Of course only good things to say about a good experience with great selections and service!read more

Quite literally the best thing we did in Scotland. Okay, I may be biased as a cheese-lover, but I…read morewould come here every day if I could. A wonderful and diverse selection is available, and we focused on Scottish and local. They had a cheese available that only five cows could produce - be sure to ask the staff and they'll point you to the most interesting selections! And we couldn't leave without a baguette to sample them all on. My only regret is that I didn't buy more - and we walked out with nine cheeses and some other snacks. Put this on the list especially if you're a visitor - we never get to enjoy unpasteurized cheese over here in the US especially - and if you're lucky enough to live nearby I'd go daily.

I was oh so very very happy when I found out about this place. Place isn't quite the right term,…read morethough. Cheesy Peasy is a moving cheese van. Yes, that's right: a moving cheese van. Every Saturday it, and the French man who sells the cheese, can be found parked on Meadow Place between ten in the morning and six in the evening. All his cheese gets delivered from France every week or every fortnight. Apart from cheese, he also sells croissants, pain au chocolat and baguettes! I very recently discovered that he also sells macaroons. I got myself a passion fruit and chocolate macaroon and it was better than any macaroon I've ever had. Passion fruit and chocolate is the best fruit and chocolate combination in the world. Fact. The cheese, needless to say, is also mouth-watering. We've started the habit of buying camembert and making baked camembert with white wine and garlic. These are the best three ingredients put together. Ever. Again. Not only is Cheesy Peasy the coolest idea (I mean ANY kind of moving cheese van gets my approval) but their cheese is also top-rate.

I heard that George Mews was opening and was looking forward to it. I've been to the Glasgow shop…read moreand they had a great range if cheeses and it was consistent here in Edinburgh. Samples are plentiful and this place is cheese lovers heaven. They also do a great range of charcuterie, smoked fish, bread, oatcakes and chutneys. Many of their products stocked are local and if not, sourced from small independent Scottish producers. I picked up angelic oatcakes and I'll pop down before new year to get a range of cheese for my visitors. Well worth a visit!

The Glaswegian cheesemonger George Mewes has opened up a shop in Stockbridge. Visually it's a…read morebeautiful experience, with wheels of British and European cheese piled high, artisanal products neatly arranged on shelves. The staff is friendly and makes you feel welcome by plying you with samples of their cheeses. I could have stayed all day. The only thing keeping me from declaring my undying love to this shop is the price point - all this fancy cheese does not come cheap. Do cheeses make for good Christmas presents?

Great selection of cheese from all over the UK and Europe with a very knowledgeable owner who has…read morespent AGES helping me discover some new favourites. I would say that the selection of cheese is very varied, though the cheeses stocked do vary according to the seasons. You can be sure that whatever is carried here will be guaranteed to be at its peak. Try the 4year gouda, the bleu d'auvergne, the stilcheton and the delice triple cream... some of my absolute favourites!

It's getting to that time of year again, when the queues stretch literally for two blocks outside…read moreJ. Mellis. You won't find a better cheesemonger in town, and doesn't Mr Mellis know it. I never really noticed just how big a deal cheese becomes at Xmas until I saw the queues here, and it prompted me to give it a try myself. I went for the unusual combination of French saucisson and a nice bit of Wensleydale, and after it I can safely say that despite the sometimes stomach turning smell, I'll definitely be back.

You can smell it before you even get in the door, but don't let that stop you!…read more I love cheese, and, I should probably put that on my CV somewhere. I. LOVE. CHEESE. Even the stinky ones. Here's a few tips about Mellis's. First, be sure to talk to the staff and tell them what you're looking for. There's a couple of benefits of doing this. First of all, they'll help you find something suited to your taste. Secondly, they'll help you find something that goes with the meal or wine you'll be having. They're very knowledgeable about their cheeses, so trust them. If they suggest something you're not used to, don't say no just because you don't like blue cheese (or whatever). They won't have you try something they don't think you'll like. Which brings me to my second point: If you're going to dinner at a friend's (which I often do); tell them what's for dinner, or if you're not sure, tell them what wine you're bringing as well. The staff will ask some questions to get a better idea of what you want. Do you want something melty? Something soft? Or maybe a cheddar? Then, not only will they help you pick a cheese which will go with your meal, but they'll help you pick a second cheese that will go with the first. If you tell them where you're going, or what you're planning to have the cheese with, they'll get out their little pear knife, and have you taste different ones until you find the ones you like. You'll never choose blindly, and that's a good thing. Here's another tip: If you're just wanting to buy something for the sake of having it and not a special occasion, look behind you. There's a little display of discounts there, which are usually on sale. I once bought a pot of really melty, stinky stuff and it was divine. And cheap. And once, when I went in with my gift certificate (they won't give you change, so you have to use it all), they gave me a half a dozen eggs for 20p just so that I could use my gift certificate up to the penny. Now that's service! Parma ham and other meats are sliced right in front of you, so that you can choose the thickness and amount that you want, which is way way wayyyy better than buying a pre-packaged selection from the supermarket. And hand-made oatcakes? Pretty cheap for oatcakes and so delish they can be eaten on their own. I love cheese. And I also love I J Mellis.

