How are you doing? I hope you all had a lovely week, and your weekend has started nicely. I was back in my favourite city for The Edinburgh Fringe last week, which was just THE most fun. Angelica and I spent 5 years up here at university - this is actually where it ALL began for us - so it’s always a very nostalgic time when we return. We’ve packed a lot into a few days, and inevitably we’ve been eating our way around the city too... more on all of that below!
Back in the kitchen, you guys have been loving the salad recipes so far! We’ve done sushi salad with crispy rice, we’ve made a burrito salad, and now we’re onto Episode 3 of Salads You’ll Actually Make - and it’s a good one. I’ve taken one of my absolute favourite sandwiches - the Bánh Mì - pulled it apart and turned it into a salad. Pan-fried tofu coated in a ridiculously tasty glaze packed full of garlic, ginger + all the good stuff, crunchy veg, fresh herbs and a sriracha mayo dressing to bring it all together. Honestly, what’s not to love?
Before we get to the recipe, I need your help! I’m in the middle of planning my upcoming SOUP SEASON (yes I know it’s August but un/fortunately it’s going to come around QUICK). This year, we’re going to do things slightly differently, and I want YOU to choose one of the recipes for the series. More on that below 👀
Happy reading!
Alfie 👨🏻🍳
The kitchen was a little quieter this week, mainly because I’ve been busy eating my way around Edinburgh... but before heading north, I was still very much in Salads You’ll Actually Make mode, and this week’s Bánh Mì creation was one I was particularly excited to make.
I have to confess, I’m not a longstanding bánh mì eater and lover. Sure, I liked the idea of them, but never found myself actively seeking these sandwiches out. Safe to say that’s changed! These days, I just cannot get enough Bánh Mì. The combination of juicy tofu, crunchy pickled veg, fresh herbs, chilli and that sriracha-mayo all stuffed inside a soft, chewy baguette is just SO. GOOD. Naturally, I wanted to see if I could get all of those flavours into a salad bowl (and oh boy can you!)
Yes, I know it’s August. And yes, I know it’s been absolutely boiling. But to get ahead of the game, I’ve already started thinking about Soup Season...
It’s one of my favourite series to make every year, and this time around I’d love to make one soup suggested by you lovely Substack subscribers!!
So, if there’s a soup you’d LOVE to see me make this autumn, drop your ideas in the comments below. It can be an old favourite, something you’ve always wanted a vegan version of, or something completely different.
I’ll pick one suggestion and make it for Soup Season! 👀🍲
As I mentioned, this week I was back in Edinburgh, which feels slightly surreal given I spent so much of my university life here. Every street you walk down, every place you see FILLS you with nostalgia. If you’ve never visited, you’ve got to add it to the list.
Geli and I were up for a ‘remote working week’, which coincided perfectly with the the Fringe Festival. We saw some great shows, ate some wonderful food, and generally just had a GRAND old time. Oh, and it was a pretty good place to be for the Eclipse!
We had one of THE best meals we’ve had for a long time at Barry Fish down in Leith. Barry is an old friend (he actually gave me my first proper job in food), and his new restaurant is now on the Michelin Guide - and for good reason. Whilst predominantly focused on local fish and seafood, I stuck to the veg and it did not disappoint. Fresh, seasonal, and thoughtful ingredients cooked really, really well. I’d definitely recommend a visit - we love you Barry!
We also went back to our favourite Greek restaurant Spitaki - which does classic taverna-style food really well. Lovely service, authentic vibes, and just very tasty dishes.
A few more highlights...
🎭 Best Fringe shows: Pink Rabbit (one woman show, brilliant), The Palestinian Circus
🥘 Favourite eats: Spitaki, Barry Fish
🌱 Must tries: Ting Thai (delicious Thai food) and Nile Valley Café (epic falafel wrap)
Next week, we’ll be back with another Salad You’ll Actually Make and plenty more from the Alfie Cooks kitchen. Have a wonderful weekend, and until next time!
Alfie x
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