EAT & PLAY LOCAL - THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE!

Last month we had a lovely visit from friends of ours, the Corstorphine family who live locally. They were entertaining friends who were visiting from America.
They set themselves a brilliant challenge - to source a fully local menu including drinks whilst showing off their region and inspiring their guests along the way!

Here's Katy Corstorphine's overview of what sounds like a truly magical day!

"Jane, we had an epic day! Cooked up an unbelievable feast literally - the whole thing from cocktails and canapés through to chocolates and coffee were sourced from within the county. Boys versus girls and the foodie challenge was interspersed with bonus points for visiting beaches, monuments, castles, climbing hills and visiting sights and historic places. Our friends from Miami were absolutely blown away by our beautiful county...

To drink, we had Gullane Ripple and Prosecco cocktails and Fidra Gin and Edinburgh tonic with homegrown gooseberry and elderflower. For canapés we had Salmon from the Belhaven smokehouse (NB gin and beetroot cured|Whisky & honey hot smoked) on Dunbar oatcakes. The kids had mini bruschetta canapés made from toasted baguette from the Dunbar Community Bakery and organic tomatoes from the Crunchy Carrot with cheese from the haddington cheese shop and herbs from the garden.

The main course was delicious lamb rack from the Brand Family Larder marinated in local honey with Spice pots mix, Lamb and courgette kebabs with a medley of hand harvested local vegetables and lobster - fresh out of the water in front of our eyes at the harbour in Dunbar - the kids just couldn't believe it!

Pudding was a pavlova made with local eggs, Yester Farm cream and Belhaven fruit farm Strawberries and raspberries with a gooseberry compote - gooseberries were stewed in Thistly Cross cider.

Bonus points were awarded for visits to Tyningham and Muirfield beaches, Hailes Castle, the micro brewery at Archerfield Walled Garden, Athelstaneford Flag Centre, the Belhaven Brewery Tour, John Muir Museum in Haddington, Dirleton Castle, Lennoxlove House, Trapain Law and Hopetoun Monument.

Afterwards, we all met up for a pub quiz in the Old Clubhouse in Gullane - questions were based on everything we'd seen and learned during our adventures during the day! - then back home for the big cook off!"

Waw - What a fantastic idea, well done! We were thrilled to hear your Miami guests were impressed by East Lothian's finest produce and experiences! Thanks for sharing this with us Katy and allowing us to share, we were delighted to help with some of the produce! Jx

Here are some Facebook links to the local suppliers who were used in the production of this incredible day:
By Julia
Fidra Gin
NB Distillery
The Dunbar Community Bakery
Crunchy Carrot
The Cheese Lady
The Brand Family
Spice Pots  
Yester Farm Dairies Limited
Belhaven Fruit Farm
Thistly Cross Cider
Historic Environment Scotland
Archerfield Walled Garden
VisitScotland
John Muir's Birthplace
Dirleton Castle
Lennoxlove House
Traprain Law
Hopetoun Monument
The Old Clubhouse