Why is it that I love brunch so much? Firstly, my Monday to Friday breakfast is normally consumed at my desk, so is limited to yoghurt, fruit, porridge or a snack bar. There’s nothing wrong with any of those things, but let’s face it, nobody is going to choose any of those options versus a warmed croissant or eggs royale. If you would, it’s probably best you stop reading this post right now.

Last Saturday in quest of a breakfast that wasn’t compatible with eating in the workplace, we went to Salt Cafe. This wasn’t my first visit to Salt Cafe; far from it. This stylish eaterie in Edinburgh’s Morningside is one of my favourite brunch spots. I’m about to tell you why.

Salt Cafe offers everything you would expect from a great brunch establishment. It’s stylish, the coffee is fabulous and the menu boasts a mix of classic brunch time fare (eggs royale, fluffy pancakes) and items that are more unique (Italian omelettes, baked eggs).

I’ve tried pretty much everything on the Salt Cafe menu, and let me tell you, it’s all delicious. My favourite dish, however, is the eggs royale. We both had the eggs royale on our most recent visit and as we took our time over our brunch, we couldn’t keep talking about how good it was.

Salt Cafe’s eggs royale is stand out for a number of reasons. Firstly, it’s served with artisan bread, which beats a toasted muffin hands down when it comes to mopping up the egg yolk and hollandaise sauce. Secondly, Salt Cafe is known for its fish and this is no exception. The eggs royale features hot home-smoked salmon and once you’ve tasted this – rather than the sad slices of generic smoked salmon so many other places offer – you’ll never go back. Oh, and did I mention that it comes with truffle hollandaise?

I could wax lyrical about how good Salt Cafe is at doing eggs for days on end, however, I should spare a mention for the fact that this is so much more than somewhere to brunch. It’s a place to eat lunch, meet friends for drinks and have a romantic meal. It’s so many things and in my opinion, a true gem of the Edinburgh dining scene.

Now over to you, what’s your favourite brunch dish?

If you’ve visited Edinburgh during the month of August, you’ll know that the city takes on its own irrefutable vibe. Home to the world’s biggest arts’ festival, you can find just about any kind of entertainment if you look hard enough. It’s fantastic, and as a resident of the city, I love watching tourists and locals alike enter into the spirit of all that the Edinburgh Festival has to offer.

Having said that, it can get a bit overwhelming. During August, Edinburgh’s population doubles, making it that much more difficult to get anywhere. People flock in their droves to the city’s festival hot-spots, making it near impossible to get served at any affiliated bar. Sometimes, I’m in the mood to wait it out. Other times, I want to enjoy a quiet drink, a stone’s throw away from the madness, but still close enough to feel like you’re part of it all. That’s where the Caorunn Gin Garden at Hotel Du Vin comes in.

Earlier this month, we were invited to the launch of the Caorunn Gin Garden, a pop-up bar offering a range of Caorunn Gin cocktails and classic gin and tonics, set in the gorgeous Hotel Du Vin courtyard.

On arrival, we were welcomed with a gin and tonic. Caorunn Gin is served with slices of Pink Lady apple, making it stand out from the normal citrus accompaniment. The apple gives it a lovely sweetness, making it a different way to enjoy gin.

As we sipped our G&Ts, we nibbled from the delicious platters of food (kudos Hotel Du Vin, your eats were incredible) and were entertained by a live band.

Soon it was cocktail time. I opted for a Ginito Berry (think a mixed berry mojito) and Rob had an Aviation (think gin muddled with Parma Violets). Those are just two of a number of cocktails Caorunn has on offer, including one with Prosecco and lemon juice that I wish I’d had the chance to try.

As well as the great drinks, the setting for the garden is stunning. Hotel Du Vin is a mere two minute walk from all of the festival action taking place in George Square, yet it feels like a port in the storm; somewhere to relax and kick back before you delve back into the depths of Fringe frenzy.

The Caorunn Gin Garden is open until 28 August and is well worth a visit if you’re in Edinburgh during Festival month. I know I’ll be making it a regular haunt … do say hello, I’ll be the one sipping on a Sorbet 75.

Brunch. One glorious word, countless positive connotations. This toss up of breakfast-cum-lunch is one of my favourite meals, and a way of life at the weekend. As much as I love brunch, it can be a bit samey. Eggs Benedict and full English breakfasts are standard fodder on any brunch menu, which can get a little repetitive. But there is one eaterie that’s mixing up brunch as we know it: Dishoom.

There has been one heck of a buzz around Dishoom since it opened in Edinburgh late last year. In the evening, it can take hours to get a table and those who are lucky enough to get a seat wax lyrical about the food, which made me very excited about sampling the brunch menu this morning.

The selection of morning time food on offer is plentiful. From the innovative bacon naan roll to organic porridge oats cooked with Medjool dates and everything in between, the hardest part was choosing what to order. So with glasses filled to the brim with steaming hot cups of chai, we pondered how to break our fast.

