

It's surely time for us all to stand up against the insanity of these EU policies and the supermarkets' hype; to embrace the unsightly; to love the misshapen and to nurture the under or over-sized. Let us have our knobbly, blemished and delicious fruit and veg – just as nature intended.

Dirk Douglas is a Founding Director of Edinburgh-based Earthy Foods & Goods, which supports Scottish growers and small-scale producers.

The Earthy Gardening Course

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:39:58 +0000

Why we should all be green-fingered.

There's never been a better time to think about digging-in. Maybe you want to take the first steps towards growing your own veg, or you're simply keen to create your own green oasis right here in the city...well help is now at hand.

The Earthy Gardening Course has just sprung into life. We meet at Earthy every other Wednesday (week one and four of the month)at 6pm until around 7.15pm.

From seed sowing to simple garden design ideas, Pete Jackson is on hand to give you the eco-know-how to garden the Earthy way - organically and responsibly. You can even find out how to create your own wormery or set-up an urban beehive.

It's free to join, and we still have a few places left on the course, so if you'd like to join our growing band of green-fingered Earthlings, contact Pete at: pete@earthy.co.uk.

Pete's gardening school will be blooming good for the city.

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:43:01 +0000

Article from the Edinburgh Evening News written by Hazel Mollinson

TV gardening expert and organic shopkeeper Pete Jackson has started his own school, to help more people grow their own fruit and vegetables.

He launched the "gardening school" after taking over a piece of derelict land, next to the Earthy Food Market, his shop and cafe, in Newington. He has now recruited 15 pupils, who are helping transform it using recycled goods and old furniture.

They plan to create a "city oasis" which will be regularly featured on STV, where Mr Jackson is the channel's resident gardening guru, presenting a weekly slot during The Hour programme. He aims to show people that gardening can be a fun, cheap and easy way to stay healthy.

The gardening school will be open to the public once a month in a bid to inspire more people to get growing. a regular "plant hospital" and other events such as bring-and-buy sales will also be held.He said: "I just put up an advert in the shop, and we were inundated with people. We had to limit numbers to 15 places. Students will learn basic grow-your-own skills, and see you don't need a lot of cash to enjoy your garden. "So far we have just been clearing the area and we're starting to make raised beds. It's a very sociable space, and it's a great way to 'green up' the city. We'll be filming every month, so viewers can follow the process."

Mr Jackson studied garden design after leaving school, and spent several years working for Dobbies, designing show gardens. He set up Earthy with three friends two years ago, combining his love of gardening with food.

Much of the garden's equipment has been sourced through Freecycle, the website where people can give away unwanted possessions. They are using oil drums from restaurants to fill with plants, while one corner will feature old furniture.

Pete said: "It's still at an early stage, but people will be able to see it develop throughout the year. It will be a real community green space, and show that gardening can be good for you."

One of his pupils is Dee Able, 42, from Gilmerton, who was keen to learn skills she could use in her own garden. She said: "I'm a customer of Earthy, and I was really keen to join in when I heard about it. I love growing my own fruit and vegetables, but I didn't really know what I was doing before. I've never really thought about garden design before, but I've learned a lot. It's going to be a beautiful space and it's sociable.

Organic Fortnight & Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:11:04 +0000

Friday, 3rd September until Saturday 19th September sees a fortnight of celebrating great food and drink at Earthy. The Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight combines with Organic Fortnight - and at Earthy you can enjoy the best of both.

In-store tastings, producer visits to the store, talks and lots more - full details to follow, so stay tuned and watch out for in-store promotions and offers. It promises to be a fantastic fortnight for foodies - we hope you can pop along and join-in.

Earthy Christmas meats now available to order

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 14:53:46 +0000

UPDATE: SATURDAY, 27TH NOVEMBER:

Our Christmas birds are selling fast - so if you'd like to book one, please get your skates on and either pick up the phone or pop into Earthy soon. Our supplies are strictly limited from our producers - so don't miss out as we sell out every year!

