We met Alan, our food/walk tour guide and owner of Eat Walk Edinburgh at the Hotel Du Vin in Edinburgh for their afternoon tour. There was 7 in our group, a couple from Washington, D.C., a couple from Melbourne and their friend.
At the hotel, which has lots of history and a beautiful wine tasting room and cellar, we enjoyed oatmeal crusted herring with a tomato chow, it was lovely.
We left the hotel and walked for about 10-15 minutes and made a quick stop at a tasting room that sells olive oils and spirits. We each tried a shot of one of the liquors, the favourite was a rhubarb vodka, made by a farmer in Scotland. Neat spot!
For the main course we stopped at Calistoga, ” the California twist in Edinburgh”. We had our main course here of pork belly and mashed potato and paired with a red California wine. All wines are from California and we had a delicious red that was paired with our meal.
After the main we went to a private whiskey club, the Scottish Malt whiskey society. It was a highlight of the tour. Although we had to try haggis and it came with mashed potatoes (as most of my friends know, I can’t stand mashed potatoes) I did eat the haggis and turnip. Haggis wasn’t that bad but wouldn’t rush out and order it anytime soon or if ever! We had a malt whiskey that was 62%, maybe this is why it was the highlight of the tour.
The next stop was a French restaurant, Le Di Vin, we all shared a couple cheese boards and beautiful white wine. Lovely place and setting, the wine and cheese were excellent!
Our last stop was at Grillie Dhu for dessert, raspberry and cream, with a little whiskey mixed in, I swear they put that in everything here in Scotland, not that I mind!
The tour took in both the old and new town of Edinburgh, my 1st food walking tour and it will not be my last. Really enjoyed the small group and seeing the city this way. The couple from the U.S said they do a food walking tour wherever they travel, they raved about one in Greenwich Village in NYC.
Alan, our tour guide was exceptional. Very knowledgeable about the city with all it’s history and he stopped along the way to tell funny little stories about Edinburgh.
http://www.eatwalkedinburgh.co.uk
A few pictures:
theaudasdiaries 
Jen brave, haggis, but maybe all the treat of trying spirits helped. So glad you are living life. envy and admire.
Thought I was reading a food & wine magazine. You certainly are expanding your palette. Great pictures.
Bon Appetite!,