As soon as Rob saw one of the filled naan rolls whiz by, that was him set – it looked too good to plump for anything else. He had his stuffed with Ayrshire pork sausages (I say stuffed, because it was a very generous portion). He barely said a word while he ate it – the ultimate mark of a man enjoying his food.

For me, the choice wasn’t quite as straightforward. Eggs are one of my favourite foods and Dishoom sure knows how to cook them. There were so many hunger-inducing options, I tossed what to have over in my head a dozen times before I settled on the Bombay omelette. I was not disappointed. Three eggs where partnered with tomato, onion, coriander and green chilli to make this delicious meal, served with the restaurant’s signature fire toast.

As regulars at the city’s brunch table, we were very impressed by Dishoom. The service is quick, efficient and friendly. The setting is stunning and the food is truly delicious. Dishoom is a welcome edition to Edinburgh’s thriving dining scene and somewhere I’d be happy to eat – and recommend – time and time again.

When the lovely people at Aperol Spritz – one of my favourite drinks – got in touch and asked me about some of the best things about living in Edinburgh, I could have rattled a hundred things off without even thinking. But, last week, instead of relying on my old faithful haunts, I sought out new places to enjoy a Spritz, some food and to watch the sun set over my beautiful city.

I’m sure you all know that Edinburgh isn’t renowned for its weather, but last week we had a few blissfully sunny days. With sundress on and sunglasses in hand, Rob and I headed to an Italian eaterie on the south side of Edinburgh, Osteria del Tempo Perso. We sat outside, had a Spritz (ok, maybe two) in the sun and devoured the most delicious sharing platter, composed of a selection of meats and cheeses (Rob didn’t stand a chance once I’d clocked that Parma ham), bruschetta, arancini and melanzane parmigiana. It was so tasty and the perfect accompaniment to our drinks.

From there, we walked up to the top of the Braid Hills to watch the sun set. You get the most beautiful views from this vantage point, of Edinburgh Castle, Arthur’s Seat and right across to the Kingdom of Fife. It’s a quieter spot to watch the sun set than Calton Hill, which made the experience all the better.

After we watched the sun set, we wandered back down to Bruntsfield, stopping at Luca’s Ice Cream on the way for some Nutella ice cream. It rounded the night off perfectly.

When it comes to your city, where would you suggest to have a Spritz, some food and watch the sun set? I’d love to hear about them.

The event was held by Currys PC World at the super stylish G&V Hotel on the Royal Mile, a great place to showcase 30 years of Nespresso coffee machines. With a glass of Prosecco firmly in hand, we were walked through the ages and the innovation that has gone with it. I didn’t quite realise just how ahead of the game Nespresso was until they showed us they had been one step in front of the market every time.

Before we were treated to a five-course dinner, the newest addition to the Nespresso coffee machine family was unveiled; the Nespresso Prodigio. This incredible piece of kit is the brand’s first connected coffee machine. That means that from your phone you can set the Prodigio to have your coffee ready for you when you wake up in the morning. You have no idea how excited I was by that prospect. It’s also a pretty damn lovely looking machine, too.

After we all realised the world of coffee making was about to change forever, it was time to open our taste buds up to the idea of five-courses inspired by coffee. For the first course, we were asked to wear blindfolds and try to guess what we were eating. It turned out to be an incredible combination of buffalo mozzarella with tomato jam and a coffee bean jus. It was very tasty.

Following our starter, we had risotto flavoured with Nespresso Cosi, served with yellow peppers and fresh tomato petals. This was a great course and so different to anything I’ve ever tasted before.

After the risotto, we were served venison loin with mixed mushrooms and a Nespresso Kazaar flavoured custard, which had been fried. We were promised there was going to be coffee in every course and this was such a unique way to get it into this dish.

To end our meal was a pudding so good, that it easily falls into that category of puddings I’ll never forget. A coffee-flavoured pannacotta was served with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and a chocolate and Nespresso Caramelita crisp. It was incredibly good.

After our desserts we helped ourselves to cups of Nespresso coffee before supping on some Espresso martinis. It was quite a feast and one that I’m not about to forget anytime soon. I might even have a go at making that dessert … it will never taste as good, but when you like something that much you need to at least try and replicate it.

Are you coffee fans? What’s the one drink you couldn’t live without?

I’m a huge lover of brunch. The eggs, the coffee, the pastries and all the fancy breakfast fare you’re unlikely to have at home, mean I am forever suggesting brunchtime meet-ups. So last weekend we did exactly that; we met some friends for a catch over neither breakfast nor lunch at the Blue Bear Cafe.

I’d heard great things about brunch at the Blue Bear so I was really excited to eat there. From the moment we walked in the door, we were met with the most amazing assortment of pastries and cakes. But, I stayed strong; nothing was diverting me from my eggs.

There was a great selection to choose from on the brunch menu, covering all the classics from full breakfasts to fancy eggs, pancakes, waffles and everything in between. Between us, we sampled breakfast rolls, hash browns, eggs Benedict (a personal favourite of mine) and something new to us, eggs Rebecca, which was pretty much eggs Benedict but with black pudding.