We have a wide range of organic and free-range Christmas fowl and meats now available to order. Our suppliers are all small scale producers who share our passion for the very best produce, responsibly and sustainably produced.

In addition to the produce listed on the downloadable PDF order form, we can also provide you with wild fowl - like partridge, pigeon or grouse and other game meats like venison and rabbit. If you're looking for something a little bit different or an unusual cut of meat, just ask. More often than not, we'll be able to source it for you from one of our many local producers.

Give your Christmas a little more 'fa la la' and order the best meats for your dinner table this year.

Click the link below to download our Order Form.

Christmas Veg Boxes, Cheeses & Extras

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 13:30:31 +0000

Beat the queues this year and order an Earthy veg box - full of all the best seasonal produce you'll need for your Christmas meal. The order forms also include delicious cheeses and all the extras you'll need to give your Christmas a little more 'fa la la'. Click the links below to download and view the PDF Order Form.

And if you'd like to order bread in advance, you can order that too by clicking here

Christmas Bread Order Form

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 13:33:42 +0000

Order your bread in advance and we'll have it ready for you to collect with your Christmas meat, veg box or cheese.

Click the link below to download the PDF file.

January 'Pick-me-up' offers

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 12:58:28 +0000

January can be a long, cold month. And of course, we're all a little bit cash-strapped after the expense of Christmas. That's why we've launched a new range of in-store offers to help you keep out the cold and ease the pressure on your purse strings. We've called it our 'January pick-me-up' range.

It includes offers on tasty fruit and veg; winter warmers and the little extras that help you look after yourself and fight off those winter bugs. All in all, they'll help you to comfort, pamper, cleanse and nourish you body - just when you need it most.

Pop into Earthy and give yourself a January 'pick-me-up'.

The Earthy 'World Book Night' Giveaway

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:27:48 +0000

Earthy's Store Manager, Archie loves Nigel Slater's autobiography: Toast because he believes in "the power of both literature and food to bring people together to share common bonds of experience". Archie's words obviously struck a chord with the judges of World Book Night, as he was awarded the prize of 50 copies of Nigel's book to share with others.... and that's where you come in. Archie has generously donated his 50 copies to Earthy, so that we can share them with you.

All you have to do is to bring along your favourite home-made accompaniment to toast - whether it be your favourite jam, marmalade, or even your own home made bread. As long as you (or a member of your family) made it, then bring it in to share before Saturday 5th March. The first 50 entrants will all receive a copy of Nigel's book. Earthy judges will also be on hand to sample your entries and two winners will each receive a £20 Earthy Gift Voucher.

Earthy Market Cafe 'Hitlisted'

Tue, 03 May 2011 13:27:54 +0000

For the second year running, Earthy's cafe has been 'hitlisted' by The List Magazine's Eating & Drinking Guide as one of the top cafes in Edinburgh. Here's what they wrote about us in the 2011 Guide...

Earthy Food Market is the kind of specialty food store where you can buy an organic, slow-cooked lamb hotpot - for your dog. Yum cafe goers now have more space on the expanded ground floor, which is rather Good Life with moss-green paintwork, battered piano and copies of Dig for Victory. Hip, young staff nip between the first floor shop and the cafe bearing scented chais and Artisan Roast lattes, and interesting soups on rustic chopping boards. A Peelham pork and pinto-bean pie is just the right size for a light lunch, and that tricky veg kale works fantastically well in a garlicky, Greek-style filo parcel. The salad platter is an imaginative mix of raw and cooked, east and west, where crunchy red cabbage in rice-wine dressing is set against a cuminy baba ganoush, all scattered with seeds and fresh herbs. Only desserts might fall short of the mark: a Russet apple strudel is perfect but the chocolate cake looks richer than it tastes. Otherwise the sight of Earthy co-director Pete Jackson beaming in a hand-knit beanie says it all. Warm and fuzzy.

