You won’t have noticed it here in the UK, but gourmet food trucks in big cities have been a growing foodie trend in North America for the past couple of years. The trucks move around the ‘downtown’ areas, and fans can keep up with new appearances and current locations via Twitter and other social media. Competition to get a license is fierce, and there’s even been a spate of reality tv shows in the US on the subject.
Despite being a little behind the ‘fad’, the good news for us ‘burghers, is that there’s a new burger van in town, and they’re doing things a little bit differently. Belhaven Beef pitched up on the forecourt to the St James Centre (Leith Street entrance) a mere fortnight ago, and already are building up a fan base of regular customers. Unlike the yankee trucks, you’ll find these guys here seven days a week; no map or Twittering required.
A burger van might not immediately sound exciting, but the thing that’s setting these guys apart is their insistence on promoting and using strictly Scottish produce. Mostly sourcing from Lothians farms, business partners Becky Gilmour and Nick Adams have known from the outset that they wanted to support local farmers. Displayed prominently on the menu, you’ll find a list of the farms who’ve supplied the current week’s meat.
On offer daily are their signature burger (£3.50), made with 100% Scottish beef, and a rather tasty, but sadly secret, blend of herbs. Buns are supplied by Breadwinner’s award-winning bakery, and the choice of toppings available on the day I visited was comprehensive without being ridiculous. I opted for a few chunks of crisp lettuce, a dash of mustard, and a splash of ketchup. The burger itself was a really tasty number, munchy and thanks to grilling, not in any way greasy. Belhaven Beef also have a tempting-sounding selection of sausages (they day’s offerings were beef and chilli, and beef, haggis and whisky) and Aberdeen Angus minute steak on ciabatta for £4. Along with the meaty offerings, there’s FairTrade coffee, soft drinks, and a selection of pastries and tray-bakes daily. Even better, it’s not just take-away either, as there are few tables and chairs available for those who want to meet a friend, or take their time over the eats.
So, whilst Edinburgh might not be up with all of the culinary trends, it’s great to see a new company arrive on the scene with a simple concept, offering good ‘home-cooked’ style flavours and a nice set of ethics.
Opening hours 8am to 7pm daily (Thursdays ’til 8pm)
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