And the verdict? The food was fantastic, the service was on point and the atmosphere was buzzing with fellow brunch lovers. I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to visit Blue Bear Cafe but I’m about to become a regular – I already can’t wait to go back and try their baked eggs.

Are you a fan of brunch? What’s your favourite dish?

I can barely believe it’s Christmas on Friday. I know in theory we have pretty much all year to prepare for this day – it’s hardly a moveable feast – but this year it seems to have crept up. I’m normally really organised; presents are bought weeks, if not months in advance, my menu is planned and the food shop is ordered. But not this year. I spent most of yesterday dashing about like a crazy thing and it’s not about to get any better as tonight I have to brave Sainsbury’s. Wish me luck, please.

Amid all the chaos, there are, however, plenty of silver linings. Our Christmas traditions are about to kick in and the promise of them is firmly keeping me going. We do the same things every year – kind of the thing with traditions – and I wouldn’t change them for the world.

Our traditions kick in on Christmas eve. We always take the day off, have a leisurely breakfast, read some magazines, listen to the She & Him Christmas album and chill out in front of the tree. Rob and I then get dressed up and head into the town, to the most Christmassy place in Edinburgh for some lunch; The Dome, where the Christmas atmosphere is unbeatable.

After lunch we normally go for a little wander around the shops before heading to Harvey Nichols for a cocktail. We then head home and cuddle up under a blanket and watch Christmas films. It’s bliss and one of those traditions I hope we always do. I actually prefer it to Christmas day itself.

This will be my last post before Christmas, but I’ll be back between Christmas and New Year with my annual year in pictures post. Until then, I hope you all have an amazing Christmas. Eat, drink, be merry and above all, be happy.

Our venue of choice was Indigo Yard, a stylish bar-cum-bistro in Edinburgh’s West End. We were watching the rugby world cup whilst we ate (a game that’s still too raw to talk about) and so we were in the mood for what I call ‘rugby food’. In other words, burgers.

We moved opted for the Orkney steak burger, with Isle of Mull cheddar and smoked bacon. The burgers were well cooked, and perfectly proportioned. There wasn’t too much cheese drowning out the flavour of the beef, and the smoked bacon was really crispy. All in all, it was a pretty damn fine burger, and the chips that came with it were really good too. Unsurprisingly, I had my burger with a glass of red wine and Rob had a beer.

The atmosphere at Indigo Yard was warm and friendly, and despite staying well past the end of the rugby, it didn’t seem to suffer from the Sunday evening drought in trade.

From Indigo Yard we took the 30-minute walk through town to burn off our burgers before spending the rest of the evening doubled over with laughter, courtesy of the brilliant Joe Lycett.

Indigo Yard was never really on my radar before, but having had a good look at the rest of the food menu, there are lots of other things I’d like to try, (the bacon and Applewood smoked cheddar mac and cheese being one of them) so I’ll definitely be back, and based on yesterday’s visit, I’d happily recommend it.

Have you tried any new restaurants recently that you would recommend?

The sun was shining on Edinburgh today and with that, it seemed like everybody had a smile on their face. Rob and I certainly did as we walked up Arthur’s Seat. This extinct volcano is quite the climb, but well worth it for the views you get when you reach the top.

On the way up, we bumped into so many tourists, and I always love seeing Edinburgh through their eyes. It’s easy to forget how old Scotland’s capital is and how much history there is associated with it, until you hear the wonder in visitors’ voices. It reminds me that I shouldn’t take this wonderful place for granted.

When we got to the top, it was super, super windy. A kind American couple offered to take our picture – I love how windswept we both look. This photo made me giggle all the way home.

Our climb certainly got our tummies rumbling and so we stopped at one of our favourite haunts, Treacle, on the way home for some food. Rob had pad Thai and I had sweet potato and quinoa hash browns, served with poached eggs and avocado. I’m desperately trying to get back into healthy eating, so even though we were dining out, I decided to shun the burger and chips in favour of something a little more nutritious.

The next few weekends are set to be really busy, so it was nice to have a quiet weekend just the two of us. What did you all get up to this weekend?

Wow, where did July disappear to? I feel like it was just yesterday I wrote this post for June, but here I am four weeks later. It’s true what they say, time seems to move faster as you get older. But does it matter if you’re happy? I think not, and with that here are a few things that put a smile on my face this month.

1. Prosecco with my lovely husband.  Plus you can’t possibly be sad when you’re drinking something with bubbles in it, right?

2. Booking a trip to Copenhagen. I haven’t been to Denmark before so I’m really excited about exploring all this city has to offer.

3. Discovering gin mojitos. For some purists this might seem like utter insanity, until you have a sip that is. I’ll be posting a recipe for this next week.

4. Listening to Bon Iver in candle light whilst the rain pounded on my windows. I forgot just how soothing it is to listen to music in the dark. It’s good for the soul.

5. Getting ready for our summer holiday. Even buying sunscreen put a smile on my face.

What has made you smile this month?