So I leave Melbourne. Fly away, halfway across the world, snug in my little village that is…read moreStockbridge. Then, Smith and Gertrude arrives. I've had my suspicions about the name for a while and tonight, my suspicions were confirmed- this idea was formulated in Melbourne, the bright light-bulb flashing into the owners mind whilst sipping a glass of wine on the iconic corner of Smith Street and Gertrude Streets in Melbourne. The hipster trend is spreading globally people! And you know what? I'm on board! The service, ambiance and style so reminds me of my hometown (whats that I feel...pride?) This might just become the place for meat, wine and cheese. For the past year Henri's of Stockbridge has been my go-to for my Sunday wine and charcuterie but Smith and Gertrude will closely rival this. So lets talk wine. The list is extensive and impressive. I'm actually not too much for Australian wine myself, but the list of Australian wines available almost made me want to yell out 'woo! represent!' but I didn't do that because I'm a grown up of course. I instead ordered a lovely Argentinian wine at the recommendation of our very helpful server which paired the meal nicely. Meats and cheese. Well. I feel like there could have been more on the board (or maybe have smaller boards so it looks fuller?) Nonetheless, whilst it looked simple to begin with, the mixed board was more than enough for two people, though I did add the gorgonzola cheese along with bread with oil with dukkah. All delicious but not foreign to me. The cheese is sourced locally and I buy it all weekly so I essentially paid to have it plated and to eat it somewhere with better lighting. If you don't know cheese, then you might enjoy the ever-changing cheeses to try until you find a favourite. Then you can go buy it in bulk from the local cheesemongers if you so wish. The interior is very trendy and Melbourne-like. The atmosphere, quality of food and service was nothing short of great. . If you're really just wanting the meat and cheese without the ooze of hipster-mess, I would suggest the buying the cheese and meats from local stockists. Thy also stock wines which I will certainly return to purchase. I give five stars as a fellow Melburnian seething with pride for this new local business. They've taken a simple concept and done it well, using local product and supporting other small businesses which I highly commend. Highly recommended for a place to just sit, eat, chill and plain enjoy, whether alone or with company. The only thing that was missing was the excellent barista-made coffee I have come to adore from Melbourne (read: its the minimum standard I expect.) Steampunk in a french press guys, really? I'll keep an eye out on this development and will probably move in when this changes.

I'm surprised that no one has snapped up this FTR, seeing as this place seems to be more or less…read morehopping around the clock (or at the very least, most days after 5pm). Tucked in the space of the old cat cafe, I didn't even realize this place was there until Julie G suggested we meet there for a glass. If you had visited the cat cafe previously, this new venture has more or less gutted the place and it's unrecognizable. They've done a great job with the room, with lots of wood detailing, vintage inspired knick knacks and communal seating... it's basically a hipster coffee shop, but with wine. Eye roll all you want, that's a damn good combination of trendy. I only had two glasses on my first trip here, so I can't speak to the food or the flights, but the wine (though pricey... ack!) was interesting and the wine flights that went past us, with four little glasses and the option to pair with cheese almost had us falling off our seats to get a better look. Well worth heading back for more investigation. So far, I deem this place a cute little addition the the neighbourhood. Welcome Smith & Gertrude!

Hollipop is the newest addition to the retro/American candy shops that have been popping up all…read moreover Edinburgh recently. I've not been in the other stores so unfortunately can't compare, but I'll admit I felt a bit underwhelmed by Holipop. The store feels a bit under stocked, and of what it does have it carries some sweets that you can get in most stores here. They certainly do have some retro-ish things and some American candies but I guess I was expecting a more old-fashioned funky feel to the place. The kind of place where you could get £1 worth soor plooms or something. That being said, the staff were nice and accommodating. I got the impression that they would happily at least try to order in what you're looking for. So, overall I found it to be a bit less than I was expecting but still A-OK.