New Earthy store opens in Portobello

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 09:58:38 +0000

We're delighted to announce that our new store is opening in Portobello at 9am on Friday, 26th August 2011. Offering the same huge range of local, seasonal organic produce as our Ratcliffe Terrace store, Earthy Portobello will provide those of you who live on the north side of town with a local store to do all of your 'green shopping'.

Earthy Portobello is based at 19 Windsor Place, just off Portobello High Street - click here to see where we are on a map.

Pop-in from Friday and check out our fantastic opening offers. We look forward to seeing you soon.

The Earthlings.

The first 'pop-up' coconut curry club event

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:40:34 +0000

Finally the night was here.... Expectations were high and spicy as curry fans from Edinburgh (and beyond) gathered at Earthy Foods, Ratcliffe Terrace for the very first 'Coconut Curry Club' pop-up event. An Indian film projected onto a screen as the uber hungry huddled in to the cafe ready to sample the delights that the Earthy chefs had prepared. The night was all about sharing and in true pop-up style the tables were pushed together so that everyone could meet new curry friends and talk food! Nice Eastern hints and touches were displayed around the room including appropriately coloured napkins and bombay mix to munch on. Lights were dimmed, the house was full, the coconut curry club event was about to 'pop-up'.

Pre curry, and with a glass of Rose in hand, Pete greeted the spice fans and delighted us all with a quick history of his curry heritage. Pete the Brummie was born with a curry spoon in his mouth....he's got the photographic evidence to prove it....and growing up within a naan bread's throw of Ms Monkfish we had plenty of curry chat for the guests.

A particular highlight was Pete's spice box which has travelled far and wide, has been questioned at customs but remains by his side to this day...

Curry chat over, service began.

To start....
red onion squash samosas with yoghurt and home-grown mint sauce...

For mains....
south indian style organic beef and coconut curry, cardomom rice, hand made flat breads and a side of pomegranate, cucumber and red onion salad....

Dessert....
semolina and coconut halva, with rosewater creme fraiche and pistachio ice-cream....

Verdict?
We know there's a lot of curry fans out there and that they're a hard crowd to please. Listening to the hubbub and the chat throughout the evening there were plenty of happy and satisfied people. All agreed that the spice levels hit the mark, the menu design was spot on and above all the quality of the produce in the dishes absolutely made the evening. A particular highlight for everyone was the home-grown mint sauce which accompanied the red onion squash samosas. Recipe to follow..watch this space. The organic beef coconut curry was melt in your mouth tender with a delicious sauce which had been bubbling away all day, the kind of dish that gets better the longer you leave it.

All of the produce was locally sourced in keeping with the Earthy values (with the obvious exception of the spices which had travelled all the way from the Balti Triangle courtesy of Pete....) and probably the coconut as none of us have seen a coconut tree recently in Scotland.

The evening was indeed a very tasty triumph.

Watch this space for the next Coconut Curry Club - we'll be 'popping up' in January 2012, venue to be confirmed but as ever you can trust Ms Monkfish, it's going to be very very exciting.

For photo gallery of the evening please visit here:

http://mymonkfish.com/earthy_foods_coconut-curry-club/

Christmas Birds Order form 2011

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 13:08:29 +0000

If you're planning to enjoy the festivities with a plump bird or a delicious roast on the table, you simply have to consider our amazing range of LOCALLY REARED, free-range turkeys, geese & chickens.

SUPPLIED by SCOTTISH artisan producers (& GUARANTEED GM-FREE) we promise that these tasty fowl and meats are the best you'll ever savour - and believe us we've sampled a few in our time.

To see our selection of birds and meats - please download the PDF booking form. To order your bird or cut of meat, simply pop into Earthy Food Market, 33-41 Ratcliffe Terrace, Edinburgh, or 19-21 Windsor Place, Portobello and we'll personally take your order. Alternatively send us an email: yum@earthy.co.uk (with Christmas order in the subject line) detailing your order along with a contact telephone number so that we can take your deposit by credit/debit card over the phone; or call us on 0131 667 2967 (Ratcliffe Terrace store) or 0131 344 7930 (Portobello store). A deposit must be made with your order to guarantee reservation of your selected meat (see deposit amounts listed below).
All deposits are non-refundable after 30th November.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE STRICTLY LIMITED NUMBERS OF BIRDS & MEATS AVAILABLE. ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS. PLEASE BOOK EARLY TO AVOID ANY DISAPPOINTMENT - WE DO SELL OUT EVERY YEAR.

