Beer, burgers, rain and rum. Sounds like the magic ingredients for a proper Scottish BBQ, and last night Yelp Edinburgh threw its first of the season! 50 yelpers followed the smell of sizzling meaty goodness to The Outhouse's beer garden, brollies at the ready, to feast on some of the finest Crombie's beef burgers on The Manna House fresh baked rolls, St. Lucia Distilleries rum tasting and a final surprise sweet treat from The Manna House patisserie. As Mirren F quipped before her first dram, 'rock and rum!'
'Ahhh Scotland, where people are optimistic enough to plan BBQs in June, even when there had been thunder, lightning and hail the day before' muses Emily V. Did that stop us? 'Rain? Thunder? Pfft! Outhouse, barbecue, rum and cakes. You do the math!' was Joe A's response! And so as The Outhouse fired up their barbie and yelpers started to fill up the bar inside, there was no time lost in forming a queue for the burgers.
And what burgers they were! Crombie's quarter pounders – some of the freshest, local coo on a bun. And not just any buns: The Manna House, Easter Road's very own patisserie and bakery, had baked up a batch for the occasion. Throw in some relish, mustard and a pint of beer and many a happy munching yelpers there were!
Burgers in our bellies was a good idea before the rum, and Susan D agrees 'as what followed was a rum tasting marathon, with white following dark, and spiced following white.. or was it the other way around?!' Ed from St. Lucia Distilleries began with an explaination of the history of the rum trade and process of ageing whilst Graeme served up the drams.
Joe A is proving a track record for remembering the finer details after a fair few drams, so we'll hand it to his sharp memory to recount the Chairman's Reserve 'a wickedly bourbon-esque number', the 'divinely sugary white beast' that is Toz, the 'smoother, rarity and a treat' of Admiral Rodney and the Chairman's Reserve Spiced which everyone agreed 'smelled like Christmas!' After a wee nip of all four, it's safe to say everyone had forgotten about the rain!
As it was drawing closer to the parties end, there was one final surprise for these lucky yelpers. Not only had The Manna House wrapped the burgers in the best bread in town; their pastry chef, Jean-Phillipe, had crafted some 'very sophisticated' looking cakes.
Tray bakes these were not. Strawberry and kirsche ganache, chocolate truffle fondant, and chocolate on top of chocolate on a base of biscuit chocolate. There was a moment of revered silence as the sheer, lush splendour of these little beauties melted onto our tastebuds: 'small but packed with so much gorgeousness' sighs Emily V.
As the night drew in, and to escape impending midgies and pneumonia, everyone headed back to the comfort and closer proximity of the bar and beers on tap. It was long past the official end of the Elite Event and yet there were still plenty yelpers left standing, enjoying the drinks and cocktail offers for the regular DJ Stirfry set of a Wednesday eve. Kay L's discover of the evening was that 'The Outhouse do one of the best French Martinis she's had in Edinburgh!'
It was past midnight before the final yelpers merrily strayed, or perhaps stumbled, home. Rounding it all up, Dug W's advice to 'anyone who enjoys a great beer, take a wee wander down Broughton St Lane to The Outhouse. You'll be welcomed by a selection of very tasty drinks of which he would recommend the Innis & Gunn on tap. Whether you choose to partake in tasting a multitude of rums on a school night is up to you…!'
And so, as ever let's raise our Yelp shot glasses once more and toast a huge thank you to Kim and Graeme at The Outhouse, Ed from St. Lucia Distilierries, Drew and Jean-Phillipe from The Manna House, all the guys at Crombie's, Robin the photographer for the fab photies and to each and every yelper who came, saw, drank and partied – despite the weather!
Edinburgh yelpers brought their own sunshine to the beer garden that night. Hats off to 'em! Read the reviews of the event, keep the banter flowing on Talk, and have a wee peek at all the photies!
Until next time!
Jenny L
Yelp Edinburgh Community Manager