I always enjoy checking out the local cheeses and bringing some home to share with my friends, as…read moresome cheeses are hard to find back home or are very expensive compared to the local prices. My friend who lives in Glasgow recommended this place, which is not far from the University, and on a main street with plenty of eateries. Not going to lie, walking in I was a bit disappointed at how small the store is. One side of the store has wine, jams and other things that go with cheeses (or a fine life), so it's really a small cooler for soft cheeses and a long counter for the aged ones, quarters and half wheels stacked neatly on top of full wheels. The staff is nice and knowledgeable about their cheeses. They have a plate of samples going on, and they also gladly cut samples off other cheeses we asked about. I ended up getting a few cheeses: Blue Murder is a blue cheese made by the Highland Cheese company, at the family farm at Blarliath near Tain. The cheese is rich and buttery and wonderfully balanced in savory and sweetness. Isle of Mull is a delicious aged cheddar. Their secret - the cows are fed fermented grains from a local whisky distillery!! Ticklemore - it's hard to find in the US so I'm glad to find it here. A beautiful goat cheese that is mild, lemony and creamy, and not overly goaty. The prices are very reasonable when compared to what I would have paid for in the US. It's more expensive than your average supermarket cheeses, but shopping here allow you to support small businesses and artisanal cheesemakers!

If you like cheese it doesn't get much better than a visit to George Mewes. First tried George's…read morewares a few Christmases back and I've been going ever since. Doesn't matter what time of day you go in or how busy it is, you'll still get the same immense and consistent service. The people that work here know their cheese and are unbelievably passionate about their products. Wandered passed the other day and the smell pulled me in and I had to purchase some Stilton. The guy working that day pointed out that the Stilton is at an all time high, he cut a piece off and gave me it to prove it. He wasn't wrong, the Stilton here is probably the best thing I've ever eaten, hands down. My girlfriend who apparently didn't like blue cheese has now been converted. It isn't just the Stilton that is good, it goes for every type I've tried or bought here. The prices are a little higher than supermarkets but that doesn't matter as the product here isn't even comparable. Once you start shopping here you'll never look at generic supermarket cheese in the same way again. If you like cheese, don't go anywhere else!

Anster Connage Crowdie…read moreCriffel Cromarty Dunsyre Blue Grimbister Farm Lanark Blue Loch Arthur Cheddar Lochnagar St Duthus & Strathdon Blue If you're looking to take home some Scottish cheese, this I.J. Mellis is a great starting place. The staff are friendly and knowledgable and happy to recommend cheeses to suit each customer's palette and tastebuds. More importantly, they're happy to dish out free samples! Based in Morningside, this branch also stocks a cracking selection of fresh bread, fruit and veg, ham, fish, salami, oat crackers, olives, chutneys, olive oil, vinegar, honey, jam and coffee. In fact, if I lived in the area and had a bigger disposable income, I'd probably do most of my shopping here!

I was very impressed by Clark's, another cheese store located in Bruntsfield. However, Mellis,…read morewhich is just a few minutes away in Morningside is probably the cheeselovers heaven. It's one of many Mellis stores in Edinburgh, the most famous one being located in Old Town, but certainly doesn't disappoint. Dutch, Italian, Spanish, French and of course Scottish cheese can be bought here, but it's more than just a cheese shop; all sorts of bread, antipasto and olives can be bought as well as eggs, ham and even baking ingredients of the more wholesome variety. Naturally, it isn't cheap, but definitely a fair price for good cheese, and fresh food. If I keep discovering places like this in addition to Valvona and Crolla, I may just stop going to the supermarkets altogether.. or at least until I can't afford to anymore.

I visited and fell in love with their food hall at Elm Row. I'd walked past what had initially felt…read morelike a mediocre street only to discover the most impressive deli I've seen in Edinburgh! They had all sorts of cheeses, olive oil, cold cut meats, pasta, sauces, and many more deliciously delectable things. I had great hopes for this Valvona and Crolla, situated in THE department store of the city centre, Jenners. I was sadly disappointed to find it has much less character than the rustic and homey store on Elm Row. You will still find great food that I was impressed by the other store, and perhaps even more as they have an American Food section, with the popular staples such as Pop Tarts and Aunt Jemima mixes and syrups. There is an adjoining restaurant with fantastic views over and beyond Princes Street, and two smaller cafes, one in the food hall, and another on a lower floor by the men's clothes section. The food here is a little pricier than going to a supermarket as would be expected, but for a foodie like me, it's well worth it. Just go to the Elm Row one instead. Nuff said.

Not bad at all, which I guess means good to more optimistic folk…read more Had a coffee, a delicious but slightly over-salty quiche and a slice of Baileys cheesecake for my breakfast (cheesecake is so a breakfast food! Shutup!) We sat in the cafe overlooking Princes Street and I must say it is a nice place to have some food when the sun is shining but the wind is blowing. Lovely view of Scott's Monument and the surrounding area, with the hustle and bustle of the main street while you sit above it all! The service was a bit slow, which I am a tad unforgiving about as there was two people serving and they were slowed down by chatting to a third employee. It's a pet peeve of mine. Apart from that the staff were smiley and cheerful. The price was ok, about £7.50 for what I ordered, which I can live with. A lovely place for a tea or coffee and a quick bite while you shop in the lavishness that is Jenners.