My Monkfish's Mince Pie Recipe - yum!

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:05:41 +0000

Hilary is an ardent baker, food blogger and Earthy local customer. Her award-winning blog under the name of ‘MyMonkfish.com’ is recognised as being among the best out there. Here she shares her Mum’s failsafe recipe for super-indulgent Christmas mince pies. Try them out and share with friends – or even box some up and give as delicious Christmas presents - they’re sure to bit a hit.

Super indulgent mince pies with orange pastry

Mince pies……this year don’t be fooled into buying supermarket mince pies - they’re just not the same as home baked ones. Get your baking tins out and give this recipe a go. This particular mince pie recipe has been passed down to me from Mrs Monkfish Senior, current Chairwoman of the West Midlands Women’s Institute no less! The Women’s Institute ladies of this world are extremely keen bakers and nothing but the best gets baked (and eaten) by them – think Mary Berry standards and you’re on the right lines.

Although this recipe requires a little effort it will gain you brownie points from friends and family because the results are simply delicious. A tried and tested recipe which oozes yumminess, involves a very ‘short’ melt in your mouth orange pastry and includes a dollop of cream cheese under the pie lid. Trust me, this recipe will change your Christmas!

And a last word of advice, don’t substitute any of the ingredients for a ‘low fat’ alternative, the results will not be the same. It’s Christmas, full indulgence is required. Best served warm with a dollop of brandy butter and a side of sherry!

Makes about 24-30 pies

Ingredients
For the pastry
500g strong plain white flour - Doves Farm is ideal
175g icing or caster sugar
375g organic butter
the finely grated rind and juice of 1 large orange

For the pie filling
250g cream cheese or mascarpone – I use full fat cream cheese
25g golden caster sugar
500-625g good quality mincemeat - try Thursday Cottage - it's a winner and available at Earthy
the grated rind and juice of 2 un-waxed lemons
milk to glaze
caster sugar

Begin with the pastry. Sift the flour and sugar into a mixing bowl. Cut the butter into small pieces, stir these into the flour and rub lightly with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the orange rind. Using a knife, stir in the orange juice until the dough just begins to stick together. Gather up the dough into a ball, wrap in cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes before using.

Put the cream cheese and caster sugar into a bowl and beat until smooth. Knead the pastry lightly and roll out about three quarters fairly thickly. Using a 7.5cm diameter pastry cutter cut out 24 rounds, re-rolling the pastry as necessary. Butter two sheets of patty tins and line them with the pastry rounds. Spoon the mincemeat into a bowl and stir in the lemon rind and juice. Fill the lined patty tins to about half their depth with mincemeat, then put a teaspoonful of the cream cheese mixture on top and spread level. Roll out the remaining pastry and using a star-shaped pastry cutter cut out 24 stars. Place the stars on top of each mince pie. Pre-heat the oven to 220C/gas mark 7.

Brush the tops of the pies with a little milk and bake in the centre of the oven for 15-20 minutes until light golden-brown. Let the pies cool down before easing them from the tins gently with a round-bladed knife. Serve warm (they can be reheated), or at room temperature. Before serving, sprinkle with caster or icing sugar.

GUARANTEE – these will be the best mince pies you have EVER tasted. Everybody will love you and your pies and the orders will come flooding in for next year.

And don’t forget, you can purchase all the ingredients at Earthy – my favourite local produce store.

http://mymonkfish.com/

Christmas veg and extras order form - now available

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:14:45 +0000

If you'd like to beat the queues, then pre-order your Christmas veg and extras and we'll have them ready for you to collect when it's most convenient for you. Download our order form by using the link below.