Seeing as Sandra's job is probably safe for another 4 years, we went out for a celebration lunch today to Kings Wark in Leith.
I've never had the food in there before, but Sandra has and raved about the fish and chips, which she had again this time. Massive piece of fish in a light, crispy batter with what looked, and tasted, like homemade tartare sauce.
I'd not had any breakfast this morning, so the rumbling tummy made me opt for a starter as well as a main course. My seafood chowder starter was perfect, fairly thick and studded with potato and a variety of seafood - I couldn't identify it all, but there definitely were mussels, clams, smoked haddock and salmon. All that and fresh bread to mop up the liquid, finger-licking good. A meal in itself, and actually available in main course size if you so desired.
For main course, I had belly of pork with black pudding and mash. Now, this may not sound like a big deal, but I haven't even been able to look at belly of pork without feeling queasy since I was about 12. Memories of the rubbery, chewy fatty meat that my Mum used to serve up have put me off it for over 25 years. However, as these 'cheap' cuts of meat are trendy again now and undergoing a revival, I trusted the chef at Kings Wark and decided to take the plunge......and I'm so glad I did!
This was nothing like Mum (sorry!) used to make. Crisp flavoursome crackling covered unctuous melt-in-the-mouth fat and tender delicious meat. The black pudding and mash were the perfect accompaniements...as was a nice cold pint of cider

. I think I can safely say I'm now over my belly-of-pork phobia! And I'll be back at Kings Wark soon, although I still doubt they could cure me of my tripe phobia

.