. . . . . and Connections in the City

Went to Edinburgh today but it was a fairly uneventful trip - except for the volume of rain that fell.

The highlight was lunch at the VinCaffe in Multrees Walk. It was just a simple lunch - a toasted focaccia sandwich with ham, cheese and tomato but it's always good going there. The VinCaffe is of course part of the Valvona & Crolla empire and if you've never been to the fantastic deli in Elm Row then you should! I love most delis but this one's world famous and in the Premier league for both service and produce. For those who don't know, V&C is headed up by Philip & Mary Contini and Mary and I (and many of you) have something in common. We both come from Port Seton!
Those of us of a certain age will never forget the old cafe in Port Seton with its wooden chairs and tables and the fantastic Di Ciacca's ice cream. Still the best - EVER - from East Lothian. Any flavour you liked, as long as it was vanilla.
Mary's dad, Johnny, also ran a catering business and just about every social event held in Port Seton during the sixties and seventies when I was growing up, would be served broth, steak pie and ice cream by Johnny's excellent catering team (which included my Aunties, Mary & Isa). Everyone from Port Seton will have been at a dance or wedding in the old Pond Hall and many of these stories and more are recounted in a series of books written by Mary - my favourite is 'A Year at an Italian Table'. Ask for it at the library and try some of the recipes. Their heart lies in Italy but their soul is Port Seton through and through.